Separation
"What are you thinking about?"
Xiao Junbai walked into the hall and went to the desk. Seeing that the Crown Princess was still in a daze and had not noticed him, he asked softly.
Qi Qinghe was startled by the sudden sound and accidentally knocked over the teacup beside him, and the broken pieces rolled all over the floor.
She pretended to be calm, called the palace maids to clean up, smiled, slowly stood up, and walked towards His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, "I thought His Royal Highness was busy, so I didn't bother you. Mother just left."
"These things are rewards from my mother. I don't need so many by myself. Maybe I can give some to my younger sister at home?" she asked tentatively.
Just now, the imperial concubine inadvertently said that during the inspection, she couldn't help but think too much.
Isn't this a godsend?
"It's for you. Do with it as you please." Xiao Junbai glanced at her. He had come to retrieve the memorial and seal that he had left behind. "I've been busy lately, so I'll be staying at Qingya Residence. You're alone in the palace. If you're afraid, you can ask someone to accompany you."
"If you need anything, just ask someone to find me." After he said that, he looked at Qi Qinghe deeply and strode away.
This unexpected change made Qi Qinghe stunned. It was a good thing that the prince would not stay overnight in Mingcheng Palace.
But she felt empty and depressed in her heart.
The Crown Princess didn't show her emotion and trotted after the Crown Prince for a few steps, "I understand. Your Highness, please take care of yourself and don't overwork yourself."
The prince pretended not to hear and walked away until the noise behind him gradually died down and dissipated in the wind. Then he turned around, and his deep gaze seemed to pass through the corridor and fall on the person sitting below.
Fu Jingxuan had been waiting for him at the corner. Seeing his expression, he sighed and said, "If you're so reluctant to part, why bother to separate?"
Xiao Junbai said nothing, his heart remained unwavering.
A short separation is good for both of them. He needs time to figure out how to resolve the problems between them.
As for the Crown Princess...she still seemed to be feeling aggrieved and angry, and she was also not feeling well, so she needed to rest.
In this way, separation is very good.
Seeing this, Fu Jingxuan stopped trying to persuade him and turned to talk about government affairs with the prince.
Qi Qinghe had no idea what the prince was thinking. After a moment of disappointment, she felt a secret joy that she couldn't express.
At this moment, he was sitting at the table with his sister Qi Qingyu, talking about the prince's busy government affairs and the upcoming inspection.
Qi Qing understood, "They say the inspection is very strict. I'm afraid my uncle won't be idle either."
As the two were talking, Cheng Xi walked past the corridor and knocked on the palace door.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Don't worry, I've already delivered the letter to the maid." Cheng Xi bowed to the two of them. "Your Highness specifically instructed me to bring some new and interesting gadgets to Your Majesty. I've picked out some. I wonder if Your Majesty likes them?"
Qi Qinghe raised his eyebrows, his eyes slightly widened, and he raised his hand to ask someone to bring the things up.
Chengxi said that the selection was simple, but in fact most of them were exquisite and beautiful little gadgets.
The jade Pixiu is crystal clear, the silver hairpin is small and beautiful, there is a simple and inconspicuous amulet, a pair of red coral earrings, and even a jasmine-style silver bracelet.
She picked up the bracelet and put it on casually. Her fair wrist blended into the silver bracelet. There was a bell hanging at the end, which jingled and sounded very nice.
"Oh, this bracelet really suits you perfectly..." Cheng Xi praised the Empress, but didn't forget the main business. "Also, His Highness has instructed that seven days from now will be the day for the autumn hunt, which His Majesty has set. His Majesty and his officials will go with their families. Please make preparations, Your Majesty."
After saying this, Cheng Xi bowed and was about to leave the hall.
Qi Qinghe stopped him and asked, "Do you know what His Highness has been busy with recently?"
Cheng Xi thought nothing of it, simply thinking that the Empress was concerned about His Highness. "Your Highness, I think you've been busy lately with the Autumn Inspection of Officials. This period is Your Highness's busiest time. You are in charge of inspecting all civil and military officials. His Majesty has entrusted you with such an important task that you cannot afford to neglect it, which is why you are so busy."
Chengxi had been serving the master for the past two days, so he knew what the master was worried about, so he said a lot, hoping that the two masters would reconcile soon.
This saves the servants from getting into trouble.
Qi Qinghe pursed her lips and said nothing, then looked at Qi Qingyu.
Seeing that the empress was silent, Cheng Xi smiled awkwardly, bowed and left the hall, standing guard in the corridor.
The hall was quiet for a moment, and then the girl's playful laughter could be heard again. The two of them talked about yesterday, one sentence at a time, and couldn't stop.
Cheng Xi listened silently and sighed silently.
The cheers in the hall continued until the orange sunset glowed in front of the hall and a cool breeze blew.
Not long after, Qi Qinghe sat by the window with her sister on her arm. She seemed oblivious to Chengxi and the palace maids standing guard in the corridor. She smiled and said, "It's only been a few days, and you're leaving, leaving me all alone again."
"Sister, you have the Crown Prince by your side, so you're not alone at all." Qi Qingyu smiled faintly. "Besides, the autumn hunt is coming soon, I'll come and accompany you then."
Qi Qinghe sighed deeply, her round eyes filled with tears and reluctance. She raised her head slightly, "Is Your Highness in Qingya Residence right now? Please go there for me and tell him that I want to leave the palace and return home tomorrow. I hope Your Highness agrees."
Although the Queen did not say it explicitly, Chengxi knew that the Queen was saying this for him, so he immediately bowed and walked towards Qingyaju.
Finally, he was stopped by the empress. He turned around and bowed, asking the empress if she had any other instructions.
Qi Qinghe frowned slightly and thought for a moment, "Forget it, I'll go and ask the kitchen to prepare some food."
Half an hour later, Yun Tao and Yun Xing carried food boxes and snacks and followed the empress to Qingyaju, with Cheng Xi leading the way.
In Qingya Residence, Fu Jingxuan was talking about the inspection with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Hearing the noise outside, he knew that the Crown Princess had arrived.
Fu Jingxuan's narrow peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of ridicule flashed across his eyes. "Then you guys chat, I'll step aside first."
Fu Jingxuan walked out of the Crown Prince's study and bumped into the Crown Princess who was coming towards him.
Qi Qinghe vaguely remembered that she had seen this man in the prince's study last time. He was wearing a snow-white brocade robe, with his hair tied up with a jade crown. He looked like a handsome young man, and he always waved a paper fan in his hand, which added a bit of romanticism to his appearance.
She nodded slightly, accepted the other party's greeting, and went into the study on her own.
"Your Highness, have you had your meal yet? I am not ready either. Would you like to join us?" She smiled with a curved eyebrow.
Xiao Junbai responded calmly, put away the government affairs as if nothing had happened, looked up at the Crown Princess, arranged the food one by one, and handed him the silver chopsticks.
After finishing a bowl of porridge, Xiao Junbai slowly put down his bowl and chopsticks. "If you have something to say, just tell me directly. There's no need to do this."
His Crown Princess was his legal wife after three matchmakers and six betrothals. Why should he be so humble and show his kindness when he wants something?
But when Qi Qinghe heard these words, they didn't mean what they meant.
In her eyes, the Crown Prince was always cold and sardonic, his words devoid of emotion. The only time she felt this was that day when he asked her if she was angry and what she was thinking. His words were all about palace etiquette...
Thinking of this, she was secretly shocked. The prince had not mentioned any impoliteness to her for many days.
She smiled awkwardly, "I thought I'd go home tomorrow and see my sister off."
Xiao Junbai rubbed his brows. He knew that the Crown Princess would not come here for no reason and accompany him for dinner. "It's a small matter that you can decide on your own. If you return home, don't go empty-handed."
That’s right, this is the Crown Prince we are familiar with.
The smile on Qi Qinghe's lips became more and more sincere. "I know, Your Highness, don't worry, I know what's going on."
After saying this, she did not stay any longer on the pretext of not disturbing His Highness from handling government affairs. She only told His Highness to rest early and not to overwork, and then she left leisurely with two maids.
Xiao Junbai looked at her silently and couldn't help but smile bitterly.
That night, Qi Qinghe slept exceptionally well. He stood alone on the bed, tossing and turning as he pleased. Then, hugging his pillow, he listened to the jingling of the bells hanging high on the bed curtains and fell into a deep sleep accompanied by the whistling wind.
The next morning, golden sunlight shone through the window sill into the hall, making people's eyes hurt.
Qi Qinghe was dazzled by the dazzling light. He opened his eyes for a moment and then closed them again. He raised his hand to rub his eyebrows, relaxed for a moment, and called for someone to come.
Sitting in front of the makeup mirror, she looked at herself in the mirror and felt a little strange with her makeup on.
She changed into a bright red palace dress, which made the Crown Princess, who rarely wore such brightly colored clothes, look even more elegant.
Qi Qingyu was already waiting in the corridor.
This time, only the two sisters returned home, without His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. As usual, Chengxi went with the Crown Princess.
I thought no one would come out to greet me this time, but unexpectedly Qi Lin and Qi Zhang came with servants to greet me at the door.
"Your Majesty, welcome the Crown Princess." Qi Lin's words penetrated the curtain of the carriage.
Qi Qinghe listened to his words filled with suppressed anger and put on a faint smile.
The two sisters got off the car one after another and followed Qi Lin into the mansion. Also entering the mansion were some good things specially selected by the Crown Princess, which were packed in boxes and carried into the mansion by palace servants. They just followed from a distance and did not dare to get too close.
Qi Zhangshi lagged behind, walking with her daughter Qi Qingyu, and quietly asked her how things were going in the palace.
Qi Qingyu answered them one by one and told her not to worry.
On the other hand, Qi Lin and Qi Qinghe were silent along the way.
It was not until they were near the hall that Qi Lin lowered his voice and spoke through gritted teeth, "Did you do this to your mother on purpose?"
"How can you say that, father? My surname is also Qi, so I share the honor and disgrace with you." Qi Qinghe said with a faint smile.
But that faint smile was particularly dazzling in Qi Lin's eyes.
He gripped his niece's wrist tightly with his left hand, lifting it slightly, using his sleeve to cover it, as if vaguely supporting it, and said angrily, "Once the substitutionary marriage is exposed, both you and I will be doomed."
"I should be the one to say this to my father." Qi Qinghe sneered and turned to the palace maids who followed her. "I want to reminisce with my family and have some private conversations. You guys stay outside."
The palace servants responded in unison, dispersing in groups of two or three, surrounding the hall. Cheng Xi bowed and smiled apologetically, "His Highness has instructed me to guard the Empress at all times to prevent her from being frightened. Please don't blame me for not doing so."
"We're all family, why should we be frightened?" Qi Qinghe frowned slightly when he mentioned the Crown Prince, and spoke impatiently, "Could it be that you also want to reminisce with my family?"
Cheng Xi choked and stepped back repeatedly, "I dare not."
Having said that, after the door was closed, Chengxi still stood guard in front of the main room, not moving a step, almost sticking to the door.
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