Chapter 57: Demanding a Kiss Part 1

“It’s just a bit hot,” Xun Changqing still obediently picked up the ginger tea and drank it down like bitter medicine. However, she still refused to put on her middle garment and stood barefoot on the floor. She added, “His Majesty has been vomiting blood again lately. The imperial physicians told the Wise Noble Consort to prepare herself mentally, but they didn’t even dare spread the news, fearing it might incite chaos.”

Wei Lingci circled around once and saw that the bowl of ginger tea was empty. Only then did she slightly soften her icy gaze. She said to her, “What the Wise Noble Consort worries about is only natural. Things haven’t been peaceful at Yuan Qingming’s residence lately—a assassin sneaked in and nearly injured Madam Yuan.”

Yuan Qingming commanded tens of thousands of Imperial Guards. If something happened to him at such a critical juncture, the Imperial Guards would likely fracture into factions. Moreover, the Second Imperial Prince’s consort had invited Madam Yuan over multiple times, but she hadn’t dared to accept.

After drinking the ginger tea, Xun Changqing felt even hotter. She reached for the cooled tea on the table and tried to drink it, but Wei Lingci snatched it away. She chided, “The tea has gone cold. I’ll have someone bring hot tea.”

The someone in question pouted. Knowing she was in the wrong, she didn’t dare argue further. She sat to the side, pulled over an account book, flipped through a few pages, and said, “I have to enter the palace again tomorrow. I don’t have time to manage those shops. If you have a moment, help me look them over. There are too many eyes in the palace—it’s not convenient to handle things there.”

Wei Lingci softly agreed. It was just reviewing a few account books; she didn’t need to visit the shops personally. She found a middle garment for Xun Changqing, but who would have thought Xun Changqing would spread her arms, signaling for her to help put it on. Wei Lingci poked her forehead with her slender fingers. “After staying in the palace for a few days, you can’t even dress yourself anymore.”

Though she said that, Wei Lingci still dressed her. She brushed Xun Changqing’s full head of lustrous hair over her shoulder, where it cascaded down to her waist like a bolt of black silk—touching it stirred the heart.

As she drew near, Xun Changqing smelled the faint fragrance on her body and felt comforted. She said, “Too lazy to move. In the palace, I have to watch every word with everyone. His Majesty’s consorts drop by from time to time—I can’t even shoo them away. The Wise Noble Consort’s place is the most comfortable. I stayed there for a day, and no one came knocking to disturb me.”

With her inner clothes on, she could put on the outer robe when heading out. Wei Lingci had some leisure now and sat to the side. Recalling what had happened earlier, she asked, “You told him the people come first, then the state, and the sovereign last. What did His Majesty say?”

Those words didn’t seem to be the main point. Xun Changqing sat cross-legged on the bed, pondering for a moment before saying, “His Majesty’s expression was quite strange. He only asked me why I wasn’t thinking of the court’s glory. I replied: The court’s glory is built upon the well-being of the common people. Then he issued a decree for the Ministry of Punishments to thoroughly investigate the matter.”

The phrase “well-being” was something Xun Yiran, born with a golden spoon, could never utter. The emperor hadn’t expected Xun Changqing to think of the people instead of the court. The court officials would first observe how the emperor viewed the matter before responding accordingly. Xun Changqing’s reply, untainted by court politics, aligned perfectly with what the emperor wanted to hear.

Wei Lingci was clearly stunned. Only when Xun Changqing’s head drew near did she snap back. She retreated with a smile for a moment before saying, “Your answer was a bit bold, but His Majesty loved hearing it. If this matter is fully investigated, I’m afraid his illness will worsen.”

Ever since he had confined Changle Palace, the emperor had been listless and depressed. To think that the principal wife he had married was the very culprit who harmed his children—such a venomous face inspired hatred. His own scarcity of heirs was also hard for him to face before the ancestors.

After Mu Chen had investigated these matters, he naturally reported them all to Wei Lingci one by one. After sorting through her thoughts, she said, “We’ve uncovered most of it already. This iron mine wasn’t reported to the court after discovery and was privately mined instead. Half was sold to merchants, and half left Great Qi to be sold to foreign nations, reaping untold private profits. Many officials are implicated—the Shao Family is the mastermind. Whether Xun Yiran knew is still unknown.”

“If His Majesty finds out, this will ensure Shao Cheng can never recover. Thinking about the connections, we know he hates the First Tower. How could he know about the shady dealings there? But I’m worried that once this is exposed, what if Shao Cheng and Xun Yiran, cornered like rabid dogs, lash out?”