As Shen Qing's voice faded, the room fell into complete silence.
If it had been a moment ago, there might still have been someone who dared to be stubborn. But Shen Qing had just weighed the pros and cons for them and demonstrated her skills. They no longer had the courage to be tough.
Seeing this, Yan Peiyu quickly took the lead to express his stance. "I'm willing to be at your service, Madam."
Qin Heng was slightly stunned and then quickly followed suit. "I'm willing too."
Since his good brother had made a statement, he might as well do the same.
Following his brother would surely lead to no bad outcome.
He had only been in the capital for a short time, but he had already managed to become the step - father of the heir of the Protector of the State. If he followed him, he should not end up too badly, right?
This was what Qin Heng was thinking.
"Your Royal Highness was extremely imposing just now," the Prince of Rong flattered as soon as they left the Wenyuan Pavilion.
Shen Qing curled her lips slightly. "Those who questioned me just now, their carriages from the palace will be out of use for a few days."
She wasn't here to be kind - hearted. She couldn't let them enjoy the benefits while scolding the person who was bearing the pressure behind their backs.
Only by making them realize how difficult it would be without her could she gain their absolute loyalty.
Showing both kindness and severity was the way to manage subordinates.
Shen Qing was glad that thanks to Ji Junye's efforts, the court today was no longer just a stage for high - ranking officials to play with power. Those who truly wanted to serve the people and the country still had a place to stand.
The Prince of Rong always wore a polite smile on his face, but now that smile seemed a bit frozen.
Fortunately, he hadn't offended his sister - in - law too badly back then. She had only given him a small lesson. Otherwise, he might be the one walking to work every day and constantly fearing being attacked.
When Shen Qing returned to the Changchun Garden, Si Bao came running over on her short legs, stretching out her little hands to be held by Shen Qing.
"Mother..."
Yingxiu said with a smile, "Si Bao was asking about you just now. I told her you hadn't come back yet, and she insisted on waiting at the door. Coincidentally, you came back just as she arrived."
Hearing this, Shen Qing picked up her daughter and walked inside, giving her a gentle pat on her wriggling little bottom.
"Now you want your mother. Where was your love for Uncle Six just now?" Shen Qing pretended to be angry.
Si Bao wriggled in Shen Qing's arms. "Mother, Uncle Six..."
Shen Qing understood. She wanted both her mother and Uncle Six.
She didn't know what kind of spell the Prince of Rong had cast on her.
Yingxiu followed behind, smiling secretly.
"Miss, there's a letter from the medical clinic," Zhuxing said as she came in just as Shen Qing put Si Bao on the small wooden horse.
This small wooden horse was made by Ji Junye when he was idle before he left. Si Bao loved it very much and always wanted to play on it.
Shen Qing was slightly stunned. The medical clinic?
Was it from Doctor Meng or Shen Si?
When she took it and looked, she found it was a letter from Shen Si.
Shen Si said that he had encountered several assassinations in the capital recently, which might be aimed at her. He warned her to be extra careful when going out.
To prevent those people from tracing her through him, he would move to the outskirts of the city for the time being. However, he still had many forces in the capital, and she could send him messages with carrier pigeons if she needed help.
Assassinations aimed at her?
Shen Qing frowned tightly.
Was there someone in the Jiang Kingdom who wanted her dead?
Since she found out that Shen Si was a member of the royal family, she had been trying to avoid recognizing her relatives and deliberately not wanting to know much about that side.
But even before she had recognized her relatives, someone was already trying to kill her?
"Send someone to investigate what has happened in the royal family of the Jiang Kingdom in the past one or two years," Shen Qing ordered.
Zhuxing replied in the affirmative.
They naturally had spies in the capital of the Jiang Kingdom, so it wouldn't be difficult to find out these things.
However, there was one thing that troubled her a bit.
Shen Si mentioned Meng Hanqing in the letter. If he left and Meng Hanqing stayed in the capital, he might be in danger. But she had always relied on Meng Hanqing, so Shen Si asked for her opinion.
If Meng Hanqing couldn't go with him, she had to find a safer place for him.
It wasn't that Shen Qing wanted to trouble him on purpose. But now they were surrounded by wolves, and with Si Bao around, she couldn't really trust others easily.
The best way was to let Meng Hanqing move into the Changchun Garden too.
But...
But if he really moved in, a certain narrow - minded person would probably fly into a rage.
She would have to think about this matter some more.
In the evening, Shen Qing picked up her pen to write a letter to Ji Junye. She mentioned this matter in the letter. To prevent him from overthinking, she tried her best to explain clearly that it was really just for official business.
Just as she was about to finish the letter, Si Bao suddenly ran over. "Mother..."
Shen Qing's eyes lit up. She immediately picked up her daughter and put her on her lap. "Si Bao, would you like to write a letter to Daddy?"
"Daddy?" Si Bao tilted her head and looked at Shen Qing, her big round eyes blinking non - stop, almost melting Shen Qing's heart.
"Yes, Daddy is in a very far place now. But as long as he sees Si Bao's letter, he will think of Si Bao," Shen Qing said. As she spoke, she took out a new piece of paper, dipped Si Bao's little hand into the inkstone, and then pressed it on the paper.
A small, black handprint appeared on the paper.
Si Bao liked this game and laughed non - stop.
Shen Qing collected a whole piece of paper full of little handprints before she was satisfied. Then she carried Si Bao to wash her hands.
But she still thought it wasn't enough. After thinking for a while, she picked up her pen and drew a portrait of Si Bao, then stuffed it into the envelope together.
This should be enough this time.
After Ji Junye read this letter, he sneered and put the letter on the table.
She must be feeling guilty.
She had explained so much in the letter and even used Si Bao as a shield. She didn't know there was a saying called "the more one tries to hide, the more obvious it becomes".
If she didn't feel guilty and need something from him, how could she try so hard to appease him?
Ji Junye thought for a while and was just about to pick up his pen to reply when there was a sudden knock on the door.
Ji Junye thought it was Zhuiyun. "Come in."
"Why are you here?"
It wasn't Zhuiyun who came in, but Qin Ye.
Qin Ye said, "I'm here to bid you farewell."
"Bid farewell?"
Qin Ye nodded. "This place is not far from the Miao Region. The witchcraft of the Miao Region is mysterious. Since your poison has been stable recently, I thought I'd go to the Miao Region to see if I could find some new discoveries."
Ji Junye pondered for a moment. "That's good."
No matter how slim the hope was, they had to give it a try.
"I'll send two people to accompany and protect you," Ji Junye said.
Qin Ye didn't decline his kindness. "Thank you."
"I've already taught the military doctor Mo in the army the acupuncture method and the prescription for expelling the poison. He's a trustworthy person. All the things to note are written here."
As Qin Ye spoke, he took out a piece of paper and put it on the table.
Ji Junye looked at the paper filled with words and lowered his eyes. "Have a safe journey."
After a brief farewell, Qin Ye turned around and left.
...
Shen Qing received Ji Junye's reply three days later. Somewhat unexpectedly yet reasonably, he had agreed.
The bit of surprise was that he was actually so easy - going. He even said he would make Meng Hanqing feel at home.
Shen Qing could imagine his awkwardness when writing this letter. She could only compensate him when he came back.
Shen Qing put the letter away and sent someone to deliver a message to the medical clinic.
These days, just as Shen Qing had arranged, except for Yan Peiyu and Qin Heng, the scholars in the Wenyuan Pavilion walked to and from work, and all of them were on tenterhooks.
Although they used to walk before and it wasn't a big deal, it was easier to get used to luxury than to go back to simplicity. After eating fine rice, it was hard to go back to eating the coarse rice they used to have.
This sense of disparity made them very uncomfortable.
Especially when they were walking and saw Yan Peiyu and Qin Heng sitting in carriages, this sense of disparity became even stronger.