Emperor Ming looked indifferently at the bustling alchemy scene not far away——
"Of course it's because, even if there is only one percent hope, I have to try again. Is it easy for me to win this country? Why should I give it up to others?"
He paused, as if he realized that he had said something wrong, and looked at Shangguan Hongye: "Of course, you are my designated heir, and you will always be."
"Father...please take back your life!" Shangguan Hongye's heart was filled with confusion, he clenched his fists and knelt down on one knee.
Emperor Ming frowned and looked at him indifferently: "Father, I will teach you another lesson. In this world, everyone serves the emperor and everything belongs to the emperor!"
He paused and chuckled: "Benevolence, righteousness, morality, reason, and trust are all the tools of an emperor's rule. They have been like this in all dynasties. If you can hear it yourself, why should you be an emperor if you really take it seriously?"
Shangguan Hongye took a deep breath: "Father, I beg you to take back your life. Once this matter is leaked, there will be an uproar in the government and the public..."
No matter how selfish my father is, he should still consider
"Leak it out? You all should watch your mouth carefully. Is there anything else that can be leaked?"
Emperor Ming said impatiently.
Shangguan Hongye raised his eyes and looked at him sharply: "Father, please take back your life!"
Emperor Ming kicked him on the shoulder angrily: "You little beast, Cang Qiao disobeyed me, what, you want to disobey me too!"
Shangguan Hongye was so strong, tall, and young, how could he be kicked down by Emperor Ming who was in a deficit?
But he still staggered a bit and sat on his knees, his heart feeling cold.
…
Huangji Hall
"His Majesty and His Highness the King of Qin seemed to have parted ways on bad terms. This time I vaguely heard that Your Majesty wanted to refine some elixir, and His Highness the King of Qin seemed to disagree."
Xiao Qizi reported to Cang Qiao who was reviewing the memorial.
Cang Qiao narrowed his eyes: "Our Emperor has learned so much that he even chooses the noisiest alchemy room to meet his son, hehe."
"So godfather, what are our people going to do..." Xiao Qizi asked in a low voice.
Cang Qiao said coldly: "Keep an eye on the Zhou family and see what they want to do."
But Cang Qiao didn't expect that the Zhou family didn't intend to cause trouble in the capital, but in northern Xinjiang.
So much so that by the time some news came back, it was already after the New Year.
Let’s say that today, New Year’s Eve, finally ushered in the first snow of early winter.
Although everyone who is busy with farm work knows that this winter snow has come too late, and next year's harvest will definitely not be good.
But every house still hangs colorful lanterns and has Spring Festival couplets pasted on the door.
Ming Lanruo put on a brocade winter skirt trimmed with snow fox fur, and led Xiao Xi, who was chubby in a snow fox coat, to watch the servants at the door posting Spring Festival couplets.
She looked at the fine snow in the sky and the red lanterns at the door, feeling a little dazed for a moment.
At this time last year, she and Xiao Xi were still nesting in the dilapidated wing of Prince Mou's Mansion, papering the windows and carefully hanging up the small lanterns that had been used for several years.
At this time of this year, Prince Mourning's Mansion has been changed to Concubine Ming's Mansion, and she has also gone from the worthless Concubine Ming, who was despised by everyone, to the 'hot' Concubine Ming now.
It turns out that in just one year... so many things have already happened.
Ming Lanruo gently tugged at the corners of her lips, feeling complicated and melancholy.
"Mom." Suddenly I felt a little fat dumpling cuddling next to me.
She looked down at the little guy: "What's wrong?"
"Mom, aren't you happy?" Xiao Xi looked at her with big eyes.
Ming Lanruo knelt down and gently touched the little guy's face: "No, mother just remembered in a daze a year ago that she really wronged my baby."
"No, the baby is the happiest when he is by his mother's side." Xiao Xi narrowed her big eyes, stretched out her little hands and hugged her neck tightly.
As long as his mother is by his side and doing well, he will be happy even if he goes to beg for food.
Of course, he would not let his mother beg for food!
Ming Lanruo hugged the little man in her arms tightly, closed her eyes, and smelled the warm and soft smell of the little man deeply, her eyelashes were slightly moist.
No matter what their parents are like, little children always love them deeply and unconditionally.
She was so lucky to be able to hold her lost treasure and lost person in her arms again.
"Let's go, it's time to go home."
A deep and cold voice suddenly sounded behind her and Xiao Xi.
Ming Lanruo paused, stood up, and turned to look at the man who appeared behind her at some unknown time.
Cang Qiao changed into a silver robe with dark patterns on the cloud brocade, a black fox cloak, and a jade belt around her waist. Her long hair was tied casually with white jade buttons, half of which was tied behind her head and half of which was scattered behind her back.
He was holding a lantern in his hand and stood quietly behind her, as if returning home on a snowy night.
She looked at him for a while, took his lantern and said with a smile, "Okay."
She guessed that he changed his clothes before coming out of the palace.
Cang Qiao looked down at Xiao Xi and suddenly stretched out her hand: "Come here."
Xiao Xi looked at him, flattened her mouth, and handed him her paw: "You came really late, everyone has already eaten the New Year's Eve dinner."
Cang Qiao was startled and looked at the child she was holding.
This time, the child rarely came up and said "uncle and grandpa" to him.
Although I still didn't call him anything else, it was already a big improvement.
Cang Qiao's lips curved into a warm smile: "There are a lot of things going on in the palace. I feel sorry for Xiao Xi'er for waiting, so I brought snacks from the palace."
Ming Lanruo listened to the rare peaceful conversation between father and son, with a gentle smile in her eyes.
For her sake, Xiao Xi gradually began to accept Cang Qiao, which was a good thing.
They entered the house together surrounded by people.
Chunhe followed behind and watched, thinking with a smile.
Although the eldest lady and Chitose still couldn't hold hands in front of everyone, they walked side by side like a family of three.
Entering Ming Lanruo's room, Cang Qiao saw four dishes and one soup on the table, which were steaming hot and fragrant.
He was stunned for a moment: "What is this?"
"For the New Year's Eve dinner, Xiao Xi said that I would wait for you to come and have another reunion dish." Ming Lanruo took off her cloak and handed it to Chun He, saying with a smile.
Cang Qiao looked at Xiao Xi, didn't the little guy say he had eaten?
But she saw him making a face at her: "I'm not waiting for you, I just wasn't hungry just now."
Seeing this, Cang Qiao raised her eyebrows slightly and asked with a smile: "Okay, then Xiaoxi, would you like to have dinner with me?"
Chunming and the others who were waiting at his side all left the room obediently.
Xiao Xi twisted her butt, climbed onto his special high stool, and pointed to the rosewood chair next to her seriously: "Give me a seat, Eunuch Cang."
Cang Qiao's eyes twitched before she praised this little bastard for not being a monster, and now he's starting to do it again. Who does this bad guy look like?
Ming Lanruo couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Pfft."
I don’t know if this is true, but evil people will be punished by evil people.
But Cang Qiao reached out, held her slender palm, and whispered: "Are you happy that I was bullied?"
His hands were long, dry and warm, and he pulled her beside him and sat down.
Ming Lanruo took the jug and poured him a glass of wine: "How dare you? It's just that the Governor didn't have a New Year's gift this year. No wonder Xiao Xi is angry."
Cang Qiao took the drink and looked at Xiao Xi: "The gift has been prepared for you, but do you want to go outside and ask Xiao Qizi?"
When Xiao Xi heard this, she didn't even bother to eat, and jumped down to the ground: "Thank you!"
He rushed outside in a hurry.
Ming Lanruo had no choice but to get up and follow her: "Slow down! Don't fall!"
But Cang Qiao grabbed her and carried her to the window to sit: "Ruoruo, don't you ask about the gift I gave you?"
Ming Lanruo squinted her eyes and said warily: "What makes me cry so happy is this kind of gift, you boss can keep it for yourself!"
Cang Qiao was silent: "I am so obscene in your heart?"
Ming Lanruo: "Aren't you?"
Cang Qiao curled her lips dangerously and whispered in her ear: "This is what you asked for, so I might as well exchange it for this obscene gift."
Ming Lanruo immediately smiled: "No, you are always a humble gentleman, with a noble character that no one can match."
