PFC Chapter 100 The Crown Prince's Wife, This is a Gift from the Emperor
Chapter 100 The Crown Prince's Wife, This is a Gift from the Emperor
Upon hearing this, Chen Huaizhi collapsed to the ground as if struck by lightning, his face ashen.
The Lingnan region is plagued by insects; one would probably not survive even six months there!
Liu Niang, who had been sobbing softly, collapsed to the side upon hearing the words "Lingnan," her hair disheveled and plastered to her cheeks.
She only wanted to marry the prince consort and live a good life, but she never expected to end up like this.
Gao Yunzhi stood aside, coldly watching Chen Huaizhi and Liu Niang.
I can't tell whether I feel pain or pleasure.
This is the man she has loved for three years and wants to have children with.
"Ha," Gao Yunzhi gave a bitter laugh.
Soon, Chen Huaizhi and Liu Niang were dragged away by the servants, and the hall fell silent again.
"Elder sister." Gao Xian called out softly with some concern when he saw that Gao Yunzhi looked unwell.
Gao Yunzhi raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her cheeks, and forced a smile, "I'm fine."
"I'll head back now if there's nothing else. Jiuwei is still waiting for me outside."
"Qin Jiu..." Gao Xian stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.
She pursed her lips slightly before saying, "Is Lady Xie here too?"
Gao Yunzhi nodded slightly. "It was Jiuwei who accompanied me into the palace. She was also the one who discovered Chen Huaizhi's affair this time."
Seeing that Gao Xian seemed somewhat interested, Gao Yunzhi spoke up to explain.
"Jiuwei said that she accidentally discovered that Chen Huaizhi's whereabouts were strange, so she sent people to follow him. Then she sent people to investigate twice more in secret. Only after confirming that he was acting strangely did she take me to that small courtyard."
"That's how we caught that adulterous couple." Gao Yunzhi still gritted her teeth as she spoke of this.
Gao Xian raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
Unexpectedly, Qin Jiuwei is not only quite talented, but also so quick-witted.
If she hadn't discovered Chen Huaizhi's affair, her elder sister would probably still be kept in the dark.
Gao Xian was slightly stunned when he recalled those shimmering, peach-blossom eyes.
"Your Majesty?" Gao Yunzhi called out softly when she saw Gao Xian lost in thought.
What's wrong with my brother? He gets distracted even when I talk to him.
Gao Xian's thoughts were pulled back by the soft call, and he said in a somewhat unnatural voice, "It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered some state affairs."
"Elder sister," Gao Xian reminded her, "Go and pay your respects to Mother again. She already knows about this and is very worried about you."
When the Empress Dowager was mentioned, Gao Yunzhi's eyes dimmed even more.
I'm already so old, why should I still cause my mother worry?
She nodded, gave a slight curtsy, and turned to leave the imperial study.
Gao Xian sat on the dragon throne, holding a jade rosary in his hand.
He asked, "Did the Kingdom of Xiao Nan send some purple jade as tribute yesterday?"
Eunuch Li replied, "Your Majesty, that's right, and they are all the finest royal purple."
"I remember there was a hairpin carved from purple jade among them. You may take it and give it to Lady Xie, the Crown Prince's wife."
Eunuch Li was stunned and didn't react for a moment.
He stammered, "Your Majesty, wasn't this hairpin meant to be bestowed upon Consort Chen? How come..."
Suddenly it's going to be bestowed upon Lady Xie?!
Gao Xian turned his gaze and coldly swept it over Eunuch Li. "Do you have any objections to my decision?"
"This old servant wouldn't dare!" Eunuch Li immediately replied, "This old servant will go and do it right away."
Gao Xian lowered her phoenix eyes again after he left.
He didn't know why he had blurted it out.
I just think Qin Jiuwei has a delicate and noble appearance, and she would definitely look good wearing a purple jade hairpin.
But... what does it matter to him whether she looks good in it or not?
He couldn't see it; what he saw was Xie Yanli.
Gao Xian twirled the jade prayer beads in his hands, becoming increasingly agitated with each twirl.
Finally, he abruptly threw the rosary beads in his hand to the ground.
The moment the rosary was thrown to the ground, Gao Xian suddenly calmed down again.
He pursed his lips, sat back down on the dragon throne, and his thoughts returned.
He rewarded Qin Jiuwei with the purple jade hairpin, clearly because she had helped her elder sister.
Right, that is it.
Thinking about this, Gao Xian calmed down again.
At this moment, in the Imperial Garden.
"Young Madam, look how beautifully the chrysanthemums over there are blooming," Xiao He said in a light and cheerful voice.
In front of outsiders, she would still address Qin Jiuwei as Young Madam.
Qin Jiuwei's lips curved slightly. The flowers in the Imperial Garden were all carefully cultivated by the flower room.
She liked it very much in her previous life and even ordered that some be planted in her palace.
Qin Jiuwei was strolling through the Imperial Garden with Xiaohe when they bumped into a familiar face as they passed a pavilion.
Qin Jiuwei raised an eyebrow slightly. Qin Le'an?
She curtsied and softly called out, "Young Master Qin."
Qin Jiuwei never expected to run into Qin Le'an here.
But she was already mentally prepared for how to deal with Qin Le'an's difficult questions later.
Unexpectedly, Qin Le'an simply nodded slightly, without making things difficult as she had at the last autumn banquet.
"What brings you to the palace today, sister?" Qin Le'an asked with a gentle smile.
Qin Jiuwei narrowed her eyes slightly and subconsciously took a step back.
But a smile played on her lips. "I am here today to accompany the Princess to the palace."
Although she didn't know what Qin Le'an was up to, since she wanted to pretend to be close sisters, she would play along.
Seeing that Qin Jiuwei was already so familiar with the Princess, Qin Le'an bit her lower lip in anger.
But she quickly returned to her previous amiable demeanor.
"I see. My sister is so clever. No wonder she is favored by the Princess."
Qin Jiuwei casually replied, "You flatter me, Young Master Qin."
Gao Yunzhi heard from a palace maid that Qin Jiuwei was in the imperial study, so she came to look for her.
But then I saw her standing with Qin Le'an.
He immediately recalled Qin Le'an's actions towards Jiu Wei at the last autumn banquet.
He stepped forward with hurried steps, shielding Qin Jiuwei behind him.
He glared at Qin Le'an, "What do you want to do?"
Qin Le'an was taken aback, but quickly put on a wronged expression, "Your Highness, I know I was wrong and will never treat Sister Jiuwei like that again."
Qin Jiuwei reached out and tugged at Gao Yunzhi's sleeve.
She said softly, "Princess, my elder sister really didn't make things difficult for me. Let's go."
Qin Jiuwei didn't believe that Qin Le'an would really know he was wrong; how could a person's nature change so quickly?
However, she didn't want to have any further involvement with Qin Le'an.
Hearing her say that, Gao Yunzhi felt relieved.
He glanced at Qin Le'an, then left with Qin Jiuwei.
Qin Le'an watched Qin Jiuwei's back, carefully observing her gait and demeanor.
She understood after the last autumn banquet.
Although she stole Qin Jiuwei's opportunity, she entered the palace herself to be selected for the imperial concubine selection.
But things didn't go as she expected.
After much thought, she finally came up with a solution.
The real difference is that she didn't act pretentious like Qin Jiuwei!
After all, she was born as the legitimate daughter of the first wife, and she looked down on these things!
But now she understands that men like it this way!
If that's the case, if Qin Jiuwei can pretend, why can't she?
These days, she's been forced by Consort Xian to copy Buddhist scriptures every day.
She really didn't want to suffer like this anymore!
She changed! She wanted to become empress, just like Qin Jiuwei in her previous life, and ascend to the throne of empress!
Qinglan Courtyard.
"Princess Consort, this is a gift from the Emperor."
Eunuch Li carefully placed a small brocade box on the table in front of Qin Jiuwei.
Qin Jiuwei looked at the brocade box, raising an eyebrow slightly. Was Gao Xian rewarding her with something?
She recalled that in her previous life, when Gao Xian bestowed poisoned wine upon her, he also used the word "reward".
Qin Jiuwei's eyes were cold as she said in a calm voice, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
When Eunuch Li saw Qin Jiuwei like this, he was also stunned.
Those who received the reward in the past were either overjoyed or extremely grateful.
No one is as cold as the Crown Prince's wife...
But he didn't want to ask, so he gave a few instructions and left.
Seeing that Eunuch Li had left, Xiao He, who had been holding back, suddenly became excited.
"Miss, don't you want to see what the Emperor has bestowed upon you?"
In no mood.
Seeing Xiaohe's overjoyed expression, Qin Jiuwei said gently, "Go ahead and open it."