A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Lin Qinghuan glanced at the two maids, Fuzi and Kuier, who were standing at the door, then pushed open the door and walked in.

Chuxia and Yunxiang stepped forward and glared at the two maids fiercely, pushing them aside. Then they stood at the door. Kuier and Fuzi looked at each other and could only retreat aside in disappointment.

"My husband will be back very late today. Are you planning to wait for him?"

Lin Qinghuan saw Tao Baiwan sitting at his table, sipping tea comfortably, so he walked over and spoke.

"I know, he was left in the palace by his uncle. I'm waiting for you!"

Tao Baiwan looked up at Lin Qinghuan, then picked up the teapot, picked up a cup, poured half a cup of tea, and gently placed it on the seat opposite him.

Lin Qinghuan saw that Tao Baiwan had come to find her specially, and was curious about what she meant when she said that the emperor had kept Xiao Yi in the palace.

"Why did His Majesty keep my husband?"

Lin Qinghuan sat down and asked.

"I have been married into the Xiao Mansion for quite some time. My uncle wanted to know whether my husband treats me well, so he asked him to come and ask."

Tao Baiwan said slowly.

"What do you want to do?"

Lin Qinghuan frowned and looked at Tao Baiwan, wondering what tricks this woman was trying to play.

"Changping, remember I told you that Brother Yi would be mine sooner or later."

Tao Baiwan glanced at Lin Qinghuan, then spoke word by word.

"Didn't you marry him as you wished?"

Lin Qinghuan said.

"Yeah, but you're still here, it's an eyesore."

Tao Baiwan looked at Lin Qinghuan with a half-smile and said.

"Greedy snake swallowing an elephant, don't forget, it was with my approval that you were able to enter the Xiao family and marry your ideal husband."

Lin Qinghuan looked at Tao Baiwan unhappily and said.

"I'm different from you. Since I was a child, I've only wanted one."

"Then from today on, your one and only one with me can only be what I don't want, and only then can you have your share. After all, my husband said that you must respect me as the eldest."

Lin Qinghuan looked at Tao Baiwan calmly and said.

"Oh, right, I almost forgot. You are the daughter of a Duke Marquis, which is a good status. But now the Duke Marquis can only go to Luofeng to retire. I'm afraid that the people in Jinhan City only know that the Prince Consort's surname is Lin, and most likely they don't remember that the Duke Marquis also has the surname Lin."

Tao Baiwan smiled contemptuously and then said.

Lin Qinghuan held back his anger and didn't want to argue with her in his own room, so he calmed down and looked at Tao Baiwan and asked.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

"Changping, if I remember correctly, you should not be able to have children anymore, right?"

Tao Baiwan smiled and then asked.

"So what? My husband and I already have Jian'er, and that's enough."

Lin Qinghuan said.

"Really? But the Xiao family doesn't think so, right? They happily took back a child born by a woman without a legitimate status. Do you really think that my father-in-law and mother-in-law will be satisfied?"

Tao Baiwan suddenly laughed and said.

"Even if you can give birth, you have to have the ability to do so. I guess my husband hasn't even been to that pavilion of yours, right?"

Lin Qinghuan also spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"There's a long way to go, Sister Changping. Maybe when your husband returns, he'll know the way to Iris Pavilion. Or maybe you'll move back to your Luoyi Pavilion."

Tao Baiwan stood up and then looked down at Lin Qinghuan and said.

"Hmph, okay, let's go back."

After Tao Baiwan finished speaking, he walked out of the inner room with an arrogant step. Outside, he heard the reluctant greetings of Yun Xiang and Chu Xia.

"One day I will make you get out of the Xiao Mansion."

Lin Qinghuan saw Tao Baiwan take a few steps back, and then spoke to Hong Qi who was looking at him with two swords in her hands, and then watched her quicken her pace and leave the inner courtyard.

"Girl, did she bully you?"

Chuxia walked in anxiously, Hongqi put away his two swords and ran in with Tongyun.

"It's okay, she can't bully me for the time being, I'm just worried about my husband..." Lin Qinghuan said with a frown.

"What happened, uncle?"

Chu Xia asked curiously.

"It's useless to go to the East Palace at this hour."

Lin Qinghuan said to himself, His Majesty has scolded the prince several times recently, and it would be useless even if he went to look for him.

"Chuxia, Hongqi, accompany me to the Sixth Prince's Mansion. Yun wants you to stay. If your husband returns, come find me."

The only thing Lin Qinghuan could think of was the Sixth Prince Ning Sijue.

When Ning Sijue heard the butler coming to report that Princess Changping wanted to see him, he put on his coat and hurried out. When he reached the door, he stopped to tidy up his appearance, then looked at Aping.

"Your Highness, handsome and elegant."

Ah Ping quickly said that although others may not know, he understands the Sixth Prince's thoughts best.

"Huan'er, why are you here so late?"

Ning Sijue saw Lin Qinghuan wearing a white robe. From a distance, she looked like a well-behaved and cute little white rabbit, which was very lovable.

"Ajue, I'm really sorry for bothering you so late."

Lin Qinghuan looked up at Ning Sijue walking towards him, then walked up to him and said.

"What's wrong? Jinfu said it's still a little chilly outside."

Ning Sijue reached out to help Lin Qinghuan, but then felt that it was inappropriate, so he put his hand down and said.

Lin Qinghuan shook his head and then frowned.

"My husband has been detained in the palace by His Majesty. Do you know about this?"

"Brother Yi went to the Eastern Palace not long after he was summoned by our father. Hasn't he returned yet?"

Ning Sijue asked in surprise.

"No, I just found out about this. Minghui came to tell me just now. She said that the emperor wanted to keep you to chat. What did it take so long?"

Lin Qinghuan said anxiously.

"Huan'er, don't worry, I'll go to the palace and take a look."

Ning Sijue couldn't bear to see Lin Qinghuan anxiously about to cry, so he spoke quickly.

"I'll go with you. I'll wait for you at the palace gate."

Lin Qinghuan said, Ning Sijue nodded and got on the carriage with Lin Qinghuan and drove to the gate of the palace.

The emperor learned from Tao Baiwan's wet nurse that Xiao Yi did not even enter Tao Baiwan's courtyard on their wedding night, and had not even visited her for a long time since entering the Xiao Mansion. He was furious and sent someone to summon Xiao Yi into the palace to give him a severe reprimand. Then he made him kneel in the Imperial Library to reflect on his mistakes.

The Empress also learned that Xiao Yi was detained in the Imperial Library, and she was at a loss in the Qifeng Palace. She anxiously sent people to ask for an audience with the Emperor several times, but was rejected every time.

"The emperor went to Noble Consort Xian's place again tonight." The head palace maid Qiao Ye stepped forward and replied.

"Are all the concubines in the harem so unworthy that they can't even get a sliver of that bitch's favor?"

When Empress Xiao heard what happened to Imperial Noble Consort Xian, she became furious.

"Don't be angry, Your Majesty. The most important thing now is Master Xiao."

Qiao Ye hurried forward to support Empress Xiao and said.

"I'm so mad at that bitch again. Do you know how Yi'er is doing?"

Empress Xiao sat down and asked.

"I heard from Eunuch Chen that he is still kneeling in the Imperial Library."

Qiao Ye said.

"This... this damned old woman is just like her master. Let me think of a way. Even if I am made of iron, I will not kneel that night."

Empress Xiao loved Xiao Yi the most. When she heard about the complaint filed by the old woman, she felt even more sorry for her nephew.

"Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince is coming down."

Suihe came in to report.

"Why did my prince come to the palace so late?"

Empress Xiao saw that it was already very late and it was against the rules for the prince to enter the palace at this time.

"Let him in first."

Empress Xiao thought about it and signaled to the palace maid.

"Mother."

As soon as Ning Sijue entered the palace, he went to the Emperor's Sheng'an Palace, but did not find his father, so he rushed to the Qifeng Palace without stopping.

"My prince, why are you still in the palace so late?"

Empress Xiao stood up and helped her eldest son up, then signaled several palace maids to leave and pulled Ning Sijue to sit next to her.

"Mother, the Emperor has detained Brother Yi and he hasn't returned home yet."

Ning Sijue said.

"Did your uncle come looking for you?"

Empress Xiao sighed and then asked.

"Well, my uncle, aunt, and sister-in-law Changping are very worried about Brother Yi. I heard that he was detained by the emperor. Foreign officials are forbidden to see the emperor due to curfew, so they had no choice but to come looking for me."

Ning Sijue started talking.

"You shouldn't come to my mother's palace at this time. Although you are not the crown prince like your brother, you are also my legitimate son. You must not give people a chance to talk about you. What if one day..."

Empress Xiao looked at Ning Sijue and hesitated to speak. She knew in her heart that both sons were her biological children, but although the eldest son was the crown prince, he did not win the emperor's favor. However, since her youngest son came back, the emperor came to see her frequently because of his love for him. So it was still uncertain which son would be the child in the future, but as long as he was hers, it would be fine.

"Mother, Brother Yi must not be in any danger. He is more important than me now."

Ning Sijue had no interest in the throne, so he didn't care what these foreign officials said about him. He lived a free and easy life since returning to Jinhan.

"Nonsense! In my mother's heart, all of you are equally important. Don't say that again. Yi'er was only slightly punished by your father. Go back and reassure your uncle. With my mother here, you'll be alright."

Empress Xiao looked up at the night outside again, estimated the time, then patted her son's hand and said.

"Where is Brother Yi now?"

Ning Sijue asked worriedly.

"Reflect on your mistakes in the Imperial Library. If your father really blamed him, he would definitely not have found such a sheltered place. Go back. With the Queen Mother here, you can rest assured."

After Empress Xiao finished speaking, she pulled Ning Sijue up and asked him to leave the harem first while no one was around.

Iris Pavilion of the Xiao Mansion.

"Put on my plain hairpin and put on some light clothes. It's time for Brother Yi to return home."

Tao Baiwan said to her personal maid.

"Princess, didn't they say that the eldest son was summoned to the palace by His Majesty?"

Fuzi asked curiously while helping Tao Baiwan clean up.

"He's my husband, so naturally I have to go and bring him back. I heard Changping left the house in a hurry?"

Tao Baiwan picked up a silver hairpin and gently inserted it into her hair bun and asked.

"Yes, he brought that follower in red clothes and a mask with him. It seems he's heading west."

Kui'er said beside her.

"She's really interesting. She didn't go looking for her good friend, the Fourth Brother, nor did she look for that stinky Little Seventh Brother and her own brother. Why does she go looking for the Sixth Brother whenever she has something to do? These two are not simple people. I remember that he was the one who saved her life that year."

Tao Baiwan said thoughtfully.

"Princess, when are we going to the palace?"

Fuzi helped Tao Baiwan put on his clothes and then asked.

"No hurry. I calculated the time. My uncle must be at the Imperial Concubine's place right now. Put the kneepad on me in a little while. My knees are going to suffer tonight."

Tao Baiwan thought for a moment and said.

At the palace gate, Lin Qinghuan lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw Ning Sijue hurriedly walking out with Aping.

"Ajue, what's wrong?"

Lin Qinghuan glanced towards the palace gate a few more times, but did not see Xiao Yi.

"Brother Yi is fine. He just made Father angry because of something, so he was punished to kneel. You don't have to worry too much. Mother is still in the palace."

After Ning Sijue got on the carriage, he comforted Lin Qinghuan and said.

"But my knees hurt after kneeling all night."

Lin Qinghuan choked up with sadness.

"Huan'er, the Emperor is staying at the Imperial Concubine's place tonight, so it's not convenient for me to go there. However, we can go look for Xiaoqi. If she..."

Ning Sijue said.

"No... No, last time my sister-in-law was punished and grounded because of me. I must not bother her again this time."

Lin Qinghuan quickly shook his head and said.

"Then I'll take you back home first. I'll go to the East Palace to find my brother and think of a solution."

Ning Sijue and Hong Qi nodded and gestured to drive away.

"Did Minghui bully you?"

Ning Sijue looked at Lin Qinghuan and asked.

"It's impossible for her and I to live a peaceful life in the future, so let's just live it up."

Lin Qinghuan looked up at Ning Sijue and said helplessly.

"Why are you so stupid?"

Ning Sijue looked at Lin Qinghuan for a long time and asked.

Lin Qinghuan looked at him in astonishment, "You know?"

"I know everything about you and what you're thinking."

Ning Sijue said this in a somewhat angry tone and stopped looking at Lin Qinghuan.

"Ajue?"

Lin Qinghuan had never seen Ning Sijue angry with him, so he shouted in surprise.

"Huan'er, as long as it's what you want, I can help you. I can do anything for you."

Ning Sijue looked at Lin Qinghuan's somewhat depressed eyes, his heart softened again, and then he spoke gently.

"I already owe you too much. You saved me twice. I can't always count on you to do things for me."

Lin Qinghuan looked at Ning Sijue and smiled, then spoke in a joking tone.

"A lifetime is a lifetime. As long as it's your business, I'm willing to do it."

Ning Sijue said.

Lin Qinghuan looked at Ning Sijue's serious eyes.

"Ajue, it's me..."

"I promised Ah Yu that I would protect you for the rest of your life, so your affairs are mine."

Ning Sijue continued speaking without waiting for Lin Qinghuan to finish.

When Lin Qinghuan heard this, the heavy stone in her heart finally fell to the ground. It turned out that it was all because of Brother Yu's kindness.

"It's a blessing for me that he has a good friend like you."

Lin Qinghuan smiled and nodded.