Chapter 86 The Clouds Stop and the Wind Ceases
Xiao Qing didn't know how she finished greeting the Grand Tutor and the child, then returned to Mei Shu's bedside, and then solemnly asked someone to check if there were any drug residues on her sleeves.
She felt as if her head had split in two the moment she saw the child.
She was calmly considering what she still hadn't done, what she should do, and how to do it.
The other is gripped by madness and fear.
The child looked about 70% like her now, only about a head shorter and looked only six or seven years old.
It was a boy.
The Grand Tutor, as always, was respectful and courteous. He then explained to her that this was a member of the royal family, and according to seniority, she should be his younger brother, but she was not listed in the royal family genealogy.
The princes who were not yet adults lived in the palace.
The Grand Tutor earnestly requested that the child be properly settled, and that he be introduced to the various members of the royal family so that his background and name could be added to the royal genealogy.
Xiao Qing felt that her performance at the time must have been flawless.
But in her heart, she thought, "Good, the Grand Tutor listened to my words and found a way to free her so quickly." Yet, at the same time, she wondered, "Is this forcing me to leave? That's why he sent Li Qinghe to test her choice." But why bother? Wouldn't it have been better to just say it directly?
Mingxiu had finished removing the needles from Mei Shu's head. She looked at Xiao Qing cautiously, her voice barely audible. "Your Majesty?"
Xiao Qing quickly turned around, "Hmm, are you done? What is it?"
Mingxiu glanced outside.
The Grand Tutor stood at the doorway, holding a child's hand. He watched Xiao Qing's back for a short while before turning around and leaving with Zhao Youchen.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Qing asked solemnly.
Mingxiu quickly looked away and said, "No drug residue was found on the needle, but judging from Attendant Mei's reaction, it seems that a hallucinogenic or epileptic drug was applied. And because it was inserted into an acupoint..."
"How is Mei Shu?"
"She's already asleep. I'll check on her again when she wakes up."
Xiao Qing nodded and reached out to touch Xiao Xiao, only to find that Xiao Xiao was not with her.
I don't know when they ran away.
She withdrew her hand, stood up, and said, "I'm going to rest for a while. You can take care of things here."
Mingxiu watched her straighten her back and walk out. When she was about to step out the door, she couldn't help but run up to her and say, "Your Majesty, this servant will accompany you."
Xiao Qing waved his hand, "I'll stay by myself for a while."
She looked up and could see the figures of the Grand Tutor and his entourage in the distance.
At this moment, Zhao Youchen asked Fu Mingyi, puzzled, "His Majesty seems rather unhappy?"
Fu Mingyi squatted down and looked at the child beside him, "Has Your Highness remembered what I said before?"
The child nodded obediently, "I remember."
Fu Mingyi patted his shoulder, "After meeting the imperial relatives, the young prince can no longer use this name. If the young prince trusts me, I will choose a character for him and then ask His Majesty to bestow a name upon him, is that alright?"
The child nodded again, "Okay."
Zhao Youchen thought the child was really well-behaved and couldn't help but take a few more glances. After a while, he felt that the child looked somewhat like Xiao Qing, and couldn't help but wonder if the young emperor looked like this when he was even younger. As a result, he developed a lot of goodwill towards him.
Fu Mingyi smiled. "Then, before that, may you stay at my residence?"
The child smiled. "Thank you, Grand Tutor."
"Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities."
Fu Mingyi pointed to the small garden next to him and said, "Your Highness, could you wait here for a moment while I speak with General Zhao?"
The child nodded, "I will wait here."
He nodded to Zhao Youchen again and said, "General Zhao."
Zhao Youchen quickly bowed.
Although this person was not listed in the imperial genealogy, he had just clearly heard that this was the young emperor's younger brother.
Fu Mingyi then walked with Zhao Youchen toward the small garden.
After witnessing this scene, Xiao Qing felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on her heart.
She had seen Fu Mingyi's gentle and patient side before; he had taken care of her pain and emotions in the same way during their escape south. Yet, there was also mutual suspicion and resistance between them.
He wasn't as pure as he is now.
Xiao Qing's lips unconsciously curved downwards, and she turned and walked towards her own palace.
Ma Hong followed two steps behind her, not saying a word, only walking forward with his body slightly hunched.
Zhao Youchen continued the previous topic.
"His Majesty seems rather unhappy?"
Fu Mingyi said calmly, "You've had a tough time these past few days."
Zhao Youchen shook his head. "His Majesty is obedient and intelligent, so there's really no need to worry too much. In many situations, I still need His Majesty's guidance in my actions."
Fu Mingyi smiled faintly, "It's inconvenient at the moment. After I've settled the young prince in, I'll prepare a light meal at the manor this evening, and we can talk then."
Zhao Youchen smiled, "That's exactly what I was thinking. Only after the Grand Tutor returned to court did I feel that the burden on my shoulders had lightened a bit. Just as the Grand Tutor said before his departure, the palace and the surrounding area need to be reorganized." He had many things to say and many questions, which he discussed in detail with Fu Mingyi that evening.
The two smiled at each other, and Fu Mingyi patted him on the shoulder before walking towards the child into the sunlight.
The next day, the Grand Tutor was drunk and did not enter the palace to meet the Emperor, nor did he see any of the ministers.
The next day, Zhao Youchen was drunk and did not stand guard in the palace.
The next day, Xiao Qing slept soundly until sunset, when he heard that Wang Xiang had come by.
On the third day, Fu Mingyi entered the palace, along with Wang Xiang, Sun Jinyi, and Yu Zaiting.
Xiao Qing listened to their back-and-forth discussion about Anji's martial spirit, which was subtle yet incisive. In the end, they settled on a plan, but the national treasury could only cover half of the expenses, and the Grand Tutor would have to find a way to cover the other half.
Then, Fu Mingyi mentioned the child to Wang Xiang, and the imperial relatives went to the palace. Xiao Qing listened in again and heard them finalize the child's background and all the matters related to recognizing the child as a member of the clan.
The child's original name was Xiao Yun, but Fu Mingyi requested that he be renamed Xiao Yan.
May you live in peace and tranquility, under a clear, cloudless sky.
Xiao Qing couldn't help but sneer inwardly, her mind filled with pettiness.
Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan.
When she becomes Xiao Yan, will he become Xiao Qing?
Xiao Qing silently agreed to all of the Grand Tutor's suggestions, then looked tired and said that he needed to rest.
Although it is the beginning of summer, the wind is strangely cool.
That night, Xiao Qing kicked off the thin blanket, and early in the morning she was sneezing and had two streams of snot running down her nose. Her eyes felt hot, and her head was a little dizzy.
Mingxiu busied herself anxiously, but Xiao Qing just smiled and pushed away the medicine bowl, saying, "No need for all this trouble, I'm just feeling sleepy. I'll sleep a little longer." So he lay down and went to sleep, refusing to take his medicine, and even slept through his three meals a day.
The invasion of the northern barbarians, the emperor's flight to the south, the death of the Grand Tutor, and the discord between the north and south.
Since the Grand Tutor returned to Nanhua City, all the turmoil seemed to have vanished without a trace, and the clouds above Nanhua City remained completely still.
After three days, Xiao Qing fell ill, but she felt a peace she had never known before.
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