Chapter 660: Chapter 660. Frightened by Mother
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Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Xiao Zeyu, who was in charge of obtaining Li Wei’s report from the head of the royal guards, didn’t want Su Qing to know about this, so he had the eunuch take him to Yangxin Palace Hall. He continued to help Su Qing scoop hot water. “Shuisheng, state affairs are more important. Go and take a look!”
Su Qing opened her eyes and turned to look at Xiao Zeyu, then kindly asked him to go back to work.
“Alright.”
Xiao Zeyu nodded and waved his hand to the palace maids behind him, telling them to come over and serve Su Qing. He sat on the dragon carriage and returned to Yangxin Palace Hall. Su Qing finished her bath and put on her palace robes.
She instantly changed from a cold heroine to a graceful and luxurious empress. Ziqi and Yun ‘er were incredibly obedient. They knew their mother was changing, so they followed their uncle and Xiao Qi to play in the courtyard.
When Su Qing came out, she saw her precious daughter sitting on the swing. She giggled and asked the two palace maids to push her a little higher. Xiao Qi stood at the side and looked at her anxiously worriedly.
Yun’ er saw Su Qing and shouted happily,
“Mother, flying high is fun.”
Yun’ er also lost her reason and let go of one of her hands. She flew out like Xiao Yan, scaring Yang Ruxue so much that she covered her chest and shouted at the palace maid and eunuch,
“Quickly catch the princess.”
Su Qing leaped into the air and caught her daughter, landing steadily on the ground.
“Mother!” Yun’ er was not afraid at all. She shouted happily at Su Qing,
“Mother, Yun’ er still wants to play Feifei.”
Su Qing put her on the ground with a dark face,
“Don’t do such dangerous things in the future.”
Su Qing had never lost her temper with her daughter. This was the first time. The consequences would have been unimaginable if she hadn’t been here just now.
“Got it.”
Yun’er was so scared that her eyes were filled with tears, but she did not dare to cry. She pouted and agreed.
Yang Ruxue’s heart ached when Su Qing lectured Yun’ er, but she didn’t dare to persuade her. It was the first time she had seen Su Qing so angry.
“Mother, Yun’ er already knows her mistake.”
Ziqi felt sorry for her sister and came over to persuade Su Qing. Su Qing looked at him and suspected that she had given birth to the wrong gender. Ziqi was like a girl, quiet and obedient. Yun’ er was too naughty.
“Sister, don’t scold Yun ‘er. She’s crying.”
Little Chen also came to plead for Yun ‘er. It was better if no one begged for mercy. Yun’ er cried out loud when someone begged for mercy.
Yang Ruxue hugged Yun ‘er, wanting to pick her up. Yun’ er rarely cried since she was young. She was like a carefree, happy girl who laughed from morning to night. It hurt to see her cry suddenly.
“Madam, you’re pregnant and can’t carry anyone!”
When the nanny saw Yang Ruxue was about to carry the chubby Yun ‘er, she was so scared that she hurriedly reminded her.
Su Qing looked at her mother in shock. She was more shocked than surprised!
When she came back, she found out that her aunt was pregnant. She still wondered how Luan Hong would feel when she found out her mother was pregnant. Now, it was her turn.
Understood, let’s continue with the new storyline involving Yang Ruxue and her daughter.
Yang Ruxue gazed at her daughter, a mix of affection and mild embarra.s.sment in her expression. In their time, it was not uncommon for families to have a wide age gap between siblings, sometimes even when the youngest was younger than the oldest child’s children. However, facing her situation, Yang Ruxue couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious.
“Mother, congratulations.”
Su Qing congratulated her mother. She had no choice but to accept reality.
She was in her forties, so it wasn’t strange for her to get pregnant.
Su Qing looked at Ziqi and Yun ‘er. They were about to have an uncle or aunt younger than them.
Su Qing had forgotten to teach Yun’ er a lesson because of her mother’s pregnancy, while Xiao Zeyu was fuming with rage as he looked at the list of properties to be confiscated.
“A mere salt official has embezzled so much in just two years. His crime is heinous. Li Wei will be executed by a thousand gashes, and his family will be banished to the border and demoted to slavery.”
If they were demoted to slave status, they would never have a chance to turn over a new leaf. They could only be slaves for the rest of their lives. This was a disaster for the Li family, who were used to enjoying glory and wealth. It was worse than death.
Li Wei knew that he was going to be cut into a thousand pieces and was so scared that he peed his pants. He didn’t want to suffer the pain of being cut into a thousand pieces, so he wanted to hit his head and commit suicide. However, it was difficult to commit suicide with the shackles on his neck.
Moreover, he had the heart to die but not the courage to die. He retreated at the last minute when he wanted to hit his head. He only bled but did not faint, let alone knock himself to death.
Seeing that he wanted to commit suicide, the prison runners tied him up. As long as he didn’t die before the execution, who cared if he suffered or not?
Li Wei had committed a great crime. He was tied up with a rope until he was bleeding. His body was numb and uncomfortable. He wanted to call for help, but his mouth was stuffed with a lump of moldy straw. It was so disgusting that his head felt dizzy.
Li Wei lay in his cell, his gaze fixed on the ceiling above. A deep sense of regret pervaded his thoughts. There was no remedy for the remorse that gnawed at him. The moment he had decided to involve his daughter in the plot against the cunning emperor, he had set himself on a path to ruin.
In the wake of the salt official’s execution, the vacancy in this coveted position stirred ambitions in many. The role was known for its profitability. Anyone sensible enough to avoid excessive greed and maintain a low profile could ama.s.s considerable wealth in just three years as a salt official, then retire to a life of luxury in their hometown.
Xiao Zeyu, however, didn’t rush into appointing a new salt official. He returned to the palace to consult with Su Qing, who had rested the entire afternoon. That evening, Su Qing, rejuvenated from her rest, lovingly prepared a meal for her two children and Xiao Zeyu. Her mother and brother, Xiao Chen, had been sent back to their family home earlier.
The situation was a poignant reminder for her. Her parents had endured a lifetime of love yet were forced to live apart due to circ.u.mstances. They had secretly met on the Magpie Bridge, a meeting that led to the pregnancy. Now that she was back, she felt compelled to correct this injustice. She could no longer keep her mother from her father out of selfishness. It was time for her to let her mother return home, reunite with her father, and live the life they had been denied for so long.
After her mother scolded Yun ‘er in the afternoon, she obeyed the tutor to write the prominent characters. At night, she had memorized the Three Character Cla.s.sic. She wanted to recite the Three Character Cla.s.sic for her mother later to make her happy.
Ziqi, this little adult, was also reading a book while waiting for his mother to cook. His calligraphy was still on the desk. At such a young age, his calligraphy was already exquisite.
Xiao Zeyu placed all the memorials in Yangxin Palace Hall, changed into regular clothes, and arrived early at Cunning Palace. He accompanied the two children to study, but his eyes occasionally looked outside the palace gates.
It had been long since he had eaten Qing ‘er’s cooking. The dishes made by the imperial kitchen were bland and tasteless, but his Qing’ er’s cooking was delicious.
Su Qing had finished cooking, and Zhou Bo arrived promptly. Xiao Zeyu accompanied him to drink a jar of Overlord Drunk, and he was 70% drunk as he lay on the table.
“Qing ‘ er, quickly help this person pretending to be asleep back to rest. I’m leaving.”
Zhou Bo stood up and looked at Xiao Zeyu with disdain. Kid, don’t pretend to be drunk, we all know?
“Men, send the Taoist priest back to rest.”
Su Qing’s mouth twitched. Shuisheng’s act of drunkenness was a little fake. She stood up and ordered someone to send Zhou Bo away.
Yun’ er was tired after a day of mischief. She sat there with her eyelids closed, her little head dozing off gradually. Her body was also swaying back and forth. The two palace maids were so scared that they stood behind the princess to protect her.
“Carry the princess back to rest.”
Su Qing saw it and ordered the palace maid to take Yun ‘er back to sleep.
Yun’ er was instantly energized when she was picked up. She stretched out her chubby arms toward Su Qing.
“Mother, Yun’ er wants to sleep with Mother.”
Xiao Zeyu, who was pretending to be drunk, suddenly perked up.
“My dear daughter, your mother and I have been apart for a long time.. You can’t sleep here!”