Chu Jinyao came out of Kunning Palace, not talking or laughing, and went straight to Ciqing Palace. Linglong and the others were no longer in the mood to joke, and only when they entered Ciqing Palace did Linglong dare to ask: "Crown Princess, how will the emperor deal with the empress's matter?"

Who knows? The emperor said he would make his own decision, but the honest officials would not stop their own affairs because even the most honest people would be blinded by emotions, and the emperor was not a clear-headed person.

Linglong and Dingxiang also realized that this situation was very unfavorable to them. Dingxiang couldn't help but say, "The Crown Princess has already put out all the evidence. Qiu Shuang's words are obviously full of doubts. Why doesn't the Emperor believe the Crown Princess?"

"He doesn't disbelieve me, he doesn't believe in power." Chu Jinyao said as she walked into the door. When she looked up, she was stunned. "Your Highness, why are you back?"

Qin Yi was reading in the east room. Hearing the noise, he put down the book and walked out. It seemed that the past situation was reversed. Chu Jinyao went to the door to greet Qin Yi countless times, but Qin Yi rarely came back before her.

Seeing the prince, Linglong and several maids quickly took off Chu Jinyao's heavy outer clothes, and then lowered their heads and retreated. Chu Jinyao followed Qin Yi to the east room. Qin Yi asked, "I heard from Xiao Linzi that you went to Kunning Palace. How was it?"

Chu Jinyao shook her head. Qin Yi was not surprised at this result at all. He smiled casually and comforted Chu Jinyao, "Don't worry too much. Just do your best."

Chu Jinyao knew the truth of doing everything possible and leaving it to fate. However, the reason why the truth is the truth is that everyone can say it, but not many people can do it.

Chu Jinyao met his calm and indifferent eyes, and felt unhappy in her heart for some reason. No one is born with a heart of steel. Qin Yi has become so cold and indifferent now. I am afraid that the emperor has contributed a lot.

Chu Jinyao's tone softened: "Your Highness, since you are back, why don't you go to Kunning Palace?"

"If I go, the situation will only get worse." Qin Yi said this very calmly. He had anticipated this day as early as when he issued the order to reject the Wala peace talks, or even earlier, when he was in charge of the country.

Since ancient times, kings have been unfaithful, and the imperial family is the most ruthless. The princes of every dynasty and generation cannot escape the fate of being suspected, and he is the same. There are many flaws in Concubine Shu's plan, but as Chu Jinyao said, a person will only see what he wants to see, otherwise, even if Chu Jinyao and Qin Yi put these under the emperor's nose, he will turn a blind eye.

By now, it was no longer a question of Empress Xiao Qi's death, but a question of whether the emperor was more willing to believe Qin Yi or Prince Su.

Qin Yi didn't care much, instead he looked at Chu Jinyao's belly very carefully: "Your belly is getting bigger and bigger, although it is more stable from four to eight months, but you can't worry too much. Whatever they want to do, just take care of the baby and don't worry about them."

Chu Jinyao also felt annoyed, she just had some regrets, and it seemed that the matter of letting the palace maid leave the palace could only be put aside for the time being. Chu Jinyao was about to say something to Qin Yi, but suddenly she was startled, and then she said to Qin Yi in surprise: "Come on, he's moving again!"

Qin Yi also refreshed himself. Since entering the first month of the year, the fetal movements have become more and more obvious. Qin Yi had heard Chu Jinyao say that the child would kick her, but because of busy political affairs, she had no chance to see it. It was not until the first month of the year when everything was settled and the fetal movements became more and more frequent that Qin Yi felt the fetal movements with his own hands.

Qin Yi felt the fetal movements wonderful when he touched them for the first time. Now, he put his hand on Chu Jinyao's belly again, and he still felt incredible. There is a child with his and Chu Jinyao's blood in it. In three months, he will be able to come out.

This child seems to feel that his parents are in a bad mood, and now he is trying to show his presence. Chu Jinyao laughed softly: "You heard it too, didn't you? You are blaming us for neglecting you again. When you come out, it will be spring in the capital. Then your mother will take you to see the peach blossoms. You will definitely like it."

Qin Yi's expression softened unconsciously. Yes, when spring comes, his most precious gift will be here.

In the Qianqing Palace, facing the palace made of gold and jade, the emperor felt for the first time that the imperial bedroom was empty.

Only a few months have passed, but the emperor deeply felt that he had aged.

This feeling became more obvious when he saw the six ministers who came to report on the affairs.

The current skeletons of the six ministries were all promoted by Qin Yi during the war. It is not an exaggeration to say that the entire court has undergone a major change. The emperor could not see any familiar faces anymore.

If the emperor was willing to think more deeply, he would realize that the reason why he could not see familiar faces anymore was because these senior officials died in the Xuanfu Incident.

However, the emperor just sighed and did not think deeply. He called the officials of the Ministry of Rites and told them his thoughts: "The Empress has been with me for fifteen years and gave birth to a son and a daughter for me. She is so much younger than me, but she left early. I was unable to rush back to see her for the last time, so I can only double compensate her for the aftermath. The Empress's funeral must be well managed."

The Minister of Rites and his deputy, the Minister of Rites, looked at each other and both showed embarrassment. The Minister of Rites stepped forward, bowed and asked: "Your Majesty, when you say grand funeral, what standards do you mean?"

The emperor simply felt that this question was inexplicable: "At least it can't be worse than Wenxiao's. They are sisters, there is no difference in order, just follow the standards of Wenxiao's funeral."

The Minister of Rites became more and more embarrassed. Not to mention whether the funeral standards of Empress Qi, as the successor, were in accordance with the etiquette and law, just the national strength of the eighth year of Jianxing and the current situation are not comparable. In the

eighth year of Jianxing, the world was peaceful and the treasury was abundant. As the mother of the eldest son of the emperor, Empress Wenxiao had no problem with a grand funeral, but what about now? Empress Qi offended the taboos of many ministers and indirectly killed many people. The whole country almost couldn't survive. Now that everything is in ruins and the capital has just been rebuilt, it is the time to recuperate, but most of the money in the national treasury is spent on the funeral of Queen Qi?

Not to mention whether the inner cabinet and the Ministry of Revenue can agree, even the Minister of Rites, a full-time ritual official in charge of sacrificial ceremonies, would not be willing to do so.

The Minister of Rites remained silent and expressed his opinion silently. The emperor was very surprised to see this. He is the Son of Heaven, and now he just wants his wife who has been with him for many years and now died in unclear circumstances to have a decent funeral. Is this not possible?

The emperor's face fell.

Fortunately, the stalemate did not last long, and the eunuch reported that Prince Su was coming. The Minister of Rites took the opportunity to leave. When he was leaving, he saw Prince Su and stopped to greet him: "Your Highness Prince Su."

"No need to be polite, Minister."

The emperor was still inside. This was not an occasion for greetings. After a brief greeting, the two parties said goodbye to each other. When passing by, the Minister of Rites saw a thin Confucian scholar in a blue shirt. He looked no different from the scholars who came to Beijing to take the imperial examinations, but he was destined to be no ordinary scholar since he could appear in such a place.

The Minister of Rites did not pay much attention to this person. At this time, he just regarded this blue-shirted scholar as an ordinary close minister. The emperor is also a human being, and he always has preferences and intimacy.

Prince Su and Fang Pucun walked to the inner hall and bowed: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

The emperor finally saw a familiar face. He said to Fang Pucun cordially, "You are in the capital. Are you used to living here?"

The emperor came back from Wala, so he naturally brought Fang Pucun, the great hero, with him. The emperor remembered that period of time when the envoys deliberately delayed the negotiation. The Wala people's attitude became more and more vicious. It was Fang Pucun who managed to save him. Seeing Fang Pucun now, the emperor felt indescribably cordial.

"Your Majesty, I am fine."

Prince Su asked with concern, "Father, you caught a cold in Wala. Did you call the imperial physician to see you after you came back?" Of

course, Ping'an's pulse had been checked long ago. The emperor was not seriously ill, but because he was frightened this winter, and the cold winter outside the Great Wall was not as cold as the fire in the palace, the emperor was inevitably exhausted and his foundation was a little weak. The emperor had been drinking medicine every day for the past few days. When he heard King Su's greetings, the emperor felt warm in his heart and his eyes became kind: "The imperial doctor has come, and what he said is just the same. But you, who have always cared about my health, are thoughtful."

King Su personally escorted the emperor back to the capital all the way, and the emperor now looked up to his son with admiration. Qin Yi is the prince, who naturally attracts many eyes and shines brightly wherever he goes. The third prince is the son of Empress Xiao Qi. With the help of Empress Xiao Qi, the emperor also favors the youngest son, so as the second son, King Su is the most neglected. It was only now that the emperor discovered that his second son was tall, handsome, and handsome. What was especially rare was that he was extremely filial.

Prince Su lowered his head and said humbly: "Your Majesty, thank you for your compliments. I have little talent and no ambition. All I want is to live a peaceful life. It is my duty to be filial to my father. I am just concerned about my father's health and do some trivial things. In terms of filial piety, how can I compare with my elder brother who shares my father's worries?"

The emperor's face turned cold. He remembered that Qin Yi did not seem to have taken the initiative to pay his respects since he came back. The last time Qin Yi followed a large group of ministers, asked perfunctorily and officially, and then went to Wenhua Hall to handle government affairs. Moreover, the emperor gradually discovered that Qin Yi refused to call Empress Xiao Qi mother, and in fact, he had never called him father. Whether in public or in private, Qin Yi always called him "Your Majesty".

Prince Su seemed not to notice the emperor's expression, and still stood there with a respectful look. Fang Pucun looked at him and said, "Your Majesty, you are not in good health now, and you need your children to take care of you, but the prince is busy with government affairs and I am afraid he can't spare much time."

Prince Su immediately stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Your son is willing to serve your father and share your worries."

The emperor thought for a moment and said, "After all, you already have a family, and it is not good to leave the princess in Qingyang for a long time. Let's do this, when the weather gets warmer in a few days, let the princess come with you."

Prince Su was overjoyed and bowed, saying, "Thank you, father."

The emperor continued to talk to Fang Pucun, and Prince Su waited for a while and took the opportunity to leave. Before leaving, Fang Pucun and Prince Su's eyes met quickly, and then looked away as if nothing had happened.

Adult princes are not allowed to stay in the capital. As a man, it is much more convenient for Prince Su to be granted fiefdom or return to the capital. But if the emperor asks Princess Su to move back to the capital, it means something else. The

presence of female relatives at least shows that the emperor intends to let Prince Su stay in the capital for a long time, and he doesn't need to leave for a while.

The suspicion between father and son has reached the point where it doesn't need to be concealed.