Chapter 212, with its almost explicit hints, she understood.
Li Yuzong said, "If Your Highness makes another mistake in the future, the Princess Consort will have to live in Anle Hall forever."
Zhao Minghong asked with an indescribable expression, "Can't we make any mistakes?"
Li Yuzong nodded with a smile.
Zhao Minghong had never been a well-behaved person since childhood. He said, "If I make a mistake, I should take responsibility for it myself. Can't I just go and live in Anle Hall by myself?"
Li Yuzong smiled and shook his head.
Tao Wanyin stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "Thank you, Eunuch Li, for conveying the imperial edict. Your Majesty, I am very grateful."
When Li Yuzong returned to the palace, she looked at Prince Yong and sighed.
So that's how she's kept in check. It seems she'll have to go back to Anle Hall soon. After returning to the Prince's Mansion, she'll need to make plans as soon as possible.
Seeing the worry in her eyes, Zhao Minghong was displeased and threatened with narrowed eyes, "Don't look at me with that condescending gaze, or I'll cause trouble as soon as I leave the palace."
Tao Wanyin turned her gaze away from him, stopped looking at him, and started walking away on her own.
Behind her, Zhao Minghong had a sour face and kept muttering.
"Your Highness has quite the temper, daring to walk ahead of me. I'm only thinking of the child in your womb. After you give birth, I'll see how I deal with you."
Tao Wanyin stopped again after taking only a few steps.
She said, "Your Highness."
Zhao Minghong said, "It's too late for you to realize your mistake now. I have already made up my mind..."
Tao Wanyin turned to look at him and said, "Your Highness, my maid Yinxiang is still in Anle Hall. May I bring her out as well?"
Zhao Minghong was surprised that when she called him, it wasn't because she was reflecting on her mistakes and trying to curry favor with him, but because she cared about that treacherous maid.
He said coldly, "It's already an act of mercy from my brother to let you out alone. Why are you still concerned about her?"
Tao Wanyin smiled gently and said, "Yinxiang is the prince's woman. It's just that I didn't know all these years. Yinxiang has been following me without a name or status for so long, which has already wronged her. Why don't you bring her out, Your Highness, and I will choose a good day to take her as my concubine?"
Zhao Minghong scoffed and said, "I didn't expect the Princess Consort to be so magnanimous. It seems that our Prince Yong's Mansion will no longer need to enshrine Buddha statues. We can just turn the Princess Consort's Jinmo Residence into a Buddhist shrine."
“The concubines and mistresses in the mansion come to pay their respects to the princess every day, and they can also cultivate themselves under the princess’s care. It’s truly killing two birds with one stone.”
Tao Wanyin's face paled, and her knuckles turned blue from squeezing so hard.
Whether or not to accept Yinxiang depends entirely on the prince's wishes, after all, the prince is known for his fickle nature.
Zhao Minghong said, "Your Highness, you are mistaken. Even if I am fond of new things, I will never forget you, my old flame."
Tao Wanyin had originally planned to be patient, but she couldn't help but mention Yinxiang's matter.
Now she realizes how foolish she was. What was she doing arguing with Prince Yong in the palace? She's lucky to even be alive.
She composed herself and respectfully bowed her head, saying, "This concubine will obey Your Highness's will."
Seeing that Tao Wanyin had actually begun to fawn over him, Prince Yong became even more displeased. He vigorously flicked his sapphire blue robe sleeves and limped away first.
*
When Li Yuzong, having caught his breath, returned to the palace to serve again.
The porcelain dishes that Emperor Wusu had knocked off the ground had been cleaned up by the palace servants, and the throne was empty.
Ji Qingwu watched with trepidation as Emperor Wusu lifted the curtain and walked in.
He just threw a huge tantrum; I wonder if he'll take it out on her too.
After all, she could be considered the "culprit" in the fight between Prince Yong and Wei Ting. Emperor Wusu knew why she went to Anle Hall, and he must also know what role she played in this matter.
Ji Qingwu got up, wanting to get down to greet him.
Emperor Wusu raised his hand and said, "You just stay here, you don't need to get out of bed."
Ji Qingwu remained kneeling on the couch in that position, her dark eyelashes fluttering and falling intermittently as she secretly observed his expression.
Emperor Wusu chuckled inwardly at her seemingly obedient and docile appearance, but actually quite unruly, though he didn't show it on his face.
Ji Qingwu picked up the snacks on the small table and asked softly, "Would Your Majesty like to try some?"
Just now, she heard a noise; the plate that Eunuch Li had placed on the large table had been smashed to the ground by him in a fit of anger.
Emperor Wusu looked at her fair fingers holding the celadon dish; her fingertips were unpainted, with a natural, luminous pink hue.
The pastries were exactly the same, and would have been annoying if placed in front of the throne, but when Ji Qingwu held them, they looked incredibly tempting.
Emperor Wusu nodded slightly.
Ji Qingwu was secretly pleased that he was still willing to eat something, so his mood must be alright.
She brought the small plate closer and saw his gaze fall on the Longjing pastry.
Ji Qingwu then remembered the emperor's mealtime custom: palace servants would serve the food to him.
"There are no silver chopsticks now, so Your Majesty eats with your hands."
Emperor Wusu said bluntly, "There are chopsticks here, so use your hands to take them."
Since His Majesty the Emperor had spoken, Ji Qingwu had no choice but to obey. She picked up the grass-green Longjing pastry and brought it to his lips.
Emperor Wusu, however, remained silent.
Ji Qingwu asked in confusion, "Why isn't Your Majesty eating?"
The emperor stared at her lips and said, "Li Yuzong is becoming increasingly lazy; he doesn't even have silver needles for testing poison."
Li Yuzong, standing outside the curtain, clearly heard what the Emperor said. His old face fell. Everything that was sent into the Hall of Diligent Governance had been checked by him with silver needles beforehand.
Ji Qingwu understood the almost explicit implication.
So she volunteered, "I am the silver needle that is ready to be used; I will try."
She lowered her head and picked up a piece of Longjing pastry.
Emperor Wusu's lips curled slightly. Seeing that the pastries on the plate were untouched, he knew that Ji Qingwu was probably frightened by what had happened in the palace.
Last time, he heard her say that when Qiuqiu was in a bad mood, she liked to eat sweets. The little girl had been raised by Ji Qingwu since she was a child, so this habit was probably inherited from her.
Ji Qingwu ate with a refined manner, taking a small bite and savoring it carefully.
After a while, he said, "The outer crust of this pastry is crispy, and the filling melts in your mouth. The filling also contains some pecan kernels."
Seeing him looking at her with a gleam in his eyes, Ji Qingwu suddenly realized and said, "It's not poisonous, Your Majesty can eat it."
As he spoke, he raised the plate in his hand higher.
Emperor Wusu lowered his head, but then leaned close to her hand and ate most of the remaining Longjing pastry that she hadn't finished.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he bit her fingertip.
Ji Qingwu withdrew his hand and said apologetically, "Your Majesty, this is not appropriate."
After all, it was food she had eaten, and she felt uneasy about giving it to His Majesty the Emperor.
Emperor Wusu disliked sweets, and this was still too sweet for him. He could barely eat the pastries with some tea.
He drank another cup of tea and said, "What's wrong with it? I've already eaten it, what's wrong with it?"
Ji Qingwu blushed deeply.
Emperor Wusu raised an eyebrow and said, "How about this, I will reciprocate in kind."
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