My wife has a secret

Chapter 98 Unexpected Guest
"What about tomorrow?"

Lian Huajun bowed his head and answered respectfully, "Young Master, if the issue of Wangyue Tower is not resolved today, I'm afraid it won't be resolved tomorrow."

Even though Xu Qing was slow-witted, after hearing Lianhua Jun's tactful expression, he realized who was behind this.

I should have thought of this yesterday: as the apple of my aunt's eye and with the imperial guards escorting him, is there any place in the capital that he cannot go?

It seems that my aunt’s meaning is very clear. Now he is only allowed to meet Qin Shuying or Princess Danyang.

"Among my many wives and concubines, Qin Shuying and I have an average relationship, and Princess Danyang has never met me... Auntie must have some deep meaning in restricting my actions, right?"

Lianhua Jun slowly raised his head, stared at Xu Qing for a while with his capable and clear eyes, and sighed.

"Young Master, Lianhua cannot convey Her Majesty's intentions without permission. After all, Her Majesty hopes that you can figure this out on your own... But Her Majesty has postponed the auspicious day for the coronation and related matters for a week for your sake."

Xu Qing got many hints from the information given by Lianhua Jun.

First of all, this matter is of particular concern to Empress Dowager Xu, and she wants me to do something in my interactions with Qin Shuying and Princess Danyang.

Secondly, in the eyes of this aunt, she seemed to be more important than the throne which was so close at hand.

Xu Qing could still understand it before, but in his memories of his previous life, Wu, who also used thundering means to depose the emperor and ascend the throne, was notoriously cold and decisive, and showed no mercy to anyone.

The memories of his previous incarnation might have contained the reason why the aunt and niece were so close, but unfortunately he replaced the original body and did not inherit those memories, thus missing out on key information.

"Little Lord."

Seeing that Xu Qing had not spoken for a long time, Lianhua Jun was worried that he might be unhappy.

But when she woke up Xu Qing, she saw a calm face.

"Then let's prepare the carriage to Wangyue Tower."

"Yes."

After Lianhuajun bowed and took his leave, he went downstairs to prepare the carriage for yesterday.

The configuration of the accompanying convoy was the same as yesterday's, except that there were two more armored imperial cavalrymen standing there with swords in hand. Their silver armor gleamed in the sunlight, making them look majestic.

Xu Qing was originally a little curious about the two extra cavalrymen, but the moment he walked out of the palace gate, he saw with his own eyes their role.

Although there were still 50% of the heavy troops from the Bingmasi and the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry stationed at the gates and patrolling the streets in the capital, ordinary people and vendors were allowed to go out on the streets to do business.

This means that martial law in the capital has ended and the remnants of the Prince of Dongwan and his personal army have been eliminated.

"The Emperor's Imperial Guards, clear the streets!"

However, as soon as the carriage he was riding in drove out of Suzaku Street, the two cavalrymen appeared like arrows from a bow, rushing along the way and shouting loudly.

At this moment, even the high-ranking officials from the capital in the sedan chair had to park their servants and the sedan chair on both sides of the road to make way for Xu Qing.

The densely packed crowd bent their heads and saluted respectfully to the Imperial Guards' convoy.

Xu Qing lifted the car curtain and glanced outside, and vaguely realized in his heart that judging from the style and posture of this trip, he was almost second to none.

If they shouted "Long live the emperor" again, he would really think he was the emperor.

……

The convoy followed yesterday's route, from the largest official road in Qinrenfang to Wangyue Tower.

The entire street was cleared by the imperial guards. Nanny Wu, who had received a notice from the Ministry of Rites, was waiting outside the door of Wangyue Tower with a group of followers, not daring to breathe.

Yesterday, notices bearing the Emperor's and Empress's seals were posted on notice boards in various districts of the capital.

It was stated above that the Prince of Dongwan was plotting treason, disrupting the government, and forming a clique for personal gain.

For this reason, he stabbed the young emperor to death in the Ministry of Revenue and led his army to attack the palace.

Rumor has it that it was thanks to the timely rescue of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry that the situation was reversed before the Prince of Dongwan’s conspiracy could succeed.

However, for Nanny Wu, it didn’t matter what happened. She only knew that the person sitting in the palace now was Empress Dowager Xu.

The young master of the Xu family who came from Suzhou was the only son of the Empress Dowager Xu's family for nine generations and was doted on by the Empress Dowager.

"Madam Wu, you look a little reserved today."

The wheels stopped turning in front of the door. Xu Qing casually commented on everyone's condition today and then got off the carriage.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Master Xu."

Nanny Wu remained bent forward, with beads of sweat on her forehead.

After she learned about Mr. Xu's deeds in Suzhou yesterday, she was terrified.

Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. Xu Qing was a favorite of the empress dowager, and his bad criminal record was widely known, so naturally, Madam Wu was walking on thin ice.

"Just like yesterday, take me to where Qin Shuying lives."

"Son."

Nanny Wu's breathing became rapid. She didn't want to offend Xu Qing, but she had to complete the instructions Qin Shuying gave her.

"Shuying said that Wangyue Tower will redecorate the main building today and will not see you."

"She hasn't seen me yet?"

Seeing that Qin Shuying's reaction did not seem to be a joke, Xu Qing frowned and began to think calmly.

Nanny Wu followed Qin Shuying's instructions and said, "Shuying said that if Mr. Xu really wants to see her, he should come to Wangyue Tower tomorrow to complete what he didn't complete that year."

"What happened back then? What do you mean?"

Xu Qing was completely confused and didn't understand what was going on.

Nanny Wu said cautiously, "Mr. Xu, there is actually an unwritten rule for the courtesan of Wangyue Tower to get married. That is, in order to verify the man's intentions, the courtesan needs to set nine puzzles by hand."

Perhaps because she saw Xu Qing didn't say anything, Nanny Wu mustered up the courage and continued preaching.

"Only if you can solve these nine riddles can you marry the courtesan legitimately. If you fail to answer them...your engagement will be annulled immediately, and Shuying will still be a member of our Wangyue Tower."

Xu Qing's pupils shrank slightly, and he gradually realized that meeting Qin Shuying was not as simple as he had thought.

Was it the Queen Mother's intervention that muddied the situation, or was it that I was too naive?

"Madame Wu."

When Nanny Wu heard Xu Qing's sudden voice, she was startled and quickly responded, "I'm here."

"Then Qin Shuying didn't tell me what kind of reward I would get if I solved the puzzle?"

"Shuying said so."

Madam Wu observed Xu Qing's expression and said, "She said that after you answer the riddle, she will be at your service for the rest of her life. Even if she is stripped of her title as a concubine and has to work like a slave, she will have no complaints."

"understood."

After Xu Qing asked what he wanted to ask, he sat back in the carriage.

"Let's go back to the palace. Come to Moon Viewing Tower tomorrow and see what puzzle this courtesan has set for me."

"Yes." Lianhua Jun, who was driving the car, said nothing more and ordered the carriage and the imperial guards to change direction.

Soon, this oppressive convoy gradually disappeared from Nanny Wu's sight.

After Nanny Wu confirmed that Xu Qing had gone far away, she left the group of people outside the door and hurried into the main building at a very fast pace.

The prostitutes standing on both sides of the railing corridor were originally talking and laughing, but after seeing the gloomy expression of Madam Wu, they quickly fell silent for fear of bringing bad luck to themselves.

"Qin Shuying!"

Nanny Wu rushed into the burnt attic and questioned the beautiful woman standing in the middle of the ruins.

"Wangyue Tower raised you and taught you, helped you conceal your identity, and acted as your executioner... Why do you insist on making things difficult for Young Master Xu? The people following Young Master Xu today are genuine imperial guards."

Although Nanny Wu was not a member of the court, she had lived in the capital since she was a child. She was good at observing people's words and expressions and understood what this meant.

The Xu family will prosper in the near future and become an existence that no one in Da Qi dares to provoke.

Qin Shuying had already married Xu Qing as a concubine, so why was she still bothering him at this time?
"The rules are just for show. Can't you just come up with a few riddles for him to guess?"

Qin Shuying was wearing a lavender long-sleeved skirt today. Her high black bun was adorned with several gold and jade hairpins inlaid with jewels. Her facial features were as beautiful as lotus flowers, and her jade earrings shone brightly, swaying slightly with her movements.

She has bright eyes, white teeth, and a beautiful appearance. Her glance and smile can touch people's hearts.

"Madam Wu, you are so shameless. If my young lady hadn't won the three most beautiful women in Luohe back then, and made Wangyue Tower so rich, how could the tower have achieved what it has today?"

Nanny Wu turned around and saw two girls dressed as maids standing behind her.

They wore long skirts made of fine cotton with delicate flowers embroidered on the hem with silver thread, which looked light and soft.

She has a simple bun on her head with a small flower pinned on it, revealing a fresh and refined beauty.

Although they hadn't seen each other for two years, Nanny Wu could still recognize her. This was the personal maid assigned to Qin Shuying in Wangyue Tower. She followed her to the Xu Mansion on her wedding day. Unexpectedly, she returned to Wangyue Tower today.

"Madam Wu, without my young lady, how could there be the Moon Viewing Tower today?"

"Yes, Aunt Wu."

The two little ones sang in unison, causing Aunt Wu to raise her eyebrows, with a hint of displeasure on her beautiful face.

She stamped her feet and said angrily, "I'll leave Wangyue Tower to you to take care of for the next two days. If Master Xu brings the imperial guards to rob people, don't blame me for hiding in the backyard and not helping you."

Yang Liu watched Nanny Wu leave angrily and pouted, "Nanny Wu only has eyes for money."

Cui Er corrected her, "Madame Wu has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. When the young lady got married, she never stopped her... If it were any other madam, they would not want to let the most popular girl in the building get married."

They have lived in brothels since childhood, so naturally they know everything about brothels and red-light districts.

In order to earn more money, some cruel maids would even break the legs of the girls under their charge, forcing them to give up the idea of ​​getting married and becoming good women.

After all, the women in Wangyue Tower were all considered slaves and could be bought and sold at will.

If someone really died in some unknown corner, the building would only need to cross out that person's name from the annual registration list.

"Okay, you two... you just returned to the capital and you can't keep your mouth shut."

Qin Shuying stopped what she was doing, turned around slightly, and said with a smile: "Come and help me. Once we finish the things we have to do in the next two days, we can leave the capital and choose a place to live."

Cui'er followed and reached out to hold Qin Shuying's slender and white elbow.

With a pure smile on her delicate face, she teased, "Miss, can you leave Cui'er in the capital... She talks too much and is noisy all day long, and she even killed the magnolia flowers you raised."

"Nonsense! It was obviously the sapling that couldn't stand the cold and its skin peeled off due to the cold."

Cui'er retorted a few words and gradually approached the arrangement Qin Shuying had placed in front of her.

After she carefully looked at the surrounding layout, her playful expression disappeared, replaced by confusion and surprise.

"Miss, isn't this too unfair to the young master?"

……

Not long after Xu Qing's carriage entered the palace, he suddenly saw a short eunuch hiding in a corner outside the palace gate, looking in the direction of the carriage in fear and stammering.

The eunuchs in the palace all have their own duties, and it is rare to see someone who is timid and doesn't know what to do.

"parking."

When the young eunuch saw Xu Qing's car stopped in front of the palace gate, he knew that he had been discovered by the other party, so he had to stand up and kneel down.

“Xu…Xu…”

He hesitated for a moment as he spoke because he didn't know how to address Xu Qing.

Although there are many rules in the palace, those greetings and addresses are all directed to the emperor. No commoner has ever lived in the palace and enjoyed the treatment of the emperor and the crown prince.

"Stop stuttering. Who called you here?"

Judging from this eunuch's personality and appearance, he would definitely not appear here without someone else's instructions.

But in the entire palace, the queen was dealt with for her rebellious intentions, and the little emperor died... Apart from the empress dowager, there seemed to be no big shot who could order the eunuchs around.

"Yes...Princess Danyang."

When Xu Qing heard this unexpected name, his eyes turned slightly cold.

He hadn't gone to look for the princess yet, but he didn't expect that she would take the initiative to find the palace and even sent a eunuch to track his whereabouts.

"Where is she?"

"she……"

The young eunuch hesitated for a moment, and finally realized that both the princess and Xu Qing were people he could not afford to offend, so he had to report the whereabouts of the princess.

"The princess is in the imperial garden, waiting for me to report the news."

"That's perfect. You lead me there... Lord Lianhua, you can go back to Qifeng Palace to report the news."

Lian Huajun in the distance bowed and clasped his fists, saying calmly, "Yes, Young Master."

When Xu Qing looked back again, the young eunuch's face had almost turned the color of liver.

"Young Master...the Princess of Danyang is not someone who is easy to deal with. I dare not offend her."

He carefully looked at Zhao Qi's expression with his small eyes, fearing that the other party's expression would change slightly and he would vent his anger on him.

Except for the people in Qifeng Palace, everyone in the palace is afraid of the Princess Danyang.

He messed up what the princess had asked him to do, and then led the surveillance target to look for the princess. You can imagine what the outcome would be.

"I'm just curious about what this princess's intention is in monitoring me... Don't worry, once she brings me to the right place, she won't dare to embarrass you."

Xu Qing saw the young eunuch's insincere and flustered look and knew what he was worried about.

But this kid's brain is not enough. At present, the little emperor surnamed Li in the palace can't sit on the throne. How dare she, a little princess, be so arrogant in front of him?

(End of this chapter)