Seeing his reaction, Qin Zheng also felt somewhat moved, but she still breathed a sigh of relief imperceptibly.
Thank goodness, she hadn’t mistaken the person.
With Chu Chengji absent from Qingzhou, Qin Zheng naturally held the most authority to speak at the moment.
Qin Jian didn’t forget the purpose of his trip to Bailu Academy.
He introduced Cen Daoxi to Qin Zheng, “This is Mr. Daoxi.”
Cen Daoxi bowed to Qin Zheng, “I have met Princess Consort.”
He wore a cyan Confucian robe, with his bones even more outstanding than his appearance.
At first glance, he seemed gentle and clear, but the slight curl of his lips seemed to carry a hint of the sharpness typical of literati, faintly revealing a leisurely attitude towards life.
Qin Zheng nodded in acknowledgment, “Mr. Daoxi, you need not be so polite. Your name is well-known, and thanks to you, the crisis in Nanjun was resolved, averting a disaster.
To have your assistance now is also a blessing for His Highness and the people of the world.”
Flattering words like this were a dime a dozen when Qin Zheng followed Song Heqing in handling official documents.
It was just praising people, and she could praise endlessly without using heavy words.
After all, flattering wasn’t like giving real gold and silver; anyone could do it with sugar-coated bullets.
Qin Jian had originally been worried that Qin Zheng didn’t know who Cen Daoxi was, but hearing her praise him, even able to praise something out of nothing, his heart finally settled.
While feeling relieved, there was also a sense of bitterness.
The collapse of the country and the family had brought too much weight upon his younger sister.
From the girl who once only knew poetry and songs, she was forced to grow into someone who could navigate power with ease.
Looking at Qin Zheng, his gaze carried both tenderness and the complexity he alone understood.
After their father passed away, as the eldest brother, he had failed to protect his two sisters.
Cen Daoxi was somewhat surprised by Qin Zheng’s words.
It seemed that this Qin family woman was not just known as the “number one beauty of Chu” for nothing.
With just a few words, she not only mentioned his accomplishments over the years, but also showed the friendship of the host, and subtly directed the conversation towards the common people.
This Princess Consort was not simple!
When he bowed again, the leisurely demeanor about him subsided slightly, “Princess Consort, your praise is too much.”
“Mr. Daoxi has traveled a long way with his family, and must be weary from the journey. Song Daren, please take Mr. Daoxi back to the mansion for rest,” Qin Zheng said to Song Heqing beside her.
Cen Daoxi had come under Chu Chengji’s command to serve as an adviser.
Now that Chu Chengji was not in Qingzhou, whatever specific tasks he had could be arranged by Song Heqing.
Song Heqing then led Cen Daoxi onto the carriage.
They had both served as officials in the court in previous years and had been demoted to county offices.
There were countless topics they could discuss, and with the recent torrential rain causing flooding in some villages along the Qingzhou riverside, coupled with Cen Daoxi’s experience in disaster relief, the two of them chatted happily along the way.
Qin Zheng then accompanied Qin Madam and Qin Jian to a villa that had been prepared in advance.
After getting off the carriage, Qin Zheng led Qin Madam on a tour of the two-compound house, “This place is next to the Qingzhou prefectural office, so it’s convenient for you and elder brother to find me when you need to.
There are four servants in the outer courtyard, and four rough servants in the inner courtyard. There are two maids waiting inside the house, and the cook in charge of cooking is from Bian.”
“Beijing locals, skilled in cooking Bianjing-style dishes... If there’s anything else that isn’t quite right, feel free to have someone inform me.”
As Qin Zheng was speaking, she noticed that Qin Madam had remained silent the whole time.
When she turned to look, she saw tears shimmering in Qin Madam’s eyes.
She hurriedly stepped forward to comfort her, “Mother, what’s wrong?”
Qin Madam looked at her familiar yet unfamiliar daughter with emotion in her heart. “Ah Zheng, you’ve grown up...”
She pulled Qin Zheng to sit down, feeling sentimental. “It feels like just yesterday you were wearing your wedding dress and getting married.
Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, everything would change... Before your father was imprisoned, his greatest worry was you. Now that he knows you’re safe, he can rest in peace.”
Qin Zheng said, “Father devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Great Chu, and His Highness often remembers him. When we reclaim Bianjing, we will surely honor Father and restore his tomb.”
After all, Duke Qin had died after being sentenced, so the funeral was simple.
To avoid suspicion, apart from a few close friends, few court officials came to send him off.
However, on the day of the burial, the city was filled with commoners dressed in white, which at least gave the Duke of Qin a dignified farewell.
Qin Madam wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
“Good child, you’re thoughtful. Your father never cared about those empty titles in his lifetime, and he wouldn’t care after death either.
As long as the Great Chu has capable successors and the people are spared from disasters, and you three children are well, he will be content.”
Qin Zheng held Qin Madam’s hands with both of hers. “Mother must also take care of herself. Father can only rest in peace if you’re well.”
Qin Madam sighed with emotion. “You were always the most sensible of the three children.
Your elder brother was a little rascal when he was young, causing trouble everywhere.
How many times did your father chase him with a ruler to spank him? Your younger sister was born prematurely and was frail from birth, so your father and I inevitably worried more about her...”
At this point, Qin Madam looked at Qin Zheng with a hint of guilt in her eyes. “You were the most sensible, yet we took care of you the least.
After you married into the Eastern Palace, your father never had a day of joy.
At that time, he was afraid that His Highness would mistreat you, and when Bianjing fell, he was afraid you would suffer on the road of exile...”
The original self had chosen a path for the sake of the family and loved ones, so Qin Zheng had no right to say anything.
However, after knowing the reason why the original crown prince married her, Qin Zheng was sure that the original self hadn’t suffered much in the Eastern Palace.
She lowered her eyes. “Mother, there’s no need to be sad.
His Highness is not as absurd as the rumors say.
He... treats me very well.
On the way to the temporary palace, he has always taken care of me.
It’s just that after several life-and-death experiences and a serious illness, I don’t remember many things from the past.”
In the future, she would have to get along closely with Qin Madam and Qin Jian.
Qin Zheng was afraid that if she didn’t reveal her lack of memory from the beginning, more flaws would show up over time.
Qin Madam’s eyes were full of tenderness.
She naturally knew how strict the martial law in Bianjing had been those days and how tightly the entire Duke of Qin’s mansion had been surrounded by rebel forces.
Even if they wanted to help, they couldn’t do anything.
Their daughter and the crown prince must have suffered a lot on their escape journey.
She sighed with distress, “My unfortunate daughter, have you seen a doctor?”
Qin Zheng nodded, “His Highness has consulted a famous doctor. The doctor said that I suffered too many shocks and sorrows, resulting in some memory loss under great grief. There’s no medicine for it, only gradual recovery through rest.”
Hearing this, Qin Madam couldn’t help but hug her daughter tightly.
Qin Zheng cried for a while.
After Qin Jian arranged for the servants to move their belongings into the mansion, he came to find them.
Just as he arrived, he happened to see this scene.
He hesitated for a moment by the door before withdrawing.
Leaning against the wall, he looked up at the sky, forcing back the bitterness in his eyes.
Mother and sister could cry, but as the pillar of the Qin family, he must not shed tears again.
When they were escorted out of the city by the Crown Prince’s men, he learned that it was through the clandestine network of the Lu family that they could safely leave the city.
He had already begun to plan how to stabilize his position by the Crown Prince’s side.
The Qin family should be the strongest support for his sister, not relying on her connections to barely survive and becoming a burden to her.
So he went to Bailu Academy to meet with Cen Daoxi for a full half month before convincing him to come out of seclusion.
When the mother and daughter stopped crying and had regained their composure, he finally stepped into the room, pretending to have just arrived. “I saw the servants moving our things into the rooms earlier. We can take our time to organize tomorrow.
Ah Zheng, I also brought over the paintings you and Sheng’er made in the past. Take a look and decide whether to take them back to the mansion or leave them here.”
Qin Zheng replied, “Let’s leave them here.”
Those paintings made in the women’s chambers were also the only memories left by the original self for her loved ones.
At the mention of Qin Sheng, both Qin Madam and Qin Jian couldn’t help but feel heavy-hearted.
Qin Madam sighed, “Speaking of Sheng’er, I wonder how she’s doing in Beiting...”
Both daughters were forced into marriage, which was always a scar in Qin Madam’s heart.
Qin Zheng, who had been in charge of Qingzhou’s affairs for so long, had indeed not received any letters from Beiting.
She reassured Qin Madam, “His Highness is gaining power. Even the Marquis won’t make things difficult for Sheng’er.
I’ll write a letter in His Highness’s name to Beiting when I go back, and when His Highness finishes the battle with the court, we’ll bring Sheng’er back.”
With seventy thousand troops from the court pressing forward, it seemed that they were in a weak position.
That’s why Qin Jian was so eager to invite Cen Daoxi out of seclusion.
If they won this battle, they could occupy the Jianghuai area and resist the court together with Beiting in the future.
If they lost, they might end up like when Bianjing fell, becoming a ruined family.
In the distant north, in Leizhou.
Xie Chi leaned lazily against his chair, his feet casually resting on the low table in front of him.
The auspicious cloud patterns embroidered on his boots were exquisite and exquisite.
He flipped through the letters in his hand, a hint of mischievousness hiding between his delicate brows.
After reading them, he threw the letters aside and slumped bonelessly into the chair, tapping the table to signal the handsome youth beside him to read the letters:
“Look, the Chu family has really grasped the art of politics.
They were talking to the old man earlier about having evidence that Li Xin, that scoundrel, sent to Liangzhou to the barbarians.
I went to great lengths to save that crown prince’s sister-in-law, and now they don’t mention the evidence at all.
Instead, they say that after they take control of Jianghuai, they’re willing to join forces with us to overthrow Li Xin.
This pie they’re offering is one after another, and they’re not afraid of choking people.”
The handsome youth just smiled lightly.
Xie Chi glanced at him sideways. “What are you laughing at?”
The youth said, “If the Crown Prince can rise in Qingzhou and quickly occupy the strategic location of Xuzhou, he must not be as incompetent as the rumors say.
If he can really take control of Jianghuai in the future and join forces with Beiting, it would indeed be a good opportunity.
Saving the sister-in-law of the Crown Prince may have been a wise move.”
“The matter with the princess’s sister-in-law also helped to relieve the pressure on Beiting.
If we really let her go to Northern Barbarian for a marriage alliance, Li Xin would have plenty to do on his side.
Even if he sends troops north to attack us, it would be a justified move. Seizing this opportunity to lift the siege on Beiting and making the Crown Prince owe us a favor, what’s wrong with that?”
With that, he looked at Xie Chi. “Could it be that Second Brother is still holding a grudge against that bite mark from the horse?”
This person was the eldest son of the Marquis Lianqin, Xie Huan.
He hadn’t mentioned this matter before, but as soon as he did, Xie Chi’s face turned dark. “I shouldn’t have personally gone to rescue her.
What does it matter if I got bitten? I brought her back safe and sound, but I was still punished by Father with thirty military canes!”
Xie Huan shook his head helplessly. “Who asked you to let that girl groom the horse?
The horse, Zuiyun, is fierce-tempered.
Even the stable boys dare not approach it on ordinary days.
Fortunately, she only scared herself and fell, scraping her hand.
If Zuiyun had kicked her, Father wouldn’t have been able to explain it to the Crown Princess.”
Xie Chi still felt aggrieved when he thought about it. “She vomited on Zuiyun.”
The whole of Beiting knew that their young master cherished his horse steed more than anything.
He closed his eyes lazily. “Southern women are troublesome.”
The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.
He resolved to stay as far away from them as possible in the future!
Xie Huan sighed softly. “Miss Qin grew up sheltered in the deep chambers of the family.
She has never touched an arrow or ridden a horse since she was young. Now that she’s stranded in this foreign land, why must you target her at every turn?”
Xie Chi suddenly sat up, looking at his usually silent elder brother with confusion. “Brother, why do I feel like you’ve been acting strange lately?”