"So it's... her!"
Rong Yu'er's frustrated voice reached Mei Qingxue's ears. "She's my elder half - sister who has lived in the outhouse since childhood."
Seeing that Rong Yu'er really knew the woman, Mei Qingxue immediately called out, "Wait, Yu'er. Since she's your elder half - sister, why does she live in the outhouse?"
"She's been in poor health since childhood and asked to move there herself. My mother doesn't know the reason either."
"Does that mean there's no problem?"
"Yes, Princess sister. She's my elder half - sister. If she wants to harm me, I'll accept it," Rong Yu'er said.
"Then take her to your yard. If you need anything, just tell me. Don't be shy."
After being polite to Rong Yu'er, Mei Qingxue continued, "Our prince is in poor health and rarely meets people. If you need anything, just come to me." As long as she doesn't have any ideas about my prince.
"Thank you, sister."
"Xuan Qiao, go back to the Mei Mansion and ask my mother for two loyal and reliable maids. I'll take them with me in the future."
"Take them with you?" Xuan Qiao was shocked. "Princess, you..." Sweat broke out on Xuan Qiao's forehead. The princess was already thinking about being buried with the prince. It was really...
"What about me? The prince will soon have his own fief. Don't I need some loyal and reliable people?"
"Oh! Cough, you scared me to death," Xuan Qiao patted her chest and wiped the sweat off. If the princess didn't make it clear, she would have thought her life was over.
Just about to lament her good years.
Mei Qingxue was really impressed that this girl could think of such a thing.
"Get out!"
Was she, Mei Qingxue, such a person? She rolled her eyes secretly and lay back on her bed. It was really a troublesome year.
Xuan Qiao returned to the Mei Mansion. After hearing Xuan Qiao's report, Xia Ruolan nodded. "Xue'er is still careful. But has the prince's fief been decided yet?"
"Report to the old madam. I don't know about this. I've delivered the message. Please pay close attention, old madam."
"Xuan Qiao, you naughty girl. You've only been with the young lady for a short time, and you're already talking like this."
"Old madam, I'm not," Xuan Qiao stuck out her tongue playfully. "Old madam, the young mistress is really beautiful. Our young lady has good taste." "Don't call her the wrong name when you go back."
"Yes. You can go back now. Don't bring any food. Invite the prince and the princess to come for a family reunion dinner in a couple of days."
"Yes, old madam."
Xuan Qiao curtsied and quickly returned to the prince's mansion to report.
"What did Xuan Qiao come for? Is it that Xue'er... again?"
Thinking of his daughter's penchant for causing trouble, Mei Zhenguo felt nervous.
"No. Xue'er sent Xuan Qiao here to ask me for two reliable maids to take to her husband's fief in the future." Xia Ruolan looked at her husband. "Does our son - in - law have a fief?"
"I haven't heard about it. I guess not yet. Our daughter is giving us a hint!" Mei Zhenguo stroked his beard under his chin. "Then you should choose the people. I'll ask our son - in - law about it when I see him tomorrow."
"I've already asked Xuan Qiao to invite the prince and the princess to our home," Xia Ruolan glanced at her husband. He didn't come out to ask questions when Xuan Qiao was here, but now he was pretending to be profound.
"That's good. If they really get their fief, they won't be with us for long. It seems that our son - in - law's fief is a certainty."
"Didn't our son - in - law mention it in court today?"
"No!" The Sixth Prince just submitted a rather important memorial. No one knew what it was about. After the emperor read it, his face darkened a bit.
"Mother, Qing'er has something to ask of you," Du Gu Qing looked at Concubine Qin.
"Oh?" Concubine Qin was peeling longans absent - mindedly as she responded, not knowing what her son wanted to ask. "What is it?"
"Your son wants a fief. Please plead with Father for me," Du Gu Qing said.
Concubine Qin's hand trembled, and the longan in her hand rolled to the ground.
"Why do you suddenly want a fief?" Concubine Qin tried to calm her emotions.
"Mother..." Du Gu Qing lifted his robe and knelt at her feet. "Qing'er is also reluctant to leave you. But now, due to the current situation, your son has no intention of competing for the crown prince position. Moreover, your son's body needs to be well - nourished. Having been ill for so long, his body is weak. Mother, don't you want to have grandchildren? If your son's body is not well - nourished, where will the grandchildren come from?"
Concubine Qin understood what Du Gu Qing said. Although the eldest prince was under house arrest, he could be reinstated at any time. The competition between the eldest prince and the third prince had given the emperor a huge headache.
"It's good that you have no such ambition, my son. Mother just wants you to live a plain and safe life. Which area do you want as your fief, Qing'er? Mother will sacrifice her dignity to ask your father for it."
"Jiangnan!"
"Jiangnan?" Concubine Qin was stunned. That was her hometown, but since she entered the palace as a royal concubine, she had never been back. "Help mother visit your grandfather."
"Yes!"
Du Gu Qing was overjoyed that his mother agreed so readily. He wasn't sure if his mother could handle other things, but she definitely could handle getting him a fief.
"Go back. Mother wants to be alone for a while. Bring your princess into the palace in a few days to chat with me," Concubine Qin waved her hand weakly. Her son was certainly qualified and capable of competing for the crown prince position. Now that his body had recovered, neither he nor she had such an intention.
It was better to go to a distant place. It was safe, away from the center of the undercurrents, and he could keep his life. Although they would not see each other often, just thinking that her son was going to a distant place, Concubine Qin shed tears.
"My love, why are you crying so sadly?"
After court, Du Gu You wanted to visit Concubine Qin. The maid reported that the Sixth Prince was there, so he waited for him to leave before entering. He could guess what Du Gu Qing came for.
"Qing'er wants to leave me. Qing'er is leaving me!"
Concubine Qin cried even more sadly. "Then I won't give him a fief!"
"Qing'er has suffered many disasters since childhood and has always been weak. This time he was lucky, but who knows what will happen next..." "My love, just say it straight!" Du Gu You knew that Concubine Qin was really reluctant for Du Gu Qing to have a fief, but she was also worried that if he stayed in the capital, his life might be in danger.
"Your Majesty, just now Qing'er came to ask me to plead with you for a fief."
"Will you plead or not?"
"Plead," Concubine Qin gritted her teeth and immediately knelt down. "Your humble servant begs Your Majesty to grant Qing'er a fief. Qing'er is in poor health and needs the mild climate of Jiangnan to recuperate!"
"This is the first time you've pleaded with me. I grant it," Du Gu You showed a smile on his face. In fact, he had long been willing to do so. He just wanted Concubine Qin to plead with him.
"I know you like Jiangnan and want to visit your father. After I establish the crown prince, I'll take you there myself. How about that?"
"Really?" Concubine Qin's eyes lit up.
"I never lie," Du Gu You hugged Concubine Qin in his arms. "We've wasted too many years in the past. From now on, I'll make it up to you. Qin'er, I'm sorry for you."
"Your Majesty, I don't blame you. I'm just worried about Qing'er. He's our son. Others have harmed him again and again. Fortunately, he was lucky this time. It's also a good thing!"
"Qin'er, it's all my fault that I didn't protect you and our son well. This time I made Qing'er a pawn. Do you blame me?"
"No. As long as our Qing'er is safe and sound."
Concubine Qin's requests were always very simple. Even when pleading for a fief for Du Gu Qing, it seemed more like he was asking Concubine Qin. Just for Concubine Qin to plead with him once, he could feel a little comfort in his heart!
"I'll have dinner here tonight. Do you have any delicious food in your small kitchen recently?"
"You only care about my small kitchen. You never say you care about me!" Concubine Qin turned her head away, not looking at Du Gu You, who looked embarrassed.
"I, I care about both."
"You're such a hypocrite!" Concubine Qin spat at him. But Du Gu You was secretly happy, knowing that he had a chance to stay the night. It had been so many years...
Concubine Qin didn't want to think about it. It wasn't that she was being petty. They had been together for so long and only had Qing'er. How could they not cherish him?
But what was the result?
As a result, Qing'er was poisoned. She had to act as if she didn't know for more than ten years. Qing'er was weak. Those people could compete for the throne as they wished, but why did they have to target Qing'er?
"Set the meal!" Du Gu You shouted to the outer room. He secretly told himself that he would stay here tonight. Even if Concubine Qin tried to drive him away, he wouldn't leave. Having made up his mind, Du Gu You sat upright. Anyway, the dinner hadn't been served yet, so he could sit for a while.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Eunuch Tang responded outside the door.
He was asked to arrange the meal today. What did Concubine Qin like to eat? He had forgotten since he hadn't remembered for a long time. Oh yes, she was from Jiangnan and loved lotus - leaf glutinous rice chicken the most.
In any case, prepare a few Jiangnan dishes. The emperor would know after coming a few more times.
It seemed that the fief for his so - called dry son - in - law was in the bag. Eunuch Tang regarded Mei Qingxue as his dry daughter in his heart, but he didn't dare to let Mei Qingxue really kneel down and call him dry father.
He was just doing things his own way, whole - heartedly being kind to Mei Qingxue. He really liked that girl, truly!
"Keep your eyes peeled and cook today's dishes well. If Concubine Qin is happy, you'll all be rewarded. If the dishes are not good, you'll all be rewarded too."
"Eunuch Tang, what will the reward be if the dishes are not good?"
Eunuch Tang covered his mouth and laughed. "You'll be rewarded with big boards!"
"Ah, we don't want that," several cooks saw that Eunuch Tang was rarely in a good mood and joking, so they didn't dare to push their luck. They just responded with a laugh and went back to their jobs. Soon, the sound of garlic being chopped, vegetables being sliced, stir - frying, and the sound of the bellows could be heard in the imperial kitchen.
Eunuch Tang nodded in satisfaction.
Over the years, the emperor hadn't really neglected Concubine Qin. He had seen it all. He knew that the emperor didn't dare to see her. Those people had excluded Concubine Qin, and the emperor had seen it too. Concubine Qin didn't fight for anything, which made the emperor anxious. He wanted to force her to fight, but Concubine Qin was so proud that she would never beg.
They had been at odds for so many years. Coupled with the Sixth Prince's illness and injury, the relationship between the two of them was extremely stiff.