Chapter 217 3/3

Li Qingzhi hesitated for a moment before saying, “I used to live in Yuxi Prefecture.”

Concubine Liu said, “I’ve read ‘Records of Famine’ by Qiongdusan. You fled to Chongcheng County to escape a famine?”

“Yes, there was a flood in Yuxi Prefecture at the time, and I fled to Chongcheng County.”

Concubine Liu looked very gentle and her voice was even gentler. Talking to her had a calming effect.

Of course, she wasn’t like this when Qi An’s life was hanging in the balance.

In short, Concubine Liu was always someone who could make others let their guard down and be willing to talk more with her.

Moreover, since Li Qingzhi was willing to share his background, their conversation went well.

When the original Li Qingzhi fled, he had forged his identity.

To avoid trouble, he had created an identity as an orphan with deceased parents, who were fictional.

Now…

Li Qingzhi said, “I used to live in Yuxian County. I don’t know who my biological parents are. My adoptive father was a tenant farmer, and my adoptive mother used to be a maid. She couldn’t have children, so they raised me after finding me. I have a photographic memory, and when I was a child, I secretly listened to lessons outside the school and learned to read… When I first arrived in Chongcheng County, I told people I was a scholar, but in fact, I hadn’t really studied much before that…”

Li Qingzhi spoke at length, providing a detailed and coherent story.

For example, before coming to Chongcheng County, he could only read but didn’t understand the Four Books and Five Classics, so people considered him poorly educated.

He claimed to have learned medicine while fleeing, and because of his photographic memory, he learned quickly. Unfortunately, the doctor who taught him died during the journey, and he hadn’t had much chance to practice his medical skills.

He said that the money he used to buy land in Miaoqian Village was given to him by the doctor who taught him medicine.

And he acknowledged Li Laogen as his father because he wanted to settle down in Miaoqian Village.

Li Qingzhi said a lot but did not mention being forced to mine stones. If word of this spread, Prince Jin would surely cause trouble for him. Typically, he would never share such information with someone he wasn’t close to.

Concubine Liu listened while observing Li Qingzhi.

Li Qingzhi didn’t greatly resemble the emperor, but their noses looked alike. As for the rest…

The emperor’s appearance had changed significantly from his youth. Eventually, if she kept insisting Li Qingzhi looked like the emperor, the emperor would come to believe it.

The emperor never doubted her or Lu Qingxi.

Sometimes she hated the emperor for being too soft-hearted, but at other times, she was grateful for it.

If the emperor weren’t soft-hearted, she and Lu Qingxi, as witnesses to the emperor’s tragic past, might have been killed long ago.

As for Li Qingzhi… he really was a good person.

Li Laogen had never provided any support to Li Qingzhi, but Li Qingzhi had always taken care of Li Laogen after acknowledging him as his father.

Li Laogen, who had suffered greatly in his youth and had severe health issues, was now enjoying good health in his old age, thanks to Li Qingzhi.

If Li Qingzhi became her “son,” he surely wouldn’t turn against her after ascending the throne or try to harm her son, Anan.

Li Qingzhi was also outstanding.

She wanted to find a son for Qi Jun but didn’t want someone mediocre. Li Qingzhi was perfect, being the top scholar of Jiang’an Province. Neither Prince Jin nor Prince Yan was as accomplished!

Having such a son would surely make Qi Jun very happy and might even extend his life!

Li Qingzhi talked with Concubine Liu for a long time before leaving.

After he left, Concubine Liu also stepped out and saw Li Qingzhi teaching three children to read.

Li Qingzhi not only treated Li Laogen well but was also kind to his wife and children.

Such a person always put others at ease.

Thinking of this, Concubine Liu wrote a letter and sent it to Lu Qingxi.

In the letter, she briefly introduced Li Qingzhi’s background and expressed that she thought Li Qingzhi was very suitable, asking Lu Qingxi to consider whether to choose him.

A few days passed, and the emperor’s condition had stabilized.

Lu Qingxi, meanwhile, had cleaned up the palace, executed many people, and released the elderly eunuchs and maids.

After all, there were few people in the harem, so there was no need for so many attendants!

Additionally, the people surrounding the residences of Prince Jin and Prince Yan had been withdrawn… Lu Qingxi couldn’t find evidence to implicate them, so he had to release them.

However, even though he didn’t pursue Prince Jin and Prince Yan, the court officials were aware that the incident involving Qi An’s injury was related to them.

They had attacked a child… officials like Governor Zhang couldn’t help but view Prince Jin and Prince Yan more negatively.

After being busy for several days, Lu Qingxi finally had some free time and left the palace.

He first arranged for someone to find Lu Mingshan or another sage, then called for Li Zhu to inquire if he had found the person he was looking for.

It was at this time that Concubine Liu’s letter arrived.