Chapter 430 Trials
Qin Jinzhi came out of the house but did not go to her room.
After explaining things to Caihuan, he went to Fangfei Pavilion.
Consort Fang is teaching two children to write.
As soon as the two children saw Qin Jinzhi, they jumped off the stool.
"elder sister!"
The two men scrambled to pounce on Qin Jinzhi.
Qin Jinzhi suddenly looked as if she had been adorned with two enormous ornaments.
Consort Fang also stood up with a smile, "Princess."
Qin Jinzhi dragged the two little dumplings to the desk.
Looking at the words written by the two little dumplings.
"Has Tuanzi's first teacher been decided?"
Consort Fang shook her head, "Jingyao and Jingyi will be going to the Princes' Academy to attend classes with all the princes and princesses in a few days."
Qin Jinzhi pondered for a moment, "You don't need to worry about this. I will tell my grandfather to find a tutor for the two children."
Upon hearing this, Consort Fang immediately bowed to Qin Jinzhi, saying, "Thank you, Princess!"
Her rank was not high enough; the princes and princesses she gave birth to were not entitled to have their own tutors.
Qin Jinzhi sat down in the chair, one person sat on her lap, and the other leaned on her back.
She wrote down the names of the two dumplings.
"If you have learned to write your own names when I come again next time, I will bring you sweet cakes."
The two little dumplings nodded happily.
Consort Fang gestured for the palace servants to close the door. "Princess, news has arrived from outside the palace again."
Qin Jinzhi looked up. "What do I need you for?"
Consort Fang walked up to Qin Jinzhi and said, "I want you to poison the Crown Prince on his birthday."
Qin Jinzhi scoffed, "She's certainly bold."
Consort Fang looked at Qin Jinzhi and said, "Princess, now that we know who is behind this, why don't we arrest them and let them go unpunished?"
Qin Jinzhi still had a smile on her face, "It's not time yet, the person I'm waiting for hasn't arrived."
Consort Fang was completely bewildered, but judging from Qin Jinzhi's expression, she knew that Qin Jinzhi must have other plans.
She thought for a moment and asked, "Then, Princess, what should we do now?"
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "Since she wants to cause chaos, then let's give her some chaos."
She stayed in Fangfei Pavilion for quite a while until Caihuan came to call for someone, at which point Qin Jinzhi got up to leave.
When Qin Jinzhi returned to the Empress's palace, the meal was already served, and everyone was waiting for her.
She walked over and sat down between the Empress and the Emperor.
Granny Li naturally brought her some salty soup.
The Queen asked gently, "Did you go play with those two little ones again?"
Qin Jinzhi nodded.
The Empress smiled and said, "A few days ago, those two little ones came over and told me they wanted to eat the sweet cakes you eat. Granny Li prepared several kinds but didn't eat any of them; they just wanted to eat the ones you eat."
Qin Jinzhi smiled, remembering how the two dumplings cried after she ate both pieces of sweet cake.
Seeing this, the Crown Prince smiled and said, "When did Jinzhi become so fond of children? You've been under the Empress's care for so long, and you don't seem to care much for any of the other children in the palace. Why have you taken a liking to these two little ones?"
As Qin Jinzhi ate the food the Empress had served her, she remarked, "Perhaps it's because they look a bit like the Emperor's grandfather."
The Crown Prince's eyes flickered, and he served food to the Empress. "There are quite a few princes and princesses in this palace who resemble Father Emperor."
The emperor's expression darkened slightly.
The Empress spoke up, "Speaking of my daughter, Consort Shen is currently pregnant. The Crown Prince has few heirs, so you must take good care of her."
The Crown Prince immediately replied, "Your subject will obey Your Majesty's decree."
The Emperor also spoke up: "A-Can, A-Piao, you have been back for some time now. Your grandmother and I have been looking for a suitable opportunity to announce your identities. In a few days it will be your father's birthday. At the palace banquet then, your grandmother and I will restore your identities."
Xiao Can and Xiao Piao put down their chopsticks, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Grandfather and Grandmother."
The Empress smiled and said, "Let's eat."
Qin Jinzhi gestured with her chin toward the emperor.
The emperor looked disgusted, but he still put the food in front of Qin Jinzhi on his plate.
"You won't let me eat, but you expect me to put food on your plate!"
Qin Jinzhi ate with relish, "Next time Liu Yiyi comes to check your pulse, if you recover well, you can be rewarded with eating less."
The emperor's expression immediately improved. "Hong Dequan, summon Imperial Physician Liu to examine your pulse tomorrow."
Eunuch Hong smiled and said, "Yes."
The Crown Prince and his family of three watched Qin Jinzhi interact naturally with the Emperor and Empress, their expressions varying.
The Crown Prince glanced at Xiao Can.
Xiao Can hesitated for a moment before placing some food on the plates in front of the Emperor and Empress.
The Empress said, "Ah Can, don't worry about me and your grandfather, eat quickly."
Xiao Piao blinked and handed the bowl in her hand to the emperor.
"Grandfather, I want one too."
The emperor was furious. "We really owe you all!"
Although he said that, he still put some food on Xiao Piao's plate.
Xiao Piao finished eating the food and said with a smile, "The food that my grandfather put on my plate is so delicious. I, A Piao, must eat some more of the food that my grandmother put on my plate."
The Empress smiled and served Xiao Piao some food as well, saying, "You little rascal, you're so clever."
The Crown Prince glanced at Xiao Piao, then addressed the Emperor, saying, “Father, since Can’er and Piao’er returned to the capital, Can’er and I have been busy with state affairs and have neglected Piao’er. Piao’er has always liked to follow Jinzhi around since she was little. Now that Jinzhi is in charge of the Thousand Birds Bureau, there are many women in the Thousand Birds Bureau. Why not let A Piao follow Jinzhi to broaden her horizons?”
After hearing this, the emperor looked at Xiao Piao thoughtfully and asked, "Does A Piao want to go?"
Xiao Piao certainly wanted to go, but her smile froze on her face before it could even bloom.
If she hadn't overheard her father and brother's conversation, she would have happily agreed now.
But now, her father has proposed that she go to Chidori Tsukasa without consulting her.
Regarding the attitudes of the father and brother towards the elder sister.
She didn't understand her father's purpose.
Her brother's words had left her in a state of great confusion these past few days.
But she didn't want her older sister to die.
She couldn't change her sister's fate; her sister only had two years to live.
Can't even my father accept two years?
Xiao Piao put down his chopsticks. "Grandfather, Grandmother, and Sister Jinzhi are all busy with important matters. I heard that Qianniao Si is so busy every day that he doesn't have time to rest. I'm afraid that if I go, I will cause trouble for Sister Jinzhi."
The emperor smiled and said, "Your elder sister's Thousand Birds Bureau is indeed very busy with government affairs, but if you want to go and gain some experience, that's fine too. Children of my Xiao family, whether male or female, all need to have some knowledge."
Xiao Piao smiled and said, "Grandfather, let me go back and think about it. If I've made up my mind, I'll tell you."
The emperor nodded.
The crown prince's expression was somewhat cold as he glanced at Xiao Piao.
Xiao Piao ate in silence, not looking at her father.
Xiao Can served food to the Crown Prince, thus blocking his view.
The Crown Prince turned to Qin Jinzhi and asked, "Jinzhi, what do you think?"
Qin Jinzhi finished the rice in her bowl. "Ask me? I don't agree."
The Crown Prince raised one corner of his mouth in a smirk. "Jinzhi, why is that?"
Qin Jinzhi looked at the Crown Prince and said, "Uncle, have you been too complacent lately and forgotten how many enemies I've dealt with in the capital? Xiao Piao is the heir of the Crown Prince and a proper princess. If she enters the Thousand Birds Division, those who have grudges against me won't be able to kill me. Guess who they'll target?"
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