As
expected, although the emperor was shocked, he still expressed great surprise and relief that Qiu Che and Li Qingwu were still alive.
After the emperor and his ministers took turns to say some touching lines that made them cry, Qiu Che looked at the emperor's usual face and thought that this old man was pretending to be sick.
Li Shi smiled and expressed his feelings. Then the father and daughter left Li Qingwu alone on the grounds that they had not seen each other for a long time.
Qiu Che looked at her for the last time and got a subtle comforting look from her. Then he lowered his eyes and bowed and left.
She left the imperial study, the door was closed, and the maids and eunuchs withdrew very tactfully, leaving the father and daughter room to talk.
The ambergris in the incense burner rose a little, and Li Qingwu raised his hand calmly and covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief.
Since Qiu Che left, the hall suddenly became quiet.
The emperor was still sipping tea, and he caught a glimpse of her movements from the corner of his eye and suddenly paused.
Li Qingwu's heart tightened, thinking he had discovered something, but the next moment, the emperor said, "Is this the handkerchief you embroidered before?"
Li Qingwu was silent: "If your father is talking about before his daughter got married... then yes."
"Lotus," Li Shi murmured delicately, took a sip of tea, and said, "It grows out of the mud but remains unstained... Why didn't I realize before that you love 'lotus' so much?"
Li Qingwu clenched a corner of the handkerchief, but his face was calm and said, "That's because your father is a noble man who forgets things. I have always liked lotus and often wear lotus accessories close to my body."
"That's right - if you like it, you should always carry it with you." Li Shi nodded meaningfully, "Things are like this, of course, so are people." Li Qingwu
pretended not to understand, lowered his eyes and said respectfully, "Please speak frankly, father."
"I know you understand - how do you think about it?"
Li Shi said calmly: "I don't care what you did in the past two months. But during your absence, the business of 'Zhu Yan' has declined seriously. It is easy to keep its brand, provided that you agree to my conditions."
He stretched out his hand, pointed at himself, and said with a smile: "In the whole world, you are the first one who can make me say that we will work together, except Qiu Qing - I don't care about it again and again because you are my daughter. You two, don't be too greedy."
During the autumn hunt, the emperor also met with Li Qingwu alone.
At that time, he implicitly stated that he wanted Li Qingwu to give Qiu Che a chronic poison so that he could control Qiu Che and let her be completely controlled by the emperor and difficult to resist. He also said: "Your mother is from the Southern Yi people. The Southern Yi people are all talented in medicine. If you deliberately poison her, I believe she will not find it."
As Li Qingwu said to Qiu Che, she refused, but what she didn't say was that the emperor, like in his previous life, threatened her to hand over 80% of the Zhu Yan dividends.
Although the status of merchants has always been at the bottom of the hierarchy, and they are the most looked down upon and despised by the dignitaries, this does not prevent this industry from making money.
Now that the treasury is empty, what is most needed is silver.
Cursing the smell of copper coins while counting the copper coins, the faces of the world have always been so ugly and real.
Li Qingwu did not agree with this, but she did not refuse it either, which was considered to leave herself a way out.
But she also knew that the emperor's patience was not much. It
was not until she saw that Yuan Fu could break into the mountain to kidnap them under the heavy guard of the Jinwu Guards that Li Qingwu understood.
If there is anyone in the world who can let the criminals go on the execution ground and let the other party sneak into the hunting ground of Qiu Lie quietly... it should be only the emperor.
She guessed that Qiu Che probably guessed something, but neither of them said it clearly.
And now, the emperor's happiness for their safe return is also not false. This means that he has not lost a cash cow, nor has he lost the confidant he has just cultivated. Of course, he is happy.
Because this accidental fall off the cliff was not in the emperor's calculations from the beginning.
Li Qingwu guessed that his purpose was just to deter, but he accidentally played a big game, so after the two fell off the cliff, he was eager to find new allies and dragged the queen mother back into the vortex of this power struggle.
It must be said that it was quite bold and quite stupid.
Li Qingwu was uncontrollably annoyed by his indifferent attitude of treating their life and death as a game.
But she knew that even if she already had the answer in her heart, this was not the best time to attack.
A good hunter needs to be patient enough to lie dormant.
Until the time is right, kill the prey with one blow.
Li Qingwu raised the corners of her lips, and brought out her acting skills that had allowed her to survive in the deep palace for many years, and seemed a little hesitant: "After this incident... Zhu Yan's business has indeed been hit hard. On the way back, the surrounding business was depressed... Father, are you serious and willing to help me repair the store and reopen it?"
Li Shi was full of big words, and immediately said: "Of course, as long as you listen to me, there will be many benefits. You know, I now value you and your husband the most."
Li Qingwu smiled meekly: "Then I would like to thank you here... However, a few months ago, the prince brother was dissatisfied with my son's business and had a conflict with my son's husband. Now even..."
Of course Li Shi had heard of this matter, but he didn't think it was a big deal, so he lightly brushed it off. Hearing this, he raised his eyebrows: "Even what?"
"Even while I and my husband were injured and not back home, they planted an accomplice in the mansion," Li Qingwu lowered her head, her tone tearful, "I happened to run into that person delivering a message to my brother, the Crown Prince, and was really shocked - since when did anyone get into the Princess Mansion that your father has granted me?"
She sighed, "I know my status is not as noble as the rumors outside, but I am still the eldest princess who was well raised by your father... If anyone can bypass you and plant an accomplice in this mansion, wouldn't your son and my husband be restless every day, worrying about losing our lives."
"If that's the case, what's the point of doing business and making money. I might as well retire to the mountains with my husband-in-law--"
Li Shi's face darkened: "What nonsense!"
Li Qingwu pursed his lips and said sadly: "...I am the son who made a mistake."
Li Shi's face relaxed, and he comforted him: "You haven't been in the mansion for a while. I think the patrol guards were lazy and let people in. Don't worry, this kind of thing... I can guarantee that it won't happen again."
Li Qingwu was willing to tell him about the planting of an insider, which at least shows that she still trusts this father.
This made Li Shi's vague suspicion that she was going to get out of his control fade a lot.
In fact, it doesn't matter if there is an insider, and it doesn't matter if it's the prince's people.
What matters is that not only was it discovered, but now Li Qingwu has reported it to him, isn't it openly slapping him in the face-
it's said that he dotes on the eldest princess and can give her benefits as long as she is obedient, but there is a person planted in the princess's mansion, and he, as a father, doesn't know, how can Li Qingwu not worry?
Thinking of this, Li Shi became more relieved about Li Qingwu, and his tone became more serious: "Don't worry, I will keep my word. If the prince dares to be so presumptuous and plant spies in the court officials' residence, I will definitely punish him severely!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he became. Thinking of the series of tricks the prince had done recently in the court, he became even more furious.
This Li Hengyu! He is more likely to cause trouble than to help!
Li Qingwu smiled, with an expression that said, "I'm actually worried, but since you're my father, I can only be relieved." He bowed hesitantly and said, "Crown Prince may also be worried about our situation, so he is anxious for a while. Father, just give him a small punishment or a big warning. I believe that Crown Prince will definitely remember your words."
Li Shi comforted him, "Fortunately, you are sensible."
The father and daughter chatted for a few more polite words, and Li Qingwu withdrew.
After the people left, Li Shi frowned again and coughed violently a few times: "No..."
Fuzi stepped forward and rubbed his back intimately to help him calm down, with a worried look on his face: "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
"She hasn't promised me to share the profits with me yet." Li Shi said in annoyance, "I was really angry with that idiot Li Hengyu and forgot it - my memory has been getting worse and worse in recent days."
As he said this, he coughed violently for a long time.
Fuzi said, "Your Majesty should take care of yourself."
After Li Shi finished coughing, he leaned back, calmed his breath, and said with emotion, "Fuzi."
Fuzi lowered his head and said, "
Your servant is here." "None of my sons are very good. Only my daughters are considerate. It's a pity that one is married and the other is still young," Li Shi said slowly, in a trance, "If I really die, who will inherit this beautiful land of Da Xia..."
Fuzi said in panic, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. You are blessed by the real dragon spirit. You will surely be blessed for thousands of years. Please don't say such things!" Li
Shi laughed, "No more, no more."
"Pass on my decree," he sat up straight and said seriously, "The prince... has bad conduct. He will be fined for half a year, confined for one month, and forced to face the wall to reflect on his mistakes. He cannot go out without being summoned."
Fuzi replied, "Yes."
When the news of the prince's confinement came out, Qiu Che and Li Qingwu were still in Fengyang Pavilion, sitting in the garden and making grasshoppers for the children to play with.
Hearing this imperial edict, Qiu Che realized something and looked at Li Qingwu: "You did it?"
Li Qingwu blinked: "I just... mentioned that the prince had planted spies in the princess's mansion, and I don't know anything else."
Qiu Che laughed and shook his head: "For such a small matter, His Majesty may give you a little warning for your sake, but he won't really do anything to him."
The current emperor has only three princes. The second prince died of weakness and illness when he was young. The
eldest prince is the current prince.
If he is abolished, he can only support the more useless and more dissolute third prince to take the throne.
This is an unprofitable deal for the emperor.
So even if he is angry with the prince and cares about the queen's affair, he can only turn a blind eye to the other party before there is a more perfect heir.
Li Qingwu said softly: "I know."
But she was just unhappy.
Today, the prince dared to plant spies in their mansion, and tomorrow he dared to send assassins to take their lives.
If there is no deterrent warning, it will only make the other party more and more presumptuous.
Qiu Che was weaving grasshoppers in a fancy way, and she could still speak slowly: "Do you really think it was the prince who did it?"
There were palace maids watching not far away, and they couldn't say it too obviously when they talked about these things.
But Li Qingwu could obviously understand what she meant.
She hesitated: "Not likely."
The prince is stupid and arrogant, and also blindly naive.
If he is pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger, and has the ability to quietly plant spies, he will definitely not be discovered.
But so what? They all understand that Li Qingwu's move is just to kill the chicken to scare the monkey.
To scare the real person behind the scenes.
"While you were talking to His Majesty, I received another message from Yu Yan. Guess what?" Qiu Che smiled faintly, "When the letter was sent out, His Royal Highness the Third Prince was also in the Prince's Mansion."
Li Qingwu was silent.
"Do you suspect him?"
"No," Qiu Che shook his head, "I don't know if this is a trick, or if there is someone behind the scenes who deliberately let Anan write down that title to mislead us..." "
That's not what's important right now," Qiu Che whispered, "We are back in Beijing, and the situation in Beijing will inevitably change. And... the case I prepared is almost up. Your surrender to His Majesty has given us an extra layer of protection in a short period of time. You did a good job."
For some reason, Li Qingwu's eyelids twitched: "You mean, your father's case..."
"Well," Qiu Che replied in a low voice, "It was thanks to your lobbying that they were willing to come forward to testify in this case."
Li Qingwu smiled, but felt inexplicably uneasy.
She suddenly thought that such a case could almost kill the entire Qiu family, right?
Could the emperor really save Qiu Che just because he valued her ability?
As the two chatted in a low voice, Li Qingshu, who was sitting next to them, stared at the grasshopper that was gradually taking shape in Qiu Che's hand without blinking.
When Qiu Che finished the last tie, she immediately stretched out her chubby hand, excitedly took the grasshopper in Qiu Che's hand, and interrupted their conversation: "Grasshopper! Look! Sister! It's a big grasshopper!"
Li Qingwu looked at her, with a gentle smile in his eyes: "Yeah. I see it."
Qiu Che rubbed her head: "Do you like it?"
"I like it!" Pingyi said happily, "This princess will reluctantly forgive you for not bringing sugar figures this time. Remember it next time!"
That's right, on the way out of the palace, the two were caught on the spot by Pingyi who was out playing, and dragged them back to the courtyard of Fengyang Pavilion.
She first threw herself into Li Qingwu's arms and cried, shouting: "My mother said you were dead, I don't believe it! I said sister is so beautiful! How could I die!"
Very childish words - what does beauty have to do with death?
Several adults present were amused by her.
As a result, she pointed her spearhead at Qiu Che the next moment and asked her fiercely: "Where is my sugar figure?"
Qiu Che: "..."
Qiu Che was stuck.
She just remembered that she said last time that she would bring a candy man for this girl next time she entered the palace.
In order to apologize for the crime for this little girl, she suggested making a grasshopper for Pingyi.
The other party stopped crying immediately.
It should be said that children are easy to deal with and can be coaxed with a grasshopper.
Before Qiu Che could speak, there was a sudden sound of slow footsteps behind him: "Who did I think it was? It turned out to be Her Royal Highness the Princess and Her Royal Highness the Prince Consort." Qiu Che
restrained his smile, stood up immediately, stepped back a few steps, and bowed his hands and said: "Greetings to the Queen."
Li Qingwu stood up and nodded silently to her.
Logically speaking, a concubine is also a concubine, and Li Qingwu is the legitimate daughter and the beloved Princess of the First Rank. Concubine Xu Xian had to salute her when she saw her.
But Concubine Xu Xian's hands, painted with bright red cardamom, were placed on the arms of the palace maids beside her. Her attitude was casual and she had no such intention at all.
She glanced at Qiu Che, then turned to look at the other palace maids and eunuchs, and scolded, "How can a foreign man like the Prince Consort be allowed into the residence of an unmarried princess? How do you servants do things? Be careful or I'll chop off your heads!"
She wanted to be very strict in the palace. When she said this, everyone in Fengyang Pavilion knelt down, not daring to breathe.
Qiu Che knew that she was pointing fingers at him. Although she was a little confused, she didn't care about it. She said with a guilty look, "It's really inappropriate. I'm bothering Princess Pingyi and the queen. I'm leaving now."
Concubine Xu smiled and said, "That's not right, Master Qiu, don't take it to heart. It's all the negligence of the servants. I don't mean to blame you."
While speaking, Pingyi ran to her, tugged at her clothes, and said eagerly, "Mother, I asked my sister and the others to come here... Don't be angry! Look! The grasshopper that Brother-in-law Qiu made for me! It's so big!"
Concubine Xu's expression softened, bent down and patted the dust on her body, and scolded, "I see... Look at you, why don't you look like a princess at all? If your father sees it, he will dislike Nannan."
Pingyi pouted and turned around to continue playing with her grass grasshopper.
Qiu Che and the others quickly said goodbye to her and left.
Before leaving Fengyang Pavilion, Qiu Che suddenly felt something and looked back. After
getting on the sedan chair, Qiu Che asked, "Why does Concubine Xian seem to dislike me?"
Li Qingwu shook his head and said with a smile, "She is the legitimate daughter of the Xu family. She looks like this to everyone. Now that the position of the queen is vacant, she is already deeply favored, so it is inevitable that she will be more domineering... In fact, she is not a bad person, don't worry about it."
Qiu Che raised his eyebrows: "Really?"
She remembered that when she looked back just now, she saw Concubine Xu just lowered her head, one hand slightly supporting her waist, and the other hand on her lower abdomen, with a flash of kindness on her face. A
concubine who has no prince by her side and comes from a family that the emperor hates, no matter how stupid and favored she is, she does not have the courage to be arrogant and domineering with the ministers who are the favorites in front of the palace.
Unless she is pregnant, she hates anyone who may hinder the steps of her future child.
Halfway through, Li Qingwu got off the sedan chair and went to Linglong Pavilion to check the recent business account book.
Qiu Che watched her go in before lowering the curtain.
She was in a daze all the way until she returned to the princess's mansion, walked to the study, opened the door and saw Yang Qiu, then she reacted: "When did you come?"
Yang Qiu sat aside obediently, holding a scripture and reading, and said calmly: "Just arrived."
He raised his eyes and glanced at Qiu Che. After making sure that she was really safe, he breathed a sigh of relief and put down the book in his hand: "You have been relaxed for two months, leaving us to clean up the mess for you."
"The more capable, the more work," Qiu Che said calmly, walked around him and sat down in front of the desk, "You came to me at this time, what happened again?"
"Nothing, but I just told you everything I should say as soon as possible... Don't worry, no one noticed on the way here."
Yang Qiu said, taking out a scroll from his sleeve pouch, "This is the changes in official positions in the capital during this period."
Qiu Che opened it and flipped through it: "You were promoted to the fourth rank, and Wu Yiqi was promoted to the fifth rank... You are doing well."
When she said this, she remembered something: "How is Yaotai's injury?"
When this was mentioned, Yang Qiu fell silent again.
His usually gentle face showed a rare hint of fatigue, and he lowered his eyes and said, "...very serious."
"You are far away in Jinzhou, and Yaotai was afraid that you would worry, so she didn't let me tell you."
Yang Qiu whispered, "She has been bedridden for two months...and the time she is awake is getting shorter and shorter. She is relying on various medicines to keep her alive."
Qiu Che was stunned: "...What did Doctor Chen say?"
Yang Qiu shook his head: "If he could cure it, I wouldn't say that."
After being stabbed so many times, and every stab in the vital parts, it is a miracle that Yaotai is still alive.