"Miss Xia, the Crown Prince really isn’t here, you can co back tomorrow." Qi Geng was sowhat anxious, at this ti the Crown Prince still did not know when he would return, and moreover, a young lady kneeling at the entrance of the Crown Prince’s Mansion, truly did not look good.
"Crown Prince—" Qi Geng suddenly exclaid in surprise, had he returned? What was the outco?
As Xia Zhiqian turned her head, there was already a large crowd in front of the Crown Prince’s Mansion, and the man on the carriage lifted the curtain and ca down, the once ethereal figure imdiately becoming substantial before her eyes.
Xia Zhiqian took a step forward, decisively and firmly kneeling before Zheng Congyuan.
"Your Highness, the commoner has a letter from her elder brother from the Northwest Border." Xia Zhiqian imdiately said, holding up the envelope in her trembling hands, yet not backing down.
Zheng Congyuan frowned slightly, he had already received three letters from the Northwest Border, and he was fairly clear about what was written in them.
"Co in—" Zheng Congyuan pondered for a mont, because of the tension from the night there was now a relaxation, and his mood was also good, surprisingly not feeling tired, showing no signs of fatigue from a night without rest.
Upon hearing this, Qi Ling and Qi Zhu dared not advise otherwise, only the people below had been busy all night, and by now they all wished they could just lie down and fall asleep.
Zheng Congyuan’s robe moved, and Xia Zhiqian on the ground was slightly startled, hastily got up, and followed.
Qi Ling and Qi Zhu sighed, still waved their hands, telling the people below to go rest quickly, leaving only a few capable ones to guard in the study.
The Hidden Guards dispersed, Qi Geng quietly asked and found out that the person had been found, and the result was good, no wonder the Crown Prince was in the mood to handle official affairs.
"Your Highness, my elder brother said, so news in the official letters he cannot conveniently speak of, so following your will, he took the route of a family letter." Xia Zhiqian dared not look around the environnt, but as soon as she walked through the main gate, it was not the route she had taken last ti, it was just passing through a small garden to what seed like a guest reception hall, much more spacious than the last ti.
Zheng Congyuan glanced at Qi Ling, who took the letter from Xia Zhiqian’s hands and handed it to Zheng Congyuan.
Zheng Congyuan unfolded the letter, which was encrypted, so even if it was intercepted, it was just an ordinary family letter.
After reading the letter, Zheng Congyuan’s face remained calm, then he lit the letter on fire, glancing at Xia Zhiqian.
"Thank you, Miss Xia, this letter arrived very tily." Zheng Congyuan spoke.
Xia Zhiqian felt a warmth in her heart, still not daring to look up.
"Being able to help Your Highness is the commoner’s blessing," Xia Zhiqian imdiately responded, although she didn’t know what her brother had written, but with this channel, could she see the Crown Prince at any ti?
Xia Zhiqian dared not think about what followed, she seed to faintly hear talk of the Crown Prince’s marriage arrangent, she asked herself whether her status was worthy of the position of Crown Princess Consort, but even if it was as a Side Concubine, even if...
Xia Zhiqian felt, as long as it was the Crown Prince, she did not care about the exact title.
"Qi Ling, have soone escort Miss Xia back," Zheng Congyuan ordered.
"Your Highness—" Xia Zhiqian imdiately looked up, and upon seeing that graceful and impeccable face again, she quickly lowered her head. "The commoner feels that having your guard escort back ho is too conspicuous, it would be better if the commoner walked back herself, it won’t attract attention..."
"Miss Xia is considerate," Zheng Congyuan spoke, indeed feeling worn out himself, he nodded, gesturing to Qi Ling to take her out.
Just as Qi Ling was about to leave, a noisy commotion was heard from outside.
"Empress, Empress, the Crown Prince has a guest—" Qi Yu’s voice traveled from outside, getting closer.
Everyone inside was stunned, even Xia Zhiqian on the ground was panicked, the Empress, Empress Xiao? The mother of the Crown Prince?
Xia Zhiqian was suddenly sowhat panicked, but no one gave her a chance to escape, as the people had already entered, filling the room with their dark presence.
"Fu Xun, what happened last night?" Empress Xiao imdiately asked upon seeing Zheng Congyuan.
The incident had occurred abruptly last night, and Zheng Congyuan had urgently dispatched people, naturally not escaping the notice of Empress Xiao. Qi Ling imdiately lowered his head, not expecting that Empress Xiao would co so early to interrogate them, leaving them with no ti to prepare.
Xia Zhiqian was even more distressed and did not know how to handle herself.
It was the nanny by Empress Xiao’s side who first noticed another woman in the room and quietly tugged at Empress Xiao’s sleeve.
Empress Xiao was startled and noticed Xia Zhiqian, who was preparing to leave. At that mont, she stood right in front of Empress Xiao, who, along with everyone else, knelt on the ground, leaving her with no opportunity to shrink into a corner.
"Who is this?" Empress Xiao suddenly felt less curious about the previous night’s events. The appearance of a woman in Zheng Congyuan’s yard was truly the peculiar matter here. Although her informants knew so things about Zheng Congyuan, his household was incredibly tight-lipped, and Empress Xiao even suspected that what she knew was only what Zheng Congyuan intended for her to know.
"This humble girl, Xia Zhiqian, pays respects to the Empress, wishing the Empress great fortune." Xia Zhiqian imdiately spoke up, usually paying her respects to the Empress after everyone else. This ti, under the direct gaze of Empress Xiao, the realization made her tremble instantaneously, not daring to step out of line.
Empress Xiao imdiately closed her mouth, her curiosity outweighing her suspicion. Observing the girl’s attire, which was not particularly refined. But such was Zheng Congyuan’s temperant as well, and Empress Xiao’s eyes softened a bit.
Indeed, after so many years, Empress Xiao had realized that Zheng Congyuan’s marriage was problematic; the one she had sent over had yet to stir, not even summoned once.
"Rise. The Xia Family? Which Xia Family?"
"Replying to the Empress, this humble girl belongs to the Jiumu Aristocratic Clan’s Xia Family."
"Ah, the Jiumu Family, good, rise."
Empress Xiao intentionally observed Xia Zhiqian.
Zheng Congyuan remained silent, unsure of Empress Xiao’s intentions and without leaning towards any particular thought. Qi Ling, however, was sowhat anxious.
"Thank you, Your Highness, the Empress." As Xia Zhiqian stood up, she feigned great composure. Her back was covered in cold sweat, but thinking that if she sought a position by Zheng Congyuan’s side, seeing Empress Xiao would inevitably be necessary, she suddenly cald down.
The nanny by Empress Xiao’s side let admiration show in her eyes, seeing her as a clever and resolute child.
"Mother, did you co for a matter?" Zheng Congyuan did not want to waste ti and spoke up. "Miss Xia, you may leave now."
Empress Xiao was about to speak, but seeing Zheng Congyuan’s seriousness, she knew there was a matter at hand and thus held her tongue.
Qi Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief and led the people out.
"Mother, you ca because of last night’s event, didn’t you?" Zheng Congyuan spoke up.
Empress Xiao nodded. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Zheng Congyuan, but his behavior was always steady; only last night was a bit conspicuous. She estimated that anyone in Imperial City with a bit of connection had heard the commotion.
"Mother, the incident last night was sudden, but it also confird Master Yu Sheng’s prediction; those people finally showed their moves," Zheng Congyuan said, unflinching.
Upon hearing this, Empress Xiao was suddenly startled and looked at Zheng Congyuan.
"That quickly?"
"Not just quickly, but judging by the activities from the Northwest Border, they will surely make big moves this ti. It seems that prophecy has long been spread in Ghoul Ravine, so the border at the Northwest has also been continuously probing."
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