Thinking of his childhood experiences, Qin Zeng was silent for a long time before speaking.
"Before my mother passed away from illness, my life in the palace was actually quite good. Although the old lady made things difficult in every possible way, she was protected by my mother and never hurt me in the slightest. Especially since my father did not have to go to war and stayed in the palace. At that time, our family of three could even live behind closed doors in the east courtyard without paying attention to the disturbances from the outside world... Even now, that memory will give me strength in difficult times."
Li Qingyi listened to his words and thought that it was lucky.
Everyone has good and evil in their hearts, and what kind of person they become is just a matter of thought. If it weren't for the love and care of his father and mother, Qin Zeng's resentment and hatred for the world might have made his life situation completely different.
"From what you said, although my mother is not favored by the old lady, she still has the ability to protect herself. Can she protect you?"
Qin Zeng smiled when he heard this, seeming to be very proud of his mother, "If it weren't for her frail health, it would never have been the old lady who made the decision in Zhenbei Palace now."
As soon as Li Qingyi's eyes lit up, she knew that a woman who could give birth to a child like Qin Zeng was by no means weak, pitiful and self-pitying.
Besides, after Xiao Lan was rescued by Gongsun Jingzhi, she followed him to save lives and heal the wounded at the border. Such a woman must be tough.
Qin Zeng said: "After all, my mother comes from a big family, and what she has seen and heard is no less than others. It's just that when she was a daughter at home, her grandmothers took care of everything for her."
"Speaking of this, when she and Concubine Mu had..." Li Qingyi looked in the direction of the palace, "Does the Xiao family know?"
"I know that, but my grandparents actually don't want my mother to marry into the royal family. During this period, my father actually revealed his intention to come to propose marriage."
Li Qingyi was surprised, "What then?"
"My grandmother was not willing. In her eyes, my father, who wielded swords and guns all day long, was not a good match for my mother. She wanted to find a well-matched marriage for her, but my grandfather felt that a man from a powerful family was not a good match. Most of the children do not want to make progress. They are not good at literature and martial arts, and they will become different after two or three generations. My father is different. He has no backing, so he is naturally more capable and sensible than ordinary children of powerful people. Through tempering himself, he works hard to gain fame. "
"Is this what your father told you?"
"Well, my mother suffered from a heart disease that was difficult to treat because of the disaster that happened to the Xiao family. After she passed away, my father was depressed for a long time. He would often sit on the roof with me in his arms and talk about what happened back then. I was ignorant at that time. Fortunately, I remember all those words.”
Gongsun Jingzhi got a job in the Wucheng Military and Horse Department at a young age. He was a good person and talented person, but his family background was not outstanding. Ordinary officials were unwilling to marry his family. Gongsun Jingzhi looked down on those who were inferior. This has been delayed.
"Does mother know about this?"
Qin Zeng shook his head, "At that time, Mu Qingling was doing mischief every day and unintentionally got her mother involved with that person. I'm afraid her mother didn't have time to take care of a stranger's marriage proposal at that time."
Li Qingyi sighed, "The fate of father and mother as husband and wife has gone round and round in such a big circle. If they could have known each other earlier, they might not have happened in the future, and they would not have gotten into trouble with the Xiao family..."
But there is no if.
And in other words, if it hadn't been for what happened to Concubine Mu, Xiao Lan and Gongsun Jingzhi would not have stayed at the border for two years, and they might not have gotten married later.
Things like fate are really elusive.
Thinking of Concubine Mu, Li Qingyi couldn't help but ask: "How is Concubine Mu doing in the cold palace?"
"After everyone in the Mu family was beheaded, she completely lost hope. I heard that she was not eating or drinking in the cold palace, and seemed to want to die on a hunger strike."
Li Qingyi sneered, "It's not easy to die, so why bother with such a strenuous method as a hunger strike? It's just a matter of hope and to arouse the emperor's pity for her."
But from the very beginning, the emperor had seen through the ambitions of the Mu family, and had only used, defended, and flattered them. How could he have any sincerity towards Concubine Mu?
If the emperor had shown any mercy to her, she would not be in the situation she is in today.
Qin Zengmian
There was a coldness on his face, "The emperor heard that she had lost her appetite and died, so he ordered her to be sent to Concubine Hui's place."
Li Qingyi was stunned.
She was also thrown into the cold palace, but Concubine Hui had the eleventh princess to take care of her everywhere. It was not like Concubine Mu who was beaten, scolded, humiliated and had to eat bad food and rice in the cold palace.
The emperor sent Concubine Mu to Concubine Hui not to ask Concubine Hui to take care of her.
Back then Concubine Hui followed Concubine Mu, watching her face every day and being bossed around by her. Now that Concubine Mu is in her hands, will she get any good results?
"I'm afraid that Concubine Hui won't be able to deal with it lightly."
"The cold palace is lonely, and Concubine Hui has nothing to do, so she will naturally use Mu Qingling to pass the time."
After saying this, Chang Lan came to them and said, "Master, grandma, the second aunt and grandma are back. The old lady wants you to sit in Jingyuntang."
Li Qingyi and Qin Zeng looked at each other and both knew what the mother and daughter were doing.
Qin Zeng said: "I will go with you."
Li Qingyi shook his head, "With you here, they don't dare to speak easily. I'll go there by myself."
"You are always so brave, and you are not afraid of being embarrassed?"
"You are in the house, what should I be afraid of? Just shout and you will fall from the sky!"
Qin Zeng was amused and tucked her hair behind her ears, "Then I'll wait for you in the study."
Jingyuntang.
The old lady's face was gloomy, and the second aunt's grandmother, Gongsun Wanyan, had tears in her eyes.
"That woman is my mother-in-law's cousin, she is only seventeen this year!"
Gongsun Wanyan cried so hard that she couldn't breathe and felt extremely wronged. "I am ten years older than her! In a few years, I will become a yellow-faced woman, but my family is in full bloom, and the two of them are kissing each other again." Even if we get married, our love for each other is no less than that of me and him... Mother, what should I do?"
There was a hint of anxiety in the old lady's eyes, but she suppressed it and said after a while: "Song Zhenhe is deliberately teasing you! Why are you so anxious? Is he really not afraid of our Zhenbei Palace?"
Gongsun Wanyan cried and retorted: "What's so scary about our Zhenbei Prince's Palace? We only have the title of Prince's Palace, and there isn't even an official in the court. After all, we only have Brother Zhen, but my mother won't allow it..." …”
The old lady's face was ashen and she didn't speak for a long time.
At this time, the girl came in and reported, "Old madam, second aunt, grandma, the eldest grandma is here."
Gongsun Wanyan subconsciously stood up and looked outside. Mrs. Gongsun looked across her eyes, "She is a junior, what are you doing!"
Gongsun Wanyan realized that he had lost his composure, so he quickly wiped his tears and sat back.
The old lady then calmly ordered the maid: "Let her come in."
Li Qingyi was not in a hurry or panic, he walked in steadily, spoke slowly and softly, and said greetings calmly: "My granddaughter-in-law is sending greetings to the old lady. I have met my aunt."
