ebookland Chapter 274 Meeting the Benefactor
Chapter 274 Meeting the Benefactor
This turned out to be a list of political parties within the imperial court.
Xiao Zhijie leaned closer to take a look, and couldn't help but frown.
Where did this come from?
Qiao Qingshu raised her eyes and said seriously,
"It was given to me by Yongxian before she left."
Just as the two were looking at each other, a servant came running in from the front yard, flustered, to report something.
"Eunuch Li from the palace requests an audience!"
In the dead of night, Li Pu actually came to the Xiao family's house, which must mean something important.
Qiao Qingshu immediately put on her clothes and went out with Xiao Zhijie to see Li Pu. As soon as they arrived at the main hall, they saw Li Pu kneeling in front of them, his face showing a rare look of embarrassment.
"Third Master, Third Madam! The Emperor is dead!"
Qiao Qingshu and Xiao Zhijie were so surprised they were speechless. How could this be?!
Everything was fine yesterday!
Li Pu tearfully recounted the whole story: the old emperor was still reviewing memorials in the imperial study late at night. He wanted to get up and go to a high place to find something, but perhaps he had been reading the memorials for too long, he stumbled and fell to the ground, never to wake up again.
Li Pu had gone to the imperial kitchen to get a late-night snack for the emperor, but when he returned, he found the emperor collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
He was so frightened that he hurriedly summoned the imperial physician to examine him. The physician knelt before him, trembling, and said...
"Eunuch Li, the Emperor has passed away..."
Li Pu suddenly felt dizzy and almost fainted.
He mustered all his strength to suppress all news, and now he appears calm on the surface, but that's because he's been completely suppressed by Li Pu.
If news of the emperor's death were to spread, it would certainly cause quite a stir in the court.
After much deliberation, he realized that Xiao Zhijie was perhaps the only one who could rightfully inherit the throne.
Therefore, they rushed out overnight to seek help.
After hearing what Eunuch Li said, Xiao Zhijie stood there stunned for a long time. He looked up at Qiao Qingshu, about to refuse.
But then he saw Qiao Qingshu grab his hand and say,
"Don't worry, no matter what choice you make now, I will not leave you."
Qiao Qingshu squeezed his hand and said,
"If the kingdom falls into the hands of a wicked person, I'm sure neither of us would want to see that happen. Why don't I accompany you to the throne, and together we can continue to govern the Nanzhao Kingdom to a place of peace, prosperity, and good weather?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhijie was moved and excited. He had always had a burning desire to serve his country and its people.
But he was willing to give it all up for Qiao Qingshu.
Now that Shu'er actually supports him, he naturally has no more worries. He excitedly hugged Qiao Qingshu and said, moved.
"Shu'er, you are so good, it's so good to have you."
Li Pu, the eunuch, looked away, and after a long while, he saw Qiao Qingshu and said...
"Eunuch Li, please lead the way. Let's go into the palace together!"
Under the cover of darkness, the group returned to the palace from the Xiao family. The old emperor was indeed dead; his body was cold and there was no pulse.
While Xiao Zhijie was still confused about what to do next,
Qiao Qingshu stepped forward and instructed the palace servants on what to do.
She first explained some matters concerning the court session the next day to Eunuch Li, and then began to arrange the emperor's funeral in an orderly manner.
The leaderless state vanished instantly, and everything within the palace proceeded in an orderly fashion.
News within the palace was kept strictly confidential, and the news of the emperor's death was not officially announced until the morning court session on the third day.
The civil and military officials were immediately eager to act, but Qiao Qingshu had already made all the necessary arrangements in the past three days according to the list given by Princess Yongxian.
She was extremely well-prepared, nipping any potential schemes in the bud.
Because rumors about Xiao Zhijie's identity had circulated before, almost half of the court knew the inside story.
Everyone knows that Xiao Zhijie is the old emperor's only son.
Therefore, no one was surprised when the imperial edict of succession was read.
Even those few who were itching to make a move were completely suppressed by Qiao Qingshu and couldn't make any small moves at all.
Qiao Qingshu and Xiao Zhijie have also moved from the Xiao family into the palace.
The two slept in each other's arms that night, and Xiao Zhijie hugged her from behind.
"Madam, I am very unsure of myself. I am not sure if I can be a good emperor."
Qiao Qingshu turned around and hugged him tightly, saying,
"It's alright, I'm here for you. With our joint efforts, we will surely govern the Nanzhao Kingdom well."
These words were like a reassuring pill, putting a sweet feeling in Xiao Zhijie's heart.
It's so nice to have my wife here.
Qiao Qingshu slowly raised her eyes in the darkness and stared at him,
"You will definitely be a good emperor, and I will definitely be a good empress."
Due to the ascension of the new emperor, the Nanzhao Kingdom granted a general amnesty.
The court officials and ordinary people seem to be discussing the new emperor these days.
that day
Bai Chanzi and Qiao Jishen received an imperial edict summoning them to the palace.
The couple quickly packed their things and entered the palace.
Li Pu stood at the palace gate to greet them. Qiao Qingshu simply told him that a distinguished guest was coming and that he should greet him as he entered.
He stood at the doorway, and soon a carriage stopped at the palace gate. A man and a woman got out of the carriage.
The two slowly approached. Eunuch Li hadn't thought much of it at first, but after seeing the woman's face clearly, he was so surprised that he couldn't speak.
Bai Chanzi stepped forward, recognized Li Pu, and immediately smiled. She took the initiative to greet him.
"Li Pu? Long time no see!"
Li Pu's thoughts instantly returned to decades ago, when he stood on the roadside, his clothes tattered and his stomach empty, being bullied and beaten.
A magnificent sedan chair stopped in front of him, offering him money, showing him concern, and displaying a charming smile.
That youthful, beautiful face overlapped with the face before me, which, though weathered, remained beautiful.
Li Pu couldn't help but cry out.
"Miss Bai! Is it really you, Miss Bai?!"
His tone was tinged with doubt and confusion. You see, he had attended Bai Chanzi's funeral and even paid his respects at Bai Chanzi's memorial hall in the Qiao family's inner courtyard. He had even witnessed his despicable husband having an affair with another woman in her memorial hall.
Li Pu opened his mouth wide, raised his hand in disbelief, and traced Bai Chanzi's face in the air.
Bai Chanzi smiled and stepped forward to take his hand.
"it's me!"
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Li Pu suddenly burst into tears for some unknown reason.
His benefactor, Bai Chanzi, is not dead; she is alive and well!
He looked at Bai Chanzi with a mixture of tears and laughter, his eyes filled with tenderness.
"Eunuch Li."
A clear female voice came from behind them. Everyone turned around and saw Qiao Qingshu and Xiao Zhijie walking up.
“Eunuch Li, my mother faked her death to leave the Qiao family. Now that all the crises have been resolved, I think my mother can return legitimately.”
Li Pu nodded excitedly.
"That would be perfect."
Seeing a handsome man standing next to Bai Chanzi, she couldn't help but glance at him suspiciously a few more times.
Qiao Qingshu also introduced it without any hesitation,
"This is my biological father, Qiao Jishen."
A fleeting look of surprise crossed Li Pu's eyes. He glanced at Bai Chanzi, then at Qiao Jishen.
Having understood each other perfectly, he didn't ask any more questions, but simply smiled and nodded.
They welcomed Bai Chanzi and Qiao Jishen inside.
Qiao Qingshu held Bai Chanzi's hand and said,
“Mother, there is no need to hide anymore. The country has changed, and no one will remember the old stories of the previous dynasty. Mother, come home.”