Autumn Hunting
On the day of autumn hunting, a drizzle fell from the sky, and the autumn wind, carrying a chill, swept over the whole body.
Qi Qinghe couldn't help but shudder, cleared his throat twice, and let the maid help him onto the carriage.
Although she was released from house arrest today, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince still kept a close eye on her, and she was often accompanied by palace maids when she spoke to others.
Cheng Xi didn't dare to look up at the Empress's expression. He bent down to fill the teapot for the Empress and told the coachman to set off.
It would take at least half a day to leave the palace and go to Fengshan. Qi Qinghe leaned against the carriage and closed his eyes to rest.
It was not until she arrived at Fengshan that she realized how glorious the royal hunting was.
All the officials and their families went with them, filling up the palace at the foot of the mountain. The people coming and going were maids and servants who were packing things for their masters.
As the Crown Princess, she should live with the Crown Prince, and her palace is very close to the Emperor's palace.
The courtyard is divided into a front hall and a back yard. On the left side of the back yard is the bedroom, and to the right is the prince's study, which is used by the prince to handle government affairs. Further back is the ear room and a small kitchen, which are reserved for the palace servants and guards who accompany him.
Yun Tao, Yun Xing and a group of palace maids tidied the house in an orderly manner. In a short while, the cold house looked brand new. With the charcoal basin lit, it became quite warm.
Qi Qinghe sat upright at the desk, holding a pen and spreading out the rice paper, but he didn't know what to write. Black ink dripped from the tip of the pen, soaking the rice paper.
After a while, there was a commotion outside the door. The palace servants called out to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I bowed respectfully and heard footsteps coming this way.
She suddenly came to her senses, put down her pen, and was about to stand up when she saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince push the door open and stride in.
Xiao Junbai said calmly, "Let's go to Father's for dinner."
The concise and to the point words brought her back to the first time she met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Although he spoke to her, he never even looked at her.
Qi Qinghe felt a lump in his nose, and the wall of his heart that had been erected was vulnerable and collapsed.
For a moment, the dormitory became quiet, completely out of tune with the chaotic footsteps outside.
The sky gradually darkened, and the dark red sunlight spread across the mountains and fields.
Qi Qinghe changed her clothes and was led in front by a palace maid holding a lantern.
Xiao Junbai fell a few steps behind, staring at the figure in front of him openly.
In just a few days, he lost a lot of weight, his bones were visible, and his wide sleeves fluttered in the autumn wind.
He looked away as if nothing had happened and stopped looking at her.
Cheng Xi, who was lighting the lantern for the prince, saw this and bravely explained on behalf of the empress: "The empress has not wanted to eat or drink these days. She is very worried about His Highness."
Will she miss him? Xiao Junbai sneered, and the corners of his mouth instantly calmed down. His Crown Princess was probably thinking about how to escape secretly.
Qi Qinghe indeed thought so. Even though she was feeling depressed, she still remembered what she had planned with her younger sister, and was secretly thinking about how to get away and meet her younger sister.
When they arrived in front of the emperor's palace, there were heavy guards guarding the place tightly, and people entering and leaving the palace were in an orderly manner.
The Emperor traveled this time with the Empress, who requested to go to the imperial mausoleum to pay homage, so he only brought the Imperial Concubine with him, and neither of the two princesses came.
So in the gorgeous and exquisite dining room, the emperor sat in the center, and the imperial concubine and the other two princes sat on his left and right.
There are only two seats left opposite Your Majesty.
Qi Qinghe bowed nervously and took a seat. She caught a glimpse of the prince's calm figure out of the corner of her eye, and her panic became even worse.
The emperor asked about several government matters one by one, then turned to the couple and asked, "It's been spread all over the palace these days. Tell me, what are you arguing about?"
Seeing that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did not move, Qi Qinghe smiled awkwardly, "My words and actions were rude and offended His Royal Highness. I deserve to be punished."
"It's inevitable for couples to quarrel. Just keep it behind closed doors." The emperor said calmly, "Why make it public?"
His Majesty's words were simple, but they sounded like endless ridicule to Qi Qinghe. She lowered her head and replied, "I understand. I will be careful with my words and actions."
The Imperial Concubine offered His Majesty a piece of mutton with her chopsticks and said with a smile, "Let them quarrel. After all, she is the Crown Prince's own choice of principal wife. Your Majesty should not worry about it."
His Royal Highness the Third Prince, Xiao Junqi, also echoed, "Yes, Father, your Majesty, your son and the Imperial Concubine used to quarrel every other day, but now we are living a good life, aren't we?"
The fourth prince, Xiao Junhui, remained taciturn and sat there without saying a word.
The Imperial Concubine and the Third Prince briefly brushed aside the topic and moved on to something else.
Qi Qinghe really had no appetite. After taking a few bites of food, she saw that His Majesty was talking about the Fourth Prince's wedding date. She hesitated for a moment, cried out "ouch", and rubbed her stomach hard with both hands. The sudden pain made her face turn pale instantly.
In an instant, everyone's attention at the table was drawn to her and they all looked over here.
Without waiting for His Majesty to speak, she braved the gazes of the crowd and apologized, "Father, please forgive me. I suddenly felt a severe pain in my waist and abdomen, and it was difficult to swallow. I feel extremely guilty for disturbing Your Majesty. Please allow me to leave first to avoid disturbing Your Majesty's interest."
The emperor looked her up and down, and seeing that her expression of pain did not seem fake, he waved his hand and let her go first.
Qi Qinghe apologized repeatedly and was helped away by the palace maids.
Xiao Junbai glanced at Chengxi, who understood and left quietly with the Crown Princess.
"Your Majesty, would you like to ask the imperial physician to come and take a look?" After drinking two cups of hot tea, Qi Qinghe's expression relaxed a little and she nodded almost inaudibly.
The two maids left in response, and she was the only one left in the room.
She leaned against the wall and moved to the window facing the mountain. She pushed it open with force and saw a piece of paper smaller than her palm stuck on the window sill, which was covered with a little dust.
There were eight big words written on it: rough work and miscellaneous tasks, waiting until late at night.
The handwriting was messy and hurried, and I guess there was no time to write more.
Qi Qinghe pondered these words and pricked up his ears to listen to the movement behind him.
Very light footsteps approached slowly, and soon the door was knocked. Cheng Xi's voice sounded from afar, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician is here."
She crumpled the note into a ball, hid it in her sleeve, and asked the imperial physician to come into the room.
The imperial physician bowed, placed the hand pillow and handkerchief, and held out the empress's boneless wrist. He carefully felt her pulse for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Your Majesty, you've caught a cold."
If you want to perform well, you have to do it completely. Qi Qinghe was exposed to the cold wind for half an hour before it seemed real.
Cheng Xi thought about the look in the prince's eyes and asked, "How can I have a backache if I caught a cold?"
"It's normal to have a stomachache when the cold wind enters the body." The imperial physician patiently explained, wrote the prescription, and called the palace maid to get the medicine.
Qi Qinghe raised his eyelids, glanced at Chengxi, and secretly thought about his next move.
After a while, Cheng Xi sent the imperial physician out. When he turned around, he saw the empress staring at him, looking thoughtful.
Cheng Xi was startled and spoke more cautiously, "Does the queen have any instructions?"
The prince's attitude is difficult to discern, but as long as she is still the crown princess, she cannot offend him.
"I have a relative who is quite capable at work. After she fell ill, she couldn't find any work, so she came to me for help." Qi Qinghe carefully considered her words. "You can wait and see. You can arrange it as you wish."
Cheng Xi bowed and heated tea for the queen. "The guards at the Autumn Hunt are very strict. We will definitely conduct a thorough search. Your Majesty, can you please..."
Before he could finish his words, Qi Qinghe interrupted him, "I know."
Having said this, Cheng Xi swallowed the rest of his words in frustration and agreed with a cupped hand, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will take care of this matter."
After Chengxi left, the bedroom returned to peace.
Qi Qinghe sat in front of the window, lost in thought.
I don't know how long it took, but there was a sudden commotion outside the house, and words of greeting to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince were heard one after another.
She turned around suddenly and saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince striding in against the moonlight. When he came to her, he grabbed her wrist tightly, hugged her around the waist and walked quickly to the bed. He threw her down and grabbed the quilt to wrap her tightly, leaving only her little face exposed.
It all happened so fast that before Qi Qinghe could react, she was wrapped in the warm quilt and her cold hands and feet were instantly warmed.
"Your Highness." She called the prince softly with a puzzled look on her face.
"Go to sleep." Xiao Junbai didn't look at her. He turned off several lights, leaving the dim candlelight beside the bed.
He lay on the bed with his clothes on, eyes closed and silent.
Qi Qinghe closed her eyes, but couldn't fall asleep. The quilt on her body was quite thick, making it inconvenient for her to turn over. She fumbled to shake open the quilt and pulled up a corner to cover the prince.
The moment she touched him, Xiao Junbai suddenly opened his eyes, turned over and supported himself on both sides of her. His unexpected gaze was mixed with some unspeakable desire, which seemed particularly dark in the dim light.
Qi Qinghe never expected that the prince was not asleep either, and was just pulling the quilt, so why would he react so strongly?
She swallowed and asked softly what was wrong with His Highness.
Xiao Junbai said nothing, his fingers stroking the Crown Princess's pretty face, delicate eyebrows, high nose bridge, small lips, and further down, the woman's slender and white neck.
The slender neck looked like it would break if he gripped it. He thought so and did so. His broad palms suddenly and forcefully grasped her neck.
The prince suddenly attacked with great strength. Qi Qinghe grabbed the hand that was restraining her, pinched and grabbed it, and beat it hard. The feeling of being unable to breathe made her feel uncomfortable all over. She twisted her body restlessly, trying to break free. Her face flushed and she couldn't stop coughing.
Seeing her face gradually turning pale, Xiao Junbai seemed to realize something and quickly let go of her hand. He picked her up and sat her up, holding her in his arms. His palm fell on her back, stroking it again and again.
Qi Qinghe touched his neck and coughed more violently. Blood trickled down from the corners of his lips. His face turned pale and red with anger, and tears rolled down his face uncontrollably.
She seemed to be furious, and she punched Xiao Junbai with her clenched fists again and again, crying out: "What did I do wrong? Why are you all treating me like this..."
She was just trying to find a way out with her mother, but who knew that she would be forced to participate in the selection of concubines, and then inexplicably become the Crown Princess, a thorn in the Queen's side, framed and bullied, and the Crown Prince was a man who only made her speak and act with caution. She had no place to vent her grievances, so wouldn't she be depressed?
Having said that, there was still a trace of rationality in her heart, and she only talked about the various unpleasant things that happened in the palace.
Xiao Junbai lowered his eyes and listened to her accusations silently.
As he spoke, Qi Qinghe became more and more aggrieved. "In the final analysis, you just want me to die. I will die, and I promise not to be an eyesore to you."
After she finished speaking, she picked up the scissors on the stool beside the bed and stabbed them straight into her neck.
Xiao Junbai was quick-witted and quick-handed. He grabbed her and held her wrist tightly. The scissors slipped out of his hand in an instant and fell on the soft pillow.
"Are you crazy?" He roared in frustration, holding Qi Qinghe's hands tightly, making her unable to move or break free.
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