Chapter 157 Mutual Understanding
Xiao Ji knew nothing about what was happening in the capital. Naturally, he had spies in the palace, but those spies could not be exposed easily at the moment. So when the officials from the Ministry of Rites rushed to the palace with a carriage, Xiao Ji was working in the fields.
The rice seedlings planted a month ago have grown below the knees, and it is time to transplant them. Even though Xiao Ji has difficulty walking, this matter was initiated by him personally. He has read so many agricultural books. When it comes to transplanting rice seedlings, how can he not practice it himself?
This was the scene that Zhang Quan, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, saw when he arrived here on a tall horse. The young man was wearing a coarse cloth short-sleeved shirt on his upper body and coarse cloth shorts on his lower body, with his arms and calves bare. Because of their arrival, he had straightened his body, but the seedlings in his hands silently told what this former prince, now prince, was doing.
A feeling of sadness surged in Zhang Quan's heart. Even though he was not under Xiao Ji's command before, he saw that the former crown prince was doing such a job. He didn't know whether to praise him for his practical actions and down-to-earth approach, or sigh that he was just swimming in shallow water.
Finally he took a deep breath and dismounted.
Xiao Ji also handed the seedlings in his hand to Zhao Tong beside him and walked slowly onto the ridge of the field, walking in deep and shallow places, and walked calmly in front of the Minister of Rites.
Zhang Quan looked at the young man in front of him with muddy legs. His arms showed distinct white and yellow colors when he walked. It was obvious that he did not rest in the house all day. If he did not recognize this face, how could he dare to say that this was a child of the royal family?
The people who were helping to plant the seedlings around had never seen such a scene before. They all stopped what they were doing and turned their eyes here.
"Why is Lord Zhang here?" Xiao Ji's gaze fell on Zhang Quan's face for a moment, and then involuntarily fell on the luxurious carriage in the distance... Xiao Ji felt a little puzzled, and his heart couldn't help but pounding.
Under the gazes of the crowd, the high-ranking official in purple robes lifted his robe and knelt, holding the imperial edict aloft in both hands. His attendants followed suit, kneeling one after another, until only the young man in coarse linen clothes remained standing tall on the ridge of the field, catching everyone's attention.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to His Royal Highness Prince Zhao. In compliance with His Majesty's order, I welcome His Royal Highness back to the palace." Zhang Quan said loudly, making sure that everyone around him could hear him clearly.
The people who were nearby did hear it, and they all stood there in a daze. They only reacted after the seedlings in their hands fell into the paddy fields. But they were all stunned.
A prince? This nobleman living in the palace is a prince? Is he the prince they know? The emperor's son?
Putting aside the discussions of the Hedong villagers, Zhang Quan looked up at Xiao Ji. He expected Xiao Ji to be extremely excited, but he saw the only young man standing on the ridge of the field with a calm expression. He took the imperial edict as if it were an ordinary item, and then held it in his hands without even glancing at it before saying, "Sir Zhang, please wait a moment. Let me bathe and change clothes first."
He turned and walked towards the palace, leaving Zhang Quan and the other officials staring at each other in bewilderment. This... this was too calm. Shouldn't he be crying tears of joy?
Only Zhao Tong noticed the difference in his master. His steps were faster and lighter than usual. It was obvious that he was excited. Fortunately, his master had not completely forgotten about pretending to be lame and still remembered to pretend a few more times.
The Ministry of Rites and others who were left behind also looked at the unnatural steps, and a look of sudden enlightenment appeared in their eyes.
With such a chronic illness, even if he regained his position as prince, he was destined to have no chance of that position. If it were me, I probably wouldn't be too happy.
However, a smile gradually appeared on the face of the young man with his back to them. Looking at the girl waiting for him in front of the palace gate, his eyes and eyebrows were completely lifted.
Although the people from the Ministry of Rites were moving slowly, the sound of carriages and horses could still be heard from afar. Qing Wu, who was pounding medicine in the gatehouse and the doctor's room, couldn't help but put down his work to take a look, and witnessed with his own eyes the scene of those officials kneeling down to Xiao Ji.
Needless to say, Qingwu also guessed something. Isn't this the scene they have been dreaming of?
Seeing Xiao Ji walking towards her, Qing Wu hurriedly took a few steps to greet him. Before she could speak, Xiao Ji stuffed the scroll of the imperial edict into her hands, "Qingqing, please help me take a look."
There was a smile in the corners of the boy's eyes and eyebrows, but Qingwu felt that he was actually a little scared. After all, according to their expectations, they would have to stay here for more than a year, but it has only been three months, like a dream.
Qing Wu lowered her eyes to look at the imperial edict in her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly. She slowly unfolded the bright yellow silk, her eyes quickly skimming over the insignificant words until the three words "Prince Zhao" came into view.
The golden silk was a little dazzling in the sunlight, but she looked at it carefully several times before looking up with a smile in her eyes.
"Congratulations, Your Highness."
Xiao Ji was completely relieved. He couldn't help but hug Qing Wu in his arms, but he restrained himself and only hugged her for two breaths before quickly separating. He took her hand and walked inside. After they entered the main hall and closed the door, he let go completely and hugged Qing Wu in his arms again, his voice choked with sobs.
Qing Wu waited patiently for him to speak, waiting for him to tell her about the grievances he had suffered these days, or the joy of his sudden restoration today, but she didn't expect his first words to be - "Qingqing, you finally don't have to suffer with me anymore."
The girl who was hugged tightly was stunned, but the boy's voice continued to reach her ears.
"I can finally let you live in a big house and eat good food! As for those gorgeous clothes, jewelry, hairpins and rings, I will buy them all for you when we return to the capital. I want to dress you up beautifully, and the food and things you use will be better than those princesses!"
Xiao Ji had never mentioned these words in the past, and Qing Wu didn't care about them, but who would have thought that these were deeply buried in his heart, and he had already felt guilty again and again.
Qingwu's heart softened instantly, her eyes gradually became blurry, and she blinked her eyelashes, and a tear fell.
"But I care." Xiao Ji let go of her and held her face in his hands. The guilt and heartache in his eyes were so strong that they were about to overflow from his eyes.
"Qingqing deserves the best in this world. But since you followed me, you have been eating simple meals all day long, and even have to work in the fields..."
His eyes were red, and after a few pauses, he spoke word by word: "You were forced because of me..."
Even though Xi Qingtong was the instigator of this matter, Xiao Ji knew that it was all because of him. If he had not been deposed, Xi Qingtong would not have resorted to such a desperate measure. Whether intentionally or not, he was the reason why Qingwu was wronged.
But how could the girl bear to let him blame all the mistakes on himself? He was obviously a victim too. Who could easily accept that his wife had changed into someone else without his knowledge?
If he felt that she was forced into the exchange because of him, then Qing Wu also wanted to say - "Didn't I mean to use you? If I had firmly refused, then the exchange would not have been possible. You don't have to blame yourself."
The two people felt that it was each other's fault, and they understood and felt sorry for each other. They looked into each other's eyes and couldn't help but hug each other.
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