The wedding was spent in happiness and sadness, and there was still no news from Xiao Xiao.
Xia Lin went to Hanshan and said he would be back in two days, but he did not come back. He just asked the fat man with missing teeth to come back and inform him that he would not be back for the time being.
As for Xiao Xiao's situation, the fat man didn't say anything.
Zhuangzhuang didn't ask any further questions, nor did she say she wanted to go see Xiao Xiao. She just waited there in Beijing.
After going through so many things, Zhuangzhuang's temperament has become much calmer. He occasionally goes to the palace to pay his respects, occasionally goes to see Hu Huanxi and Zi'an, but more often, he sits quietly in the mansion.
The results of King Nan Huai's investigation came out, and as everyone expected, his conclusion was that Han Qingqiu killed Yao Zhi. In this way, the divorce letter was finally released with a justified attitude.
Han Qingqiu's tombstone was taken away. A criminal should not have a tombstone, and she was no longer a member of the Xiao family.
In the next few days, Murong Jie went out early and came back late, while Zi'an went to the Prince of Liang's mansion during the day to treat Prince Liang's leg injury, and returned home at night to prepare dinner. During this period, she almost always cooked dinner for the two of them.
Guiyuan was transferred to the accounting office. The accountant said that he had great potential and was willing to teach him, which comforted Zian.
The days were peaceful, but everyone knew that the peace would not last long.
Sure enough, as soon as she came back from Prince Liang's Mansion that day, Ah Fu came and said that the noble concubine wanted to see her.
Zi'an thought about how he had never gotten along with his mother-in-law since he married into this family, and had never gone to pay her respects. This sudden summons must have been with bad intentions.
"Princess, the Concubine Dowager summoned you suddenly. I'm afraid there might be problems. Do you want to wait for the prince to come back and then go together?" asked the nanny.
Zi'an thought for a moment and said, "It's okay. I'll go see what she wants to do."
"But the noble concubine is not easy to deal with. If you go to see her like this, you might suffer a loss." The nanny was very worried.
"It's okay. She doesn't dare to attack me in the mansion. I also want to see what she is thinking after being still for so long." Zi'an said.
Nanny was still worried, "How about I go with you?"
"Okay!" Zi'an replied.
The nanny called Boss Dao over, and the two of them accompanied Zi'an to Qingning Pavilion.
Zi'an has never been here since she got married. Qingning Pavilion is very antique, of course, this is ancient times.
However, this place is a little different from what Zi'an had expected. There are many calligraphy and paintings hanging in the hall, as well as antiques, and the furniture is all made of the finest rosewood or mahogany. The jade screen is the only item that looks a bit exaggerated, because it is carved with a flying bluebird, which is particularly abrupt.
The noble concubine was sitting on the armchair in the center of the hall, wearing a black brocade gown embroidered with flowery patterns, her hair tied tightly against her clothes, looking as noble as ever.
The weather was a bit cold, so a charcoal fire was lit in the house. The temperature was at least ten degrees lower than outside.
Zi'an took off his outer garment, handed it to Xiaosun, stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
The noble concubine looked at her and slowly smiled. That smile was very stiff, as if it was forced out of her body. "Come on, sit down!"
Zi'an thanked him and sat down.
The noble concubine looked at the nanny and Xiaosun and said, "You two can go out first. I will talk to Zi'an and his wife."
The nanny glanced at Zi'an, and Zi'an also said, "Go, and follow the instructions of the noble concubine."
The nanny had come along because she was worried, and now she was sent away. She was really worried, but she couldn't disobey the noble concubine, so she had to retreat with Xiaosun.
The door was closed, and Ah Fu stood beside the noble concubine without even offering Zi An a cup of tea.
However, even if it was offered to him, Zi'an couldn't drink it, because he had Fang'er, who was good at poisoning people, by his side.
"Are you used to living in the palace?" the noble concubine asked leisurely.
Zi'an smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Concubine Dowager. I'm used to it."
"Just get used to it. There are no rules in the mansion. You'll get used to it easily once you get used to it." The noble concubine said. She didn't mean to find fault, but she always spoke like this.
Zi'an still smiled and said nothing.
"Ajie and I are not very close, but the mother-son relationship is there. As his daughter-in-law, you can spend more time with me." The noble concubine said, her expression slowly relaxing, no longer as majestic as when she first entered the door.
Zian said: "Yes!"
The noble concubine nodded, "I have had some misunderstandings about you in the past, and I have done things that hurt you. You won't take it to heart, right?"
Zi'an sneered in his heart. He wouldn't take it to heart? How could he not take it to heart? She almost killed her.
"No!" Zi'an said sincerely. He didn't take it to heart but kept it in his mind and could never forget it for a single day.
The noble concubine looked at the scar rope wrapped around her arm and felt that it was particularly annoying. She said unhappily, "The rope wrapped around your arm doesn't look good. Take it off."
Zi'an touched it and said, "It's okay, you'll get used to it."
The noble concubine stared at her, "The Empress Dowager gave it to you, right?"
"Yes!" This was the first time that Zi'an had a conversation with the Noble Concubine like this. He never knew that her tone was so sharp.
"Do you think this scar rope can protect you for the rest of your life?" The noble concubine smiled faintly.
Zian shook his head, "I never thought so."
The noble concubine's eyes sparkled, "It's good that you know. You are very smart. I like to deal with smart people."
Zi'an said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind."
The noble concubine looked at her without saying anything, and there was a brief silence between the two of them.
Zi'an lowered her head. She knew that the noble concubine was studying her. Zi'an was really curious about what she was up to.
After a moment, the noble concubine slowly said, "It's nothing, you can go now."
Zi'an didn't seem surprised at all, he just stood up and bowed, "Yes, I'll take my leave!"
Just as she reached the door, the voice of the noble concubine came from behind her, "Xia Zian, you are not someone who is content with being ordinary. Have you ever thought about what the situation will be for Ajie and you once the emperor wakes up or the prince ascends the throne?"
Finally said it.
Zi'an turned around, a little confused, "Zi'an is stupid, I don't know what the noble concubine meant."
"You know, don't play dumb in front of me. You've been working so hard to climb up. I know exactly what you want."
Zi'an smiled, "Your Majesty is really discerning. Even I don't know what I want, but Your Majesty knows?"
The noble concubine smiled faintly, her eyes still gleaming with shrewdness, "Don't pretend in front of me. You want the position of queen, you want to be the mother of the country, you are absolutely unwilling to be inferior to anyone. A smart person like you should know that once the emperor wakes up or dies, Ajie will lose power. During his tenure as regent, he offended so many people. Have you thought about the consequences?"
Zi'an asked, "What good ideas does the noble concubine have?"
"Go back and persuade him. Since the throne is within his grasp, why should he give it up?" The noble concubine finally told Zi'an the purpose of coming here.
Zi An bowed, "I have no right to interfere in the affairs of the court, and I cannot interfere. As for what the prince plans to do, as his wife, I can only obey."
The noble concubine sneered, "Just now I said you were smart, but I didn't expect you to be so confused and not know what to do until you are about to die."
(End of this chapter)