The Ring of the Red Chamber and the Nine Heavens

Half a month after the boat sailed, Qi Qian returned to the capital.

When he arrived in the capital, he was greeted by the court officials who had heard the news. Qi Qian thanked everyone for their invitation to pick up the wind and clean the dust, and went to the palace non-stop to meet the emperor in the imperial study and hand over his errands.

As for the assassination in Jinling, Qi Qian had already thought about it on the road, and decided not to mention it to his father.Although this is a good opportunity to eliminate dissidents, but under the fury of the father, he must dig into the details of the process, otherwise the fact that he and Huan'er escaped hiding in the water tank will be exposed. Now, Huan'er is in a place out of reach, if there is something, wouldn't it be too late to regret it?

So, Qi Qian went to the imperial study room and reported good news but not bad news. He only reported that he had successfully raised enough money and food with the assistance of Yangzhou officials, but he didn't mention anything about his assassination.When the emperor heard that Qi Qian raised a total of more than 160 million taels of silver for this trip, which was much more than the previous estimate of 100 million taels of silver, he couldn't help being overjoyed. Qi Qian was rewarded with precious treasures.

After a while, a little servant came over and reported: "Your Majesty, the imperial concubine sent the servants to say that the empress has already arranged a banquet in Yixiu Palace. I don't know if the emperor and the prince will appreciate it or not? She also said that Princess Qin is also there." wait."

The emperor chuckled, and said, "The daughter-in-law is here too, so it's just a good time for the whole family to have a lively dinner together."

I haven't seen her for a few months. Princess Su Miaozhen's belly is already showing off her full belly. She is wearing a pink and silver thread embroidered cloud pattern border and a concubine-colored chrysanthemum pattern phoenix tail dark flower Shu embroidered robe. Its demeanor is like a pink lotus blooming with dew, and now it is a gorgeous chrysanthemum.

The emperor was very happy to see his daughter-in-law with a big belly, and he encouraged her with a few words about spreading branches and leaves for the royal family.

Qi Qian just thanked the concubine for her hard work during the period when he was not in the palace, but it made Su Miaozhen feel warm in her heart. "Look at your worthless appearance. Once he went away for three or four months, he came back and said a few nonsensical words, and he made you so happy that you didn't even know your name!"

Then sit down and eat according to the order.The emperor chatted a lot and talked about many things in the court. Concubine Hui smiled sweetly and persuaded the emperor to drink. Here, although Qi Qian's face is not as cold as usual, he only answers questions when he has questions, and he keeps his eyes on the whole time. .

Concubine Hui was very dissatisfied with Qi Qian's attitude towards her niece. Taking advantage of the opportunity to serve the emperor with dishes, she secretly said, "Lao Qi, you don't want to give comfort to your daughter-in-law? You know, not long ago, I left Miao When Zhen was living in the palace, something happened almost, but Miaozhen was frightened!"

The emperor also said: "These slaves are not easy to serve, and they almost call my dragon and grandson unsafe. I have already killed all the maids who were on duty nearby that day!"

Only then did Qi Qian realize the seriousness of the situation, so he asked what happened.It turned out that not long ago, Su Miaozhen took a maidservant for a walk in the imperial garden to enjoy the flowers, and the brocade handkerchief in her hand was accidentally blown away by the wind.When the maid went to pick it up, it happened that Su Miaozhen was standing by the water, and she suddenly felt someone push her behind her and fell into the water.Fortunately, Su Miaozhen was very lucky, and was finally picked up by the rushing maid who called for help, and saved her life. She only suffered some wind and cold, and even the fetus in her womb was not affected.After Su Miaozhen woke up, she said that she felt in a trance that someone pushed her into the water from behind.The emperor ordered Concubine Hui to thoroughly investigate the matter, and detained all the maids and eunuchs in the nearby palaces to torture them. Unfortunately, no ugly Yinmao was found. In the end, they all asked Su Miaozhen because there was no circumstantial evidence, so Su Miao herself became confused. She said maybe no one pushed her, maybe she was confused, and she couldn't remember clearly.So the matter was left alone.

Concubine Hui said: "I think this is strange, Lao Qi, is it the concubine of your palace doing something strange?"

Qi Qian frowned and thought for a while, then said: "If they are causing trouble, it should be in the palace, not in the imperial concubine's place."

Concubine Hui was poked with a sore foot, and said to herself: "If there is someone in the palace who wants to harm Miaozhen, I will find out later, and I must skin her alive."

The emperor glanced at her in displeasure, and Concubine Hui hurriedly flattered and smiled and said: "The concubine's words are indecent, the emperor forgives the sin."

Su Miaozhen said timidly: "Perhaps the concubine made a mistake. It turned out that no one pushed the concubine. It was the concubine who accidentally slipped and fell into the water. It was also possible that the wind was strong at that time, and the wind blew on her back, so she just fell into the water." It's like someone is pushing a concubine."

Qi Qian turned to look at her, and said in a low voice, "Be careful in the future."

The princess couldn't help but smile sweetly on the corner of her lips.

Concubine Hui smiled cleverly when she saw this and said: "Your Majesty also needs to be considerate of the young couple's feeling of being newly married after a long absence. Let them leave the palace and go back to the mansion earlier to talk about the scene after the farewell."

The emperor smiled and agreed.

Concubine Hui gave Qi Qian another meaningful look, and said, "I heard that you haven't handed over the money to the House of Internal Affairs yet? It's not safe to put so much money in your Qin Palace. I won't bother you young couple when it's late today." Let’s talk, don’t forget tomorrow.”

I knew you wanted to make that money!Qi Qian didn't even look at her, and said directly to the emperor: "Father, my son and minister will go out of Beijing tomorrow to settle the money and food for the disaster relief. Restore the flooded farmland so that those who live in it can have their houses and those who till them can have their fields.”

Concubine Hui's face turned dark all of a sudden, this nephew and son-in-law are too dishonorable!Originally, he thought that the money would be handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and there would be some left over for her to build the temple. It seems that Lao Qi's whole method will not be left over!

Back to the palace.

Su Miaozhen looked at the silent iceberg and Qi Qian who was bored all the way, not knowing whether to retreat or what.

Qi Qian finally set his sights on her body, to be precise, on her stomach, pondered for a moment, and asked, "How long is it?"

Su Miaozhen dared to look at her husband at the same level when she wanted to use her appearance to conquer Qi Qian, but now she realizes that this is completely impossible, so she loves and fears her husband, humbly hoping to please him with the child in her belly Therefore, even though Qi Qian's words were vague, Su Miaozhen correctly guessed the meaning of his words, and timidly replied: "The imperial doctor said that the baby will be born in three or four months."

Qi Qian frowned slightly: Why did it take so long?

Qi Qian made plans on the return trip, Huan'er refused to leave with him in Yangzhou, but it was useless, how could the mighty King Qin have no means at all?It's just that I don't want to make Huan'er unhappy by coercive means.Qi Qian didn't need to do anything, he just looked at when it was convenient to praise Lin Ruhai in front of the emperor, and at the right time, he asked the emperor to promote Lin Ruhai to Beijing, and the matter was settled. Huan'er originally went to Yangzhou to live in Lin's mansion. Lin Ruhai's family has all gone to Beijing, how can Huan'er survive on her own?

But, knowing that Huan'er had a problem in his heart, Qi Qian didn't want to make trouble for him. It's better to wait for the princess to give birth to the child before asking Huan'er to go to Beijing with Lin Ruhai's family. Otherwise, Qi Qian must be too busy during that time. Don't want to ring, what do you want him to watch jealously and uncomfortablely?

Qi Qian felt that he loved Huan'er to the core, but no matter how much he loved her, he wouldn't be so mad that he wanted to divorce the princess.Leaving aside the fact that Qi Qian and Su Miaozhen belonged to a political marriage, one hair will affect the whole body, not to mention how much turmoil it will cause, and it is practically useless.Because even if Qi Qian got or "fabricated" a reason for suspending Su Miaozhen and implemented it, the emperor would force him to marry another one immediately.If Qi Qian refuses, the emperor will definitely dig out the matter of Huan'er under suspicion, and instead bring trouble to Huan'er.In this way, the existence of princess Su Miaozhen is actually a protective barrier, and Qi Qian will never touch her again.Why don't you try to get Huan'er back after Su Miaozhen gives birth to a child in three or four months, and that's all if Huan'er can figure it out. The wife and child are ready.Anyway, Huan'er is still young, and it will take three or four years before he reaches the age of starting a family. Let him be at ease first, and who can say what will happen in the future.

Su Miaozhen saw that her husband stopped talking, just stared at her stomach in a daze, and suddenly felt very embarrassed: Yes, my husband must have disliked that I can't serve him with such a big belly, so she said in a timely manner: "My lord, why don't you just leave today?" Ask sister Dieer or sister Huijun to serve the prince to bed?"

Qi Qian stared at her at first, and then thought that this woman was almost thrown into limbo by him after giving birth, and now she still has her own child in her stomach, so she couldn't help sighing in her heart, it's better to treat her better. Then he eased his complexion and said, "No need. I'm very tired today, so I'll take a rest here."

The princess was very pleasantly surprised.

Within two days, Qi Qian left, and it took two months to leave, and he came back only after making proper arrangements for disaster relief.After returning, Qi Qian thought that Huan'er was coming back soon, how to please him, so he tried to clean up the people from the Jia family who had bullied him that Huan'er mentioned in the past.

The lovesickness is unbearable, more than a month has passed with patience and patience, counting the days and counting, the princess is about to give birth in a month, now it is time for Huaner to set off with the Lin family, Qi Qian pressed According to the original plan, Lin Ruhai was recommended to the emperor, and a series of achievements in Huan'er in Yangzhou were counted on Lin Ruhai, and he was recommended as a scholar of the Wenhua Palace and the right servant of the Ministry of Rites.

The emperor pondered and said: "I have heard of Lin Hai's talent, but unfortunately he is weak, but the climate in the south of the Yangtze River is very good, suitable for him to recuperate, so I have never summoned him to Beijing as an official. Besides, when you go Before the disaster relief in Yangzhou, I also received a report saying that Lin Hai was dying of illness, and he was afraid that he would die soon, so I wanted to prepare another candidate for Yangzhou to patrol the salt and censor. Unexpectedly, this person was destined to die, but he recovered from his illness! But, I'm afraid his decrepit body won't be able to withstand the toss, why don't we let him stay in Yangzhou."

Qi Qian said: "My father doesn't know about it, and Mr. Lin doesn't know whether he got some kind of fairy cure or a panacea. His body is almost completely healed. Moreover, the old tree has a new look, and now he has asked for a sequel, and he is about to continue it." What about the incense of the Lin family. According to Erchen’s humble opinion, Mr. Lin’s previous serious illness should have been “surviving a catastrophe” in the Buddhist teachings. Surviving a catastrophe must bring good fortune, and now he is healed, just serving the country and the court!”

When the emperor heard that Lin Ruhai, who was about to die, came back to life miraculously, and was able to ask for a wife again, he was surprised at first, and then immediately made a decision, saying: "In this way, my son makes sense. Okay, my son This is the decree, according to what my son said."

Qi Qian went back triumphantly, thinking about the upcoming reunion, he was excited, the corners of his lips raised inadvertently, who knows that what he said just now successfully persuaded the emperor was also a double-edged sword, disrupting all Qi Qian's wishful thinking. It made what happened after that rush all the way to the point where Qi Qian couldn't grasp it.