This sentence caused Zhichun to shed tears that she had just stopped. She hurriedly wiped away her tears and said in a hoarse voice: "I'm fine, I'm fine, but I've made your Majesty laugh."
After signaling her to stand up, Xia Qing said with some emotion: "I haven't seen you since the death of Imperial Concubine Yi Min. You look much older. If Qi Kuan hadn't called your name just now, I wouldn't have seen you again.
I almost didn’t recognize Gong.”
Zhichun lowered his eyes and said, "My ugly face has stained your eyes, please forgive me."
Xia Qing smiled slightly and said, "It's been so long, can't you let it go?"
Zhichun stared down at the snow at his feet and murmured: "I thought that as time went by, the things in the past would slowly be let go, but it turned out not to be the case. Every time I think of the queen who did not hesitate to drive the slave out of Kunning Palace.
, I will still be heartbroken and uncomfortable, even...even worse than before."
Xia Qing glanced at her and said, "You did something wrong about Concubine Yi Min."
Zhichun raised her head excitedly, "Yes, I was wrong. I shouldn't have cared so much about the Nervous Queen, otherwise there wouldn't have been many troubles later." At this point, she sneered: "But now it's too late to say anything.
Yes, everything has become a fact.”
Xia Qing stared at her for a long time and said slowly: "Have you ever thought about going over to admit your mistake to the queen? Although the job of being a steward of Zhongcui Palace is not a hard job, I can't compare with my aunt, the steward of Kunning Palace."
Zhichun shook his head and said, "Thank you very much for your kindness, but... I really can't do it."
"I didn't expect you to be stubborn." After saying this, Xia Qing added: "By the way, where are you going? This doesn't seem to be the way back to Zhongcui Palace."
Zhichun told the story about the cotton-padded clothes again. Xia Qing nodded and handed her the gilt hand stove in her palm, "It's still a long way from the tailoring workshop. Please take it to warm your hands. It's been so hot lately."
It’s cold, don’t freeze.”
Zhichun was flattered and said: "This...how can I do this? Besides, if I give it to my slave, what will you do, my empress?"
Xia Qing smiled and said: "I will ask someone to go back and get another one. Just take it."
This time, Zhichun did not refuse anymore and said gratefully: "Thank you very much, Madam. I will bring it back to you tomorrow."
"Okay, let's go." After Zhichun walked away, Xia Qing's eyes gradually darkened, and she didn't know what she was thinking.
Let's talk about Qi Kuan's side. After he returned to Kunning Palace, he immediately told the story of Xiao Shouzi leaving the palace and going to Qin Tian Prison.
"Qin Tian Jian..." Xiayue muttered several times, looking thoughtful, Qi Kuan asked tentatively: "Master, have you guessed Concubine Hui's intention?"
Xianyue shook her head and said: "No, I just remembered one thing. When Yongxuan's accident happened, when I went to see the emperor, Tang Qizhang happened to be there. At that time, both he and the emperor looked ugly; I asked
The purpose of his visit, the emperor said, was to select a cemetery and the time for burial for Brother Eleven. He didn’t think much about it at the time, but now that he thought about it, he felt something was wrong. Brother Eleven had just passed away, how could the Emperor do it so quickly?
Thinking of choosing the cemetery and the time."
Jin Ping thought: "In other words, the emperor summoned Tang Jianzheng for other matters?"
Xianyue nodded slightly and said: "You have people go to Qin Tian Prison to ask if there are any clues. As for Yonghe Palace, continue to keep an eye on it. Don't miss anything."
"I know." When Qi Kuan bowed and agreed, Jin Ping saw the dust and dirt on his body that had not been brushed off, pursed his lips and smiled and said: "Eunuch Qi fell or something happened to make him so dirty.
?”
Qi Kuan smiled and said, "It's true that I fell." As he said that, he said to Xianyue, "Master, I just met Zhichun."
The tea cup brought to his lips stopped because of his words. After putting it down, Xianyue asked: "Is she okay?"
"It's not very good." After listening to Qi Kuan's talk about Zhichun, Xianyue was silent for a moment and said: "I remember that the tailor sent a batch of cotton clothes over a few days ago, and they are still storing them in the warehouse.
You give it to Zhichun, just like before, don't say it's from me, lest she worry about it."
"Master, I'm afraid it's not appropriate to send it here at this moment." Under Xianyue's puzzled eyes, he told Xia Qing that the two of them had deliberately put on a show, then knelt down and said, "I have told you the matter without permission.
Zhichun, please forgive me, master."
Xianyue stroked the green bracelet on her wrist and whispered: "Zhichun... didn't she blame me?"
Qi Kuan glanced at her and said respectfully: "Zhichun has never blamed the master. The reason why she has never come to greet the master all these years is because she feels that she has killed Concubine Yi Min and has no shame to come to see the master." After a moment of pause.
, he tentatively said: "Master, after this matter is over, why not... let Zhichun come back, I see that she has aged a lot over the years."
"Master, please forgive Zhichun. She has been the most painful person in these years." Jinping used to have some resentment against Zhichun because of the death of Imperial Concubine Yimin, but after so many years, he has put aside any resentment.
Xianyue was silent for a long time, and finally said in the expectant eyes of Qi Kuan and the others: "If she is willing, please come back."
Qi Kuan was overjoyed and knelt down and said, "I thank my master for your great kindness on behalf of Zhichun."
After signaling him to get up, Xianyue said again: "The idea you thought of today is not bad. You can give it a try. However, no one is sure about Concubine Hui's situation at the moment. You can try to see Empress Zhichun."
, tell her not to push too hard to avoid getting into trouble."
"I understand." That night, Qi Kuan took advantage of the silence of the night and quietly went to Zhongcui Palace to meet Zhichun and told her that Xianyue agreed to return to Kunning Palace. Zhichun burst into tears with joy. Although she had never said anything over the years,
However, she always thinks about Xianyue and wants to return to Kunning Palace. Only there can give her a sense of belonging like home. Any other place, no matter how good it is, is just an inn in her heart.
After Zhichun calmed down a bit, he said: "By the way, has Concubine Hui spoken to you since I left today?"
"I said a few words, but it's nothing important. Don't worry. When I go to return the stove tomorrow, I'll try to find out what she says."
Qi Kuan nodded and said, "Well, Master asked me to tell you to be careful in everything and don't force yourself too hard."
Zhichun felt warm in her heart and said: "I know what I know, just let the master rest assured." With that said, she said: "On Concubine Xin's side, I heard that she has been kneeling in the Yangxin Hall for a whole day.
, I think you want to find a way out, please ask the master to pay more attention to it. If you cut the weeds without removing the roots, they will grow again when the spring breeze blows."
"I know." Qi Kuan glanced at the dark sky outside and said, "I'm going back first, and I'll come back to you in a few days."
"Wait a minute." Saying this, Zhichun took out a pair of exquisitely crafted shoes from the cabinet and said, "I made these for my twelfth brother. Take them for me and see if they fit."