The imperial decree appointing Chang Qing as commander-in-chief was quickly delivered to Heng County. Upon receiving the news, Jiang He remained silent for a long time.
She couldn't help but take the initiative to find Gu Lin.
"The Emperor appointed Chang Qing as the temporary commander and ordered him to rescue Gu Qingling."
Jiang He was extremely frustrated; Gu Heng's actions clearly indicated his intention to coerce him.
"Rescue Gu Qingling?" Gu Lin rolled over, looking languid. "Gu Qingling has already been sent to the capital of my Great Ning Kingdom. How far can Chang Qing fight?"
"If you want to protect him, just let him endure it for a few days, and Ayan will bring Gu Qingling back."
Why should we wait a few more days?
Jiang He spoke up irritably, only to see Gu Lin looking at him with exasperation, "Gu Qingling has bullied Ayu and Ayan for so long, and he's only suffered for a few days. Let him stay a few more days."
"He did say something sensible."
Jiang He got up and left, leaving Gu Lin grinning from ear to ear. "Ling Shan, go and deliver that Eastern Pearl to the Empress."
Inside Zhaoning Palace.
During Xie Zhiqing's stay at Zhaoning Palace, Ling Mama only assigned her the task of tending to flowers and plants.
"Sister Meihong, working in our palace doesn't seem as hard as I've heard outside," Xie Zhiqing said to a palace maid beside her, holding a steamed bun.
“Her Majesty is kind-hearted, so Zhaoning Palace is the best place in the whole palace.” Mei Hongsheng was beautiful and her eyes seemed to speak volumes. “But Her Majesty doesn’t like too many people to serve her, so there are few people in our palace, but they all know each other well.”
What Mei Hong didn't know was that after that childbirth, Jiang Yu reduced the number of palace servants she had to attend to by more than half.
"The flowers and plants you're tending were specially brought over for Her Majesty by the Third Prince, just because Her Majesty likes them," Mei Hong said while eating. "In short, you'll know after you stay a while longer that Her Majesty and the Third Prince are the best masters."
Is he the best master?
Xie Zhiqing was filled with doubt.
"After you finish eating, go to the greenhouse and bring over some more flowers and plants."
Xie Zhiqing nodded, "I understand, Sister Meihong, don't worry."
......
When Xie Zhiqing was moving flowers in the flower room, she happened to run into Peilan, who was by Consort Yi's side.
“These roses were first chosen by my lady. Which palace maid are you from?” Pei Lan raised her chin slightly. “My lady is Consort Yi.”
“I am from Zhaoning Palace.”
Xie Zhiqing looked at the pot of bright red roses and pursed her lips. "Granny Ling instructed me to fetch roses for Her Majesty the Empress."
“She looks unfamiliar. Could she be spreading rumors and causing trouble under the guise of Her Majesty the Empress?” Pei Lan pointed at Xie Zhiqing’s nose. “Guards, seize this vile servant.”
“I am someone close to the Empress, and it is the Empress who should issue the decree to punish me. You are just a palace maid of the same rank as me. Where do you get the audacity?”
Xie Zhiqing straightened her back. If she were to be bullied like this, where would the Empress's face be?
The next second, Xie Zhiqing felt a burning pain on her cheek.
Xie Zhiqing and Pei Lan started fighting directly, neither of them giving way to the other.
Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Yu and Consort Yi rushed over.
"Peilan!" Consort Yi cried out anxiously, clutching her belly, "Let go!"
Jiang Yu looked at Xie Zhiqing, whose hair was disheveled and whose face was covered with scratches, and asked, "What happened?"
"Your Majesty, this servant came to the flower room to pick up some flowers and happened to run into this lady who is by the side of Consort Yi. She said that these are the flowers that Consort Yi has taken a liking to, and that this servant looks unfamiliar and that this servant is spreading rumors."
"He even slapped this servant girl..."
Xie Zhiqing spoke first with her eloquent tongue, and Consort Yi and Peilan's expressions turned extremely ugly.
"Your Highness, Peilan also found this palace maid unfamiliar..."
"Just because someone looks unfamiliar doesn't mean you can just attack them." With a single glance from Jiang Yu, Wan Ji immediately led his men to restrain Pei Lan. "Dispose of her according to palace rules."
"Your Highness, Consort Yi, please save this humble servant..."
As Peilan was taken away, Consort Yi's hands, which were protecting her belly, trembled even more.
"Consort Yi should also properly restrain the palace servants around her. If there is a next time, I will not let it go lightly."
Tears streamed down her face. Consort Yi looked in the direction where Pei Lan had been taken away, then looked down at her own belly. She couldn't even protect a palace maid.
"Wanji, take this opportunity to thoroughly investigate that Peilan."
......
"Did Miss Xie have an argument with Peilan, who serves Consort Yi?"
When Gu Qingyan returned to Zhaoning Palace in the evening and heard the news, he subconsciously frowned. A dark glint flashed in Qin Wei's eyes behind him; Pei Lan this time... she really did act impulsively after all...
"Third Prince, rest assured, Her Majesty has already taken care of it."
Hearing what Granny Ling said, Gu Qingyan didn't take the little incident to heart and strode back to his room. "Qin Wei, is everything prepared for the trip to Heng County?"
"Third Prince, rest assured, everything has been arranged."
Qin Wei bowed respectfully, having recently sensed that someone was investigating him, though he didn't know which faction it was.
Thinking of this, Qin Wei's tone became even more peaceful, "The Third Prince should retire for the night."
He has endured for so many years, so he doesn't care about another year or two.
"Qin Wei, today my father told me about how you protected me back then..." Gu Qingyan patted Qin Wei's shoulder, "Don't worry, I remember it all."
Qin Wei suddenly knelt down.
"This servant has concealed the truth from my master. I beg you to punish me."
Gu Qingyan smiled and said, "You had no choice but to do this. If it weren't for you all these years, I definitely wouldn't be alive today."
"My lord has been kind to me, and I will protect you even at the cost of my life."
The smile on Gu Qingyan's face only faded after Qin Wei left. His father had told him to keep an eye on Qin Wei. What exactly was wrong with Qin Wei?
......
Xie Zhiqing was taken back to Zhaoning Palace, and Mei Hong brought medicine to apply to her wounds.
"You do have some backbone, knowing you can't embarrass our Zhaoning Palace." Mei Hong's touch was extremely light. "You just didn't know to be more discreet. Didn't you see that Pei Lan doesn't even have many marks on her face?"
"Sister Meihong, will Her Majesty be angry with me?"
"If Her Majesty were to blame you, why would she personally stand up for you today?" Mei Hong said irritably. "You, I don't know if you're clever or not."
"I can tell that Her Majesty likes you from the bottom of her heart."
"You like me?"
Xie Zhiqing was in a daze. How could the Empress like a commoner who wanted to sue her?
"Otherwise, do you think just anyone can be left in Zhaoning Palace?"
The wounds were bandaged one by one. "This medicine was specially given by the Empress, in case you have scars on your face."
"Just stay in Zhaoning Palace and you'll have a bright future ahead of you."
Xie Zhiqing didn't sleep a wink that night.
The next morning, Xie Zhiqing waited outside the door. "Granny, I have something very important to tell Her Majesty."
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