His Highness Duke of Qin had arrived?
The announcement sent Chu Qingge straight to the 18th level of hell!
Leaving aside Chu Qingge, even Han Yunxi and Zhao mama were in disbelief. Long Fei Ye's here?
For real? Fake?
While the three of them were still trying to figure out what to do, Long Fei Ye walked through the gates by himself.
Today, he was dressed in brocade palace robes and had a jade belt around his waist. His black hair was tied up high, giving him an indescribable air of elegance.
He walked towards everyone. He didn't wear any fancy clothes or ostentatious clothes, but his innate nobility and kingly demeanor gave people the impression that he was the master. It was as if the entire vast palace belonged to him.
Han Yunxi's lips unconsciously curved into a happy smile, while Chu Qingge's face was burning hot. She was too ashamed to show her face.
She'd just provoked Han Yunxi when Long Fei Ye showed up. This was a slap to her face!
Why'd he come?
She had once collected all sorts of information about him like a madwoman and learned all of his likes and dislikes.
From what she understood, Long Fei Ye had left the palace after being named Duke of Qin. Ever since then, he'd detested entering the palace. Unless the emperor or empress dowager summoned him, or if it was an important matter, he'd never enter the palace.
Did he come just for Han Yunxi?
Seeing Long Fei Ye walk towards her, Chu Qingge dearly wished that he'd walk towards her. But Long Fei Ye walked in front of Han Yunxi instead.
"What time is it now? Why are you still here?" he asked mildly. Even his voice was low and mesmerizing.
Han Yunxi didn't know what he meant, but Zhao mama reacted quickly. "To reply Your Highness, the sedan chair arrived late. This old servant was just about to accompany esteemed wangfei back."
By now, they should've finished their lunch and taken a nap. Actually, Long Fei Ye had gone to Han Yunxi's quarters to look for her, but found no one there.
"Zhao mama, go ask which servants carried the palanquin," Long Feiye said coldly.
"Yes, this old servant understands!"
In fact, without Long Fei Ye's instructions, Zhao mama would definitely pursue this matter. In the depths of the palace, even the emperor and empress dowager couldn't manage the affairs of the concubines, let alone the servants.
Granny Zhao had been working in the palace for most of her life. She had her own connections and power. As long as the masters didn't interfere, it would be easy for her to investigate this matter.
"Han Yunxi, accompany this prince to the palace for a meal."
Long Fei Ye gave an order, not a discussion. After he finished speaking, he took Han Yunxi's hand and left.
This guy was just that simple and crude. He never spoke nonsense.
Han Yunxi didn't even have a chance to say a word, but she liked it!
She kept up with Long Fei Ye's footsteps, but didn't forget to give Chu Qingge a smug smile. It was both a show off and a provocation!
Han Yunxi didn't say anything. Her silent smile was even more sarcastic.
Chu Qingge found the sight an eyesore. She couldn't help but shout, "Your Highness Duke of Qin!"
How could Long Fei Ye pay any attention to her?
Before Han Yunxi had appeared, this man's eyes had never rested on a woman. After Han Yunxi's appearance, his eyes had never rested on another woman.
Chu Qingge wasn't satisfied and shouted again, "Your Highness Duke of Qin, esteemed wangfei has to investigate a case. She has to stay in the palace for the next few days!"
"Who said you can't leave the palace? Miss Chu, you can ask His Majesty to take you out to play, "Han Yunxi couldn't help but speak up.
Chu Qingge had been using Emperor Tianhui to show off before, so she didn't understand the true meaning behind Han Yunxi's words.
She chased after her a few steps before asking angrily, "Han Yunxi, aren't you afraid that you won't be able to find out the truth?"
Investigating a case was different from poisoning and treating poisons. It was much more complicated. This woman's poison skills were good, but that didn't mean she was good at investigating cases.
"Nothing's more important than accompanying Your Highness Duke of Qin for a meal!" Han Yunxi replied with a smile.
Chu Qingge had been showing off for so long, so how could she not do the same?
All right, she must be overjoyed. She didn't hold back at all in front of Long Fei Ye and revealed her true nature.
Long Fei Ye gave a start before looking sideways at her, only to see Han Yunxi engrossed in her battle of words with Chu Qingge. She was extremely excited.
His lips curved up in a doting smile that he didn't even notice. He silently turned back and let her do as she pleased.
How was Chu Qingge supposed to fight Han Yunxi now?
She had nothing to say. She'd lost completely!
She wanted to curse Han Yunxi for being shameless, but Han Yunxi was Long Fei Ye's official consort. It was perfectly normal for her to say such things, so what reason did she have to curse her?
She wanted nothing more than to tell Long Fei Ye how much she'd adored him over the years, but her pride and upbringing prevented her from doing so.
Girls needed to be reserved and self-loving. No matter how much they liked someone, they couldn't take the initiative!
She'd been doing her best to show him that she wanted his attention, but Long Feiye hadn't spared her a single glance from the moment he'd stepped through the door despite her and Han Yunxi's struggles.
Chu Qingge stared at Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi's retreating forms, unwilling to accept this!
But just as Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi were about to leave, Emperor Tianhui showed up.
Actually, he'd left just then because Long Fei Ye had entered the palace.
Because of the Northern Li affair, Emperor Tianhui had summoned Long Fei Ye. He assumed that Long Fei Ye would arrive at night, but he'd arrived early.
At the sight of Emperor Tianhui, Chu Qingge quickly complained, "Your Majesty, we agreed to investigate the case in three days, but Qin Wangfei's in such a rush to leave the palace. She must have uncovered the truth already?"
"Your Majesty, we agreed to investigate the case in three days, but we didn't say we'd be grounded for three days, did we?" Han Yunxi retorted.
She hadn't made it clear that she could leave the palace within three days. The decision was in Emperor Tianhui's hands, so he could say whatever he wanted.
"Your Majesty, we agreed on this back then," Chu Qingge emphasized. She refused to believe that Han Yunxi would be able to leave now that Emperor Tianhui was here.
But Emperor Tianhui only smiled amiably. "Why would I be grounded? Duke of Qin, Zhen thought you were at the Sweet Liquid Palace. As it turns out, you were leaving the palace. "
Did Emperor Tianhui send Chu Qingge's lunch here for nothing? He'd predicted that Han Yunxi would return for lunch and lunch break, which was the perfect time to spend alone time with Chu Qingge.
Last night, he'd invited Duanmu Baiye and Chu Tianyin to drink while hinting at Chu Qingge's marriage alliance. Neither of them had any objections.
Duanmu Baiye represented Western Zhou's imperial clan, while Chu Tianyin represented the Chu Clan. If neither of them had any objections, then it meant that the marriage was a done deal.
He didn't know that his servants had been bold enough to delay Han Yunxi's sedan chair on purpose, but it didn't matter if Han Yunxi and Long Fei Ye were here. Weren't they leaving soon?
"Mm," Long Fei Ye replied.
"Qin Wangfei, don't forget the three-day deadline," Emperor Tianhui reminded her kindly.
"Many thanks to Your Majesty for the reminder."
Han Yunxi said, before giving Chu Qingge a meaningful look. "Then we won't disturb you two any longer."
Chu Qingge finally realized that Han Yunxi's words were off. What did she mean by that?
Emperor Tianhui understood the meaning behind Han Yunxi's words as well, but Chu Qingge would be his sooner or later. He didn't mind if Han Yunxi figured it out.
Han Yunxi happily left with Long Fei Ye, while Zhao mama happily went to settle accounts with the sedan chair servants. Aside from the palace guards, only Emperor Tianhui and Chu Qingge were left in Consort Yun's palace.
"Miss Chu wants to leave the palace as well?" Emperor Tianhui asked with a smile.
He was already in his forties. Although he took good care of himself, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were still obvious.
His kind smile reminded Chu Qingge of her father.
Chu Qingge was busy investigating the case, so how could she really want to leave the palace?
"No, Qingge still has to investigate," she replied simply before walking towards a side hall in disappointment.
Emperor Tianhui followed her in and signaled for all the servants to withdraw with a look. Chu Qingge immediately sensed that something was off.
"Your Majesty, what's this?" she asked cautiously.
"Miss Chu, what did you find out about Consort Yun's case? Tell Zhen all about it," Emperor Tianhui grinned. When he wasn't so serious, he had the air of a scholar.
It wasn't that Chu Qingge wasn't on guard, but that she'd never considered the possibility. She assumed that Emperor Tianhui had other ideas about Consort Yun's case.
Emperor Tianhui sat down and gestured for her to do the same.
But as soon as Chu Qingge sat down, Emperor Tianhui suddenly took her hand in his.
Alarmed, Chu Qingge shrank back and pushed him away. "Your Majesty, you!"
She finally understood what was going on!
Emperor Tianhui actually …
No!
Her hairs stood on end at the thought!
Emperor Tianhui was old enough to be her father!
Emperor Tianhui had more or less predicted that Chu Qingge would react this way. Since he'd taken a liking to this woman, he'd naturally investigated her thoroughly.
This woman had a cold personality and had no lack of suitors, but none of them had ever caught her eye.
Emperor Tianhui muttered to himself, "Near Qingming. Spirits on the branches of the jade birds. It's a pity that all my songs have gone to waste at dusk. "
"Qingge, Qingge …" Emperor Tianhui sighed with emotion as he rose to his feet and walked towards Chu Qingge. "Qingge, how about you leave your love songs in Zhen's heart?"
What a poetic confession, but Chu Qingge's entire body turned cold. She unconsciously reached for the bow on her back, but weapons weren't allowed in the palace. She'd left her bow outside!
Her entire body trembled as she backed away step by step. She didn't even know how to answer Emperor Tianhui's question.
She didn't want it!
She backed into a chair and fell on her butt. "Your Majesty, where's my big brother?! Where's Crown Prince Ye?! I want to see them! I want to leave the palace and see them! "
She was on the verge of tears. She couldn't accept Emperor Tianhui's sudden display of affection.
Fortunately, Emperor Tianhui didn't press any closer. Faced with Chu Qingge's pale face and speechless face, he only took two steps forward before stopping.
"It looks like Miss Chu needs time to think things over. Zhen will give you two days to finish investigating Consort Yun's case before Zhen comes looking for you," Emperor Tianhui might be lustful, but he wouldn't force things. After all, Chu Qingge's birth was obvious.
Still, he was confident that Chu Qingge wouldn't be able to escape from his grasp.
As soon as he left Consort Yun's palace, he murmured to Eunuch Luo, "Summon Qinwang Rong to the palace. Zhen has important matters to attend to."
Despite his lust, Emperor Tianhui hadn't forgotten about Long Fei Ye's threats. He'd just finished discussing Northern Li with the Long Fei Ye when he summoned Qinwang Rong. They were still investigating Long Fei Ye's origins.
Over the past few days, Emperor Tianhui had been pressuring General Mu's estate to take full control of the infantry forces.
It was a long time after Emperor Tianhui left that Chu Qingge recovered from her shock and fear. She recalled Han Yunxi's parting words and was so angry that she could smell blood.
If she knew this would happen, she wouldn't have investigated Consort Yun's case at all. She wouldn't have come to Tianning at all!
What was she supposed to do?
She couldn't help but wonder what Long Fei Ye and Han Yunxi were doing right now. Finally, tears streamed down her face.
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