Chapter 57: Each Side Makes a Concession
She walked slowly, thinking as she went, and finally stopped at the gate of the East Courtyard. Looking up at the words "Rui Xing Tang", Qiao's eyes were filled with some unwilling helplessness and resignation.
"Some things in this world are indeed predetermined. You can't fight against fate!"
The voice was so low that it was inaudible, and the two maids following behind him could only lower their heads helplessly.
"That's all."
Step in.
After sending away all the servants, the two ladies of the Li family sat facing each other in the inner room late at night.
"Sister, this wasn't arranged by me."
"I believe you."
Zhao Yu'e looked at the bitter smile on Qiao Yunshu's face, and a sad curve appeared on her lips.
"Just like when Meimei passed away, I trust you just as much as you trusted me."
Her voice was not loud, but it was heartbreaking.
"You and I, after all these years, we don't even know who owes whom. I just received news that the group of people chasing after the fourth brother were sent by my eldest brother. Did you guess?"
"Um."
The two women looked at each other, tears in their eyes.
"I heard that he and your brother are having a huge fight in the capital.
You are the original wife, and your Qiao family has sacrificed the entire clan for the great cause. In fact, I shouldn't have fought with you.
But my Zhao family has been drained of its wealth over the years. When my father was dying, he told my eldest brother to do his utmost to help Prince Huai achieve his goal. Now that it's done, who among them can be willing to accept this?
Yunniang, how do you think I should retreat?"
"I know."
Qiao stood up and looked down at her.
"It will be dawn soon, Queen, please go to bed early. I will take my leave!"
She bowed and left calmly. She was indeed still the decisive Qiao from the Li family.
Zhao Yu'e sat there quietly, crying for her own difficulties and also for Qiao Yunshu's difficulties.
Jinse Jinxiu accompanies her master and advises him softly.
"Master, Madam Qiao is willing to make concessions now. This is a good thing for everyone. Why are you still crying?"
"Yes, Master, if the two sides continue to confront each other, who knows what will happen next time. Madam Qiao's stepping back is truly good for both families."
"You don't understand."
Zhao picked up the handkerchief and wiped her face.
"I'll go see Yuan Xiu."
After moving to the west wing and sending all the servants away, Zhao walked over to her son's sickbed and sat down. She reached out and carefully stroked the young, pale, and frail face.
"Son, will you regret it later?"
"No regrets."
The person who was originally sleeping on the bed slowly opened his eyes, and his elegant face was full of desperate determination.
"For so many years, I have been the eldest son of the Li family. If I do nothing and end up becoming a concubine's eldest son after entering the capital, I will definitely regret it in the future!"
Zhao just shed tears silently.
"Mother, has Second Mother been here?"
"Um."
Li Yuanxiu breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’s good that you’ve been here.”
"Yuan Xiu, Qiao Yunshu hasn't attacked you in all these years, and she won't in the future. Why would you resort to such a risky move?"
"I know she won't do anything to me, but I won't give in. Mother, Father has always favored Second Mother. If we don't have a legitimate place in the family, how will we survive in the future?
Second Mother is smart, and the Qiao family is no pushover. If I don't take this opportunity to risk my life, Second Mother won't give in."
He closed his eyes tiredly.
"I will be filial to her in the future, and I will treat the third and fourth children well. But I must fight for it!"
Zhao sadly wiped the cold sweat from her son's forehead caused by the pain.
Although the assassination was fake, his son's fatal injury was real! He was determined to fight for his life, even if it meant his life would be on the line and his lifespan would be shortened in the future. This was a man's ambition.
"Then Yuan Xiu, let's make some concessions elsewhere. Can you give the Song family marriage to the third brother?"
Li Yuanxiu remained silent, as if he had fallen asleep again. Only his mother's gentle voice could be heard, advising him.
"The third brother and Song Ziying have been childhood sweethearts and have long had feelings for each other. Mother doesn't believe you can't see it. If your father and Song Qingshan hadn't been so foolish as to verbally arrange a marriage for you, she would have been the third brother's fiancée.
The step that Qiao Yunshu is giving up now is not just about the position of queen, but also about the position of the legitimate branch of the family in the future, and even possibly the position of the Crown Prince!
Son, you can’t be too cold-hearted.
The third brother is also your biological brother, and as the eldest brother, you can't always take advantage of him. Let's each make some concessions, okay?"
There was silence in the room for a long time.
"good."
Li Yuanxiu did not open his eyes, but just responded weakly.
"I will help the third brother."
Zhao didn't say anything else, but just gently tucked the thin quilt around her son.
She walked out the door and looked up to see the dawn in the east, and a hint of anticipation flashed across her eyes.
It's finally dawn.
After an hour or so, the sun finally struggled to break through the clouds in the morning glow, and the Jiang family members got up from their beds one after another.
"Sister, wuwuwu, sister, are you okay?"
"Sister, wuwuwu, wake up!"
Early in the morning, before Jiang Wan even opened his eyes, he heard the two guys lying in front of the bed, making the sound of chickens and cats screaming.
"Okay, why are you two crying so early in the morning?"
Helplessly, he sat up from the bed with his messy hair, hugged the quilt in his arms, and glared at his younger brother and sister with angrily eyes.
"I just got back in late last night, and I was busy talking and just barely closed my eyes when you two came running over crying and howling. Do you want to get beaten?"
"no!"
Jiang Laoer was very tactful and quickly wiped away his tears. He burped twice in succession before swallowing the sobs in his throat.
"I waited for you for a long time last night but you didn't come back. I don't know when I fell asleep. I just woke up and found out you're back. Sister, are you really okay?"
"Me too, me too, big sister, I didn't fall asleep on purpose. I was really waiting for you, wuwuwu..."
"Stop crying, it's giving me a headache!"
Jiang Wan pinched his jumping temples, and also had to take the time to comfort his younger siblings.
"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired after riding a horse for a long time yesterday. Now I need a good sleep to recover. So, second brother, you take the third brother out first. I'll talk to you two later when I'm asleep, okay?"
"Big sister..."
"OK!"
The obedient Jiang Lao Er pulled Jiang Lao San's arm and dragged him out, responding very obediently.
"Big sister, have a good rest. I'll come see you in the afternoon!"
After the second and third brothers left, Jiang Wan looked at the sky outside the window from the window sill, then turned around and asked his maid.
"Why did you let the second and third children in here so early in the morning?"
"Where is it that this servant wants to put?"
Hongzhu came over and helped her master go back to sleep.
"Just now, the Second Young Miss and the First Young Master were lying on the door crying non-stop. The Old Master and the Old Madam came with them. How could this servant dare not open the door?"
"My grandparents are here too?"
Jiang Wan sat up again after hearing this and was about to throw off the quilt and get out of bed when Hong Zhu quickly spoke again.
"The old master ordered that you get some sleep and rest. Let the second young lady and the eldest young master take a look and then leave. Don't disturb you here. I just saw that they have already left. Why did you get out of bed? Go back to rest."
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