Chu Qing originally thought the emperor would say something more emotional to tug at her heartstrings.
It wasn't until she heard what had happened to her treasured jar of fine wine and her favorite jade bracelet that the kind smile on Chu Qing's face gradually turned into a hideous one.
That jar of wine was osmanthus wine she had brewed herself using the finest ingredients. As for the jade bracelet, it was her most precious possession! She usually didn't even dare to wear it herself, but this damned brat actually... gave it to a little girl!
Outrageous! It was enough to make her die of anger all over again!
Especially... Chu Qing seemed to hear something shattering in her heart.
Seeing that this brat was about to say something else, she quickly stopped him. If she heard something from the mouth of this most noble emperor that she didn't know in her previous life, Chu Qing was afraid she wouldn't be able to control herself and would really kick this guy off the roof.
She didn't want to bear the reputation of regicide!
Thankfully, the emperor stopped in time and suddenly became emotional again.
However, after Chu Qing's mood that was originally going to be a bit sentimental was distracted, it was hard to get back on track.
Chu Qing stared at the emperor expressionlessly. No matter how much the other person missed her, his imperial grandmother, she didn't want to give him a good look!
Seeing a hint of wetness in the emperor's eyes, Wei Ying slowly spoke up, "Why are you hiding here alone drinking?"
Wei Ying didn't know what had happened during the day.
The emperor looked up at Wei Ying absent - mindedly, then reached out and patted the space beside him. "Why don't you sit down and keep me company for a while."
Seeing that he was still in a gloomy mood, Chu Qing sat down on one side of him first. Seeing this, Wei Ying also sat down on the other side.
"Tell us. Why did you suddenly come here to drink your sorrows away?" Wei Ying continued.
The emperor's gaze seemed to be looking into the distance. After a pause, he slowly said, "What do you think the queen is like?"
Chu Qing's heart skipped a beat. After thinking for a moment, she said, "The queen is a gentle and kind girl."
Hearing Chu Qing's answer, the emperor grinned and said, "Yes, she is so gentle and kind. I fell in love with her at first sight. In this world full of intrigue and strife, there could actually be such a beautiful thing. But..."
Saying this, the emperor's smile gradually faded, and then there was a deep and unfathomable look in his eyes. "Do you think she is a scheming woman?"
Wei Ying didn't seem to be very interested in this kind of topic. So he had been silent from the beginning, just lying down and propping his head on his arm. No one knew what he was thinking.
"Your Majesty... why do you ask this?" Chu Qing thought of what the queen had told her before, and now the emperor suddenly asked if they thought the queen was a scheming woman. Chu Qing felt blocked and confused in her heart.
Please don't let it be... what she was thinking.
Hearing Chu Qing's question, the emperor turned to look at her, then lowered his head. His body trembled a few times. No one knew if he was laughing or not.
"The Consort Xuan's child. She once told me that she liked it and wanted to keep it. But... why did she harm that child? If she didn't like it, she could have told me. I could have done it myself. I didn't want her to be involved in such a dirty thing at all."
"???" Chu Qing's eyes widened in shock.
If she understood correctly, the emperor meant... it was the queen who had harmed the Consort Xuan's child!
The queen thought it was the emperor, while the emperor thought it was the queen.
Coincidentally, both of them had confided in her.
Undoubtedly, Chu Qing believed the emperor more. Because he had no reason to frame the woman he loved. But the queen... she also had no reason to frame the emperor...
If this kind of thing happened between two concubines in the harem, it would be worth investigating. But when it happened between the emperor and the queen... was there some other hidden story?
Just as Chu Qing was struggling with whether to tell the emperor about the queen, Wei Ying, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up, "Your Majesty, have you confirmed that it was the queen who did this?"
The emperor was stunned but didn't say a word.
Without real evidence, the two of them were just relying on their own feelings?
They were really two silly kids.
"Do you know that the queen thought it was you who did this?" Chu Qing finally couldn't hold back and slowly said.
"What?" This time it was the emperor's turn to look shocked. There was a hint of confusion in his tone. "She thought... it was me?"
Seeing the emperor's expression, Chu Qing sighed softly. It seemed that she still needed to make some things clear.
Otherwise, with the personalities of these two people, just relying on their own assumptions, the estrangement and misunderstandings would only get bigger and bigger.
So Chu Qing continued, "You think it was her who did it, and she thinks it was you. Why don't you have an open - hearted talk? And most importantly now, if it wasn't either of you, then... who on earth harmed the Consort Xuan's unborn child?"
Hearing this, the confusion in the emperor's eyes was replaced by coldness. "Since it wasn't her who did it, no matter whether I like this child or not, anyone who harms him without my permission will surely pay the price!"
"Your Majesty, don't be too worried. The truth of the matter will surely come to light soon." Chu Qing really didn't know how to reply, so she could only give a mediocre consolation.
The night sky served as a backdrop, and the bright moon hung high in the sky.
At this moment, Chu Qing, Wei Ying, and the emperor were sitting side by side. Time seemed to stand still, like a very harmonious painting.
The three of them sat quietly for a while. Chu Qing felt a bit cold. She said shyly in a low voice, "Are you tired? How about... going back to rest first?"
"Okay." Seeing that Chu Qing was obviously tired, Wei Ying and the emperor replied in unison.
After sending the emperor to Weiyang Palace, Chu Qing and the emperor were really going to leave the palace. How the emperor and the queen communicated was their own business. Chu Qing just wanted to go back to the prince's mansion and have a good sleep for three days and three nights!
...
"My lord, why have you come!"
"I heard you had a miscarriage. Can't I come to see you?" The man placed his hand on the woman's face and gently stroked it as if he cherished her very much.
The woman seemed a bit scared. Her body was trembling slightly.
"What, are you afraid of me? You're not afraid of the emperor, but you're afraid of me?" The man's voice carried an indescribable sense of danger.
Seeing this, the woman quickly nestled into his arms. "I'm afraid my lord will be angry with me for acting on my own."
The man smiled, but it looked a bit sharp in the dark night. "This child came at the wrong time anyway. If it was born, it would only bother me. My emperor nephew seems to have grown more capable now. After this period is over, I'll plant another one in you..." Saying this, the man hooked the corner of his mouth slyly. "The queen is a useless woman. When the time comes, I'll help you get on that position, and then make my son the crown prince. That will be interesting! It doesn't matter that this one is gone."
The woman smelled a pungent fragrance in the man's not - so - warm arms. She frowned slightly but didn't say a word.
Since she couldn't win the emperor's heart, she could only look for other ways.