The leaves fall without parallel

In the study, Xiao Lingche was checking the files

"Your Highness, General Ye Qing and his son have already returned. They are on their way back to the capital and will probably arrive in a few days."

After listening to Qingshi's report, Xiao Lingche's hand trembled as he was writing.

Qingshi was a little puzzled as to why the prince reacted like this, as if he was frightened.

The border war has stopped and the two countries are willing to have friendly relations, so it is only right for General Ye Qing to return to Beijing to report on his work.

This time he comes back, he will definitely investigate Xiyan's whereabouts, but Xiao Lingche doesn't know how to explain Xiyan's death to General Ye.

"My lord, what's wrong with you?"

"Do you still remember that I asked you to investigate Xi Yan before?"

"I remember."

"She was a relative of General Ye, but she died because of me. Now that General Ye has returned, how should I explain this to him?"

Xiao Lingche's sad mood surged into his heart again.

"Your Highness, General Ye didn't know Xiyan came to the palace anyway. Besides, it was their own housekeeper who didn't recognize Xiyan. She was wandering on the streets and it was inevitable that she would encounter an accident. General Ye should not pursue it."

Before Xiao Lingche lost his temper, Qingshi quickly said

"If the general asks, we will tell him the truth. What if he doesn't care about Xiyan at all and doesn't care whether she lives or dies? Then he won't pursue the matter."

"Your Highness, just don't rush to admit your mistakes. Even if you are wrong, he can't do anything to you. You are a prince."

Qingshi kindly advised

"Qingshi, why do I feel that you are simple-minded and strong-limbed? You were never so shameless before."

"The prince once said, 'Those who keep company with vermilion become red, and those who keep company with ink become black...'"

Before he could finish his words, a book was thrown at him, and he immediately shut up.

"I really want to see what's in your head. You don't understand the ways of the world at all. General Ye is my mentor after all. I need to explain everything to him. If she still has family, I will do my best to make amends."

"Your Highness, you are right. Perhaps if you take the initiative to admit your mistake, they will understand you. Besides, if they really want to investigate, they will go after the murderer and will never blame you."

"Get out of here!"

"Don't be angry, my lord. I'll leave now."

Qingshi ran away quickly after saying this

Xiao Lingche was really impressed by Qingshi, whose words were becoming more and more annoying.

Imperial Palace Sohwagung

Concubine Shu was very surprised to learn that she had been promoted to Imperial Concubine. Why did the Emperor suddenly promote her to the rank of Imperial Concubine? After all, the Emperor had not visited Zhaohua Palace for a long time.

"The Emperor has arrived"

When Concubine Shu heard the announcement, she was extremely excited.

"Baiji, hurry up and tidy it up for me."

The maidservant hurriedly helped Concubine Shu to fix her hair and clothes, but before she was done, the man wearing the dragon robe had already stepped into Zhaohua Palace.

"May the Emperor be blessed with good health"

Concubine Shu hurried forward to pay her respects.

"My dear, there's no need to be so polite. Please get up quickly."

The maid helped Concubine Shu up

The emperor sat down on his own, and Concubine Shu came forward and poured a cup of tea for the emperor.

"Your Majesty, why did you suddenly come to Zhaohua Palace today?"

The emperor looked up at Concubine Shu

"Why don't you welcome me?"

"I dare not, but Your Majesty has not been to Zhaohua Palace for a long time. I am flattered to come here suddenly today."

"You are blaming me for not visiting you for a long time."

The emperor took Concubine Shu's hand and asked her to sit next to him.

"I have been busy with state affairs recently, and I have indeed neglected my beloved concubine's feelings. I apologize to you."

Concubine Shu smiled shyly

"Your Majesty, your words are too serious. You should handle state affairs. As long as Your Majesty is thinking about me, I will be very happy."

"Shu Fei is the most sensible and can make me happy."

Concubine Shu smiled and poured another cup of tea for the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I haven't done anything meritorious recently. Why would Your Majesty suddenly promote me to the rank of concubine?"

"This is the reward Che'er asked for you."

"Che'er?"

"He recently wiped out several large bandit dens, which is a great benefit to the court and the people. I asked him what reward he wanted, and he just said that he wanted me to spend more time with you. So I issued an edict to promote your position."

"I see"

Concubine Shu was very surprised. On weekdays, Che'er was very distant from her. He refused to accompany her for a while, but now he wanted the emperor to spend more time with her. She really couldn't guess what he was thinking.

"Although Che'er is not your biological child, he always thinks of you, and you have raised him to be excellent."

Concubine Shu nodded awkwardly

Only she herself knew that Che'er had started to distance himself from her ever since he knew that she was not his biological mother. As for his current achievements, they were all the result of his own hard work. He had been able to endure hardships since he was a child. Even Concubine Shu was surprised that he had such perseverance.

I didn't help him much. Even if I wanted to help him, he would refuse. He seemed to be a little resistant to me.

"Che'er is already grown up and should have gotten married. However, he doesn't even have a concubine in his palace, which is why he fell in love with a maid. He even sent out the Dragon Scale Guards to find this maid. If his achievement this time was due to finding this maid, how would the royal family maintain its reputation if this were to get out?

As his mother, you should help him arrange a marriage to prevent him from doing anything out of line again. This time, his merits outweigh his faults, so I didn't punish him. If there's a next time, I can't protect him either."

"What? Che'er actually did such a ridiculous thing for a maid. I really didn't know. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Concubine Shu was so frightened that she quickly knelt down

"I came to Zhaohua Palace not to punish you, but to ask you to pick a woman he likes and marry her quickly. Perhaps after the marriage, he will not act so absurdly."

"Your Majesty, it's not that I won't help him find a marriage, but ever since Che'er found out that I'm not his biological mother, he's been very distant from me. When he returned to the capital this time, I didn't even get to say a few words to him before he left. I don't know what to do."

"Che'er's personality is a bit too independent, but he also thinks of you in everything. This time, his contribution is also to fight for your position. It can be seen that he has you in his heart. He is distant from you, perhaps because you don't care about him enough. Compared with the energy you spend on Xun'er and the energy you spend on him, who is more, you should know better than me."

Concubine Shu didn't expect the emperor to say this. He saw things more clearly than she did. Indeed, since she gave birth to Xun'er, most of her energy has been on Xun'er, and her care for Che'er has been very little since then.

Perhaps it was because he received too little maternal love that he became very independent since childhood and led troops to fight at a young age. He suffered a lot and became more and more alienated from herself. He was even reluctant to contact Xun'er. Why didn't she realize this earlier? She really deserved to die.

"Your Majesty, I paid too much attention to Xun'er and paid less attention to Che'er, so he received very little maternal love. He must hate me in his heart."

After saying this, Concubine Shu wiped the corners of her eyes.