Even though the palace banquet was held at night, Qu Qing Ju and He Heng needed to kowtow to the Emperor and Empress so they woke up early in the morning.
Even though the relationship between the Emperor and Empress wasn't good, but the two of them were sitting together today. Qu Qing Ju and He Heng arrived at Tian Qi Palace where the Emperor lived. When the taijian summoned them in, they saw He Qi and Wei Qing E already sitting on chairs.
He Heng took a few steps forward, bringing Qu Qing Ju to kneel in front of the Emperor and Empress, "Er chen and wang fei come to give a New Year greeting to fuhuang and muhou." Finishing, he presented a sandalwood box with both hands, "Wishing fuhuang the three stars of fortune, wealth and longevity to always be with you, and for your good fortune to benefit the world."
Qing De Emperor took the sandalwood box. Seeing the statues of the three stars of fortune, wealth and longevity, he smiled, "Heng'er and your wife, stand up." When one was older, they wanted more fortune and longevity. This salary also had the meaning of status. It matched Qing De Emperor's wishes so his smile warmed slightly, "You two, sit." Finishing, he ordered the taijian to bring chairs for the two.
This was the first time Qu Qing Ju saw the Emperor. She took the opportunity to examine the other as she sat down. The Emperor's appearance was more normal than his sons. His body was slightly plump, his brows showing signs of fatigue and old age. No wonder his sons all had other thoughts.
"Da ge came early," He Heng sat down and raised his hands to He Qi. He smiled as he greeted, "Didi greets gege."
"Er di also came early," He Qi laughed brightly and then looked at the Emperor. Seeing that the Emperor was still looking at the things lao er had given, he asked, "Fuhuang, this year the national treasury is full. Er chen heard the storytellers in the restaurants and teahouses all praise fuhuang's benevolence. Has fuhuang heard this?"
Hearing this, Qing De Emperor closed the wooden box in his hand and put it to one side. He turned to look at He Qi, "You, this child, love to run to the restaurants and teahouses. What are you listening to all this for?"
"Fuhuang, please forgive me. Er chen's words will offend you a little. Er chen feels that the common people are mostly honest. When they say you are benevolent, it naturally comes from their hearts. Er chen is secretly happy when I hear it. " He Qi straightened his neck and looked like he had to explain himself. "Son can't be like Imperial Father who doesn't care about undeserved reputation. In any case, when they praise you, son can't help but feel happy."
This flattery was really good, Qu Qing Ju thought silently. This Ning Wang seemed to speak honestly, but his honest words were too pleasing to the ear. Look at how happy the Emperor was, his laughter was several decibels higher.
"Da ge, you are really something. You clearly know that fuhuang doesn't like to hear this, but you still say it," He Heng smiled as he remarked, "Not just this year, but in the past, many people have said that fuhuang is benevolent and wise. I don't dare to say it to fuhuang, and just enjoy it for myself."
When He Qi heard this, he cursed in his heart. This Second Bro really knew how to follow up. According to what he said, not only did he elevate his father even higher, but he also implied that he only found out about it this year. Wasn't he setting him up?
As expected, after hearing He Heng's words, Qing De Emperor laughed even more happily. After a few laughs, he turned to say to the Empress: "Look, these children, they aren't like a wang ye at all. To be so happy over such a small matter, they are a joke to others."
The Empress gave a suitable smile and spoke in a tone that seemed as though she felt it was unfair for the two: "Emperor, these two children are pure and filial. Hearing other people praise their father, they naturally feel happy. How can you say their filial piety is the nature of children. Qie is going to cry out for the injustice of these two children. "
Qu Qing Ju sneaked a look at He Heng beside her. This person was eloquent and had a steady personality. This kind of man would be successful anywhere and the possibility of him becoming emperor wasn't small. Thinking about her possible fate after this person ascended to the throne, Qu Qing Ju felt that before he ascended to the throne, she should enjoy herself.
Even though the barrier between men and women in Da Long Dynasty wasn't as severe as in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but Qu Qing Ju perceptively kept her head down and didn't look around. Even when she occasionally raised her eyes, it was in the direction of the Empress and Wei Qing E. Just when she accidentally raised her head, she found that Wei Qing E was also examining her. And in the other's expression, there was a hint of mockery and sympathy towards her.
Qu Qing Ju, who felt slightly lost at this expression, paused. Coincidentally, the legendary little classmate He Ming came in at this time. She felt that there was some meaning in sitting here. At least she could see what this child who had been tricked by his father was like.
She quickly glanced at He Ming who was wearing a blue brocade robe. He wasn't as resolute as He Qi, not as warm as He Heng, not as handsome as He Yuan. He looked slightly average, but he was still a handsome boy. Watching him obediently bow and sit down, Qu Qing Ju sighed. Such a good child, but it was a pity that he had a father who tricked him.
Seeing that lao si had come but his favorite lao san hadn't arrived, the smile on Qing De Emperor's face became fainter and fainter. The three brothers seemed to have agreed on this and didn't tease the Emperor anymore, each pretending to be deep and silent.
After sitting for another fifteen minutes, when the smile on Qing De Emperor's face had disappeared, He Yuan finally arrived. Qu Qing Ju saw that he had managed to make Qing De Emperor beam with just a few words and finally understood what it meant to be biased.
Seeing Qing De Emperor joyfully put on the prayer beads that He Yuan had given him, He Heng calmly raised his teacup to take a sip. He Qi only twitched his mouth. He Ming still sat silently. The expressions of the three were enough to prove that they were used to this kind of thing. There wasn't even a hint of jealousy.
Qu Qing Ju felt sorrow for the Emperor. Maybe he didn't know, but the other three sons didn't have any feelings for him. Because if they had feelings, they wouldn't have been so calm when they saw this scene. But when she thought about it, what was even sadder was the three imperial sons. To have such a father, it was a great misfortune. It was fine that he didn't care for them, but he only cared for one child and treated them like they didn't exist.
After sitting for a while, the three brothers were chased away by the Emperor with the excuse that they were going to greet their mothers. Only He Yuan remained to sit with them. The contrast was even more stark. No wonder He Yuan would be so arrogant.
Qu Qing Ju and Wei Qing E walked shoulder to shoulder. The two hadn't seen each other since the Plum Appreciation Banquet. At this time, both of them had friendly smiles on their faces.
"Er dimei, how have you been recently? I heard that a few days ago, an ignorant servant from your fu was sent to the estate?" Wei Qing E smiled faintly, "I just heard san dimei say it. I don't know if it's true or not."
"Just an ignorant yaomei. I didn't care about sending her away. I didn't want her to be alone at such a young age so I tried to persuade wang ye that it would be good to send someone," Qu Qing Ju smiled carelessly, "I don't know where san dimei heard such small things."
"Er dimei is kind. Just sell those servants that don't follow the rules. There's no need to spend so much effort on them," Wei Qing E jerked the corner of her mouth, "As to how san dimei knew, I don't know."
"There's nothing that can't be said to others. San dimei must be concerned." Qu Qing Ju smiled as she caressed her earlobe, revealing a sweet smile, "As to sending this person away, it was wang ye's idea. I'm fine."
Wei Qing E instantly felt that this smile was blinding. Coincidentally, she saw her wang ye raise his hands to bid farewell to Duan Wang. She said in a regretful tone: "It looks like we have to part ways with dimei here. We'll meet again at the banquet."
"Saosao, take care," Qu Qing Ju smiled as she bowed to send her off. After Wei Qing E and He Qi walked shoulder to shoulder, she walked next to He Heng. They were all in the business of wang fei, who didn't know how to make people choke with their words?
He Heng knew that Qu Qing Ju had been talking to da sao, but as a man, he wasn't interested in women's topics and hadn't listened closely. Seeing the smile on Qu Qing Ju's face, he didn't ask more. He slowed his steps and matched Qu Qing Ju's pace.
When they reached Jing guifei's Zhong Jing Palace, before they entered the room, Qu Qing Ju first heard the laughter of a woman. The palace maids didn't dare to laugh like this, the feipin wouldn't laugh like this. It seemed that it was someone that Jing guifei was familiar with.
When they entered the room, Qu Qing Ju saw a woman standing behind Jing guifei as expected. As she massaged Jing guifei's shoulders, she chatted to make Jing guifei happy. Then she saw the eyes of this woman fly towards He Heng.
When Jing guifei saw He Heng, the smile on her face became even brighter. After the two made their greetings, she let the two sit down. After asking He Heng a few questions about his daily life, she turned to Qu Qing Ju and said: "Erxifu, you might not know this yatou. She is the daughter of ben gong's paternal cousin. Ran Shuang, come greet your gege and saosao. "
"Ran Shuang greets gege, greets saosao," Wei Ran Shuang moved gracefully. With a bashful smile, she bowed in front of the two before retreating with a red face to one side. But her little eyes were still sneaking onto He Heng's body.
"So it's our wang ye's meimei. I didn't know you would be here today and didn't prepare a greeting gift," Finishing, she took off the jade bracelet on her wrist and stood to walk in front of Wei Ran Shuang. She took her hand and personally put it on before continuing, "This is the bracelet that my mother left for me. Even though it's not expensive, but the quality is good. I hope that meimei doesn't dislike it."
Qu Qing Ju knew that Jing guifei's surname was Wei. Her father had been the grand tutor when the Emperor was still the Crown Prince. Right now, Wei daren only had the empty title of taibao and no real power. Wei daren had a younger brother who was a fifth-grade provincial governor. After so many years, he didn't have any accomplishments. Now that Jing guifei said that Wei Ran Shuang was her cousin's daughter, it was just to make Wei Ran Shuang look better. In reality, wasn't she just the granddaughter of a fifth-grade local official? Since this Wei Ran Shuang dared to openly call her saosao, then she was happy to accept.
"Ran Shuang doesn't dare to take saosao's things," Wei Ran Shuang wanted to take off the bracelet but was stopped by Qu Qing Ju, "You are wang ye's meimei, so you are my meimei. Then there's no need to be so courteous between us." Finishing, she looked in puzzlement at Jing guifei, "Mufei, meimei usually isn't in Jing City. Otherwise, such a beautiful meimei, how come I haven't seen her before?"
Jing guifei looked at Qu Qing Ju pressing down on her niece's movements and smiled faintly, replying: "Her father was stationed elsewhere and was recently transferred back to Jing."
"So it's like that," Qu Qing Ju smiled as she pulled Wei Ran Shuang to sit down, "Now that meimei has returned to Jing, in the future, I'll have a sister to join in the fun."
Jing guifei saw Qu Qing Ju's enthusiasm and felt her heart hurt. Had her erxifu not thought about the reason she had specially brought this person here?
Her tang xiong was only a little sixth-grade official now that he had been transferred back to Jing City. Even if she wanted to help him, Ran Shuang wouldn't be able to marry into a good family. So she thought about letting her son see this girl. If he liked her, at least in the future, he wouldn't mistreat her. If he didn't like her, then it was a chance for brother and sister to get to know each other. Even more, she didn't really want her niece to be her son's qie.
Seeing that her son didn't even look directly at her niece, Jing guifei knew that there was no hope. She turned to look at Qu Qing Ju and almost couldn't stop her expression from changing.
She was holding Wei yatou's hand and not willing to let go, what did she mean?!
"Meimei's skin is so good, it's so comfortable to the touch," Qu Qing Ju's face was full of admiration, "It can be seen that the place meimei lives in is better nourishing than Jing City." Finishing, she actually smiled and rubbed that white and tender little hand.
Jing guifei didn't feel good. Where did her erxifu's brain go? Didn't she have a sense of danger? Didn't she know to guard against other women? Saying another woman's skin was good in front of her husband, was she trying to arouse her husband's curiosity?!
For some reason, looking at Qu Qing Ju's happy smile, Jing guifei felt helpless and restless.
She turned to look at her son. She saw her son sipping tea with a smile on his face and didn't react at all. She could only open: "Heng'er, in a few days, your er shu will come to visit you. Find time to meet him."
He Heng knew what his mufei meant and nodded slightly, replying: "Er chen understands." Finishing, he pushed a plate of kumquats next to him towards where Qu Qing Ju was sitting.
Jing guifei saw his action and didn't say anything. But when her eyes looked at Qu Qing Ju, she felt even more restless.
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