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"Going back to the palace to live?" Qing Wu was puzzled and leaned against the carriage wall, stopping there. "Why?"
Qin Shuying, rarely hesitant, shook her head after a moment. "I can't say much about it. However, the palace is ultimately safer."
Though she didn't specify, Qing Wu thought of today's encounter and past events, leading her to another line of thought.
Zheng An could no longer hold back and began to take action.
Others might not know, but Zheng An had always harbored doubts; her feelings towards Huo Yun'ai were ultimately different.
If she were outside the palace, Huo Yun'ai would undoubtedly have to allocate more personnel to protect her. It would be safer for her to stay in the palace, sparing him the trouble of having to look after her here.
With this in mind, Qing Wu made up her mind and nodded. "Alright. I'll inform my mother and then return to the palace. I don't want her to worry."
After Huo Yun'ai left, Yi Zhenglian received news that the He Family had already been sent back to Liu Residence by her people. Yi Zhenglian immediately informed Qing Wu of this matter.
Only then did Qing Wu realize that her mother had come and then left. She couldn't help but feel anxious; if it weren't for Yi Zhenglian's assistance, she didn't know what might have happened to her mother today. She hurriedly expressed her gratitude.
Yi Zhenglian replied that there was no need for such formality.
Qing Wu understood her mother well. Although she didn't say it, after experiencing such a chaotic situation, her mother must have been extremely worried about her. If she didn't see her with her own eyes, she would probably find it hard to eat or sleep peacefully. That was why she had acted this way with Qin Shuying.
Qin Shuying understood that the Liu Family had deep feelings for each other. However, he was more concerned about Qing Wu's safety.
Although the security on the road was suddenly more than doubled compared to usual, he still felt uneasy. He casually tossed the riding whip to a nearby officer, dismounted his horse, and said, "I'll accompany you there."
Just as I reached out to help Qing Wu get out of the car, a figure suddenly approached from the side, half-turning to block my way, saying, "No need to trouble yourself, Lord Qin. Since we have arrived home, I can take her over."
With a calm demeanor and a leisurely tone, it was Zheng Ning.
Qin Shuying had made up her mind; how could anyone stop her? She casually replied, "I know what I'm doing," and intended to step forward.
She had always treated Qing Wu like her own sister, never thinking of anything else.
Unexpectedly, Zheng Ning, who usually had a good temper and disliked arguing with others, was quite insistent at this moment. She firmly waved over the nearest maid to help Qing Wu out of the car and wouldn’t allow Qin Shuying to reach out again.
Qin Shuying had known Zheng Ning for many years. Seeing him act this way, she narrowed her eyes slightly and quietly watched the scene with a hint of cold amusement.
The commotion caught the attention of the Wen Family Ancestors and Descendants. The two of them came over to inquire about the situation.
Upon hearing that Qin Shuying wanted Qing Wu to say goodbye to her mother before returning to the palace, Master Wen's gaze flickered, and he let out a soft grunt from his throat.
Wen Qingyue had been troubled by matters regarding the Shangyuan Festival all this way. After hearing this, without a second thought, he rejected it: "No way. If Qing Wu is in danger, I will stay at Liu Residence to protect her."
Qin Shuying was too lazy to explain further. She called for Qing Wu and walked inside.
Worried about her mother's condition, Qing Wu naturally wanted to go in early to see her, so she followed closely behind.
Wen Qingyue was unwilling and took large strides to intercept Qin Shuying.
Qin Shuying's patience ran out as she shouted at Zheng Ning, pointing to Wen Qingyue and saying, "You should serve Wen Heir."
Zheng Ning lowered his eyes slightly and lazily replied, "In my opinion, it would be better for her to stay at home. Since I agree with Heir Apparent's viewpoint, why should I serve him?"
Qin Shuying scoffed coldly.
As the three of them were in a standoff, Master Wen waved his hand and said, "Qin Zi, you go. Take the Girl and hurry back. If you wait too long, the palace gates will be locked, and you won't be able to get in."
With that, he patted Zheng Ning and Wen Qingyue on the shoulders, saying, "You two don’t worry. Just relax."
He secretly exerted some force and pressed down hard.
Zheng Ning and Wen Qingyue noticed the old man's subtle reminder and realized there was no room for negotiation. Their expressions changed slightly, but they did not forcefully stop him any longer.
Qing Wu was unaware of what her mother knew. When she heard that her mother was going to stay in the palace, the He Family surprisingly nodded without a word of opposition or doubt and instructed someone to make preparations.
A moment later, Qing Wu got into the carriage with several boxes of her favorite snacks that her mother had packed for her.
Qin Shuying had already sent someone to inform Huo Yun'ai about Qing Wu's immediate return to the palace. Therefore, before they even reached the palace gates, Li Zi was already waiting outside. Upon seeing Qing Wu, he welcomed her in.
The capital city remained eerily calm afterward.
The appearance of the men in black that day was witnessed by everyone present. Some tried to inquire about the families of those who were surrounded by the men in black at that time, and the answers they received were surprisingly consistent.
The people from the Ministry of Justice quickly arrived at both the Shen Residence and the Duke of Lu's Residence, capturing the individuals involved. The Zheng Family and Zhu Family responded similarly. However, when asked about the children's situation, the young ladies from the Shen Family, Lu Family, and Zou Family personally came out to assure their relatives that they were safe, alleviating their worries. In contrast, the Zheng Family and Zhu Family vaguely mentioned that their children were frightened and had been sent back to their hometown to recuperate, without elaborating further.
Qing Wu was quite surprised by the reactions of the Zheng and Zhu families.
From what she knew, on that day, both Zheng Young Master and Zhu Minran were taken away by the Imperial Guard and did not return to their respective homes.
Based on her understanding of both families, she had expected Zhu Ge Lao and Zheng An to demand their return during the audience with the emperor. However, Uncle Yu noted that neither of them brought up this matter. When facing the emperor, both acted as if nothing had happened that day, as if it were merely a dream that never truly occurred.
These insights were pieced together from various bits of information Qing Wu had heard over the past few days.
At this moment, she realized that Zheng Young Master and Zhu Minran had actually been "sent back to their hometown to recuperate"...
Could it be that these two families intended to disregard them entirely?!
Yue Ying looked at Qing Wu's stunned expression and chuckled softly, saying, "What’s wrong? Did my news frighten you?"
Qing Wu mentioned to Huo Yun'ai about Yue Ying's assistance, and Huo Yun'ai had allowed her to act freely. Doctor Luo then took advantage of Qing Wu's free time over the past few days to bring Yue Ying into the palace for a detailed discussion with Qing Wu.
Yue Ying had heard about the events at the banquet in the Shen Residence. While chatting with Qing Wu before they began their preparations, she casually mentioned a few things regarding this matter.
Upon hearing this, Qing Wu naturally inquired further. As a result, she received such an answer...
Considering Zheng An's usual way of handling matters, Qing Wu slowly shook her head and sighed, "It's not that I was frightened. It's just that I didn't expect them to act this way."
Yue Ying was unaware that the two individuals had been taken away by Huo Yun'ai. Seeing Qing Wu in such a state, she smiled and said, "Look at you, worrying day in and day out about people who have nothing to do with you. Why bother? Just look at the Head of the Yi Family, living freely and indulgently. Since she loves painting, she travels around seeking inspiration, regardless of worldly affairs, following her heart—that is what true comfort is. A woman should be like this."
Yi Zhenglian had not deliberately concealed her identity. After that day, it wasn't long before news of the Head of the Yi Family's activities in the capital spread.
Everyone knew that the Head of the Yi Family was obsessed with painting. Having never married or adopted children, Yi Zhenglian had no offspring.
Years ago, there had been rumors that the Head of the Yi Family wanted to find a talented and beautiful girl to nurture so that she could take over her position when she grew old. However, this matter had never been confirmed by Yi Zhenglian herself.
People speculated endlessly about the reliability of this news and the criteria Yi Zhenglian would use to choose her successor. One thing everyone agreed on was that the girl must be exceptionally skilled at painting or have a deep appreciation for art, and she must be the best among her peers. Otherwise, she would never catch the head's eye.
This news was conveyed to Qing Wu by Mu Hai, naturally under Huo Yun'ai's instruction.
Initially, Qing Wu did not understand why Huo Yun'ai wanted her to know these things. After reflecting on her experiences upon returning to the capital, she began to understand.
Why did Zheng An repeatedly want to help Zhu Minran win first place in the Floral Banquet painting competition? Why did Zhu Minran participate in the Marquisate banquet's painting competition, with Zheng Young Master assisting her victory?
It must all be related to the position of successor in the Yi Family.
Among the girls from the Zheng Family, there were none with outstanding painting skills. However, the Zheng and Zhu families had already tacitly agreed on a marriage between Zhu Minran and Zheng Young Master; Zhu Minran was set to marry into the Zheng Family. If she gained Yi Zhenglian's favor, it would also benefit the Zheng Family.
But why would Zheng An, the current Imperial Teacher and a key minister, want to secure financial support from the Yi Family?
Upon further thought, it was clear that the Yi Family had initially assisted the Former Emperor in seizing power...
The answer is simply obvious.
Looking at Zheng Young Master with his confident demeanor, it is clear that he has no intention of signaling. It seems he is watching Zhu Minran about to take the lead.
But what if the first place is not Zhu Minran? What would they do to Yi Zhenglian?
Is the presence of the men in black just to deal with such "unexpected" situations?
In that moment of realization, a thin layer of sweat suddenly appeared on Qing Wu's back.
However, she has never understood what those ominous preparations were truly for.
Now that she has matters at hand, Qing Wu does not wish to dwell on these thoughts any longer. She hurriedly cast aside her chaotic thoughts and focused all her attention on the paper in front of her, saying to Yue Ying: "I invited you here to discuss teaching the palace maids medical skills."
Yue Ying had already asked Doctor Luo to convey her agreement regarding this matter. The two are now meeting to discuss the details.
Qing Wu's idea is to select some palace maids who have an interest in medicine and have Yue Ying teach them.
She originally thought that those who are interested would naturally learn diligently, achieving twice the result with half the effort.
However, Yue Ying does not agree with Qing Wu's proposal.
"I believe that interest can be cultivated, but character is what truly matters."
Yue Ying said seriously, "As a healer, one must first have a heart of compassion in order to truly consider the needs of the patients and genuinely dedicate oneself to their treatment. Without compassion, no matter how extensive one's knowledge is, it is completely useless."
Qing Wu thought about it carefully and indeed found it to be true. Centuries later, hospitals still emphasize the four characters "compassionate heart and skillful art." However, she was not studying this profession, and at the time she heard these words, she did not delve deeper.
She sighed, "I was hasty."
Yue Ying smiled and said, "What does 'hasty' have to do with this? This matter is our responsibility. Since you need to manage the palace maids comprehensively, you have more important tasks to handle. These minor details can be entrusted to us. Moreover, the fact that you thought of addressing their medical difficulties first already solves their biggest problem."
Setting aside the difficulties of management and the lack of established regulations, in terms of daily life, the palace maids had their provisions for clothing, food, and shelter; it was just when they fell ill that things became most troublesome.
Yue Ying's praise was truly heartfelt.
Qing Wu, seeing her sincerity in praise, felt increasingly embarrassed. Noticing that time was running short, she quickly discussed with Yue Ying to set a date for their next meeting. By then, Qing Wu would select some individuals to meet Yue Ying, who would then choose suitable candidates to learn medical skills from her.
With the matter settled, Qing Wu felt a bit relieved. As she contemplated whom to choose, she walked slowly towards Zhaoning Palace.
Originally, she intended to arrive just in time for lunch so that she could dine with Huo Yun'ai. However, halfway there, she was intercepted by Li Zi, who had been waiting for a long time and directly led her towards Zhaoyuan Palace.
The main hall of Zhaoyuan Palace was Mingyuan Hall. Usually, Huo Yun'ai would sometimes meet officials there. When there were no visitors, he would also allow Qing Wu to attend him while he handled some political affairs.
However, on ordinary days, Qing Wu would enter through the front door with dignity. Today, though, Li Zi led her in through the back door.
Confused about the situation and wanting to ask a question or two, Qing Wu noticed Li Zi raising a finger in a shushing gesture, signaling her to remain silent and enter first.
Qing Wu walked quietly, hesitantly moving inside.
In front of the door stood a large screen, over a person's height and quite wide. It was densely embroidered with a peony pattern symbolizing wealth and prosperity. The brightly colored double-thread embroidery was finely and evenly stitched, covering the entire screen and blocking out all light, making it impossible to see what lay on the other side.
Presumably, the other side could not see what this side looked like either.
Qing Wu stepped forward, and as soon as he stood still, he was startled by a few people hiding behind the screen.
Mu Hai and Meng Liang stood on either side. The two individuals between them, whose mouths were gagged and hands bound, still bore swollen faces but could be recognized.
It was clearly Zheng Young Master and Zhu Minran.
Before Qing Wu's surprise could fade, he heard two familiar voices coming from the other side of the screen, in the center of the hall.
"Minister Zhu Qingbai (Minister Zheng An) pays his respects to Your Majesty. Long live our Emperor!"
Zheng Young Master and Zhu Minran suddenly widened their eyes!
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