Chapter 49

Qiao Residence.

As Tan Hanchi’s condition improved, he began to write again.

Worried that Qiao Jiaojiao might feel bored, Qiao Zhongguo took her back to Mrs. Qiao’s place.

Just after having lunch, someone suddenly arrived from the palace.

Mrs. Qiao couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy. The summons today came quite unexpectedly.

The palace servant who delivered the message seemed to have been instructed. After delivering the message, they immediately said with a smile, “Madam Qiao, it’s good news. Her Majesty the Queen wants to see you.”

Mrs. Qiao’s thoughts turned slightly, and Qiao Jiaojiao’s eyes were already sparkling.

[“Ah! Has the selection for the Crown Prince’s consort been finalized? Her Majesty the Queen must want to share the joy with me!”]

Mrs. Qiao and Qiao Jiaojiao went together.

“In that case, let me freshen up a bit,” Mrs. Qiao said.

The palace servant politely replied, “Madam Qiao, take your time. Her Majesty said there’s no rush.”

Mrs. Qiao nodded, but her movements became faster.

Although the Queen sympathized with her, she couldn’t let her Majesty wait too long.

About a quarter of an hour later, Mrs. Qiao was ready to leave when Qiao Zhongguo walked into the room.

“Wife, let the eldest son accompany you.”

Qiao Zhongguo didn’t hide anything from his wife regarding official matters from the previous dynasty. Mrs. Qiao said sharply, “But does the eldest son need to meet the Crown Prince?”

Qiao Zhongguo came forward and took Mrs. Qiao’s hand, smiling, “Wife is indeed wise.”

“After all, I am an official, and it’s not appropriate for me to have too close a relationship with the Crown Prince. But the eldest son is about the same age as the Crown Prince. Their friendship is well-known in the capital, so it’s more convenient for him to handle things.”

“Now that Tan Hanchi has copied most of it, I want the eldest son to take it to the Crown Prince first, explain the whole story, and then hear what the Crown Prince intends to do.”

“But the eldest son is an outsider after all and cannot enter the harem, so I would like to ask my wife…”

Mrs. Qiao pulled Qiao Zhongguo’s hand and nodded gently. “Husband, rest assured, I understand.”

Qiao Zhongguo felt relieved. Having a capable wife was the greatest blessing for him, Qiao Zhongguo.

Mrs. Qiao boarded the carriage with Qiao Jiaojiao, and Qiao Tianjing followed on horseback. The group soon arrived outside the palace gates.

Mrs. Qiao and Qiao Jiaojiao followed the palace servant into the sedan chair, while Qiao Tianjing nodded politely with a gentle expression.

“Mother, I’ll wait for you here.”

When Mrs. Qiao smiled gently at her son, she lowered the curtains of the sedan chair.

This time, Qiao Jiaojiao had experience. She obediently nestled in Mrs. Qiao’s arms. As soon as she heard the palace servant shout, “We’ve arrived at the Yikun Palace,” she excitedly sat up.

After getting off the sedan chair, they saw the Queen personally walking out of the hall, with the Crown Prince by her side.

Mrs. Qiao felt a little nervous and quickly went forward to greet them.

“I dare not trouble Your Majesty to come here.”

The Queen smiled and personally reached out to help, “Madam Qiao, there’s no need to be so polite.”

Qiao Jiaojiao looked up and saw that the Queen’s complexion was rosy, with a bright joy between her eyebrows, apparently much better than when they last met.

“Jiaojiao, you’re such a good girl, and I’ve missed you for a long time.”

The Queen reached out her hand towards Qiao Jiaojiao, who immediately giggled and jumped into the Queen’s arms.

The Queen gently weighed her and smiled even more.

“You’ve grown a lot. Look at this appearance, you’ll definitely take after your mother in the future.”

Mrs. Qiao also paid her respects to the Crown Prince, who immediately helped her up.

When Mrs. Qiao stood up, she lowered her voice respectfully and said, “Your Highness, today, the eldest son sent me here.”

The Crown Prince was slightly stunned but immediately understood.

“Since the last poetry gathering when Eldest Brother and I parted ways, we’ve only met in the court. It’s been a long time since I had a good chat with Eldest Brother,” said Mrs. Qiao.

Mrs. Qiao felt much more relieved when the conversation reached this point.

Once inside the hall, while the Queen chatted with Mrs. Qiao, she brought out many toys to amuse Qiao Jiaojiao.

“All of these toys were personally picked out by Xiaoxi after hearing that Jiaojiao was coming. Each one is his favorite,” the Queen said.

Qiao Jiaojiao picked up a lifelike little tiger and couldn’t help muttering to herself.

[“It’s been a while since I saw that silly and sweet guy. He’s been spending all his time with Di Zaiying. I hope he hasn’t been swallowed whole by her!”]

Seeing Qiao Jiaojiao’s curiosity, Mrs. Qiao asked on her behalf, “Your Majesty, why isn’t Prince Xi here?”

The Queen’s face showed a hint of distress at the question. “Xi has started his studies, and his tutor is very strict. He’s currently practicing calligraphy.”

The Queen felt sorry for Prince Xi. Although the Crown Prince had also been very diligent in his studies when he was young, he was the eldest son and the Crown Prince, so the Queen wouldn’t say much even if she felt sorry for him.

But Prince Xi didn’t have such heavy responsibilities on his shoulders, and the Queen would rather her younger son live a more relaxed life.

Unexpectedly, the Emperor chose such a strict and serious tutor, confining the lively Prince Xi to his room.

Seeing Prince Xi’s reddened palms from long hours of practice, the Queen’s heart ached slightly.

The Crown Prince, thinking of Prince Xi’s affection for Qiao Jiaojiao, spoke gently, “Mother, I’ll take Jiaojiao to see Little Xi.”

Qiao Jiaojiao immediately sat up upon hearing this.

[“I want to go! I want to see what kind of person Di Zaiying really is!”]

Feeling sorry for Prince Xi as well, the Queen turned to Mrs. Qiao and asked, “Madam Qiao, what do you think?”

Mrs. Qiao would naturally not refuse. “Jiaojiao is lively by nature, I hope she won’t disturb Prince Xi.”

The Crown Prince bent down to pick up Qiao Jiaojiao from the couch and carried her out of the Yikun Palace.

Inside the hall, the Queen then mentioned the matter of the Crown Prince’s consort to Mrs. Qiao.

“At the last poetry gathering, the Crown Prince observed the temperament of the daughter of the Qingguo Duke’s Mansion and was very displeased. Speaking of Miss Xiao from the Xiao family, however, he was all smiles.”

“After hearing about this, His Majesty agreed to give the position of the Crown Prince’s consort to Miss Xiao from the Xiao family.”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Qiao couldn’t help but feel overjoyed.

According to Jiaojiao’s thoughts, Miss Xiao from the Xiao family was the best candidate for the Crown Prince’s consort!

“Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Your Highness,” Mrs. Qiao said.

The Queen was also very pleased. “If the Crown Prince can have someone close to his heart, as a mother, I am also happy for him.”

“However, His Majesty has also decided to give Miss Sheng a position as a concubine. The edict will be issued after the end of the Spring Festival.”

Mrs. Qiao immediately remembered what her husband and son were busy with and quickly concealed her expression.

Whether the eldest daughter of the Qingguo Duke’s Mansion could become the Crown Prince’s concubine remained uncertain.

On the other hand, the Crown Prince walked slowly with Qiao Jiaojiao until they arrived at the study room where the princes studied and practiced calligraphy.

From a distance, Qiao Jiaojiao saw a very upright figure through the open door.

Although he was still a child and couldn’t reach the ground when sitting on the chair, he sat with a straight posture, holding the pen properly and concentrating on writing.

Qiao Jiaojiao couldn’t help but exclaim.

[“What a silly and sweet guy!”]

The sudden baby-like voice attracted the attention of everyone in the room.

Prince Xi slowly raised his head, and when he saw the Crown Prince holding Qiao Jiaojiao standing at the door, joy instantly spread across his little face.

In that moment, he went from being a little adult to a carefree child, dropping his pen from the chair with a leap.

“Brother! Jiaojiao!”