The Love Imagination System

Section 98: New Followers

The news of Empress Princess Changle who fell ill also reached the Inner Palace. The concubines whose views had changed towards Qingyi began to have little sympathy that turned into a worry.

They did not show it directly, as they clearly knew that Emperor Baili was very unhappy with everything related to Princess Empress Changle.

Strange, it was obviously her own who raised Qingyi to be Princess Empress Changle. Ah, maybe Emperor Baili was too upset that Qingyi was more capable of playing people than him. The girl's ability to attract other people's hearts was much greater than her being an emperor.

Concubine Jia, whose life had been saved also did not take off her hand. He sent Baoning to King Changle's mansion to express his gratitude for the help provided by Empress Princess Changle.

However, his servant returned again and said that King Changle forbade the visit of the Empress Princess and closed the gate of his mansion.

Seeing all her gifts brought back, Consort Jia learned that the poisoning problem of Princess Consort Changle was quite severe. Otherwise, King Changle would not have been able to close his own residence. The girl who was several years older than him seemed to occupy an important position in the heart of King Changle.

“I'll go alone,” he said. Baoning rounded his eyes.

“No, Mistress. The concubine cannot leave without His Majesty's permission,” and the servant's eyes glazed over.

Yesterday his master had already made trouble by asking for help until Emperor Baili was unhappy. If he now did it again, it was possible that his master would end up in the Cold Palace.

Just thinking about it has made his hair goosebumps. A place like the Cold Palace was not a good place. Besides being dirty, there was also a smell and the workers were rude.

Baoning had heard of exiled concubines there committing suicide due to the emperor's distressed and unloved life. Rumors about the haunted Cold Palace were also nothing new in the royal harem.

“We can't leave without his permission. But, someone can get us out of the palace easily,” Consort Jia said, her face filled with a smile of victory.

Midday later, a horse-drawn carriage bearing the imperial family was parked in front of the mansion. The one who got out of the carriage was Empress Dowager Ming, followed by Consort Jia and a few servants and guards.

Seeing that King Changle's guest was the Queen Mother, the guards opened the gate and let them enter easily. One of the guards was a bit surprised as his eyes looked at Baoning.

Empress Dowager Ming met Baili Qingchen at her residence. However, the man did not exist and the maid said that their master was taking care of the Empress Princess in the western courtyard.

Empress Dowager Ming's heart flowered. He thought it was good, rather than seeing the couple fighting each other every day.

“It looks like I came at an inappropriate time,” he said when he reached the west page.

Back then, Baili Qingchen was forcing Qingyi to bring her inside the room, as the time to relax outside was enough.

Baili Qingchen released the girl, then walked over to the Empress Dowager.

“Your Highness,” sweep. Empress Dowager Ming smiled.

“There's something I want to talk to you about.”

Baili Qingchen understood, then went to the eastern courtyard with Empress Dowager Ming. Meanwhile, Consort Jia remained at the Qingyi residence, staring at Qingyi from top to bottom. His gaze was strange, Qingyi felt suspicious. His face looked irritated and was eager to eat people.

“What are you doing here?”

“Greet Her Royal Highness Princess Empress Changle,” Consort Jia said accompanied by a gesture of saluting the style of the girls Bingyue when facing older and noble people.

Qingyi was stunned, then at stepped back. Hey, what did that concubine do just now? He saluted her?

Concubine Jia's manners scared him. This wasn't supposed to happen. Concubine Jia, could it be that her brain was already damaged from depression?

Yesterday obviously still asking for help rudely, now it's totally changed? Qingyi became suspicious that the concubine wanted something.

“I don't need your salute. Get out of here!” expel Qingyi.

Already knowing about to be expelled, the concubine responded with a patient smile. He gestured to Baoning, then handed Qingyi a medium-sized box.

“This is a little gift from me. Please Your Highness the Princess accepts my good intentions.”

“What do you want?”

Stared in surprise, Concubine Jia then smiled again. This time his smile looked more sincere. She knew, Princess Consort Changle would definitely not believe it.

The girl helped him out of necessity and not of her own free will. Although the method was very extreme, at least it was still useful.

It was clearly a better choice than to submit to Consort Xian. The words of the righteous, Princess Consort Changle, are beyond guessing.

In one move, he managed to get Consort Xian punished and his own life was saved. Well, even though Consort Sui had to die as a result of the incident.

“Your Highness the Princess, I came to thank you for the help you gave.”

“That's it?”

“Yes. No other intentions.”

Qingyi clucked lazily. So, this concubine came all the way from the palace just to say thank you? Ah, Qingyi felt this was already overkill. She helps him out of necessity, and Consort Jia turns out to be very touched.

If he knew this, he would obey Baili Qingchen's order not to interfere in the affairs of the three concubines. He better focus on finding the main culprit.

“The gift I received. You can go.”

Concubine Jia was still standing there.

It was not Qingyi's name if her heart was moved. Qingyi instead of being touched, she shuddered instead.

Baili Qingchen was right, she should not have interfered in the matter between Consort Sui, Consort Jia, and her sister Liu Erniang. The girl looked at Concubine Jia once more, courting her to leave her residence immediately.

“Hah, I don't like sweet-mouthed people. Whatever you want, I don't want you here,” drive Qingyi out. Then, he walked into his room.

Concubine Jia sighed. His efforts at least succeeded. He could express his wish even though the response from Qingyi was not as expected. As he had expected, Princess Consort Changle was not easy to trust people.

Let alone the woman who originally became his enemy, even King Changle alone might still not have his trust. Concubine Jia was suddenly faced with a person who was more difficult to think of than an empress.

“Baoning, no matter what the Princess Empress did and no matter what the response, she is our ally.”

Baoning, nodding following his master's orders.

In the eastern courtyard, Empress Dowager Ming and Baili Qingchen sat facing each other in one table. Cold air infiltrated, when clearly this was only noon.

Empress Dowager Ming looked at her sister-in-law deeply, diving into the bead sharpness of the eyes passed down from her in-laws. Then, he sighed.

Back when Baili Qingchen was young, Empress Dowager Ming often visited the palace where Consort Dowager Sun lived. Whenever he saw little Baili Qingchen, he always carried her around and invited her to play. It was not uncommon for him to bring his son, Baili Jingyan, to play with his little uncle.

Too bad, that sweet relationship must run aground swallowed by the situation. The terrifying strength that was at the control of Baili Qingchen forced her son to drop the prestige of his own uncle and continue to suppress him.

There is no more warmth that is as intertwined as it once was. In his son's eyes, this uncle was a real enemy.

“What do you want to say, Your Majesty?” ask Baili Qingchen.

“Call me sister-in-law,” replied the Empress Dowager, correcting Baili Qingchen's call.

“I only used it when my brother was alive. It feels so foreign to call you that name.”

Thas right. Ever since her brother died and the imperial family relationship was tenuous, Baili Qingchen had never again used the ‘brother-in-law call to Empress Dowager Ming.

She just called her by the appellation ‘Yang Mulia’ or ‘Mother Suri’ every time she met. The name became familiar over time and Baili Qingchen slowly forgot that once their relationship was so close and warm.

“If you think about it, it feels like a long time ago. Maybe six, or seven, or more. Aih, look at this bad memory of mine,” Empress Dowager Ming said.

“If Your Majesty comes to reminisce about the past, then please return to your palace.”

Seeing the toughness and reluctance in Baili Qingchen's eyes in talking about the past, Empress Dowager Ming gave up. As usual, his sister-in-law always said something directly.

“Alright, I won't joke anymore. Do you know who the real culprit of all this?”

The corner of Baili Qingchen's eyes twitched. However, he remained calm as usual. The inflamed emotional turmoil in his heart did not appear from the outside.

She stared at the sky for a while, then muttered to answer Empress Dowager Ming's question, “Yes. But it would be very difficult to tell the public. Some people may not be able to receive it.”

“I've guessed. Is the guy in the palace?”

To this question, Baili Qingchen let Empress Dowager Ming answer it herself. “Good. Up yours. My son has given you the authority of his investigation, I have no doubt about you,”.

“As a State Supervisor, you can do your job well. But, as an uncle, you're too hard on your own nephew. Yan’er was indeed stubborn, but he was not a careless person. His mistake this time did not entirely have to be shed to him.”

Baili Qingchen looked up.

“He is not careless, but too slow and careless,” said Baili Qingchen.

If any bodyguard or official heard about it, this Changle King would definitely be criticized and thrown into prison for insulting the emperor.

But, in the presence of Empress Dowager Ming and in her own eyes, the figure of Emperor Baili was only her mischievous and naive niece. That was why he had to always stand next to her so that his steps were not wrong.

“You even mocked him in front of his own mother. Chen’er, you are indeed a descendant of my father-in-law.”

“As Emperor, he cannot even protect his own wives. Your Majesty, after you return, teach him how to protect his wife.”

Empress Dowager Ming's laughter was held in his throat. Who is this Baili Qingchen talking about? Who really can't protect and pamper a wife?

“Follow your word only. I'm not here just to ask that.”

“Then what else?”

“I want to pick up Xiao Du and Xiao Di.”

“No Xiao Du and Xiao Di you mean here.”

“There. Your empress brought her from the palace a few days ago.”

Only then did Baili Qingchen recall the pair of white swans that Qingyi had brought to the mansion. Apparently they were what Xiao Du and Xiao Di meant.

Baili Qingchen flashed her faint smile, then said lightly emotionlessly, “They are in the Little Prince's residence. Arrest if Your Majesty wants to take it back.”

Empress Dowager Ming was somewhat surprised. Apparently, this is the goal of Princess Consort Changle to bring her two favorite swans away!