Chapter 35: Be obedient and don’t embarrass your aunt [Please read more]

Some people seem to be gifts from God. Their every frown and smile can move the hearts of others. The woman in front of you is like this. She is about the age of a young woman, but her crying face is not sad and mournful. Instead, she stares at you like a cat, with eyes full of grievance and dissatisfaction.

It's very 'girly'.

Neither sad nor complaining, but it makes people like her and feel sorry for her.

"Aunt Shi, I'm not saying anything bad about you."

Wei Mingqi admired it for a moment, then said maliciously:
"Although you are indeed approaching the age of being as vigorous as a wolf and a tiger, I am much younger than you, and I am your junior. Why do you always think of us as having a relationship?"

"..."

How could such a wicked person be the first to complain?

The woman was stunned by his shamelessness, but then Wei Mingqi really straightened his attitude and told her about the last attack.

"After Lord Wan gave me the task of investigating, I have been investigating the identity of the thief and the situation of several concubines in the East Garden these days. Now I have some clues."

"Aunt Shi, that thief is coming for you."

"..."

Hearing his words, the woman's expression became confused and uncertain, and she subconsciously asked: "Are you coming for me? Why?"

"You'll have to ask Aunt Shi about this."

"I, how would I know that?"

The woman frowned and introduced herself: "It has been more than ten years since I was favored. No one in this palace cares about me. Who outside would risk their lives for an old concubine like me?"

After saying that, she couldn't help but glance at Wei Mingqi.

Rather than the thief she had never met, she suspected that the young man in front of her was taking advantage of the situation and plotting against her in the name of catching a thief. She had heard him calling her "Aunt Shi" and "Aunt Shi" since they met, but when had he ever really regarded her as his aunt?

"Yes, you are that old too."

"..."

What she said was true, but seeing Wei Mingqi nodding in agreement, the woman glared at him with her clear and slightly red eyes.

"Let's not talk about the thief today."

Wei Mingqi looked at the charcoal in her hand and said, "After this rain, it will be cold and gloomy for a few days. Your sleeping place is so big, can it be kept warm?"

“It’s very warm!”

The woman looked at him warily, leaving no room for error in her words: "I have always had a hot body since I was a child, I am not afraid of the cold, and I am used to sleeping alone."

"..."

Wei Mingqi found that this woman already had a stereotype of him, so he smiled bitterly and said:
"I'm not thinking of warming your bed. I'm congratulating you. Your hard times are coming to an end."

"Really?"

The woman squinted her moist eyes and asked, "You won't come again?"

"..."

How did this woman become favored back then?
Wei Mingqi was afraid that the woman would continue to be defensive, but his mentality collapsed, so he simply said:

"When I was investigating the thieves these past two days, I found that your relatives in the southwest are planning to turn over a new leaf and are now negotiating with the court. If the talks go through—"

Wei Mingqi looked up at the dilapidated palace and said with a relaxed smile, "Even if you don't say you're moving out, at least you don't have to collect charcoal for the winter anymore, right?"

"..."

After hearing this, the woman in front of him was stunned, her eyes slowly blossomed like flowers, and her tone was unbelievable:

"Are you telling the truth?"

"kindness."

"Is it my second brother and his family? Are they going back to Guanzhong? When?"

"..."

After observing this, Wei Mingqi was able to confirm that this woman really knew nothing, and the breakthrough still lay with Shi Fengguan.

"I don't know."

He showed no unusual expression: "But there is a man named Shi Fan among them. He should be your second uncle's family, right?"

“Yes—” The woman nodded excitedly: “He was only a few years old when he followed my second brother to the southwest. I thought I would never see them again in this life!”

After she finished speaking, her eyes, which had finally calmed down, became hazy again, and this time, they finally showed a hint of sadness.

Wei Mingqi could probably understand her feelings.

After all, they were once a family, but because of a turmoil and separation, many people never saw each other again in their lives. Now that a glimmer of "light" of family affection has suddenly appeared, a reaction like that of Peach Blossom Eyes is abnormal.

However, there are too many tricks in this so-called Southwest Mission, so the Shi family members among them seem intriguing. Although it cannot be confirmed immediately, Wei Mingqi has found a breakthrough, and it is only a matter of time before the mystery is solved.

Only this silly woman in front of me...

Wei Mingqi felt a little guilty and was about to say goodbye when -

"Holy Queen, my aunt lives here?"

"Yes, this place is called Fengque, the same name as your aunt. It was incredibly beautiful when it was first built, but unfortunately there was chaos in the palace when the late emperor was on his southern tour... Your aunt insisted on living here after returning to the palace, saying that she didn't want to cause trouble for the palace. I often think of it and feel bad."

"..."

There was a conversation coming from far outside the palace. Wei Mingqi was thinking about the name "Shi Fengque" when the woman in front of him suddenly changed her expression and actually came forward to push him:
"It's the Queen Mother! Find a place to hide quickly!"

"What are you hiding from?"

Wei Mingqi was completely confused, and stood there motionless, saying, "I'm here to investigate the case, not to have an affair with you, why am I hiding?"

"..."

Shi Fengque was stunned, and felt that what he said made some sense, but thinking of the woman outside the palace, she gritted her teeth and pushed forward the mission:

"Be obedient! Don't embarrass me. I'll call you out after the Queen Mother leaves."

Hearing this, Wei Mingqi's body, which had just been as strong as cast iron, finally relaxed.

There was no way, he didn't want to complicate things, but 'Aunt Shi' asked him to be obedient, and Wei Mingqi was a man who would listen to advice.

Come to the back of the wall.

Not long after, several people walked in from outside the palace, and along with their footsteps came a charming and graceful female voice: "Fengque, look who I brought with me."

"Sister-in-law!"

"You are——Xiao Fan! You have grown so big!"

"Sister-in-law!"

Hearing the voice crying with joy, Wei Mingqi couldn't help but be absent-minded. If the masked ghost outside the East Garden that day was really this person, or was related to him, his 'Aunt Shi' would be so sad when she knew it.

The dose that can paralyze an elephant is used on my own aunt who weighs over 100 pounds. It is a great act of filial piety.

"Well, it's a happy day for the aunt and niece to reunite. Don't shed tears even if you're happy. I feel like crying just watching you."

"The Holy Queen——"

"Fengque, we have known each other for many years. No matter what you think of me, I want to ask you one question today: do you want to leave the palace?"

"Leave the palace? Can I leave the palace?"

Shi Fengque's tone seemed to indicate that he was quite unsure.

"of course."

The graceful and charming woman said in a tolerant tone: "Although you are the concubine of the late emperor, the late emperor has been in prison for many years. You are still young, you can't sleep on the cold kang here forever, right?"

"I……"

"Little aunt, just listen to the Empress! Let's reunite as a family after leaving the palace. Feng Guaner must have missed you so much these years."

Didn't hesitate for long.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to leave the palace." The silly woman's voice revealed a sense of relief.

"it is good."

The graceful and charming voice was also filled with deep relief: "Leave the palace and reunite with your family. I will grant you a good marriage, and your blooming period will not be considered to have withered."

"Thanks—what did you say? What marriage?"

　There is another update that I was halfway through but felt unsatisfied with so I threw it into the recycle bin. I will sort out the details at noon and post it in the evening.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)