Leaving Beijing
There were some special dishes in front of him, sour, spicy and delicious. Qi Qinghe ate more rice, which was rare for him.
Xiao Junbai, who had been secretly watching her, also picked up a piece of food with chopsticks to taste it.
But it's just one chopstick.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who always prefers light food, rarely tastes this kind of dishes, and coughed a few times in his throat.
“…” Qi Lin, who was talking eloquently, fell silent for a moment and dared not say anything more.
The dining room fell silent for a moment.
"There are many things going on in the court, so it's not advisable to stay any longer." After drinking the slightly bitter and sweet tea, the pungent smell subsided. Xiao Junbai remained calm and said calmly, "Lord Qi has something to ask, so please write a letter."
After saying this, his eyes were fixed on Qi Qinghe.
The implication is self-evident: it's time to return to the palace.
"Your Highness, it's rare for me to go home. Why don't you spend more time with me..." Qi Qinghe said hesitantly, racking her brains to find an excuse.
At this moment, Qin Er, who had been standing silently beside her, suddenly stepped forward and said, "Miss, my cousin is here. I want to talk to you."
Qin'er's voice was not loud, and although Qi Lin and Qi Zhang were far away, Xiao Junbai could still hear it clearly.
Cousin? Is it Qi Qingyu? How could I let go of this rare moment of solitude?
Qi Qinghe smiled and said, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness. I will be back soon."
Xiao Junbai frowned slightly. This father-in-law was really good at talking, a little noisy, and he nodded almost inaudibly.
Qi Qinghe immediately stood up and followed Qin'er to the backyard.
She crossed the curtain door and walked along the bluestone road. Before she reached the lotus courtyard, she passed an inconspicuous side room. Suddenly, the door on her side opened and she was violently pulled into the room.
After not seeing her for a few days, Qi Xu's hair was slightly frosted, and her thin body was wrapped in ill-fitting clothes. Her dry hands were trembling as she pulled her daughter, staring at her without blinking.
I was afraid that my daughter would disappear in the next moment.
Qi Qinghe's eyes instantly turned red, her dark pupils gleaming with tears. "Mother, are you okay these days? Have they bullied you? How did you become so thin in just a few days? Are you sick? If you are sick, just tell me, don't hide it from me."
The barrage of questions brought tears to Qi Xu's eyes, and the corners of her mouth curved up. "Look at you, you're still so impatient. I live in this big house, I have food and clothes. Who can bully me? What kind of illness can I get?"
"As for you, how are you doing in the Eastern Palace? Is the Crown Prince treating you well? The Queen and the Imperial Concubine..." Qi Xu fell silent as she spoke. Her eyes widened, and her thick eyebrows raised as she looked around anxiously.
How could an ordinary person like her make arbitrary comments about the nobles in the palace?
Fortunately, Qi Qinghe understood what her mother hadn't said. "Don't worry, mother. I'm fine."
As she spoke, she nodded at Qin'er behind her and asked her to take out the things she had stuffed in today.
Qin'er hurriedly pulled it out and saw that it was a purse embroidered with peonies.
"Keep it well. Find an excuse to go to Jingyuan Street and buy a few strong servants with death contracts. Remember to select them carefully and don't bring trouble into the house." Qi Qinghe held Qin'er's hand tightly and instructed carefully, "If there are any things from the palace in the future, you will take these people with you and bring them back to A Niang. Don't forget."
Apart from this, she really had no other choice.
The mother and daughter hugged each other again and chatted for a while before turning their eyes to Qi Qingyu, who was standing in the corner, watching silently.
"Sister, you have something to say." Qi Qinghe snuggled up to A Niang, calming her anxious breath. "If you want me to help you with something, I'm sorry I can't help you."
Qi Qingyu opened her mouth and glanced at Qi Xu, "Sister, would you mind speaking with me for a moment?"
In the afternoon, a cool breeze blew on the corridor, ruffling the girls' hair, making it impossible for them to stand up.
Qi Qingyu looked straight at her elder sister. "This is for no one else. Is your elder sister really living well in the East Palace?"
"Sister, have you ever thought about escaping?" If this fails, there will be another time. Even if Qi Qingyu is exiled and her life is uncertain, she is unwilling to stay in this family and let Qi Lin manipulate her to marry a master who can be her father. "Sister, are you willing to come with me?"
Qi Qinghe said nothing and looked at her quietly.
Although he was dressed in bright and beautiful clothes, his eyes were dull and lifeless, and the corners of his mouth were tight, and he looked obviously lifeless.
As if by magic, she remembered the day when the Queen and Fu Jingyuan had made things difficult for her, and what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had said.
"What do you want to do?" Qi Qinghe asked softly, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Qi Qingyu's eyes suddenly lit up.
…
About a quarter of an hour later, Qi Qinghe returned to the dining room.
"Your Highness, thank you for waiting for me. I suddenly feel a little uncomfortable in my stomach." The words came before the person arrived.
When he stepped into the dining room again, Qi Qinghe was shocked by the cold atmosphere in the dining room.
Qi Lin and Qi Zhang stood by, with their heads down and not daring to breathe. When they saw her come back, they quickly cast a look at her, hoping to get out of the predicament.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sat perfectly still, sipping his tea leisurely.
At the prince's feet, a man was kneeling and trembling.
Judging from his clothes, it should be that young man.
Qi Qinghe thought for a moment, but couldn't remember the man's name, so he gave up and said, "Since Your Highness has urgent matters, why don't we return to the palace?"
"It's close to home anyway, I can come back next time." Qi Qinghe's eyebrows were curved and her voice was sweet and soft.
Xiao Junbai nodded and went out with her.
Outside the Qi Mansion, Qi Qinghe did not show any reluctance and allowed the maid to help her get into the carriage.
Xiao Junbai turned around and swept a sharp look around, forcing several people around him to bow their heads. He said in a cold voice: "Master Qi, since you are an official in the court, you should abide by your duties and be diligent in everything. How can you dare to act in a selfish way?"
Qi Lin nodded repeatedly and said nothing more.
On the way back to the palace, Qi Qinghe covered her face with a handkerchief, yawned, and leaned against the wall of the car with her eyes closed.
Xiao Junbai pursed his lips, wanting to say something but stopping himself. Seeing that she still didn't say anything, he sighed and held her in his arms so that he could sleep more comfortably.
…
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has left the capital to investigate a case of great importance.
Qi Qinghe had never experienced this before, so she prepared a lot of things and clothes.
Once you are away, you may be away for twenty to thirty days at the least, or several months at the worst. It is bitterly cold in Tongzhou, and you only have three cloaks to change into, let alone a brocade robe.
As soon as he stepped into Qingyaju, Xiao Junbai was shocked by the scattered debris on the ground.
"Princess, I'm going to investigate a case. How can I bring so many clothes with me?" The prince looked helplessly at Qi Qinghe who was directing the palace servants to pack the clothes.
Qi Qinghe acted as if she hadn't heard. "Your Highness has been gone for a few days, and I'm worried. Tongzhou is cold, so Your Highness should take care of himself."
As she spoke, she came closer, took off His Highness's outer garment, and called a palace maid to bring him a cup of hot tea.
"No need." Xiao Junbai took the person and sat down. "Father urged us to leave tonight."
"Chengxi will stay with me for the next few days. If you need anything, feel free to look for him." He paused, not wanting to say something slightly disgusting. "You can also write to me."
Qi Qinghe was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "I'll remember that."
"Why is it so urgent? We have to leave tonight." The Crown Princess straightened her lips to avoid laughing out loud and revealing herself.
Once the prince leaves, she will have the final say in the Eastern Palace.
Although her mouth was calm, her clear eyes betrayed her.
Xiao Junbai feigned displeasure and frowned, "Even if I'm not here, you must not slack off. You should take good care of the East Palace, discipline the palace maids, and spend more time with my mother."
Qi Qinghe responded in the affirmative and escorted His Highness to the palace gate. "Your Highness, please be careful along the way and take care of yourself."
"I'm so envious of the deep affection between my brother and his wife." A teasing voice echoed from outside the palace gate. "Unlike me, I've married a wife, but I'm still alone."
Upon hearing the voice, Qi Qinghe stretched her neck to look, but it was not bright around her and the person was hidden in the night. Before she could see clearly, the prince pressed her head with his hand and turned her back to prevent her from seeing.
However, just by the voice, one could tell that it was the third prince Xiao Junqi, who was going to Tongzhou with the crown prince to investigate the case.
"It's late at night and the dew is heavy here. Go back early and don't send me off." Xiao Junbai sent the Crown Princess back to the East Palace with a few words, without even looking at the person in the dark.
"Hey, my royal brother, wait for me." Xiao Junqi hurriedly followed, "My royal brother is in a bad mood, why are you taking it out on me?"
Xiao Junbai glanced at him calmly and said, "This is the nth time this month."
The person he was talking about was naturally Xiao Junqi and the Third Princess, who got married last year. They would quarrel every few days, and then make up again the next few days.
Most people in the palace were used to it. No matter how much they quarreled, there would be no result, so they just regarded it as a fun thing for the couple.
Xiao Junqi touched his nose and said firmly, "It's really not my fault this time. She's clearly being unreasonable and fussing over such a small matter."
Xiao Junbai got on the carriage without paying any attention... He had heard this so many times that he no longer believed it.
"Come to think of it, my royal brother, have you and your wife ever had a quarrel?" Xiao Junqi asked unwillingly.
Xiao Junbai opened the book and looked up at him.
A quarrel? Does the day when the Queen gave the Crown Princess a hard time count?
He vaguely sensed that the Crown Princess was dissatisfied, but he didn't say a word.
"Take care of yourself first." Xiao Junbai avoided the topic and opened the book, with no intention of having a deep conversation.
Xiao Junqi said "oh", looked away with boredom, and lifted the car curtain to look.
There were no lights on in the dim and quiet streets. Only the sound of the wind whistling past could be heard, and there was not even a single person in sight.
In comparison, the Mingcheng Hall was as bright as day.
"Quick, bring me that jar of fine wine. I want to get drunk." After returning to the East Palace, Qi Qinghe lifted the hem of her skirt and trotted back to the bedroom, calling Yun Xing from afar.
With a jar of sake and a few side dishes, the Crown Princess and two maids gathered around a small table, drinking and chatting in the moonlight, looking very happy.
“…Empress, His Highness left just like that, aren’t you worried?” Yun Xing was obviously drunk, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide open, looking at their Empress curiously.
"What's the point in worrying?" Qi Qinghe drank the whole bottle. "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince won't change his decision easily."
"That's right." Yun Tao pointed at Yun Xing and laughed non-stop, "How could you ask such a stupid question?"
"How am I stupid?" Yun Xing was unconvinced. "Your Majesty, why don't you tell me how His Highness chose you on the day he chose his concubine?"
"Maybe it's because of this." Qi Qinghe's slender willow-shaped eyebrows knitted together. She had only been in the palace for a few days, but she felt as if the day of the imperial concubine selection seemed a long time ago. "Maybe it's because I'm obedient and sensible, and don't cause trouble."
After saying that, she drank the wine in the glass in one gulp. Even if she didn't cause trouble, trouble would come to her on its own.
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