A small sedan slowly stopped in front of a corner door of the palace, and my aunt, who had been waiting there for a long time, stepped forward.
Xitao opened the curtain for Ji Shu and helped her walk down.
"Greetings, Miss Cousin."
"Auntie, you're welcome."
Aunt Lin's close confidant Aunt Wenying came from the Lin Mansion and was very familiar with Ji Shu. She stepped forward to hold Ji Shu's arm and led her into the palace. On the way, the two talked softly.
Ji Shu: "Is your aunt okay?"
Concubine Xian was pregnant a few years ago, but unfortunately she couldn't keep the baby and suffered some physical injuries.
"I've recovered and it's nothing serious. Your Majesty, I'm very worried about you."
Aunt Ying said softly that the news about the Wuding Hou Mansion had reached the palace. Even if Ji Shu didn't hand over this greeting note, Concubine Xian would call her into the palace for questioning.
Concubine Xian lived in the Yanxi Palace in the East Sixth Palace. Aunt Ying led her all the way to the main hall and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, my cousin is here."
Ji Shu lowered his head and walked into the Nuan Pavilion, bowed his knees and saluted, "My dear Ji Shu, please see the virtuous concubine."
Concubine Xian quickly got down from the warm bed and reached out to help her, her eyes were red.
"Get up! You all go out, Aunt Ying stays."
The maids serving tea at the entrance of the palace responded yes and stepped back one after another. Aunt Ying went over and closed the door.
Concubine Xian pulled Ji Shu to sit down and shed a tear, "Shu Shu, I have wronged you! I already know about the Wuding Hou Mansion, and the emperor has ordered the disposal. Do you know? If you are still upset, just ask Tell me and I’ll beg the emperor!”
Ji Shu shook her head and looked at Concubine Xian. After so many years, this face had gradually become blurred in her memory.
There was only a four-year age difference between her and her aunt, but she died earlier than she did. She was involved in an inner palace fight at a young age, and she didn't even find out who the real culprit was.
The two have been playmates since childhood. Although they are of different generations, they have a good relationship. Ji Shu blinked his eyes to hold back the sourness and whispered:
"Is your Majesty okay?"
"You don't have to worry about me. I have Aunt Ying here, as well as my father and brother. The emperor treats me well."
Most of the men in the Lin family have been admitted to the Imperial Hospital. The situation of Concubine Xian is supposed to be very safe. I don’t know how she contracted a serious illness and died in her previous life.
Ji Shu shook his head, and Concubine Xian said, "Don't ask me first. You must have something to do when you come to see me. Just tell me!"
Ji Shu narrowed her eyes and said warmly: "I want to reconcile with Qi Chengxu, but my parents and the Ji family are not willing."
"Heli?"
Concubine Xian was stunned. She blinked and quickly came to her senses, "Whether it's peace or separation, Wudinghou Mansion is a snake cave, and Qi Chengxu is not a good thing. You said sister is not allowed?"
Ji Shu smiled bitterly and said, "In order to hide from my parents, I haven't gone back these past few days."
"I've heard that the Ji family is pedantic... It doesn't matter. I'll tell you on your behalf. In the worst case, I'll find my father to persuade my sister."
Ji Shu shook his head, "No need to go to such trouble. Aunt, I want to see the emperor."
Concubine Xian quickly understood: "You want the emperor to help you reconcile? I'm afraid this won't work..."
How could the emperor care about such a trivial matter as his daughter's family, and it involved two official families? Even if he complained to the queen, he would not help Ji Shu. At most, they would each give fifty to persuade them to make peace.
Concubine Xian: "Shu Shu, don't worry, this matter needs to be discussed in the long run. I'll ask the Lin family to help you, and I will ask the Wuding Hou Mansion to come up with the letter of reconciliation."
"Please ask my aunt to ask for instructions on my behalf. I don't just have to face the Holy Spirit for the sake of the Wuding Marquis Mansion."
The two looked at each other for a long time. Seeing that she had made up her mind, Concubine Xian gritted her teeth and said, "Okay. The Emperor should be going down to court at this moment... Auntie, please get my sapphire blue palace dress."
"I'll change my clothes and take you to the corridor to intercept someone."
Aunt Ying glanced at Concubine Xian disapprovingly, but Concubine Xian pretended not to see her. After a while, Aunt Ying came back on her own.
"Your Majesty is changing." Aunt Ying stepped forward and poured a cup of tea for Ji Shu, sighing and saying:
"Cousin, the emperor will not help you with these things. The emperor will be angry if the empress takes you to see the emperor. The sapphire blue palace dress the empress mentioned is the emperor's favorite, but if this dress obscures your If the emperor has a grudge in the future, it will be difficult for the empress to protect herself."
"I understand, aunt. I'm not going to beg the emperor. Trust me, I won't harm my aunt."
Aunt Ying said this, without saying much.
After Xian Fei changed her clothes, she led Aunt Ying and Ji Shu to wait on the road that the emperor must pass when he went to court.
Not long after, the emperor's guard of honor appeared in sight, and Concubine Xian stepped forward to greet him.
"I, my concubine, see you, Your Majesty."
"Why are you standing here, Concubine Xian? It's very windy here. You haven't recovered yet, so be careful with the wind."
The emperor expressed concern, nodded to Aunt Ying and said, "Wen Ying, put the cloak on your master."
"My concubine is not cold. You said this morning that you would come to my palace to have breakfast. That's why I specially waited for you here."
"You don't have to walk so far to wait. Are you tired?"
The two were holding hands and talking, and they were actually in love.
Ji Shu secretly glanced at the emperor. Emperor Tianzhi was forty-seven this year. He was not young but his appearance was not bad. He was gentle and serious. His experience accumulated in him gave him the stability of a mature man, but his eyes revealed aloofness and alienation. , arrogant, his true emotions are well hidden, and he is a standard emperor.
After that, Emperor Tianzhi led Concubine Xian to Yanxi Palace. Ji Shu stood behind Aunt Ying the whole time, and Emperor Tianzhi did not notice her.
When they arrived at Yanxi Palace and the palace staff had served breakfast, Emperor Tianzhi remembered: "I remember you said last night, girl from Ji Cifu's family, your niece Ji Shu is going to the palace to pay your respects, but she hasn't come yet. What?"
"Shu Shu has arrived. Just now he came with me to pick up the emperor."
Concubine Xian waved her hand back, and Ji Shu stepped forward, lifted her skirt and knelt down, "My dear Ji Shu, please see your Majesty. Long live your Majesty."
"No need to be polite, get up. Your aunt often talks about you to me. Now that you have entered the palace, you should spend more time with her."
Emperor Tianzhi's eyes flashed, his thoughts began to flow, and the smile on his face faded. He glanced at Concubine Xian, and said to Ji Shu lukewarmly: "It's just that you have some unresolved issues?"
"My daughter is so bold that she went to the palace today to pay her respects to my aunt. She also came to confess to the emperor."
Concubine Xian was stunned, and Emperor Tianzhi was even more stunned by these words. He was sure that Ji Shu came to him for help through Concubine Xian. Could it be that he had guessed wrong?
"Huh? What's your crime?"
"Years ago, there was a war at Weihai Customs, and there was a shortage of food and grass. My daughter was worried about the country and the people, and she happened to have a personal identity. I had no choice but to hide it from everyone, and collected the grain without authorization and sent it to Weihai Customs. I heard that the emperor was looking for him everywhere recently, and I thought I was guilty. I didn’t dare to hide anymore, so I came here to apologize.”
Concubine Xian's hands trembled, and her eyes almost didn't pop out. She looked at the emperor quietly, and Emperor Tianzhi was also stunned.
After a while, he said: "That person is you? Are you Lin Sui?"
"I don't dare to show my real name to others when I go out. Lin is my mother's surname, and Sui Sui is my daughter."
Ji Shu put his head on the ground, "My daughter is guilty."
Emperor Tianzhi was stunned for a long time and then smiled. There was a lot of emotion in his smile, and it was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry.
Emperor Tianzhi said loudly: "Hahahaha! That's it!"
Concubine Xian immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, Shu Shu is not sensible, please..."
"Why are you so ignorant! Ji Shu saved a whole city of people and countless soldiers! She is a great contributor to the Qin Dynasty! Get up!"
Emperor Tianzhi tired of laughing, shook his head and said: "You are so easy to find me, and now everyone in the world is petitioning me to reward you, a great good man! But I have been unable to find you, and I cannot give you a reward." , wouldn’t it be disappointing the hearts of the people all over the world!”
"My daughter dare not. It is a crime for me to collect food without permission before."
"Hey, your merits outweigh your faults! Just tell me, whatever reward you want, I will grant it to you!"
Emperor Tianzhi rubbed his chin and said thoughtfully: "Why don't I absolve you of the Wuding Marquis Mansion? Then give your husband Qi Chengxu an official position and give you a imperial edict? What do you think?"
