A pang of unease shot through Emperor Jiang Jing's heart. A flash of guilt instantly crossed his face. He stepped forward, trying to take the Queen's hand. "My dear, please listen to my explanation..."
The Queen slapped his hand away and sneered. "What did you say back then? You said she'd be under house - arrest and never allowed to leave the Buddhist temple for the rest of her life. It hasn't even been long, and your imperial edict has become meaningless?"
Emperor Jiang Jing rubbed his reddened hand aggrievedly. His dear had changed. She never hit him before. But he knew she was really angry this time. Fortunately, he had sent everyone away just now. Otherwise, he would have been utterly humiliated.
"Please listen to my explanation... It was the Empress Dowager. She went on a hunger strike and threatened to kill herself. She insisted that I find a husband for Princess Jianing. I really had no other choice..."
"Anyway, Princess Jianing alone can't stir up much trouble. I promise that as soon as she gets married, I'll send her far away so that she'll never bother you again. Is that okay?"
"No!" The Queen was furious. "Princess Zhaohua tried to harm Niannian again and again, and she didn't even pay the due price for it. Do you expect me to forgive her daughter? If I forgive them, who will feel sorry for our Niannian?!"
"Just because Niannian is alive and has reunited with us, and she's doing well now, does it mean that what they did in the past can be wiped out?"
Why should it be like this?!
Why should the enemy just be under house - arrest while her daughter can still have a good outcome?
How could she accept this?
Emperor Jiang Jing was speechless. After a long while, he said, "But the Empress Dowager was on the verge of death and still insisted on having Princess Jianing back. I couldn't just watch her starve to death..."
The Queen took a deep breath. "I understand your concerns, Your Majesty..."
Emperor Jiang Jing's face lit up. "I knew it..."
"But it's impossible for me to forgive the daughter of our enemy. Niannian definitely won't agree either. It's hard to be both filial and just. If Your Majesty insists on caring about the enemy's daughter, then don't set foot in Qiwu Palace again. Niannian has me as her mother. That's enough!"
After saying that, the Queen turned around and left.
Emperor Jiang Jing panicked and instinctively reached out to grab her dress. "My dear, don't go..."
The Queen said coldly, "Let go."
She had long been annoyed with him. Anyway, Niannian was back now. What use did she have for him?
Let him go wherever he wanted!
Would he even dare to depose her as the Queen because of this?
Emperor Jiang Jing felt wronged. "My dear..."
"Let go!"
Emperor Jiang Jing refused to let go.
The Queen got annoyed. She yanked hard and freed her sleeve, then turned around and left the imperial study.
Emperor Jiang Jing instinctively wanted to chase after her, but when he saw the palace servants outside through the open door of the imperial study, he shrank back.
During his moment of hesitation, the Queen had already walked far away.
This really startled Liang An.
The Queen had seemed quite happy when she came, but why did she leave in such a rage?
Did she quarrel with the Emperor? It shouldn't be... Everyone in the harem knew that the Queen was good - tempered. So it must be the Emperor who had made the Queen angry?
"Your Majesty..." Liang An carefully poked half of his body in.
"Get out!"
Liang An quickly shrank back and closed the door. He told the servants below to stay far away, then stood guard at the door himself.
Emperor Jiang Jing slumped into the chair dejectedly. He didn't understand why the usually good - tempered Queen had suddenly gotten angry with him. Was it just because he had allowed Princess Jianing to return to the capital?
They had known and accompanied each other for more than twenty years. She had always been good - tempered. Even when Niannian went missing, she just stayed in seclusion and refused to see anyone. But now she had said that she wouldn't let him enter Qiwu Palace...
...
In the evening, at Qiwu Palace.
Shen Qing, Ji Junye, and their son Si Bao arrived early as a family.
The Queen first hugged Si Bao and doted on him for a while, then ordered the servants to set the dinner.
Ji Junye was sitting there unusually obediently, which made Shen Qing find it a bit funny.
"Mother, isn't Father coming?"
She had noticed in recent days that Father came to Qiwu Palace every day. Even if he didn't stay overnight, he would have a meal before leaving. He shouldn't be busy at this time...
The Queen casually asked Lancui. Lancui went out and came back soon. She quietly glanced at the Queen's expression.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
Lancui said, "Your Majesty... has gone to Lanzhi Palace..."
Shen Qing was stunned. Her first reaction was that he must be crazy. Then she instinctively looked at the Queen's expression.
Lancui had the same reaction when she first heard the news. Was the Emperor crazy?
Lanzhi Palace was the residence of Concubine Zhuang, the birth mother of the Second Prince. The Emperor hadn't set foot in other palaces for years. Even when he had something to discuss with the birth mothers of the princes, he would summon them to the imperial study and never enter their bedrooms. Why had he suddenly changed his ways?
Lancui, who served the Queen, roughly guessed the reason.
Ji Junye also sensed something was wrong. He was very familiar with such things. As soon as he heard it, he understood the whole thing.
It was obvious that his father - in - law and mother - in - law had quarreled. The mother - in - law was angry and had said some things to push him away. In a fit of anger, the father - in - law had gone elsewhere to sulk with the mother - in - law.
The Queen just calmly put down her cup. Her expression showed no sign of abnormality. "Let him go. Then we won't wait for him. Serve the meal."
"My Qiwu Palace has always been a free - spirited place. There are not so many rules. Please don't be offended, Emperor Jingye."
"Don't dare, Your Majesty. You may call me by my courtesy name, Zhouyuan," Ji Junye said.
The Queen was increasingly satisfied with Ji Junye's attitude and invited them to start eating.
Shen Qing quietly exchanged a look with Ji Junye.
Why haven't I heard of your courtesy name?
I've never used it.
The Queen ate with them as if nothing had happened, but the atmosphere at the dinner table was strangely awkward. Probably only Si Bao could eat with full concentration in the whole room.
After the meal, they rinsed their mouths. The Queen's expression still showed no sign of abnormality.
"It's getting late. Si Bao will stay in Qiwu Palace with me. Niannian and Zhouyuan, you can go back and rest."
"Your princess mansion has been renovated. You can go back and take a look."
Shen Qing was stunned. "Yes, Mother. Then we'll go back first."
After going out, Shen Qing quietly asked Lancui, "Is there any news about Father? Will he stay overnight in Lanzhi Palace?"
Lancui shook her head. "As soon as the Emperor entered the door of Lanzhi Palace, Concubine Zhuang pushed him out on the pretext of being unwell. Then he went to a few other concubines' places, but didn't even get in the door."
"I wanted to say this just now, but Her Majesty is angry. She probably doesn't want to hear it."
Shen Qing understood. "Aunt Lancui, do you know why Father and Mother quarreled?"
Lancui glanced at Ji Junye beside her and then whispered, "The Empress Dowager went on a hunger strike at the Buddhist temple and forced the Emperor to bring Princess Jianing back to the capital and find a marriage for her. The Emperor had no choice. Afraid of making Her Majesty angry, he brought the princess back secretly..."
The rest of the story was predictable.
Lancui sighed. "Her Majesty did this for Your Highness. In the past, Princess Zhaohua tried to kill Your Highness several times. Her Majesty was already dissatisfied with the Emperor's handling of the matter. How could she tolerate the daughter of the enemy living a carefree life?"
"I understand. I'll find a way to deal with this. Thank you, Aunt Lancui, for telling me."