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

This is actually because Qi Yitang doesn't really feel the reality of being an empress.

Apart from the fact that everyone had changed their way of addressing her, she felt that her food, clothing and daily necessities were no different from before, and naturally she did not realize that no empress would so openly talk about returning to her maternal home in front of the emperor.

The Qi family was already related to the maternal relatives.

Anyone with a brain knows to avoid suspicion, lest the emperor's relatives become the sole favorites and give others ammunition to criticize them.

But, well, brains are such a thing...

Qi Yitang has always existed, but not often.

She asked tentatively, "Yanzhi, are you unhappy... just because I'm going back?"

Xie Ling looked down at her, her tone indifferent, "What do you think?"

Qi Yitang: "I'll only go back for two days, and I'll return to the palace at noon on the second day. I promise I won't stay any longer. Is that not allowed?"

Xie Ling remained silent.

"Then...one day?" Qi Yitang held up one finger. "Just one day. I'll go and come back the same day, is that okay?"

[My wife is being disobedient and wants to go back to her parents' home. I'll punish her on the spot, using the Great Law!]

[Others control their brains with their muscles, but the villains control their brains with possessiveness. Brilliant!]

[In the novel: So sweet, I'm dying of joy. In reality: If you encounter someone who controls your freedom like this, run away as fast as you can, the farther the better.]

[It's understandable, actually. The villain didn't like the female supporting character's family in the first place, so he definitely didn't want her to go back.]

Does Xie Ling dislike her family?

Qi Yitang's gaze was fixed on the last comment. "No way..."

He usually addressed his parents-in-law affectionately, and during holidays he would send gifts to the Qi family in a steady stream. He was also friendly and kind to her brothers. He didn't seem like someone who disliked her at all.

Surely all those polite formalities and courtesies couldn't have been faked?

Could it be... that she was taking out her anger on them because of the cold treatment she received at home in the past?

Qi Yitang leaned closer and nuzzled his nose, blinking her eyes as she looked at him. "Then I won't stay for another day. I'll go back to see my older brother, say a few words, and then come back. I really have something very important to tell him."

"You go ahead with your work, I'll be back when you're done."

"Is it okay, Yanzhi?" The voice was as soft as melted honey, with a long, trembling tone at the end, so sweet it made one's teeth ache.

Xie Ling's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

To be honest, he really wanted to pin her down on his lap and spank her hard to teach her a lesson.

Knowing full well that he couldn't refuse her, she still deliberately tried to coax and pester him.

Xie Ling continued washing the underwear with a cold face, "I can agree to your request, but if you don't return by the designated time, you can forget about leaving the palace in the future."

"And, after you return, you must cooperate with me..." He gently bit her lip, "You cannot refuse."

Is this something that can be used to negotiate terms?

Her cheeks flushed instantly, and Qi Yitang's expression shifted several times before she finally gritted her teeth and said, "Fine!"

……

Qi Yitang left the palace with Yuan Shu and Yun Zhu.

Of all her brothers, she was the least close to and most afraid of her eldest brother, Qi Yuanjin.

He was a full twelve years older than Qi Yitang. He went to the Northern Frontier Army Camp when Qi Yitang was still very young, and returned to the capital only a handful of times.

Every time he came back, he had a stern face, as serious as a teacher in a private school holding a ruler.

Even though she was the youngest sister, and so cute when she was little, he would still spank her hands for making mistakes, and he wouldn't let go no matter how much she cried.

She would secretly curse him in her heart back then, and avoid him whenever she saw him.

Now that they're older, her older brother only comes home once every few years, and she's entered the palace. The siblings see each other less and less, and they do miss each other a little.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

Upon returning to the Qi residence and seeing Qi Yuanjin, Qi Yitang was immediately taken aback.

This person looks both familiar and unfamiliar.

What's familiar is that the outline of his eyebrows and eyes hasn't changed much, but what's unfamiliar is that his face is tanned dark and shiny, with a light-colored old knife scar across his cheekbone, and his beard is unkempt. He looks as rugged as an old tree stump that has been weathered by wind and sand for many years.

Standing next to Qi Wenyuan, who has the demeanor of a civil official, it's hard to tell who the father is.

Get up.

Qi Yitang was still sizing him up when Qi Yuanjin smiled with satisfaction, "Your Majesty is more composed than before."

After returning to Beijing yesterday, he heard about what had happened in the past six months.

Although it pains them to see their younger sister change, people always have to grow up. But she is alone in the palace, and her family can't help her much. Only if she is clever can they feel at ease.

Qi Yitang's feelings were somewhat complicated. Of course, if he wasn't steady and smart, his whole family would have died.

Xie Ling only gave her half a day, and Qi Yitang was too lazy to exchange pleasantries, so she quickly pulled Qi Yuanjin to the study.

Of course, he didn't use such a bizarre excuse as seeing "bullet comments." He simply said that he had connections in the court and had received reliable information, urging him to be extra careful, especially with those in the Northern Frontier Army who were usually at odds with him. Even those who were close to him should not be trusted.

After hearing this, Qi Yuanjin fell silent.

There are people in the court...

He had a million questions in his mind: Did she find this person herself? What position did she assign her? Is she intelligent?

And, does Your Majesty know this?

However, looking into her younger sister's earnest eyes, Qi Yuanjin nodded. "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will be extra vigilant."

Qi Yitang finally felt relieved.

Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Qi Yuanjin's face hardened instantly. "However, if something like this happens again, just send a letter back. Your Majesty is now the Empress; how can you leave the palace at will? This is truly against palace rules."

Qi Yitang: "..." Who was she doing this for?!

If it weren't for the fact that there were eyes everywhere in the palace, and she was afraid that if she spoke to someone's face, the Empress Dowager or others would hear it, she wouldn't have made a special trip out of the palace!

Qi Yitang raised her chin. "What you say makes sense, elder brother, but now I am the Empress, second only to the Emperor—is this the attitude you should have when speaking to the Empress?"

[Indeed, he is second only to the emperor, spending his nights beneath him.]

[It might not necessarily be down there; it could flip up to the top at any time (evil grin.jpg)]

Qi Yitang found it both funny and speechless. Why bring up these things again? Aren't you ashamed?

Qi Yuanjin was taken aback by her words, "...Your Majesty, please forgive me."

snort!

Qi Yitang left the Qi residence with her head held high and boarded the carriage back to the palace.

Things change, and she's no longer the little girl he used to spank!

Since it was still early, Qi Yitang asked Yunzhu to buy some food along the way, and also packed a plump roast duck for Xie Ling to take back.

The carriage rumbled through the streets and alleys of Shengjing, its wheels making a steady sound as they rolled over the road.

Qi Yitang calculated the time and realized that if she went back now, she could still have dinner with Xie Ling in time, which made her very happy.

Even when she gets home, she's thinking about him. And it's not like she's exceeded the allotted time. Surely he can't still be unhappy, right?

Halfway there, the carriage suddenly lurched, and Qi Yitang swayed from side to side. "Huh?"

A commotion came from outside, and then the car stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Qi Yitang lifted the carriage curtain to see what had happened, only to be met with a face filled with a mixture of infatuation and resentment.

The woman, with disheveled hair and a deranged state, cried out, "Where did you put my Yu-gege? Give me back my Yu-gege!"