Chapter 218: Qiao Niang is sick, she is heartbroken
"Mother, as a woman, I understand Yun Qiao. We live apart, and Yun Qiao was once a concubine to the Marquis. Perhaps, without the three children and the princess's identity being recovered, he wouldn't be able to marry Yun Qiao..."
After being panicked, Zhang could especially understand Yun Qiao and naturally felt empathy for her.
She believed in her heart that Yun Qiao was telling the truth.
Empress Dowager Chen listened to Zhang Huang speaking ill of her nephew.
He frowned and said, "Sanlang is not that kind of person."
The Empress said in panic, "Mother, they are your family, so you will certainly be protective of them. But you have also seen that the Emperor and I, who used to be very close in our fiefdom, have basically not been together since he came to Kyoto."
"Mother, I am the princess you chose. I am also a woman, but I have come to terms with it now. After all, I am in my thirties. But Yun Qiao is not like that. She is only in her twenties and has just been married for a short time. She has feelings for the Marquis and is in love with him. Suddenly, the Marquis of Zhenbei has another woman outside. Who wouldn't feel uncomfortable in her situation?"
Maybe he wanted to use Yun Qiao's story to express his inner pain.
Empress Zhang was so busy talking about herself that she didn't notice Empress Dowager Chen's pale face at all.
"Okay, you can go back now."
After saying these words, Empress Zhang Huang felt relieved. When she heard the Empress Dowager tell her to go back, she lifted her butt and left.
How could Empress Zhang not know what Empress Dowager Chen was thinking?
She just wanted to ask some questions, both openly and secretly, for her good eldest son, Emperor Showa.
Want to confirm whether Yun Qiao and Chen Jingyan really have a bad relationship?
Chen Jingyan hadn't contacted Yun Qiao during this period, nor had he contacted the emperor. Emperor Zhaohe suspected that Chen Jingyan had rebelled on the Mobei border, but he couldn't be sure, so he could only ask the empress dowager to test Yun Qiao a little...
Especially now that Yun Qiao has returned from the Chen family’s ancestral home.
Did Chen Jingyan contact Yun Qiao and ask her to come back early to make some preparations?
Emperor Showa became suspicious.
Does Yun Qiao know some truth about this? Did she come back to help Chen Jingyan buy something?
I heard that a batch of medicinal materials was sent from Yunqiao to Mobei.
After Emperor Showa learned about this, he became even more worried about Chen Jingyan's situation in Mobei.
Emperor Showa even made a decision that if Chen Jingyan made any movement in Mobei, he would immediately take Yun Qiao and her three children into custody.
Yun Qiao hadn't seen the Emperor when she entered the palace, so naturally, she couldn't read his inner thoughts. She knew about the Emperor's suspicions, but she didn't know why he was suspicious of her...
Or did Chen Jingyan really do something in Mobei?
If this is true, will she be implicated because of Chen Jingyan?
Now, she needs to keep a proper distance from Chen Jingyan.
The more true the rumors outside are, the more protected she will be.
After Yun Qiao returned to the Marquis' Mansion, she immediately told Xiao Tao to use some money to stop the rumors outside from spreading.
Xiao Tao took the money and suggested, "Princess, why don't we just ignore it? If we do, and spend money to deal with these rumors, everyone will end up believing that the rumors are false. If you don't care, others will see that you have no attitude and naturally won't dare to spread rumors."
The maid Xiaotao is truly loyal and really cares about her master.
But what Yunqiao wants to do now is to make the matter bigger.
It would be best to make the people in the palace believe that the rumors outside are true, that Marquis Chen Jingyan has another woman outside and is about to marry her.
Yun Qiao covered her face with a handkerchief and cried.
"Xiao Tao, I entered the palace today and received confirmed news. The Queen Mother said that the Marquis has another woman outside. She also advised me to be magnanimous and accept that woman as soon as possible, otherwise, I will fall out of favor from now on."
"I can't stand hearing these kinds of news right now. Hurry up and get some money to suppress them. Don't spread them around. I feel really bad when I hear them."
As Yun Qiao spoke, tears were about to fall.
Xiaotao looked at it and felt heartbroken.
"Don't cry, don't cry, Xiaotao will do it now, and do everything you say."
Xiaotao took the banknote given by Yunqiao, turned around and went out to follow orders.
After Xiaotao left, Yunqiao's eyes turned and the tearful look disappeared.
***
As Gu Heng listened to the increasingly powerful rumors circulating in the city recently, he finally couldn't help but go find Yun Qiao.
Gu Heng naturally wanted to persuade Yun Qiao.
Hearing the maid outside the door say that the second master was outside and said he wanted to see the princess, Yun Qiao pretended to be sick these days and rarely saw anyone. She avoided Li Yuan and other people in Kyoto, just to let outsiders know that she was sick because of the Marquis's affairs.
In fact, she was secretly reading a storybook in the house to relax herself.
After hearing what the maid said, Yun Qiao hurriedly put the notebook away, and then asked the second master to come in.
Gu Heng came in and saw that Yun Qiao's face didn't look very bad, but it didn't look good either.
He paused for a long time before whispering, "The princess is not feeling well. Do you want me to invite the imperial physician to see her?"
Sanlang is not here, and as the second brother, he should honestly care about the princess. Otherwise, wouldn't the princess feel wronged? Not only did she marry into the Marquis's Mansion without the care of the elders, but her husband also found another woman outside...
Gu Heng could understand that Sanlang was lonely outside, but he did not agree with it.
When you see something beautiful, no matter if it is a person or an object, everyone will take a few glances at it.
But you can’t just want whatever you want.
Things can be bought, but people cannot be bought like this.
Especially married men should keep themselves clean.
Be worthy of your wife.
Yun Qiao was particularly shocked when she read Gu Heng's inner thoughts. She never expected that Gu Heng, an ancient man, could have such ideological awareness.
It's really not easy.
Yun Qiao replied softly, "No need. I just have a heart disease, and no medicine will help me with that."
"Second Master, let me ask you something. Did the Marquis contact you? Why didn't he contact me? What does he mean by that?"
As she was pretending, she started coughing. Yun Qiao couldn't help it and coughed violently a few times.
She was holding a handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms, and when she coughed, the bright red plum blossoms on the handkerchief seemed even brighter.
Gu Heng was shocked at the moment.
"Princess, you should ask the imperial physician to take a look."
Yun Qiao waved her hand, "No, I can do it myself."
Yun Qiao knew that Gu Heng had misunderstood. She thought to herself that it didn’t matter if it was a misunderstanding. If so, people outside might believe that she was so angry that she vomited blood because Chen Jingyan was looking for his daughter outside.
Gu Heng was sent out.
Yun Qiao stood up and sat in front of the dressing table. She looked at herself, who had not taken care of her appearance in the past few days. With her hair hanging down on both sides, she really looked a bit like Lin Daiyu's haggard look.
She deliberately put on a layer of white rouge, which made her look like she was trying to cover up something.
Gu Heng walked out of the east courtyard and hesitated in the courtyard of the marquis' mansion for a long time before finally going to ask for the imperial physician.
To invite the imperial physician, one naturally had to pass the sign up, and naturally it reached the ears of the emperor and the empress dowager.
The emperor agreed.
At this moment, the emperor was sitting in the empress dowager's palace and having dinner with her.
"Your Majesty, maybe Sanlang is really looking for someone outside. Sanlang is loyal to Your Majesty. Considering those rumors, it seems that the construction of the school and the pharmacy was done by that woman named Su Mo."
"The Emperor has already appointed a deputy general. Let him keep an eye on things at this time."
"As for Yun Qiao, I've figured out that she and Sanlang don't get along. She must have been deeply hurt by Sanlang now. She and Sanlang definitely weren't colluding. If they were, she would always reveal her flaws. But now, it seems she's fallen ill because of Sanlang..."
The emperor ate his meal calmly.
But he said: "Who knows whether it is true or not."
"There are also rumors that my imperial aunt is a fake. It's hard to say for sure, it was arranged by the Marquis of Zhenbei."
The Queen Mother was horrified. "How is this possible? The late Emperor had his blood tested. It's genuine royal blood. We concubines were there at the time and saw it for real."
The emperor said, "Mother, I was just saying it casually. Look how surprised you are..."
"Your Majesty, you are the ruler of a country. Your words are like imperial decrees, but you dare not speak them casually."
"Withdraw the guards outside the Zhenbei Marquis. After all, they are my mother's family."
Empress Dowager Chen said in a low voice.
The emperor didn't say anything, perhaps he tacitly agreed.
There weren't many guards, but each of them was a top expert. Their purpose was to investigate whether there was any evidence that Chen Jingyan, Marquis of Zhenbei, had any connection with Yun Qiao.
Now, after half a month, I haven't seen any evidence. Instead, the rumors in the city are getting stronger and stronger. It is said that the Marquis of Zhenbei has a mistress outside. It must be true.
The woman's name was found out.
The emperor left after dinner. Empress Dowager Chen looked at her son, who used to be dependent on her, respected her and was filial to her, but now he has his own thoughts and only thinks of his mother when he wants to do something.
Unless there is any problem, I rarely come here.
Empress Dowager Chen sighed.
Doesn't she know that she is now solely focused on helping her son, regardless of whether her nephew's actions are right or wrong?
***
Recently, everyone in the Marquis' Mansion suddenly felt relieved, as if something outside had suddenly withdrawn.
Yun Qiao also discovered it intuitively later. Could it be that the emperor had been secretly sending people to keep an eye on them?
When you think about it this way, it’s really terrifying.
Yunqiao's scalp felt numb.
She became more and more certain that she could not love Chen Jingyan. This man was a jinx.
She had to make plans for herself and her children.
Xiao Tao brought in the medicine, and just by smelling it, Yun Qiao no longer wanted to pretend to be worried.
"Girl, take your medicine."
"This is what the imperial physician prescribed for you. It's specifically for treating heart problems. Since you don't like bitter things, I've prepared everything. After you finish the medicine, you can have some candy."
Yun Qiao frowned.
"I don't want to eat, Xiaotao, please take it away. I'm almost recovered from my illness."
Xiao Tao insisted, "The medicine prescribed by the imperial physician must be good. You look much better these past few days. People are saying that you are suffering from a mental illness because of the Marquis's anger."
"There are also some who can't stand seeing others doing well, and actually say..."
What did she say? Yunqiao could understand without Xiaotao saying it.
It was simply a rumor that Yun Qiao was so sick that she couldn't get out of bed, and was almost pissed off to death by the Marquis.
Xiao Tao quickly changed her tone and said, "Take your medicine carefully and nourish your spirit. Then we can have a winter banquet and show everyone that you are in good health."
Yun Qiao pursed her lips and smiled.
You still have to drink this medicine.
But she pretended and sent Xiaotao out to get other things, and then Yunqiao fell into the flowerpot.
The strong-scented chrysanthemums in her flowerpot could cover up the smell of the medicine. She poured some water into it and quickly diluted the smell of the medicine.
But the pot of inky chrysanthemums is pitiful.
I hope I can get through this.
After taking the medicine, Yun Qiao pretended to say that he felt much better.
On the first few days of the twelfth lunar month, when it happened to snow, Yun Qiao invited several of the most gossipy ladies in Kyoto to the marquis's mansion for a winter banquet.
The concept of greenhouses has long existed in this era.
There are many precious flowers in the greenhouse. The old lady has always liked to take care of these flowers, plants, insects, birds and fish. This greenhouse is very well maintained.
There is also a lot of space inside.
Yun Qiao took a few Kyoto ladies to have a winter roast venison meal in the greenhouse.
During the banquet, Yun Qiao coughed five times, went out with a handkerchief three times, and almost tripped several times while walking. She looked very sick.
After the winter banquet, the news spread even more widely among people outside.
"This Marquis' wife wants to prove that she's fine, but it looks like she's in trouble. It's really heartbreaking. Go get something from the warehouse and send it to the Marquis' wife."
The old lady of the Zhao family said this with a worried look on her face.
Considering her friendship with the old lady of the Marquis' Mansion, she also wanted to show some concern for her granddaughter-in-law from the Chen family.
Just as the old lady of the Zhao family finished speaking, she heard people outside say that Zhao Xuan had arrived.
"Mother, cousin..."
Standing in front of Zhao Xuan's cousin was a young girl, Gao Wanxin, the daughter of Gao Wangshi.
She called out softly, "My cousin is fine."
Zhao Xuan nodded slightly as a response to her greeting.
Zhao Xuan's cousin was invited to live in the Marquis' Mansion, and his cousin's daughter Gao Wanxin came to the Zhao family to get married.
Zhao Xuan has a good candidate.
This matter had just been confirmed, and Zhao Xuan had not had time to tell his mother. If his mother knew, she would definitely be extremely happy. His sister died early, and the child was lost when he was only two or three years old. It was said that the child was abducted by a kidnapper.
Now, for the first time in history, it has been found back.
But listening to what my mother and cousin said, it seemed to be about the wife of the Marquis of Zhenbei.
Zhao Xuan was naturally grateful to Yun Qiao. If it weren't for her meticulous mind and good observation skills, he wouldn't have been able to find his nephew so easily.
"The Marquis' wife that mother just mentioned? Was it the Marquis of Zhenbei's wife? I just got back and heard many people on the street saying that the Marquis of Zhenbei's wife is the most miserable right now. What's going on?"
The old lady of the Zhao family obviously didn't want to say these words.
"Isn't it because the Marquis of Zhenbei found another woman in Mobei?"
Gao Wangshi smiled and said, "These are all trivial matters in the inner house. Cousin, please don't get involved."
"Cousin, I still need you to worry about Wanxin's marriage. Once Wanxin's marriage is settled, my mother and I will naturally keep you in mind."
Zhao Xuan nodded.
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