Xie Liwei's expression became extremely complicated. He clicked his tongue in disdain, stood up, and said, "I'm going to the palace."
Song Yaozhu withdrew her arm and hummed in agreement.
Some things don't need to be explained; they've already made their decisions in their hearts. If he didn't trust her, why would he protect her in every way?
Xie Liwei went to the palace, and Song Yaozhu was put into a hot water bath by Granny Qin. The bath was filled with many herbs to dispel cold, making Song Yaozhu feel like a dish about to be served.
The feeling of being enveloped in hot water was wonderful, and after riding horses all night, she soon fell asleep.
Xie Liwei entered the Qiankun Hall, where Fang Tong, the Vice Minister of Revenue, was standing. Upon seeing him enter, Fang glared at him and let out a disdainful snort.
Xie Liwei bowed to the Emperor before the Emperor said, "I heard that you took the Princess to the Jokhang Temple to offer incense yesterday? Isn't the Huangjue Temple closer to the capital? Why did you go there?"
The Emperor asked this question to test whether he had been in contact with the Dowager Consort. Many people had seen the Dowager Consort summoning Song Yaozhu yesterday. It wasn't surprising that he knew.
Xie Liwei said in a serious tone, "Madam Song visited the Princess at the Prince's Mansion a few days ago and urged her to have a child soon. As a result, the Princess has become eager for this matter. She heard that the Guanyin Bodhisattva at Dazhao Temple is very effective in granting children, so she asked me to go and pray with her."
After saying that, he glanced at Fang Tong, the Vice Minister of Revenue, with a mocking look, and continued, "Lord Fang knows more about the efficacy of the Guanyin Bodhisattva who grants children at the Jokhang Temple than I do."
Fang Tong's face turned ashen; this was a veiled jab at his daughter-in-law's miscarriage!
He had opposed his son taking a concubine from the start; how could a concubine be taken before a legitimate son had even been born? But his wife and son were on the same side, so he had no choice but to agree. He thought it was just a small matter, but who would have thought that Xu Wan'er was as stupid as a pig, daring to lay a hand on the legitimate wife!
That Shen Qingyu is useless; she let a concubine get away with it so easily.
well!
"Your Majesty, the Princess Consort and Prince Xiaoyao beat my son and daughter-in-law in front of so many people yesterday. I beg Your Majesty to do justice for this old minister!"
Yuwen Wuji looked at Xie Liwei with displeasure, "Ali, that's their family matter after all."
He disliked Xie Liwei because he was a member of the Xie family. However, he couldn't let his image as a devoted lover crumble, so he had to extend his affection to Xie Liwei as well.
Over the years, Xie Liwei has always bothered him with all sorts of trivial matters, and he's really getting annoyed to death.
However, this was the first time he had ever physically assaulted someone, especially the son of a third-rank official.
"Your Majesty, I did not intend to meddle in Lord Fang's family affairs," Xie Liwei said calmly. "When the incident occurred yesterday, I was outside the crowd when I heard the Princess shout that Fang Wencai had molested her. That's why I acted impulsively and did something out of a fit of anger for the sake of a woman."
Fang Tong glared at him, his eyes saying, "Have some shame!"
Yuwen Wuji was speechless, but the reason was still the jealousy and rivalry among the women in the Fang family's inner quarters. He punished both sides equally, sending Fang Tong back to reorganize the inner courtyard, and also bestowing a nanny upon Xie Liwei to teach Song Yaozhu etiquette.
Fang Tong had no choice but to swallow his anger and leave the Qiankun Palace.
Only the Emperor and Xie Liwei remained in the hall. The Emperor couldn't help but ask curiously, "You're not the kind of person who would risk everything for a woman."
Xie Liwei smiled faintly, half of his face was covered, but that did not prevent the emperor from guessing his full expression.
That smile held a hint of amusement, yet also a touch of indulgence.
"Your Majesty, as you know, the Princess Consort and my elder sister look very similar. I am simply drawn to her because of my affection for her."
Upon hearing this, the emperor clenched his fist slightly.
Ten years ago, he felt that Xie Liwei's gaze towards Xie Wanqing was strange. It didn't look like a younger brother looking at his older sister; rather, it looked like a young man looking at his crush.
Xie Wanqing was devoted to her younger brother and naturally hadn't noticed. At the time, he thought he was mistaken, but when he heard the rumors that he escorted the coffin back to his hometown and lay in the same coffin as the corpse, he was so angry that he smashed up the entire Qiankun Palace.
Such a child dares not even dream of such things!
His current posture seems more like a provocation. However, he cannot expose it, since he has no evidence, and Xie Liwei is someone he personally praised for their "deep sibling bond."
He could easily attribute his indulgence of Song Yaozhu to his longing for his elder sister.
"Ali, you need to understand, your older sister is already dead."
“Your subject knows, but is it too much for your subject to indulge your wife? After all, your subject has not done anything to favor a concubine over his wife. Your subject knows the moral principles and ethics.”
He subtly sowed discord between Fang Wencai and Fang Wencai once again.
"Hmph, you spoil your wife so much, how come she ran away after arguing with you yesterday?"
"She interfered in Lord Fang's family affairs at will, so naturally I had to teach her a lesson. I was just warning her that if she did it again, I would send her to Lord Fang's backyard so that the three of them could have a show. She thought I was going to give her to Fang Wencai as a concubine, so she ran away in a huff. She came back this morning and is probably eating and drinking her fill and sleeping now."
emperor:"......"
Enraged, the Emperor grabbed a memorial and slammed it at Xie Liwei's feet, yelling, "Get out of here!"
Xie Liwei bowed and left, and Li Wei hurriedly served the emperor a cup of chrysanthemum tea to cool him down.
"Xie Liwei's mouth is full of barbs!"
Li Wei thought to himself, "That's because you have a grudge, that's why you find it prickly." He, however, felt that the Prince of Xiaoyao was extremely doting on his princess.
The emperor took a sip of chrysanthemum tea, and only after Xie Liwei's sharp remark did he remember something.
"How is the matter concerning Song Si progressing, Consort?"
"The Imperial Concubine's idea is that since the New Year is approaching, the Fourth Miss and her family should celebrate the New Year one last time. After all, once she enters the palace, she will never have another chance."
The Emperor grunted in acknowledgment.
He wasn't particularly interested in Song Si, but Xie Liwei's provocation today had actually stirred up his competitive spirit.
He was merely a substitute; he had one, and as the emperor, he naturally had one too.
Upon returning to the Prince's residence, Xie Liwei exuded an aura of frost. He stepped into the study, whereupon Granny Qin brought him a bowl of sweet soup.
"Your Highness, please come and try this. The Princess Consort ordered the kitchen to make it for you!"
Granny Qin looked as if the bowl of sweet soup was made by Song Yaozhu herself.
"It's just a bowl of sweet soup," Xie Liwei said helplessly.
Granny Qin had already lifted the lid of the bowl, and a rich aroma of peanuts wafted out. Xie Liwei stared at the bowl of sweet soup, slightly stunned.
Peanuts were a tribute from the vassal states, but the people of Da Chen were not used to them. Many people suffered allergic reactions and even shock after eating them, including Xie Wanqing. However, Xie Liwei was not allergic and enjoyed eating them very much.
Xie Wanqing figured out how to make peanut sweet soup on her own: boil peanuts in water, and add acacia honey and milk when the soup turns thick and white.
This was his favorite sweet soup, but after his sister passed away, no one knew it anymore.
He took a sip of the sweet soup and sneered, "Ha, flattery, the princess certainly knows how to bend and stretch."
Granny Qin was completely bewildered. Huh? Was this a compliment or an insult?
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