Chapter Eighty One Inviting Humiliation
The side hall was very quiet. Qu Qing Ju sat on the chair as she looked at the shattered cup on the floor, her expression dark.
He Heng indicated for the servants to sweep away the broken shards of porcelain. He rarely saw such a dazed expression on Qu Qing Ju's face. But he didn't want to see it anymore so he couldn't resist going up to her and deliberately rubbed her face, smiling as he teased: "What, you don't have any more energy after that outburst?"
Qu Qing Ju raised her head to look at the mirth on his face. She looked seriously into his eyes and from his purposely relaxed expression, she found the concern that was hidden behind his smile. She forced a smile: "I have just discovered that he's not worthy of my mother and I." She wasn't clear as to why the Tian Family had married their daughter off to the Qu Family, but she'd heard that it was due to a promise made by the previous generation.
These parents, because of their own feelings, didn't care for their children's desires and carelessly gave them away in a marriage. They glorified the marriage of their children as a means of proving their friendship with each other. Or did they believe that because the elders were friends, their children would be happily married and the husband wouldn't neglect the wife?
The reality was always harsher than the ideal. Qu Tian shi didn't receive gentle treatment from the Duke of Chang De just because their elders had been friends. Did the old Marquess of Xiang Qing, who hadn't passed away at that time, ever regret it?
She wasn't a person from ancient times, so she couldn't understand their mentality. But if she had children in the future, she would be reluctant to treat them that way.
"I know," He Heng gathered the person into his arms, quietly promising, "The people who had bullied you in the past, I will remember them for you. We will live for a long time so don't harm your body for these people. We will find an opportunity for you to bully them back."
Qu Qing Ju sat on the chair as she put her head into He Heng's lap. She listened to the man holding her tell how she could bully the people who once bullied her. That bit of grief in her heart had already disappeared without a trace. She turned to wrap an arm around him, laughing as she rubbed her head on his waist.
The servants all cautiously lowered their heads, not daring to look at the two zhuzi. But a smile was on the mouths of Mu Jin and the others. It seemed that no matter how Chang De Gong Fu was, wang ye wouldn't lessen his affections for wang fei.
These days, all the servants of Rui Wang Fu were trembling with fear. It was an open secret in the fu, which they didn't dare to spread outside, that wang ye and wang fei weren't on good terms. The fact that wang fei extremely disliked Qu ce fei of Xi Ce Yuan was something that everyone knew. But because Qu ce fei was favoured by wang ye, no servant dared to offend Qu ce fei.
In the days after the details of Chang De Gong Fu's circumstances leaked, there was more idle talk among the servants. Even though they didn't dare to openly mention it in front of Qu Yue Su, Qu Yue Su could still detect that the eyes of the servants as they looked at her weren't right. As she faced the curious or disdainful stares of the servants, she could only bitterly endure and not show even a hint of discontent.
"Qu ce fei, wang fei asks to meet you," A taijian came in and bowed to Qu Yue Su nonchalantly. He said in a neutral tone, "Wang fei said that if Qu ce fei doesn't have the time, it's fine not to go, but then wang fei will reject the card of the Duchess of Chang De."
"It must have been an inconvenience for gonggong to pass on the news. I will go immediately," Qu Yue Su didn't seem to notice the slight the taijian gave her, smiling as she stood from the chair. She also let Yao Xi shove a pouch to the taijian.
It wasn't that she wished to endure it, but this taijian in front of her was most favoured by wang fei. She was just a shiqie so she didn't dare offend him. After the taijian left, the smile on Qu Yue Su's face completely disappeared as she ordered, "Yao Xi, help me dress."
By now, Chang De Gong Fu must be a mess. She didn't even need to guess to know that their so-called friends and relatives were hiding far away.
Qin Bai Lu disdainfully looked at the card in her hand and carelessly threw it to one side: "This Chang De Gong Fu is such a joke that they actually came begging to our fu."
Ru Hua, who was standing behind her, inquired in a small voice: "Wang fei, if that's the case, why would you allow Qu shi to see her paternal family?" Wasn't that giving Qu shi an opportunity?
"Why not let her see?" Qin Bai Lu smiled coldly, "I want her to see if wang ye would really aid the Qu and Liang Families for her."
Ru Huan looked at wang fei's icy stare and didn't speak any longer. By now, wang fei and wang ye were at the stage where they had nothing to say to each other. Wang fei's hatred towards Qu shi became more and more evident. Now that the situation had turned out like this, unless Qu shi was spurned by wang ye, there was no other way for it to end.
A short while later, Qin Bai Lu saw Qu Yue Su dressed in a slightly old, plain dress as she came in. She looked at this woman who respectfully bowed to her in greeting, a hint of mirth appearing on her lips: "The Duchess of Chang De asks to see you. I'm not a cruel person, so I will allow your mother and you to see each other at Xi Ce Yuan. What does Qu ce fei think?"
"Nubi thanks wang fei," Qu Yue Su almost bent in half. She looked at the disdain in Qin Bai Lu's gaze and gritted her teeth as she turned and walked out of the gate of zhengyuan.
Qin Bai Lu didn't really sympathize with her. She wanted to see her begging. The more Qu Yue Su's family situation worsened, the more happier Qin Bai Lu became.
Taking Yao Xi's hand to support her as she returned to Xi Ce Yuan, she sat for a long time before a servant led Liang shi into the door. Qu Yue Su looked at her mother whose complexion had become more fragile, and stood to welcome Liang shi.
"Su'er," Liang shi looked at her daughter, her tears pouring before she even spoke, "Our fu is not in a very good situation."
Qu Yue Su supported her in sitting down and comforted her: "Mother, don't cry. First, tell me what's happening outside." Now that she was in the houyuan of the wang fu, she didn't hear much news. She only knew that there were many people at court who were censuring her paternal family but didn't know much else.
Liang shi wiped away her tears as she gave a complete narration of the condition of her home. When she mentioned that Qu Qing Ju wasn't willing to help, her voice held hatred: "If I had known that damned yatou would one day act like this, I wouldn't have left her alive in the beginning!"
After hearing this, Qu Yue Su gave a bitter smile. She said helplessly: "Mother, now that it's like this, it's useless to complain. Right now, no one is willing to help us. Not even the heavens or the earth would respond."
"Even your didi was persuaded to leave the Eastern Mountain Academy. I had originally planned for him to attend the Autumn Examinations. Now that it's like this, how could your didi get a good score?" As she thought of her son, Liang shi's expression became even uglier, "The most horrid is the Tian Family. They had to pull out the matter from ten years ago."
Qu Yue Su felt that it wouldn't end very well this time, but looking at her mother's face, she couldn't say it.
"Su'er, you are this wang fu's ce fei. Why don't you beg Rui Wang? Rui Wang is most favored by the Emperor. If Rui Wang could say a few words on behalf of our family, it would be more useful than anything else," Liang shi tightened her grip on Qu Yue Su's hand, "Just help our fu in thinking of some more solutions."
Her hand hurt from being gripped so tightly. Qu Yue Su felt bitter inside. She was only a shiqie, she had no qualifications to ask wang ye to do something for her. But once faced her mother's pleas, she could only nod and decide, "I'll go beg wang ye. If wang ye doesn't agree … …"
"Rui Wang will most certainly agree," The fear on Liang shi's face halved. She looked at the beautiful face of her daughter and stated confidently, "I've even heard it outside. Rui Wang likes you very much. If you begged, why wouldn't he agree?"
Likes?
Thinking of wang ye's attitude towards her these days, Qu Yue Su could only squeeze out a small smile and didn't say a word.
Mother and daughter didn't manage to speak for much longer before the steward came in to rush them out. Liang shi assumed that it was wang fei who got jealous of her daughter and left unwillingly. As she came out of Rui Wang Fu's front gate, Liang shi thought with some smugness, so what if Qu Qing Ju was a wang fei? She wasn't willing to help her lao ye. In the end, didn't the hopes of the fu lie with the daughter she gave birth to?
The moonlight was like frost. Qin Bai Lu looked at the bright moon outside and asked Ru Hua in a mirthless voice: "Wang ye went to Xi Ce Yuan?"
Ru Hua nodded, "Just now, someone saw wang ye heading that way."
Qin Bai Lu unexpectedly laughed out loud. It was carefree yet full of sorrow. The laugh grew louder and dissipated into the night.
He Yuan released his hand which had been holding Qu Yue's chin and allowed her to tilt the cup for him to drink wine. He mockingly put his hand at the softness of her chest: "Why is beauty so enthusiastic today?! Is there something she wants to ask for?"
Qu Yue Su's heart jumped. She then gave an enchanting smile and said: "What is wang ye saying? Qie sincerely wants to serve you."
"Really?" He Yuan examined her closely. Just when the smile on her face was going to break, he said, "Such a pity. Originally, ben wang was thinking that if you had something to ask, ben wang would try to help. Since you don't have anything, a minute of the spring night is worth a thousand gold so we should live in the present."
Sliding into the man's arms, Qu Yue Su reached out to trace He Yuan's chest: "Qie does have a small matter. Wang ye's eyes are keen to have found me out."
"Oh?" He Yuan held one arm around her, the other hand holding a wine cup as he asked, "What matter does beauty have?"
"Qie wanted to ask about Chang De Gong Fu … …"
He Yuan pushed the person in his arms away, not caring that she had fallen to the floor. He Yuan placed the wine cup on the table and sneered: "Ben wang didn't think that you would be shameless enough to mention this matter."
"Wang ye," Qu Yue Su's expression changed. She knelt in front of He Yuan, reaching out to hug his leg as she pleaded, "Wang ye, please save qie's paternal family, qie… …"
"From beginning to end, ben wang had never even looked at Chang De Gong Fu," He Yuan sneered and kicked her aside. He slowly stood, "If it wasn't for finding your eyes somewhat attractive, ben wang wouldn't have taken you into the fu. Just a qie, did you really think that you are ben wang's heart?"
He didn't even look at the woman he had kicked, now sprawled on the floor. He adjusted his clothes, "So disappointing. It seems that Qing Liu of Dong Yuan is still more tactful."
Qu Yue Su covered the chest that had been kicked and struggled to sit up. She only looked at He Yuan's back as he unhesitatingly left. The silver moonlight illuminated his shoulders, and for no discernible reason, made her feel colder.
Chapter Eighty Two The Curtain Drops on Qu and Liang
In the end, the Qu Family didn't manage to find anyone to help them. Even though they couldn't examine what had happened sixteen years ago, the taiyi, who had been requested by Tian shi after she had given birth to a daughter, was still alive. He had taken the pulse of Qu Tian shi quite a few times. The pulse had been very steady with no hint of illness. However, the final outcome was that by the end of the month, Qu Tian shi had passed away due to illness. He was inwardly suspicious so he clearly remembered, even after all these years, that he had been the first person to take Qu Tian shi's pulse at that time.
The testimony of this taiyi didn't prove that Qu Tian shi was killed by Chang De Gong Fu, but once combined with the others facts: soon after Qu Tian shi's death, the Duke of Chang De had been in a rush to welcome the new wife, Liang shi, the dragon and phoenix twins who Liang shi had given birth to not even eight full months after entering the fu, all these series of coincidences was enough to prove that Qu Tian shi's death wasn't accidental but deliberate.
Once the proof was revealed, it shocked the entire court. If a man was lustful, it meant that his morals were deficient but it wasn't enough to make others dislike him. But to harm his wife for a woman on the outside, that was being an animal in clothing, a person that everyone could beat up.
Qing De Emperor had originally heard that Duan Wang Fei was estranged from her birth father. Hence, he had been slightly dissatisfied with Duan Wang Fei. Since the marriage had been decreed by him, he couldn't act on it. But once this matter came out, and Qing De Emperor looked at the memorandums which described how Chang De Gong Fu had abused the eldest di daughter and shu daughters, he felt that his second erxi didn't have an easy life.
He couldn't help but say to Jing guifei, who had been grinding ink for him: "Originally, zhen had thought that this was a woman who didn't respect her parents. I didn't think that she had such a tragic past. It was fortunate that Official Tian cares for his relatives. Otherwise, our er xi might have been someone else."
Jing guifei didn't look at the memorandums and only responded: "Emperor, you don't even know that Heng'er's wife is extremely filial. Normally, when she receives something interesting, she would impatiently deliver it to qie. In the beginning, qie thought she was too childish, but only now does qie know that this child most likely thinks of qie as her own mother so she would think of qie at every turn." The rims of her eyes reddened, "Such a good child, but Chang De Gong Fu abused her. It really is too cruel."
Qing De Emperor was extremely moved by what Jing guifei said. He reached out to pat her hand and comforted her: "Now you are her popo, that makes you her mother. She remembers beloved fei: one is that she is filial, the second is that you are close to her. It isn't just that she is a good er xi, you are also a good popo which made the two of you become more intimate."
Jing guifei was so comforted that she smiled through her tears. At this time, a taijian from the outside reported that Shu guife was asking for an audience.
Jing guifei had a conflicted expression on her face as she said: "Since meimei has something to ask Emperor, then qie will retreat."
"There's no need," Qing De Emperor reached out to pull Jing guifei closer, not allowing her to leave. He turned his head to look at the taijian, "Tell Shu guifei that zhen has no time and won't see her."
"Emperor ……" Before Jing guifei could finish, she was interrupted by Qing De Emperor.
"Beloved fei, come see how this drawing is," Qing De Emperor rolled open a drawing, and started to admire it with Jing guifei.
Jing guifei smiled as she went forward a few steps. After closely examining it, she nodded and praised: "This drawing has both mountains and water, the sky and earth are vast. Not even taking into account how good the artist's skill is, one can see the artist has a generous personality. Whoever drew this, if Emperor can hire such a person to enter politics and work, he will become a pillar of the country."
"What pillar of the country? This was just a product of zhen's leisure time,' Qing De Emperor contentedly put his hands behind his back. Seeing the shock and awe on Jing guifei's face, he said happily, "How about zhen teach you how to draw?"
Jing guifei naturally went with the flow and allowed Qing De Emperor to enclose her hand and start drawing.
Watching as a peony formed under the brush, Jing guifei glanced outside at the steadily darkening sky, an indiscernible hint of mirth at the corner of her lips.
Shu guifei looked at the tightly closed gate to the palace hall and unwillingly turned to slowly leave. What was not having the time? How could that whore Wei shi accompany the Emperor?
Twenty-something years ago, Wei shi didn't manage to enchant the Emperor so how could Wei shi, twenty-something years later, manage to captivate the Emperor? This kind of matter, she wouldn't believe it, and no one who heard it would believe it either.
Because the matter was connected to the mystery of Qu Tian shi's death, along with the series of events that had occured at Chang De Gong Fu, Qing De Emperor was so angry that he wanted to execute the Duke of Chang De. In the end, because he had remembered that the Duke of Chang De had the grace of giving birth and raising Duan Wang Fei, he exempted his death sentence. Instead, he took away the Qu Clan's title, and demoted the family of Chang De Gong Fu to a shu min. The Duke of Chang De Gong Fu was imprisoned in jail. Those not in jail were thrown out of Chang De Gong Fu.
As for the small family that was the Liang Family, Qing De Emperor didn't have to waste much energy. He just sealed the Liang fu and erased the scholarly honor of Liang Hong, and decreed that the next three generations of Qu and Liang Family could not attend the examinations.
The Qu Family who had caused so much fuss in Jing City fell down just like that. Among the people, there were even ones who had started to use Chang De Gong Fu as the basis for many plays. A fickle man who killed his wife to marry again. A cruel father and step-mother who abused the previous wife's daughter. And how the first wife's daughter endured such humiliations and in the end, married an ideal husband.
No matter how much the story had changed, the Duke of Chang De and Liang shi were eternally known as the most malicious villains and Qu Qing Ju was the abused little white cabbage.
After she had finished reading how she had married an ideal husband and the aggressive and contemptible paternal family story, Qu Qing Ju laughed so much that she cried. As expected, the plays were based on reality but larger than life.
When did she ride a twelve-person gold sedan? When did wang ye, full of rage, drag everyone of the Gong Fu out to be beaten? Those points were too drastic.
Mu Jing saw wang fei crying from laughter as she read the story and came forward to attentively help rub her stomach. She smiled as she commented: "Wang fei, don't choke. Nubi heard another version before. How about wang fei take a listen?"
"Tell me," Qu Qing Ju took a drink of tea and asked in interest.
After Mu Jin finished narrating, Qu Qing Ju felt that the creativity of the ancient people was extremely strong.
The main idea of the story was that she, the little white cabbage, endured the snow in the middle of winter to buy red bean buns for Liang shi. She struggled in her journey in the midst of the harsh winds wearing very little and encountered Duan Wang on a white horse. The two of them fell in love at first glance. In the end, a romance that moved the heavens was written.
Did the logic of this story get eaten by the author? Liang shi would eat red bean buns in the winter and not sparrow's nest? And in that kind of weather, who would be selling buns? Even if people were selling, who would go buy them? The most strange was that in such a snowstorm, He Heng wouldn't sit in a sedan or carriage outside but would masochistically ride a horse.
Just as Qu Qing Ju was going to laugh herself silly, Ming He unexpectedly came over. He said that wang ye wanted to take her out of the fu. Qu Qing Ju didn't know what it was for, but seeing Ming He's state, it was an emergency. She glanced at her attire to see if anything was wrong and didn't change before following Ming He out.
When she got on the wang fu's carriage, Qu Qing Ju saw He Heng was already sitting inside. She asked with some confusion: "Wang ye, where are we going?"
"The play has to go on til the end. If you don't get to see the conclusion, there's no meaning," He Heng smiled and held her hand. He ordered the driver outside, "To Chang De Gong Fu."
Qu Qing Ju looked in surprise at He Heng. After the carriage started moving, she asked: "Why does wang ye want to take me there?"
"Today is the day that everyone of Chang De Gong Fu is being evicted completely. That place was where you used to live. Before the fu is sealed, I'll get you to check if there is anything wrong," He Heng cheerfully responded, "I know that Qing Ju is a person who remembers the old times."
Hearing He Heng give such a dignified reason for going to spectate, Qu Qing Ju smiled and followed: "Wang ye is right, I am one who remembers the old times." The saying, "the clothes should be new, the people should be of the past", had its own logic.
When the carriage made its way to the front door of Chang De Gong Fu, there was a great mess at the gate. Loud sobbing and pleading made the entire place sound like the market.
Ming He came up to pull the curtain at the front of the carriage slightly open, allowing the two zhuzi inside to have a perfect view of the great play occurring outside the fu.
The uniformed Imperial Guards were forcefully escorting some people who didn't want to leave. On the ground were dropped luggage and clothes. There were many servants who had left with their heads down. Seeing Duan Wang Fu's carriage, they carefully came forward to bow before hurriedly leaving.
Qu Qing Ju watched apathetically as Qu er xiaojie supported Qu lao taitai out the front gate. Behind the two was Liang shi, her face full of panic. Qu Wang Zhi was trailing Liang shi, his crestfallen attitude like a duck plucked of its feathers.
The family stood at the gate, watching as the servants who had once served them all leave. Gradually, the crowd grew smaller and smaller, and then there was silence.
Qu lao taitai watched as the plaque, on which "Chang De Gong Fu" was written, got taken down and smashed onto the ground. Then continued watching as the crimson red doors of the gate got sealed with papers from the government. A long time later, she sighed: "Karma, karma." She pointed at Liang shi who was wiping her tears to rant, "That year, if it wasn't for taking this person of bad luck into the fu, would my Qu Family be like this?"
By now, Liang shi wouldn't listen to what Qu lao taitai said. She instantly retorted: "Lao taitai might have forgotten that it was lao ye who had married erxi into the fu. Lao taitai, rather than blame me, blame lao ye!"
"You," Qu lao taitai was so angry that she staggered. It was only because of Qu Hui Xue's support that she barely managed to not fall down, "Did the Liang Family teach you to not respect your elders like this?"
"There's not even a Liang Family now. Wasn't it impacted by your Qu Family?" Liang shi felt that her paternal family had been indirectly affected by the Qu Family. She instantly shrieked, "Why is lao taitai turning around to blame our Liang Family?"
"Mother, don't speak any more," Qu Wang Zhi heard Liang shi's words becoming nastier and couldn't help wading in, "Now that our family is like this. What are you fighting over?"
"I will disturb everyone. This is our wang fei's gift to everyone, please receive it."
Qu Wang Zhi heard that this voice didn't belong to a normal man and turned around. He saw a taijian wearing a blue robe standing behind them, a pouch of silver in his hand. He couldn't resist looking behind the taijian and saw a magnificent carriage parked not too far away. Inside the carriage was Duan Wang and da jie sitting together.
Because of the distance, he couldn't distinguish the expression on the two's faces. But in this instant, he felt that he was entirely mired in an awkward and embarrassed state.
Chapter Eighty Three The Oncoming Wind and Rain
Sometimes, the most painful time wasn't when you had lost everything. It was when you had lost everything and the person who had been suppressed by you was standing in great circumstances right in front of you.
Qu Wang Zhi looked at the silver in the hands of the taijian standing in front of him. He might have been a bit of a wastrel but even he knew that the amount of silver in the pouch wasn't insignificant. It was enough for a normal family to live on for a few decades without doing anything. But even though he didn't have anything at present, he still didn't want to receive that pouch of silver.
Liang shi, who had been wiping away her tears, snatched the silver from Ming He's hands and threw it ferociously on the ground. She pointed at Qu Qing Ju in the carriage, ranting: "We don't need you coming here at this time to falsely give aid!"
The snowy-white silver rolled out from the cotton pouch, scattering to the ground. Under the sunlight, it was even more blinding. The spectators in the street saw the scene and started gossiping amongst themselves.
Qu Hui Xue supported her grandmother. Listening to the mocking laughter of the spectators targeted at Chang De Gong Fu, she embarrassedly lowered her head and saw an ingot of silver that had rolled to her feet. For some reason, she suddenly thought of a certain day three years ago when taitai had thrown a teacup in the exact same manner at da jie's feet.
That cup of tea had been very hot. It had been the beginning of spring yet she was able to see the white steam as the tea splashed onto da jie's feet. But at that time, da jie always kept her head down so she wasn't able to see the expression on da jie's face.
For some reason, she suddenly felt somewhat elated. Liang shi, well-off for more than a decade, Liang shi, who had abused her mother, finally met today's outcome. As she thought some more, a smile appeared on Qu Hui Xue's face and she bent down to pick up the silver at her feet. She blew away the dust on the silver and put it in a pouch at her waist.
Liang shi didn't notice her actions. However, Qu lao taitai saw but didn't say a word. She wasn't intelligent but she was able to see the situation more clearly than Liang shi, so she wouldn't do anything that would provide more food for gossip.
Liang shi had never thought that there would be a day when her and Qu Qing Ju's positions would be switched. That yatou in her memory, who had always been submissive, is now become high up in the sky and she has now become a base shumin. She was both hateful and unsatisfied, so she placed the source of the misfortunes onto Qu Qing Ju who was sitting in the carriage.
Qu Qing Ju calmly looked at Liang shi. This woman did have some beauty, but only just some. She couldn't understand how the Duke of Chang De was so captivated by her that he would do something as crazy as killing his wife. A man that heartless, did he really know what was love?
After seeing Liang shi lose her composure and started to curse, Qu Qing Ju felt the discontent, deep inside her heart, gradually dissipate. She covered her chest, as though she could see the lonely and helpless little girl enduring the days and nights in Chang De Gong Fu, saw her marry into the wang fu, saw her resist the man's approaches, saw her silently lie down on the carved bed and calmly close her eyes.
He Heng noticed that Qu Qing Ju's expression wasn't right and gently grasped her hand, "Qing Ju, what's wrong with you?"
Qu Qing Ju's gaze met his and she suddenly smiled. She shook her head, answering: "Nothing." She moved her gaze back towards Liang shi, and bent to get out of the carriage. She gave her hand to Mu Jin who had been standing by the side of the carriage and stepped on a wooden stool as she got off the carriage. Step by step, she walked to stand in front of Liang shi, whose face was distorted, and in a very small voice, she said: "If you keep making a fuss like this, that's not accumulating virtue for your children. Didn't anyone tell you that I hold grudges?"
Liang shi was so angry that she wanted to scream. But when she saw the smile on Qu Qing Ju's face, she couldn't say a word. She turned to look at her son, and thought about her daughter who was a ce fei in Rui Wang Fu. She gritted her teeth: "What do you want to do?"
"Take a guess," Qu Qing Ju made a long exhale and took a few steps back, "No matter what, you've taken care of me for so many years. I just need to reminisce on the past to feel overwhelmed and beside myself."
"You slut!" Liang shi reached out to try to scratch Qu Qing Ju's face but was pushed aside by Ming He's hand. He said in a loud voice: "Outrageous, wang fei was thinking of Qu lao taitai's age and especially came here to give some silver to make your days easier. It's fine if you aren't grateful, but you want to harm wang fei, you are too evil."
The crowd of spectators saw the scene and extrapolated on how Duan Wang Fei, who had been abused in Chang De Gong Fu, was still sympathetic of Qu lao taitai due to her advancing age and made a trip just to give some silver. The result was that the evil step-mother cursed her when she saw her without a hint of regret. It did seem as though this Liang shi was even more malicious than what was rumoured. They didn't understand how the kind and filial Duan Wang Fei escaped her evil clutches.
Qu Qing Ju looked very hurt at Liang shi, who was being supported by Qu Wang Zhi. She said helplessly: "Since you don't welcome me, I won't ever appear in front of you in the future." She made a bow in the direction of Qu lao taitai, "Everyone, take care."
When she'd finished speaking, Qu Qing Ju looked very wane and she held Mu Jin's hand as they went back to the carriage. When the curtain to the carriage was put down, the loss on her face instantly disappears. She really just loved watching Liang shi live out her days in fear.
Maybe what she should be worried about was just how she, as Duan Wang Fei, would harm her children. Maybe she would live every day in her hatred. But these issues weren't important anymore.
"Let's return," He Heng smiled slightly as he held her hand.
Qu Qing Ju smiled and nodded, "Return."
The people of Duan Wang Fu left, and so did the spectators. Before the Qu Family could react, several ruffians and gangsters suddenly ran over and picked up the silver from the ground and disappeared.
Qu Wang Zhi looked at the scattering ruffians and turned his head to look at his family. For an instant, he felt that there was no place in this great big world for them.
"Let's go," Qu lao taitai banged her walking stick and glanced icily at Liang shi, "What are you standing here for? This place isn't the Qu Family's anymore." She started walking away, supported by Qu Hui Xue.
Liang shi looked at her son and in the end, she could only helplessly follow lao taitai. But in every street she passed by, there were many people pointing at her. She even saw some spitting behind her.
She looked blankly at these people. She finally understood. She wasn't a duchess anymore. There weren't any more riches and honors. She didn't have anything. And the daughter left behind by that whore was going to plot against her.
Finished, all finished.
The spring gradually passed and the hotness of the summer slowly came. By this time, Qu Qing Ju didn't like to go out. Most of the time, she was hiding in the cooled room, wearing a silk dress as she waved a fan and listen to Jin Zhan and Huang Yang tell her the gossip in Jing City.
A few days earlier, something unexpected happened to Qu Qing Ju . Qu Hui Xue had been married to a xiucai. This xiucai had no parents but he had land and servants. Even more unexpected, this xiucai's mother had once been Qu Hui Xue's mother's good friend. After the xiucai married her, he didn't slight her because of Chang De Gong Fu and the two had a good relationship.
This event was probably the most fairytale-like incident since Qu Qing Ju came to this time. This incident also proved that sometimes, real life was more unexpected than stories. After she was informed of the matter, she let Xiao Gan Zi send some appropriate celebratory gifts to Qu Hui Xue as well as the questions from past examinations and the best answers. It counted as her good wishes to the couple.
Qu Hui Xue didn't start interacting with Qu Qing Ju greatly because of the presents. She solemnly wrote a letter of appreciation and let a servant deliver some fresh produce as well as some of her own embroidery. After that, she went on to live her own life.
"Wang fei, this is a lily silver tree-ear fungus Buddha fruit soup which has just been made by the servants. Drink some to reduce the heat," Yin Liu put down the bowl of soup in front of Qu Qing Ju and took the fan from a yahuan. She helped fan Qu Qing Ju at a moderate pace. Seeing the white sun outside, she gave a sigh, "It's become hotter and hotter. I wonder when it will rain."
"You just came from outside, there's ice here. Careful not to get sick," Mu Jin pulled Yin Liu further away from the ice, smiling as she took the fan from her hand, "Take care to not stink wang fei with your sweat."
Yin Liu instantly protested her innocence. The two fell into battle, causing Qu Qing Ju to laugh. She put down the spoon to interject, "Stop, stop. Let the kitchen make each of you a bowl of iced plum soup and stop your mouths."
"That's great, nubi certainly won't fuss," Mu Jin smiled as she walked back to Qu Qing Ju's side to fan her. Qu Qing Ju looked towards the door to see Huang Yang run over as he wiped away his sweat. She couldn't help but frown. Huang Yang wasn't this helter-skelter usually. Did something happen?
"Wang fei, just now wang ye sent a message saying that he's afraid he can't return to the fu," Huang Yang's head was full of sweat, his clothing and his back was all wet and he gasped as he spoke.
"Pour Huang Yang a cup of cold tea," Qu Qing Ju said with a grave expression, "Did something happen in the palace?"
Huang Yang usually did care for his impression in front of wang fei but the speed at which he drank tea was much faster than normal. After a bowl was drunk, he used his sleeve to wipe his mouth and narrated: "Ming He gonggong passed on that the Emperor suddenly fainted today at Court. All the taiyi on duty at the Imperial Hospital were summoned into the palace. Wang ye is there too. He was afraid that you would worry and specially sent a message for you."
Was Qing De Emperor He meimei, that he would have an incident every few days? Qu Qing Ju frowned. She felt that He Heng was more proactive today than all the other times Qing De Emperor had been sick. Was it that this time, Qing De Emperor's illness was dangerous?
Seeing a roomful of yahuan who didn't dare speak, she said in a heavy tone: "Spread the news that before wang ye returns to the fu, the fu will not receive guests. Anyone who needs to manage an affair outside the fu must report to the stewards and register the time they left and the time they come back. Everything has to be recorded. If someone resists, throw them out of the wang fu."
Huang Yang's eyebrows jumped. He pushed down the fear in his heart: "Yes, this one will pass it on."
After Huang Yang left, Mu Jin said uncertainly: "Wang fei, this matter … …"
"Fuhuang is a son of Heaven, he would be protected by the Heavens," Qu Qing Ju held the spoon to take a sip of the lily silver tree-ear fungus Buddha fruit soup. With a calm face, she said, "Make sure the servants control their mouths. If I hear something that shouldn't be said, everyone will be heavily punished."
"Yes," Mu Jin detected wang fei's cautiousness and exchanged a glance with Yin Liu. She hurriedly left to start managing the other servants.
A bowl of lily silver tree-ear fungus Buddha soup was soon finished. Qu Qing Ju took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped her mouth clean. She stood to walk next to the bed. The winds had picked up, and thick clouds started to appear on the horizon. The sky was half light, half dark with clouds.
"Wang fei, nubi thinks that it is going to rain," Yu Zan noticed the wind was too heavy and afraid that the window would block wang fei's line of sight, reached out to hold the window. She looked at the horizon and gasped: "Such mighty winds and thick clouds. The rain won't be small."
Qu Qing Ju smiled: "No matter how heavy, after it comes down, it has to stop. We are inside, what is there to be afraid of?"
Staring at the thick clouds as they came closer, Qu Qing Ju's brows furrowed. She kept feeling anxious inside.
Chapter Eighty Four Death of the Emperor
The interior of Tian Qi Palace was suffocatingly hot but no one dared to complain, not even to wipe away the sweat on their heads. All their attention was focused on the dragon bed. The man lying there was the master of their honor and even their lives.
The taiyi present took their turns as they shakily checked the pulse. When they had finished, they knelt in front of the Empress. The Dean of the Imperial Hospital said in a trembling voice: "Empress niangniang, His Majesty's pulse is as thin as silk, faltering occasionally before rising. This official has no solution."
"Wasn't His Majesty just overwhelmed by the heat?" The Empress's expression changed dramatically. She might not know medicine but even she knew that only the mortally sick would have a weak pulse. She looked at the taiyi, their faces pale even in the sweltering heat, and ground out: "No matter what, you have to make His Majesty wake up!"
The taiyi present exchanged looks between themselves and gritted their teeth as they complied.
The Empress looked at the unconscious man on the bed and wiped away the sweat on her forehead. She thought for a while before summoning a messenger taijian: "The Emperor is seriously ill. Even if it's not good to have too much noise, but as a father, he would certainly be thinking of his children. Summon Duan Wang, Rui Wang, Cheng Wang and Jin An Princess from outside the hall. Shu guifei and Jing guifei should also come in to attend."
Outside Tian Qi Palace, all the feipin who had children, the princesses and the wang ye were all standing in the scorching sun as they waited. Seeing a taijian come out, the eyes that had been scattered due to the blinding sun instantly became spirited.
"Passing the decree of the Empress to summon Jing guifei, Shu guifei, His Highness Duan Wang, His Highness Rui Wang, His Highness Cheng Wang, and Jin An Princess Royal to attend." After the taijian passed on the Empress's decree, he didn't look at anyone's expression as he hurried back into the hall.
The others were discontent but had no other solutions. Right now, the Emperor was unconscious so the Empress held the highest status in the palace. If she said not to let someone in, who dared to force their way in?
The group of people entered the humid hall. Shu guifei furrowed her brow as she complained: "It's so hot inside the room, why not use some ice?"
The Empress glared icily at her: "Right now, His Majesty's pulse is weak. How could we use anything cold? If Shu guifei finds it too hot, then go back to your palace to rest. The Emperor here won't lack people to attend him."
Shu guifei was stung by the Empress' words. She didn't feel happy inside, but due to the other's position, she could only bow to the Empress, "Pinqie was just worried that the Emperor would overheat. Please, Empress, forgive pinqie's slip of the tongue."
The Empress looked at her and then her gaze swept across He Yuan beside her, not paying any more attention to her. She turned to look at the taiyi who was performing acupuncture and massaging the Emperor. Her voice was heavy as she announced: "The Emperor's illness this time is critical, the pulse is very weak. You …… serve well."
The people who were called in instantly changed their expressions. They were all understood what a weak pulse meant. But why did it suddenly become like this?
The person with the ugliest expression was most likely Shu guifei. She looked at everyone in the room. If the Emperor passed like this, how likely would it be that her child would succeed the throne? Thinking about it, she looked with enmity at He Heng, whose face was full of anxiousness. If Wei shi's son became the Emperor, would there even be a space in this Da Long Dynasty for her and her son?
"Why is it like this?" Shu guifei's voice got louder, and became rather piercing, "The Emperor was fine yesterday, how could his pulse be weak?!" She started to cry mournfully, occasionally calling for His Majesty.
Jing guifei wasn't like Shu guifei but the rims of her eyes reddened and tears silently ran down. A short while later, the handkerchief in her hand was sodden from her tears. But she didn't notice it. She only stood by the dragon bed as she cried silently.
Qing De Emperor seemed to hear a piercing voice which made his head hurt. When he managed to open his eyes, he saw a woman dressed in peach red kneeling in front of him. When he focused, he saw Shu guifei's tearful face show happiness. His heart moved and when he opened his mouth to speak, he saw Jing guifei standing at the end of the bed. Her swollen eyes were centered on his body. Even though she didn't say anything, he could feel her worry and concern for him and the joy when she saw him awaken.
He wanted to sit up and say that he was fine but found his body was paralyzed. He wanted to say a few words, but found it difficult to even breathe. He moved his eyes and saw the woman dressed impeccably by his side, and the woman standing by the bed whose attire was dishevelled and her hair not even properly made up. A long time later, he closed his eyes and found strength deep inside his body to order: "Summon the Chief Justice Tian Jin Ke, Minister of Revenue Luo Chang Qing, Prime Minister Wei Wen Guang, Minister of Rites Zhang Yu Cheng, Commander of the Imperial Guard Sun Zhang You."
After just a short sentence, Qing De Emperor was gasping for breath. Shu guifei, kneeling in front of him, felt her hands become cold. Her intuition told her that this man who had favoured her for more than twenty years was most likely going to leave her. She was sad inside, but she felt even more frantic. Did this man remember the promise he had made, that he would leave the throne to Yuan'er?
"Emperor, look at Yuan'er, he came to see you," Shu guifei stood to pull He Yuan next to the bed and said frantically, "Did you forget that you once said you wished to climb mountains with Yuan'er and ride horses. You haven't done those things yet. After you recover, you'll have to fulfill your promises."
Qing De Emperor looked at his most favored third son. He had changed this child's diapers, washed his feet, carried him on his back to play on the bed. He had watched this child grow up, bit by bit, to become a handsome youth.
"Fuhuang," He Yuan knelt of Qing De Emperor's bed, his eyes red as he pled, "Er chen remembers every word you said. Please recover quickly."
Yes, at that time he had said many things, even promising that his third son will be the next Emperor. But after all these years, he hadn't installed him as Crown Prince. His third son's personality was too arrogant. He had always been waiting for him to mature. But now, he didn't have the strength to keep waiting.
His blurry gaze passed He Yuan's shoulders to see the second son standing a few steps away. This was the child that Wei shi gave birth to for him. He remembered his schooling was good, his protocol was good and he was filial. He had bestowed many things to this son but he couldn't remember anything else.
When this child was small, he must also have been white and plump. He remembered when Wei shi had carried him and he reached out to call him fuhuang.
The children had grown up, but he was old.
"Emperor, the daren have all arrived." The chief taijian reported in a small voice.
"Summon," Qing De Emperor moved his eyes away and said weakly.
When Tian Jin Ke and the others entered the hall, they detected that something wasn't right. When they saw the Emperor's rosy face, their hearts jumped and they quickly knelt down, "This official greets Emperor, greets Empress."
Qing De Emperor didn't call for them to rise but ordered: "Prepare the Four Treasures of the Study."
Shu guifei stared with wide eyes as the taijian brought the instruments. She knew what the Emperor was doing, her heart seemed to be trying to burst out of her throat.
"Zhen dictates, Official Tian writes, you all listen." Qing De Emperor's gaze slowly swept across everyone in the room. In the end, he saw Jing guifei in the corner, clearly sobbing so hard she couldn't breathe yet not making a sound. He closed his eyes. A beat later, he opened them, his eyes full of determination.
He Yuan saw his fuhuang's gaze and felt that it wasn't reassuring. He couldn't help but ask: "What fuhuang once said, does it still count?"
Qing De Emperor glanced at him and slightly moved away. He took a breath: "Ever since ascension the throne, zhen had no achievements in governance, no ability to expand the borders, but had a son …… Heng, born intelligent, benevolent and kind, of good moral character and governance of his household, with the virtues of xiandi. After repeated thought, only this son is able to govern the world, zhen therefore passes the throne to the second imperial son Heng and to pick an auspicious day for ascension."
When he'd finished speaking, Qing De Emperor was gasping heavily and his sight became blurry. He looked at the jade seal and personal seal that were presented in front of him. Trembling, he raised the jade seal and pressed down on the Imperial Decree Tian Jin Ke held up.
"Fuhuang!" He Yuan watched as the crimson stamp of the jade seal fell on the Imperial Decree and asked in disbelief, "Why are you changing your mind?"
Qing De Emperor didn't pay attention to him. He laboriously stamped his personal seal on the Imperial Decree. When he had finished, he seemed to have lost all energy, coldness creeping up his back.
"Fuhuang, fuhuang, why!" He Yuan tried to grab the Imperial Decree but was restrained by the taijian. He turned to furiously stare at He Heng, "What ploy did you play that made fuhuang create such a decree?"
The rims of He Heng's eyes reddened as he replied: "San di, don't cause a fuss now … …"
"Stop acting, your mother and you always act. Other people might believe it, but I find it disgusting," He Yuan looked heatedly at Qing De Emperor, "Fuhuang, this is how you treat me?"
Qing De Emperor didn't seem to have heard He Yuan's screams. He stared dazedly at the end of the bed, muttering: "Chan'er don't cry, Chan'er … … zhen was wrong, was wrong … …"
Shu guifei's eyes suddenly widened, looking in disbelief at Qing De Emperor as though she didn't recognize the person in front of her.
The hall was entirely silent. They didn't know who Chan'er was nor why the Emperor was calling for her, and they also didn't know why the Emperor would say that he was wrong. But they did know that Duan Wang was the future Emperor. The heir had been determined and it would minimize the upheaval.
It might have been a long time, or just an instant of time before Jing guifei walked to Qing De Emperor and bent down to grasp his hand.
Qing De Emperor looked at her, a smile appearing on his lips as he slowly closed his eyes.
Jing guifei's other hand trembled as she moved the index finger of her other hand under the nose of Qing De Emperor and her tears immediately fell down.
"Emperor!"
Shu guifei pushed aside Jing guifei, throwing herself onto Qing De Emperor's body as she loudly started bawling, "Emperor!"
The chief taijian knelt with a bang on the ground, loudly announcing: "The Emperor is dead!"
The people in the room knelt down like dumplings falling into the pot. Tian Jin Ke knelt in front of He Heng , holding the Imperial Decree high up: "The country cannot be without an emperor, please, Emperor, arrange for the funeral of xiandi. This one kneels to request Emperor to restrain your grief."
"Kneeling to request the Emperor to restrain your grief!" Everyone loudly mimicked.
The people outside the hall sobbed as they knelt down. No matter if they were really sad or acting, at this moment, all of them were sobbing so much that they couldn't breathe.
He Heng slowly reach out with both hands to receive the Imperial Decree from Tian Jin Ke. He knelt in front of Qing De Emperor and gave three hard kowtows: "Er chen is of mediocre ability, received fuhuang's love today, and will strive to the utmost to govern the people of the world." After he had finished speaking, he staggered as he stood up, crying out loud.
When the guards and taijian guarding outside the hall heard that Duan Wang had succeeded the throne, they took advantage of the moment to silently retreat out, as though they had never appeared before.
Suddenly, a clap of thunder sounded and the first rains of summer finally came pouring down.
In Duan Wang Fu, Qu Qing Ju stood next to the window as she looked at the wang fu shrouded in mist, and occasionally fanned herself.
A few days earlier, she had detected that He Heng and He Ming had been secretly conspiring on some matters. Did they manage to account for the possibility that Qing De Emperor would suddenly die?
Thinking about it, Qu Qing Ju furrowed her brows. Why would she, for no reason at all, think that Qing De Emperor had passed away? Was she extrapolating too much?
Chapter Eighty Five Entering The Palace
The winds and rain were strong, but they stopped as dusk approached. The sun even came out from behind the clouds, covering all of Jing with a coat of gold. Qu Qing Ju stood on the only three-level tower in the wang fu. She narrowed her eyes to look at the shockingly beautiful sunset, a smile on her lips.
Suddenly, a heavy bell rang out from the direction of the Imperial Palace. Because Duan Wang Fu was very close to the Imperial Palace, she could clearly hear the ringing.
Mu Jin and the others behind Qu Qing Ju instantly changed their expressions, kneeling down and covering their eyes, trying their best to make themselves cry more sorrowfully. Huang Yuan even grievously moaned "Emperor" before using his sleeves to start wiping away his tears.
Qu Qing Ju's head seemed to ring then blanked. She looked in disbelief at the Imperial Palace. Under the sunset, the Imperial Palace seemed to be coated in a layer of mysterious gold. If this kind of scene was exaggerated a bit, it would become a good omen. How was it that the Emperor had passed away?
She stilled before turning to order: "Quickly change everything in the fu that needs to be changed. Nothing bright should be seen." After seeing Huang Yang leave the tower with reddened eyes, she looked down at her own clothing, "Let's return to zhengyuan to change."
Even though she wasn't sure of the situation in the palace, Qu Qing Ju still used the fastest speed possible to wash away the makeup on her face and also took off the peach red corseted silk dress to change into a snow-white plain dress. The girdle she used was a neutral colored one. She took down all the pouches and pendants on the dress, put her hair in a simple style, using a few hairpins to secure it, and even took down her earrings.
The servants in the wang fu also took off the bright clothes they wore. White lanterns with black characters and white banners were hung up in the wang fu. Anything red in colour was stored away.
Jiang Yong Yu watched as the servants in her rooms hurriedly put everything away. She changed into a dark green cotton dress. She asked Ai Lu beside her, "Has wang fei given any orders?"
Ai Yu helped remove the adornments in her hair and changed her hairstyle to a simple one, securing it with two silver hairpins, "Wang fei didn't have any orders. She just said for everyone to clean up what should be cleaned up and hang what is required."
Jiang Yong Yu faintly frowned. She walked uncertainly to the gate of her yard and looked at the servants walking outside, sighing: "I don't know what the palace is like now."
Ai Lu knew that her mistress was worried about the new emperor. Right now, it was good if their wang ye succeeded the throne. If Rui Wang succeeded, their lives from now on wouldn't be very peaceful.
"What, you can't wait either," Feng Zi Jin held Xia Yun's hand and looked disdainfully at Jiang Yong Yu, "I had thought that you would endure longer, but aren't you just the same?"
Jiang Yong Yu calmly looked at the sapphire in Feng Zi Jin's hair and commented indifferently: "If you have the time to come over and fuss, why don't you take down what you are wearing? If wang fei knew, I wonder if she would get angry?"
"You're just a dog of wang fei, what do you have to be smug about?" Feng Zi Jin snorted and held Xia Yun's hand to leave.
Ai Lu retorted in anger: "She's a shiqie who's unfavored by wang ye, there's nothing to be proud of!"
"Her father is a third-grade assistant minister in the Ministry of Works. My father is under his command. It's natural that she dares to show off in front of me," Jiang Yong Yu gave an ambiguous smile, "There's no need to argue with this kind of person."
Ai Lu looked at the smile on her mistress' face. Even though she didn't understand why, her anger lessened.
The main gate to the palace opened, and a fourth grade imperial bodyguard rode a horse as he raced out of the palace. The guards saw that he was going in the direction of Duan Wang Fu and were envious. The people of Duan Wang Fu were going to rise on their master's success.
Following him was a troop of bodyguards accompanying a carriage as it proceeded out of the palace. White flowers were hanging on the carriage but from the structure, it was the carriage that only the Empress had the status to ride.
They instantly understood. This carriage most likely was going to receive Duan Wang Fei.
Qu Qing Ju's face was strict as she sat in the front hall of Duan Wang Fu. Behind her were four yahuan and four taijian. Everyone's face was grave.
Looking at the doors to the hall pushed wide open, Qu Qing Ju took a sip of holly tea. The pale finger tapped gently on the table, releasing that small bit of anxiety inside.
"Wang fei, the Imperial Decree from the palace has arrived." Huang Yang raced in, his face joyous yet sad, looking very comedic. But Qu Qing Ju didn't have any mirth on her face. She slowly stood and watched as a person dressed in the dark uniform of the imperial bodyguards stride in and then kneel in front of her.
"The Emperor has decreed to especially welcome niangniang into the palace to manage the affairs of the hougong."
Qing De Emperor was dead. The person that would be called Emperor now could only be the new Emperor, and the women of the new Emperor naturally could be called niangniang. Qu Qing Ju slightly nodded: "This da ren, please stand." She examined the person, confirming that he really was an imperial bodyguard before responding, "Is the Emperor well?"
"The Emperor is fine, but due to his grief, he hasn't drank or eaten," The imperial bodyguard respectfully answered, "The Emperor especially let wei chen come here first to give the decree. The carriage and guards will arrive shortly. Niangniang, please wait for a moment."
Qu Qing Ju nodded calmly. The peaceful state she expressed made the imperial bodyguard who had passed on the decree admire her. No wonder she was Duan Wang Fei. Even facing a major event such as Duan Wang succeeding the throne, she could be so peaceful and not lose her composure. She really was majestic and had the composure necessary to "mother the world".
Mu Jin and the others behind Qu Qing Ju were bursting with joy, but due to the fact that an outsider was present, they managed to keep up the expression on their faces. Mu Jin came up to support Qu Qing Ju's arm and asked in a small voice: "Niangniang, why don't nubi go pack some things?"
Qu Qing Ju nodded and asked the imperial bodyguard: "Da ren, please sit. What should da ren be called by?"
"Wei chen doesn't dare," the imperial bodyguard raised his hands, "Wei chen is a fourth-grade imperial bodyguard Gao Jin, and had been a bodyguard before in the wang fu for a time."
Qu Qing Ju nodded. She knew that this person was most likely one of He Heng's people. She calmly sat down at the front of the hall, not speaking anymore.
A short while later, the carriage arrived. Mu Jin and the other yahuan had finished packing. Qu Qing Ju allowed some of her personal attendants to follow as she walked out of the main gate of the wang fu. When she saw the majestic carriage, she sighed, and paused in her steps before using Mu Jin's hand as support to enter the carriage.
The common people on the side of the street had been already ordered back by the guards. Qu Qing Ju sat in the carriage and found it slightly boring. In the past, when she sat in a carriage, she could still hear the voices of some passer-bys. Now, other than the sound of the axles, the ground and the hoofs of the horses, she couldn't hear anything. Was this the difference between a wang fei and the Empress?
The carriage didn't stop after it entered the palace. She slightly lifted up the curtain and saw people all kneeling on the ground. All of them were trembling and cautious, as though if she frowned, they would lose their lives.
The carriage travelled a short distance past the palace doors before stopping. Qu Qing Ju got off the carriage and got on the phoenix carriage to sedately circle around to reach Tian Qi Palace. When she got off the phoenix carriage, she saw He Heng standing at the top of the jade stairs.
She stood at the bottom of the jade stairs, staring into his eyes. Step by step, she made her way up. Each step was especially steady and especially strong.
Just when there were three steps left between her and He Heng, he actually walked down the steps and firmly took hold of Qu Qing Ju's hand. The two ascended to the top of the stairs together. He Heng lifted his head to look at the plaque of Tian Qi Palace: "Fuhuang's mourning hall has been set up in Shou Kang[i] Palace. Later, you and I should go to pay our respects."
Qu Qing Ju suddenly understood. So Qing De Emperor's corpse was already not in Tian Qi Palace? She turned to look down the jade stairs and found that the scenery at the top was drastically different compared to the bottom.
She tilted her head to look at Tian Qi Palace's sign. At this moment, she didn't know whether to say to restrain grief or congratulations. She turned to look at the man beside her. He wasn't as happy as she had thought, but had a kind of expected steadiness. After thinking for a bit, Qu Qing Ju decided to speak: "I heard that you haven't eaten or drank. It's so hot right now. You can't harm your body."
He Heng smiled. He looked at the dimming sunset at the horizon, "If you are worried about me, then eat together with me."
Qu Qing Ju nodded, concern on her bare face.
The two walked together into Tian Qi Palace. Food was very quickly brought up. Even though there wasn't any meat, the dishes were very finely made and didn't diminish one's appetite.
After eating and rinsing, He Heng wiped his mouth as he remarked: "These days, the palace would be busy. You should follow muhou to manage the affairs of the hougong. After everything is settled, that would make it easier for you to manage the hougong."
Qu Qing Ju's eyebrows twitched. Did he Heng mean that hougong was going to be under her management in the future?"
"There are two muhou in the palace, it doesn't need me to do this," Qu Qing Ju smiled as she responded, "Does Emperor not worry that it could exhaust me?"
"How would I not worry for you? But this is our hougong, you have to run it," He Heng gave a warm smile, "If I give it to anyone else, I won't feel at ease."
Qu Qing Ju looked at his eyes and found that he looked extremely serious as he spoke, so serious that she almost believed it.
A silent beat later, Qu Qing Mu smiled and complied: "Alright."
In Zhong Jing Palace, Jing guifei slowly waved the fan in her hand and remarked to Ding mama beside her: "The Emperor welcomed Qu Qing Ju into the palace?"
Ding mama answered: "Nubi heard that right now, niangniang is keeping the Emperor company for the evening meal."
Jing guifei nodded: "That's good, with her there, the Emperor knows to take care of his body."
Ding mama hesitated before being unable to resist asking: "But if Qu niangniang entered the palace, this hougong… …"
"Ben gong's son's hougong should be handed to ben gong's erxi to manage," Jing guifei's expression grew serious, "Do not mention this matter again."
Ding mama's face paled, her body sinking lower into a bow, "Nubi slipped, niangniang, please forgive me."
Jing guifei's expression relaxed and she continued to wave the plain circle fan in her hand, not speaking anymore.
[i] 寿 (shou) is long life, age 康(kang) is healthy, peaceful