NABC Chapter 1053 Stirring up the storm
Chapter 1053 Stirring up the storm
After leaving the border city of Xia Kingdom, the large group of people entered the territory of Da Zhou. He Linzhang took advantage of the rest time to explain the next step of the plan.
"If we rush to the capital now, we won't be able to make it in time for the New Year. So I'm thinking it would be better to take a detour to Yanzhou and spend the New Year there. What do you think, Mother and Empress?"
The Empress Dowager was the first to approve, saying, "I've heard that the customs and traditions of Yanzhou are different from those of Dazhou, and the plum blossoms in winter are especially beautiful. I really want to go and see them."
Tao Yanyan recalled the scene when Feng Chenmu invited her to the Yan Kingdom, and mentioned that the Yan Kingdom had a complete range of plum blossom varieties with unparalleled colors, so she did not object and nodded.
He Yinuo and He Xiaobao were more than happy to agree; it was wonderful to be able to continue playing!
No one objected, and the next day, the large group changed direction and headed towards Yanzhou.
The world is now divided in two, with the Great Zhou holding an absolute advantage in territory, vast in area and with stunning scenery. Along the way, the group enjoyed themselves and ate their way through the land, arriving at the capital of Yan Prefecture on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.
Marquis Jing had already received the news and had prepared his best residence to await the arrival of the Emperor and Empress. On the morning of the day His Majesty's arrival, he waited early at the city gate, leading local officials to welcome the imperial procession.
He Qian got up too early, and since it was cold outside, she waited in the carriage without getting off. There was a small heater burning inside the carriage, and Granny Li gave her a quilt to cover her legs to keep warm.
"The young master didn't return to his room last night. Did he sleep alone in the study?" He Qian asked. Granny Li coughed lightly and said, "That should be the case. I sent people to keep an eye on things, and I didn't see any other women enter the courtyard."
He Qian's brows relaxed a little, and she sighed softly: "How petty. She's arguing with me over such a small thing. What did I do wrong? I was just trying to annoy Empress Tao and vent my anger for my birth mother, aunt, and adoptive mother."
Granny Li dared not say much. She was Consort Liang's person. Consort Liang was worried that He Qian was too young to manage the servants, so she gave her to He Qian. Granny Li accompanied He Qian all the way to her marriage and came to Yanzhou. She did not expect that in the palace, the Fourth Princess was well-behaved and obedient. But after arriving in Yanzhou, she suddenly became so scheming. She was so focused on finding a beauty who resembled Empress Tao. In the end, she actually found one and even went to great lengths to send her to the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, hoping to stir up trouble.
She tried to persuade him, but to no avail.
Later, something went wrong with the escorts, and the woman went missing. Half a year later, news came that she was in Yuecheng and had accidentally ended up by His Majesty's side.
The Fourth Princess was overjoyed and ordered the most potent aphrodisiac to be prepared for the man, intending to drug the Emperor and force him into a sexual relationship, thus harming Empress Tao. When the Crown Prince learned of this, he and the Fourth Princess had a huge argument and hadn't spoken for almost a month.
"What are you spacing out for? I'm calling you!" He Qian shouted, and Granny Li snapped back to reality.
"Go and see if they're almost there. Also, cheer up. Now that Father and his entourage have arrived in Yanzhou, we have the advantage of being close by. Tell that lowly maid to get ready. This time, we must succeed."
Granny Li was shocked and hurriedly advised, "Princess, please think it over. Zhao Shu has already been exposed. If she gets close to His Majesty in Yanzhou, she might end up getting burned herself. You must not take the risk!"
He Qian sneered and glared at her: "Didn't we already find a scapegoat? Jing Yuwei's family—a cripple, a playboy, and a brainless concubine—are the perfect targets. Zhou Chen and Zhao Shu have been getting along really well lately; we can just pin everything on them, right?"
Granny Li shook her head: "But what about their motive? They had no motive for doing this."
He Qian was too lazy to pay attention to her anymore: "Why think so much? The evidence has already been prepared for them. Just carry it out." After saying that, she looked Li Mama up and down: "My mother sent you to follow me to solve my problems, not to disobey me. Remember, you just need to do what I tell you to do and stop talking nonsense."
Granny Li dared not say another word and softly replied, "Yes."
"And as for the young master... never mind, I'll figure it out myself. You may leave now." Just thinking about how the young master hadn't seen her lately made He Qian angry, and she couldn't suppress it.
Not long after, a procession of people could be seen approaching from afar. He Qian was called down from the carriage by Granny Li and hurriedly stood beside Marquis Jing and his wife to welcome the imperial procession.
Although Jing Mubai stood with her, he was quite indifferent. He Qian tugged at Jing Mubai's sleeve, but Jing Mubai brushed it away without saying a word.
"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress." The Empress Dowager had never revealed her identity to the public, so Marquis Jing was unaware that she was also in the procession. Only He Qian glanced at the carriage behind the Emperor and Empress, her eyes darkening slightly.
According to the message Zhao Shu sent, the Empress Dowager had also arrived, accompanied by a highly skilled and rather intimidating guard. He Qian was furious for days upon hearing this news.
Why is it that when a princess gets married, the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress travel thousands of miles to escort her? When a princess gets married, the Empress Dowager doesn't even show her face.
The contrast between the two situations infuriated her even more, and her desire for revenge intensified.
The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing He Linzhang's handsome face: "My beloved ministers, please rise. I have been traveling for days and am exhausted. I will summon you after I have rested."
"I have already ordered people to prepare the best mansion. It is a side hall of the former Yan Kingdom palace. All the other palaces have been demolished, but this side hall has been preserved because of its quiet environment and magnificent architecture. Please, Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress, prepare your carriage."
He Linzhang nodded: "Minister Jing, you are very kind. I will talk to you again later."
After He Linzhang finished speaking, he glanced at He Qian beside him. He Qian hurriedly stepped forward to pay her respects: "Your subject greets the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."
Tao Yanyan then turned to the side, revealing her stunningly beautiful face, and smiled, "I am very happy to see the Fourth Princess again."
He Qian snorted inwardly, but her face became even more respectful: "I was overjoyed to learn that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were going to detour through Yanzhou. I was so happy to be able to spend the New Year with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager in my first year of marriage."
Tao Yanyan smiled and nodded: "Come over later, and we'll have a chat."
He Qian nodded in agreement, then stepped aside and watched the carriage pass by.
Jing Mubai frowned deeply. He had only met the Empress a few times, but each time he felt that she was kind and gentle and easy to get along with. He really couldn't understand why He Qian would go to such lengths to find an imposter to ruin the Emperor and Empress's relationship.
Seeing He Qian pull him again, Jing Mubai held back and didn't shake her off this time.
He was too angry before, so he didn't ask for the reason. Today, he's going to ask properly: what daughter in the world would send someone to seduce her father?