My wife has a secret

Chapter 149 The Eve of the Ceremony
"Before Jinyi Bureau became Chengxuanfang, it was responsible for monitoring and controlling the every move of the concubines in the harem by using the network of connections built by the eunuchs in the palace after my aunt entered the palace."

Queen Mother Xu exuded a faint plum fragrance. She looked at Xu Qing with her beautiful eyes and said slowly, "When Aunt knows what every concubine in the late Queen's harem said, ate, and did... the throne of the harem master will be in Aunt's pocket, within her reach."

If Lianhuajun, who was familiar with Queen Mother Xu's personality, stood nearby and eavesdropped, even if she had the best psychological qualities, she would definitely be frightened by the Queen Mother's abnormal attitude.

After all, when Empress Dowager Xu climbed to the throne and controlled the harem, she never allowed anyone to comment on her past.

But in front of her nephew Xu Qing, Empress Dowager Xu acted like a mother doting on her child, her expression and actions full of tenderness.

Especially those eyes that are as warm as the early summer sun, full of love and care, like the warm breeze of spring, making people intoxicated.

"Governing the country is the same as managing the harem. As long as someone tells you what the ministers and generals in the court are thinking, and what the common people are thinking, you will be able to improve government affairs with less effort."

Xu Qing hesitated for a moment, then replied cautiously: "Nephew, I understand."

"So Qing'er, Chengxuanfang is Aunt's eyes and ears. If someone here has the intention of treason, it would be like sand in Aunt's eyes."

The sleeves of Empress Dowager Xu's wide, thin half-sleeved robe slid down to her elbows, revealing her smooth, white wrists.

Her warm hands touched the back of Xu Qing's neck and rubbed it gently twice.

"If the traitor in Chengxuanfang had misreported the time of the rebellion of the Prince of Dongwan a few days ago, everyone in our Xu family might have become a prisoner."

Xu Qing nodded and said, "It was because Auntie saw the wavering in Shen Shuangxu's heart that she dismissed her from the position of the head of Chengxuanfang and ordered all intelligence from Chengxuanfang to be reported directly to Qifeng Palace, and Auntie herself will deal with the Prince of Dongwan."

"Qing'er is so smart."

Empress Dowager Xu's beautiful eyes curved into a bright moon in her smile. She guided softly, "Besides that, there is another benefit for Shuang Xu to temporarily leave Chengxuanfang... As long as people are together, they will develop feelings in their daily lives. Shuang Xu is indeed smart, but her heart is not cruel enough."

"Aunt wants me to find out the traitor in Chengxuanfang and restore the functions of the square?"

"Yes."

Empress Dowager Xu opened her jade-white and pale pink lips slightly and nodded, saying, "Judging from the speed and content of the information leaked in the square, the traitor lurking in Chengxuan Square should be of a high position. Qing'er, your current identity is special. Although seizing power in this way will cause dissatisfaction within Chengxuan Square, no one will think that you went there specifically for the traitor, and they will definitely let down their guard."

Xu Qing's mind moved slightly, and he understood the good intentions of the Queen Mother.

He had never had any fame or achievements before, and only had the reputation of being a playboy. Entering Chengxuanfang and becoming the owner of the place should make him the most connected person in Da Qi.

When the important people in Chengxuanfang look down on me, it is the best time for me to observe and rectify Chengxuanfang.

"Nephew understands."

"Ah."

A gratified smile appeared on Queen Mother Xu's bright and delicate face. She held Xu Qing's hand again and asked, "Qing'er, even if Shuangxu and the others give birth to children for you, they are still outsiders. You must remember... we are the only aunt and nephew in this world who have an inseparable relationship and will never betray each other."

Hearing Empress Dowager Xu re-emphasize the blood relationship between the two, Xu Qing replied: "Please rest assured, aunt, Qing'er knows the importance of this matter. Qing'er has been loved by aunt and the old lady since she was a child, and she will definitely not let you down."

Xu Qing felt that his answer was very standard, but Empress Dowager Xu's smile seemed to be frozen.

"Aunt, is there something wrong?"

"Um……"

Empress Dowager Xu lowered her head and remained motionless. Although her face was still extremely beautiful, the expression on her face was like a smile, which was difficult to describe in words.

After Xu Qing asked the question, Empress Dowager Xu seemed to wake up from a dream and put on a forced smile.

"Well, Qing'er is glad to know."

Empress Dowager Xu seemed reluctant to leave. She rubbed Xu Qing's palm several times and said, "Qing'er, if you have nothing else to do, go back early. Aunt has been very busy these two days. The next time you and I meet will be at the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony."

"Aunt, Qing'er has something else to ask."

"What's the matter?"

When Empress Dowager Xu heard that Xu Qing still had questions, she raised her head and made a gesture and appearance as if she was listening attentively.

Her straight nose and soft cheeks blend perfectly, showing a temperament that is both dignified and charming, which can make people intoxicated.

"Aunt, do you remember that you asked Princess Danyang to send Empress Gongsun to my room to serve me? But after returning from Falun Temple this time, I found that she was missing. I wanted to ask you where she is..."

When Xu Qing returned to the palace this time, he found that Cui'er and Yang Liu had become the people taking care of his daily life in the house.

He originally thought that Empress Gongsun was somewhere in the palace, but after asking Yang Liu, he found out that the woman had been taken away by Lord Lianhua.

On the way, he asked Lianhua Jun about this matter, but the latter kept silent about it, apparently having received the Queen Mother's instructions.

He had promised Empress Gongsun that if she told him the truth, he would keep her safe in the palace. It would be unreasonable for him to sit idly by and watch this happen.

"She..."

Queen Mother Xu tilted her face slightly, narrowed her beautiful eyes, and looked at Xu Qing with a smile, and asked: "The original queen was a little arrogant, but she was indeed a beautiful embryo who could give birth. Does my nephew like her?"

Xu Qing was somewhat embarrassed by the teasing words of the Queen Mother, but apart from the excuse of lust, it seemed that he had no other reason to convince her to keep the Queen by his side.

So Xu Qing gritted his teeth and nodded: "Yes, Qing'er thinks she... looks good and is more to my taste."

Empress Dowager Xu's bright eyes turned slightly, and she said softly, "If Qing'er likes this kind of cheerful lady, auntie can let Princess Danyang handle this matter herself."

"what?"

When Xu Qing heard the Queen Mother mention letting Princess Danyang intervene in this matter, he immediately shook his head like a rattle.

With that little goblin involved, there's no telling what this matter will turn into.

What's more, he had no intention of taking a concubine. He hadn't dealt with the four wives and concubines at home yet, so how could he have the energy to deal with a new woman?
But if she said it directly, it would seem to conflict with the lie she just told, so Xu Qing could only twitch the corners of her mouth and forcefully explain: "Aunt... Qing'er likes the kind of, ahem, whose husband died of illness..."

While Xu Qing was speaking, Empress Dowager Xu felt her hands trembling and her heartbeat quickened.

She was stunned with shock, and the expression on her face froze at this moment.

How could Qing'er say such irrelevant words? Why would he not like a good lady from a noble family, a princess of an imperial dynasty, but like a widow?
How could such an unrighteous and immoral idea appear in Qing'er's mind? The elegant and noble Queen Mother Xu stared at Xu Qing for a moment, then slightly looked away.

She felt that it was because she had been away from the Xu family for too long and had never been with Xu Qing, which had wronged her, that Qing'er, who had lost her mother at a young age, had developed strange feelings for her.

But fortunately, this is not a difficult thing to do, it’s just that the reputation that gets spread is not very good.

"Since it is Qing'er's intention, Auntie will seriously consider it."

"Thank you, aunt."

Xu Qing didn't know that his intention was completely misunderstood by the Queen Mother. His original intention was to take Empress Gongsun back, but he didn't expect that because of what happened tonight, he would be labeled as an alien by the Queen Mother Xu.

……

The ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven was held as scheduled three days later.

According to the custom of Da Qi in previous years, the emperor and the empress would ride on dragon and phoenix chariots from the imperial palace, pass through the Suzaku Avenue watched by the people, and drive from the south gate to Laojun Mountain. They would offer sacrifices to the gods on the top of the mountain, praying for the country to be prosperous and the people to be strong, good weather to harvest crops, and world peace.

However, due to the sudden death of the young emperor, many changes occurred in this ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven. First, the main priest was changed from the emperor to Empress Dowager Xu. And because the dragon and phoenix symbolizing the emperor set out from the Qifeng Palace, the craftsmen had to work day and night to widen the road in front of the Qifeng Palace.

That day, Xu Qing bathed and changed his clothes in the middle of the night. Before dawn, a female official came to visit him and led him to the square in front of Qifeng Palace.

Although the square in front of Qifeng Palace became much more spacious after this expansion, it was still crowded with people due to the gathering of ministers and countless princes and nobles.

These civil servants and military generals gathered in groups of three or four in a place in the square, greeting each other and chatting.

Because it was not a palace banquet, there were no eunuchs or palace maids to announce Xu Qing's identity.

When Xu Qing was led by the female official to the group of royal relatives and nobles, he stood aside bored, admiring the rare flowers and plants planted nearby.

"Look! Lord Liao is here!"

"Yes! Go and have a chat with Lord Liao!"

As a middle-aged man wearing a dark official robe, with a fat head, round face and a big belly walked into the square, the crowd around him immediately rushed over.

Xu Qing glanced at the familiar figure from afar, and then he remembered that he had met this man in the court of the three-court trial. At that time, he was sitting in the main seat between the Dali Temple Minister and the Chief Censor.

Although this person spoke a few fair words for him, unfortunately the trial was controlled by the Prince of Dongwan, and Lord Liao was unable to do what he wanted.

"Every time Lord Liao appears in the hall, it's hard to get through like today. Sigh..."

"That's right. Lord Liao made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion a few days ago, and has become a hot figure in the eyes of the Queen Mother. Now the Prime Minister, Lord Shen, has been implicated in that incident and is bedridden. He dares not show up. The veterans of the two and three dynasties of General Ji have also suffered because of this incident. Not only have some high-ranking officials lost their descendants, but their homes have been confiscated, beheaded and exiled... The Queen Mother is now busy with many things and has not yet decided on a new candidate for the cabinet, but judging from the current situation, Lord Liao is very likely to be the one."

"..."

As two or three officials could not squeeze in around the Minister of Justice Liao Yue, they started talking next to Xu Qing.

Perhaps because of his low-ranking official position and because the only man beside him looked unfamiliar, the topics they talked about gradually became sensitive and involved current state affairs.

Xu Qing pricked up his ears and listened for a while, but was suddenly interrupted by the boiling voices in the square.

"Dan...Princess Danyang is here!"

"What? The princess is here too?"

After the name of Princess Danyang appeared, all the officials in the square, whether they were civil officials, military generals, princes or nobles, became excited and rushed towards the graceful figure.

Only a few officials stood in the distance, watching all this with cold expressions.

Among them, a young man dressed in gorgeous clothes, but with an expression and temperament that was somewhat inconsistent with the original, stood up. After seeing that Xu Qing had no intention of leaving, he walked towards the latter and bowed.

"My surname is Huang and my given name is Sheng. I come from a noble family in Yunnan and Yunnan. Half of the tribute herbs presented to the royal family in the past two years came from my Huang family. I wonder about your family background..."

When Xu Qing saw someone talking to him, he smiled and nodded in return.

"My name is Xu..."

"Surname Xu?"

When Huang Sheng heard Xu Qing's surname, he called out in surprise. Fortunately, everyone's eyes and attention were focused on Princess Danyang, so no one paid attention to the situation in this corner.

After Huang Sheng realized his mistake, he immediately apologized.

"Brother Xu, please don't mind. I live mostly in rural areas like Yunnan and Yunnan, and rarely come to prosperous places like the capital... But judging from Brother Xu's surname, you should be a branch of the current Queen Mother Xu's family, right?"

Before being invited to the palace to participate in the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven, Huang Sheng spent a large sum of money to inquire about the intelligence of officials and nobles in the court.

He knew that there were many branches of the Xu family from Suzhou scattered around Suzhou.

Although most of these people had fallen into poverty and became illiterate farmers, some of them were summoned to the capital by the empress dowager and became minor officials in the capital, responsible for certain matters.

This is the legendary that when one person succeeds, the whole family will benefit.

Even though the situations and abilities of these branch families were limited, just because they had the surname Xu, they were able to enjoy a stable and excellent life under the rule of Empress Dowager Xu, which others could not envy.

However, the purpose of Huang Sheng's trip was to get close to these minor officials in the capital. He knew that he was born in northern Yunnan and was looked down upon by the serious aristocratic families, so he could only try to get close to these minor officials who had some power and functions.

If he could benefit from his own medicinal materials business and reduce some tariffs, he could make a lot of money.

"Ah."

Seeing that Huang Sheng had already made his own judgment, Xu Qing did not correct him and just responded according to his opinion.

"I heard that Princess Danyang's banquet is the most beautiful banquet in the world. Mr. Xu, don't you rely on your status as a member of the Xu family to have a conversation with Princess Danyang?"

Xu Qing shook his head and said calmly, "Princess Danyang is the daughter of the late emperor and the sister of Emperor Xuan. How noble is her status? I am just an insignificant person from the Xu family branch. There is no need to go up to them and insult them."

Huang Sheng nodded with understanding, and his liking for Xu Qing grew even stronger.

(End of this chapter)