Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 249: Lifelong Love and Old Age

After getting up from a short afternoon nap, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager sat in front of the window listening to the wind, drinking tea, and playing chess.

Prince Beijing arrived in Suzhou in the morning, and Lin Daiyu took people and hid away the night before.

No one can guarantee what will happen next.

The emperor and the queen mother were both filled with anger, but no one dared to leave Suzhou. They could only wait for news.

Seeing that both of them were playing chess with gloomy faces, and their styles of play were unconsciously becoming more aggressive, Dai Quan got a headache.

I carefully looked at their faces and smiled as I chatted with them about something else:

"From what I have seen, the Empress Dowager's chess skills have improved a lot in the past six months."

Tai Shang originally had a green face and was impatient. When he heard this, he looked surprised, raised his eyebrows, looked at the chessboard carefully, and laughed:

"I didn't even notice. As expected. Your chess skills are improving!"

The Queen Mother snorted proudly, pressed a piece onto the chessboard, and said:

"For decades, I followed you and fought openly and secretly with those women in the palace, and I never cared about anything!

"After all, I know that even if you see many beauties and are tempted by the novelty of the moment, you still have me in your heart.

"I'm not afraid of that. If an enemy comes, I'll fight him; if a flood comes, I'll block it with earth. I'll just keep moving forward with my eyes closed.

"Since I retired to the Yanjia Palace, I thought that I could live a peaceful life and enjoy the pleasures of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine and flowers.

"Who would have thought that there would be even more troubles than before, popping up one after another to cause trouble in front of me!

"Yimin and Zhaoqing are two good children. They have not provoked anyone and are content to live a peaceful life behind closed doors.

"But there are some foolish, blind, and confused bastards who refuse to let them go!

"Since I acknowledge Yimin as my daughter, how can I not make plans for her and worry about her as a good sister?"

As the Queen Mother spoke, she saw that the Supreme Master was making a move, and when there was a gap, she blocked it without saying a word, snorting, "My little plan was forced out by those bastards in the past six months!"

The Supreme laughed in silence, looked at Dai Quan and said, "Listen to her, where does she get all these twisted ideas from?"

Dai Quan heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the Supreme smiled, and quickly followed suit and said with a smile: "It's not really a far-fetched theory.

"The Queen Mother has become a little lazy since she retired to Taiji Palace.

“I heard from Cheng Qian that not only was I too lazy to use my brain with others, I was even too lazy to go out for a walk.

"In the past few months, several county princesses have been going to Yanjia Palace to join in the fun. This was because Cheng Qian was worried and hinted to several princesses and concubines.

"Ever since Princess Yimin and Princess Zhaoqing started visiting the Yanjia Palace, I heard that the Queen Mother has become more interested in eating, listening to the news, and even going out for a walk!"

After hearing this, the Emperor could not help but hold the Queen Mother's hand and sighed softly:

"It is rare for a person to live to be 70. I have reached this age and I only have a few years left.

“You have to find some fun for yourself.

“Whether you like to joke and play with little girls, or you’d rather raise a princess or a prince, it’s all fine.

“Even if you don’t want to deal with children, you can call the concubines who are fighting in the emperor’s harem!

"If you are happy, teach me. If you are unhappy, scold me! Let out your anger!

"I deliberately named you Queen before abdicating, not just so that I can be buried with you in the future.

"I just want you to be able to live as freely as before, and not let anyone make you angry."

The Queen Mother opened her mouth to say something, but the Supreme Lord raised his hand to stop her, and said slowly:

“I didn’t dare to favor you earlier because I was afraid that you would become the target of public criticism.

"What am I afraid of now?

“In Taiji Palace, you can deal with anyone you dislike as long as it does not affect the political situation.

“If you don’t like any of these royal family members, don’t meet her!

"You don't need to save face for me or for the emperor!

"The emperor hasn't even acknowledged the girl from the Lin family as his adopted sister or daughter yet she's so willful.

"My wife, the Queen Mother of the Situ family, the mother of the world, is she still going to talk to those bastards about considering the overall situation?!"

The Queen Mother had both of her hands held by the Supreme Lord. She felt amused and moved, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She quickly blinked back and glared at him, "You old frivolous fellow! You are saying such disgusting things in front of Mr. Dai!"

Dai Quan was standing next to him, holding a whisk, with his eyes downcast, but smiling. His eyes also turned red when he heard this, and he nodded:

“Yes! I have heard it all, and I want to bear witness!

“In the future, the Queen Mother will punish anyone without reason!

"If anyone disobeys, I will ask them to go to the Supreme!"

All three of them laughed.

As he was laughing, someone outside finally saw an opportunity and came to report:

"Prince Beijing asked for a carriage from the Suzhou prefectural government, and with his guards, he followed Princess Zhaoqing to Yangcheng Lake."

The originally happy atmosphere was turned upside down in an instant!

The Supreme Lord slapped the table and cursed: "Asshole! As expected, he went crazy after leaving the capital and without the Censorate!"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became. He suddenly stood up and was about to walk out!

The Queen Mother hurriedly pulled him back and advised, "Why are you so anxious? Sister Lin is so smart. Since she is already avoiding Shui Rong, she must have a backup plan.

"Besides, didn't Rongge bring many officials with him this time? Rumors are spreading on the streets. He won't do anything rash.

"We will just stay in Suzhou. It will take him ten thousand years to bring Sister Lin back to Yangzhou. Then we can quietly knock on his door and not be too late."

This is what it means to protect the Supreme's face.

Dai Quan repeatedly said "That's right" and winked at the guard who came to report the news: "Do you have anything else to say?"

The guard thought for a moment and said, "The Suzhou prefect has reopened the case of the extermination of the Song, Qiu, and Yu families. He has already sent a letter to the governor's office and also sent it to the capital."

When Taishang heard this, his brows frowned even more tightly, but he was pulled back to the couch by the Queen Mother and sat down.

Seeing this, Dai Quan waved his hand to signal the guard to retreat.

Seeing that no one else was around, Taishang couldn't help but complain, "Zhaoqing is the same, he always thinks he's smart.

“In fact, it was just a kind heart that was taken advantage of!

"The Song family is the remnant of the previous dynasty, why didn't she tell Zhaoqing about her identity?

"He only said that his family was gone and his parents were dead, and he tricked Zhaoqing into sympathizing with him. Now he is being used as a pawn for nothing by her, and he is here to investigate such an unspeakable case!"

The Queen Mother disagreed and shook her head, saying: "Song Miaoyu may not know her true identity.

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have been thinking of using Zhaoqing's way to enter the palace to see you in the first half of the year.

"She just feels that her family died unjustly, so she hopes you can give her justice."

The Supreme frowned and stroked his beard, then nodded after a while: "Maybe, but who knows?!"

The Queen Mother added: "As for Zhaoqing, I don't think he was necessarily used as a pawn by the Song family.

"I always feel that she is going after Jia Yucun."

Dai Quan's eyebrows suddenly brightened, and he nodded quickly, saying, "Yucun is indeed overdoing it.

“He is the princess’s teacher, and thanks to the Lin family’s relationship, he was able to become the Jia family’s nephew and become friends with the Wang family.

"Turning around, he is not grateful to his student, and he even comes to propose marriage on behalf of the Northern King. Isn't this adding fuel to the fire?"

Tai Shang narrowed his eyes, and a murderous look flashed in his eyes: "Did he help Zhongshun to handle the cases of these three families?"

Dai Quan smiled and nodded, "That's right."

"Ah, very good."

The Grand Master's shoulders also relaxed, and he looked at the Queen Mother again and said with a smile, "Come on, kill another round!"