Qiu Su stopped in her tracks and looked at Qi Xiu, saying, "Focus on your treatment, why are you saying these things? I can see things clearly."
Qi Xiu frowned and looked Qiu Su up and down, somewhat surprised that she spoke of this matter in such an indifferent tone. Something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Go back quickly and take good care of her."
Qi Xiu stared blankly as Qiu Su stepped out through the snow, shrugged, shook his head, and stroked his chin, saying, "Strange, strange. Miss is never this generous. Hiss... Could it be that the young master is going to be in trouble?"
Author's Note: Is Pei Yuan going to get a lot of flak for this?
Actually, Qingfeng has also been criticized, hasn't she?
Ahem, but I still have to give some recommendations. The arrow points to the Princess's Mansion next door →
42
42. Impossible to guard against...
On New Year's Eve, someone from the palace came to invite the young mistress of the Pei family to the palace to watch the fireworks and celebrate the New Year. Qiu Su remained silent, and when Pei Yuan looked over, she only gave a slight smile. She felt that she had finally let go, but when Pei Yuan personally helped her into the sedan chair, she still couldn't help but tear up.
"Don't worry, I've got you covered."
When Pei Yuan said this, Qiu Su resolutely pulled her hand away. The moment the sedan curtain was lowered, Pei Yuan's heart clenched. What was different? Pei Yuan wondered, looking at the gently swaying curtain. What was different? Why did he feel like he was about to lose something?
"Young Master Pei." Huang Tao pushed aside Pei Yuan, who was looking down, and bent her leg in a seemingly respectful manner. "Please move your feet, Young Master Pei. My young lady is about to leave."
Pei Yuan walked to the side of the sedan chair and said softly, "Su Su, wait for me, I'll be there soon."
Pei Yuan waited for a long time, but didn't hear Qiu Su's response even after the sedan chair was lifted. The mountain lord kept humming around the sedan chair, and even after the sedan chair had gone a distance, it was still running around the sedan chair humming and whining, until Pei Yuan called it to stop. Only then did it reluctantly tuck its tail between its legs and return to the Pei residence.
Pei Yuan gave Lingling a few instructions and then told her to follow him.
Xiao Luzi followed the sedan chair, escorting Qiu Su and Lingling to the Qin Zheng Palace. Sun Qi was already waiting there, and he was somewhat surprised to see Lingling come along. But then he understood. For an emperor to bring another man's wife into the palace under the guise of celebrating the New Year, and to go straight to the Qin Zheng Palace, would seem inappropriate to outsiders. With Lingling accompanying him, it made things seem more legitimate.
Sun Qi raised an eyebrow, dismissed the others, and then found an excuse to send Lingling to Xing Le Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. Only when he and Qiu Su were left did he raise an eyebrow and say, "Madam doesn't seem surprised."
Qiu Su looked up at Sun Qi and shook her head self-deprecatingly.
Sun Qi touched his nose, pursed his lips, and said, "Then I'll be frank. Did General Ji leave something important for the lady? Something he instructed you not to leave behind?"
Qiu Su looked calmly at Sun Qi, "You have a partner?"
“No.” Sun Qi glanced outside the hall and lowered his voice, “But I know where it is.”
"What does Your Majesty wish me to do?"
“It’s actually quite simple.” Sun Qi straightened his face and said solemnly, “Madam, you need to take the military tally to the border and gather General Ji’s former subordinates to help me eliminate those who deserve to be eliminated.”
Sun Qi sighed and continued, "Of course, it also avenged General Ji. Only in this way can General Ji be properly buried in the capital and his crime of treason be cleared."
What if I don't agree?
Sun Qi raised an eyebrow. "Actually, the outcome is quite simple. If I curry favor with the Regent, I might be able to continue being my puppet emperor, but my third brother will surely die. When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact? Your in-laws will naturally have to go see General Ji and the late emperor as well. Oh, and the baby in your womb, and you too."
Qiu Su smiled bitterly, "You have to give me that half of the military tally, but you also have to agree to one condition."
"you say."
Qiu Su looked up at Sun Qi, her smile sharp and sarcastic. "You must swear on Lingling's life that if you break your promise, you will never be together in your lives, and even if you are together, you will only torment each other and will have no descendants."
Sun Qi was somewhat annoyed, looking at Qiu Su's reckless smile, but he held back. He took a breath and nodded, saying, "I will do what I say. However, tell me your request first."
"I can stay in the palace to lower Sun Hu's guard and delay his actions. You must ensure the safety of my child and me."
"That's natural."
"And one more thing." Qiu Su looked up at the luxurious decorations in the hall, and only after the tears in her eyes had subsided did she say, "Secretly summon He Zhuo to leave the military camp and return to the capital. I don't care what method you use, but after the child is born, you must guarantee that you will deliver him to He Zhuo alive, and then protect him as he leaves the capital. After that, there will be no more He Zhuo and Qiu Su in the world, and no more child."
"And you?"
Qiu Su chuckled, "Didn't I go to the military camp? I am the only son of the Ji family, so naturally I must shoulder the heavy responsibility of avenging my father."
Sun Qi paused for a moment, then frowned and said, "Are you really not going to give your third brother any chance at all? Although he lured you into the capital, he did have feelings for you."
When will you retrieve the military tally?
“Three…” Sun Qi looked outside, coughed and said, “After the New Year, it will be time to worship our ancestors again. You can stay in Changqing Palace with peace of mind. Pei Yuan and I are quite close. Bringing you into the palace this time, relying on the royal family’s influence, will be good for you and your son.”
Sun Qi looked up and exclaimed, "Huh?" "When did you arrive, Imperial Uncle?"
The regent walked in with a smile, glanced at Qiu Su who had stood up to greet him, and said, "Pei's daughter-in-law? Good. Now that you've entered the palace, stay in Changqing Palace with peace of mind. It's rare for my nephew to have such a thoughtful thought."
Qiu Su smiled slightly. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Why are you being so polite?" The regent gestured for the palace servants to help her sit down, while he casually took the seat of honor, smiling as he said, "Prime Minister Pei has done so much for our dynasty, his daughter-in-law is my daughter-in-law too, there's no need to be so formal."
Qiu Su's lips twitched, her face trying to remain calm, though her hands beneath her sleeves trembled slightly. Well, she'd always been a timid and somewhat hysterical person, and now she was already worrying about what would happen if she gave birth in the palace—would her son be switched? Would she die in the palace?
The courage Qiu Su had mustered to enter the palace vanished the moment she saw the Regent Prince. If she could, how she wished she were still the Qiu Su of Qingyuan Mountain, how she wished she had never come to the capital. But there were no "ifs." Having come this far, she was destined to face it all.
"I feel that Lady Qiu is very similar to an old friend."
"You flatter me. I am of ordinary appearance; everyone I know says I would be lost in a crowd. Your Highness's old acquaintance must be an extraordinary person." Qiu Su forced a smile, trying her best to make it genuine.
“Indeed extraordinary.” The regent sighed, “It’s a pity that she followed a traitor, and in the end… Alas, if she had a daughter who was unknown to me, she would be about your age now.”
Qiu Su forced a smile, unsure how to respond. Fortunately, the Regent Prince didn't say much, taking a sip of tea before rising and saying, "Alright, I've said too much. The banquet should begin soon. When will I join you, nephew?"
"Let's go together." Sun Qi stood up and said to Xiao Shunzi outside, "Take the lady to the Empress Dowager's place, and be careful on the way."
As the regent watched Qiu Su leave, he glanced at Sun Qi and said with a smile, "My nephew is quite attentive to Qiu Su."
“I can’t say for sure either.” Sun Qi frowned in confusion. “My uncle said she resembles an old friend. Could it be that I’ve met that old friend before? She seems familiar to me.”
"Hmph, nonsense! Where were you then?"
Sun Qi laughed, "Uncle is right. Uncle, could you let me leave the palace for a visit after the New Year?"
"Where do you want to go?" The regent prince, with a genuinely concerned expression that suggested the child was hopeless, scolded, "After the New Year comes the ancestral worship ceremony. As the emperor, how can you only think about having fun? How can you face the late emperor..."
"Alright, alright!" Sun Qi waved his hand impatiently. "I didn't say I wouldn't go. Uncle is always so strict."