Luo Huaizhou was wearing a dark purple brocade robe embroidered with gold thread, and a large fur cloak. He looked noble and handsome, but his face was a bit more haggard and decadent, not at all like it used to be. High-spirited.
When the Queen Mother saw it, a trace of concern and worry flashed in her eyes, but then she snorted coldly: "You still know how to return to the palace?"
Seeing the Queen Mother caressing her forehead, with a gloomy face, Luo Huaizhou suddenly felt mixed emotions in his heart. He only glanced at her and then looked away without answering.
The Queen Mother was startled for a moment, her breathing suddenly became heavier, and a dark cloud seemed to hang over her lightly frowned brows.
Emperor Dehui glanced at the Queen Mother with his peripheral vision, put down the tea cup in his hand, and his stern eyebrows suddenly relaxed, "Didn't you bring a cart of imperial doctors to treat your friend's injuries? Are you back again?"
As he spoke, he couldn't help but look Luo Huaizhou up and down, and asked with concern: "Are you feeling unwell?"
"Thank you for your concern, brother Huang. Everything is well, my brother."
Luo Huaizhou met Emperor Dehui's concerned gaze, and couldn't help but feel a little warmer in his heart. He then curved his lips and smiled at him, explaining: "My younger brother was worried about Jing Qian's injury, so he hurriedly went to the palace to recruit the imperial doctor." He rushed out of the palace without having time to tell his mother and brother that it was Huaizhou's fault. Just then he learned that Jing Qian was not in danger, so he immediately entered the palace to tell his brother and mother that he was safe so that they would not miss you. .”
"It was only now that I came to report that I was safe. Do you still have the mother-in-law of the Ai family in your heart?"
As soon as Luo Huaizhou finished speaking, he heard the Queen Mother's majestic voice ringing in the hall, followed by the crisp sound of cups being placed heavily on the table.
Luo Huaizhou's eyelashes trembled, and he turned to look into the Empress Dowager's eyes that contained a hint of sullenness. But I saw that her face was slightly pale, with a circle of black and blue under her eyes, and her slightly frowned eyebrows seemed to be mixed with a touch of worry, and there seemed to be a trace of sadness, as if she had aged a little overnight.
"After the Ai family learned that you were kidnapped by bandits, they have been so scared that they never even closed their eyes. They only hoped that you would come back safely. But you were not good. As soon as you returned to the palace, you hurriedly looked for others. Not only did you not come, When I saw the Ai family, I didn’t even send anyone to say hello!”
When Luo Huaizhou heard this, his eyes flashed, and he couldn't help but feel a trace of guilt in his heart. He immediately lowered his eyes and whispered: "My son..."
As soon as he uttered two words, the Queen Mother suddenly raised her voice and sneered: "The Ai family doesn't know that in your heart, the Ai family and the emperor are not as important as your friends!"
"Jing Qian is not a fox friend!"
Luo Huaizhou retorted subconsciously, and then his heart sank. He immediately remembered the scene where Su Jingqian was protecting him and was covered in blood. He couldn't help but clenched his fists, and suddenly raised his eyes to look at the Queen Mother, with clear pupils. Bright, but with a firm look in his eyes.
"Jing Qian once saved his life and was his most cherished friend. What's wrong with him caring about his safety? What's more, he was seriously injured this time to protect his son from danger. I should How can you ignore him when you are responsible for his injuries? Things have their own priorities, and we should take measures according to the circumstances, and I consciously did nothing wrong."
Luo Huaizhou's words were clear and loud. The Queen Mother's eyebrows jumped. Looking at this son who had always been quite obedient, a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes, but then she was filled with a look of anger. replace.
During the conversation with Emperor Dehui just now, the Queen Mother had been holding a sullen feeling in her heart, which she had never been able to vent. Now that she saw Luo Huaizhou refuting her in such a strict and righteous way because of Su Jingqian, the anger in her heart was even more intense. Jumping up restrainedly.
"What a joke! Su Jingqian is just a commoner, why should you, a prince, be responsible? He might have saved you because of your status as a prince. Otherwise, how could he be so prosperous in Nanling City today? Besides, his status is completely different from yours, so even if he exchanges his life for yours, it would still be an honor for him!"
Hearing this, Luo Huaizhou's eyes suddenly condensed, his clear eyes were full of disbelief, and there seemed to be a deep disappointment deep in his eyes.
He was about to open his mouth to retort, but he heard Emperor Dehui suddenly sneer, and said with his hands: "What the Queen Mother said is so true. It turns out that the grace of saving life is actually such a calculation in the Queen Mother's heart. I really learned from it. "
Emperor Dehui's words were neither salty nor light, but they sounded a bit sarcastic for no reason.
The Queen Mother was startled suddenly, and then she remembered that she had asked the Emperor to pay attention to the Queen's life-saving grace, but when she said these words, it was like a slap in the face.
The Queen Mother's expression suddenly became a little ugly, and she hurriedly said: "How can the Queen be compared with a pariah? She -"
"A pariah?" Luo Huaizhou suddenly interrupted the Queen Mother's words. His clear and watery eyes dimmed instantly, and there was a trace of disappointment that could not be concealed in his eyes. Then he said loudly: "Could it be that the lives of the people are determined by this? Isn’t it destiny? The people are the foundation of the country. The operation of the country and the supreme honor of the royal family are all given by these people. How can the queen mother say this when she is sitting in a position below this person and above ten thousand people? That’s what it means?”
Luo Huaizhou's words were very sonorous, and there was a bit of anger in his tone. The Queen Mother was startled when she heard this, and her eyes trembled for a moment. Even Emperor Dehui couldn't help but flash his eyes after hearing this, and then became thoughtful. looked at him.
"I don't understand why my mother is so prejudiced against Jing Qian? Is it because he is not a powerful person, but a commoner?"
Luo Huaizhou closed his eyes, tried his best to suppress the anger in his heart, and slowly loosened his clenched hands. A bitter smile appeared on his lips, "The queen mother said that he approached the son to take advantage of him, but even if the son No matter how stupid I am, I will not be deceived by others for many years without realizing it. If Jing Qian didn't treat my son sincerely, how could I have been friends with him for many years?"
The Queen Mother looked at Luo Huaizhou's expression of anger and disappointment, and felt an indescribable shock in her heart. She suddenly felt that the son in front of her had changed somehow. In the past, although he was not as obedient to his words as the emperor used to be, he was still gentle and submissive. How had he ever contradicted him like this?
The Queen Mother's eyebrows were solemn, and there was a hint of anger in her expression, "You——"
"That's enough." Emperor Dehui said in a deep voice, cutting off the words that the Queen Mother was about to say. He immediately turned his eyes to look at the Queen Mother, and then changed the subject, "I am very clear about the Queen Mother's kindness to me. There is no need for the Queen Mother to continue to speak. Worry about that.”
After saying that, he tapped Luo Huaizhou with his chin: "Come here and sit down to talk. You don't feel tired even if you stand."
Seeing that Emperor Dehui was determined to protect Luo Huaizhou, the Queen Mother said nothing, only snorted coldly, and ordered someone to come in and add more tea.
When Luo Huaizhou heard this, his expression relaxed a little, and he no longer looked at the Queen Mother. He immediately responded and went to sit down next to Emperor Dehui.
For a moment, the palace became quiet, with only the sound of the maids adding tea and water. None of the three said anything, but the faint spark in the air did not seem to be completely extinguished and was still there. Spread quietly.
"I have a cold, please be patient. I hope you understand."
