The emperor's investigation into corruption this time, not only the Qi family was on the list, but also several important officials in the capital were investigated, and the Qi family was just one of them sacrificed. This year, the entire capital was in a bloody storm, and the attention the Qi family received was not as great as expected. The common people only regard it as a temporary topic of conversation, and only some famous families and important officials in the court will really pay attention to it.
After Qi Surong's family moved into Wangu Alley, they were rarely disturbed. In this turbulent time, both relatives, friends and enemies of the Qi family have to avoid suspicion.
Qi Surong sent her maid to the market to buy some necessary daily necessities, food, fruits and vegetables, and then handed them over to Qi's mother to arrange them. Qi's mother has been looking gloomy and worried in recent days. It would be good if she could find something to distract her attention.
Sure enough, the family became busy, the originally depressed atmosphere dissipated a lot, and their faces became a little more lively.
Five days later, Qi Surong asked Manager Liu to hire a carriage, and then went to the inner city with him.
Today is the day when my father comes home.
The century-old foundation of the Qi family was destroyed in one fell swoop. This incident undoubtedly dealt the greatest blow to his father.
In fact, her father, like her, had always been immersed in the family's past glory, but he didn't know that the Qi family had long since declined and no longer had the dignity it once had. In addition, his father was aloof, cold, arrogant and unsociable, so he was almost isolated in the court. With only wealth but not enough power, it would only be a matter of time before the Qi family fell. Now that the emperor is investigating, at least his life has been saved, which is a blessing among misfortunes.
However, although the money can be lost and the official position can be lost, the Qi family cannot bear this unwarranted crime for the rest of their lives.
corruption? With his father's temperament, he disdained corruption at all. Especially the corruption of military pay, which as a military general he would never tolerate.
Whether in the past life or in this life, Qi Surong firmly believed in his father's innocence.
The palace door opened, and Qi Surong quietly looked at her father who was slowly walking towards her. He, who has always paid attention to appearance, now has messy hair, has taken off his official hat and official uniform, and is wearing a white undershirt. He looks haggard and walks unsteadily.
Qi Surong's eyes ached at the sight, and she quickly stepped forward, helped him put on his cloak, and said softly: "Dad, I'm here to take you home."
Qi Fu laughed at himself: "Do we still have a home to go back to?"
"How could it not be?" Qi Surong smiled and said, "Home is where family is. Dad, let's go. Mom and Subao are waiting for you at home."
She helped Qi's father into the carriage and drove slowly towards the direction of Eternal Lane.
Qi's father remained silent along the way. When he passed by Qi's house, he lifted the curtain, his eyes fell on the two seals on the door, and his fingers trembled slightly.
"Dad." Qi Surong held his father's hand.
Qi's father turned around with a cold expression and didn't look any further.
The carriage quickly arrived at its destination, and Qi Surong helped her father get out of the carriage. He looked around for a while, then slowly walked into the door.
"Master, master is back!" Ping'er's voice of surprise came from the yard, and then she even forgot to salute, turned around and ran into the inner room.
Not long after, Qi's mother walked out of the inner room quickly with Su Bao and greeted her with excitement on her face.
"Dad." Su Bao broke away from Qi's mother's hand and rushed to Qi's father's side first. Father Qi picked him up, his cold expression finally softening a bit.
"Ms. sir." Qi's mother came to him with tears in her eyes.
"Madam is tired." Qi's father sighed.
Qi's mother shook her head, crying and laughing: "As long as you are safe, that's fine. As long as you're safe, that's fine."
Qi Surong stood behind them, looking at them with a smile. This scene suddenly seemed like a dream, but yet so real.
She took a deep breath, stepped forward and said, "Dad, I have asked someone to prepare hot water. You go and wash up first, and then go back to your room and have a good sleep."
"That's right, let's go freshen up first." Qi's mother took Su Bao over and urged, "Mr. sir, go quickly. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare some food. You can fill your stomach later and go to rest."
Father Qi nodded and followed the maid into the house.
"Rong'er, how did you know your father was coming back today?" Qi's mother asked.
"Well, I asked someone to inquire about it." Qi Surong smiled.
"Really, why didn't you inform me in advance? So that I could prepare." Qi's mother scolded. As soon as she finished speaking, her expression stiffened and she raised her eyes to look at Qi Surong to see if she would be angry.
Qi Surong stopped her mother's shoulder and said with a smile: "Mom, doesn't my daughter want to give you a surprise? Besides, what else do you need to prepare? It's enough for you to serve me by your side."
Qi's mother glanced at her shyly: "No, you are poor. You take care of Bao'er first, and I'll go see your father."
Su Bao said loudly: "Mom, I also want to see dad."
Qi Surong grabbed him and said, "Father and mother are going to clean up their innocence. Why are you joining in the fun?"
"I want to come clean too!"
"Then let me wash it for you." Qi Surong looked at him condescendingly.
Su Bao looked at her suspiciously: "You help me wash?" In his impression, his sister had never helped him take a bath. She often said that it was something only servants would do.
"Yeah, how about it? Do you want to wash it?"
Su Bao hugged his chest and seemed to be deep in thought. After a moment, he said seriously: "Mom said that there are differences between men and women. Unless we are husband and wife, we cannot be honest with each other casually."
Qi Surong narrowed her eyes: "Do you want to wash it or not?"
"don't want."
"You have to have it even if you don't want it!" Qi Surong picked him up and rushed to the room quickly.
"Ah, help..."
The maids all showed surprise when they saw Qi Surong, who always paid attention to his manners, behaved so rudely. However, the sound of the two fighting each other made people couldn't help but smile.
Qi's father slept until midnight before waking up. Without waking his wife, he put on his clothes and came to the courtyard to sit in meditation.
"Dad." Qi Surong came over with a bottle of wine and several plates of snacks.
"Rong'er, it's so late and you're still not asleep?"
Qi Surong put the dishes in his hands and said, "Dad slept all afternoon. I guess you should wake up by now. You haven't had dinner, so just make do with it."
Father Qi looked at her silently.
"Dad, what are you looking at?" Qi Surong poured him a glass of sake.
"Dad, I heard from your mother and Manager Liu that you handled the situation very well when the Qi Mansion was sealed." Qi's father picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.
"Thank you dad, this is what a daughter should do."
"You noticed in advance that the situation was not good, dismissed your servants in time, stayed calm in the face of danger, faced Luo Shimin's difficulties, knew how to be patient, adapt to changes, and brought your mother and others out of the house safely, and then bought a house here to settle down. From the beginning to the end, your My father was very surprised by his performance."
Qi Surong lowered his head and remained speechless. She knew there were too many doubts about her behavior. A simple mother would not suspect it, but father is different.
A young lady who is usually arrogant and thinks very highly of herself, let’s not forget why she has such a meticulous mind and quick adaptability. Luo Shimin's insult alone was definitely not something she could tolerate.
"Rong'er, you..."
Qi Surong suddenly raised her head, looked directly at Qi's father, and said seriously: "Dad, my daughter had a dream. In the dream, the Qi family also suffered great changes. The situation was bleak. Everything that the daughter was once proud of has become a burden. My glory and wealth turned away, and the people I looked down upon in the past bullied me, humiliated me, and laughed at me, and I had nothing but a little bit of humble dignity."
When Father Qi heard this, his expression showed a bit of sadness, and he drank another glass of wine.
Qi Surong said again: "Dad, life is unsatisfactory ten times. It is up to you to decide what kind of life you choose. Although my daughter only had a dream, she also understood many truths. If I don't change my ways, what happened in the dream will happen." Anything can become a reality. Dad, you know how strong your daughter is. She would rather die than live like an ant."
In her last life, she had had enough and had seen through it all.
Her rebirth would be meaningless if she repeated the tragedy of the past.
Father Qi looked at his daughter and said with some relief: "Rong'er, you have really grown up."
Qi Surong smiled and served Father Qi with wine and food. Regardless of his previous unusual behavior.
"Dad, what are your plans next?" she asked.
Father Qi said sternly: "Of course I need to find someone as soon as possible to help my Qi family rehabilitate!"
really. With his father's character, how could he swallow his anger and be slandered in vain? Just like in his previous life, he chose to swim against the current. Unfortunately, the timing was wrong and no one dared to take over this hot potato. My father ran into obstacles everywhere and was looked down upon. Finally, he had to give up. From then on, he became depressed, drank all day long, and became a useless person.
"Dad, my daughter doesn't think you should act too hastily."
"How to say?"
"Now the emperor is trying his best to punish corrupt officials. Even if dad can prove his innocence, the emperor will not be able to withdraw his previous judgment. Why should dad do such useless work? It is better to stay here temporarily and wait for the opportunity."
Father Qi pursed his lips and looked gloomy.
"Dad, you praised your daughter for being patient before, so why are you so impulsive now that it's your turn?"
Qi's father was stunned for a moment, then laughed and laughed at himself: "You are right, yes, my father is indeed impulsive, impulsive! However, the century-old foundation of the Qi family is about to be destroyed in my hands. I How can you have the face to meet the ancestors of the Qi family?"
Father Qi dropped his fist on the stone table, making a loud bang.
"How can I have the face to meet the ancestors of the Qi family!" Father Qi's shoulders trembled and his eyes were red. The emotions he had endured for a long time exploded at this moment. He warned himself to calm down, but there was nowhere to vent the depression in his heart, which made him breathless.
"Dad." Qi Surong stood up and came to Qi's father's side, caressing his back.
"Rong'er, tell me why the emperor is so ruthless towards the Qi family? Don't say that I am not corrupt at all. Even if I am, I will only be fined some money at most. How can I uproot my Qi family's business? Shops, fields, mansions , Treasure it, leave nothing behind! How can I, Qi Shuo, be so sorry to the Emperor?"
"Dad." Qi Surong interrupted, "Be careful what you say."
Qi's father gritted his teeth, drank from the wine glass, and then slammed it to the ground, smashing the empty glass into pieces.
Qi Surong also had doubts about this matter. In her previous life, until she was about to die, her master gave her a little hint: "More than fifty years ago, Queen Mother Xiaoren arranged for her nephew to live under your father's account. As a result, He was impeached by your father, accusing him of deploying generals without authorization and interfering with the operation of the army. Soon after, the Queen Mother's nephew died in a battle. The Queen Mother always suspected that your father had done this intentionally. The Holy Father respected the Queen Mother very much. When he ascended the throne, he was young and energetic, and it was inevitable that he would do too much..."