After Madam Cui left, Cui Xiaoqiu pushed the hot water bottle out of the quilt.
--It's so hot it's killing him.
Cui Run suppressed a laugh and stepped forward to take the hot water bottle, saying, "You really know how to deal with Madam."
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "She still has to come over to see me several times tonight, and I need to go out. You'll have to figure something out."
Cui Run: "..."
At night, the moon was bright and the stars were few.
Cui Xiaoqiu quietly climbed over the courtyard wall of the mansion, only to be surprised to find a little girl standing under the wall, smiling at him.
Why are you here?
Yanran said, "I guessed right. I knew you'd come out from here. I've been waiting for you for a while. Let's go."
Cui Xiaoqiu: "I never said I'd take you."
"I've figured it out. Is my father hiding in a brothel?"
Cui Xiaoqiu: "..."
"Hehe, actually it wasn't that I wanted to figure it out, it's that I ran into Uncle Chang, and he thought I knew, so he let it slip."
Cui Xiaoqiu cursed Chang Zhi in her heart.
"What's wrong with brothels?" Yanran said. "Let's go."
Cui Xiaoqiu had no choice but to take her with him.
The two sneaked into the backyard of the brothel, winding their way through the area until they arrived at a secluded and desolate courtyard.
The guards were somewhat surprised to see Yanran, but they still let the two of them in.
Prince of Jin was reviewing official documents at his desk when he saw Yanran. He couldn't help but frown. "Is it because of Cui Xiaoqiu again, insisting on coming along?"
You know your own daughter best.
Yanran threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably, "Father, has something happened to Mother?"
The Prince of Jin's eyes narrowed. "What happened?"
At the same time, he reached out and put his arm around Yanran's trembling shoulders.
Cui Xiaoqiu recounted the whole story, then added, "Perhaps Yanran is overthinking it."
"No, something's definitely going on here," said Prince of Jin. "Xiao Ye is still with me."
He found it strange that Xiao Ye returned today without bringing him a letter.
But then he thought that perhaps Tang Zhuyun was too busy to reply, so he didn't take it to heart.
Now that he has seen the letter Yanran brought, and seeing the messy handwriting and the words of polite refusal, he feels the same way.
Tang Zhuyun, something must have happened.
However, the Prince of Jin also felt that it wouldn't be a big deal.
She never hides anything from herself when it comes to important matters.
The Prince of Jin comforted Yanran with a few words, then hurriedly wrote a letter to Tang Zhuyun and had Xiao Ye take it away.
"Cui Ling, take Yanran back first. Don't come back. I have things to do tonight."
"Yes," Cui Xiaoqiu replied, bowing.
Yanran bowed with a heavy heart. As she reached the door, she suddenly heard the sounds of women talking next door. Turning back to Prince of Jin, she said, "Father, don't go astray."
Prince of Jin: "..."
Cui Xiaoqiu pulled Yanran and walked outside.
This girl is getting more and more outspoken.
As the two went out, they ran into an acquaintance.
Yanran looked at Pei Shen, her little fists hardening.
--Judging from his furtive manner, he doesn't seem like he's up to anything good.
That scoundrel of a man, he's useless at having children, but he's good at going to brothels!
When Yanran returned, she discovered that Nanxing had not had any children and seemed somewhat melancholy about it.
Yanran felt it must be something Pei Shen had done.
How can it not be for my own family?
However, when she saw Pei Shen turn into the Prince of Jin's courtyard from the shadows, she breathed a sigh of relief.
What are you two doing here?
The sudden sound startled Yanran.
"Nanxing, what brings you here too?"
Are we all having a meeting here?
Nanxing stated that she was escorting Pei Shen to see the Prince of Jin.
Yanran touched her nose. "Then we'll be going now."
Men frequent brothels, while women stand outside protecting them. Even knowing that's not the case, it's still a bit funny.
Nanxing was worried and escorted the two back.
Yanran sighed on the way, "They said before that Father was staying at an old friend's house, how could I have imagined that the old friend would be Eighth Master!"
They had just left when Qin Li arrived, acting suspiciously.
The three men met for the second time after the Prince of Jin entered the capital.
Prince of Jin sat behind his desk, while Pei Shen and Qin Li sat opposite each other, one with one hand on the desk and the other with their head resting on the back of their chairs. Amidst the rising steam from the brewing tea, neither of them spoke first.
After a long pause, Pei Shen asked, "Has something happened at the border?"
The Prince of Jin calmed down a bit. "It's alright, let's get down to business."
Tang Zhuyun will definitely be fine.
They were talking about world affairs, of course.
The Prince of Jin is now planning everything according to the worst-case scenario.
He plans to take action once the situation in the Northwest stabilizes.
It's not that he doesn't care about the father-son relationship, but now, he is a husband and a father.
Those who are overly kind-hearted will only harm their own wives and children.
Pei Shen tapped the table and said, "By a twist of fate, you've actually formed an alliance with Qu Nian; that's quite fortunate."
Qin Li chimed in, "If you're good at living off women, you can have the world."
These two aren't brothers-in-law, but they've been forced to be.
She even joked that the Prince of Jin had brothers-in-law all over the world.
There's nothing you can do about it; that woman just has friends all over the world.
Pei Shen was a man who rarely smiled—at least not in public.
He said, "The Prince Who Guards the South Zhennan has always been cautious and avoids getting involved in these matters. As for the Prince of Liaodong, although there's the Xue Family's past relationship with him, and you let Xue Lie go, it's uncertain what their attitude will be if things really escalate."
Therefore, he felt that the Prince of Jin should personally visit the Prince of Liaodong's Residence.
From the perspective of their own interests, none of the vassal kings wanted their power to be reduced.
If the Prince of Jin can make a corresponding promise, the Prince of Liaodong should have a choice.
It would be best if Prince of Jin went to handle this matter.
Qin Li, however, had a different opinion.
"The capital may seem calm on the surface now, but who doesn't know that undercurrents are surging? The prince might be in Liaodong, and a fight might break out here. What will we do then?"
He also brought a secret: the Emperor's health was really not good.
He asked the Prince of Jin, "Did the Princess Consort tamper with the medicine?"
Only a simpleton like him would ask such a question.
The Prince of Jin replied firmly, "No."
"That means it must have been Consort De and her group who did it," Qin Li said. "I'm certain that His Majesty has indeed suffered another injury."
No matter how ruthless the emperor is, he would never harm himself.
However, no one has access to the Emperor's medical records, so no one is certain of the truth.
However, there is a possibility that the emperor could suddenly pass away.
Can those returning to the capital for a funeral outdo those already in the capital?
Therefore, Qin Li felt that the Prince of Jin should not leave, and should instead stay in the capital and wait for an opportunity.
The main thing is, wait until the emperor dies.
Pei Shen had actually considered these points as well.
"Should I go?" he said.
The Prince of Jin said, "Don't move yet."
Once you understand the situation clearly, things will be much easier to handle.
He knew that Mu Ziyu, the Prince of Liaodong, should still be with Qu Hua.
Finding Qu Hua will probably lure him here.