Chapter 57 Getting Started
Xiao Qing went to see Mei Shu first. Seeing that she was pale and in unbearable pain, she still had to get out of bed to greet him. He couldn't help but sigh.
"Rules are rigid. Attendant Mei saved my life, and I'm too grateful to bother you further. Don't get up."
She rushed to help her up, but she was too small, so it was only with Mingxiu's help that she was able to lie back down properly.
Mei Shu said, "This servant is terrified. Protecting Your Majesty is my duty, and Your Majesty is not worthy of my thanks."
Xiao Qing was actually quite annoyed by this.
This world often operates without reason, relying instead on hierarchy and social status. This very logic can obliterate right and wrong, love and hate.
She's landed a great job now; if she were Mei Shu, she'd probably be beaten to death with sticks by now, given her personality.
Xiao Qing felt a chill in her heart, and seeing Mei Shu's obedient and patient appearance, she couldn't say a word for a long time.
She suddenly realized what that feeling of resistance and disgust she always felt when facing Mei Shu, especially when listening to her solemnly recount the rules of the palace, was.
It wasn't directed at Mei Shu, nor was it related to her personality; it was probably just that she fundamentally disagreed with this world.
She sighed, "Anyway, get some rest. Don't forget your medicine, I'll come to see you again."
Her face was still quite young, yet she had such a serious and dignified appearance.
Mei Shu recalled how she threw a tantrum and threw herself into Mingxiu's arms, refusing to let anyone else near her. Comparing the two, a bitter taste involuntarily rose in her throat again.
"This servant will, Your Majesty, please take care of your health."
After Xiao Qing was helped away by Mingxiu, Mei Shu stared blankly at the ceiling, unable to understand why, despite risking her life, she still couldn't gain Mingxiu's place in the young emperor's heart.
And so it is, and so it is.
How should she deal with this?
Lost in thought, someone brought over some medicine and placed it by her bedside.
She turned her gaze and saw that it wasn't a familiar face.
Just as she was about to ask, the man moved the medicine bowl slightly, revealing a corner of white paper underneath.
Mei Shu was startled and looked up at the person, who simply bowed and retreated without saying a word.
Mei Shu looked around to make sure no one was watching before reaching out and touching the medicine bowl several times. With difficulty, she pulled out the slip of paper and crumpled it in her palm, her heart pounding wildly.
She turned to the side, propping herself up with one hand on the edge of the blanket to let in a little light. She could see that the words on the note were strong and powerful, just four characters: "Lonely White Rabbit".
My eyes immediately welled up with tears, and I couldn't hold them back.
It's amazing to see this sentence again after so many years.
Her initial hesitation, trepidation, emptiness, and anxiety gradually subsided.
It's probably fate...
Ying Ying's physical condition was indeed better than Mei Shu's.
Xiao Qing saw from the window that although he was lying on the bed, three kittens were huddled together next to his arms under his head, all sleeping soundly, and she couldn't help but laugh.
The boy she brought back from outside the palace unexpectedly knew how to raise cats, and he and his kittens brought her a lot of warmth and affection.
Liu Yi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this servant will go and wake up Eunuch Ying."
Xiao Qing quickly shook her head at him, put her finger to her lips to signal him to be quiet, and then simply didn't go in, taking Mingxiu with her.
After Mingxiu eagerly led her to the bed and settled her in, he lay down by the bedside and looked at her expectantly.
Xiao Qing was helpless.
She glanced at the crutches beside the bed and assured them, "I really want to sleep now, there's nothing else. You see, I didn't even go into Yingying's room."
Mingxiu chuckled. "This servant is afraid that Your Majesty will overwork yourself. Since I have nothing to do this afternoon, this servant will stay here to watch over Your Majesty and change your dressing later."
Just as Xiao Qing was about to agree, Ma Hong arrived outside with Liu Yi.
She remembered this and asked Mingxiu to open the door.
Mingxiu had an expression that said, "I knew this would happen," but she still went.
Ma Hong and Liu Yi came to express their gratitude.
Xiao Qing said some words of encouragement and then sent them away.
Ma Hong and Liu Yi exchanged a glance, both seeing their own surprise and doubt in each other's eyes.
Seeing that they hadn't left, Xiao Qing asked, "Is there anything else?"
The two were startled, kowtowed in unison, and retreated with bowed bodies.
Inside the house, Xiao Qing couldn't help but ask Mingxiu, "Xiu'er, did you bring the wheelchair back?"
Mingxiu said, "They're still over there in the council hall. Didn't His Majesty say they wouldn't need them for the time being?"
Xiao Qing then asked, "Were these crutches and wheelchairs made by that beggar?"
Mingxiu was even more puzzled. "Since they were delivered together, they must have been made by the same person. Besides, they used the same type of wood."
After much deliberation, Xiao Qing suppressed all her thoughts and closed her eyes to hypnotize herself.
One should not rush things.
Haste makes mistakes.
Especially now, Zhao Youchen is on high alert. Therefore, any unusual news needs to be confirmed first.
Outside the door, Ma Hong and Liu Yi walked closer together, and only stopped when they were some distance apart, asking, "What does Your Majesty mean by this?"
Ma Hong frowned. "Since His Majesty has already promised to keep us by his side, he will naturally not go back on his word."
"But if that's the case, why doesn't His Majesty bestow medicine?" Liu Yi felt something was amiss.
Ma Hong couldn't figure it out either, and after a long while he finally said, "It's probably to test us."
There really is no other explanation.
Liu Yi was silent for a moment, then steeled his heart and said, "Fine. What about Ying Ying's matter?"
Ma Hong narrowed his eyes. "This kid is shrewd. He's already said what he wanted to say; now it's up to him to decide what he thinks."
Liu Yi thought for a moment, "Then let's do this. Although His Majesty has agreed, since he hasn't bestowed the medicine, our identities are unclear. We still need to keep a low profile."
Ma Hong nodded, and they all went their separate ways without further mention.
Three more days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the past three days, Wang Xiang came twice to report on the letter sent to the Northern Barbarians. Xiao Qing read it, praised the Prime Minister, and expressed his concern for the Prime Minister's health.
What's more unusual is another thing.
Xiao Chongle, the Earl of Dinghai, who was widely recognized as the most restless among the imperial clan, approached Wang Xiang and offered to act as an envoy, carrying a letter of state and rushing to the Northern Capital.
His reasons were also quite valid.
First, he wants to go to the battlefield, but unfortunately you've given me a meaningless position that's not fun enough for me to do and just sit around waiting to die. I won't do it.
Secondly, I'm here to share Your Majesty's burdens. You, King Xiang, probably can't find a more suitable and willing envoy than me.
It must be said that Wang Xiang indeed had a hard time finding an envoy who was both willing and capable of representing the Great Xiao.
Xiao Qing was very suspicious when she thought of Xiao Chongle, who was even more boisterous than her.
"Does the Prime Minister think this is feasible?"
Wang Xiang sighed. "Heaven blesses our Great Xiao, for we have a wise ruler like His Majesty. Although he has not yet taken personal control of the government, he is benevolent and wise, and all the ministers trust him. Now, the Grand Tutor is deeply entangled in the tiger's den, and the attitude of the Northern Barbarians is unclear. If our Great Xiao were to send an envoy, one of low rank would not be able to express our intentions, and even if there were someone who could be compared to the Grand Tutor, we could not send him to the north lightly. If the Earl of Dinghai is willing, he is indeed the most suitable candidate."
Xiao Qing was speechless. He had originally wanted to consider it further, but seeing Wang Xiang's respectful attitude and sincerity, and that his words had already made his stance clear, he pondered for a moment and said, "The Prime Minister should make arrangements as appropriate."
I'm starting to feel like I'm getting the hang of this job.
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