The wicked imperial concubine is courting death again; the comments section teaches her how to win w

In fact, Qi Yitang didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but her curiosity was too strong, and she was eager to know what Qin Jiangli was planning.

In her mind, Qin Jiangli was a werewolf, a being who was even more ruthless than a human being.

Despite being frail and sickly, he remained fearless in the face of danger in the Northern Rong King's tent, plotting against the tiger for its skin, and ultimately killing his own father.

Honestly, if she were Qin Jiangli, facing a father who had committed countless evil deeds yet treated her like a precious jewel, she might not have been able to so decisively stab him.

Qi Yitang went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where Qin Jiangli happened to be.

"Has His Majesty fulfilled the second promise he made?"

What did Xie Ling promise her?

Just as Qi Yitang was about to hide and eavesdrop, Xie Ling inside had already accurately caught the swaying hem of a garment.

"Tangtang".

How come he has such sharp eyes?

Qi Yitang had no choice but to slowly emerge from behind the pillar. "Ahem, well, I have something to discuss with His Majesty. I didn't expect my cousin to be here too... I'm not in a hurry, you two talk first."

Qin Jiangli stood up and bowed, "Greetings, Cousin-in-law."

"No need to be polite, please sit down." Qi Yitang sat down with Xie Ling, turning her eavesdropping into listening.

Have you thought it through?

Xie Ling casually handed the pastries on the table to Qi Yitang. "I've heard that Song Xinghe has taken good care of you, and even saved your life. If you're willing, I can grant you a marriage."

Actually, one was a cousin she wasn't very close to, and the other was a former "sister." Qi Yitang wasn't particularly close to either of them, but she still listened attentively.

Qin Jiangli shook her head calmly, "Your Majesty, I do not believe in love and have no intention of getting married."

She contacted Xie Ling to help him get rid of Qin Zhenxiong, and they agreed on two conditions.

First, to posthumously honor and recognize my mother's name, so that she would not be unknown to the world;

The second was finding his aunt, his mother's long-lost younger sister, and returning to his mother's hometown to live out his days.

"I just want to cough cough back to Taicang..." Qin Jiangli suddenly covered her mouth and coughed violently, her thin shoulders trembling.

She was coughing so badly that Qi Yitang was alarmed. "Are you alright?"

"Here's some hot tea, have a sip and calm down."

"Thank you, sister-in-law, I'm fine..." Qin Jiangli raised her head, a trace of bright red still lingering on her lips.

Qi Yitang's heart skipped a beat when she saw the bloodstains on the handkerchief in her hand.

He vomited blood and he's still okay?

Xie Ling was silent for a moment, then said, "I promise you, I will do my best to find your aunt's whereabouts and send people to escort you to Taicang. You don't need to worry about anything else."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qin Jiangli bowed deeply.

"Cousin, I won't be able to witness your wedding. I wish you and your wife a loving and harmonious life together, growing old side by side..."

Xie Ling: "Thank you."

Qin Jiangli coughed and left. Looking at her thin figure, Qi Yitang felt a little worried.

Why are they all so weak? I hope they don't just cough and die on the way.

Just as she was thinking this, the next second she was suddenly pulled onto Xie Ling's lap. "What, is Tangtang here to keep an eye on me because she's afraid I'll bring my cousin into the palace?"

Of course not.

She trusted Xie Ling completely and didn't take what the palace maid said to heart.

Even if there are a thousand ways to take care of your cousin, what kind of talk is it to dismiss your harem and then bring in someone else?

However, Qi Yitang still gave a haughty snort, "What, is that not allowed?"

Xie Ling showed no displeasure at being followed; instead, she smiled with delight. "So, Tangtang saw it with her own eyes. Are you satisfied?"

"Well, it's barely passable."

As soon as Qi Yitang finished muttering this, Xie Ling chuckled softly and reached out to pinch her cheek.

Just as Qi Yitang's brows furrowed slightly and she was about to protest, he leaned down and his lips were about to touch hers.

"Hey, wait a minute—"

Qi Yitang quickly reached out and covered his mouth, her palm pressed against his lips, "Don't kiss me yet, I have something to tell you."

She knew Xie Ling too well; once they kissed, he would easily become passionate and lose himself in the moment. It would only take half an incense stick's time for them to go from a brief kiss to rolling into bed together.

If we let him continue kissing like that, it will get dark in no time, and our important business will be delayed.

Xie Ling took the opportunity to gently peck her palm.

"What is it?"

Qi Yitang's palms itched from the teasing, so she withdrew her hand and rubbed it against his clothes. "Didn't you issue an order for my elder brother to return to the capital as soon as possible and stay a few more days? My elder brother arrived home yesterday, and I want to go back and see him."

Although Xie Jingyu is dead and the Qin family has fallen, the fact that the eldest brother was falsely accused of treason in his previous life means there must have been an internal traitor or a spy behind him.

She waited from the middle of the year to the end, hoping for her eldest brother to return to Beijing.

Now that Fourth Brother is being kept under her control and studying diligently at the academy, with Chi Zheng watching over him, there is absolutely no way he could have contracted venereal disease.

My second brother took leave to stay home with my sister-in-law and niece.

She had already told Xie Ling that she would transfer her second brother from the lucrative but troublesome position at the Salt and Iron Bureau and arrange a sinecure for him. She didn't care about the low salary, as long as he wouldn't die.

After considering all the possibilities, only the eldest brother's side still has a potential problem.

No matter what, she had to pull out this thorn hidden in the shadows, and she absolutely could not let her elder brother repeat the mistakes of his previous life.

But Xie Ling's expression turned indifferent upon hearing her words, and her tone became even more flat.

"Going back again?"

The temperature inside the hall seemed to drop several degrees instantly.

Li Degui's heart skipped a beat—oh no, it's all over again.

Qi Yitang hadn't fully realized the seriousness of the problem. She squirmed in his arms and said, "It's almost Chinese New Year. It's not easy for my older brother to come back. We haven't seen each other for almost three or four years. I'm going back to visit him. I'll stay for two days and then come back."

Xie Ling pursed her lips into a thin line.

When the two weren't having intimate moments, they stayed quietly in the palace and rarely went out. But now, they think about going back to the bride's family home every few days.

The first time was when her father fell ill, the second time was when her cousin was unwell, the last time was when her second sister-in-law gave birth, and this time it was when her eldest brother returned to Beijing.

What about next time? Going back home for the Chinese New Year?

If her parents and brothers fall ill one after another in a while, will she have to make a trip to the Qi family mansion every few days?

Each time they would stay for three to five days, which added up to several months a year when they were not in the palace.

Knowing full well that he disliked the Qi family and even more so her going back, she still brought it up with him.

That's really... asking for a spanking.

Li Degui was frantically trying to signal to Qi Yitang from the corner, his eyelids almost twitching.

Why did his wife bring this up when the atmosphere was just right?

Normally, once a concubine enters the palace, her family can only visit her once, if she becomes pregnant or gives birth, by the grace of the Emperor or Empress Dowager.

His Majesty has been extremely lenient with the Empress, but there must be a limit to leniency. It was fine before, but now that the Empress is the Empress and the Mother of the Nation, how can she think about leaving the palace and going home every few days?

Fortunately, Qi Yitang wasn't so blind as to receive Li Degui's signal and then looked up at Xie Ling's expression.

—Hey, something's not right.