Ci Jinzhi

 When he received the summons, He Qingxiao looked calm.

It’s almost the usual time to go to the Yamen. Since it’s a day off, the road to the imperial city is much deserted. He Qingxiao hurried to the palace and saw the emperor's gloomy face.

 “I have seen your Majesty.”

Emperor Xingyuan did not ask anyone to stand up immediately, but stared at the kneeling young man with a heavy gaze.

 Originally, this was a close minister that he was very comfortable with. He also wanted to leave it to Mu'er in the future, so he sent him to accompany Mu'er south to accumulate friendship.

Unexpectedly, his son turned into a daughter. Thinking about his original decision again, Emperor Xingyuan was very upset.

It was this boy who saved Ayou from falling into the water, and they were alone together for many days afterwards. He didn’t believe that this **** didn’t know that Ayou was a girl.

Worried that this mixed book was cheap, he also angry that he was bold and bullying.

This **** is the envoy in charge of Fusi in Beizhen. How dare you conceal Ayou's matter and not report it!

So, is there more to hide?

 The emperor's suspicion made Emperor Xingyuan furious and his eyes cold.

In the deathly silence, the palace people did not dare to express their anger. The **** Sun Yan sighed in his heart: What happened on this day was really only more unexpected, not the most unexpected.

 The level of Marquis Changle is not easy to pass.

 “The Marquis of Changle.”

"I'm here." He Qingxiao's voice was still calm, and he could feel Emperor Xingyuan's anger from this call.

His official position was not called "He Zhen Fu Shi", nor was he called "Qing Xiao" like the elders called the younger ones.

"Do you know that Xin Daizhao is a daughter?" Emperor Xingyuan asked directly.

He Qingxiao was silent for a moment and admitted frankly: "I didn't know when I went south, but I found out later."

 “Later, what happened later!”

 “After rescuing Xin Daizhao from the water.”

 “You are brave!” Emperor Xingyuan stood up suddenly.

He Qingxiao lowered his head: "I am guilty."

"You are indeed guilty, you-" Emperor Xingyuan wanted to scold him for being rude to his daughter, but the words rushed to his lips and he reacted.

 Don't scold these words. It would be bad for Ayou if it spreads.

"Since you knew that Xin Daizhao was a woman, why did you hide it and not report it after returning to the capital? You are deceiving the emperor!" Emperor Xingyuan pointed at the young man kneeling on the ground and cursed him with a different accusation.

 "I... deserve to die."

“He Qingxiao, do you think I won’t punish you?”

 “I don’t think so.”

"Then why did you conceal it and not report it?" This was the most embarrassing point for Emperor Xingyuan.

　　He Qingxiao was his chosen envoy to Beizhen, the emperor's eyes and ears, but in the end he deceived him and concealed things from him. How could he tolerate this?

“Ms. Xin said that if you give her some time, she will make it clear to His Majesty in person. I have thought about it over and over again. After all, this is His Majesty’s family matter and I dare not intervene rashly.”

Emperor Xingyuan sneered: "Have you forgotten that besides the Marquis of Changle, you are also the governor of Beizhen? When did you need to make your own decisions?"

These words sounded a bit harsh, but it was the emperor who said these words. In Sun Yan's opinion, not only was he not mean, but he even felt that the emperor was too tolerant to Marquis Changle.

You must know that what He Qingxiao did was to deceive the emperor!

"I am guilty, please punish me." He Qingxiao put his forehead on the ground and remained motionless.

Emperor Xingyuan had never seen He Qingxiao so displeased before, and said coldly: "The Marquis of Changle is not doing his job well, the imperial staff outside the Meridian Gate is thirty!"

In the carriage heading to the eldest princess's mansion, Princess Zhaoyang saw Xin You's worried look and asked softly: "What is A You thinking about?"

Xin You slowly looked at Princess Zhaoyang. She was wondering if Mr. He had been sent to the palace and was being punished.

 At their meeting this morning, she saw Mr. He being beaten with a cane.

 Intellectually speaking, it would be a blessing if the crime of deceiving the emperor could be solved with just a slap in the face.

　　When she has to regain her daughter's body, Mr. He will inevitably face the question of whether he already knows her identity.

If you don't admit it, the suspicious emperor won't believe it. Even if you escape the current punishment, it will probably leave even greater disasters. To admit it frankly is, in the worst case, the crime of deceiving the emperor, and the consequences can only be determined by that person's thoughts.

 When she expressed concern about this, Mr. He said that it would be a good thing if she could just be punished to get over the matter, and asked her not to interfere.

She knew that it might be best to pretend not to know, but at this point, how could she remain indifferent to his punishment.

The cold ground, the onlookers of the chambermaids, taking off his clothes and being beaten with sticks in public—Master He was an outsider, and all these things happened to her because of her.

“Aunt, can you ask the driver to stop?”

"What's wrong?"

"I want to go to the palace to see you."

"What happened?" Princess Zhaoyang saw that Xin You looked wrong and looked concerned.

"I beg you to forgive me, Lord He." After Xinyou said this, he raised the curtain of the carriage and jumped out.

"Ayou—" Princess Zhaoyang poked her head out and saw the girl holding up the hem of her skirt and running towards the imperial city. She hurriedly ordered the coachman, "Turn around!"

Princess Zhaoyang’s car quickly turned around and chased Xin You.

Xin You ran to the palace gate in one breath: "I have something to see you."

The gatekeeper naturally knew Xin You who had just left through the door. He didn't know how to address this golden branch and jade leaf for a moment, so he hesitated and said, "Wait a moment, and I'll report it now."

From behind, the eldest princess Zhaoyang rushed over: "Ayou, my aunt will take you in."

Princess Zhaoyang had the right to enter and leave the palace freely, so she took Xinyou straight to Qianqing Palace.

They entered through the Donghua Gate and took a different path from He Qingxiao who was being escorted outside the Meridian Gate, so they did not meet each other.

“Ayou, tell aunt what happened.” Princess Zhaoyang asked in a low voice while walking beside Xinyou.

"I fell into the water when I went south and was rescued by Master He. Master He discovered the identity of the woman. At my request, Master He agreed to keep my secret for the time being. Now that I know the truth, if Master He can be cured of the crime of deceiving the emperor, it will be It's my sin." Xin You said, biting her lip hard.

 He is the one who suffers the punishment and the one who is humiliated. Even if this is the smallest price, no matter how calmly he says it, why should she take it for granted?

When Princess Zhaoyang heard this, her expression became solemn.

Unlike Xin You who saw He Qingxiao's punishment in the picture, Princess Zhaoyang was very worried that her brother would chop off He Qingxiao's head in anger, and then the father and daughter would never be able to untie their knot.

 This is a result that Princess Zhaoyang never wants to see.

The aunt and nephew rushed to Qianqing Palace.

“Your Majesty, the eldest princess and Miss Xin want to see you.”

Emperor Xingyuan frowned when he heard the name "Miss Xin". He wondered why the two of them left and came back, and hurriedly ordered the palace officials to bring them in.

“Zhaoyang, what are you—” Emperor Xingyuan was talking to Princess Zhaoyang, but his attention was entirely on Xinyou.

Xin You knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered that there is something that I have not reported yet."

 “What’s the matter? Speak slowly.”

"I accidentally fell into the water when I was in Baiyun County. Mr. He rescued me regardless of his own safety, so I discovered my identity as a woman. At that time, I asked Mr. He to keep it a secret for me for the time being, and Mr. He had no choice but to agree..." Xin You finished, He raised his head slightly and looked at Emperor Xingyuan, "Please accept the punishment together with Mr. He."

 (End of this chapter)