Inside the Imperial Study Room
Song Qingyao was standing in front of Yuan Chengxi, talking about what happened in Liu Mansion today.
Song Lian was sitting next to him drinking tea, glancing at Yuan Chengxi from time to time.
"So, you didn't see Rong Di when you arrived at Liu Mansion?"
After hearing Yuan Chengxi's question, Song Qingyao waved her hands and said, "No. Didn't General Rong return to Qingzhou long ago? His Highness King Zhe said..."
"say what?"
"I said my injury has healed, and I'm going to say goodbye and go back to Qingzhou in the next two days."
Yuan Chengxi frowned and said nothing.
Song Lian stood up and said, "General Rong would not have dared to return to the capital without His Majesty's summons. Perhaps there was someone who looked like General Rong among their crowd, and he was mistaken, so these misunderstandings spread."
Yuan Chengxi was dubious, but couldn't figure it out. He frowned and waved his hand.
Seeing this, Song Lian said softly: "I'll leave." He led Song Qingyao out of the imperial study.
Returning to the small courtyard of Zhudi, Gu Qi moved the medicine stove into the house, held a cattail leaf fan and started decoction.
"Your Highness, what kind of medicine are you taking? Are you injured? Or do you feel uncomfortable somewhere? Have you gone to see the imperial doctor? What did the imperial doctor say?" Gu Qi served like a dog, but Yuan Zhe didn't seem to be using it.
"You're a little annoyed."
"Oh hehehe, really." Gu Qi closed his mouth knowingly.
After Yuan Zhe drank the decoction, Gu Qi handed over the candied fruit in his hand as usual. He waved his hand but did not take it.
Gu Qi saw that his cheeks were red, his eyes were dull, and he looked sleepy, as if he was about to fall asleep at any moment.
"Your Highness, it's getting late. Go to sleep."
Yuan Zhe yawned, slowly stood up with drooped eyelids. Seeing that he was unsteady in walking, Gu Qi hurriedly stepped forward and helped him lie down on the bed. She took off his boots, socks and outer shirt, and covered him with the thick quilt on the bed.
After cleaning up for a while, Gu Qi lay on the couch outside and looked out the window. The place where the lantern shined was glowing with white light, and the place where it couldn't shine was pitch black.
The next morning, Gu Qi got up early and swept the snow in the courtyard.
After the hot water was boiled, Gu Qi poured it into a basin and carried it into the house. Yuan Zhe also got up and went straight to wash up.
Gu Qize went to the inner room to help him pack the bedding. Suddenly I found a "water stain" on the corner of the quilt.
Did he drool last night?
"What are you laughing at?" At some point, Yuan Zhe had finished washing and turned around to ask.
"It's okay." Gu Qi turned around and folded the quilt.
"The Emperor has arrived——"
Wei Li's voice came from outside, and the two of them turned to look outside. Gu Qi was still stunned, and Yuan Zhe had already rushed out of the house.
By the time Gu Qi reacted, Yuan Chengxi had already walked into the house, and Wei Li was waiting outside.
Gu Qi took two steps and knelt down: "Your Majesty, stay safe."
"Pei Qing, please get up." Yuan Chengxi sat at the table and looked at Yuan Zhe: "Is your uncle's injury healed?"
"Thanks to your majesty, I'm fine." Yuan Zhe winked at Gu Qi, who hurriedly stepped forward to make tea for Yuan Chengxi.
Yuan Zhe sat directly on the other side and knocked on the table with his hand.
Gu Qi understood and gave Yuan Zhe another cup.
When Yuan Chengxi saw this, he smiled slightly and did not drink tea.
"Pei Qing is a Hanlin bachelor after all, so it might be inappropriate to serve the emperor's uncle like this. Why don't you transfer him back to the Hanlin Academy, and I will arrange a few more capable maids to serve you."
"No need," Yuan Zhe put down the tea cup and looked forward: "Now that I have recovered, it's time to return to Qingzhou."
"Why the rush?"
"The war on the border is tense, and Rong Di cannot handle it alone. I originally planned to go to His Majesty to report the matter today, but I didn't expect that His Majesty came over first."
Yuan Chengxi stared at the tea cup that Yuan Zhe had just put down, and said calmly: "How does the emperor know that the war on the border is tense? I have not received reports from the border recently."
Yuan Zhe paused and turned his face slightly to look at Yuan Chengxi.
Yuan Chengxi raised his head and stared blankly at Yuan Zhe.
After a moment of stalemate, Yuan Zhe turned his head back, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath: "Your Majesty, do you still remember the letter written by the Han Prime Minister before he went north to attack Wei during the Three Kingdoms period?"
Yuan Chengxi also turned his head and looked forward, with his right hand covering the tea cup: "I know what the emperor is going to say."
"Under the overturned nest, there are intact eggs. There are some things that I think your Majesty understands."
Gu Qi stood aside, not daring to express her anger. She raised her eyes slightly and looked at Yuan Chengxi. He raised his hand to cover the tea cup, and heat radiated from his fingers. The joints protrude, making the hand turn whiter.
Gu Qi swallowed nervously. Yuan Chengxi's face actually reproduced Yuan Zhe's sinister expression, which reminded him of the shooting scene that night and sent a chill down his back.
After that, Yuan Chengxi slowly let go of his hand, forced a smile from the corner of his mouth, and finally grinned completely: "Uncle Huang misunderstood me!"
Yuan Zhe turned his head again and frowned when he saw Yuan Chengxi's flattering expression.
"The emperor's uncle has been guarding the border for more than ten years and rarely has the opportunity to return to the capital to celebrate the New Year. Now that the new year is approaching, why not take advantage of this time to recuperate and let our uncle and nephew have a good reunion. It won't be too late to return to Qingzhou in the next spring!"
Yuan Zhe didn't answer. Looking at him, he seemed to be thinking about something.
When Yuan Chengxi saw that he didn't answer, he leaned over and said, "It's the death anniversary of Princess Zheng in two days. It's rare to come back, why don't you go and see her?"
Mrs. Zheng?
Gu Qi was shocked. Li Mao had mentioned Concubine Zheng.
Mrs. Zhao... is... Mrs. Zheng...
Oops, I can't even remember what Li Mao said that day!
Gu Qi couldn't help but feel annoyed.
Looking up at Yuan Zhe, his eye circles were a little red, and his grip on Peiyu became tighter and tighter.
After a long time, Yuan Zhe spit out: "Okay."
Yuan Chengxi showed a satisfied smile, stood up, and said to Gu Qi: "Pei Qing, during this time, you have to work hard to take care of the emperor's uncle."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Gu Qi bent down and agreed, and followed Yuan Chengxi out of the hospital.
When Gu Qi returned to the house, Yuan Zhe stood still, looking gloomy.
Gu Qi didn't know why and didn't dare to provoke him rashly, so he had to go to the bed to pack his things.
Yuan Zhe stared at Gu Qi coldly: "Don't you have anything to ask?"
"Your Highness's affairs have nothing to do with me."
"Is it?"
No other words came from behind, but Gu Qi didn't dare to act rashly.
A hand fell lightly on his neck, feeling a biting coldness.
"What are you doing, Your Highness?" Gu Qi suppressed his timidity, but the voice from his throat trembled slightly.
Yuan Zhe was behind him. Although Gu Qi couldn't see his expression, she heard his sneer: "I seem to have said that I don't like people who think they are smart."
The force on his hand increased, and he was pinched until he couldn't breathe.
"I... don't quite understand... what your Highness means."
Yuanzhe let out a "hum" and let go of his hand.
He took in a breath of cold air and coughed, with a stabbing pain in his chest.
After he calmed down and turned around, Yuan Zhe sat back down in his previous seat, as if nothing had happened.
"Did you see His Majesty yesterday?"
really!
No wonder Song Lian refused to interfere with their uncle and nephew's affairs. It seemed that Yuan Zhe had a lot of spies around Yuan Chengxi.
Gu Qi glanced at Yuan Zhe and saw determination on his face.
If he refuses to die, he may never get close to Yuan Zhe, and may even lose his life.
Thinking of this, Gu Qi straightened her back and took a gamble: "Yes."
"You are honest."
"Hasn't His Highness been testing me?" Gu Qi looked into his eyes and said boldly.
Yuan Zhe smiled instead of getting angry: "I should kill you."
Gu Qi responded with a smile: "If I die someday, I'm afraid the person most closely involved is His Highness King Zhe, right?"
"If you die in an accident, what does this have to do with me?"
"Your Majesty may not think so."
"Then I would like to wish you a long life. I also hope that Mr. Pei will take good care of yourself."
After finishing speaking, Yuan Zhe stood up and walked towards the bedroom.
Gu Qi took a breath and slumped down, her palms becoming sweaty.
After a while, Yuan Zhe changed his clothes and walked out.
"Where are you going, Your Highness?" Gu Qi saw that he was wearing a big cloak and staggered up and asked.
"Go out for a while."
Gu Qi endured the pain and walked over, blocking the door with her body: "His Royal Highness is still injured, so don't go out and walk around at will. If you have to go out, you might as well take me with you, so that you can protect Your Highness along the way."
I thought Yuan Zhe would get angry, but I didn't expect that his face was calm and he didn't seem to be angry.
"Master Pei is injured, how can you protect me?"
Gu Qi was speechless, but still stood there.
When Yuan Zhe saw this, he smiled and said, "If you're not tired, just follow."
Gu Qi quickly changed his outer clothes, put on a light cyan cloak, and followed him out of the palace.
"Your Highness, can't you take a carriage?"
Gu Qi stood on the ground, looking up at Yuan Zhe on the horse.
"I don't like riding in cars."
Gu Qi almost yelled, but this person was Yuan Zhe, so he could only hold back his anger and put on a hypocritical smile.
Forget it, he walked towards the other one.
Yuan Zhe looked at the injury on Gu Qi's ankle: "Isn't it difficult for you to mount a horse with your foot?"
The words that were neither salty nor bland made Gu Qi couldn't help but roll his eyes: "Your Highness, thank you for your trouble. I'm fine."
I wanted to get on the horse, but the pain from my ankle told me that this was impossible.
Yuan Zhe finally stopped laughing, rode over and said, "Come up."
Seeing him reaching out, Gu Qi walked over and sat in Yuan Zhe's arms.
Before leaving, I clearly saw the guard at the palace gate suppressing a smile.
"If Your Highness is angry today, you might as well express it quickly."
"This king is not angry."
Gu Qi tried her best to keep a distance from him, but she always slid down from the saddle and ended up leaning against him.
His voice came from above his head. It was very calm and did not sound like he was angry.
"You are the one he promoted, so naturally you won't be very loyal to me."
Gu Qi smiled and said: "As a minister, it is your duty to be loyal to the king. Isn't that the case, Your Highness?"
He did not answer, but asked another question: "Master Pei, are you loyal to His Majesty, not Yuan Chengxi?"
Gu Qideng choked up and didn't know how to answer.
Yuan Zhe lowered his body and came closer: "If His Majesty knew that we were so close, how would he treat you?"
Gu Qi was speechless and began to regret going out with him.
After calming down the panic, I had the answer in my mind.
"We are nothing but pawns discarded casually in a power struggle. If your Majesty really has doubts, I can only prove it through death."
Xu did not expect that Gu Qi would say this.
After a long time, Yuan Zhe didn't answer the call.
Gu Qi also fell silent.
It was impossible to tell whether this answer was meant for Yuan Zhe or for himself.
Finally, the horse stopped in front of the mansion, and two janitors stepped forward to hold the horse.
Before dismounting, Yuan Zhe said in Gu Qi's ear: "Since ancient times, people's hearts have been unpredictable, and loyalty and treachery have been even more difficult to distinguish. Pei Qihuan, if you are loyal, I will protect you from now on; if you are a traitor, you should also know that I The king’s method.”
