Chapter 67 Listening to Gossip
Concubine Li always felt that her parents were blaming her, resentful of her, and even didn't want to see her, so she didn't dare to get off the carriage.
Emperor Zhaoning naturally saw what Concubine Li was thinking.
He glanced at the two anxious and panicked elders, gave them a reassuring look, then got on the carriage himself and persuaded Concubine Li.
"Yiyao." Emperor Zhaoning took Concubine Li into his arms as soon as he got on the carriage, patted her shoulder soothingly, and advised: "Don't be afraid, no one is unwilling to see you, and no one blames you. On the contrary, your father, mother, brother, and sister-in-law are all waiting for you to get off the carriage."
Concubine Li was surprised that Emperor Zhaoning knew what she was thinking, but she was also a little bit unbelievable, "Really? Are they really waiting for me?"
She was even thinking that after her parents and brother and sister-in-law knew she was coming, they would definitely throw dirty water at the gate of the Li Mansion to express their unwelcome.
That's why she wanted to escape.
"Really." Emperor Zhaoning said patiently, "If I lie to you, then I... I will never get your heart in my life."
This made Concubine Li laugh.
Princess Li smiled, her face and ears slightly red.
"Your Majesty, you are joking."
"Okay, come with me." Emperor Zhaoning said, "Don't be afraid of anything, I'm here!"
"good."
Concubine Li got off the carriage with Emperor Zhaoning and mustered up the courage to look at the family members at the door of Li's mansion.
They were also looking at her, their eyes full of joy, without any bad emotions.
"Dad, Mom, brother, sister-in-law." Concubine Li was deeply moved.
"Yaoyao!"
Li Canfeng and Xie came forward and held Concubine Li's hands, almost crying with excitement. Realizing that the emperor was present, the two elders restrained their emotions and invited everyone into the palace.
The best tea had been brewed in the mansion long ago. As soon as Emperor Zhaoning and Concubine Li sat down, the tea was served. It was Concubine Li's favorite tea before she got married.
The pastries on the table are also Concubine Li’s favorite.
Small details, big thoughts.
Concubine Li was deeply moved by what she saw. Her parents' love for her had never changed, and they had never blamed her.
Princess Li felt as if a warm current was flowing through her heart.
My eyes couldn't help shedding tears.
The two elders hurriedly said: "Yaoyao, don't cry!"
"Today is a great day for you to return home. You should be happy."
Princess Li wiped her tears and said, "My daughter understands. I won't cry anymore."
The family members exchanged greetings but were a little reserved. After all, Emperor Zhaoning was present and there was a distinction between the monarch and his subjects. Even if they had something to say, they did not dare to say it directly and spoke in a very reserved and polite manner.
Upon seeing this, Emperor Zhaoning suggested going out for a walk.
Concubine Li's brother Li Guangsheng went to accompany her, and her sister-in-law went to help add tea.
Concubine Li, Jiujiu, the Thirteenth Prince and others stayed to talk with the two elders.
After the two elders pulled Concubine Li to sit down, they looked at her two children.
Seeing the Thirteenth Prince being released from the Imperial Prison, Li Canfeng nodded happily and said, "Good, it's good that he's out." He paused, "But I heard that he went crazy. Alas, such a good child, what a pity. But it's okay, we can raise him for the rest of his life, anyway we can afford it."
The Thirteenth Prince: “…”
He is not crazy!
Not crazy!
"Grandpa, I'm a normal person, not crazy!"
"Alas..." Li Canfeng just sighed and said nothing.
The Thirteenth Prince became angry when he saw that his grandfather didn't believe him, and ran outside angrily.
Li Canfeng shook his head: "This child, even if he is crazy, he still has a bad temper!"
"That's right." Li Fei teased, "When I talk to him, I always pay attention to him, worried that he might get sick. Dad, Mom, don't say he's crazy in front of Thirteen anymore. Just treat him as a normal person."
"good."
Li Canfeng and Xie responded in unison, and then looked at their most anticipated second grandson Jiujiu.
Since they returned to Beijing, they have heard a lot about Jiujiu.
I've been looking forward to meeting Jiujiu soon.
For this reason, Li Canfeng went to the prince's mansion to look for Jiujiu, but he did not see her and missed her.
At this moment, Li Canfeng took Jiujiu from Concubine Li's arms and said happily: "This is Jiujiu's little grandson. He is so handsome. He is the most handsome child in our Li family."
"Look at these little eyes and little nose, they are so pretty."
"Her skin is so tender and white." Xie said, "She is very likable."
"That's right!" Li Canfeng agreed and asked, "But why is Jiujiu dressed like this? Isn't she a little girl? Why is she dressed like a tomboy?"
"Father, mother..." Concubine Li did not hide it from the two elders. She said frankly: "Jiujiu is a girl, but you also know that the emperor has 17 sons and only Jiujiu is a daughter. I am worried that Jiujiu will be plotted against, so I have been letting her dress as a man."
"I see." Li Canfeng nodded and said, "Every failure makes you wiser. You did a good job, but you are wronged."
The Thirteenth Prince, who had returned to get something, was stunned.
He, he, he, what secret did he hear?
Jiujiu is a younger sister, not a younger brother, and her mother deliberately hid it from everyone.
My father doesn't know the truth either.
Were they all deceived?
The Thirteenth Prince was a little excited.
Sister, it’s my sister.
He misunderstood.
He was depressed about this matter yesterday and was a little distant from Jiujiu. Now thinking about it, he really shouldn't have done that.
He has to find a way to make up for it.
The Thirteenth Prince thought so and hid in the corner, continuing to listen to the people inside talking.
He thought that he might be able to hear some secrets that he didn't know.
His gossipy heart is trembling!
Emperor Zhaoning, who was strolling outside, saw the Thirteenth Prince acting sneakily. Li Guangsheng happened to be looking for something, so he came up behind the Thirteenth Prince and asked, "What are you doing?"
The Thirteenth Prince was hearing Concubine Li talking about Jiujiu's embarrassing incident in the cold palace.
Because Jiujiu likes cats, she often fed the cats in the cold palace when she was a child. At first, the cats were able to eat their fill because someone fed them.
But later, the cats gave birth to several litters of kittens. Because they had to take care of the kittens, the cats could not go out to find food, and some of them were not full.
Seeing that the cats were getting thinner and thinner, Jiujiu started to help the kittens catch mice.
Every night she would prop up a few bricks with sunflower seeds, and after one night, there would be mice under the bricks.
She always happily carried the mouse to feed the cat, but Concubine Li was always scared out of her wits.
Because Concubine Li was afraid of mice.
When the Thirteenth Prince heard this, he thought it was so funny that he burst into laughter. He didn't even notice who was behind him. When he heard the question, he just casually replied, "I'm listening to gossip."
Are you so fascinated by what you hear?
Emperor Zhaoning asked again: "Does it sound good?"
The Thirteenth Prince nodded. "That's great! I heard a lot of secrets!"
secret?
It seems that this is something he doesn't know.
Emperor Zhaoning asked tentatively: "What is the secret?"
The Thirteenth Prince spoke without hesitation: "Jiujiu was a little girl. When she was young, she helped cats catch mice..."