The Emperor???
The Duchess of the State and Zhong Yi were like puppets with their souls snatched away at this moment. They stared with wide eyes and couldn't come back to their senses for a long time.
Chu Qing glanced at them and smiled. Then she said leisurely, "I forgot to tell you that the Emperor is outside too."
"Chu Qing! You did it on purpose!" The Duchess of the State stared at Chu Qing with a look as sharp as a knife in her eyes.
Chu Qing covered her mouth and laughed. Then she continued, "Just now you said... that you hoped this princess would not pursue the previous matters? And... um, that if this princess crippled her own hands, you would let this princess go...? Duchess of the State, you think too highly of yourself." Actually, Chu Qing had heard what the duchess said just now.
That condescending tone really opened her eyes. How could there be such a brazen person in the world?
At this moment, the Emperor's cold voice came from outside the tent, "Auntie, are you done?"
Chu Qing glanced outside the tent and then said, "Well, Your Majesty and Your Highness the Prince, you might as well come in. This concubine has little influence. The Duchess of the State looks down on this concubine!"
As soon as Chu Qing finished speaking, Wei Ying walked in with a cold face first.
After coming in, he stood beside Chu Qing. With a long arm, he pulled Chu Qing into his arms. The meaning was self - evident.
Although Wei Ying had done such actions to her many times, but... after all, something had happened between them.
So...
When Chu Qing felt the warmth from Wei Ying, her face flushed again.
This occasional blushing seemed to be a common occurrence.
Wei Ying didn't think about these things. Just now, he was really angry outside the tent.
Early this morning, a group of women chattering outside his tent had already made him very unhappy. When Chu Qing briefly told him the ins and outs and the plan at noon, if it weren't for the fact that Chu Qing wanted to play with the other side, Wei Ying might have come here and killed them directly.
He didn't know that the Duchess of the State and that woman named Zhong Yi were so insidious and vicious!
Just as Wei Ying and Chu Qing were about to hide their tracks and sneak into the Duchess of the State's tent, the Emperor suddenly showed up.
Helpless, Chu Qing had to briefly tell the Emperor what had happened again. So...
The Emperor also came along.
He said it was to give her some support...
Chu Qing had no choice but to agree.
...
At this moment, Wei Ying, Chu Qing and the Emperor were standing neatly in the tent of the Duchess of the State and Zhong Yi. No one said a word.
The atmosphere was so oppressive that it seemed to explode at any time. The Duchess of the State tried hard to collect herself. With some difficulty, she tried to look dignified and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Prince, it's getting late. It may not be appropriate for you two to stay here, right?"
Chu Qing was surprised at the duchess's thick - skinnedness and couldn't help but say, "This princess is here. What's inappropriate? By the way, Duchess of the State, what did you say just now? The Empress Dowager is on good terms with your State Duke's Mansion? When did this become something to show off? Even if the Empress Dowager is really on good terms with you, if you do something wrong, as wise as the Empress Dowager, how could she cover up for you?"
The Duchess of the State suddenly became alert and quickly caught the important words in Chu Qing's speech. So she immediately said, "The princess should be more careful when speaking. We don't know what wrong things we've done!"
Chu Qing raised her eyebrows, put her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly.
Originally, Chu Qing was taller than ordinary women, while the Duchess of the State was a bit shorter than ordinary women. So in front of the duchess, Chu Qing could easily show her momentum.
"Repeatedly framing the princess of this prince, just this one charge is enough for you to be sentenced to death. Because the princess represents this prince. Although this prince takes his mother's surname, he is still a member of the Yuan family. You despise and slander the princess, which means you despise and slander this prince. Despising and slandering this prince means despising and slandering the Yuan family. Despising and slandering the Yuan family means... despising and slandering the Emperor." Wei Ying's voice was slow, but every word was like a death sentence.
Chu Qing lowered her head and tried to hold back her smile. At this time, the Emperor also said lightly, "Yes, you slandered me. Is this still considered no wrong?"
The Duchess of the State and Zhong Yi were already dizzy from Wei Ying's long speech. After the Emperor spoke, they could only kneel on the ground instinctively.
Seeing that there was no more fun to watch, the Emperor casually ordered the soldiers outside the tent to surround the tents of the State Duke's Mansion. The State Duke, who was far away in another tent, was also locked up in a daze.
...
Chu Qing originally thought it would take some effort, but unexpectedly it was solved so easily. She always felt that something was not right.
Ah, yes, the other side was the so - called State Duke. How could he surrender so easily?
Thinking of this, Chu Qing also asked the question in her heart:
"Um... Your Majesty, Your Highness the Prince, is the crime of framing and insulting the royal family too..."
Wei Ying said calmly, "Does Qingqing think this crime is not serious?"
"Ah... not really..." To be honest, this kind of crime was actually the most justifiable reason for the royal family to deal with some noble families.
Maybe understanding what Chu Qing was thinking, Wei Ying softened his tone and said, "Qingqing, don't worry. Many people have long disliked the State Duke Zhong Ling."
"What...?" She really didn't know much about the affairs in the court.
Wei Ying continued, "His title of State Duke was not earned by his own merits, but... inherited from his father. His mother is on good terms with the Empress Dowager, so the Empress Dowager has always taken good care of the State Duke's Mansion. But Zhong Ling himself has no real ability. Not only is he ambitious but also extremely arrogant. Your Majesty..."
Speaking of this, Wei Ying looked up at the Emperor.
Sure enough, when Chu Qing looked over, the Emperor already looked like he had removed a big worry from his heart. Seeing Chu Qing looking over, he smiled slightly and said, "Yes, I've long wanted to deal with him. But I've always been concerned about my mother's face. Also, although he is not a good person, he has no major faults, so it's not good for me to directly deprive him of his title. Now, his good wife has helped me with this!"
Only then did Chu Qing understand.
The Emperor was using her hand to get rid of someone he had long wanted to remove.
No wonder he was so enthusiastic.
Humph...
This little brat had set his mind on her!
However, she wasn't too repulsed, after all, they were not outsiders.
Seeing that there was no unhappiness on Chu Qing's face, Wei Ying bid farewell to the Emperor and then took Chu Qing back to their own tent.
Wei Ying: "Well..."
Chu Qing: "Well..."
"You go first." Wei Ying.
"You go first." Chu Qing.
Chu Qing didn't think much of it at first, but after saying the same thing twice in unison, she still couldn't help blushing.
"Are we going back to the palace tomorrow or...?" Seeing Wei Ying about to say something, Chu Qing immediately spoke first.
This couldn't go on like this!
Seeing Chu Qing blushing and trying to change the topic, Wei Ying smiled and didn't expose her: "We won't go to the other palace tomorrow. Hu Yan Longhao said he's leaving."
"Leaving??? Is he leaving so soon?" Chu Qing asked with a surprised look on her face.
She thought Hu Yan Longhao's visit this time was too hasty.
What on earth... was his purpose?