Zhao Pei lived in Fanghua Palace to the west of the new palace, while Yuan Ming, Wang Xuan and Xia Qinglin lived in a palace farther away. Although their status was not yet determined, their importance was already clear.
Because he had just ascended the throne, Xiao Yi was always busy and was often not seen. Zhao Pei was seldom with him, and the only feeling she had when she hugged him was: he had lost weight again...
Zhao Pei was alone except for Ruhua, He Hui and Ji Jiang. She didn't want to chat with Yuan Ming and the others, as their topics always revolved around Xiao Yi and the children. This made Zhao Pei think of Fang Deng and Han Zhen, which made her feel uncomfortable. She would rather play chess with He Hui.
After losing so badly that day, Zhao Pei curled her lips and waved her hand to clear the chess game, and went to the side room alone to prepare snacks. Ji Jijiang happened to be leaning against the side room door, and saw her coming from afar with a face full of resentment. Zhao Pei smiled at him, then ignored him and went about her own business. Ji Jijiang's peach blossom eyes swept over Zhao Pei with affection, causing Zhao Pei to have goose bumps all over her body.
She pretended to be annoyed and asked, "What do you want? Just say it if you have something to say."
Ji Jijiang took a few steps forward and muttered, "My queen, you are so partial. You hide such delicious snacks and eat them yourself."
Zhao Pei smiled faintly: "This is for the prince... the emperor. Also, don't call me queen." Zhao Pei couldn't get used to hearing the queen calling her queen every day these days.
Ji Jijiang smiled knowingly: "Then you send it to the emperor now?"
Zhao Pei nodded, everything was ready and waiting to be taken out. Ji Jijiang looked at her with embarrassment: "But the emperor is probably not in the imperial study now."
Zhao Pei raised an eyebrow, waiting for his next words: "I heard that the emperor has been talking in the meeting room with a few capable ministers since morning, and now the study must be empty. It would be useless to go there, so why not..." He glanced at the delicious snacks and laughed, "Why not give them to us first?"
Zhao Pei glanced at him sideways, smiled and said, "Don't even think about it." Then she left the room. Ji Jijiang shrugged his shoulders and kept muttering to himself, "It's just that they can't be compared."
Zhao Pei poked her head inside, and there was indeed no one in the study. She thought about it and decided to wait in the study, even if it was to give him a surprise. She walked into the forbidden area openly, and no one dared to stop her. She gently closed the door of the palace, and green smoke lingered, and a faint fragrance emanated from behind the curtain.
In fact, the layout of this study is similar to that of the original study in the palace, and even the "Red Lotus Picture" is still hung on the wall. The desk is piled with memorials of all sizes, some of which have been reviewed and some have not yet been reviewed. Zhao Pei put the food tray aside, and when she turned around, she accidentally bumped into a pile of books. "Clatter" fell all over the floor, Zhao Pei hurriedly squatted down to pick it up, and hurriedly put it back together. While she was cleaning up here, suddenly an opened letter fell out of "Strategies of the Warring States".
Zhao Pei's mind turned, and she spread out the book and read it without thinking. She didn't mean to, but after reading it, she trembled all over.
One of the sentences reads: "I will obey the emperor's order. King Wuling has been eliminated, and his son Yuanzhao and others have been imprisoned in the dungeon for the emperor to use at his disposal."
Prince Wuling... That was Xiao Yi's eighth brother, Xiao Ji. He... eliminated his own brothers and nephews? Zhao Pei hurriedly put the letter back in place, panting guiltily. Zhao Pei's mind was in a mess, and he leaned against the armchair beside him, his thoughts churning.
She should have taken Hou Jing's words seriously, and should have remembered the relationship between Xiao Zha's death and Xiao Yi. She was so absorbed in Fang Deng's grief that she forgot how Xiao Zha and others died. A thought flashed through her mind, and she saw Han Zhen with red eyes hesitating and saying that Xiao Lun was fine, and she saw Han Zhen lying on the ground with fire in her eyes, yelling at Xiao Yi over and over again...
She should have made the connection... She should have thought about what would happen based on Xiao Yi's personality...
Before Hanzhen left, she told her the cruel truth with red eyes, but she didn't take it to heart.
There were footsteps outside the room, Zhao Pei stood up and looked over. She saw Chen Baxian. Chen Baxian was surprised to see Zhao Pei in the room, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I didn't expect you to be here. I'm sorry."
Zhao Pei looked at him steadily and said in a serious tone, "General Chen, I have something I want to ask you."
Chen Baxian raised his eyebrows and curled his lips. (To be continued)