Chapter 220 1/3

Jin Xiaoye had already given a selection of carefully chosen glass jewelry to Li Zhu.

Li Zhu picked some pieces from them and added a few subtly scented soaps, packaging them in a beautiful wooden box, which she handed over to Lü Qingxi.

After receiving the items, Lü Qingxi had them inspected by a skilled eunuch to ensure they were safe before bringing them into the palace.

As soon as Lü Qingxi entered the palace, several young eunuchs eagerly approached him. Lü Qingxi asked, “Where is Concubine Liu?”

One of the young eunuchs replied, “Sir, the Concubine is with the Emperor.”

Since Concubine Liu was with the Emperor, Lü Qingxi decided to head directly there.

The Emperor usually rested in his sleeping quarters, and today was no exception. Lü Qingxi strode to the entrance of the quarters, took the wooden box from his attendant, and walked inside.

Inside the sleeping quarters, Concubine Liu was speaking softly with the Emperor.

Despite her dissatisfaction and even resentment towards the Emperor, Concubine Liu’s behavior was increasingly gentle and considerate.

The Emperor’s sympathy for Qi An was crucial for her to secure more benefits for Qi An, including the throne.

The Emperor’s fondness for her was also vital for him to believe in and accept the son she and Lü Qingxi had arranged for her to have.

She hoped everything would go smoothly.

Qi Jun indeed felt guilty about Qi An and was determined to compensate him.

Even though Qi An was disfigured and didn’t need to be adopted anymore, Qi Jun felt responsible for Qi An’s condition due to his negligence.

He had already decided to proceed with adopting Qi An as planned.

As for the selection of the new emperor…

Thinking about this matter made Qi Jun feel uneasy and caused him sleepless nights.

He loathed both Prince Jin and Prince Yan, wishing to eliminate them.

But as the Emperor of Qi, he had to consider the well-being of his people.

If he stubbornly refused to let either of them ascend the throne, the country might descend into chaos after his death, causing immense suffering to the common people.

As a child, Qi Jun once felt his life was miserable.

Despite being a prince, he often went hungry and froze during winter.

It wasn’t until he was made crown prince and assigned to disaster relief that he understood the harsh realities faced by the common people.

Though he thought his life was hard, his lifestyle was a dream for many of those people.

Even after his health deteriorated from poisoning, he tried not to blame his fate too much, realizing that many eunuchs in the palace had suffered far worse from a young age, some even losing their lives. Those who survived had to serve others for life.

Compared to them, he had a relatively good life.

Gradually, Qi Jun learned to accept his situation, focusing on being a good emperor and maintaining stability for the country. That way, he felt his life wouldn’t have been in vain.

Now, he faced a dilemma.

Prince Jin was not a suitable candidate for the throne. He was hot-tempered, reckless, and indifferent to the people’s suffering.

Despite numerous opportunities for training and experience, Prince Jin focused only on amassing wealth, ignoring the people’s welfare. He had become increasingly unhinged in recent years.

On the other hand, Prince Yan was not a good person either, but he was more capable than Prince Jin.

To avoid posthumous disputes, should he choose Prince Yan as his successor?

Though reluctant, Qi Jun considered the people’s needs.

Prince Yan valued his reputation and, though ruthless, was willing to maintain a facade. With Qi An disfigured and posing no threat, Prince Yan might leave him alone once he ascended the throne.

Concubine Liu, being a woman of the harem, could be managed. Qi Jun planned to leave a decree making Qi An a prince and allowing Concubine Liu to live with him in his residence, ensuring her well-being.

As for Lü Qingxi, Qi Jun needed to plan a safe exit for him.

Concubine Liu and Lü Qingxi understood Qi Jun well.

They could roughly guess Qi Jun’s thoughts.

Qi Jun always saw the best in people, but they did not.

The former emperor’s imperial Concubine was a madwoman, and her son, Prince Yan, was unlikely to be any better.

They needed to act quickly.

When Lü Qingxi entered the Emperor’s quarters, he uttered many auspicious words and presented the wooden box, saying, “Your Highness, my subordinates have acquired some new and interesting items for your enjoyment.”

“What are they?” Concubine Liu asked.

“They are jewelry brought to the capital by the proprietor of Jin Ye Embroidery from Jiangnan,” Lü Qingxi replied.

“The proprietor of Jin Ye Embroidery? Isn’t that the wife of Scholar Li?” Concubine Liu was surprised.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Lü Qingxi confirmed.

Concubine Liu looked at the Emperor, “Your Majesty, I feel a special connection with this proprietor! Several years ago, I loved the embroidered items from Jin Ye Embroidery and have used them ever since. Recently, her husband also saved An An.”

Concubine Liu had initially concealed her outing from the Emperor, but upon returning, she disclosed everything to him.

The Emperor had his informants, and trying to hide her stay at Li Qingzhi’s place might have leaked. Therefore, it was better to be honest with him.

The imperial doctor had predicted Qi An’s death, and she had left the palace to seek a cure, accidentally meeting Li Qingzhi, who treated Qi An successfully. These events were worth sharing.

Moreover, if Li Qingzhi’s identity proved legitimate, he could even be her “son” due to their karmic connection.

The Emperor knew Concubine Liu loved items from Jin Ye Embroidery and had heard much about Li Qingzhi and Jin Xiaoye recently.

He had decided to reward Li Qingzhi with a high ranking in the imperial exams as long as he passed the palace examination.

Li Qingzhi had saved Qi An’s life, after all.

To avoid jealousy from Prince Jin and Prince Yan’s factions, the Emperor planned to discreetly reward Li Qingzhi for his scholarship rather than publicize it.

“Indeed, a special connection,” Qi Jun smiled and asked Lü Qingxi to open the box to see the jewelry inside.

Lü Qingxi quickly opened the box, revealing gold jewelry inlaid with glass.

The jewelry looked luxurious, and the polished glass gems sparkled brightly.

“Are these emeralds or jade?” Qi Jun was curious, as the gems differed from anything he had seen before.

“They are said to be a newly discovered type of gemstone from the southernmost part of Qi,” Lü Qingxi explained.

“No wonder they look different from anything seen before,” Qi Jun admired the jewelry and said to Concubine Liu, “Aman, these pieces are beautiful and suit you well.”

Concubine Liu smiled, “Your Majesty, please put them on me.”

Qi Jun chuckled and began to adorn Concubine Liu with the jewelry.

While Qi Jun was focused on dressing Concubine Liu, Lü Qingxi signaled to her.

Concubine Liu had previously discussed with Lü Qingxi their plan to bring Qi Jun out of the palace more frequently.

Only then could they encounter the supposed enlightened master and advance their scheme.

After Qi Jun finished putting on the necklace, Concubine Liu asked, “Your Majesty, do I look good?”

“Beautiful,” Qi Jun replied.

“Your Majesty, could you take me out of the palace tomorrow? I want to dine at Qingyun Tower and wear these jewels,” Concubine Liu suggested.

“Of course,” Qi Jun agreed without hesitation.

Concubine Liu had shared her life at Li Qingzhi’s home with him, including her newfound love for spicy duck and a desire to try Qingyun Tower’s spicy dishes.