Empress Dowager Tian had long wanted to say these things to Emperor Yongchang.
Of course she did not like Qi Yuan.
The reason she disliked Qi Yuan naturally also involved Tian Baoci and Tian Bozhi.
How could she not care?
Those were all Empress Dowager Tian’s blood relatives!
If not for Qi Yuan, they would not have needed to die at all!
But it was precisely because Qi Yuan made such a huge commotion and pushed matters to an irretrievable point that she had no choice but to cut off the tail to survive, abandoning Tian Baoci and Tian Bozhi in order to preserve the Tian family.
Moreover, aside from this point, even if Qi Yuan had nothing to do with the Tian family, Empress Dowager Tian would still dislike her.
There was no other reason.
She had brought Tian Jinglan into the palace to raise, did she truly do so because she was lonely?
With just a word from her, which concubine in the palace would not eagerly send their princess to curry favor with her?
In the end, she had long already made up her mind, to secure a future for the Tian family.
When Emperor Yongchang ascended the throne, he already had his original principal consort.
Even though Liu Wangfei encountered an ambush and disappeared on the road, at that time the Feng family was powerful, and it was not the Tian family’s turn to send a girl into the palace.
Thus the Tian family could only retreat again and again.
When it came to the Crown Prince, the Feng family happened to have no girls of suitable age.
So they repeatedly missed their opportunity.
But now it was different, Xiao Yunting and Tian Jinglan were perfectly matched in age.
Tian Jinglan was also presentable enough.
As long as Tian Jinglan could become Xiao Yunting’s consort, with her abilities and with Empress Dowager Tian’s support, the Tian family could at least continue enjoying wealth and honor for another thirty years.
If Tian Jinglan could even give birth to Emperor Yongchang’s great-grandson, then it would be even better, having a prince carrying the Tian family’s bloodline would further ensure their lasting prosperity.
Therefore, Qi Yuan appeared far too much of an eyesore.
She snorted: “When she played polo with Liu Mingzhu, Liu Mingzhu fell, and immediately afterward the Liu family met with disaster. She gave acupuncture to Noble Consort Xiao Liu, and Noble Consort Xiao Liu died… This time, she was also involved in the matter of Zeng Wenxiu confusing the bloodline at the Eldest Princess’s residence, and when the Eldest Princess’s villa estate was stormed, she was there too!”
At the mention of Noble Consort Xiao Liu, Emperor Yongchang’s expression changed involuntarily.
Although quite some time had already passed, hearing about Noble Consort Xiao Liu still made him feel somewhat unable to accept it.
His mood also sank.
This was exactly the effect Empress Dowager Tian wanted.
She sighed deeply: “Emperor, Yunting is a good child, but that does not mean his judgment is good as well. Aren’t young people always like this? Young and enamored of beauty, seeing only that a girl is pretty, they plunge headfirst into it.”
“But his status is special, he carries the future identity of the heir to the throne. There cannot be a woman at his side who stirs up trouble.”
After saying all this in one breath, Empress Dowager Tian looked at Emperor Yongchang: “Emperor, you should still think carefully about what I’ve said.”
She paused. “Although that Daoist Li later… but in the past his physiognomy readings were often accurate. I think that when he said Qi Yuan was a lone baleful star descended to the mortal world, it may not have been groundless.”
Hearing this, Emperor Yongchang immediately recalled the earlier matter of Noble Consort Xiao Liu.
This girl truly was sharp-tongued.
And she reacted extremely quickly.
He felt slightly uncomfortable and said in a low voice: “Royal Mother, rest assured, this matter will certainly be carefully considered.”
Empress Dowager Tian nodded. “Yunting is still too young. Without experience, how would he understand that a momentary liking cannot last a lifetime? Speaking of which, is Yunting about to return?”
At this, a faint smile appeared on Emperor Yongchang’s face: “Yes. A letter arrived three days ago, he had already passed Henan. By now, he should be almost here.”
Xiao Yunting had always been this way. When he went to Jiangxi, he acted with decisive efficiency and refused all requests for meetings and banquets from local officials.
Now that he was returning, it was the same.
Empress Dowager Tian also smiled.
Once he returned, she would let him spend more time with Jinglan.
Naturally, he would see Jinglan’s strengths.
Xiao Yunting sneezed. Facing the three large characters of Desheng Gate ahead, he reined in his horse and let out a long breath.
Those accompanying him were all his trusted subordinates; as for the rest of the imperial inspection entourage, they were still behind.
Some others had been left by him in Jiangxi to fill various vacancies.
He had killed far too many officials, those vacant posts needed someone to fill them, otherwise the work would go undone.
While the Ministry of Personnel selected officials, he simply had people from the inspection team temporarily take over those positions.
He himself then spurred his horse and rushed back to the capital.
The New Year was approaching.
He wanted, before the New Year arrived, to ask Emperor Yongchang to finalize his marriage with Qi Yuan.
After traveling alongside him all the way, Huachu and Qingwei were all dusty and worn out. Seeing the capital city gates at last, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
They had finally arrived!
They had nearly been shaken apart by accompanying His Highness at such speed.
Who exactly was in the capital that made His Highness hurry like this?
If Liujin and Babao were here at this moment, they would certainly chuckle.
Who was in the capital?
Of course, it was His Highness’s beloved, Miss Qi!
At this time, his beloved Miss Qi was accompanying Wang Chan.
Wang Chan tightly gripped Qi Yuan’s hand, trembling with nervousness: “Yuan Jie’er, I… I’m afraid…”
Madam Lu had arranged a marriage meeting for Wang Chan and had specially arranged for both sides to visit the Dazhao Temple to burn incense and meet each other.
But Wang Chan absolutely refused to go.
With no other choice, Madam Lu could only ask Qi Yuan to accompany her.
Qi Yuan did not mind, she was free anyway, and since marriage was a major matter in life, if she could help, she naturally would. So she came along.
Seeing Wang Chan trembling, Qi Yuan felt both annoyed and amused: “He’s not some flood or ferocious beast, why avoid him like a snake or scorpion?”
Wang Chan was still nervous, clutching Qi Yuan’s sleeve and unable to speak.
Madam Lu could no longer bear it and called out: “Yuan Jie’er, could you help check whether the calming tea I asked for has been prepared by the young monk?”
Qi Yuan understood that this was to leave enough private time for Wang Chan and the other party. Smiling, she agreed and turned to leave the room.
As she walked, she reached the plank pathway connecting the two great halls in the mountains. Looking down at the rolling sea of clouds and the waves of pine wind, she suddenly sighed softly.
Then she heard a familiar voice sound.
“In such fine scenery and beautiful moment, for whom does the young lady stand beneath the night dew?”
She immediately widened her eyes and turned sharply.
She saw Xiao Yunting standing opposite, smiling at her.
Xiao Yunting had returned!
Qi Yuan was momentarily unable to react, standing motionless in place.
She had just been wondering whether Xiao Yunting could return before the New Year, yet the moment the thought arose, he appeared before her eyes.
Lifting her skirt, she quickly ran toward him.
But Xiao Yunting was even faster, within a few steps he reached her and pulled her into his arms: “Yuanyuan, I missed you so much.”
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