Chapter 405 Devotion
Uncle Qin's expression changed after hearing Qin Jinzhi's words.
A look of sadness welled up in his eyes.
"Yes, he always admired the Crown Prince and followed him since he was fourteen. He wanted to fight alongside the Prince like I did. Heaven is truly blind. I wish this old man could pay for his life. To die young and have a white-haired man send off a black-haired man is so painful."
Qin Jinzhi finished her tea and said, "Once all the battles are over, there will be no more white-haired people burying their black-haired children."
Qin Bo wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. "The princess is right."
Qin Jinzhi stood up. "Uncle Qin, please get some rest and recover soon."
"This old servant respectfully sees the princess off."
It's not surprising that Qin Jinzhi took leave, but the fact that she took leave for several days in a row has led many people to speculate.
After the court session, the emperor glanced at the empress and asked, "Jinzhi, you haven't attended court for several days. Are you ill?"
The Empress glared at him. "If you can't talk, then shut up!"
The emperor pursed his lips, and the empress said, "Yuanfei was with her, and she was perfectly fine. Now, I wonder which mountain she's hunting on!"
The emperor's eyes lit up. Hunting? To make him a hat?
The Empress sighed, "There are no bears near the capital."
The emperor muttered, "Thinking about it isn't enough."
Outside the city, Qin Jinzhi led the people of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion on a hunt on a mountain.
After a morning of hunting, the group roasted and ate their prey on the spot.
Qin Jinzhi lay in the hammock with her hands behind her head.
Yun Jin walked over and whispered in Qin Jinzhi's ear, "Princess, Wei Ziming requests an audience."
Qin Jinzhi opened her eyes, "Wei Ziming?"
Wei Ziming was brought before Qin Jinzhi, but Qin Jinzhi did not get up.
Wei Ziming led Wei Liangchen forward, "Your subject greets the princess?"
Qin Jinzhi, with her eyes closed, asked, "What's Commander Wei doing here? Is he here hunting too?"
Wei Ziming quickly said, "I heard that medicinal herbs grow on this mountain that can cure coughs, and I was thinking of picking some for my youngest daughter."
Qin Jinzhi scoffed, "Governor Wei is so powerful and influential that he can have any medicinal herbs delivered to his door. He even has to come and pick them himself. This princess is truly amazed."
Wei Ziming smiled and said, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but these herbs are not commonly seen. I just wanted to try my luck. The weather is nice today, and I was thinking of taking a walk in the mountains to relax. I didn't expect to run into Your Highness, so I came to pay my respects."
Qin Jinzhi casually said, "Governor Wei is very thoughtful. However, the governor is quite different from other officials. It is truly rare for him to personally go into the mountains for his daughter."
Wei Ziming smiled and said, "I only have one daughter, so naturally I dote on her."
Qin Jinzhi opened her eyes. "Only one woman? One woman is good. Governor Wei is different from the men of this world."
Wei Ziming stepped forward. "Princess, may we move the people aside?"
Qin Jinzhi looked at Wei Ziming and waved for him to leave.
Upon seeing the man retreat, Wei Ziming immediately knelt on the ground, saying, "The Wei family is willing to pledge allegiance to Her Highness the Princess."
Qin Jinzhi stood up, looked at Wei Ziming kneeling on the ground, and smiled, "What kind of act is Governor Wei putting on?"
Wei Ziming showed no sign of embarrassment.
"To be honest, Your Highness, although I am not in the capital, the Wei family is quite famous there. I was greatly impressed by what Your Highness has done since returning to the capital and I admire her greatly. I have long wanted to serve you. Today, I am fortunate to meet Your Highness in these deep mountains. It must be an opportunity given to the Wei family by Heaven. Therefore, I have come here to serve you."
Qin Jinzhi crossed one leg, rested her arm on her leg, bent over, and looked at Wei Ziming.
“I remember that Wei Xueyi is your younger brother. He was exiled and his family property was confiscated because of me. Not only does Governor Wei not hold a grudge against me, but he even wants to serve me. I admire his magnanimity.”
Wei Ziming immediately said, "When I first heard that Xueyi had been exiled, I was indeed angry, but I believe that His Majesty would not punish innocent people. His Majesty's anger must be because Xueyi did something that angered both heaven and man, which is why the princess took action. Just as I expected, so how could I hold a grudge against the princess!"
Qin Jinzhi laughed out loud, "Our Great Jin needs upright officials like Governor Wei."
Upon hearing this, Wei Ziming's tone gradually changed. With a smile on his face, he said to Qin Jinzhi, "Of course, the most important thing is the future of the Wei family. Xueyi was only exiled, and the princess didn't take his life. Compared to the Wei family, Ziming knows in his heart which is more important."
Qin Jinzhi nodded, "Hmm, that statement does have some truth to it, but Governor Wei's flexible and adaptable attitude has truly broadened this princess's horizons."
Wei Ziming realized that Qin Jinzhi was laughing at his weak knees.
But he didn't care at all.
“The princess is the wise ruler that Ziming found for the Wei family, so naturally they are completely convinced.”
Qin Jinzhi's eyes held a nonchalant air. "Commander Wei, since you've managed to approach me, you should know that if you want to stay by my side, you must have value. What value do you have, Commander Wei?"
With a smile, Wei Ziming said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to clear any obstacles for you."
Qin Jinzhi looked at Wei Ziming with amusement. "Obstacles? What do you think is an obstacle for me in this capital? Right now, my power in this capital is greater than that of all you so-called aristocratic families."
Wei Ziming looked up at Qin Jinzhi, "The Wei family is willing to clear the obstacles for the princess to ascend to that position."
Qin Jinzhi's expression changed. "Why is Governor Wei starting to talk nonsense?"
Wei Ziming looked at Qin Jinzhi and said, “I cannot bear to see the princess being deceived. The princess has been extremely kind to the royal family, but the royal family has been deceiving and taking advantage of her all along! The princess has cleared away the accumulated problems for the crown prince, but the crown prince is not a wise ruler. Back then, when your father was besieged at Xialu Mountain, the crown prince was involved in it!”
Qin Jinzhi shouted, "Nonsense! Wei Ziming, you'll make up anything to curry favor with us!"
Wei Ziming spoke up, "Princess, I have evidence!"
Qin Jinzhi looked at Wei Ziming, "Where is the evidence?"
Wei Ziming immediately said, "The evidence is in my residence. As long as the princess comes back to my residence with me, the truth will come out."
Qin Jinzhi walked up to Wei Ziming, squatted down, and looked him in the eye. "Wei Ziming, you should know the consequences of lying to me."
Wei Ziming immediately said, "Your Majesty, I understand. I just can't bear to see the princess being deceived. The princess is devoted to the people and cares about the world, but the royal family has deceived her to this extent. The princess is a woman of great talent and ambition. Why should she pave the way for those unrighteous and unjust people? Why not take that position herself!"
Qin Jinzhi glared coldly at Wei Ziming. "Wei Ziming, do you know what you're saying? You're inciting this princess to rebel! Even if the Crown Prince is the murderer of my father, my grandparents raised me for eighteen years. Are you suggesting that I seize their throne?"
Wei Ziming looked at Qin Jinzhi without backing down, "Princess, if His Majesty and the Empress knew about the Crown Prince's harm to your father?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com