Author: Liuyun Hairpin

"Why didn't you tell me in advance that eldest sister was coming, so that I could prepare something to entertain her?"

Hearing the soft female voice behind her, Song Qinglan turned away, looked at the door of the hall, and slowly stood up from the chair.

After not seeing each other for so many years, her third sister had become so graceful. Song Qinglan smiled, took a few steps forward to meet Song Qing'an, and wished each other good luck.

"It's rare to come back to the palace, and you and I haven't seen each other for many years. So I came directly. Qing'an won't blame me, right?"

Song Qinglan held Song Qing'an's hand and looked at her calmly while smiling. The person in front of her was wearing a tooth-white flowered coat today, white jade earrings, and her hair was simply tied up with a coral hairpin, which was quite simple and elegant.

"Sister, I was joking, please sit over here."

Song Qing'an smiled and took Song Qinglan to sit down. When she just arrived, she saw many unfamiliar faces standing outside the hall, presumably brought by her eldest sister.

"Zhu Yan, you go down, I'll talk to the eldest sister about myself."

The bamboo smoke left the side hall and closed the door. For a moment, the hall became a little dark.

Neither of them spoke, but Song Qing'an started brewing tea. The fragrance dissipated, and even Song Qinglan couldn't help but close her eyes and take a sniff.

"The tea in Sanmei Palace smells so good."

Song Qing'an was making a cup, and after hearing this, he handed it to Song Qinglan: "Thank you for the compliment, eldest sister. Please give it a try."

Song Qinglan picked up the teacup and asked before taking a sip: "Where does this tea come from, Sanmei?"

Song Qing'an moved slowly and replied: "It was sent by Concubine Chen. The empress said that this is a new tea cultivated in Linzhou."

Concubine Chen?

Song Qinglan froze. The tea in front of her was neither drinking nor drinking.

She took a small sip, only to feel her diaphragm panicking, so she put down the tea cup without drinking more.

Song Qing'an looked at her expression, saw her looking over again, and quickly lowered her eyelashes to hide the smile in her eyes.

“Really good tea.”

Song Qinglan reluctantly praised him, but Song Qing'an didn't answer, and the hall became quiet again.

Song Qing'an is so obvious, does he have something to do with Concubine Chen, or does he not?

Song Qinglan suppressed the doubts in her heart and waited patiently for Song Qingan to speak.

The latter finally made the tea leisurely, raised his eyes to look at Song Qinglan, and said with a slight smile: "That's natural."

"Eldest sister, are you anxious to see me? What's the matter?"

"What are you talking about? Does it mean that I can't come see you if I have nothing to do?"

Song Qinglan said angrily, trying to hold Song Qing'an's hand very intimately. Song Qing'an calmly moved his hand away from holding the tea cup, leaving Song Qinglan to touch the empty space.

"Eldest sister's return is sudden. You can't be in a hurry to see me, right?"

There was a hint of thorn in Song Qing'an's words, but it made Song Qinglan feel a little relieved.

If Song Qingan really showed no grudges, she would feel that what her mother said was probably true.

"You and I are sisters after all. Even if I come here for other reasons, I should come and see you."

Song Qinglan smiled nonchalantly, stood up and said, "I won't bother you anymore, I'll leave first."

"Sister, walk slowly."

Song Qing'an bowed respectfully, but showed no intention of holding back. Song Qinglan didn't care either. He looked at her lovingly like a child having a tantrum, then withdrew his gaze and left.

It wasn't until the shadow of Song Qinglan's last servant passed across the corridor that Song Qing'an straightened up, all emotions gone from his face.

The eldest sister is here... I am afraid she is here to test the relationship between her and Concubine Chen.

But what exactly is she going to do when she returns to Beijing?

Song Qing'an lowered her eyes and concentrated, recalling the exhaustion that could not be concealed in her eyes when Song Qinglan was still in the palace.

It's not a trivial matter that can make her, the eldest sister, feel tired.

Could it be that something happened to her people from Linzhou in Beijing?

If that's the case, you don't have to worry too much about the eldest sister's troubles.

"Princess, Miss Yu Shu is here."

Song Qing'an's eyes lit up: "Please come in quickly."

——

Qinzhou.

Qiu Wenhua had an arm chopped off during the battle and had been resting for the past few days. Although Song Qinghuai had some minor injuries, he was much better than Qiu Wenhua.

Just as the medical officer came to change Qiu Wenhua's dressing, in order to divert attention, Qiu Wenhua talked to Song Qinghuai.

"Your Highness, General Xiye, don't you need to send someone to interrogate him?"

"No need." Song Qinghuai smiled warmly, "Leave him alone to make him anxious and suspicious."

"Yes." Qiu Wenhua nodded, "I wonder who Xiye will send to negotiate peace."

"If I remember correctly, there is still a delegation in Daliang at Xiye."

Song Qinghuai seemed to mention it unintentionally, and Qiu Wenhua's eyes immediately focused.

"Yes... let's wait for His Majesty's decree."

Estimating the time, the report should have reached the capital, and I think there will be an imperial edict in the future.

Song Qinghuai sat down again and chatted with Qiu Wenhua for a few words. When he saw that the medicine was almost replaced, he stood up and left.

It was a rare sunny day in Qinzhou today. Linyuan was waiting outside the tent when he saw Song Qinghuai coming and hurried to greet him.

"Have people been sent?"

"Your Highness, everything has been arranged."

Song Qinghuai nodded briefly and glanced in the direction of General Dahe's camp.

After so many days...it's time to give him some information.

——

A few days after Song Qinglan returned to Beijing, the palace was relatively calm.

But in fact, Song Qinglan had sent people to search the center and suburbs of Beijing several times, but still no trace of Xie Hesi was found.

Although they were careful enough, they still attracted the attention of Dongchang. Several people have been arrested by Dongchang and their whereabouts are unknown.

Song Qinglan was not worried that the person who was taken away would be exposed. She was more worried that Pei Qing would guess it directly and find Xie Hesi before them.

If Xie Hesi falls into Dongchang's hands... it won't be a good idea.

Because, her consort Xie Hechen was actually a member of the Pingshan Party who opposed Pei.

Dongchang has always wanted to deal with Xie Hechen, but it was difficult to do so due to his status. If his sister was caught, the situation would be completely different.

Song Qinglan was so anxious that she almost never left Changle Palace and contacted her subordinates all day long. On the contrary, Pei Qing was hardly in the palace these days.

Song Qing'an couldn't see Pei Qing for several days in a row. Every time he asked someone, the answer he got was: "Master Zhang Yin is not in the palace. Princess, please come back another day."

If Pei Qing hadn't confirmed with her earlier, Song Qing'an would have doubted whether Pei Qing had done this deliberately because he disliked her.

Pei Qing has been extremely busy these days. It is said that the court can be called peaceful now. Even King Xuan is about to leave the capital. What can he do to deserve this?

Song Qing was so bored that he was cutting flower branches in the palace, but the table was full of redundant branches.

"Cuizhu, what do you think Pei Zhangyin is busy with?"

Song Qingan suddenly spoke, shocking Cuizhu.

"Reporting to the princess, my maid... my maid doesn't know."

"I'm confused. I'm asking you what to do."

Song Qing'an chuckled lightly, raised her hand and cut again. She sat facing the window pane, the sunlight shining on her face, which gave her a strange sense of beauty. For some reason, Cuizhu always felt that Song Qing'an's action of cutting the flower branches seemed careless.

A sense of cruelty.

Very much like...Master Palmprint.

Cuizhu lowered his head silently, not daring to look any further.

Song Qing'an seemed to have mentioned it casually and didn't ask Cuizhu again. She put down the scissors and told Cuizhu to clear the table.

Taking advantage of this free time, Song Qingan went to the side hall.

Zhu Yan took the opportunity to put the note into Song Qing'an's hand. She quickly read it and then took a deep breath.

"Very good……"

Song Qingan clutched the note and murmured.

"Brother...brother can finally come back."

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Chapter completed!