Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family - Chapter 285: Xiao Yuling Causes a Stir in the Court
Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Xiao Yuling Causes a Stir in the Court
“Alright, I’ll be waiting,” Gu Qingli said softly, hugging his waist and snuggling her face into the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent.
This trip would be extremely dangerous, and Gu Qingli was already worried about Xiao Yunjing.
After all, Qingchen already controlled the imperial court. For Xiao Yunjing to suddenly appear like a Cheng Yaojin, throwing a wrench in the works, the peril was all too imaginable.
Qingchen would surely fight him to the death.
After discussing their plans, Xiao Yunjing made preparations for his departure, while Gu Qingli entered the Space to prepare medicine for him. Medicine was her specialty, and she could handle any type.
Especially the antidote to the gu-poison, she had to prepare more of this, as Xi Chenqing was still in Qingchen’s hands, and he would undoubtedly use gu-poison if necessary.
Gu Qingli and Wuyou spent three days and nights in the Space making a large bag of medicines. After packing everything Xiao Yunjing would need, the two of them and the three little ones left the Space.
As for Xiao Yuling, Gu Qingli had given her 200,000 taels in silver notes, anticipating the need to smooth things over with connections once they reached the Capital City.
In any case, money always led the way; as long as one had enough to clear the path, everything else became easier.
As for Xiao Yunjing, it was even more straightforward. She kept only 1,000 taels in silver notes for herself, giving the rest—a full three million taels—to him.
These silver notes had been obtained from the raid on Red Leaf Villa.
If that wasn’t enough, there was also the Gu Clinic in the Capital City.
「On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Gu Qingli saw off Xiao Yunjing and his mother.」
After Xiao Yunjing left, Gu Qingli worked even more tirelessly with Wuyou, making large quantities of medicine every day.
Once the medicines were made, they had Secret Sect members transport them to various Gu Clinics.
Regardless of Xiao Yunjing’s location, or where Secret Sect members were carrying out missions, they could quickly obtain the necessary pills.
All kinds were available, but of course, these medicines were not for sale to the public.
「In the blink of an eye, it was the Lantern Festival. Gu Qingli received a carrier pigeon message from Xiao Yunjing in the Capital City, informing her they had arrived safely.」
In the letter, Xiao Yunjing also mentioned Ms. Su and Gu Qingping’s situation. Ms. Li had given birth to a son who was just over a month old, and Ms. Su now spent her days at home with her grandson, living a rather content life.
Due to Gu Xicheng’s disappearance and Gu Qingping maintaining a low profile, the Gu Family seemed to have faded from prominence in the Capital City. Qingchen hadn’t paid them any mind, and the Gu Family remained unaffected.
Reading this, Gu Qingli let out a small sigh of relief; she had been worried that madman Qingchen would find trouble with them from time to time.
Now, she was completely reassured.
At the same time, her worry for Xiao Yunjing intensified. She didn’t know how he was faring in the Capital City, as he was the type to only report good news and never the bad.
However, she had also instructed Secret Sect members to keep a close watch and report any developments to her immediately.
Meanwhile, she began to pack her things at home and arranged for the housekeeper from the Gu Residence in Qiyang County to be transferred to Qinghe Village.
Their fields here needed someone to look after them. Having Gu Dalin manage so much was unrealistic; it was better to have one of their own people handle it.
Moreover, vegetables needed to be delivered to the Auspicious House Restaurant every few days.
「These arrangements continued until the twentieth day of the first lunar month. On this day, Gu Qingli received another letter from Xiao Yunjing, in which he recounted events at the imperial court.」
As expected, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, Qingchen had gone to court with an imperial edict.
Just as he was about to read it, Xiao Yuling and Xiao Yunjing appeared in the imperial court.
“How audacious! Imperial Guard, where are you? Seize these two!” Qingchen roared in shock and fury the moment he saw Xiao Yunjing, immediately summoning the Imperial Guard.
“Hold!”
An elder of the court, Minister of Punishments Lord Song, shouted at once. The moment he saw Xiao Yuling and her son, he too was stunned speechless; it was Qingchen’s bellow that snapped him back to his senses.
At his shout, all movement outside ceased. The ministers assumed his cry alone had made the difference.
Who in the court didn’t know of Lord Song’s influence?
Only Qingchen knew in his heart that Xiao Yunjing had already gained control of the men outside.
His heart plummeted. He glared venomously at Xiao Yunjing, as if wishing he could kill him with his eyes right there in the imperial court for appearing at this crucial moment to ruin his great plans.
Xiao Yunjing… this would be a fight to the death between them!
Xiao Yunjing merely returned his gaze with indifference.
Tears streamed down Song Zheng’s face as he hurried to Xiao Yuling’s side, knelt, and proclaimed loudly, “Your humble servant, Song Zheng, pays respects to the Imperial Noble Consort and the Ninth Prince! You are not dead! You truly are not dead! It is wonderful that you and the Ninth Prince have returned!”
Xiao Yuling helped Song Zheng to his feet. Song Zheng and Old General Xiao had been close friends. He had long suspected that Xiao Yuling and her son hadn’t actually died back then but had faked their deaths to escape.
After all, who wasn’t aware of the sordid affairs within the Imperial Palace? And then, Xiao Ce had suddenly acquired an “extra” son. He frequently visited the Xiao Residence. When had Ms. Jiang ever given birth to a son? Outsiders might not know, but how could he not be aware that Ms. Jiang had never even been pregnant? How could she have produced a son? Moreover, the child “born” was weak and sickly. At that time, he was only a fourth-rank official in the Ministry of Punishments and couldn’t access cases from the Imperial Palace. However, officials returning from the Imperial Palace back then had reported that the Ninth Prince’s body was never found. Most believed the child was too small and had been burned to ashes. So, he had been suspicious from early on. Xiao Ce later taking his family and abruptly leaving the Capital City had only further cemented those suspicions.
“Please rise, Lord Song,” Xiao Yuling said, helping Song Zheng to his feet. She glanced around the imperial court, recognizing almost no one except Song Zheng.
Only then did she look at Qingchen on the emperor’s throne, her lip curling. He looked presentable enough on the surface, she thought, yet he dared to try and seize her son’s empire!
Seeing this, Qingchen, far from being flustered, descended from the dais with a smile and came to stand before Xiao Yuling.
“You claim to be the Imperial Noble Consort, yet this prince does not recognize you. And who is this, who fails to even bow upon seeing this prince?” Qingchen’s gaze fixed on Xiao Yunjing.
SLAP!
An unexpected slap resounded through the hall.
“How audacious—”
“Audacious? I am Xiao Yuling, and I’ve never hidden my name or changed my identity! And who, pray tell, are you, some creature that’s crawled out of who-knows-where, daring to disrespect this consort? When did the late Emperor ever sire a bastard like you?”
Xiao Yuling’s fiery temper erupted, cutting Qingchen off. How dare this young whelp, barely more than a boy, act so presumptuously towards her!
The ministers were aghast.
Was the late Emperor’s Imperial Noble Consort truly this… feisty?
Only Song Zheng watched with a slight smile; he knew Xiao Yuling’s temperament like the back of his hand.
To put it nicely, she was forthright. To put it bluntly, she was abrasive and utterly unreasonable. Trying to reason with an unreasonable Imperial Noble Consort? And on top of that, trying to humiliate her and make her and her son bow to you? Heh. King Qing, he thought, I’ll just sit back and enjoy the show.
Qingchen opened his mouth but found himself utterly unable to respond to Xiao Yuling.
This shrew! How dare she call him the dead Emperor’s bastard! He was the legitimate successor of Daqian! The legitimate successor!
Qingchen’s eyes blazed with fury.
But Qingchen was not one to be easily flustered. After only a moment, his expression turned grim, and he said, “The Emperor himself acknowledged this prince. I am now Daqian’s King of Qing…”
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