At the end of the tenth month, the weather was extremely cold. The subordinate countries were preparing to return home, so before they left, Da Long held a banquet in Luan He Hall, inviting the envoys of the subordinate countries.
He Heng didn't mention the matter of the country of Jing in front of Qu Qing Ju again. She didn't ask again. Da Long didn't have the rule that the hougong couldn't interfere in politics, but she was very clear about her own abilities. She couldn't even carry it all, so it was better not to harm the common people.
In her previous life, she had been a manager. She knew how to use people's hearts, how to manipulate the other to gain benefits for herself. This was her cleverness, but she knew her own limits. She knew what she was good at, and what she wasn't.
Just like when Feng Zi Jin had used Han liangdi to frame her. She beat her at her own game and got rid of this woman that was always scheming against her. Shu gui taifei had moved out of the hougong. The two Empress Dowagers weren't on good terms with her. How could they allow Shu gui taifei's connections to remain in the palace?
In the beginning, that matter had implicated Shu gui taifei. She had schemed behind the scenes, but the biggest power had come from the Empress Dowager of Liang Palace. They had simply used Feng Zi Jin and Han liangdi to pull Shu gui taifei into the mire, making her live a life worse than death.
She had guessed the intentions of the two Empress Dowagers, so she had allowed Feng Zi Jin to pull the matter onto her. Then she had watched as she dug her own grave and lost her life.
Which person, after becoming rich, would tolerate an opponent that had once bullied them? There were stories of human swine in history. Here, there was a living lesson of Shu gui taifei.
Sitting on the phoenix carriage, they once again passed the pavilion where Han liangdi had once sung. Qu Qing Ju hugged Tun Tun tightly in her arms, her eyes gradually becoming calm. She wouldn't let herself fall to the level of Shu gui taifei!
"The Empress has arrived!"
Passing through the gates of Luan He Hall, the vermillion phoenix robe silently brushing across the carpet. She ignored the crowd of envoys and officials kneeling on the two sides. She walked to the bottom of the nine jade stairs and bowed to He Heng: "Greetings to the Emperor."
"Quick, get up," He Heng stood from the dragon patterned chair. Seeing Qu Qing Ju walk to the jade stairs, he took her hand and sat down. Qu Qing Ju turned back to look at the people still kneeling. She called out: "Everyone, please get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Highness."
Qu Qing Ju smiled slightly and nodded. After these people stood up, she took back her gaze. Exchanging a look with He Heng, she continued: "I made everyone wait, ben gong punishes myself with a cup." Finishing, she raised the peach blossom wine in front of her, wrapped her sleeve around the wine cup, raised her head and drank.
No one dared to let the Empress drink a cup of apology wine just like that. They all raised their wine cups and drank with her. The Emperor had arrived first and didn't have any complaints about the Empress' actions. They didn't have to care about this matter.
"Zhen's imperial son was just crying in Fu Shou Palace. Empress had no choice but to return," He Heng said with a smile at the corner of his mouth, "Pity the hearts of all parents. Once this child made a fuss, we couldn't sit still."
Fu Shou Palace was the place where the Holy Mother Empress Dowager lived. His Royal Highness was crying there, did something happen? If it was just a normal crying, why would the Empress make a special trip?
Everyone felt that this matter wasn't right, but seeing the Emperor and Empress' expression was normal, they assumed it wasn't a major matter. They all smiled and continued the topic of raising children. The ministers that usually didn't care about children seemed to have become the perfect nanny, as though they had personally raised the children.
The atmosphere of the banquet instantly became lively. The singing and dancing continued. Everyone exchanged cups, very harmonious.
He Heng whispered by Qu Qing Ju's ear: "Are the two Empress Dowagers alright?"
"It was just a fright," Qu Qing Ju raised a wine cup, a smile at the corner of her mouth, but the words she said were cold, "The people around muhou are all cautious. Those things hadn't even neared Tun Tun before they were discovered. This Shu guifei's people really hid very well. Even the two muhou didn't discover it."
Originally, she had prepared to come to Luan He Hall for the farewell banquet. Who knew that when she left the palace gates, she saw Ding mama of Fu Shou Palace hurriedly come to tell her of the matter. She didn't have the mood to come to Luan He Hall and turned to go to Fu Shou Palace.
The two Empress Dowagers were all skilled women. They quickly found out who had acted, and even found out that the mastermind was Shu gui taifei. She hadn't thought that Shu gui taifei had been sent to guard the Imperial Tomb. Before she left, she had unwillingly set up such a major event.
"What was discovered?" He Heng's face had darkened.
"Some tainted blood. It must be the blood of someone who was seriously ill. I'm afraid that the people of this Shu gui taifei don't know. Anything that is to be used by Tun Tun, even a handkerchief, I would let people inspect it before using," Qu Qing Ju sneered, "I heard that Shu gui taifei was living a luxurious life in the Imperial Tomb and complained. I have already ordered people to reduce her consumption, and every year, other than the Mid-Autumn Festival, no one is allowed to disturb her peace. This woman is old. If her temper is still so explosive, she needs quiet days to calm her emotions. I think that Shu gui taifei will quickly know how good it is to have quiet days. "
Living a poor life, the people around her were all deaf and mute. She wanted to see how this Shu gui taifei would live her life in the future. If she let her die, wouldn't that be letting her off easy? If she didn't let Shu gui taifei understand what regret was, how could she be at ease?
He Heng heard the meaning in her words and didn't say anything more. He knew the craziness of women to protect their children. Just like how muhou had protected him in the past. No one could stop her.
"To be able to see the sacred words of His Majesty the Emperor of Da Long, and to see the prosperity of Da Long, this trip has not been a waste. Envoy of Duo Han, Jika, wishes for Da Long to prosper for millions of years," As an envoy of Duo Han, Jika knew that they weren't favored by Da Long, so he had put on a very low profile when he entered Jing this time, hoping to make the people of Da Long believe that their Duo Han was truly loyal to Da Long.
"Many thanks for Jika daren's blessing," He Heng raised his wine cup to Jika and took a sip.
Jika saw him drink the wine he had offered and joy appeared on his face: "This subject will toast you again on behalf of the people of Duo Han. The loyalty of I, Duo Han, to Da Long, the Heavens can bear witness." Finishing, he raised his head to drink the entire cup of wine. Then he flipped the cup over, not a drop spilling out, "If Duo Han breaks his oath, then let the Heavens send down a calamity to punish us."
"Zhen accepts the loyalty of the people of Duo Han," He Heng smiled as he finished the entire cup of wine in his hand, "Jika's oath today, zhen will also remember."
After Jika sat down, he looked smugly at Tu Er and Dai Rong who were sitting below him. With the conduct of this Dai Rong Princess, their Duo Han wouldn't be the most hated subordinate country in the hearts of the people of Da Long. It seemed that he should thank this beautiful princess.
Dai Rong saw the smug smile on Jika's face and a bitter smile appeared on her face. She raised her head to look at the Emperor and Empress sitting on the nine-level jade stairs. It was these two people that made her understand what regret was, what fear was, and what prosperity was.
In the end, her gaze landed on He Heng's smiling face. She really was moved by this young Emperor. He was kind, courageous, and had true feelings for the Empress. It was a pity that this true feelings didn't belong to her.
Tu Er saw his meimei was still staring at the Emperor of Da Long and asked with a frown: "Meimei, you still haven't given up?"
Dai Rong grimaced, retorting: "What's there to not give up, from beginning to end, he hasn't even looked me in the eye." It was also this man that made her understand that not everyone liked her. Maybe the people of the country of Jing loved her, other than her appearance, it was also because of her identity.
She was the princess of the country of Jing. Even if she might not be the future king of the country of Jing, but she was the future hope of the country of Jing. She received their love, and yearned for the prosperity of Da Long. If the people of the country of Jing knew what she had done, how disappointed would they be?
She should be grateful to the Empress of Da Long. If it wasn't for this outstanding Empress, maybe she wouldn't be sitting in this hall right now, and what awaited the country of Jing would be the iron hooves of Da Long.
It was enough to be muddle-headed once in this lifetime. Her identity didn't allow her to continue being muddle-headed, and even more so, she couldn't continue making mistakes. Otherwise, the result could be that the country of Jing would never recover.
"Chen nu toasts the honored Empress, and wishes that the relationship between Empress and the Emperor is stronger than gold, and that everything goes smoothly," Dai Rong stood and raised a wine cup towards Qu Qing Ju, "Chen nu also thanks the honored Empress for giving chen nu the chance to grow. Please, Empress, accept chen nu's sincere bow." Finishing, she gave a greeting of blessings and respect from the country of Jing to Qu Qing Ju, and drank the wine in the cup.
Qu Qing Ju looked at Dai Rong below. It was as though in the span of a few short days, this Hu Guo Princess had grown up so quickly that she couldn't see any trace of her past self. It was like a pampered and pampered girl turning into a tomboy. How many people could achieve this kind of transformation? Maybe it was Qin Bai Lu's death that startled her awake? Maybe it was the lives of the people of the country of Jing that made her understand what responsibility was?
But no matter what, Qu Qing Ju accepted Dai Rong's cup of wine. She smiled as she raised the wine cup, opening to say: "There are times when people think wrongly. The crux is whether they can turn back, whether they can understand. Ben gong also hopes that the friendship between Da Long and the country of Jing will last, and that the people of Jing will live in peace."
"Many thanks to the honored Empress for the auspicious words. My country of Jing will be loyal to Da Long for generations to come!" The rims of Dai Rong's eyes reddened. She knew that this was the Empress assuring her that Da Long wouldn't enter the country of Jing. She switched to another cup of wine and unhesitatingly drank it again.
The day the envoys of the subordinate countries left, the autumn air was clear and crisp. The outskirts of Jing City were covered in wild chrysanthemums. Qu Qing Ju and He Heng stood on the tall city gate, watching as the envoys bowed three times and nine times to them before sitting on the carriages and slowly leaving. The carriages gradually moved further and further away until they disappeared at the end.
Qu Qing Ju brushed aside the strands of hair that had been blown by the autumn wind. She sighed: "The song ends, the people leave, the flowers bloom in the city, it's not so lonely."
He Heng saw that her expression was slightly sorrowful and held her hand as they walked down the city tower: "Some people leave, some people come. It's good that we stay where we are."
Qu Qing Ju tilted her head to glance at him. A faint smile gradually appeared at the corner of her mouth. Even though it was faint, it was very real.
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