After the rebellion was successful, I realized that this place was the Red Mansion

Chapter 18 "Qinghe, what poems have you read recently"

Kunning Palace, afternoon.

"Qinghe greets the Empress Dowager." "Greetings to the Empress Mother!"

The seventeenth princess, Chen Yuzhen, came to Kunning Palace with a group of nephews and nieces. She just bowed and her nephews and nieces knelt down and kowtowed to Empress Zhang.

After the ceremony, Qinghe sat obediently beside the emperor's sister-in-law and listened to her asking her nephews about their homework.

"Qinghe."

Suddenly, Empress Zhang turned and looked at her. "The court has sent people to negotiate peace with the bandit king. You are usually concerned about the affairs of the country and have often asked about the bandit king recently. Do you think this peace negotiation can be successful?"

A group of young princes and princesses looked at her.

"Yes, sister-in-law."

Qinghe lowered her head, about to carefully consider her words, but the Empress's sister-in-law didn't give her a chance to think. She said bluntly, "Just say it. We are on the verge of collapse, our country is ruined, and if we can't stop the enemy army, you and I will inevitably be captured. What is there to say?"

Qinghe raised her head and met the frightened eyes of her nephews and nieces. She spoke softly, expressing her thoughts in a gentle voice: "Replying to the Emperor's sister-in-law, Qinghe believes that this disaster will be difficult to avoid."

Empress Zhang encouraged her to continue speaking with her eyes.

"That thief king, Chu Yan, roamed the mountains of the south ten years ago. A few years ago, there were rumors in the capital that he was an orphan, a spirit child born from nature, born from a lightning strike on a high tower. There were also rumors that he was the reincarnation of the Yaksha King of Hell, and that all his generals were Yaksha demons."

Her voice was soft, but it still frightened the group of young princes.

Seeing this, Qinghe hurriedly said, "This thief is undoubtedly spreading rumors to confuse the people. The Emperor has even issued a decree to reprimand him, warning the people of the capital not to spread rumors... However, the more Chu Yan claims to be different, the more ambitious he becomes. Nothing less than the throne will satisfy his gluttonous appetite. In Qinghe's opinion, negotiating peace is merely a matter of doing our part."

These words silenced Empress Zhang.

She originally thought that Qinghe would analyze the enemy and our forces like those court officials and list the available troops in the city. Unexpectedly, Qinghe talked about the fabricated life story of the thief king, pointing out that he had coveted the throne for several years and had great ambitions!

Even if the peace talks were successful, it would only be giving land to Qin, which would be like adding fuel to a fire.

Looking at the children born to these concubines, Empress Zhang, the legitimate mother, slowly spoke: "If there is any change in the capital, I will arrange for people to send you away. Once you leave the capital, do not say that you are royal children. Remember to hide your identities. Living a peaceful life is the greatest blessing. Never think of avenging your father again."

"Mother!"

All the princes and princesses burst into tears.

Empress Zhang said, "Don't cry anymore. Wipe your tears with your handkerchief and follow me to pay my respects to the old concubine and the queen mother."

Qinghe hurriedly stood up and went to comfort the group of young nephews. Princess Huainan was the only one who did not cry. She was only four years old this year and looked at her brothers and sisters with big eyes in confusion.

Qinghe took them and followed the emperor's sister-in-law to Fengzao Palace located on the northwest side of the imperial palace.

"Your Majesty, the Queen."

Upon hearing that the Queen had arrived, the virtuous concubine Jia Yuanchun was already waiting in front of Fengzao Palace. When she saw her coming, she bowed respectfully to welcome the Queen.

Empress Zhang smiled and said, "Xian De Fei can just stay in the palace to accompany the old concubine. There is no need to go out to greet me."

Jia Yuanchun lowered her head and dared not say anything more.

Seeing this, Qinghe sighed secretly in his heart. In the entire palace, the most cautious person was Concubine Xian De.

She is a relative of the old concubine, but she is also the emperor's brother's concubine. She is caught between the emperor's sister-in-law and the old concubine. Everything she does seems to be wrong, just like now:
If Jia Yuanchun stayed in Fengzao Palace to accompany the old concubine, her sister-in-law would be unhappy because her sister-in-law was the empress, and the old concubine was just an ordinary concubine, not the biological mother of the retired emperor.

But if Jia Yuanchun went out to welcome the queen, the old concubine would probably feel that she was unfamiliar. Jia Yuanchun was able to be made a concubine because of the old concubine's intercession with the emperor.

Qinghe couldn't blame the emperor's sister-in-law. Her sister-in-law had a difficult life. Although she was the queen and nominally in charge of the harem, there were three people among the queens who needed her to show filial piety: the old concubine, the queen mother, and the retired emperor. The emperor's sister-in-law had not been able to give birth to a child, and her situation was getting worse.

But right now, these are trivial matters.

The real big deal is the one outside the city.

……

After bidding farewell to the old empress dowager, Qinghe brought his nephews and followed Empress Zhang to the Eastern Palace.

This was originally where the prince lived, but after her father abdicated, he has been living here and renovated the palace and renamed it. Now, Qinghe came to the gate of Gaoxuan Palace and went in to pay her respects to her mother.

To Qinghe's surprise, her brother was also there. "The Queen and Qinghe are here too?"

Emperor Yongning asked calmly.

Empress Zhang hurriedly led everyone to pay their respects to him and the Empress Dowager.

Qinghe sat next to his mother, and the young princes could only stand.

Before they could ask, the Queen Mother said, "The Emperor just said that the peace talks have failed."

Qinghe's heart suddenly tightened. Although he had expected it, he still felt panicked after hearing it.

"If they want to fight, I will fight them!" Emperor Yongning said gritting his teeth.

The Queen Mother said expressionlessly, "The Emperor wishes to have me go see his Highness and have him issue an order for all the officials in the city to contribute manpower and manpower."

After hearing this, Qinghe raised his head slightly and glanced at his royal brother.

When the country was in crisis, the civil and military officials of the court only wanted to save their lives. They were frightened by the bandits and did not even dare to attend the morning court. It was a pity that her brother, the emperor, had been on the throne for ten years but still had to rely on the emperor to issue orders.

"I will go with you and do my part."

Empress Zhang said respectfully.

Qinghe then realized that what his mother meant by those words was that the emperor's sister-in-law should also come forward, and everyone should go together to invite the retired emperor who was making elixirs in the Wanxian Pavilion.

The Queen Mother nodded in satisfaction and said to Qinghe, "You should also go and see your father, the Emperor, and your grandfather, the Emperor!"

So Qinghe brought his young nephew, his brother, his wife, and his mother to the Wanxian Pavilion.

After entering, Qinghe smelled a strong medicinal fragrance, which was extremely pungent. She had to cover her nose with a handkerchief to endure the smell.

"You guys are here?"

The Emperor was sitting and discussing Taoism with a few old Taoists. When he saw Qinghe and the others, a smile broke out on his pale face. "Just right, you've arrived just in time. I've finally figured it out! The day after tomorrow at 3:30 AM, the sky will begin to break, and the earth's energy will rise. It's the auspicious sign of 'Jia Zi meets Chen'. Taking the elixir at that time will draw the essence of the stars in the sky. The elixir will open the mysterious gate, transforming the mortal body into jade bones, and ascending to heaven!"

Qinghe lowered his head, feeling sad and sighing in his heart.

Her brother wanted to tell her the reason, but a Taoist priest beside her father said with a smile: "Brother Daoist, we are about to ascend to heaven, so we should no longer use our mortal identities."

The Emperor suddenly understood and said with a smile, "That's right, from now on, I won't address you as 'I' anymore. I'll address you as 'fellow Taoist'!"

Emperor Yongning turned and left.

The Queen Mother stayed for a while, but left because she couldn't stand the smoke in the Wanxian Pavilion.

Qinghe was left behind, and the princes were asked to kowtow and pay their respects to the emperor.

Perhaps it was the sight of their young faces, or perhaps it was the thought of taking the elixir and ascending to heaven the next day, that made the Emperor in a very good mood. He took the Second Prince's hand and asked, "What have you learned in class lately, my dear grandchildren?"

The second prince was only six years old and rarely saw his grandfather, so he was a little afraid to speak.

Qinghe couldn't help but stand up and said, "Father, Qinghe recently learned a poem and wants to recite it to you!"

"Oh, what poems has Qinghe read recently?" The emperor looked at her with a smile.

Qinghe recited, "For forty years, my country and my family, three thousand miles of mountains and rivers, phoenix pavilions and dragon towers reaching the sky, jade trees and branches covered with mist and vines, how often have I seen war?!"

She felt so happy!
Inside the Wanxian Pavilion, however, it was quiet.

The smile on the emperor's face froze.

"Qinghe, let's go."

Empress Zhang took her hand and turned away.

Qinghe stumbled and followed the emperor's sister-in-law. The princes and princesses could not stay for a moment and ran out in a swarm.

(End of this chapter)