Volume 1: Painting Hall Spring Chapter 44: Keep Li Han
The news that the princess's friend had moved into Prince Heng's Mansion spread out within two days.
But Qingxi didn't care too much, and her life continued as usual.
After the Dragon Boat Festival, the weather gradually became sultry, and she felt increasingly tired and reluctant to move. Therefore, she did not leave the palace much unless summoned by the palace.
She said it was a Dragon Boat Festival banquet, and she found it very boring. As expected, Prince Guang, who had been staying at home for a long time, was absent from the Dragon Boat Festival family banquet due to poor health, but this did not affect the interaction between everyone. She Taking a quick look, it turned out that all the men were carrying purses. She felt a little unhappy. Why were all the purses so high-quality? She knew that each one of them was very well made, and they were really big and hung in a conspicuous place. Swaggering! She thought again and breathed a sigh of relief for Xiao Yizheng. If he was allowed to wear her purse that was still lying in the wooden box, it would really damage his handsome and unrestrained image. Or, if he were , will you wear another purse?
She shook her head subconsciously, and the frequency of fanning in her hand increased unknowingly.
"Girl, I heard from Sister Meng that Miss Li from Xiying Hall has been making things difficult for her these past two days." Yueying seemed to know who she was thinking of, so she mentioned this at the right time.
Qingxi paused, then gently pressed the fan against her chin and pointed out. She asked quietly: "Making things difficult for her? Why?"
Yueying shook her head. "I didn't elaborate, I just mentioned it casually."
Qingxi's hand began to slowly shake the fan again. Li Han had lived in the palace for three days, and she had not left the palace during these three days. She only came to Lanyuan once to thank her. Although she was not a peaceful and approachable person, But making things difficult for a female official is not something a woman like her would do.
"Girl, what are your plans for Miss Li? Someone in the house said..." Yueying's words were squeaky.
Qingxi felt tired of listening, so she added herself: "She is His Highness's confidante."
Yueying's mouth tightened, and her face looked troubled. She was even angrier than Qingxi.
Qingxi smiled: "Your Highness has left the mansion, have the rules in the mansion been loosened?"
Yueying's eyebrows are slightly curved, and she is very puzzled. Why, the person who usually never mentions rules and ignores them starts to talk about rules now?
Qingxi stopped smiling, fanned the fan, and said, "Go and invite Uncle Zhong."
Seeing her expression, Yueying knew that she was serious.
Uncle Zhong was a little surprised when he walked into Chaolan Garden. This was the first time that the princess took the initiative to look for him. He didn't know why.
Qingxi had a warm smile on his face, but he also got straight to the point: "Uncle Zhong, I will tell you something directly. If what I say is inappropriate, you will always give me advice."
Uncle Zhong said humbly: "Princess, you don't need to be so polite, you are just trying to offend me."
"I invited Miss Li to live in the palace. She and His Highness are indeed old acquaintances, but some rumors cannot spread from the palace. For example, the relationship between His Highness and Miss Li."
What kind of person Uncle Zhong is, he will understand as soon as he hears these words. "What the princess said is absolutely true. Recently, some people in the palace have indeed been talking privately. Although there are reminders, they don't pay enough attention. Princess, don't worry, I will strictly control them."
The smile on Qingxi's lips remained unchanged and she nodded: "Although His Highness is not here, Prince Heng's Mansion cannot make any mistakes."
Uncle Zhong hesitated for a while and then said with a smile: "I think His Highness and Miss Li are just friends. To put it bluntly, I watched His Highness grow up. With His Highness's character, if it is true that he and Miss Li are so-called What a confidant, then maybe Miss Li has already lived in Xiying Palace."
Qingxi frowned slightly and glanced at Uncle Zhong.
Uncle Zhong looked calm.
Li Han could have lived in Xiying Palace a long time ago? She did not agree with this point of view. She remembered that Xiao Yizheng once said to her that the royal family has been full of strife since ancient times, and he did not want to involve her, let alone his confidante. He did not welcome it.
Her entry into the house is not a form of protection.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Uncle Zhong was unsure of her attitude, so he changed his tone and whispered: "There is something I want to ask the princess for advice."
"Uncle Zhong, please tell me."
"Tingmeng is now eighteen years old, and no one in her family can worry about her life-long affairs. There are also mostly grown men in the house. His Highness was not in the house before, so this matter was delayed. Now that the princess is here, I selfishly thought that it was
Don't you want the princess to make a decision for Ting Meng?" he asked tentatively.
The corner of Qingxi's mouth moved, as if she was thinking seriously. After a while, she said, "What about Meng's own opinion?"
Uncle Zhong smiled and said: "My daughter is so shy, how could she take the initiative to mention it?"
"Then Uncle Zhong has someone to choose?"
"Ting Meng has served His Highness for many years, so this candidate should be selected carefully. I think there should be people of similar age and promising potential among the palace guards. However, we must leave it to the princess's arrangements."
Qingxi was silent for a while, "I've written this down, but I still want to hear her own opinion."
She spent the next half day thinking about how to talk to Tingmeng. Why did the princess still have to do the job of securing a match and pulling strings? It was really worrying. Speaking of which, she herself was still an "unmarried person".
The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became, and she complained with Xiao Yizheng. Well, if it weren't for her, she wouldn't have had to deal with these things! But this person hasn't even sent back a verbal lecture. He has his own letter.
Didn't receive it? I wonder how he is doing in Southwest? Are things going smoothly?
She stared at the clouds dyed red by the setting sun with wide eyes, feeling a little lost. Until Qingsong's smiling face appeared in front of her eyes, she suddenly moved, as if she was frightened: "When did you come?"
Qingsong lifted the hem of his clothes and sat down next to her carelessly. "I'll be there when you act stupid."
Qingxi rolled her eyes at her and then noticed that he was wearing night clothes. "What are you dressed up like? Did you climb over the wall and come in?"
Qingsong chuckled: "I'm not as stupid as you. Climb over the wall? I don't need to be beaten. I walked into the palace openly..." He deliberately said in a long voice: "The main entrance... came in."
Qingxi raised her head and sighed: "How can you play with this?"
Qingsong patted her little head: "This mood is wrong! My husband is away from home, so he is listless? Is it because of that strange woman in the house?"
Qingxi straightened her back and raised her eyebrows: "What do you think?"
Qingsong smiled lightly: "Since you have decided to keep her in the house, you have your own considerations."
"Do your parents know?"
"I know, but they don't know the inside story. So they still think that Li Han is your good friend. I think it was right to inform you of her situation at the beginning."
After Li Han provoked and left on the street that day, Qingsong walked quickly, not because he was afraid that Qingxi would ask him questions in depth, but to investigate Li Han's situation. In order not to expose himself, he hired different people along the way.
He followed her step by step from a distance until he reached the Shangdu branch of the Changfeng Escort Agency.
Qingxi nodded, frowned and asked him: "What brings you here today?" She looked at the sky outside the house, and then said: "Come from Dali Temple? You haven't had dinner yet?"
Qingsong smiled faintly: "I am busy with official duties, so naturally I have something to do when I come here. I just asked Yueying to prepare it. I will just eat the food in the palace."
Qingxi glanced at him sideways: "What's the matter?"
Qingsong lowered his voice, seriousened his expression, and said seriously: "My sister-in-law has arrived in the southwest, and it is said that he has been meeting friends recently. My father and I analyzed that he should have some arrangements in the southwest. But today, something happened in Dali Temple
, a prisoner died in prison. He was an official from Southwest China who was brought back by his father to be involved in corruption. He apparently committed suicide out of fear of crime. Do you still remember that day when you were minding your own business in the Meijing Building and I happened to be with His Highness? "
Qingxi nodded.
"That day, His Highness actually asked me to pay more attention to the officials suspected of corruption in prison. Although he didn't say much, I felt at that time that there was a big fish behind those officials. Now the situation is very obvious. There is a big fish behind those officials.
The fish may be Prince Guang. And the Dali Temple Prison is heavily guarded. In this case, some people were still silenced. Do you know what this means?"
Qingxi considered it and said: "Prince Guang's ability cannot be underestimated, but he has already become unable to sit still and started taking full action."
"So, although His Highness has made arrangements in the southwest, it shouldn't be that easy." Qingsong took a deep breath: "But the Holy Emperor and the court have to worry about it, and you don't need to make plans. And the purpose of me telling you this is:
Keep Li Han in the palace in the near future."
Qingxi seemed puzzled.
Qingsong's eyes were deep, he looked straight at Qingxi, and solemnly confessed: "I have no doubt about the safety of Prince Heng's Mansion, but once Prince Guang makes up his mind, he will be ruthless and unethical. His Highness Prince Heng is now his
If your enemy is angry with the palace, or if he thinks you are valuable, having Li Han by your side will provide multiple layers of protection."
Qingxi was stunned, thinking carefully about the connections involved.
Qingsong's words continued: "Li Han's Changfeng Escort Bureau has a lot of insiders. Although it is a private organization and is not as armed as the imperial court, it still has the advantage of being flexible and smooth. She is in the palace, and the Changfeng Escort Bureau will not ignore her safety. So there is
With her here, the palace will be safer."
Qingxi became a little nervous after being told by Qingsong, and her face looked a little solemn.
Qingsong's expression was relaxed, the corners of his mouth raised slightly, and his tone became softer: "You don't need to be too nervous, I'm prepared. If dad knows that I said this to you, he will definitely be punished."
Qingxi's face was still serious: "Brother, according to your analysis, the man in Dali Temple was silenced because Prince Guang didn't want him to speak again, right?"
Qingsong nodded.
Qingxi frowned and said no more.
At this time, Yueying's voice came from outside the house: "Princess, Miss Li wants to see you."
Qingsong glanced at Qingxi and whispered: "Are you so amazing? We just talked about her and she's here?"
Qingxi curled her lips and said softly: "Invite her in."
After Li Han entered the house, he first bowed to Qingxi and then noticed Qingsong sitting beside him.
Qingxi then introduced: "This is my brother."
"I know, Ling Qingsong, the world-famous Tanhualang." Li Han looked at him and continued calmly: "But with this outfit, I don't think it's easy to enter the palace."
The corners of Qingsong's slightly raised lips twitched momentarily, but he still smiled heartily.
