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… Can we still keep in touch? ”
Shangguan Jingcong smiled and said, "I originally wanted to walk around and write to you once I settled down. Now I have saved myself the trouble of writing. You know I hate writing."
"This time, I don't need you to promise me anything... Qiaochu, I will wait for you in the next life..."
As he spoke, he looked at Shangguan Jinghong, slightly raised his eyebrows, with a provocation and declaration, "Next time, I will definitely find her before you, become her master, and be the person she loves the most."
Shangguan Jinghong looked back at him with a glare of lightning, his eyes were filled with a domineering smile, and he said word by word: "Don't even think about it!"
Jingcong... Thank you for your help. If you hadn't told me that day, if you hadn't left without any resentment today... Qiaochu couldn't help but feel sad when he heard this. In this moment of shock, Shangguan Jingcong also disappeared in the wind and rain outside the temple like Xiaojiuer. The sky outside was still dark, and his last voice was faintly heard in the wind, "Qiaochu, I will live well, and so will you. See you in the next life..."
Afterlife. Qiaochu shook his head and smiled. They probably wouldn't have an afterlife. It was just like what Zong Pu said, after a hundred years, everyone would return to their own place. But he still felt inexplicably sad. The next time he saw him, he would be old and the years would pass.
However, if there really is another life, it is worth looking forward to. What will they be like then
No wonder people say that they only envy the mandarin ducks and not the immortals.
Her shoulders suddenly tensed up. It was Shangguan Jinghong who was looking at her with the same poker face as when he was fighting the little monster. His heavy voice fell into her ears, "In the next life... it will still be me..."
She smiled and handed the little monster to him. He held it in one hand, and she slowly reached out and held his hand tightly.
Everyone was shocked and retreated, but Jing Qing was the only one who was stunned. He scratched his head and asked, "Master, give me an order. Should we continue to sleep or do something else next?"
"Go out and run around the temple and come back."
As soon as Shangguan Jinghong finished speaking, Jing Qing was beaten up by everyone.
*
After returning to the palace, everything seemed to have calmed down completely.
The Marquis of Yan also received the news. However, what was unexpected was that the focus of the upcoming farewell banquet for Zuo Bing turned into another matter - after many months, Princess Cai Ning went on a diplomatic mission to Dongling again and brought the peace treaty of the King of Western Xia.
At this time, the King of Western Xia, who had been bedridden since the war, was eager to sign the peace treaty as a reassurance.
When Shangguan Jinghong led all the officials to welcome Cai Ning in the Golden Palace, Dong Ning went to the harem to see Qiao Chu and told her something.
——————————————
481 Happiness Extra: Where the Lights Dim (V)
"Dong Ning, have you really decided?"
Peilan was there too. After hearing Dong Ning's thoughts, she said worriedly, "But none of us can bear this. Your brother Jinghong and sister Qiao, your fifth brother and I..."
"Sister Pei, I'm almost eighteen."
Dong Ning was also a little sad. She turned sideways to play with the little monster in the cradle who was blinking his big eyes and staring at her. Qiaochu patted Peilan's hand and said to Dong Ning: "Regarding Zuo Bing, your brother's evaluation is: complicated, not ordinary, and he doesn't want you to get too entangled with him-"
"You think I like him?" Dong Ning whispered and shook her head. "I do like him, and I am grateful that he helped Brother Jinghong, but it's not the kind of love you have for Brother Jinghong... I thought Brother Fan and he were good friends... I just wondered why he suddenly wanted to draw a line between us... So, I understand, it was Brother Jinghong's instruction... Li"
Qiaochu hesitated for a moment and said, "This is just one of the reasons. I think if Zuo Bing really wants to make friends with someone, he won't be stopped by any external force."
"Yes, I think so too," Dong Ning thought for a while, nodded and smiled. Peilan was surprised that the young girl didn't seem unhappy at all and was still smiling.
"So, I agree with your idea... Do as you wish. Su"
But Qiao Chu's words really surprised her.
*
But what surprised her even more was the dinner that followed.
During the banquet, Cai Ning asked with a smile, "Qiao Fei, when will the ceremony of enthroning the King of Dongling be held? If it is within this month, Cai Ning will ask for this cup of wedding wine before returning to Xixia."
This time, General Lang rushed back from the border to attend the meeting, and his expression changed slightly when he heard this. Many officials also looked at the woman beside the emperor with concern.
The Queen has passed away and the throne is vacant. Who else would be enthroned except for the most outstanding person who is second only to the Emperor
Shangguan Jinghong smiled and was about to speak, but Qiaochu saw Caining looking at him with a sidelong glance, knowing that she was deliberately making things difficult for him, so he answered Shangguan Jinghong first: "The Emperor and the Empress have been a young couple, sharing weal and woe. The Emperor has already said that since the Empress passed away, he will not appoint another wife in this lifetime. I'm afraid the ceremony of enthroning the Empress will have to wait until the new Emperor ascends the throne. Your Majesty will live for a thousand years, so this time will be a hundred years, which is not good. How dare I trouble the princess to wait for a hundred years?"
Cai Ning was choked and couldn't speak for a while.
Qiaochu smiled and said nothing more. The rest had nothing to do with her. Seeing General Lang's serious and grateful look, she nodded and smiled.
The ordeal between her and Shangguan Jinghong has passed, but there will be new twists and turns in the future. The most expensive and bitter throne in the world, there are many new officials at the moment, and many new blood have been replaced after Shangguan Jinghong ascended the throne. They are Shangguan Jinghong's people, but also because they are Shangguan Jinghong's people, for the emperor's consideration, it is not a good thing to have no concubine in the six palaces. Everyone is afraid that she will stir up trouble, which is not good for the active royal heirs and the survival of the fittest.
Cai Ning's affection for Shangguan Jinghong is something that everyone can see. Yan State is not peaceful at the moment. The Marquis of Yan has made great achievements and has privately used troops to help Dongling. If the Marquis of Yan and his son do not rebel, they will soon be killed by the King of Yan. However, the Marquis of Yan and his son have no ambition to usurp the throne and do not want to rebel, which is a dilemma. The Emperor of Di State, Tian Khan, is incompetent and his rule is in chaos. The King of Yan has formed an alliance with the Khan of Mengjing, the largest force in Di State. No one knows what these two will do after the alliance. Although Dongling is strong, it has been through a war not long ago and has suffered great losses. The marriage between King Xia and Princess Yinping has come to nothing. However, if Shangguan Jinghong can marry Cai Ning and remarry Xixia, the power of Dongling will be more stable. When the military strength is restored to its full strength, it can plan for a more far-reaching goal.
At this time, all the ministers heard Qiaochu's clever answer, which was beyond rebuttal. General Lang was grateful and said, "I thank the emperor for his kindness. The Lang family will definitely remember it in their hearts."
After hearing this, many young officials became even more worried about Concubine Qiao, believing that she was intentionally obstructing Shangguan Jinghong from taking a concubine.
Prince Ning never concealed the affairs of the court from Peilan. Qiaochu had heard Peilan say these past two days that among these officials, there were two new officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Rites, one named Zhou Lei and the other Lin Rui. They were particularly radical and had impeached her several times, and persuaded the emperor to resume the selection of concubines and expand the harem. If Shangguan Jinghong had not seen that these two people were extremely talented, he would have put them in jail long ago. She deliberately observed their expressions and saw that the two young men in the hall had sharp eyebrows and eyes, and looked at her several times without any expression, and she knew that they were those two people.
Shangguan Jinghong did not mention these things to her in the boudoir. She knew that he did not want her to worry. He argued with her about feeding the little monster these days, saying that she was not in good health and should let the wet nurse feed her. She was reluctant and argued with him.
She just pretended not to see what the two people did. Shangguan Jinghong's eyes were sharper than others. How could he not notice what was happening in the hall? There was a layer of coldness in his eyes.
Cai Ning then said, "Your Majesty, Cai Ning has an unwelcome request. I have been feeling unwell recently, but the Xixia imperial physician could not diagnose the cause. I came to Dongling and asked the palace imperial physician to see me, but he could not give me a conclusion either. Your Majesty is a great expert, so after the banquet, could you please come to Cai Ning's palace and examine me?"
Shangguan Jinghong looked at Qiaochu teasingly and said in a low voice, "Look, even though you don't take me seriously, there are still many people who do."
Qiaochu smiled back, "You can give her a positive answer, so that your subjects won't think I'm jealous."
Zhou Lin and the others thought she was trying to dissuade the emperor. As soon as she finished speaking, she stood up and said, "Madam, Princess Cai Ning is an honored guest of Dongling. The emperor treating the princess is a way of entertaining guests. I hope you will understand."
Qiaochu smiled helplessly, but she didn't say anything. Now that I think about it, some of the charges against the concubines in Chinese history were not based on this.
Officials who agreed with Zhou Lei and Lin Rui also stood up at this time, saying, "Please judge for yourself, Madam." However, Ning Wang Zongpu and other old officials secretly thought that it was not good. When Ning Wang stood up, Shangguan Jinghong had already stood up and laughed coldly, "I don't know when the person who needs to be judged in this hall became Concubine Qiao instead of me!"
Everyone was shocked and dared not speak for a moment. Zhou Lin and the other two also said in a trembling voice: "I dare not."
"I don't like those ministers who are disrespectful to me. Since you have no respect for me, there is no need for you to stay here any longer. Xia Haibing, drag them down and execute them!"
Xia Haibing was startled. She didn't expect Shangguan Jinghong to be so cruel this time after having spared these two young men several times. Then she thought that it must be because Qiaochu was in the hall. Shangguan Jinghong was angry at his disrespect to her, so she killed the chicken to scare the monkeys, and never allowed others to talk nonsense in front of Qiaochu again.
He was the chief of the imperial guards and the law enforcer in the palace. He also knew Shangguan Jinghong's mind, so it was difficult for him to say anything. He immediately called the imperial guards forward and arrested the two men.
The two men were also young and full of vigor. They were still respectful to Shangguan Jinghong, but now they competed to scold Qiaochu. Prince Ning and Zong Pu cursed in their hearts, but finally pleaded for mercy with the other officials.
General Lang objected and said coldly: "How can you speak too much in front of the emperor! This is a crime of disrespect, you should be killed!"
At the same time, Zuo Bing came out to play the bad guy.
Dong Ning watched from the side and thought, the affairs of the court are indeed complicated, and people's hearts are even more complicated, no matter whether it is Zong Pu or Zuo Bing.
Qiaochu hurriedly pleaded, "Your Majesty, Min'er's enthronement is imminent, could you spare the two adults for the sake of Min'er's good fortune?"
She held his hand tightly under the table, and did not ask for mercy using other reasons such as the two adults caring about the country and the emperor, but directly used the little monster to plead.
Shangguan Jinghong stared at her for a long while, and finally agreed, his eyes were like knives, "For the sake of the prince, this time, I won't do it again!"
Zhou Lin and the other two were terrified, and like many other officials, they looked at Qiaochu for a long time, feeling both surprised and suspicious. They were young and hot-tempered, but they were not so foolish as to risk their lives just because Qiaochu asked for help. Whether Qiaochu was sincere or not, they immediately thanked him and would discuss the matter after all the struggles were over.
Princess Cai Ning watched coldly, feeling uncomfortable. She had reached marriageable age, and the King of Western Xia had mentioned her marriage many times. She wanted to let Shangguan Jinghong go, but she just couldn't marry another man. It could be said that Shangguan Jinghong was her other dream besides seizing the throne.
She took a glass of wine, walked up to Shangguan Jinghong, and said quietly, "Your Majesty, do you still remember the agreement you made with Cai Ning?"
To everyone's surprise, Shangguan Jinghong did not shirk his responsibility and took the wine she handed over, "I will follow the princess after the banquet."
Qiaochu was also slightly stunned when she heard this. Caining looked at her and smiled softly.
*
It was already very late at night, and Shangguan Jinghong had not returned to the bedroom yet. The little monster was already fast asleep with bubbles hanging from his mouth.
Qiaochu remembered what he said before he left: "If I forget the time, come find me and I will come back immediately." He somehow led the four beauties and the palace lanterns to the palace where Caining was staying.
482 Happiness Extra: Where the Lights Dim (VI)
A slight noise came from the inner courtyard. The servant outside the door saw her and saluted her. She thought for a moment, made a gesture to keep quiet, and led the two maids back.
When she turned around, she saw Shangguan Jinghong standing on the road with his hands behind his back, a faint smile in his eyes, looking at her with interest.
Si Da laughed and said, "Son-in-law, please don't lock us in the woodshed this time."
After she said this, she took the beauty's arm and quickly ran away without a trace.
"Shangguan Jinghong, are you childish?" Qiaochu looked at him with slightly raised eyebrows as usual.
But he snorted in return, "Why are you looking back?"
"You can't step into the same river twice. What kind of mystery can you come up with in it? Do you dare to do anything to Cai Ning? I will go back to sleep." Qiaochu said in annoyance, "I am stupid... I came here for nothing."
Today, she and he both understand that nothing can cause them to have grudges against each other anymore, and all they have left is his teasing during their ordinary life together.
Shangguan Jinghong was startled and uttered a curse. Qiao Chujian ran away with a sharp smile, but he was quickly caught by him and lifted up by the waist.
"Let go. After all, we are still in front of the palace."
"She won't come out. She has enough to do in there."
Qiaochu's heart was moved. "I heard some noises, it seems quite lively, who is in there?"
"She asked me to come over, so I brought Zhou Lei, Lin Rui, and several civil servants with me. She was fine, so I left after I diagnosed her. I left Lord Zhou, Lord Lin, and several other young talents to discuss state governance with the princess. I wanted you to come to me so I could leave on an excuse, but I didn't know you would not cooperate..."
Qiaochu was stunned, then scolded with a smile: "Now that you have left, Caining will be an eyesore if she sees them. You are punishing those two in disguise."
"I didn't marry Cai Ning back then, and I won't do that today. These young people still need training. Does Dong Ling have to rely on Xi Xia? Then why would I send Zuo Bing to Di Kingdom?"
Qiaochu felt a chill down his spine when he heard him laugh softly. There must be something fishy going on with Zuo Bing's matter...
"If it succeeds, aren't you afraid that he will retaliate against you when he gains power?"
"His mother is in Dongling. This is where he was born and raised. No matter how much he has experienced, I believe that in the end he will not attack his hometown."
"I'm afraid..." Qiaochu frowned slightly, but she didn't say out her worries. Shangguan Jinghong had his own ideas about controlling the left soldiers, so she shouldn't interfere. So she said, "My Lords, you didn't plan to touch them today, did you?"
"Yes, I just want them to accept your favor. There will be more such things in the future, Qiaochu, do you blame me?"
"No. This is your national highway, I am..."
Hearing her answer without hesitation, Shangguan Jinghong's heart tightened. The emotions that had been imprisoned in his heart for many days could no longer be suppressed. He turned off the light on the table and pulled down the curtains.
When the heat swept