On the way back, Yuan Zhe remained silent. When he arrived at the gate of the palace, he ordered someone to bring him a sedan and drove him directly into the small courtyard of the residence.
Gu Qi saw that he had a cold expression on his face, which was very different from that of Merlin. He was murmuring in his heart, feeling more and more that he had a deep scheming that was difficult to figure out.
During the dinner at Liu Mansion, Liu Jigang deliberately asked Liu Xiangning to avoid it and invited Rong Di to join him.
"You and I are both ministers of the Lan Kingdom. We have taken refuge with His Highness King Zhe in order to be loyal to His Majesty and protect the territory. But now, I am increasingly unable to see through our Highness King Zhe."
Rong Di put down his wine cup and said with a smile: "Lord Liu, you are too worried. To put it bluntly, in terms of talent, His Highness King Zhe is not comparable to the current Holy One. In order to reassure this nephew, His Highness volunteered to be granted the title and went to the border area. Land, now that the country of Lan is suffering from foreign troubles, His Highness cares about the people of Lan country, so he has to get involved in this court dispute."
Liu Jigang looked solemn and sighed repeatedly: "I'm afraid that His Majesty has already made up his mind, and His Majesty's actions may displease His Majesty."
"Master Liu, what do you mean by this?"
Liu Jigang hesitated to speak. Rong Di didn't like the scholar's hesitation in speaking, so he became a little unhappy.
"If Shibo has concerns, just don't say anything."
Liu Jigang took a sip of wine and said, "Since you call me uncle, you should also know your father's lifelong wish. If His Highness King Zhe has other thoughts, how should you and I deal with it?"
After saying this, Rong Di suddenly lost his mind about eating.
He had never thought about the problem Liu Jigang mentioned, but if one day...
Thinking of this, Rong Di shook his head firmly: "The country of Lan is in a state of turmoil now, and it is meaningless to argue about this. I believe that your highness will never have the day that Shibo said."
Liu Jigang added a glass of wine and said, "That's all."
The two of them had little interest, so they finished eating hastily and then dispersed.
next morning
Hearing the crisp chirping of birds, Gu Qi rubbed his eyes and saw that Yuan Zhe was neatly dressed and putting a large cloak on his body.
"It's so early, where are you going, Your Highness?"
"I'm going out. You don't have to prepare my lunch."
"Oh." Gu Qi put her jacket on her body, tiptoed to the table, poured out a bowl of warm water and drank it.
Yuan Zhe looked at Gu Qi's ankle and said softly: "You have an injury on your foot, please take a good rest."
Gu Qi nodded.
A gust of cold wind rushed in when he opened the door. Gu Qi looked up and saw snowflakes floating outside, and thick snow piled up on the ground.
Until Yuan Zhe's back disappeared, Gu Qi staggered to wash up.
Counting the time, Wei Li is about to arrive.
Sure enough, as soon as he entered the house, he saw Wei Li leading the two young eunuchs into the courtyard.
Gu Qi hurriedly came out and said with a smile: "Eunuch Wei came very early."
Wei Li took two steps forward to help Gu Qi: "You're welcome, Mr. Pei, yo, what's going on?"
"I fell down, it's okay."
"It's very cold outside, and your legs and feet are inconvenient. Come inside quickly."
Wei Li winked at the little eunuch next to him, and the man hurriedly stepped forward to help Gu Qi.
As soon as he entered the room, Wei Li looked inside and was stunned when he saw the bed was clean and tidy.
Gu Qi sat at the table and poured tea: "It's such a cold day that it's rare for you to come over in person and have some tea to warm yourself up."
Wei Li sat down, picked up the tea cup, and said with a smile, "Why don't you see His Highness King Zhe?"
"I got up early and went out. Your Majesty, will you come to court early?"
"Well, I'm reviewing the memorial in the Imperial Study Room. Is there something wrong, Mr. Pei?"
Gu Qi nodded: "Please tell me, father-in-law, that I have some ideas to report on the detailed strategies for water control."
Wei Li put down the tea cup and stood up: "Then slave go over and let me know. Mr. Pei will wait here."
"Thank you."
Less than an hour after burning the incense, several young eunuchs carried a dark gray soft sedan into the courtyard.
Gu Qi sat in the sedan chair and went to the imperial study, preparing to report to Yuan Chengxi about Rong Di's return to the capital.
Unconsciously, I recalled Yuanzhe's meticulous care of me when I had a fever that day.
Thinking back to everything that happened after meeting Rong Di, I actually had the idea of retreating.
"Pause!"
The sedan stopped and Gu Qiru sat on pins and needles, not knowing what to do.
The little eunuch following the sedan came to the side and asked, "Master Pei, are you feeling unwell?"
"I..." Suddenly feeling flustered, Gu Qi was about to stand up when a sharp pain came from his ankle.
The scene where he was injured while chasing a ferret yesterday flashed before his eyes. Zhao Dexun, who turned his head and shot him from a distance, suddenly turned into Yuan Zhe, raised his bow and arrow and shot straight towards him...
Gu Qidai was sitting in the sedan chair, with cold sweat breaking out on his back.
"Master Pei? Master Pei?"
The little eunuch outside called twice, bringing Gu Qi out of his memories.
She took a breath and replied: "It's okay, let's go."
Now Rong Di returns to the capital without being summoned, which is already a serious crime, not to mention having a close personal relationship with Yuan Zhe. If the matter is reported to Yuan Chengxi, not only Rong Di's life will be in danger, but Yuan Zhe will also be suspected, and the internal affairs of Lan will fall apart. Wouldn't it be a big contribution to Han Zizheng?
In the game between two countries, where is the right and wrong?
Thinking of this, all the guilt in her heart was wiped away. Gu Qi wiped the fine sweat from the tip of her nose, straightened her clothes, and sat down firmly.
"Stop." As soon as the following little eunuch finished speaking, the sedan stopped and landed on the ground.
"Master Pei, there is the imperial study room in front of you. Please help me go there."
"Thank you, father-in-law." He got off the sedan chair and moved forward slowly with the support of the young eunuch.
When Gu Qi saw this little eunuch, who was not much older than him and looked thin and small, he couldn't help but said: "I have always seen you follow Eunuch Wei in and out of the courtyard, and you have never asked Eunuch Wei for his name. It is really rude."
"My servant Li Mao is responsible for His Majesty's meals and daily living."
"It turns out to be Eunuch Li in front of your Majesty. I'm sorry. I hope you will take care of me."
"You're welcome, Mr. Pei, please be careful of the steps."
Li Mao helped Gu Qi to the door of the royal study. A young eunuch at the door shouted: "Master Pei is here!"
Opening the door, he saw Yuan Chengxi sitting in front of the desk reviewing memorials. Wei Li leaned over and whispered: "Your Majesty, Lord Pei is here."
"Yeah." Yuan Chengxi frowned and replied without raising his head.
Wei Li stood back to his previous position and waved to Gu Qi. Li Mao said from his side: "My lord, please go in. I will wait outside."
"Thank you Eunuch Li." Gu Qiqing lifted her legs and walked in. Li Mao closed the door outside.
"See Your Majesty." He knelt down in front of the table and kowtowed.
After a while, Yuan Chengxi's voice came from overhead: "Get up."
Seeing that Gu Qi was lame when he stood up, Yuan Chengxi asked, "Are you injured?"
"Your Majesty, the skin injury is not a problem."
"Stop standing." He put down the memorial in his hand and picked up the teacup in front of him: "I'll give you a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
As soon as Gu Qi sat down, he heard Wei Li asking from the side: "Your Majesty, where are you going to have dinner later?"
Yuan Chengxi put down the tea cup and said, "Let's go to Zhao Liangren's place."
"Then let me go to the royal kitchen first and tell them to prepare lunch."
"Um."
Gu Qi turned her head and watched Wei Li leave the imperial study. The moment he closed the door, Li Mao nodded frequently as if he was giving an order.
"You came to see me today, do you have anything important to do?"
He quickly turned his head back and faced Yuan Chengxi and replied: "Return to your Majesty. Yesterday, I went out with His Highness King Zhe."
Yuan Chengxi had no expression on his face and said calmly: "I know."
"I was in Liu Mansion and met Zhao Dexun and..."
Gu Qi pretended to be embarrassed and did not say anything out loud.
Looking up in the direction of Yuan Chengxi, he had a dark face and a frown.
"He Rong Di?"
You can guess this yourself.
Gu Qi was secretly proud, but showed an innocent expression: "It turns out that your Majesty knows that the strange minister is overthinking it. I think General Rong came back to the capital specifically after His Majesty's order, right?"
Yuan Chengxi snorted coldly and said nothing.
"Then His Royal Highness Prince Zhe left the palace this morning, did he get His Majesty's permission?"
Yuan Chengxi's face became even more ugly, and the hand on the desk clenched into a fist at some point.
"Is there anything else?"
It can be seen that Yuan Chengxi is suppressing his anger, and he can't continue to stir the fire.
Gu Qi stood up and said, "There's nothing else to do. I'm going back to recover from my injuries."
"Um."
Gu Qi bowed and left. When he was going out, he saw Wei Li coming back.
"Master Pei is going back now?"
"Yes, Eunuch Wei..."
Before he finished speaking, he heard Yuan Chengxi's almost roaring voice inside: "Weili!"
"The servant is here!" Wei Li hurriedly ran in.
When I got down the steps, I found that the sedan chair was still there.
Li Mao saw Gu Qi from a distance, trotted forward and said, "Eunuch Wei said that Master Pei will be driven out in a sedan chair later, so I asked my servant to prepare it first. After waiting for a while, you came out."
"Thank you, Eunuch Li."
With Li Mao's support, he walked towards the sedan chair.
Thinking of Zhao Liangren mentioned in the imperial study just now, Gu Qi couldn't help but be curious: "Does Eunuch Li know about Zhao Liangren in this palace?"
Li Mao replied: "Oh, among the girls waiting for the draft this spring, there are several pretty ones, including Zhao Liangren."
"Then what is the relationship between Zhao Liangren and Zhao Dutong?"
"You don't even know this? Of course she is Mr. Zhao's eldest daughter."
Gu Qi stopped and asked, "I've never heard that Zhao Dutong has a daughter in his family?"
"Ouch!" Li Mao sighed and said, "The current Mrs. Zhao is Xu Xian. The young general is the daughter of Mrs. Zhao, and the beloved Zhao is the daughter of Xue Qin, the eldest daughter of Mr. Xue's family."
"Master Xue Peilin, a member of the Ministry of Industry?"
"Who else could it be? It couldn't be him." Li Mao continued to help Gu Qi move forward.
It doesn't make any sense that the daughter of a fifth-rank official should be paired with a general.
Li Mao is also a person who can't hide things. Why not inquire more about this?
Gu Qi said softly: "Although my dynasty values civility over military affairs, it is not to this extent. This marriage is truly unworthy."
Li Maona glanced around and whispered: "Your Excellency, you don't know something. This is the decree of the late emperor."
"Oh?" After thinking for a while, Gu Qi grabbed Li Mao and said, "I think Mr. Xue's hometown is not in the county."
Li Mao gave a thumbs up to Gu Qi: "Your Excellency, you are really amazing. This Master Xue was originally from Tuzhou. His ancestors once served as the governor of Tuzhou. Later, his family fell into decline. In his generation, he had to study hard for more than ten years before he became the governor of Tuzhou. Such a reputation."
Gu Qi took over the conversation and said with a smile: "It can be considered as a glorious ancestor."
"Yes, be careful." Li Mao lifted the sedan curtain and helped Gu Qi sit firmly.
On the way back, I thought about these relationships in detail.
Yuan Chengxi promoted a son from a poor family, presumably because of his father's teachings. If Xue Peilin was promoted by the late emperor, then by marrying Xue Qin to Zhao Yu, was he intended to win over or suppress him? Now that Yuan Chengxi favors Zhao Liangren, does he intend to promote the Xue family or the Zhao family?
"Eunuch Li."
Li Mao's voice came from outside the sedan: "What's the matter, sir?"
Gu Qi raised a corner and asked: "Which lord's beloved daughter is Zhao Dutong's wife?"
Speaking of this, Li Mao got excited and kept talking: "Speaking of this lady, she is really remarkable. She is the concubine of Concubine Zheng in the palace. Concubine Zheng personally proposed this marriage to the late emperor."
"Concubine Zheng?"
"Speaking of Princess Zheng, we must mention her father, General Zheng. Legend has it that he was..."
"Father, let's continue this topic another day," Gu Qi said with a smile, covering her stomach, "It looks like it's almost noon, I'm really hungry."
"Then I'll go get you some food. You can take the sedan back to the courtyard first."
"Thank you Eunuch Li. There is no need to take His Highness Prince Zhe's. He won't come back to eat."
"good."
