Just as Xi Xi was speechless, Chen Xiao smiled and answered Feng Li's question, his words filled with joy.
Looking at the beauty he used to love the most and the beauty he now wanted the most, Qi Yuan felt incredibly happy because the two of them were so harmonious!
The two beauties left hand in hand, and Qi Yuan was very happy to see them go. Unfortunately, he could not get what he wanted tonight, so he turned around and went to the courtyard of one of his concubines. After all, it was getting late and he should go to sleep.
Chen Xiao arrived at Feng Li's courtyard. Feng Li dismissed the servants, leaving only the two of them in the courtyard.
As Feng Li walked inside, he introduced to Chen Xiao, "This is where the mistress lives, and it was also where Qi Ruyan lived before."
Chen Xiao showed no surprise, continued walking, and said with a faint smile, "When did Miss Qi recognize me?"
Feng Li only smiled and remained silent.
The two entered the house. Feng Li closed the doors and windows, lit candles, and after Chen Xiao sat down, he prepared to kowtow and pay his respects.
Chen Xiao stopped her, "No need, I don't want a beauty to bow to me!" After saying that, he poured himself some tea.
Feng Li, upon hearing this, did not insist. He leisurely sat down opposite Chen Xiao, took the tea set, poured himself a cup of tea, and then smiled at Chen Xiao:
"Your Majesty already knows about my relationship with my sister, so why ask such a question?"
Yes, back when Qi Ruyan came to the imperial mausoleum, she had already explained her relationship with Feng Li. At that time, only Chen Xiao was there, so no one knew about it.
Qi Ruyan grew up in the Ciyou Bureau, which was founded by Chu Qiaoling. It was an ancient version of orphanages that were spread throughout the country, but it was different from the modern ones.
Chu Qiaoling's mission is to take in orphans of all ages and do her best to help them find their families. Regardless of whether they are found or not, anyone in the orphanage who wants to learn can study at the academy for free.
Furthermore, once they turn fourteen, they can participate in the academy's exams, and rewards are distributed according to their performance. Basically, as long as you participate, you will receive a reward, ranked from smallest to largest. The first-place winner may even have the opportunity to directly participate in the palace examination.
However, this move has both advantages and disadvantages. Overly kind actions often lead to bad problems. If so many orphanages are not managed properly, they can become a weapon in the hands of some bad people.
Qi Ruyan was born and raised in the Ciyouju (orphanage) in the southern suburbs of Guangling. The orphans there were of different ages, but everyone was cheerful. She regarded the place as her home and got along well with everyone.
When she was ten years old, her "home" suddenly changed. A group of men carrying knives broke into the warm and cozy place. They committed all kinds of evil deeds, and no one, including their teachers and the police chief, was spared.
The atmosphere later became heavy. There were often fewer people at the "home". Most of them were good-looking, both men and women. The bureau chief tried to report to the yamen, but he was arrested before he could even leave the house. He was tortured in the courtyard and went insane.
This situation continued until she was thirteen years old. As she grew up, her best friend, Aqi, became very anxious and tried to find a way to cover her eye-catching face.
But it was no use; the area was already spies everywhere. Qi Ruyan was immediately taken away. Later, she heard that A Qi had been tortured unconscious for trying to stop her.
Qi Ruyan was taken to the Qi family mansion, where the head of the family at the time was Qi Yuan's father. He had many beautiful concubines, the youngest of whom was only one year older than Qi Ruyan.
The head of the Qi family did not take a liking to Qi Ruyan, because he had just taken a fourteen-year-old as a concubine. He felt that the thirteen-year-old Qi Ruyan looked timid and was not as interesting as the fourteen-year-old, so he wanted to give Qi Ruyan away at will.
At that time, Qi Yuan was twenty years old and had attracted many women. Hearing his father's intention, he had a thought and asked his father for Qi Ruyan. However, when he met her, he realized that she was still young and it was not appropriate to do anything to her, so he treated her with courtesy.
Qi Ruyan only thought that Qi Yuan had saved her from danger and hadn't done anything to her. In addition, Qi Yuan's appearance was very deceptive and his behavior was very gentle and elegant, so she fell in love with Qi Yuan.
Qi Ruyan was kept in Qi Yuan's courtyard under the guise of a concubine. She was the only one in Qi Yuan's courtyard. At the time, she did not know that Qi Yuan was promiscuous outside. She only felt that Qi Yuan's private life was clean, unlike Qi's father. The two of them spent two years together day and night.
Later, when Qi Ruyan came of age, Qi Yuan got drunk with joy that night and accidentally broke into Qi Ruyan's room. After some maneuvering, the two secretly pledged their lives to each other the next day. It was only more than ten years later that she learned that Qi Yuan and Qian Yun had also secretly pledged their lives to each other that night.
Five years passed quickly, and Qi Ruyan was confined to the inner quarters for seven years because her father never allowed her to go out.
She became pregnant at this time. Qi Yuan was very happy when he found out and said he wanted to marry her. She was also very happy and felt that she was very lucky to have met such a man.
A month later, Qi's father was furious and wanted to get rid of Qi Ruyan. Just as she was on the verge of death, Qi Yuan appeared, saved her, and defied his father for the first time.
Later, Qi Yuan sent her to his residence in the western suburbs, promising that he would handle his family affairs well and then marry her in a grand ceremony. The two were reluctant to part, and Qi Ruyan was full of anticipation.
She waited there for almost half a year. During that time, someone came to visit her. It was an old friend from the sales office who brought a baby to see her, and she was very happy.
But after the brief conversation, he was heartbroken.
It turned out that the baby girl was Aqi's orphan. Aqi was tortured beyond recognition after she left, but she was given a good makeover in just a few days and sent to the Yuanxing.
She was tortured somewhere for seven years, and died in childbirth not long ago in a mass grave. This baby girl was brought back by her after she received the news; any later and the child would have died.
Qi Ruyan was trapped in the Qi residence without anyone knowing her whereabouts. Only now has she been sent out of the Qi residence to live in an outer house. It was only then that her old friend went to great lengths to find out where Qi Ruyan was and told her about it.
The old friend was lucky to escape the orphanage during the war and has now found a good match. The two are preparing to take the child to the capital to settle down. This trip is also to say goodbye. They hope that Qi Ruyan will name the child.
"Then let's name him Feng Li, Feng Meng Li Chou, Qi Feng Li..."
"Alright, Ah Jin, live well. I wish you a smooth life. We'll meet again someday!"
After a brief conversation, her old friend left. Qi Ruyan didn't try to stop her, but instead watched her retreating figure and quietly replied, "You too..."
This matter was reported to him by Qi Yuan's informant, but he was busy vying for power at the time and did not pay attention to it.
Later, Qi Yuan officially became the head of the Qi family and took charge of the Qi family mansion. There were only him and his mother in the mansion, and Qi Yuan became the legitimate eldest son.
Qi Ruyan was married into the Qi family and became Madam Qi. At that time, she was close to giving birth, and Qi Yuan was in a good mood. For once, they did nothing and chatted fully clothed.
"Ah Jin, I'm so happy! Are you happy too?"
“I’m very happy. From now on, call me Ruyan. The past is like smoke. My new name is Qi Ruyan.”
"Ah Jin, do you want to take my surname? Very well, Qi Ruyan, it sounds very nice, Madam Qi."
"Yes, Qi Ruyan, Madam Qi, sounds nice."
In the latter half of the night, Qi Yuan couldn't resist and called it their wedding night, which caused Qi Ruyan to have a miscarriage. She endured the pain for a whole day and almost had a difficult labor, but finally gave birth to her eldest son, whom she named Qi Yanshang.
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