sbdcsierra Chapter 399 You Can't Hide Something From Me
Chapter 399 You Can't Hide Something From Me
Everyone's eyes were on the Emperor and the Ninth Prince, and no one noticed the Fourth Prince's gloomy expression at this moment.
As the Emperor's birthday is only three days away, the Emperor plans to celebrate and reward the Chu family army at that time.
Today, I am simply leading all the officials to welcome the victorious Chu army back to the capital.
The emperor and empress took the ninth prince back to the palace, and all officials dispersed.
The Fourth Prince looked at the Emperor and Empress who were escorting the Ninth Prince away, then caught up with the Duke of Chu.
"Uncle, you worked hard in this battle between Dayue and Nanzhao."
Duke Chu smiled and waved his hand:
"It's the duty of a subject."
After a pause, he thought of something and said:
"I heard that you were captured by the Immortal Cult in order to deliver food and fodder to the Chu family army. You must have suffered a lot, right? It was difficult for you this time."
The Fourth Prince looked remorseful upon hearing this:
“This prince is useless and has not helped the Chu family army.
Unlike my ninth brother, a nine-year-old child who dared to go to the battlefield alone to deliver food and grass to the Chu family army."
Speaking of his nine-year-old nephew, Duke Chu nodded with satisfaction:
"Yes, Xi'er was indeed very brave this time. Not only did she transport food and grass alone, she also dared to fight the enemy on the battlefield. I remember when she was on the battlefield..."
The Duke of Chu began to praise Xiao Linxi's performance on the battlefield.
He didn't notice the gloom in the eyes of the Fourth Prince beside him.
The day before the Wanshou Festival, the Queen Mother Dong summoned Qin Wan into the palace.
"Wanwan girl, tell me the truth. Last time you said that the emperor's face didn't look like the Empress Dowager, was it accidental or did you know something?"
Qin Wan pretended to be ignorant:
"Your Highness, I was just saying it casually."
The Queen Mother Dong was experienced and shrewd, and was not fooled by Qin Wan's acting skills.
She poked Qin Wan's forehead with amusement:
"Ghost, you can fool the queen but don't try to fool me.
You must know something, hurry up and tell me what you know."
Qin Wan blinked and asked instead of answering:
"Her Majesty, didn't you find out anything in the past two days?"
The Empress Dowager sighed helplessly, "If I find out something, can I still summon you to the palace for questioning?
I checked, but didn't find any flaws.
The midwife and the palace maids who delivered the baby said they saw with their own eyes that the emperor came out of the Empress Dowager Cixi’s belly.”
So that’s it... Qin Wan scratched his head.
She knew about the power of Empress Dowager Dong in the harem, and she could find out basically anything she wanted to find out.
Did she misunderstand what the Empress Dowager Cixi meant?
The Empress Dowager Cixi said that she only had Mingao as her son. Another implication was that she did not have the Emperor as her own son in her heart.
So she subconsciously feels that the emperor is not her biological son?
After thinking about it, Qin Wan decided to temporarily add one more item to the plan for the Emperor's Birthday: find out whether the Emperor is the Empress Dowager Cixi's biological son.
When Empress Dowager Dong saw Qin Wan’s thoughtful look, she knew that this girl must know something.
"Wanwan girl, please don't hide anything from me.
I treat you as my own granddaughter. If you hide it from me, my heart will be hurt."
Empress Dowager Dong said this and picked up a handkerchief to wipe away the non-existent tears from the corners of her eyes.
Aunt Wu quickly added fuel to the fire:
"Look at what you said, Queen Mother. Miss Wanwan is the closest to you in this palace.
How could I hide something from you?
Miss Wanwan, isn't that right?"
Nanny Wu looked at Qin Wan with a smile.
Qin Wan's mouth twitched, and the master and servant sang in unison.
He leaned over and whispered into the Queen Mother's ear the plan for the birthday celebration.
After hearing this, the Empress Dowager Dong was furious and snorted coldly, "How audacious!
Wan girl, just do as you planned, this time we will make sure those rats hiding in the gutter never come back!"
Thinking of something, he tapped Qin Wan's head unhappily:
"You little girl, you didn't even tell me about such a big thing. Are you going to keep silent if I don't ask you today?"
Qin Wan rubbed her hands in embarrassment, "Hehe, aren't you worried that if too many people know about it, the plan will be exposed?
It's all for Dayue, Queen Mother, please don't be angry with me, okay?"
The Queen Mother was not really angry. She stroked Qin Wan's hair with a look of relief on her face:
"The emperor is lucky to meet your family. If it was the late emperor...ah..."
Why didn’t her late emperor have such blessing?
The next day, the lively Longevity Festival banquet was held in the palace on time.
At the palace gate, the guards stood on both sides and carefully checked whether people entering the palace were carrying weapons or other dangerous items.
Qin Wan and his family stood obediently in the crowd, queuing and listening to the officials' compliments to their grandfather and father.
Qin Jingnian, who was so bored waiting, couldn't help but yawn.
Looking at the long queue, Qin Jingnian muttered quietly:
"It's better to practice than to waste time here."
Chen Yunzhi patted her son's shoulder with amusement:
"Okay, you should practice whenever you have time during this period. Today is a rare day to relax, so don't think about practicing."
Qin Wan and Qin Jingrui looked at Qin Jingnian, who was yawning out of boredom, and smiled secretly.
Suddenly, a bright yellow figure ran out from the palace gate and rushed to Qin Wan and others like a small cannonball.
"Brother Rui, Wanwan, Jingnian, why are you waiting here? Come with me to the palace first."
As he said this, he pulled the two brothers Qin Wan and Qin Jingnian and walked towards the palace gate.
Qin Jingrui looked at Prince Ding and Princess Ding. The former smiled and waved his hand:
"You three brothers and sisters should follow the Ninth Prince first, and Grandfather will follow soon."
"Okay grandpa."
With the permission from their elders, the three siblings followed Xiao Linxi into the palace with confidence.
With the Ninth Prince around, the official who was cut in line and his family didn't dare to say anything.
The guards checking at the palace gate just gave a symbolic check and let the person in.
Just before walking a short distance from the palace gate, I saw the Fourth Prince standing with his hands behind his back, looking in the direction of the palace gate.
I don't know how long he stood there.
"Fourth brother."
"His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince."
Several people greeted the Fourth Prince politely.
The Fourth Prince nodded slightly as a greeting.
But when he was about to pass by him, he suddenly said to the Ninth Prince:
"My ninth brother has just returned to the palace. He doesn't know how important it is to ensure the safety of our father at a palace banquet like the Emperor's Birthday.
Next time when my ninth brother brings people into the palace, he should have the Imperial Guards conduct a thorough inspection.”
The four of them paused in unison.
The Ninth Prince frowned slightly. He was always sensitive to people's emotions.
He was keenly aware of the Fourth Prince's hostility towards him.
"What does Fourth Brother mean by this?"
The fourth prince curled up the corners of his mouth and smiled.
But Qin Wan could see the fake smile on this face.
“Don’t misunderstand, Ninth Brother, Fourth Brother has no other intentions.
I'm reminding you out of kindness for the sake of your father's safety. You won't blame me for being nosy, right?"
The Ninth Prince said nothing, but his tightly pursed lips revealed his displeasure.
The Fourth Prince seemed unaware that he had upset his younger brother, and he swaggered out of the palace with his hands behind his back.