Chapter 190 The Empress's Youngest Sister
"The Zhao family, the imperial merchants of Suzhou, have come to offer their birthday wishes!"
During the seven days Qin Jinzhi was confined to her home, the Zhao family stood out from all the participating imperial merchants.
He became the first imperial merchant from a private business.
But the nature of the Zhao family legend goes beyond that.
The head of the Zhao family is a woman.
Zhao Yuanying, dressed in dark blue Suzhou satin with a pearl shawl draped over her shoulders, gracefully walked in from outside the hall.
Xiao Zhen looked puzzled when she heard about the Zhao family of Gusu.
He was stunned the moment he saw Zhao Yuanying.
Why did the head of the Zhao family end up in the palace?
Zhao Yuanying slowly bowed, "This commoner, Zhao Yuanying, greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress. I wish Your Majesty good health, peace, and joy."
The emperor looked at Qin Jinzhi with puzzlement, "You little rascal, what tricks are you up to?"
Qin Jinzhi walked to Zhao Yuanying's side and said, "Grandmother, do you think this person looks familiar?"
The Empress was also somewhat surprised and said, "Raise your head, let me see."
Zhao Yuanying slowly raised her head, and the smile on the Empress's face slowly faded.
His eyes gradually filled with shock!
"Ah Jiang! Is that you, Ah Jiang!"
Tears welled up in Zhao Yuanying's eyes instantly. "My mother fell ill from overwork many years ago and has passed away."
The Empress suddenly stood up. "You are A-Jiang's daughter!"
Zhao Yuanying pulled a red string from around her neck, with a small peach wood pendant attached to it.
The pendant was shaped like a small dagger.
The Empress disregarded her dignity and composure, and hurriedly descended from the high platform.
She grabbed the peach wood pendant.
This was carved by her own hand for A-Jiang!
The Empress looked up at Zhao Yuanying with red eyes, then slowly placed her hand on Zhao Yuanying's face.
"If my Ah Jiang were this age, she would look like this."
The Empress had a younger sister, who was sixteen years younger than her.
Her eldest sister raised her like a mother from a young age.
In the year she was about to come of age, the warring states reached a fever pitch.
The Empress could not bear to see her younger sister suffer from the ravages of war.
They entrusted the person to their uncle's family for care.
Finally, after a great victory, on the eve of His Majesty's ascension to the throne, the Empress personally went to fetch her younger sister to the palace.
To my surprise, I learned that my uncle had become addicted to gambling and that his wife and children had been sold off.
Even her younger sister was sold off and disappeared to who knows where.
When she arrived, her uncle had already hanged himself.
The Queen's uncle was just a farmer, but he was gentle and loved his family very much.
Why would someone like this become addicted to gambling?
It was later discovered that he had been lured in.
The culprit was executed by slow slicing, but her Ah Jiang completely disappeared without a trace.
The Empress was overcome with grief and indignation, which aggravated her old illness, and she never recovered.
The emperor was shocked to see the two of them embracing and weeping.
Ah Jiang was raised by the couple as if she were their own daughter.
I don't know how much effort and time I spent searching for that person.
Is this Ah Jiang's daughter?
The emperor also descended from the high place.
Everyone in the hall was completely bewildered by this sudden turn of events.
What's going on?
Qin Jinzhi stepped forward and took out a handkerchief.
He wiped one face and then the other's face.
The Empress was amused by her appearance.
The emperor helped the two up, saying, "All the officials are watching."
The Empress wiped away Zhao Yuanying's tears, saying, "Good child, don't cry."
If someone else said this was A-Jiang's daughter, she would definitely not believe it.
But this person was found by Qin Jinzhi, so there was no need to even have time to doubt him.
Upon seeing this, the emperor said, "Hong Dequan, please take a seat."
Hong Dequan asked, "Your Majesty, where is Miss Zhao being housed?"
Qin Jinzhi said, "Sit next to me, it'll be closer to the Empress Dowager."
The Empress touched Qin Jinzhi's face, then pulled Zhao Yuanying aside and said, "Good child, sit with Jinzhi. We'll have a proper talk after the birthday banquet."
Zhao Yuanying nodded with tears in her eyes, "Yes."
Qin Jinzhi led her people back to their seats and whispered, "Why did Sister also lose her little pearls?"
Zhao Yuanying wiped away her tears, "My aunt's eyes are so much like my mother's."
Qin Jinzhi magically produced another silk handkerchief.
After composing herself, Zhao Yuanying said softly, "Starting tomorrow, you'll have to call me aunt."
Qin Jinzhi chuckled softly. She saw that although the Empress's eyes were red, she could not hide the joy in her heart.
"If you can make the Empress Dowager happy, I'll call you Grandma."
This palace is too cold; the Empress Dowager needs a relative.
She was afraid that if something happened to her one day, the old lady who had loved her all her life wouldn't be able to hold on.
Just as everyone was waiting for the Emperor and Empress to explain the situation.
At the emperor's mere glance, Eunuch Hong immediately declared, "Let the banquet begin!"
Amidst everyone's confusion, the sounds of singing and dancing began.
However, one person was already drenched in sweat.
Xiao Zhen felt a chilling wind that pierced her bones!
Zhao Yuanying actually had a relationship with the Empress!
Then wouldn't everything he conspired with the Zhao family be completely ruined?
Xiao Zhen looked in the direction of Qin Jinzhi and Zhao Yuanying.
The two of them tilted their heads to look at him, a slight smile playing on their lips.
Xiao Zhen felt every hair on his body stand on end.
His hands trembled slightly, and he even made a loud gulping sound when he swallowed the wine!
Qin Jinzhi turned her gaze back and saw that the Ming King was staring at her.
She raised her glass defiantly.
King Ming's gaze darkened, and he also raised his wine cup.
Just as he was about to drink the wine, he suddenly saw Qin Jinzhi curl one corner of her mouth and pour the wine in the cup onto the ground.
The wine poured on the ground is used to commemorate the dead.
Qin Jinzhi is cursing him to die!
King Ming's face turned cold, and he drank the wine expressionlessly.
However, King Ming was not the only one who looked unwell.
The concubines in high positions and the powerful families behind them all began to have their own schemes.
An empress without the support of powerful figures behind her is nothing to fear.
But the Zhao family's wealth is beyond description.
In this capital city, money and power are indispensable.
With the Zhao family involved, the Phoenix Seal would no longer be just for show!
Was this done intentionally by Your Majesty, or was it just a coincidence?
Moreover, regardless of Zhao Yuanying's relationship with the Empress, his relationship with Qin Jinzhi was definitely too close.
Which young lady in the capital would dare to chat and laugh with Qin Jinzhi so casually?
Oh, now there's one.
Many people looked at Cui Ying, who was not sitting with the Cui family.
Cui Ying is now the Deputy Envoy of the Thousand Birds Bureau, a fourth-rank official.
They already have their own seats, so there's no need to pretend to be family members!
Xiao Zhen felt increasingly breathless and, taking advantage of the moment when no one was looking, left the main hall.
Qin Jinzhi drank the wine in her glass and said, "I'm going out for a bit."
Zhao Yuanying tugged at her wrist, "Don't make too much of a fuss today, it's your aunt's birthday."
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry, I don't even need to lift a finger. Xiao Zhen is probably scared half to death by now."
She stood up, gave Cui Ying, who was sipping her wine, a wink, and then followed Xiao Zhen out of the main hall.
After seeing the two of them leave, Cui Ying waited a little while before getting up and chasing after them.
Xiao Zhen went to a pond to get some fresh air.
Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"Brother Xiao, where are you headed?"
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