Recognize the father
Taking advantage of the clear, crisp weather, Changqing suggested taking Ah Jiao for a horseback ride. Lvliu and the others had no choice but to stay home, watching the couple make up, then quarrel, and then make up again. They had no choice but to let them do as they pleased, not taking Wang Ling with them anyway.
The streets of Chang'an were bustling with activity. Changqing had wanted to take Ah Jiao to see the smoky stalls, the porters and fishermen on the Liucheng River, and the boy with buns selling flowers early in the morning...
However, when they opened their eyes, some big restaurants were already preparing dishes for lunch.
Gillian sat in front of Changqing, looking down at the street. Groups of people dismounted their horses and walked slowly. The women shopping together were graceful, and the sweet osmanthus flowers in their hair left a faint fragrance...
Such leisurely time reminded her of her childhood, when she also sat on her father's horse's head, looking down at the mediocre crowd on this ancient street with willfulness and freedom. However, things are different now, and her mood has changed a lot.
In the past, she looked down upon people like ants, like dust, and ignored everything. Now she realized that she was like a dangerous building or a high tower, and the people of the world disdained to look at her. Who would envy her for her wealth and wealth?
"Jiaojiao, wait for me for a moment, I'm going to buy something."
Changqing reined in his horse and stopped at the corner. Ah Jiao thought about the past and just nodded, waiting for him in a daze.
A familiar figure came into view. Lady Dou, delicately made up and holding a golden pomegranate hairpin, was chatting and laughing with the young man beside her. "I've been browsing for so long and finally found something I like. None of these shops have any good styles this year."
Dong Yan heard this and said, "This color looks good on you."
Dou Taizhu said, "Don't tease me. This is what young girls wear. I just like to buy it and keep it for fun."
Dong Yan said seriously, "The princess never ages. In my heart, she will always be the willful little girl who first rescued me from Jielou."
Empress Dou smiled and lowered her head, and Dong Yan naturally inserted the hairpin into her hair. Ah Jiao's fingernails almost pierced her flesh as she looked coldly at the perfect couple in front of her.
Suddenly, a child, wielding a wooden sword, rushed from the intersection, knocking Empress Dou back a few steps. The child, rubbing his forehead, sat down on the ground. The jewel carvings on the red pomegranate hairpin shattered instantly.
Dong Yan hurriedly supported Liu Piao and looked at the child angrily, "How dare you hit the princess!"
The child's face turned pale with fear when he heard this. He kowtowed and apologized, "Princess, please forgive me. I... I was in such a hurry that I didn't see it."
Liu Piao looked at the hairpin she had just bought and the dirt on her clothes that had been rubbed by the little boy, and her face looked unhappy.
Dong Yan picked up the hairpin and said, "This is the gold hairpin the princess just bought, and now you broke it."
The little boy said, "I... I don't have any money..."
Dong Yan frowned. "Since you don't have the money to pay, how about I beat you up to pay off the debt? Come, take him to the government office."
"Let him go, he's just a child. I'll compensate you." Gillian walked forward and helped the child up.
Dong Yan didn't remember what Gillian looked like. He said, "You want to compensate? Okay, then buy me another one that's exactly the same."
The red pomegranate flowers are made of rare red jade, and each piece of jade has different textures. Dong Yan's request clearly shows that he is unwilling to let things go.
Ah Jiao looked at him coldly, revealing a rare expression of contempt. "The Grand Master hasn't even spoken yet, so what right do you, a lowly slave, have to speak so arrogantly in front of me?"
These words were hurtful and pierced Dong Yan's face. He was just a lowly actor in Jielou at first, but was noticed by the princess and brought back to the palace. He was raised there until now and he hated others criticizing his background the most.
Liu Piao's face darkened. "Madam Cheng has such a bad temper. Is she relying on the influence of the Queen and General Wei? His words are my words. If this guy doesn't pay me, I will report him to the authorities according to the law. It's reasonable and fair."
Madam Cheng, please hold back on your kindness and leave it for His Majesty to see."
The last sentence directly exposed Ah Jiao's thoughts in the palace last time, but she was not very excited. She stared at Liu Piao coldly, "Don't you think that in the eyes of the Grand Lord, except for the princes and nobles, the lives of the common people are not human? You are powerful now, but who knows that the tower will collapse and the waves will surge in a moment."
Liu Piao's face changed color when she heard this. She looked at Ah Jiao fiercely and raised her hand to hit her. Suddenly, Chang Qing came over. He stepped forward and pulled Ah Jiao back two steps. "It's the Queen Mother. Chang Qing greets the Queen Mother."
Liu Piao sarcastically said, "You still have some manners. I thought you, the Wei family, were so blind that you, along with the scumbags associated with the Wei family, could ignore the royal dignity."
Ah Jiao laughed when she heard this, "You're right, isn't this all due to relying on in-laws? The relatives of the emperor all pretend to be relatives of the emperor, acting pretentiously and tyrannically. It's really ridiculous."
Liu Piao had been furious after being secretly ridiculed by this young man several times. Chang Qing was also a little surprised by A Jiao's unusual sarcasm today, but the most important thing at the moment was to ease the tense atmosphere.
He hurriedly took out the candy he had bought from the store and presented it to Liu Piao. "Your Highness is our elder, so please don't be so picky with a junior. I just bought some freshly baked lotus seed candy. Please try it."
Although Liu Piao still disliked the two of them, seeing that Chang Qing's attitude had softened somewhat, he glanced at Chang Qing and asked, "Do you like to eat this?"
"Jiaojiao loves to eat. Recently, her aunt had someone watch her drink medicine, and it was very bitter. I saw it just now and thought of buying her some lotus seed candy to help her take the edge off."
Liu Piao seemed to remember something, and through A Jiao she seemed to be looking at another person. After a long while, she said lightly:
"Li Ji's lotus seed candy uses more ingredients and tastes sweeter."
Chang Qing knew that she was no longer bothered and said with a smile, "Okay, let's go to Li's later. Jiaojiao was a bit reckless today, so please don't bother with her."
He winked at Gillian trying to get her to cooperate, but Gillian remained silent for a long time, still staring at Liu Piao stubbornly.
Liu Piao glanced at Cheng Jiao and said, "Forget it. I still have other shops to visit and I'm too lazy to waste time with you. But there is one thing I want to remind Madam Cheng..."
Liu Piao raised her head, her eyes and chin emitting a hint of arrogance and indifference. "As long as Your Majesty is alive, my splendid building will never fall. Your Majesty and the Wei family owe me this."
After Liu Piao left, Ah Jiao still stared coldly at the receding figure. Chang Qing laughed and said, "What's wrong with you today? Every word you say is so harsh on her. Did she offend you?"
Gillian retracted her gaze, squatted down and carefully examined the child's condition. She was relieved to see that he was fine and patted the dust off his body.
Ah Jiao responded, "Dong Yan is bullying others by taking advantage of his power. Empress Dowager Dou is only allowing him this much because of her old favor to Your Majesty."
Chang Qing said, "No, look at your Majesty, who is decisive and resolute in his actions and has made reforms. Now that the Empress Dowager has passed away, the world is no longer what it once was. How could he still be held hostage? I think it's probably just a last bit of affection for the deposed Empress."
"Affection?" Gillian also smiled. "The emperor's affection is as thin as paper. You think too highly of the deposed queen."
Chang Qing asked, "Do you know about the deposed queen?"
Ah Jiao stood up and said, "When I was in the palace, I heard the palace maids discussing the strange phenomena in Changmen Palace. They all said that the deposed queen did not hang herself, but was killed by Your Majesty..."
Chang Qing was horrified and covered her mouth, "Don't talk nonsense."
He glanced at the child that Gillian was holding. Gillian smiled and said nothing more. She turned to the child and said, "Where do you live? Let me take you home."
The child was also well-behaved. He waited until they finished talking before speaking, "Thank you, sister and brother, but I don't want to go back."
Chang Qing asked, "Why don't you want to go back?"
The child held the broken wooden sword and pouted, "My dad just bought it for me yesterday. I'm afraid he'll beat me when he gets home."
Chang Qing smiled and patted his head. "No, we will help you explain. Your father won't beat you. Besides, what if you run into the master again when you are alone outside?"
The child struggled for a while and said, "Well, I'll treat you to some delicious tea made by my mother!"
After turning many corners and arriving at an alley, the child stopped and knocked on the door, "Mom, I'm back!"
"Mother!"
"Here I am! Your mother went to buy..." A man with his sleeves rolled up and a porcelain bowl in his hand opened the door. The first thing he saw were the faces of Changqing and Ajiao, and he was shocked for a moment.
Seeing that he looked uneasy, Gillian was afraid that he was frightened, so she explained, "You must be the child's father, right? We saw him fall on the road, so we thought we'd send him back to put our minds at ease."
The child said, "I bumped into Lady Dou and was almost taken to the government by her! Thanks to them for saving me."
The man came back to his senses after hearing this, forced a smile, and looked at them, "Oh, well, please come in and have some tea."
"Don't bother, we still have things to do..." Gillian said politely.
The child curled her lips and shouted, "Sister, you just promised me that you would drink the tea my mother made. Why don't you keep your word?"
Gillian pinched his face amusedly and said, "Drink it next time."
"real?"
"real."
"What's your sister's name? If you don't come, I'll go find you."
"My name is Cheng Jiao, and his name is Huo Changqing."
Gillian suddenly heard a clang, and the tea bowl fell to the ground and broke into several pieces. The child's father had a dazed expression on his face and looked at them with a strange look.
The child heard this and said, "What a coincidence, my last name is Huo too, we are actually from the same family!"
Huo Changqing's expression changed upon hearing this. He clenched his fists and looked at the man over there. Only then did Gillian suddenly realize that the three of them seemed to have some similarities...
The man's hands were shaking, his face flushed, but he just stared at Huo Changqing's face, "Young Master, is your mother's surname Wei?"
Gillian was shocked. She seemed to have stumbled upon some of Huo Changqing's most profound secrets. She looked at the man before her. He wore a scholar's cap, but was dressed in a short, brown robe. His hands bore traces of physical exertion. His complexion was a shade paler than Huo Changqing's, and his features bore a faint resemblance to his. Thinking of Huo Changqing's father, who had died at birth, Gillian looked towards him.
The young man's eyes were red at this moment, and his lips twitched as he tried to calm his excitement, but the more he suppressed it, the more uncomfortable he became. Gillian silently took his arm and looked at him.
Chang Qing finally swallowed his dry throat. He had thousands of words and thousands of emotions stuck in his chest, but in the end he just lowered his voice and looked at Huo Zhongru, "Yes."
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