AWB Chapter 363 Drinking wine
Chapter 363 Drinking wine
"Mother!"
Xie Jue saw that Qin Jiuwei was lost in thought and seemed to be in a bad mood.
He immediately ran and jumped into her arms.
He held her waist tightly with his small hands.
"Mother! Father and my eldest brother aren't home, but that's alright! I'll protect you!"
Xie Jue looked up, his eyes bright, his face full of seriousness.
Qin Jiuwei lowered her head to look at him, a slight smile curving her lips. "Alright, Mother believes in Jue-ge'er."
"Mother, it's too cold outside, let's go back to the courtyard first," Xie Jing said.
Qin Jiuwei turned her head upon hearing this.
Xie Jing stood upright with his hands hanging at his sides, his eyes revealing a calmness and composure beyond his years.
He was looking at her intently, his eyes full of concern.
The tenderness in Qin Jiuwei's eyes deepened.
Xie Jingchun and Xie Yanli left home.
But Xie Jue and Xie Jing were also by her side.
She has two children to take care of, and they are always by her side.
"Okay, let's go inside first," Qin Jiuwei said gently with a smile.
Imperial Palace, Imperial Study Room.
Eunuch Li entered with his head bowed, his tone respectful: "Your Majesty, Prince Xie has already left the capital."
Gao Xian looked up. "So fast?"
With his eyes lowered, Eunuch Li replied softly, "We set off early this morning."
"Understood." After a moment, Gao Xian's gaze darkened slightly.
"Send a dozen or so guards to the Marquis's residence to secretly watch over the young master's wife. Report any suspicious activity immediately."
The people of Daliang have not been completely eliminated yet.
I'm afraid they'll take advantage of Xie Yanli's absence from the capital and start doing evil again, harming Qin Jiuwei.
Eunuch Li nodded and immediately went to do it.
Just as he left, a palace attendant suddenly came in to report: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager summons you to Shou'an Palace."
Shou'an Palace.
The Empress Dowager sat on the large chair in Shou'an Palace, her face full of displeasure.
Her sharp gaze swept over Gao Xian, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.
"Xian'er, are those concubines in the harem really that annoying? That you haven't stepped foot in the harem for the past few months?"
"There used to be Mo Qingkui, but now the harem has become nothing more than a decoration!"
Gao Xian nodded, "Your subject has been busy with official duties, that's why..."
“Being busy with official duties is no excuse!” the Empress Dowager interrupted.
"You don't even have a single prince. How am I supposed to explain this to the imperial clan?"
"The late emperor had few children, but he did have two princes!"
"You are the emperor; the stability of the empire is your top priority. Without an heir, who will inherit the throne?!"
Gao Xian remained silent for a moment, then looked up at the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, I am well aware of the situation. There are countless affairs to attend to in the court, and I need to devote more energy to handling state affairs. As for matters concerning the inner palace, I will make the arrangements myself."
"As for offspring, they will naturally appear when the time is right. Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will never allow the throne to be left without an heir."
The Empress Dowager snorted coldly, her tone growing increasingly dissatisfied.
"You'd better know what's going on. Ever since Consort Xian was demoted, there's no one in the harem who can make decisions. I have to worry about everything, big and small. When will this ever end?"
"The affairs of the inner palace are complex and complicated. Without someone to manage them, how can things be peaceful? I am getting old, how much longer can I help you with these matters?"
Gao Xian's lips moved, but he ultimately did not speak.
He knew the Empress Dowager was right, but he truly did not want to favor any of the concubines.
Half an hour later, Gao Xian returned from Shou'an Palace.
Feeling frustrated, he directly ordered Eunuch Li to send wine to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Eunuch Li offered a few words of advice, but was interrupted by the man's wave of his hand.
"I don't want to hear it!" Gao Xian said coldly, picking up a wine cup and bringing it to his lips.
Eunuch Li stood aside, watching anxiously, but there was nothing he could do.
The wine jars were opened one after another, and Gao Xian drank one cup after another, but the frown between his brows did not dissipate; instead, he drank more and more.
He didn't say anything, just kept drinking with his head down.
Evening, Qinglan Courtyard.
The room was silent. Xie Jue lay on his small bed, turned over, but couldn't fall asleep.
He stared wide-eyed at the moonlight outside the window.
As if he had thought of something, his eyes suddenly lit up.
She lifted the covers and quietly climbed out of bed.
After putting on her little shoes, she gently pushed open the door and peeked around.
After confirming that no one was paying attention to him, he tiptoed toward Qin Jiuwei's room.
Seeing the empty bed, Xie Jue smiled secretly.
He carefully climbed into bed and slipped into Qin Jiuwei's blankets.
With my father away, my mother must be so lonely sleeping in such a big bed all by herself!
Now it was his turn to take the stage!
How do you say that?
When the tiger is away, the monkey reigns supreme!
Hehe, he's a little monkey!
It's a little monkey that's all clean and smells nice!
"squeak--"
The door slowly opened.
Qin Jiuwei walked in, and Xiaohe helped her take off her cloak, and couldn't help but complain, "The old lady is really something, it's so late, and she still wants to talk to Miss."
"Alright, go prepare some water. I'll wash up and get some rest early tonight."
Then came the sound of pattering water.
Xie Jue hid under the covers, covered her mouth, and listened quietly.
After washing up, Qin Jiuwei lifted the bed curtains and prepared to go to bed.
The moment she lifted the blanket, a small figure suddenly popped out from inside and jumped into her arms.
"Mother, I've come to be with you!"
He tilted his head back, his large, dark eyes staring intently at her.
His face was full of anticipation, and a smug smile played on his lips.
Her hair was messy, like a kitten's.
"Please don't send me away! I promise I'll behave tonight!" Xie Jue said pleadingly.
Qin Jiuwei was both amused and exasperated, and reached out to ruffle his hair.
Realizing that Qin Jiuwei didn't intend to send him away, Xie Jue immediately took advantage of the situation, pressing his head against her lower abdomen and nuzzling her.
"Okay, let's sleep together," she said softly.
After saying that, she lay down and covered Xie Jue with the blanket.
Xie Jue immediately chuckled.
Yay! A resounding victory!
Two days later, at Lingnan Post Station.
The conditions at the post station were far inferior to those in the capital; the lights were dim, casting swaying shadows on the tables.
Xie Yanli sat at the low table, head down, intently writing a letter.
As the ink flowed across the paper, he wrote the beginning stroke by stroke.
"My wife Jiuwei..."
Under the lamplight, Xie Yanli's expression was calm, and his profile appeared even sharper.
Halfway through writing, Xie Yanli stopped writing and his gaze fell on the letter.
A smiling, pretty face appeared in my mind at that moment.
Xie Yanli's gaze softened instantly.
He raised his hand and adjusted the oil lamp on the table, making the light brighter.
He then picked up his pen and continued writing with his head down.
His pen strokes were steady, and with flowing strokes, he outlined lines of elegant characters.