Chapter 160 Madam Zheng, Meeting the Emperor
Finally, the ceremonial music began, the curtains were lowered, and the carriage moved forward. Xiao Xing broke free from her brother's hand and ran a few steps after the carriage. Her childish voice was particularly clear in the wind: "Madam, you must come back!"
Qing Wu leaned out of the car window, waved at the little girl with red eyes, "Sure!"
Even after the imperial carriage disappeared down the dusty official road, the villagers were reluctant to leave. Zhang Quan, still on his horse, couldn't help but look back at the people still standing there, watching, a flood of emotion welling up in his heart.
His gaze shifted from the people in the distance to the luxurious carriage nearby, as if he saw through the door the couple sitting inside.
Thinking about what he saw and heard today, Zhang Quan couldn't help but wonder, could the prince who is so loved by the people really only be a prince?
As dusk fell, the imperial carriage sped towards the capital. However, for some people, a new journey had just begun.
*
Mrs. Zheng, who had briefly crossed Qingwu's mind, was indeed now restless.
Madam Zheng had been sitting in the hall all day, her mind resonating with the servants' report: "The deposed Crown Prince has been reinstated and given the title of Prince Zhao. His Majesty has sent an official from the Ministry of Rites to personally welcome him."
"Why is this happening..." She muttered to herself, picked up the tea beside her and poured it into her mouth, not realizing that the water in the teacup had already gone cold.
The rainy day three months ago was still vivid in her mind. She had personally proposed the exchange to her daughter. At that time, she was only thinking about protecting Qingtong's future. She never thought that the deposed prince would be restored to the prince so quickly. He was a prince after all. Even if it was not as good as the position of the crown prince, he was still a king.
"Madam, it's time for dinner." The little maid said cautiously.
"Why should I eat... How can I eat?" Mrs. Zheng supported her forehead with her hand, feeling both irritated and afraid.
How could she not know that Qingwu's daughter must be disappointed, and who knows what will happen in the future? But she was more worried about what would happen if the two sisters were found out? This would be a crime of deceiving the emperor!
The sword that had been hanging over her head for a long time finally touched Mrs. Zheng's head, and she began to be afraid.
Seeing this, the little maid retreated. Just as Mrs. Zheng had been quiet for a while, Qiangwei hurried in again, wanting to say something but stopping herself.
"lady……"
"What's the matter again!" Mrs. Zheng shouted sternly.
Qiangwei said with a stiff upper lip, "I just received news that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao... brought his concubine to the palace to meet the Emperor..."
Madam Zheng swayed and held onto the corner of the table. Entering the palace to see the emperor! Isn't this another step closer to danger!
At this moment, her previously clear mind began to blur. She didn't know what to do. She panicked! In her panic, Madam Zheng accidentally knocked the teacup off the table, but she didn't care at all. She just kept asking, "Tong'er, what did Tong'er say? Didn't she send someone to tell her today?"
"Go and call Tong'er over for me!"
Qiangwei knew the inside story. "Madam, no one is visiting the Song Mansion today." Looking at the dark sky outside, she said with embarrassment, "It might not be a good idea to call Madam Tong now. Why not call her tomorrow?"
"And... Madam Qingwu probably doesn't want to reveal her identity now..." After all, she is the prince's concubine.
This sentence successfully calmed Madam Zheng down, and she calmed down, "Yes, Qingwu should not be exposed now..."
But after she said this, she did not feel at ease, but felt even more uncomfortable.
Qingwu became the prince's concubine, while Tong'er was only the wife of a minor official. Even Madam Zheng, who doted on Xi Qingtong, couldn't help but complain, "If only that child had held on a little longer..."
She had completely forgotten about this family in the past, and no one had ever persuaded Xi Qingtong to stay with the deposed prince.
*
It was Xiao Yuluan who suggested Xiao Ji's restoration. The young eunuch beside the emperor came to invite the eldest princess to meet him in the palace early in the morning, but was rejected. In fact, Xiao Yuluan just didn't want to reveal her identity and didn't want anyone to discover her relationship with her apprentice.
So, when the sun set completely and the moon rose high, Xiao Ji and Qing Wu, who finally arrived at the palace, only saw Emperor Xiao Yuancheng.
Xiao Yuancheng had been waiting for the couple for a long time. He sat upright on the dragon throne, watching the two people who walked into the hall hand in hand and slowly approached. The moonlight shone through the hall door, coating the couple with a layer of silver glow.
He had some complaints at first, wondering how he could describe intimacy in such a way. But when the two of them got closer, Xiao Yuancheng noticed that Xiao Ji's steps were alternately deep and shallow. Although he tried his best to control them steadily, there was still a difference. This was probably because he was supported by the concubine at his side.
A trace of guilt quickly surged in Xiao Yuancheng's old eyes, and then was replaced by peace of mind.
However, the fact was that Xiao Ji could not control his resentment when he thought about meeting the emperor, and he walked faster and faster. Qing Wu beside him was afraid that he would be exposed, so he pretended to support him, but in fact he was helping him control his pace.
With his beloved wife by his side, Xiao Ji quickly regained his composure. He had finally regained his position as prince, and he couldn't let Qingwu suffer because of other things.
"Your Majesty, your son pays his respects." Xiao Ji bowed respectfully, his voice calm and steady, showing no trace of the turmoil in his heart just now.
Qing Wu also knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." She did not look up to greet the emperor curiously. She bowed according to the etiquette she had learned and knelt quietly aside. She should not have a role today.
Since "Your Majesty" was a title Xiao Yuancheng often heard, he did not notice anything strange. He just narrowed his eyes and looked at the young man and woman below him.
After not seeing this son for three months, his arrogance had faded, replaced by a reserved composure. His skin was darker than when he was in the palace, as if he had suddenly aged several years. Meanwhile, the beautiful woman beside him lowered her eyebrows and looked calm and composed.
He couldn't help but nodded. This ordeal had indeed made them grow.
"Stand up." Xiao Yuancheng raised his hand. "You've had a hard time along the way."
Qing Wu helped Xiao Ji to stand up, his movements gentle and delicate. Xiao Yuancheng saw this scene and felt a slight movement in his heart.
Xi Aiqing's daughter is indeed extraordinary. He did a good thing by marrying his son to such a good girl.
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