Chapter 108: A Forceful Kiss and a Slap!

  The word "poison" came out, and the hall fell silent.

  Empress Zhang did not speak, and Xia Chuyi looked at her without speaking either.

  The two people locked eyes for a long time, Empress Zhang's gaze intersecting with hers several times, scrutinizing, pondering, and suspecting... Slowly, bit by bit, it became complicated. Until her expression finally eased up, and she lightly raised her hand.

  "Sit down and talk."

  Finally exhaled a breath of "suspended air".

  Ke Xia didn't sit down on the seventh of July.

  "Your Highness, Chu Qi has the audacity to speak his mind, and begs Your Highness to pardon him."

  Empress Zhang seemed to suddenly feel a chill, pulled the quilt over and slowly covered her waist. The movement looked calm and unhurried, but the slightly trembling fingers still didn't escape Xia Chuqi's eyes.

  Before saying "poisoning", she had already thought it through. In a place like the harem, people wouldn't even spit out bones after eating them. Even if no one was harming her, being an imperial concubine could still give someone "paranoid delusions". Not to mention the complex situation in the palace. She believed that Empress Zhang would rather believe it was "poisoning" than accept a "cancer" she had never heard of before.

  "How long has it been? What poison is in the medicine?"

  Empress Zhang calmed down, her tone was warm and gentle again.

  She took a quiet glance at her, and Xia Qi's admiration grew.

  A woman who takes life and death lightly is not simple.

  "Your Ladyship, Chu Qi is still uncertain, let me investigate further."

  She said it was "poison", and there must be a clear explanation. Otherwise, how could this clever queen mother be convinced? Xia Chuyi stroked her hair bun, got up with a calm face, from the pillow, quilt, footstool used by Empress Zhang to the tea cup, dressing table, flower stand, tea stand, cabinet, stool, inkstone, bookshelf, incense burner, and finally saw a phoenix-patterned candle holder carved with the character "shou" on the long rectangular case in the corner of the wall, before slightly narrowing her eyes.

  She stepped closer to the candle holder and reached out her hand to touch it.

  That candle holder is exquisite, with two jade plates of different sizes on top and bottom, the outside is inlaid with fine "shou" characters, the base is lined with lotus petal patterns, and the body of the candle holder is intricately carved with phoenix patterns, it can be seen that it was specially made for the empress.

  "Mother, it's poisonous."

  Empress Zhang's complexion changed slightly.

  "Candle holder? Is the candle holder poisonous?"

  Looking at her incredulous face, obviously not daring to believe it, Xia Chuyi smiled slightly, "Your Majesty, do you know what this candle holder is made of?"

  Empress Zhang thought for a moment, "It's said that there is something called 'Tongtian Stone' which cannot be produced in the mortal world. Could it be true?"

  "Ah, the Celestial Stone? Well, to answer Your Majesty's question, this thing is also known as a meteorite in our land. It itself is non-toxic and won't harm human life. However, deep within this stone lies radioactive material, which we call radioactive elements. Short-term exposure to these radioactive elements doesn't pose a threat to the human body, but if one is exposed for an extended period, especially when it's made into a candle holder and you light candles every day, the heat from the flame will accelerate the invasion of radioactive elements into your body. Over time, the accumulation of these elements can cause cellular mutations in your body, a type of poison that's different from others, harder to detect, and even more difficult to treat..."

  Her words are always unconventional.

  Empress Zhang's expression changed from shock and confusion to astonishment, and she hesitated for a long time before exhaling.

  "So it was."

  Xia Chuqi watched her complexion, deliberately hesitating and wanting to speak but stopping.

  "Where did this candle holder come from?"

  Empress Zhang glanced at her, withdrew her hand and placed it on her knee, gently rubbing it, saying lightly, "The Duke of Wei presented it to the palace, saying it was a rare Tianyun divine stone, and had craftsmen specially make it for the palace. This stone is precious, the palace likes it too, so I've been using it all along."

  The seventh of July is secretly pleased in her heart, and she didn't guess wrong after all.

  This candelabra is made of meteorite, she had seen it in the East Palace before, it was the parrot stand of Xia Wenqiu. At that time, for that red-mouthed green parrot, she specially observed it. This kind of meteorite is not common, Xia Wenqiu likes that parrot, and the parrot stand will naturally be carefully prepared, she had previously only guessed that it might have something to do with Xia Tingde, and unexpectedly it was really accurate.

  Of course, the meteorite contains radioactive elements, but what exactly is it and whether it's the real cause of Zhang's cancer isn't her concern. She believes that with Xia Lao Gui's level of intelligence, he probably doesn't even know about these things, but unfortunately for him, he ran into her on the seventh day of summer. To put it bluntly, she sincerely wants to frame and slander him, no matter if it's a meteorite or a comb, she can come up with some nonsense to pin on him.

  "Miss, this meteorite actually has another name. Ordinary people also call it a comet or broom star, which is a kind of disaster star. You should have heard of it, right?"

  Empress Zhang's face was pale, her throat making a "huffing" sound, but her emotions were calmer than Xia Qiqi had expected. She didn't get angry on the spot or shout loudly to have someone taken away. Instead, she stared at her with piercing eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice.

  "This Xia Tingde, what a big nerve..."

  Xia Ziyu looked at her with a worried expression, but in his heart he was delighted beyond measure.

  No need to say "radioactive element", just saying "disaster star" is enough for Xia Tingde to drink a whole pot. I just wonder if his butt, which was beaten until it bloomed, has recovered yet? Can he still take the beating?

  Having played the villain, she has to continue playing the "good guy".

  Lowering her head, she slowly walked to the bedside and said in a pretended nervous tone: "Your Majesty, this matter... perhaps Lord Wei is also unaware of it. After all, there's no gain without effort, and Lord Wei has no major conflicts with Your Majesty, so he wouldn't do something like that..."

  She's really something!

  On the surface, there is no fierce conflict.

  However, Empress Kezhang somehow sensed a hidden meaning behind his words.

  The old emperor valued Zhao Mianze, cultivating him to make him the heir to the throne. How could Empress Zhang not know? Zhao Mianze valued Xia Wenqiu, valuing her so much that she was the only woman in the entire harem. How could Empress Zhang not know? She thought: That old thief Xia Tingde is really cunning. Once Zhao Mianze sits firmly on the throne, who will be empress? Won't it still be up to him? One mountain can't hold two tigers, can the palace accommodate two women? For his daughter, he actually plotted against her early on?

  Clutching her aching chest, Empress Zhang's face turned paler and paler.

  "Child..."

  She cried out and Xia Qi Qi grasped her hand tightly.

  "Girl, don't be in such a hurry, this poison can't be rushed..."

  Empress Zhang shook her head and clenched her fists tightly.

  "Child, can this poison of mine still be cured?"

  "Your Majesty, Chu Qi is a doctor and must tell you the truth. If it had been discovered earlier, there might have been hope for a cure. But now this 'poison' has spread to your lungs and formed a tumor. Now that Your Majesty has started coughing up blood, it's likely that the tumor has ruptured and invaded the bronchi and pulmonary vessels..."

  Closed her eyes, smiled after a moment of panic, and coughed uncontrollably.

  "So you're saying it can't be cured?"

  After some thought, Xia Qiuzi grasped her hand tightly and sat down beside her bed, stroking her back. "Your Majesty, there is a 'struggle' between the human body and poison. When you are weak, it becomes strong; when you are strong, it becomes weak. Your Majesty must maintain a calm and comfortable mood now, don't get angry, don't feel depressed. Chu Qiuzi will think of ways to alleviate your pain for you, try to detoxify as much as possible...it should be able to ease some of the discomfort..."

  Empress Zhang's lips trembled as she smiled softly.

  "What a good child, it's a pity that you're so talented. Why didn't I summon you to the palace earlier? If only it were earlier, perhaps..."

  Perhaps she had not finished speaking when eunuch Hu He came in to report.

  "Your Majesty, the Emperor's grandson and his concubine are here to pay their respects. They are waiting outside the palace."

  Summer begins on July 7th.

  What a coincidence!

  She slightly narrowed her eyes and looked at Empress Zhang.

  "Your Highness, Wei Guogong's power is great, and the Emperor's second grandson is also a person the Emperor values highly... I, I was just saying that thing earlier..."

  Her "nervous and fearful" appearance pleased Empress Zhang. After taking a few deep breaths, Empress Zhang patted her hand, hinting that she didn't need to worry, then nodded slightly and let her sit on the edge of the case to open the prescription, and then asked Sun to come over and support her up to lean against the pillow, giving orders in a light tone.

  "Let them in."

  Soon, Zhao Mianze and Xia Wenqiu emerged from behind the screen with the painting "Flowers Bloom in Wealth and Honor" and entered Empress Zhang's chambers, where they both knelt down to pay their respects.

  "Grandson pays respects to Empress Dowager."

  "I pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress..."

  Xia Zhi Qi sat on the edge of the desk, glancing over with an air of nonchalance. Zhao Mian Ze was still wearing mourning attire for Yi De Taizi, his body unadorned, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, looking more subdued than usual, but his face remained warm. As she looked at him, he also turned to look at her, his eyes seeming to brighten slightly.

  "Get up!"

  The wrinkles on Empress Zhang's face relaxed a bit, and her expression was exactly the same as when she first saw Xia Chuyi on the seventh day of summer. It seemed that she didn't know anything about the candle holder incident at all, but just smiled and asked, "This young couple, it's been many days since we last met, and you're still so loving, making others jealous. Mianze, why did you think of coming to see me today?"

  Zhao Mianze's eyes swept over Xia Chuqi and he smiled lightly.

  "Grandma, I heard you haven't been feeling well. Your grandson has been worried about you every day and wanted to come see you long ago. But Grandpa wouldn't let us disturb your rest easily. It wasn't easy for me to get the chance to come today."

  "Yes, Your Majesty, the prince has been thinking of you every day."

  Xia asked Qiu with a smile, but her hands tightened around the hem of her skirt.

  From the moment he entered the hall, Zhao Mianze's gaze had not left the woman sitting there writing. He came over today in a flurry, what was it for? She felt a chill in her heart, hoping it was just her own misconception.

  Glancing at the two of them, Empress Zhang coughed twice.

  "You all don't have to worry about it either. I won't die for a while yet."

  She glanced at Xia Wenqiu, then beckoned to Zhao Mianze. After he sat down on the edge of the bed, she grasped his hand tightly and began to sob sorrowfully.

  "Mei Ze, look at your age, it's not small anymore. The concubine entered the East Palace two years ago, right? And there's no movement in her belly, you imperial grandmother, this is a dead end, can't even hold a great-grandchild, and can't close her eyes..."

  "Grandma Huang..."

  Zhao Mianze furrowed his brow, but his eyes darted towards Xia Chuqi.

  At a glance, he saw the "sarcasm" hidden at the corner of her lips.

  Summer asked autumn to glance over, the handkerchief in her hand trembled, and she was suddenly flustered, kneeling firmly on the ground. "The Empress Dowager is joking, you have a deep blessing and will recover soon. These days, I haven't slept all night, every night reciting scriptures and worshiping Bodhisattva, praying for blessings for the Empress Dowager...the Buddha will surely protect Your Majesty..."

  Empress Zhang smiled, her lips feeling somewhat cool.

  "Empress Dowager has a wish! Buddha, don't need to bless the palace, just grant me an early great-grandchild, and I'll be content."

  Xia Wen's lips tightened, feeling that Empress Zhang's expression was not quite right today. She had been somewhat nervous and frightened from the start, and when she mentioned the fact that they didn't have children twice in a row, she felt a chill run down her spine.

  "My queen, I have no other skills, only a sincere heart left."

  "Really?"

  Empress Zhang looked at her, coughing again and letting out a deep sigh, as if she was having trouble breathing. "If you really have a good heart, you should understand the situation. You're not unaware that the descendants of Crown Prince Yi De are already scarce, now that Crown Prince Yi De is gone, and Meng Huan is another useless one... but you..."

  She let out a cold snort, no longer looking at Xia Wenqiu, as if resenting Zhao Mianze for not being strong enough. Her hands trembled as she pointed at Zhao Mianze's face, and after coughing heavily several times, she sighed helplessly.

  "Alright, alright, I've figured it out. You're the one I'm pointing at. I'm afraid that even on my deathbed, I won't be able to hold my great-grandchild. Tomorrow, I'll send someone to select a few good concubines for you. As for what to do next, you can handle it yourself."

  Zhao Mianze's lips were pursed into a line.

  "Grandma Huang..."

  "Manze ah." Empress Zhang looked at him, her eyes red and swollen, choking back tears, grasping his arm tightly. "Of the three unfilial acts, having no descendants is the worst. If I don't receive your good news before I close my eyes, I won't be able to die in peace! Cough, cough, cough..."

  Seeing her coughing so hard she couldn't catch her breath, Zhao Mianze hung his head.

  "Grandma Huang, I know now."

  "Good grandson, I knew you were a good grandson of mine..." Empress Zhang trembled with her hand and stroked his face.

  The whole house was filled with the sound of Zhang Huang's sobbing, Xia Wenqiu lowered her head, her shoulders slightly trembling, Zhao Mianze's back stiffened but dared not resist. Xia Chuyi's pen tip wrote on the paper, expressionless, thinking about Xia Wenqiu's heart wanting to kill someone, secretly pleased and delighted.

  It's better to be the bad guy after all.

  A slight move of her hand would be enough to kill her.

  It seems that this Empress Zhang must be properly punished.

  ……

  ……

  The Great Prison of the Ministry of Justice.

  Chen Daniu has a special identity and also lives in a single room.

  Since he voluntarily went to prison, today is the first time Zhao You came to visit him. The big prison is damp and dimly lit, and there was a big fire last time, after renovation, the air seems to be filled with a smell of paint.

  Under the kerosene lamp, Chen Daniu sat cross-legged on the dry grass mat, his body though disheveled, but his back straight as a board, one glance and you could tell he had never been to prison.

  Of course, for someone like Chen Daniu, giving him a hard time would not only fail to make him surrender, but would also drive the person administering the punishment crazy.

  Zhao Zhuang remembered that when Chen Daniu was still a Jinwei military officer, he had been captured once during the battle with the Northern Di. The Northern Di people caught him and wanted to extract information from his mouth, with a brightly polished knife placed on his neck, but he could still calmly eat his rice balls without even blinking an eye. After he finished eating the rice balls, he suddenly snatched the knife away and single-handedly killed his way out of a bloody path, seized a horse and rushed out of the enemy camp, covered in wounds but not making a sound.

  That was the first time Zhao Zun saw him.

  He stood at the entrance of the barracks with a bloody knife in his hand.

  Zhao Zilong was on horseback, he dismounted and knelt down on one knee.

  "He said, 'Your Highness, I won't be taken prisoner, I'll fight my way back!'"

  Is this kind of person someone you want to threaten? It's really too difficult.

  Zhao Zhu stood outside the cell for a while before letting the prison guard open the door.

  The door of the cell was a bit low, but Zhao Zun's head was too high, he had to slightly bow his body to get in. He stopped in his tracks, looking at the guy sitting cross-legged on the straw, his elegant posture paused, and then sat down in a comfortable position with a hint of mockery.

  "Marquis, how does it feel in prison?"

  Chen Daniu opened his eyes, "hmm" and patted the straw on his body, hehe smiled, "I'm full!"

  Zhao Zun glanced at him and snorted coldly, "No talent!"

  Another loud laugh, Chen Daniu didn't have the slightest sense of being a prisoner, and he came over, "Your Highness, are my brothers all right? Are my dad, mom, and older brother and sister-in-law all okay?"

  "You miss them, why don't you go out and take a look yourself?"

  "Your Highness......" Chen Daniu's expression changed, "You understand me."

  "I don't understand."

  Chen Daniu hung his head, looking at him for a long time without making a sound. No need to say more, he could also imagine how many things would be involved in a military coup, and how many innocent brothers would be transferred or punished. After some thought, he fumbled around for half a day before pulling out a small cloth bag from his waist and handing it to Zhao Zun with a furrowed brow.

  "These ornaments were originally going to be given to my mother and my daughter-in-law that day, but..."

  He rubbed his eyes, lowered his head and sniffled.

  "But I didn't catch up with them, Your Highness. Please help me give this to my mother and tell her that her son is unfilial and couldn't take good care of her and my father... From now on, please entrust it to my brother and sister-in-law..."

  Zhao Zhu looked at him without saying a word.

  Chen Daniu let out a sigh, and again smiled bitterly. "In all these years, I haven't saved up any money; all my family's belongings are in the drawer of my room, unlocked. Your Highness, please take care of all this for me. And also, my wife is an unlucky person, her funeral arrangements, I have no way to handle..."

  Zhao You didn't go to receive his belongings, and said calmly, "Your wife who hasn't entered the door yet, the funeral was handled by Shao Hong for you. Your parents are still fine, they just miss you."

  He paused for a moment and looked at Chen Daniu's dark face.

  "With so many concerns, Your Majesty has granted marriage, why should I not comply?"

  "I'm just an ordinary person, I don't dare to aim too high!"

  "Hmm?" Zhao Zun hummed coldly, "Tell the truth!"

  "Your Highness, my parents are peasants who have suffered all their lives. If I marry a princess and bring her back home, who will be in charge? I don't want my mother to suffer at her hands, or eat humble pie. The thought alone is unbearable! As I've been away for so long, I just want to find a simple and honest wife who can take care of my parents..."

  Chen Daniu's voice was low and quiet, but in this cold and gloomy prison, it carried a chilling tone that sent shivers down one's spine. He had spent his life on horseback, traversing the northern deserts' winds and sands, crossing the southern deserts' dusty terrain, traveling through Jiangnan's misty rains, and passing through the glint of swords and shadows. As a hero of the generation, how many meritorious deeds had he accomplished to be enfeoffed as a marquis?

  But now...

  Zhao's eyes were cast down and his voice was also low.

  "If you really think so, then it's perfect. The big cow, Jinghua that girl, is a good person."

  With a tilted head, Chen Daniu licked his dry lips and hugged his arms.

  "Your Highness, have you come here today to be our matchmaker?"

  "Grandfather doesn't have the leisure to bother with this!" Zhao Zun coldly snorted, "Great Bull, your thoughts, do you think I don't know? But you should think about it, your parents are getting old, worrying about you every day, aren't they just hoping for you to get married and have children? You're currently being stubborn with the Emperor, can you outlast him? The Emperor's temperament, I understand it best, if you don't give in, this lifetime you won't be able to leave."

  "Then I won't go out anymore, it's good food and accommodation here, no need to fight, no need to work, how great is that?"

  "Stubbornly unrepentant!"

  Zhao Zhuo stood up, glanced at him, and turned to leave with a flick of his sleeve.

  "Your Highness..."

  Chen Daniu looked at his back and suddenly turned red-eyed, "I'm not stupid! How did my wife who didn't pass the door die? I understand it in my heart."

  Turning back, Zhao Zun gave him a cold glance, but didn't say anything.

  Chen Dainiu pulled the corner of his mouth, swallowed a wad of saliva, and looked at the wooden bars of the cell, with a hint of choking in his tone.

  "Your Highness, to be honest with you, my wife is a peasant woman, she's down-to-earth and sincere, without any ulterior motives. Although she didn't marry into our family through the proper channels, she has always been kind to my parents..."

  Zhao Zun was silent.

  Chen Da Niu pulled out a handful of straw, pinched it in his palm, and then flicked it open again. He said in a low voice, "In my hometown, the land is too poor, and it's hard to have a good harvest. My family has no other livelihood, and we can only rely on heaven for food. Your Highness was born into wealth and nobility, so you can't understand how poor people live... Farmers just hope for a good harvest, so they can fill their bellies. In my hometown, one bag of millet can be exchanged for a daughter-in-law. When I first joined the army, I didn't have any silver to send back home. My brother sent me a message saying that one year our family had a bad harvest, and there was no rice in the pot at home. It was my wife who stole a jar of millet from her parents' house and sent it to my parents in the middle of the night, saving their lives. But she was beaten by her father, almost losing half her life... My mother said that I should appreciate this daughter-in-law, and not be ungrateful... Your Highness, she's a good woman. If I were to marry the princess now, would I still be human? What kind of thing would I be? Would I still be a man? How could I face my brothers on the battlefield in the future? Wouldn't that be the same as eating soft rice?"

  As he spoke, he became more and more agitated, finally slamming his fist violently onto the ground.

  Then, slowly, he lay down on the dry straw, a tall and proud man of eight feet, his body curled up, and he sobbed violently.

  "Even if I die, I will never do such a thing that goes against my conscience."

  Zhao Zhuang looked at the straw he had beaten, and there was blood on it.

  Kneeling Chen Daniu, his shoulders slightly shaking, with tears below.

  Closing his eyes, Zhao Zun slowly turned around, squatted down, and grasped his shoulders with the palms of his hands.

  "Big guy, one must learn to be flexible. Stubbornly going head-on isn't being a real man, that's being foolish. Do you think the Emperor really has no way to deal with you? You're wrong! He has plenty of ways to fix you, aren't your father and mother still in the capital?"

  Chen Daniu suddenly looked up and said, "What was that?"

  Zhao Zun's eyes were cool and calm, he sighed, "You don't understand His Majesty, once he makes up his mind to do something, even nine-headed cows can't pull him back. You'd better think carefully."

  After remaining silent for a long time, Chen Daniu finally sat up.

  "Good."

  Zhao Zun slightly narrowed his eyes, but heard him say, "Your Highness, you tell the Emperor for me that I can agree to this marriage. However, that Princess Jinghua can only be my concubine, not my wife."

  "Awesome!"

  The eldest daughter of Duke Yi De, how can she be a concubine?

  Looking at Zhao's icy gaze, Chen Daniu's eyes seemed to be on fire. "Also, after she enters the door, she must wear mourning clothes and pay respects to my wife with three kneels and nine knocks, respecting her as the mistress. Otherwise, my whole family would rather die than surrender."

  ……

  ……

  The Ministry of Justice is cold and solemn, but in the palace of Kun Ning, spring is in full bloom.

  At the beginning of summer, she had already prepared a prescription for Empress Zhang and instructed Sun to go to the Imperial Pharmacy to fetch the medicine. After carefully checking the medicine, she let someone take it away to decoct it. Having sat for a while, seeing that Empress Zhang was suffering from pain on her bed, she took out the silver needle again and began to administer acupuncture to relieve her pain.

  Empress Zhang's lung cancer has reached its final stage.

  When it hurts, it can be fatal.

  No matter how harsh Xia Zhiqiu's words were, she was a doctor and had never forgotten her duty. Whether it was "poison" or "cancer", she treated them with the methods she thought should be used.

  "Miss, as the saying goes 'pain then not thorough, thorough then no pain', acupuncture can help to unblock the meridians, disperse stagnation, dissolve blood stasis and regulate Qi. From now on, Chu Qi will come every day to give you an acupuncture treatment, which should be able to relieve some of your pain."

  "Okay, okay......good kid......"

  Empress Zhang covered her chest, her face pale with pain.

  She took a deep breath, Xia Qi's eyes focused intently, she picked up the needle and with swift, smooth movements, pierced Baihui, Neiguan, Xuehai, Fengmen, Feishu, Dingchuan and Fenglong. Her actions were as fluid as floating clouds, calm and composed, without a hint of the usual feminine gentleness or exceptional beauty, yet captivating enough to hold one's gaze.

  After about half a cup of tea's worth of time, Empress Zhang coughed and nodded slightly.

  "This palace... is much more comfortable now. Sun nanny, reward!"

  "Thank you!"

  Xia Zhi Qi didn't stand on ceremony, took the reward and also gave some medical instructions to Sun Shu Shu, then under the comforting gaze of Empress Zhang, left Kun Ning Palace, preparing to go to Yun Yue Pavilion to take a look at Zhao Zi Yue whom she hadn't seen for many days.

  Unexpectedly, Zhao Mianze was waiting for her on the corridor outside Kunning Palace.

  "Princess of Jingyi County."

  Looking at his warm and smiling face, Xia Chuqi coldly curled her lips.

  "Your Majesty, Your Highness, Your Imperial Highness."

  Who can't satirize? It depends on who is more poisonous than whom.

  "It's inconvenient here, let's take a walk and talk."

  Zhao Mianze's voice was slow and warm, but for some reason, his words today seemed to carry a layer of subtle melancholy.

  Was it because the queen bestowed a woman on him that he didn't want to owe Xia Wenqiu?

  What does it have to do with her?

  Xia Chuqi glanced at him with a look of disdain, crossed her arms and sneered.

  "Men and women should maintain a distance, there's nothing for me to say to Your Highness."

  Zhao Mianze furrowed his brow, glanced at the golden plaque of Kun Ning Palace, then looked at Qing Luan beside her, before finally shifting his gaze to her face.

  "Since we're old friends meeting again, there's no need to be so polite, is there?"

  A sentence "old friend", Xia Qi understood his meaning on the seventh day of summer. The two words "old friend" contain too much, not only her identity as Chu Qi, but also perhaps Xia Chu's identity. This is to say that Zhao Mianze knows everything. In other words, this sentence actually contains a threatening element.

  "Hmm, interesting. It seems like I have no choice but to talk to you?"

  A few steps away, Xia Chui smiled lightly at him.

  Zhao Mianze curled his lips and said, "Yes."

  Not far from the Kun Ning Palace, there was a quiet little garden. Because Empress Zhang did not like to be disturbed, few people came here. The two of them entered the small garden's stone gate one after another. Zhao Mianze dismissed his personal guards and had them stand watch outside. Xia Chuyi glanced at Qing Luan, but didn't give any orders, turned around, and walked in with big strides, sitting down on the stone bench in the garden pavilion.

  "What do you want to say? Say it!"

  "Achoo..."

  Zhao Mianze slowly sat down across from her, calling out in a low voice. However, his position was against the light, and Xia Chuyi couldn't quite make out his expression, only that his voice was too gentle, gentle to the point of being like seeing an old lover after a long time, leaving her dazed for a moment before she came back to herself, raising an eyebrow in alarm.

  "Your Highness, what joke are you playing?"

  "You don't have to be nervous." Zhao Mianze looked around and his voice became even softer, "Everyone around here is my person."

  After hearing his words, Xia Chuqi hummed a faint and ambiguous tune.

  "Do I look like I'm nervous?"

  Zhao Mianze didn't respond, his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, still staring at her.

  "Are you blaming me?"

  "How did this conversation start?"

  "Xia Chu." Zhao Mianze furrowed his brow, enunciating the two words very clearly. "I've been looking for you for a long time."

  He heard Xia Chuqi's voice and found it inexplicable.

  If she hadn't known about his past with Xia Chu, she would have thought he had been thinking of her for a long time. The sorrow and distress in his tone were so real that she couldn't read the truth in his heart at all. But no matter what he thought, could she admit it? If she admitted it, where was the possibility between her and Zhao Zun?

  She smiled with a mischievous grin.

  "Your Highness, I really don't know what you're talking about."

  "You know." Zhao Mianze looked at her face, looking at her half-mocking and half-teasing eyes, his heart inexplicably tightened. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly pulled out a sachet from his pocket.

  "Is this yours?"

  On the seventh day of summer, she saw that thing and was stunned for a moment. She remembered that when she was in Qinggang County, Dongfang Qingxuan first interrogated her and took out this sachet. At that time, he wanted to make her admit her identity, but later the sachet was taken away by him, and she never saw it again. Now the sachet is in Zhao Mianze's hands, and there can only be one explanation - Dongfang Qingxuan gave it to him and told Zhao Mianze her true identity, wanting to force her to surrender.

  Despicable! Eastern demon!

  She felt somewhat uncomfortable at the thought of this.

  Although she usually doesn't get along with Dongfang Qingyun, she has always liked handsome men and thinks he looks great, has high kung fu skills, and is still somewhat righteous. Although they are enemies, he hasn't really done anything to harm her, and on the contrary, he has even saved her life, so it's not like she hates him to the bone.

  But now thinking about it, that was true hatred.

  He didn't agree to keep it a secret for her, and he just didn't promise her. Why did he clearly promise that night, but end up doing this?

  Gritting her teeth, she smiled faintly.

  "Sorry, what's going on? I don't understand."

  Zao Mianze looked at her and smiled, "You don't recognize it, that's okay. I do. This sachet was embroidered by you, originally meant to be given to me, but I... later returned it to you, and you've been carrying it with you ever since."

  "So? What do you want?"

  On the seventh day of summer, she smiled sarcastically and gazed at him with a sly look on her lips.

  Zhao Mianze didn't answer immediately, but carefully tucked the sachet into his bosom, and suddenly sighed, "This matter, I haven't reported to the Emperor yet, you can rest assured."

  The seventh day of summer is another shock.

  Why did he want to do this?

  "Xia Chu." Zhao Mianze called out to her again, his handsome face with a warm expression, mixed with the faint mist in the garden, made him look somewhat unreal. "In the past, I was wrong and you were also wrong. Now that you're back, let's both take a step back, okay? The things you did... I can pretend I didn't know, come back with me."

  Go back with him?

  "Hey! Xia Qi raised his hand and knocked on his head, wondering if this guy had grown hair on his brain? What was he thinking? He said he would abandon her, but now he says she should come back, and he says it so casually?"

  To be honest, if it were the old Xia Chu who was infatuated and innocent, seeing Zhao Mianze being so sentimental, she might have been moved to tears and rushed into his arms to pour out her heart.

  Who is Xia Zhiqiu?

  Born with a hard heart, this life most dislikes unfaithful men.

  "Your Highness, although I am not Xia Chu, but I do know a thing or two about you and Xia Chu. So, I have some sincere advice that I hope Your Highness can accept: once something is missed, it's gone for good. The most irretrievable thing in this world is the past. Who the hell would just sit there waiting for you to come back, doing nothing but eating and getting bored? Are you dreaming?"

  "Xia Chu..."

  What's wrong with you? Can't understand human language.

  At the beginning of summer, Qi's heart was secretly scolding, but her face was unusually dignified. "Alright, Your Highness, I'm leaving. Whether you plan to tell the Emperor or do something else, that's your own business. I'll soon be the Princess of Jin, and I hope you won't do anything that will affect our uncle-nephew relationship."

  Having said that, she stood up and turned around to leave.

  Zhao Mianze was taken aback and fiercely grasped her wrist.

  Xia Qiqi lowered her head and glanced at his hand, "Hmph" she snorted, raising her chin and sneering, "What do you want to do? Kidnap someone?"

  Zhao Mianze didn't answer, he just called out to her, "A Chu..."

  On the seventh day of summer, she narrowed her eyes, looking at him in confusion, their gazes meeting. In his eyes, slowly, slowly, a layer of faint unease floated up.

  "I won't let you marry Nineteenth Uncle."

  "What's the big idea?" Xia Chuqi raised her chin defiantly.

  "You are my wife."

  Wife and child? On the seventh day of July, his heart ached sharply.

  But she knew that this emotion did not come from herself, the unrest surging out of her heart was all because of Xia Chu.

  She closed her eyes for a moment, calmed down, and then raised her hand to counter-grip Zhao Mianze's hand. In his astonished expression, one finger at a time, she slowly pried open his fingers, pursing her lips in a gentle smile.

  "Your Highness is deeply infatuated, but I don't know, if I were really Xia Chu, and you made me your wife, what would happen to your Autumn then?"

  Zhao Mianze's face was somewhat uncomfortable, and he bit his lip.

  "You are my wife, but Autumn can only be a concubine... I'm afraid I'll have to wrong her."

  With a "pfft" sound, Xia Chuiqi smiled.

  "Alright, fortunately I'm not Xia Chu, or else hearing this, I'd be so angry that I'd die on the spot. What am I doing? Just joking with you. Your Highness, think about it, why are you being so stubborn? You and Concubine have such a good relationship, loving each other till old age, isn't that enough? Children will come naturally, just take the medicine I prescribed for you, it's only a matter of time. Why bother creating unnecessary trouble?"

  What's wrong?

  Zhao Mianze looked at her, unsure of how to respond.

  "Alright, I'm leaving now, lest people see us and start gossiping."

  "Halt!"

  Zhao Mianze once again stubbornly grabbed her.

  "What? Want to resort to force?" Xia Chuyi sneered.

  Zhao Mianze's eyes turned cold, his teeth clenched, and a surge of anger rose in his heart. He was very angry, very angry, but he didn't know what he was angry about, only that his other fist was tightly clenched, with white knuckles.

  "Unless you tell His Majesty yourself... that you want to cancel the engagement."

  Bullshit!

  She personally went to say that what she had ruined was not the marriage with Zhao Mianze, but the marriage with Zhao Zun. Looking at the gentle and elegant man in front of her, Xia Chuyi felt a pang of regret, yet couldn't help but smile.

  "Alright, this is easy."

  She slowly walked towards Zhao Mianze and revealed a smile.

  "Unless I'm dead, you'll have to carry my corpse in, hehe..."

  "You! Don't force me."

  "What's the worst that could happen to you?" Xia Chuqi raised her chin, speaking casually, but her heart was racing with anxiety. "If you're capable of it, then go ahead and do it, kill me if you dare."

  Zhao Mianze looked at her for a while before saying softly, "If I were sincere in wanting to marry you, would you not agree?"

  "Sorry." Xia Qi's eyes were full of amusement as she looked up, "I am Princess Jing Yi of the imperial family, the future princess consort of Jin, your imperial aunt. This is an unchangeable fact, Your Highness, won't you just give in?"

  Zhao Mianze's face was very unsightly, "You won't get what you want."

  "Hmm, you're really funny. " Xia Chuqi slightly raised the corner of her mouth, smiling somewhat slyly and somewhat wickedly, "Your Highness, are you interested in me? Or are you lacking a woman? Unfortunately, even if you're interested in me, I may not be interested in you. In my eyes, don't think about getting any favors from me. I don't like beating around the bush, let's just say it straight - I hate you, I dislike you, seeing you makes me sick. Letting me marry you? You won't even have a chance in your next life. Got it?"

  Zhao Mianze's face was gloomy, and he grasped her hand tightly.

  "Xia Chu, you hate me so much?"

  He couldn't understand this woman. Didn't she like him very much? Wasn't she willing to do anything for him? Why now that he had given her the opportunity, was she unwilling?

  The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. The hatred in his heart surged up, and he felt disgusted with her to death. He was disgusted with her self-righteousness, disgusted with her uniqueness, disgusted with every move she made, disgusted with the dimples on her lips when she smiled, disgusted with everything about her...

  He tightly closed his eyes, hating many things, but finally discovered.

  What he actually hated most about her was that she hated him.

  "Xia Chu..." Zhao Mianze's throat choked for a moment, "I never wanted to target you, I've said it before. I was wrong, but what about you? What did you do? Why should you hate me?"

  "Hey," Xia Chuqi raised her chin.

  "Do you hate me?"

  "You hate me. Your eyes tell me you hate me."

  Her eyes rolled a few times, Xia Qiuli glared at him and smiled extremely slyly, "Is that so? Then it proves that Your Highness has too many hateful places. My brain doesn't want to hate you, but can't control my own eyes. This... won't be a sin, will it?"

  Zhaomianze's complexion was pale and uneven.

  Looking at her arrogant expression, I felt a wave of disgust in my heart again.

  Loathing her, loathing himself even more. Loathing how he had been reduced to nothing by her, yet still couldn't bear to turn around and leave, instead wanting to pull her into his arms and hold her close.

  What kind of woman is she?

  Zhao Mianze hated her to death.

  "He said, 'No matter what, I won't let you go.'"

  He's looking for trouble, he knows it.

  She rolled her eyes and sneered, "Fine, then don't let me off. Go tell the whole world that the emperor gave you a legitimate wife, but your nineteenth uncle slept with her. Go tell the emperor that you want to marry me, marry the woman your nineteenth uncle slept with. And I guarantee that even if you do take me back, it will only be as a corpse. But what about Zhao Jiu? What will happen to him after I'm dead? Will your throne be stable? Even if the emperor favors you, what then? Go ahead, go ahead and try..."

  Zhao Mianze looked at her with eyes full of hatred.

  "Summer is hot!"

  Xia Qi gave a gentle hum of approval, smiled, and slowly raised her thumb, bending it downwards.

  "Zhao Mianze, you coward, come and fight if you dare?"

  Zhao Mianze's eyes were on fire, and he really hated her.

  He thought, he didn't have to have her, this woman had always been one he disliked, one he didn't want. Let her scold him, as long as she scolded a bit more fiercely, he could turn around and leave. She could marry Nineteenth Uncle if she wanted, in the future all under heaven would be his, what did he need a cheap woman like this for?

  But his hand didn't let go, and his foot took another step closer.

  At the age of ten, Zhao Mianze disliked Xia Chu. At twenty-one, Zhao Mianze hated Chu Qi even more, this woman named Chu Qi. He didn't know when he started to pay attention to her annoying appearance.

  Was it in the Eastern Palace that she used her clever tongue and unparalleled medical skills to cure his father's illness?

  When discussing the nature of birds in a birdcage, she tiptoed and gently wiped his shoulder, what was that sweet fragrance that flashed across her nose?

  Is it her every time intentionally when autumn child comes, with him pretending affectionate soft words?

  Yes, he knew it all, that this woman was both hateful and despicable. She clearly hated him to the core, yet could use him without hesitation. But he was just so cheap, liking to see the cleverness on her face that was completely different from other women, even cheaply liking to see the hatred in her eyes, liking to see her when she wanted to trick people, the corners of her mouth curling up, bringing out a small dimple, as if wanting to dissolve into her smile...

  But it was also her, in front of him, about to marry another man?

  His eyes blazed like fire, Zhao Mianze stared at her, his hand clenched tighter and tighter, his mind a complete blank. Suddenly, he grasped her shoulders and pushed her hard against the round wooden pillar of the pavilion, his body pressing down on hers.

  "Xia Chu, let's start again—"

  He bowed his head, wanting to kiss her.

  "Son of a turtle!"

  A crisp slapping sound rang out with a "slap".

  He suddenly came to and woke up. The woman in front of him raised her chin high, like a proud little peacock, looking at him with disdain.

  "Who do you think you are?"

  Digression

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