He Yunxiao was used to coming and going in the palace, and he didn't shy away from it even at night.
His main purpose in entering the palace was to find Mengbao to pull strings and gain an opportunity to earn military merit, thus contributing a small part to the Qi army's victory over the Yan army.
While we're at it, let's find out about the background of Mengbao and her sister from the Empress Dowager.
Inside the Feng Hua Palace, He Yunxiao was held by the Empress Dowager's hands, who showered him with affection and concern. (www.cascoo.net)
Have you eaten? It's getting cold, wear more clothes. He Yunxiao, whose hand was being held by the Empress Dowager, had heard these generic greetings repeated over and over again by her.
He Yunxiao disliked meeting the Empress Dowager. It wasn't that he disliked her, but rather that she treated him too well, to the point that he often wondered if he was his mother's biological son.
He Yunxiao wondered to himself: Could He Yuanhao have done something foolish when he was young? No way? No way?
He Yunxiao himself knew that this was just a joke and couldn't stand up to scrutiny. Not to mention that his father, He Yuanhao, had sided with the Empress Dowager in court, even in terms of genetics, he and the Empress Dowager didn't look alike at all. It was impossible for them to be related by blood.
The more this is the case, the more it illustrates the strangeness of the Empress Dowager's attitude.
Why are they so kind to me when we're not even related...?
There's no reason for it.
"Someone, it's getting cold. Bring out my privately stored vintage wine to warm Xiao'er up."
After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she reminded the palace maid, "It should be warm, not too hot."
The palace maid standing to the side said "Yes" and went to carry out the order.
There was not just one maid waiting in the Empress Dowager's palace; while this maid went to do her work, there were three or four others standing in the hall waiting for orders.
He Yunxiao knew without a doubt that Li Xiangjun's background was a top secret. And now, late at night, with a man and a woman alone, it wouldn't be appropriate to have the Empress Dowager dismiss everyone and be alone with him.
However, relying on the Empress Dowager's favor and Mengbao's bias, He Yunxiao still braced himself and said, "Empress Dowager, He Yunxiao has something to say."
The Empress Dowager smiled at He Yunxiao, waved to the palace maids in the hall, and said, "Go and rest." Then she whispered, "What's wrong? Did you have a fight with Qingqian?"
He Yunxiao was startled by the Empress Dowager's words.
"You knew all along?"
The Empress Dowager covered her mouth, laughing so hard she almost fell over. "You two have been meeting secretly in Fenghua Palace day and night. Do you really think I'm a fool?"
In the state of Qi, taking a woman's body before marriage was by no means a commendable act. If the woman was willing, the matter would be tacitly concealed until after the wedding. If the woman was unwilling, the man would be imprisoned.
The most terrifying thing about this is that the girl's parents' opinions can also be considered as the girl's own wishes.
In other words, if the Empress Dowager wanted to take down He Yunxiao, she could sentence him to death in the autumn.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager already knew about his affair with Mengbao, He Yunxiao's attitude instantly became respectful. He quickly got off the chair the Empress Dowager had given him, knelt down with a deep bow, and said, "Empress Dowager, this is all my fault, He Yunxiao's fault..."
The Empress Dowager smiled at He Yunxiao, stood up to help him up, and said, "Xiao'er, I was truly pleased with you when I first met you. How could this be your fault? Do you think I don't know Qingqian's personality? If she wasn't devoted to you, would she have let you touch her?"
"I told her about you before, but she ignored me. Now she still rushes to sleep in my Fenghua Palace every night. You and Qingqian should live a good life together from now on, and it would be best if you could have a few more babies for me to play with, as a way for you to show your respect to me."
He Yunxiao was surprised by the Empress Dowager's open-mindedness.
In the state of Qi, premarital affairs were considered taboo and not generally accepted by mainstream opinion. Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager…
Wait... how did Li Xiangjun come about...?
He Yunxiao's expression turned strange. The Empress Dowager was so enlightened; she wouldn't...
"Your Majesty, there is something He Yunxiao is unsure whether he should say."
"Wait for me for a moment."
He Yunxiao: ?
After speaking, the Empress Dowager rose and went back to her inner room, only emerging a while later. When she came out, she was carrying an extremely exquisite little box, about the size of a palm and three fingers thick.
The Empress Dowager handed the small box to He Yunxiao and said with a smile, "Open it after you leave the palace."
"He Yunxiao thanks the Empress Dowager!"
The Empress Dowager said meaningfully, "We're all family. Giving it to you is already giving it to Qingqian."
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was in a good mood, He Yunxiao brought up the old matter again, saying, "Empress Dowager, He Yunxiao has something to say..."
"Xiao'er, just say what you want to say. Since no empress has been appointed, I am the one who calls the shots in this harem."
"Do you remember the name 'Qingmeng'?" He Yunxiao first probed by revealing Mengbao's secret.
The Empress Dowager was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Qingqian used to be called 'Qingmeng,' but 'Meng' was the same as 'Meng,' so it was changed later. Few people know this; did Qingqian tell you?"
He Yunxiao remained noncommittal, but continued, "Was Your Highness previously called 'Meng Qingmeng'?"
"Um."
"Empress Dowager..."
"you say."
"What I want to ask about is 'Li Qingmeng'."
The Empress Dowager's body trembled, and she looked at He Yunxiao in horror, saying, "You went to the Yan Kingdom!?"
Not only was the Empress Dowager shocked, but He Yunxiao was also deeply shaken.
My trip to the Yan Kingdom was kept extremely secret; even my sister Jiang, my father, and my aunts didn't know, let alone the Empress Dowager.
Right now, the Empress Dowager knows I've been to the Yan Kingdom just from my name. This can only mean that she's always known of Li Xiangjun's existence!
"Empress Dowager, I have met her," He Yunxiao said solemnly, enunciating each word clearly.
The Empress Dowager gripped He Yunxiao's arm tightly, her eyes filled with tears, and asked, "How is she? Is she alright?"
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