Chapter 98 The Chief Steward's Test
At dawn the next day, Chuntao went out on the pretext that the old couple from the farm wanted to see her about something. She rented a carriage from a carriage shop outside and headed to the palace.
It was Nanny Xia who opened the door for her. Seeing Chuntao coming, she immediately guessed that the Third Lady probably also knew about the swap between Qingwu and Xi Qingtong. She didn't say anything, just nodded and opened the door a little wider.
Chuntao looked up at the mottled vermilion lacquer gate and the faded carved eaves, and her heart couldn't help but feel nervous.
This palace had been uninhabited for years, exuding a bleak and dilapidated atmosphere. She clutched the corners of her clothes, wondering how miserable Madam Qingwu must be living in such a place.
Nanny Xia turned and went in, Chuntao followed in with her head down, but when she saw the scene in the palace clearly, she couldn't help but be slightly shocked.
Unlike the desolate outside, the palace was cleaned spotlessly.
Although there are some cracks on the bluestone road, there is not a single fallen leaf; although the paint on the corridor columns is old, they are wiped clean.
There were a few trees scattered in the yard, and a few reed mats spread on the ground, with some unknown hay drying on them.
Further along, there was a table and chairs in the corridor, clearly often occupied. Although the entire palace showed signs of disrepair, it was surprisingly clean and comfortable.
Chuntao was in a daze when Nanny Xia led her through the hanging flower gate to the backyard. She could faintly hear women laughing in the distance. She became more and more confused and couldn't help but quicken her pace.
When she arrived at the backyard, the scene before her widened her eyes even more—
Madam Qingwu was squatting beside the vegetable patch, wearing a half-sleeve shirt that was convenient for work, pulling out weeds skillfully. There were thin beads of sweat on her forehead, but a smile was on the corners of her mouth.
Baozhu and Yuzhu also squatted beside her. The three of them chatted with each other and laughed from time to time, which made the scene very lively.
"This..." Chuntao's throat choked. She had originally expected to see Madam Qingwu, looking gloomy, but she had never imagined that a noble lady could be seen working freely in the fields.
Seeing her standing there motionless, Nanny Xia smiled and said, "Why, are you stunned?"
"Mammy, here..." Chuntao stared at the newly sprouted vegetable seedlings in the field, stunned and not knowing what to say.
Nanny Xia also smiled when she saw her expression. She had expected Chuntao to be so shocked. Who would have thought that Madam Qingwu was forced to change her husband and could still maintain such a tenacious character in the palace?
Qingwu looked up at them. She was startled at first, then her eyes lit up. She stood up, brushed the dirt off her hands, and walked over with a smile: "Chuntao? You're here?"
The first time is new, the second time is familiar. By the third time, Qing Wu was calm and even felt that it was not surprising for anyone to find out that she had swapped places with her twin sister.
Of course, the most important thing is that she and Xiao Ji have already communicated with each other, and he doesn't mind it, so what else is there to worry about?
Chuntao stared blankly at the person in front of her. Madam Qingwu had her hair tied up high with only two silver hairpins inserted in it. Her clothes were much simpler than anyone she had ever seen before. It could even be said that she was dressed like a peasant girl. But her eyes were as clear as spring water in a mountain stream, her complexion was very rosy, and her eyebrows were much more relaxed than when she was in the mansion.
She didn't know how to answer for a moment, and stammered, "I... I came to see you on the orders of the Third Lady. I didn't expect you to be here..."
Qing Wu nodded in understanding. The fact that her third sister had called Chun Tao over must have meant that she had discovered something. A hint of warmth flashed in her eyes: "Sister, you are so thoughtful. Go back and tell her that I'm doing well here and she doesn't need to worry."
Baozhu and Yuzhu also came over and looked at Chuntao with a smile: "We are so happy here, we eat well, drink well, sleep well, and we are very comfortable."
Chun Tao looked at their enthusiasm and felt a bit bewildered. She had originally thought that this trip would uncover some tragic truth, but she had never expected that Madam Qingwu would live so peacefully in the palace.
Seeing that Chuntao was still a little dazed, Qingwu pulled her to sit on the stone bench beside the field. It had been moved there in the last two days for them to rest while working. She poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her.
"Chun Tao, go back and tell Third Sister," Qing Wu said seriously, "Just pretend you don't know about the swap between Qing Tong and me, and don't mention it in front of Mother."
Chun Tao held the teacup and hesitated, "But my lady, you are just like this..."
"I'm fine," Qing Wu interrupted her, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Really. I feel more at ease here than in the Xi and Song families." She paused, her voice even softer. "Besides, my husband... knows."
Chuntao looked up suddenly and caught a glimpse of Qingwu's slightly red ears.
Because they often played together in the past, Baozhu blurted out: "Oh, our husband really likes our wife and treats her very well!"
Yuzhu also came over and looked at Chuntao and smiled, "It's true, my husband already knows it. Besides, our wife saved my husband at the horse farm before, and my husband is naturally grateful."
Hearing the two Zhu'er's exaggerated words, Qingwu scolded them, "You're too talkative!"
Turning to Chuntao, he said sternly, "In short, tell Third Sister not to act rashly. You know Madam's temper. If there's a commotion, Third Sister will be the one who suffers."
Chuntao nodded solemnly, and thinking that her master must be waiting anxiously, she wanted to go back and report to Xi Qingmian. Qingwu did not keep her and asked Nanny Xia to send her out of the palace again.
Chuntao had just left, and less than half an hour later, a team of carriages and horses stopped at the gate of the palace. It was Bai De'an who was beside the emperor.
Fugui, who was helping to turn and dry herbs in the front yard, opened the door and took a look outside, then immediately ran to the backyard to inform Xiao Ji Qingwu and others. Bai De'an did not stop him and waited outside for another quarter of an hour before asking the accompanying guards to open the door.
When Bai De'an arrived, he felt, like everyone else seeing the palace for the first time, that it was utterly dilapidated. He couldn't help but sigh in regret when he thought of how magnificent the East Palace, where Xiao Ji had once lived, had become, and how it had fallen to this state.
"Sir, please come in." The eunuch who led the way whispered.
Turning around the screen wall, Bai De'an saw from afar the two leading figures in the courtyard.
The deposed Crown Prince Xiao Ji sat in a wheelchair, his head bowed as he spoke to the woman beside him. The woman was dressed in a blue brocade robe, with a silver hairpin in her hair. She must be the Xi family girl.
Bai De'an cleared his throat and said loudly: "The emperor's reward--"
The two people in the courtyard looked up at the sound. Xiao Ji and Qing Wu exchanged a quick glance. Qing Wu gave an almost imperceptible nod, and Xiao Ji nodded slightly. Then, he placed his hands on the wheelchair armrests and pretended to stand up.
Bai De'an watched coldly, deliberately keeping silent. His purpose in this trip wasn't just to intimidate the other princes; he also had another purpose, which was to observe how Xiao Ji's injury was recovering.
He noticed that when Xiao Ji stood up, the veins on his forehead bulged slightly, but he didn't seem to be in much pain. He even took the armpit crutch from the Xi family girl. This made Bai De'an raise his eyebrows. Could he really walk up to him?
Bai De'an silently watched the deposed prince, leaning on his cane, take one step, two steps... Xiao Ji walked extremely slowly, pausing for a moment after each step. Just as he took the third step, his right leg suddenly gave way, and he fell forward.
"Mukuro!"
He looked at the Xi family girl and exclaimed, then rushed forward to support the deposed prince, crying, "Sixth Prince, why are you forcing yourself?"
It turned out that he was just pretending to be strong, and Bai De'an felt a little relieved.
The deposed crown prince said nothing. Even though his expression was ferocious, he still stubbornly pushed the Xi girl away, as if he was about to kneel down. "Since I'm a commoner, I naturally have to perform formalities when meeting an angel..."
Seeing Xiao Ji's legs bent and he was about to kneel on the ground, Bai De'an hurriedly stepped forward and supported Xiao Ji: "How can this old servant accept your courtesy? No matter what you are, you are still His Majesty's biological son."
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