Dong Gong Mei

Chapter 109 The Prince's Rescue
Cui Yurong looked at the ten bright red nails and was very satisfied. Then he pinched Zhao Xiwei's fingers for comparison, and said with a smile: "My sister's fingers are white and tender, and they look good with this pink color. They are like the lotus flower that has just sprouted. It is low-key and elegant. .”

After finishing their makeup, the two went hand in hand to meet Mrs. Cui.

Mrs. Cui's surname is Zhou, and she is a sister of the young lady of Peiyuan Hou Pei's family.

Perhaps it was due to the clean and elegant family style of the Cui family. The young Madam Cui still kept a girlish leisurely mood, sitting head to head with several big maids, trimming a bouquet of magnolias as white as snow.

Looking at this posture, Zhao Xiwei suddenly felt that he had come at the wrong time.

Although she suffered from hunger and cold since she was a child, she has never begged anyone in a low-key manner. This visit to Cui's residence with a purpose is a challenge for her.

However, she is not someone who grinds her guns before the battle. She did her homework last night, learned about Mrs. Cui's preferences and tastes, and prepared exquisite gifts such as spices and scented tea.

Mrs. Cui accepted the gift with a smile, but pretended to be ignorant of the purpose of Zhao Xiwei's visit, and only cordially ordered someone to serve the meal.

"Miss Wei, come here, this is the fermented duck that my aunt asked the kitchen to make specially, try it while it's hot."

Mrs. Cui personally picked up the silver chopsticks, put a piece of duck leg meat that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and put it in Zhao Xiwei's bowl: "This duck was sent by our master, a colleague far away in Jianye. It is so fresh and tender that the whole Chang'an It’s not as delicious anymore.”

Zhao Xiwei got up and thanked: "Thank you Madam Cui."

She looked at the mountains of vegetables in the bowl with a faint smile on her face.

Mrs. Cui was really a good person. Although she didn't want to get involved in the affairs of the Zhao family, she still showed her kindness as a landlord. Looking at the sumptuous delicacies on this table, one could tell that they had been carefully prepared.

"Sister Wei, let's go to Zhuque Street after dinner. I guess you have just arrived in Chang'an, and you must have never visited the night market. Let me tell you, at night, the whole street is hung with colorful lanterns, which is so beautiful. One cannot take one's eyes away!"

Zhao Xi smiled and agreed, but he was thinking about how to ask about Hu Cao's affairs. It had been two days since the third lady was brought back to the yamen, and if she stayed any longer, she might confide all the things in one go.

I don't know if there is any way for my father?
Zhao Xiwei was worried about the third wife here, while Zhao Ziyi was sitting in the study, frowning.

It's just that he is not worried about the third wife, but Zhao Xiwei.

The doors and windows of the study room were opened on the floor, and the breeze wrinkled the millet-yellow window screens. With the unique coldness and coldness of winter, it swept across the thick books on the desk, making a rustling sound.

In the cloisonné enamel animal ear stove in the corner, sandalwood mixed with ice brain is burned.

The dark fragrance floats, and the room is cool.

Zhao Ziyi flipped through two books, put them down again, picked up the pen, and put down the pen again after writing two words.

Finally, he couldn't bear to get up, walked to the window, and looked down at the scenery outside the courtyard.

Chang Song who was standing behind was also silent. In his impression, Master Xiang was always calm at any time, rarely in such a restless state.

A servant girl brought hot tea on tiptoe, and Chang Song hurriedly gave her a wink to signal her to put it aside.

The maid didn't know why, but when she caught a glimpse of Xiangye's gloomy face, she was startled, put down the teacup in a panic, and then backed away.

Chang Song pursed the corners of his mouth, thinking about how to explain to Xiang Ye, when someone came quietly under the window.

He has a straight face, wearing a navy blue robe, without any ornaments on his body.

He bowed and reported: "Reporting to the Prime Minister, the matter of Miss Wei's falling into the water has been found out."

When Zhao Ziyi heard this sentence, her expression softened instantly, and she sat down in front of the case, and then said in a calm and unhurried manner: "Say."

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, it is true that Miss Wei fell into the water, and it is true that the Empress Dowager secretly set up a trap. It's just..." The man paused, and glanced at Chang Song, as if he was considering whether to avoid suspicion.

Zhao Ziyi raised her hand, signaling him to rest assured: "But it's okay to say."

The man coughed and said in a low voice, "The one who saved Miss Wei's life was not Princess Lingxi, but...His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhao Ziyi's eyes suddenly sank: "What did you say?"

"Miss Wei lost her way at the palace banquet that day. The queen mother tried to put Miss Wei to death under the guise of catching an assassin. Miss Wei broke into Longquan Pool in a panic. It was the prince who rescued her and let the lady hide under the water... "

At the end of his speech, he hesitated.

Lonely man and widow, living together in a hot spring, even though I try to use the most plain tone to state it, it still inevitably makes people feel ambiguous.

Zhao Ziyi frowned even tighter.

And the voice of the green-robed man sounded slowly again: "Master Xiang, there is one more thing that I think you need to know."

"please say."

A flash of embarrassment flashed across him, he frowned slightly, and reported humbly: "I learned that the Queen Mother drugged the soup pool that day..."

"What did you say??"

Even though Zhao Ziyi was always calm and stable, he was struck by lightning when he heard this sentence. He suddenly got up, stared at the green robed man like a torch, and asked almost word by word: "Are you telling the truth?"

The green-robed man hurriedly cupped his hands and saluted: "Master Xiang has saved my life, so I dare not lie to Master Xiang."

Zhao Ziyi's sleeves swayed, and the fingers hidden in the sleeves trembled uncontrollably.

It was he who was careless.

The struggle between the two palaces is a struggle for power. The Empress Dowager is so obsessed with power. In order to seize power, she can ignore even the emperor and prince.

I also hate myself for being indecisive.

If the marriage with the palace had been decided at that time, even if the Empress Dowager wanted to suppress her, she would not be able to resort to such vicious means...

She also thought of Shen Yuqing's serene smiling face. She entrusted the child to him, pointing to him as a father who can protect Wei'er for life.

All of a sudden, guilt, heartache, regret, all kinds of complex emotions surged up, which made him stunned.

The green-robed man called out a few words in a low voice: "Master Xiang."

Zhao Ziyi just came back to his senses, he took a few deep breaths, suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart, and said in a low voice: "What is the prince's attitude towards this matter?"

The green-robed man replied: "The East Palace doesn't want to publicize this matter. After all, it concerns the reputation of both parties. If it gets out, it will be bad for anyone."

It is of course the best thing for the prince to keep concealing it, but for his younger sister, it is like a dumb person who cannot tell what he is suffering from eating coptis.

"Understood, you go back first."

"Yes."

After the green-robed man left, Zhao Ziyi sat down on the chair, propped his forehead with his palms, and fell silent.

After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly seemed to have made an important decision, grabbed a cloak and tied it on, while commanding Changsong: "Prepare the car."

Chang Song was taken aback: "Master Xiang, where are you going?"

Zhao Ziyi's footsteps stopped at the door, and her voice was as cool as the wind on the roof: "East Palace."

(End of this chapter)