The air in the entire imperial study was condensed.
Qu Li met Kangdi's gloomy and deep eyes with neither arrogance nor servility.
"Your Majesty, if you believe Changle is fine, then consider Qu Li's actions as being rude today! Qu Li should go find Changle himself!"
Emperor Kang had a much better impression of Qu Li because she cured the Empress Dowager.
But what he hated most was making trouble out of nothing, and he also hated her arrogance.
As the air pressure dropped, a report was heard from outside.
Xiao Xian walked in and glanced at Qu Li's face from the corner of his eye. "Your son greets the emperor."
When Emperor Kang saw Xiao Xian, his expression softened a little.
"Ah Xian, Changle might have just gone to a palace to play, but Qu Li insisted that something happened to Changle and asked me to rescue her. Isn't this nonsense?"
"Father, calm down! Changle and Li'er have a good relationship, and this is indeed a bit unusual."
Kangdi's frown deepened. "In that case, take people to look for him!"
Qu Li was about to speak, but Xiao Xian glared at him fiercely, "I hope Li'er is overthinking it."
After saying that, he bowed and left with Qu Li.
After leaving the imperial study, Xiao Xian's expression was solemn: "Do you know that if it weren't for me, you would have been punished by my father?"
"Not as important as Changle's safety!"
"There's no need to look for Father to find Changle!"
"If my guess is correct, Changle is in danger!"
Moreover, it is possible that the Queen, seeing that she could not target the Empress Dowager, would target Changle.
She went to see Kangdi just to have a legitimate reason!
Xiao Xian was so angry that he laughed, "When can you show this much concern and worry for me?"
Qu Li tilted his head, "I used to care about you a lot, but you just treat me like a piece of grass!"
This was a bit confusing, and Xiao Xian was too lazy to argue with her. After all, she was sharp-tongued now, and her words were like barbed knives.
"Don't you know how to control beasts with the sound of the flute?"
Qu Li's eyes flickered, "Do you want someone to find fault with me? You really are a man without ruthlessness!"
Xiao Xian touched his nose. "If your intuition is correct and Changle is in trouble, then making a big fuss about looking for someone now will definitely put her in danger. Go to the Imperial Garden. After all, everyone knows that you can play the nine-hole flute! Even if you attract birds, they will only think that you are an excellent flute player."
Qu Li frowned, pondered for a moment, and nodded in agreement.
The two of them came to the imperial garden again and walked into the pavilion.
Xiao Xian ordered the palace maid to prepare some tea and snacks, while Qu Li sat opposite him and took out a nine-hole flute.
The melodious sound of the flute resounded throughout the entire imperial garden, making people feel relaxed all over. Even if they were tired after a day of work, they could forget their fatigue.
"Princess Chen's flute playing is so beautiful!"
“Look!!”
Everyone only saw a dark mass in the sky and many birds flying by.
These birds were perched on the branches, chirping non-stop.
Qu Li and Xiao Xian exchanged glances, the sound of the flute changed, the birds chirped, and flapped their wings to fly away.
“Why did the birds fly away?”
The palace maids and eunuchs craned their necks, their eyes filled with loss.
At the same time, Xiao Zhao, who had entered the palace, also heard Qu Li's flute playing. He snorted coldly, "Before, I mocked Xiao Xian for marrying an ugly fool, but now it seems that this is just a facilitator in his bid for the throne!"
Guard Huaihai whispered, "Grand Prince, please be careful with your words!"
"Did you hear? Princess Chen's flute music actually attracted quite a few birds! But unfortunately, when we ran to the Imperial Garden, they all flew away!"
Just then, two young eunuchs passed by and when they saw Xiao Zhao, they immediately bowed to him.
"Can Qu Li's flute music attract birds?" A sinister and gloomy look flashed across Xiao Zhao's narrow eyes. "Let's go to the Queen Mother first, and then to the Imperial Study!"
After the bird flew away, it quickly flew back and landed on Qu Li's shoulder, chirping non-stop.
Qu Li said to Xiao Xian, "I've found it."
"I will go!"
"I'll go with you!"
"good."
So the two of them followed the bird's guidance and left the imperial garden.
Xiao Xian narrowed his eyes, "This is to my mother's palace!"
"Hmm?" Qu Li turned his eyes away.
Xiao Xian's expression became solemn.
Ever since his mother, Concubine Rong, passed away, Laiyi Hall became a forbidden area in the palace. Except for the eunuchs who cleaned the house, no one else would enter.
Not long ago, a palace maid and a eunuch broke in here. Emperor Kang, who never liked to beat or kill palace maids, was furious and ordered his men to beat the two to death.
If Changle is really here, then the situation is not good!
Qu Li looked up at the plaque on the temple gate.
Laiyi Hall...
The phoenix is coming!
It’s no wonder that the Queen hates Concubine Rong and Xiao Xian so much.
"Go in!" Xiao Xian said.
The heavy palace gate slowly opened. Even though Concubine Rong had passed away for decades, every plant and tree in the palace was still well maintained.
When Xiao Xian stepped in here, his expression became lonely.
"I have never seen my mother. The only time I saw her was in a portrait my father painted."
Qu Li just listened quietly.
"They all say that my mother is a very talented person. If she hadn't had a difficult delivery that day, she might have been the most gentle mother in the world."
Qu Li didn't want to interrupt him, but Changle's safety was more important.
The two of them searched separately in Laiyi Hall, but did not find anyone.
"Is Changle not here?" Qu Li became even more anxious.
"Look again, these birds won't lie to you!"
Maybe it was hidden somewhere, but they ignored it.
“Follow me!”
Xiao Xian suddenly thought of something, naturally took her hand, and hurried to a small wooden house at the back.
Qu Li tried to break free from his hand several times, but he was too strong.
The two stood in front of the wooden house, and Qu Li bent down to pick up a purse embroidered with crabapple flowers.
“This is Changle’s!”
Xiao Xian frowned and pushed the door open.
On the other side, someone hurried into the imperial study.
"Your Majesty, someone has trespassed into the ceremonial hall!"
Emperor Kang, who was reviewing memorials, suddenly changed his expression upon hearing this. He stood up, exuding a cold and oppressive aura. "Follow me to Laiyi Palace."
Eunuch Fu glanced at the young eunuch who came to report. The young eunuch did not dare to meet his sharp eyes that seemed to see through everything, and lowered his head.
"Your Majesty, could it be Prince Chen and Princess Chen?"
"Qu Li came to me earlier and told me that they wanted to find Changle, and I have already allowed them to go! I have already issued an order that no one is allowed to enter that place at will. If Changle is really there, I will not show leniency just because she is my sister's only daughter!"
"Your Majesty, maybe Prince Chen wants to bring Princess Chen to visit Concubine Rong's Laiyi Palace?" Eunuch Fu said cautiously.
Kangdi paused, and the cold aura around him subsided a little.
Eunuch Fu whispered again, "This old servant has noticed that the prince has been paying more and more attention to Princess Chen recently. Princess Chen is indeed a wonderful person! It's just that she used to hide her abilities, which led to the world misunderstanding her."
Emperor Kang looked towards the Laiyi Palace, his eyes dark and mysterious...
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