Family Dinner
After chatting for half a morning, Qi Qinghe had a good understanding of the temperaments of the Crown Prince and the Empress's sister-in-law.
The eldest prince is different from the crown prince who is strict and formal, and also different from the third and fourth princes who are sentimental and taciturn. He is quite generous and straightforward, and his words often show his concern for the emperor's sister-in-law.
The emperor's sister-in-law Cheng Ying, as her name suggests, has a voice as sweet as a yellow oriole. Her gentle temperament seems to have been influenced by the eldest prince, and has a touch of heroism. Her clear eyes are full of sincerity.
The two straightforward people, coupled with the sweet-talking Qi Qinghe, would occasionally make a serious joke, making the imperial concubine laugh non-stop.
It was not until near noon that Eunuch Wang came in to remind them, and then everyone went to Xuanming Hall one after another.
Xuanming Hall was where Emperor Xiao Jue often discussed matters with his ministers. The meeting had just ended when the ministers were leaving the palace in groups of three or four, all wearing dark blue official robes, making it difficult to tell who was who.
The imperial concubine and the others sat for a while in a side hall, away from the ministers. As they were about to sit down, a young eunuch hurried over. After paying their respects to each of them, they said to Qi Qinghe, "Crown Princess, Lord Qi wants to see you."
Qi Qinghe was stunned. Qi Lin was looking for her. Why would Qi Lin look for her at this time?
She was full of doubts, and with a slight apology, she bowed to the imperial concubine and the prince and apologized, then followed the young eunuch to the side.
Next to the side hall, in a deserted corner, Qi Lin stood in the corner with his hands behind his back, listening to the noise and turning around.
"What you said last time, that you were discovered while being married off, is that true?" Qi Lin couldn't help but ask as soon as he saw the person.
"I just have a guess." Qi Qinghe looked uncomfortable. "If it is really exposed, what will father do?"
Qi Lin looked away, stared at the bluestone road under his feet, and fell silent.
"Father must also know that I have something to do today and cannot be delayed. If you have anything to say, please tell me as soon as possible." Qi Qinghe was getting impatient. The sun was scorching hot and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"The only solution now is to swap you and Yu girl back together." Qi Lin's face was ashen, and his tone was unquestionable. "You and Yu girl look alike, so just dress Yu girl up a little."
Apart from this, he couldn't think of any other solution. How could he let go of such a good position as the Crown Princess? He was also afraid of deceiving the emperor and bringing trouble upon himself.
Unexpectedly, these words sounded like thunder in Qi Qinghe's ears. Qi Qingyu was Qi Lin's biological daughter after all, so how could she dress herself up in a little bit?
She didn't dare to think about it too much. "This is a serious matter. Father, please think about it carefully. There's always time."
It would be best if the two sisters could escape before Qi Lin came up with a solution.
After saying that, she turned and left without even looking at Qi Lin, but when she turned the corner, she bumped into someone unexpectedly.
Qi Qinghe was knocked back repeatedly, rubbing his forehead and muttering in dissatisfaction. The first thing he saw was the familiar brocade robe. When he looked up, it was none other than His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
She is so stupid, she bumped into something twice.
Xiao Junbai held her arm firmly, stepped back a little, and asked her if she was hurt.
Qi Qinghe shook his head and took a closer look before he saw the Third and Fourth Princes, who were a few steps behind the Crown Prince, and he bowed.
Qi Lin came out upon hearing the voice, and was at a loss for a moment before bowing and taking his leave.
"I was wondering who it was, it turned out to be the Empress Dowager and Master Qi." Xiao Junqi poked his head out from behind the Crown Prince and said with a smile, "Why don't you join us, Empress Dowager?"
"You go first." Xiao Junbai glanced at his third younger brother, and the other two younger brothers had just gone ahead.
Qi Qinghe kept her head down, staring at the tip of her shoe in silence, her heart racing. Did the prince hear anything, coming at this hour? How should she explain it back?
"How can you walk if you keep your head down?" Xiao Junbai sighed when he saw that she still didn't speak, and grabbed her wrist and led them to the main hall.
"What did Qi Lin tell you just now? Was it about your mother's illness?" Xiao Junbai asked in a calm voice.
"Mother is fine now. Father came to see me because he was worried I'd be worried." Qi Qinghe followed the Crown Prince's words and changed the subject briefly, "Your Highness handled government affairs smoothly today. Your Highness's face was gloomy just now, which really scared me."
Xiao Junbai was speechless. He couldn't say that he had heard that the father and daughter...the uncle and nephew were plotting to marry someone else.
"There are many people here today, so don't drink too much," he just said in the end.
In the Xuanming Hall, everyone had taken their seats, except for the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.
Xiao Juntang persuaded her father with much persuasion and finally ended her confinement. Now she sat below the Empress, glaring at Qi Qinghe with resentment and unwillingness.
Xiao Junbai slightly turned sideways to block her sight, and the couple bowed and took their seats together.
The emperor asked the two of them a few questions casually, then raised his glass and said, "It is a rare occasion for our family to be together today. I am truly relieved."
After saying this, without waiting for anyone to react, the emperor drank the wine in his cup in one gulp. "You are the only children I have. In the blink of an eye, they have grown up, started their own families and careers, and I am getting old."
"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, how can you be considered old?" the Queen said coquettishly, soaking the wine in her glass. "It's just a marriage. Aren't your children still doing well in the palace?"
"What my queen mother said is true. My father studied hard when he was young, and led the army to fight in his youth, and defeated the Northern Rong people." Xiao Junqi stood up, saluted respectfully, and spoke one nice word after another.
The emperor nodded and summoned people to eat.
"Speaking of marriage, Your Majesty, among the princes, only the Fourth Prince is left alone. Does the Fourth Prince have a sweetheart?" The imperial concubine smiled faintly.
"That's true." The emperor put down his chopsticks, called the fourth brother and asked him what he thought.
Xiao Junhui had not uttered a word since he entered the hall. Upon hearing this, he simply stood up, thanked his father, and said no.
The Queen cursed the Imperial Concubine in her heart for hundreds of times. Her face, made up, was delicate and beautiful. She gently advised, "Your Highness is still young. This matter is not urgent."
You know, Princess Shaoyue and the Fourth Prince are both her daughters. Who knows what the Imperial Concubine is planning when she suddenly asks about the Fourth Prince's marriage.
"He's not young anymore. The fourth prince is already twenty." The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "How about this, let's choose a day to choose a concubine for the fourth prince. The Empress and the Imperial Concubine will decide."
The matter was settled and Xiao Junhui accepted the order.
Qi Qinghe listened without paying much attention, her thoughts already flying thousands of miles away, but unexpectedly, His Majesty changed the subject and asked about the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.
"The Crown Princess has been married into the palace for over a month, but there's still no sign of pregnancy. You two should hurry up."
Qi Qinghe responded obediently.
The banquet was considered a complete success and ended after one stick of incense.
Qi Qinghe had only drunk one glass of wine, so her head was still clear. She stood up shakily, and with the help of the maids on both sides, she followed the prince out of Xuanming Hall.
Just as she was about to get into the sedan chair and return to the palace, a clear voice called out to her from behind.
The couple stopped and looked back.
The visitor was wearing a bright red palace dress, which made her face look gorgeous, her skin fair and her appearance beautiful. The flamboyant smile on the corner of her mouth attracted attention.
Qi Qinghe remembered that this was His Majesty's eldest daughter, Princess Xiao Junmei.
She bowed gracefully, "I greet Her Royal Highness the Princess."
"It's our first meeting, so I should give her some gifts." Xiao Junmei supported her lightly. "I'm not in the palace often. I'll make up for the wedding ceremony when I go to Fengshan with the Crown Prince in the future."
After saying this, without waiting for Qi Qinghe to react, the princess walked past everyone and left.
"Don't worry about her." Xiao Junbai said calmly, "She has always been like this."
"Has the princess always been like this?" Qi Qinghe asked curiously. She pestered the prince to ask all the way and only then did she know that although the princess was the eldest daughter of His Majesty, she was born to a palace maid. His Majesty and the Queen did not treat her harshly but also not well, so she lived in the palace at the foot of Fengshan Mountain all year round.
"There will be an autumn hunt in a while. If you like, you can go and visit." Xiao Junbai said casually when he saw that she was really interested.
Qi Qinghe fell silent upon hearing this. She had a vague premonition in her heart that she would not be able to stay in the palace until then. After a while, she smiled and said, "If Her Royal Highness the Princess doesn't like it, then it would be a waste of time. Anyway, it's still early, so there's no need to rush."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Xiao Junbai suddenly turned around and stared at Qi Qinghe, his eyes seemed to want to swallow her.
Qi Qinghe blinked, thinking back to what he had just said. He felt that there was nothing wrong. How could the prince...
While she was lost in thought, Xiao Junbai had already leaned over and pressed her down, "Do you remember what the emperor said?"
She was completely surrounded by the scent of agarwood from His Highness's body, and the warm breath sprayed on her neck, causing large areas of her snow-white skin to turn red. Her hands were tightly held by the prince, and she could not break free.
Your Majesty, is the sentence you said about descendants?
Before Qi Qinghe could think about it, Xiao Junbai dragged her into the heat wave. The gauze curtains trembled slightly and the candlelight flickered until midnight.
Apart from the Crown Prince's enthusiasm in this matter, the Crown Princess lived a relatively leisurely life, admiring flowers, drinking tea, strolling in the garden, listening to Xiao Junluo talking about various homework, and occasionally listening to a piece of piano music, which was really pleasant.
Her comfort ended with the note sent by the queen.
"The Empress said that a banquet will be held in five days to select a concubine for His Highness the Fourth Prince, and all the nobles are invited to attend." The eunuch who delivered the message was very eloquent. "The concubines in the harem and several princesses will be present, as will His Highness Shao Yao. In addition, many famous families in the capital are also included."
Qi Qinghe was leaning against the railing, throwing down a handful of fish food out of boredom. Seeing the fish in the water rushing towards her, she curled her lips, took the post and took a closer look.
On the bright red post, there is a red and festive Chinese character written in a flamboyant style.
Qi Qinghe looked at the huge wedding character and had other thoughts.
Wouldn't it be perfect if she could take this opportunity to speak to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and ask him to bring Qi Qingyu into the palace to live and eat with her and keep her company?
"Imperial sister-in-law, Imperial sister-in-law?" Xiao Junluo stretched out his hand and waved it in front of the Imperial sister-in-law.
Qi Qinghe snapped back to his senses and said apologetically, "I was distracted just now. What did the imperial sister say just now?"
"My brother the Emperor is choosing a concubine, so he should have some new clothes. The Empress will usually give him some fine fabrics. Would you like to go with me to take a look?" Xiao Junluo asked again in a gentle voice.
"Of course." Qi Qinghe immediately became interested when she mentioned clothes. "I don't need much by myself. Come with me to pick some and take some back."
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