With another thud, Chu Qing fell off the bed.
Ignoring the pain in her body, Chu Qing only felt a wave of desolation in her heart.
The one who was painted wasn't even human!
It was a white tiger!!! And it was a white tiger named Qingqing!
Could it be that Wei Ying married Chu Qing because of that white tiger?
The original Chu Qing had really had a rough life.
Seeing Chu Qing fall, King Ning Wei Ying was hesitating whether to help her up or not when he saw her struggling to get up on her own and staggering forward.
Judging from the direction, she was heading towards a painting that had been hanging in his study for a long time.
Wei Ying raised his eyebrows and followed her quietly.
It was not until he saw Chu Qing reaching out to touch the painting that he stopped her in a somewhat stiff tone.
Chu Qing had unconsciously walked closer to the painting. Just as she was about to reach out and touch it involuntarily, she was stopped by Wei Ying's emotionless voice.
Chu Qing turned around slowly, looking a bit puzzled.
Realizing his attitude, Wei Ying softened his tone and said, "This painting hasn't been touched for a long time. There's a lot of dust on it. I'm afraid it will dirty Your Highness's hands."
Tsk, he had held it in his arms just a few months ago.
Chu Qing pouted but sensibly didn't make any more moves.
Could it be that this kid Wei Ying had some special fetishes?
Otherwise, why would he show such an expression towards a painting of a tiger?
Thinking of this, Chu Qing felt a shiver but quickly let it go.
Oh well, the young people nowadays had all sorts of strange ideas and were full of tricks. Just... let them be.
"Your Highness's expression seems to be..." somewhat disappointed? Wei Ying frowned for the first time.
"What's this painting about?" Chu Qing didn't answer Wei Ying's question but voiced her doubts.
"It's a white tiger I used to raise. Its name was also Qingqing." Wei Ying quickly smoothed his brows and looked at her appraisingly. He was very curious to know what kind of reaction Chu Qing would have when she knew that the white tiger was also named Qingqing.
Of course, he didn't know that Chu Qing had known about it long ago and had even been held by him as a painting.
Not noticing Wei Ying's gaze, Chu Qing continued to ask curiously, "Was this tiger given to you by someone?"
"Yes. It was given to me by the Grand Empress Dowager when I was young."
"Oh." Chu Qing nodded to show that she understood.
So it was a gift from the Grand Empress Dowager.
The Grand Empress Dowager was quite unique in her way of dealing with people. She gave such a special gift. If possible, they would surely be able to sit together and have a good chat over wine.
Hey?
The Grand Empress Dowager?
"The Grand Empress Dowager?!!!" Chu Qing exclaimed. Unconsciously, she grabbed the front of Wei Ying's robe with both hands.
Wei Ying looked down at Chu Qing's hands tightly clutching his robe and frowned again, but he didn't shake them off as he usually did.
"Qingqing seems to have some..."
"Ah, it's nothing." Seeing that Wei Ying's expression was a bit strange, Chu Qing forced a smile and let go of her hands!
Had she been acting as Chu Qing for too long and gone stupid? The Grand Empress Dowager was herself!
She never thought that the white tiger was actually a gift from herself.
But wasn't the gift she gave back then a little white cat...
Chu Qing pouted. She must have been old and dim-sighted at that time.
"Can I go and see it?" After calming down, Chu Qing wanted to go and see this "little guy". She wondered if it could still recognize her.
Ah, no. She had a new body. Even the most spiritual creatures probably wouldn't be able to recognize her.
Lost in memories, Chu Qing completely forgot what Wei Ying had said when she was still just a painting.
"It's gone." Wei Ying's voice was a bit low and hoarse when he spoke.
Chu Qing was stunned for a moment. She looked up at Wei Ying and stared directly into his dark eyes.
"Given away...?" Chu Qing couldn't quite believe what she thought it meant.
"It's dead." Wei Ying lowered his eyes. His long eyelashes covered his eyes.
Chu Qing frowned. Her expression was a bit complicated.
It was actually... dead.
The connection with the past was suddenly broken. It seemed that all the things in the past had suddenly passed.
Shangguan Wanyu was really in the past...
Chu Qing felt a bit sad. She looked up at Wei Ying, afraid of touching his sad memories, but still couldn't help asking carefully, "How... did it die?"
Only after asking did Chu Qing realize that her breathing had become heavy.
Wei Ying led Chu Qing back to the bed. After making her sit down, he slowly replied, "On the day the Grand Empress Dowager passed away, it was drugged." Saying this, Wei Ying no longer concealed his hostility. His face became extremely ugly.
"Drugged?"
It was even on the day she died. Chu Qing intuitively felt that there was something fishy going on. The death of that white tiger must be related to her own death.
Who on earth would harm her and even not spare the white tiger she gave away!
However, Chu Qing already knew one thing. The person must be of high status. Otherwise, how could an ordinary person get close to the King Ning's white tiger?
Maybe it was someone she knew well.
The corner of Chu Qing's mouth twitched. This was really interesting. Her rebirth seemed to be predestined.
At this moment, Chu Qing was also full of hostility.
But neither of the two people in the study noticed anything strange about the other.
It wasn't until someone knocked on the study door that the calm like before a storm was broken.
It was Wei Ju, the steward of the King Ning's Mansion.
"Your Highness, someone from the palace has come to report that the Empress Dowager would like to invite Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort..."
Saying this, Wei Ju looked at Chu Qing with a strange look in his eyes, so strange that it was almost rude.
Only then did Chu Qing remember the memories left by the original Chu Qing.
Her first time entering the palace could be said to be quite embarrassing.
Although she was the daughter of the richest man and had seen the world, she didn't know as many rules as those from the noble families. When entering the palace, Chu Qing was subjected to all kinds of probing, scrutiny, disdain, and contempt from all sides. Naturally, she lost her composure and was in a complete mess.
The steward looked at her like this, naturally afraid that she would disgrace the King Ning's Mansion again.
Wei Ying looked at Chu Qing beside him. After thinking for a while, he said, "If you don't want to go, you can say that you're not feeling well."
He was quite considerate.
However, he was being considerate to the original Chu Qing. If it were her here now, she would be extremely grateful.
But now, Chu Qing was no longer the original Chu Qing.
She was Shangguan Wanyu, the former Grand Empress Dowager. Court etiquette was really something she could do with her eyes closed.
Going to the palace was just like going home for her.
Thinking of seeing the Empress Dowager, Chu Qing couldn't help but want to laugh. What was there to be afraid of from a daughter-in-law who used to be respectful and submissive to her?
One doesn't know what happens after death. Now she could clearly see how some people were doing after her death.
Chu Qing then reached out and tugged at Wei Ying. Smiling, she said, "It's okay. As the Consort of King Ning, always being sick and ignoring worldly affairs will ultimately disgrace the King Ning's Mansion. Some things have to be gotten used to. Your Highness can rest assured."
Wei Ying was a bit surprised, but after seeing Chu Qing's determined eyes, he agreed.
Looking down at Chu Qing's hand holding his, how many times had she grabbed him today? He couldn't remember, but he seemed to be less and less repulsed. If it were someone else, he would probably have shaken them off without a sound.
He didn't know why. He used to not care about others at all. But now he was a bit concerned.
And this change seemed to have just happened, probably... after seeing Chu Qing wake up.
The always perceptive King Ning was very clear about the changes in his heart, but he never got annoyed because of such things. Let nature take its course. If it could really stir up his heart, it would also be an interesting thing.
Thinking of this, Wei Ying couldn't help but raise the corner of his mouth slightly.
Of course, Chu Qing didn't know that her grand-nephew had so many inner fluctuations. Her mind had already drifted to the palace, the place where she had lived for more than thirty years.
Old friends, old places, I wonder if you're all well.