The Daily Life of a Concubine's Daughter After Transmigrating

Although Liu Yun covered her mouth with one hand, perhaps because it was too quiet in the carriage, Zhi Lan and Shi Ming both heard her words.

Li Anqi looked at Shi Ming.

Shi Ming was expressionless, with stray hairs falling down her sides, half-covering her eyes. She stared intently at Liu Yun, like a sinister female ghost from a horror movie.

Li Anqi withdrew her gaze and said softly, "I don't think she's strange; she's just experienced something different."

Shi Ming's gaze fell on Li Anqi, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Liu Yun looked at Shi Ming, pouted and raised her eyebrows, but said nothing more.

Back to Fuying Garden.

The goose, with its short legs, honked as it rushed toward Li Anqi.

Shi Ming moved extremely quickly, leaping forward, grabbing the goose, and rolling around on the ground.

She picked up a sharp stone from beside her feet, and while holding down the goose's head, she was about to stab the stone into the goose's slender neck.

"Stop!" Li Anqi intervened in time. "It means no harm!"

Shi Ming's eerie gaze startled Liu Yun, and even Zhi Lan's expression changed slightly.

Shi Ming turned her head to look at Li Anqi and slowly released the goose.

The goose angrily nipped at Shi Ming's thigh, then hid behind Li Anqi.

Li Anqi squatted down and gently stroked the goose's neck.

"Xiao Shunzi, go and find out if there has been any movement in the palace since I saved my father and sister-in-law."

"Yes." Xiao Shunzi accepted the order and left.

The goose had its eyes half-open, its expression slightly content, seemingly enjoying Li Anqi's caresses.

Li Anqi asked Zhilan.

"What did Physician Guo say?"

Zhilan said softly, "Imperial Physician Guo said that the Empress Dowager has been unwell lately, and he really can't get away from her."

Li Anqi's gaze turned serious, as if he were deep in thought.

After a moment.

"Please trouble you, Aunt, to take Ming'er downstairs, change her clothes, and teach her some manners."

"Yes." Zhilan curtsied and came to Shiming. "Come with me."

Shi Ming glanced at Li Anqi, then followed Zhilan away.

Li Anqi fed the goose some tender grass and didn't receive a reply from Xiao Shunzi until nightfall.

"Your Majesty, I asked several eunuchs I know in the palace, and they all said that things have been peaceful in the palace these past few days."

Li Anqi nodded.

"Get ready, Your Majesty will be entering the palace tomorrow."

"Yes."

Xiao Shunzi continued.

“There’s one more thing. I just stopped by the clinic near the market. The beggar that Your Majesty treated last time ran away quietly a few nights ago.”

“He was already free, so it’s enough that he was rescued. You should go back now,” Li Anqi said.

"Yes, the slave will leave."

Inside the vast Qianqing Palace.

Li Anqi knelt in the center of the hall, while the emperor sat on the high dragon throne.

"Since you have requested an audience with me, why do you remain silent?"

Li Anqi slowly raised his head.

"I am guilty."

"Oh?" The emperor rested one hand on his knee, leaned to the side, and asked Li Anqi, "What crime have you committed? Tell me."

"Your Majesty, I spent 50,000 taels of silver to buy a small portion of the Li family."

The emperor rubbed his hands together, straightened up, and showed no emotion.

"Fifty thousand taels of silver, that must have been quite a burden for you."

"..."

The emperor confiscated the Jingguo Mansion, but did not issue an imperial decree to execute the entire Li family, presumably out of consideration for the old lady and the Empress Dowager.

Li Anqi is gambling.

She gambled that the emperor merely wanted to end the Li family's hereditary privilege, and that he didn't care about the lives of the Li family members at all...

Li Anqi lowered his head, feeling the silent pressure coming from directly above, his heart gradually tightening.

Finally, the emperor spoke.

"Fine, I only ordered them to be sold into slavery. As for who bought them, that's none of my business."

Li Anqi breathed a sigh of relief.

The emperor continued, "However, your performance surprised me. Few people dare to do this, let alone succeed."

Li Anqi slowly raised his head and met the emperor's sharp gaze.

"Actually, the velvet flowers at Shanji Cloth Shop in the capital were founded by me."

Something flashed in the emperor's eyes.

"No wonder you were able to present such a stunning gift on the Empress Dowager's birthday. No wonder you were so generous, spending a fortune to save the entire Li family."

"I spend so much silver for two reasons. First, I cannot bear to see my beloved family members suffer and I am eager to save them. Second, I understand that if this silver is given to the court, it can provide more military pay for the anti-Yan army in the far north. For my family and for the peace and stability of Da Xin, I would not hesitate to spend tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of taels!"

"..."

The emperor looked at Li Anqi quietly, his gaze seemingly possessing a penetrating power.

Li Anqi continued.

"Only with a family can there be a country, and only with a country can there be a family. The country and the family are closely linked and interdependent. With these 50,000 taels, I can not only save my own family, but also contribute my meager strength to Daxin. In this way, I can say that I have fulfilled both my loyalty to my country and my filial duty."

A slight smile of appreciation appeared on the emperor's lips.

"Well said! A country must exist before a family can exist, and a family must exist before a country can exist!"

The emperor smiled calmly and spoke in a deep voice.

"You're quite something."

The hearts of emperors have always been the most difficult to fathom.

Hearing the emperor's praise, Li Anqi was not happy; instead, he didn't know whether it was a blessing or a curse.

But no matter what, there were some things she had to say.

Li Anqi continued.

"My elder sister, Li Baoqin, acted out of concern for her family. I beg Your Majesty to show leniency for her loyalty and affection!"

After saying this, Li Anqi bowed and kowtowed.

The emperor's smile vanished, replaced by a cold stare at Li Anqi.