While Mrs. Gao nodded, she secretly tugged at Wenzhu. The latter only said that Mr. Gao had something to say, and quickly whispered in Gao's ear: "Master, what's the matter?"
However, Mrs. Gao raised her eyebrows and scolded: "I have told you a long time ago not to mention what you just saw. Why do you keep talking?"
Wenzhu looked at Mrs. Gao in surprise, not understanding why she said such incomprehensible words. When she saw Mrs. Gao's secret look, she came over and said quickly: "Master, please forgive me. I just feel that I am hiding this from you."
The Queen is not doing well."
Mrs. Gao sternly said: "Bold! It is up to you, a slave, to decide whether the time is good or not. Get out of here immediately."
Wenzhu agreed aggrievedly, but after walking a few steps, he was stopped by Mingyu, who said, "Concubine Hui, what did you and Wenzhu just see? Why did you hide it from me?"
Mrs. Gao pretended to be panicked and said: "No, I and Wenzhu didn't see anything. Madam, you heard something wrong."
Mingyu said in a condensed voice: "Although I am mentally weak, I am not suffering from ringing in the ears and eyesight. I clearly heard your words. Concubine Hui, tell me the truth. What did you see?"
"This...sigh." Mrs. Gao sighed and said, "To be honest with you, my concubine, when I came to Kunning Palace just now, I accidentally saw Qi Kuan next to Concubine Xian sending her second elder brother back."
Mingyu was startled, sat up straight and said, "Why didn't you tell me about this matter earlier?"
Faced with Mingyu's questioning, Mrs. Gao quickly stood up and said: "My Majesty, please forgive me. I originally wanted to say that, but my Majesty just said that I did not agree with Concubine Xian to meet the second elder brother, so..."
Seeing that Mr. Gao refused to continue, Mingyu asked with uneven breath, "So you are helping Yong Lian hide this palace, right?"
Mrs. Gao lowered his head and said: "I was afraid that the queen would be angry, so I hid something, and asked the queen to forgive me. Maybe... the second elder brother and Qi Kuan happened to meet, so Qi Kuan didn't just send the second elder brother back.
You must have gone to see Concubine Xian. Your Majesty, you..."
It was okay if she didn't say it. As soon as she said it, Mingyu became more and more angry and interrupted her: "You don't have to say good things for Yonglian. There is no such coincidence in the world. He must not listen to me and run away secretly."
I went out to meet Concubine Xian. This child... is getting more and more presumptuous."
Mrs. Gao was secretly happy, but she said consolingly: "Mother, my second elder brother is still young, so he will inevitably be naughty. Don't be angry, just talk to him properly."
"How can I not be angry when he doesn't listen to me like this?" At this point, Mingyu suppressed his anger and said, "Concubine Hui, please go back first. I know this well."
"Yes." Gao's goal had been achieved, so she naturally left as she was told. After she left, Mingyu said: "Shuiyue, go and summon Yong Lian. I have something to say to him."
Shuiyue knew what Mingyu was going to say, and was worried that the mother and son would quarrel again like last time, so she said tactfully: "Master, it's time to have lunch soon. If you have any questions, please wait until after lunch. I asked the small kitchen to prepare them today.
A dish of magnolia slices is made by stir-frying the tenderest tips of the water chestnut bamboo shoots that are newly brought to the Huangtian as tribute. I guarantee that you will like it after you taste it."
Mingyu glanced at her and said coldly: "I told you, second brother, you told me what to do for lunch. Now even if there is a table full of delicacies from the mountains and seas in front of me, I have no appetite."
After saying that, she ordered again: "Go and call Yong Lian immediately."
Shuiyue advised: "Master, I didn't hear that the second elder brother was out. Maybe Concubine Hui saw it wrong just now. That person was not the second elder brother."
Shuiyue kept refusing to go, which made Mingyu very unhappy and said: "You're not going, are you? Okay, Xiaoliuzi, you go and pass it on."
Without waiting for Xiao Liuzi to agree, Shui Yue sighed softly and said: "Master, don't be angry, I just go away."
When he came to Yonglian's house, he didn't see anyone else. After asking, he went to see Yongzhang. When he got there, he saw Yonglian holding a small wooden horse and teasing Yongzhang, who had just learned to walk.
Maybe blood is thicker than water, maybe it’s because they are about the same age, Yong Zhang likes to play with Yong Lian, and will call his brother vaguely.
Shui Yue walked up to Yong Lian who was having a great time, bowed and said: "Second Brother, tell me, have you been to Yanxi Palace just now?"
"Boom!" The wooden horse in Yonglian's hand fell to the ground, and Yongzhang picked it up in his hand, showing an innocent smile. The latter didn't have the mind to care about this, and looked at Shuiyue blankly, and then murmured for a while.
: "You...how do you know?"
"So, is it true?" After Yonglian nodded, Shuiyue said, "Why don't you listen to the Queen's orders?"
Yonglian knew that he had done something wrong, and lowered his head and said: "I didn't want to, but I couldn't help it, so... Auntie, please don't tell the Queen, okay?"
"It's too late. The Empress already knows about this matter. I just asked the second elder brother to come over and answer the question according to the order of the Empress. When you go over, don't contradict the Empress. Just admit your mistake. Do you understand?"
Yonglian said frustratedly: "I know."
When he was about to leave, Yong Zhang held the wooden horse in one hand and pulled his clothes with the other and said: "Brother, brother, let's play."
"Third brother, be good. You can play by yourself for a while. Second brother will come back later. Don't cry, you know?" Yong Lian said in a pretentious manner, and he really looked like he was an older brother. Yong Zhang seemed to understand.
After hearing his words, he let go and watched Yong Lian and Shui Yue leave.
Entering the Nuan Pavilion, Yong Lian only glanced at Mingyu's chilling eyes, then quickly lowered his head and said in a low voice: "My son, please pay your respects to the emperor."
Mingyu said coldly: "Yonglian, do you know your guilt?"
Hearing this, Yonglian quickly knelt down and said, "I know my sin, please forgive me this time."
Mingyu glanced at Shuiyue who was standing aside and said: "It seems that Shuiyue has already told you, Yonglian, why don't you always listen to Huang's mother-in-law? What can't you do if Huang's mother doesn't let you do it?"
What do you have to do?”
"I didn't do it on purpose. Meeting my aunt this time was also an accident. I promise there won't be another time. Please forgive me."
Seeing that Yonglian's attitude was sincere and did not make any strong excuses, Mingyu's face brightened slightly, but when he heard the word "aunt", he felt unhappy and said: "From now on, you will still call me Concubine Xian, just like the eldest brother.
"My mother's call is always my aunt's call. If someone hears me, it's time to say you've lost your rules."
Yong Lian said in confusion: "But Huang's mother didn't say that before. Huang's mother said..."
Mingyu interrupted him and said: "It doesn't matter what I said before, as long as you remember my words clearly now, you understand? You are my son and the eldest son, and everything you say and do must comply with the rules. Don't do it."