C80

Qiao Liangjin was sitting in the carriage with a gloomy face. Originally, she didn't have any hostility towards Southern Palace, but she wasn't a soft persimmon that anyone could take advantage of. Yet, Nangong had actually provoked her. This meant that she was still too kind. She could not be idle. She had to find something for Nangong to do.

Thinking that Nangong must have sneaked out from the Southern Kingdom, Qiao Liangjin's lips curled up into a mocking smile. She opened the curtain and her cherry lips slightly parted. She softly said, "Lu Li."

A figure instantly appeared beside Ah Kuan, who was driving the carriage.

Qiao Liangjin did not open the door curtain but instead gave an order in a neither loud nor low voice, "Find a way to send a message to the Southern Kingdom. Tell them that the Southern Kingdom's Princess Nangong is in Xuanyuan Kingdom."

Lu Li cupped his hands and said, "Roger that." And then, he flew out of the carriage.

When Lu Li's letter reached the Seventh Marquis' Mansion, a warm smile appeared on Hong Liang who was pouring tea on the side. She almost couldn't believe her eyes.

She had served him for so many years, but she had never seen him smile like this before. She calmly carried a cup of tea and walked to his side, wanting to see what could make the cold-faced prince smile.

After clearing up the mess, he put away the letter and slightly opened up some distance. He frowned as he looked at Hong Liang.

Hong Lingtong knew that he had already walked past the boundaries of cleanliness. He hurriedly placed the teacup in his hand on the table before kneeling on the ground. He said somewhat fearfully, "My apologies, Your Highness …"

"Hongliang, on account of the fact that you've been with me for so many years, I, the King of Japan, am not going to mind." However, if there is a next time, Hong Liang, you can go home. " How could he not know what Hong Liang meant by suddenly closing in on him?

Hong Ye was already panicking as his eyes reddened. He kowtowed continuously in apology, "Prince, please spare this servant. This servant will never dare to do it again …"

Su Chen waved his hand, signaling Hong Liang to go down. He was currently in a good mood because this was the first time that Qiao Liangjin had used his secret guard today. This was an improvement.

Originally, Nan Gong was annoyed and wanted to send a message to the Southern Kingdom. She did not expect the two of them to come up with the same idea. Then, she felt that she really had a connection with Qiao Liangjin.

According to the secret guard, Ning Xi had returned to the Southern Kingdom. After the Eastern country's commander, Ma Ji, had been beheaded by Qiao Liangjin, Ma Ji's daughter had reported that she had left the Southern Kingdom to help the Kingdom of Xuanyuan. The Eastern country's emperor was furious, so he took back the troops stationed at the border of Xuanyuan and headed south to write a letter of war.

He turned around and looked at the portrait behind him. In the portrait, there was a woman looking at him from the fence, her slightly tilted face, her perfect thin chin hooked up, her pride and respect written all over the paper. Her index finger moved across the portrait's face, the corner of her lips slightly tracing a perfect curve, and her eyes showed more and more appreciation.

When she returned to the Prime Minister's Estate, it was already close to evening. The sky was filled with dense dark clouds. Qiao Liangjin tightened the cloak on her body. It seemed that another stretch of snow was about to fall.

Before he could even get to the Golden Flower Pavilion, a timid voice called out from behind him, "Big sis …"

Qiao Liangjin's memory had always been quite good. She turned around with a faint smile and called out, "Xinting, you're back?"

A group of purple figures jogged up to Qiao Liangjin from behind. They lifted their slightly red faces from the cold and smiled: "Big sister, I've been waiting for you here for a long time."

Qiao Liangjin quickly grabbed Qiao Xinting's hands and felt a warm grip on her small, cold hands. She frowned and asked: "Why are you waiting for me here? It was so cold. Where is your servant girl? "

Qiao Xinting's servant, Ah Qing, quickly ran over and knelt in front of Qiao Liangjin. Before she even opened her mouth, her voice was already sobbing, "Yes …" "My apologies, eldest miss, this servant …"

"Big Sis, don't blame her. I insisted on waiting for your return." Qiao Xinting hurriedly explained to Ah Qing.

Qiao Liangjin's greatest headache was the ancients' habit of kneeling down without a word. While pulling Qiao Xinting along, she said, "Hurry and get up, the sky is freezing and the earth is freezing. Don't kneel down too easily from now on."

Ah Qing quickly stood up, wiping the corners of her eyes, and obediently followed behind the crowd.

She explained in a low voice, "Miss doesn't like people kneeling to her. If anything happens in the future, you can just get lucky." Also, where is your Young Miss' warm hand stove? "

A'Qing looked to be about fifteen years old. Perhaps it was because she had stayed too long in the mountains, but her skin was slightly dark. Hearing Pasture's question, she awkwardly pinched the corner of her jacket and replied, "We've never had that thing …"

Dai Di blinked, her face full of shock. Although Qiao Xinting and her daughter were not highly regarded, they did not even have a warm hand stove for winter. This was something inconceivable.

Qiao Xinting followed Qiao Lianjin back to the Golden Flower Pavilion. The moment the door was pushed open, a wave of heat hit her face. Qiao Xinting's face, which was originally red from the cold, turned even redder.

Qiao Liangjin pulled Qiao Xinting into the room and had her boil a pot of ginger soup to drive away the cold.

Qiao Liangjin's room was decorated simply and generously, but all the materials used were extremely exquisite. Other than its exquisite quality, it was also exquisite. Even the flowers on the yellow pear wood dressing table seemed to be real.

Qiao Liangjin knew that Qiao Xinting was sizing up her room, so she too smiled and asked Rulan, "Where's Yu Sheng and Spirit Swirl?"

Ruo Lan put Qiao Liangjin's cloak over the screen and looked at the beauties' couch. She pursed her lips into a smile and said, "All asleep."

Qiao Xinting raised a hand to touch her face and whispered, "Elder sister, the fire dragons in your room are really hot. Look at my face, it's already so hot that it's burning."

Qiao Liangjin laughed, signaled for Ruo Lan to open the window a little and asked: "Is it okay now? Why did you come back? Where's your mother? "

Qiao Xinting bit her lips and whispered, "There is no one on the mountain to take care of Mother. Mother is sick. If I didn't write a letter to Father, Mother wouldn't even be willing to come back."

Qiao Liangjin knew the temper of her second concubine, Guo Caiting. She would rather endure it alone than ask the Prime Minister for help. Her brows furrowed as she asked, "Did Father find a doctor to treat your mother's body today? The weather is so cold, your mother should be chilled to the bone, right? "

Qiao Xinting's eyes instantly lit up as she nodded and replied, "Big sister, you're really smart. The doctor said so too, and my mother said so too. She made her own medicine on the mountain, but my mother said that the herbs on the mountain weren't enough, so we haven't seen it for a long time …"

Qiao Liangjin was a little curious when she heard this. Guo Caiting was able to catch medicinal herbs to cure him? I don't think I've ever heard anyone say she knew medicine.

As they were talking, Zi Yan brought in two bowls of ginger soup and placed them in front of the two sisters. Qiao Liangjin looked at A Qing who was standing at the door and ordered, "Take A Qing to drink a bowl of ginger soup as well."

Ah Qing shook her hand, her black cheeks were covered with red clouds, but Zi Yan tugged on Ah Qing's hand and laughed, "It's alright, our family's master is not the same as the others' master." As she spoke, he pulled Ah Qing's hand into the kitchen.

Dai Di placed a small hand stove on the table and followed him out.

Qiao Liangjin pushed the stove in front of Qiao Xinting and said with a bit of heartache, "The weather will only get colder and colder. If I'm not at home in the future, you can tell Ah Bai or Ah Kuan to go back. Where are you staying now?"

"Once we get back to the manor, we'll stay in Tranquil Heart Garden. My mother and I will always be staying there."

Qiao Liangjin frowned slightly. Her mind was searching for the location of the Peace Heart Garden. After thinking for a long time, she pointed to the northernmost area and asked, "Is it that Tranquil Heart Garden over there?"

Qiao Xinting nodded and smiled. "I know where it is."

Qiao Liangjin suddenly stood up and walked over to the screen. She held the cloak in her hand and handed her Qiao Xinting's cloak. She said, "Let's go, I'll go with you to see your mother."

Qiao Xinting froze for a moment before nodding her head in joy.

It was already late in the night. The lanterns in the entire residence started to light up one after another. Snow started to fall from the overcast sky.

Qiao Xinting hugged the furnace joyfully as she followed behind Qiao Liangjin. Looking at Qiao Liangjin's upright back, she suddenly felt a bit of excitement in her heart. This Prime Minister who was cold to her and her mother had finally found someone to warm his heart.

Walking up to a small wall, Qiao Liangjin sized up the unlit courtyard and sneered in her heart. 'This Chastity Heart of the Prime Minister sure knows how to bully people. She's gentle and understanding, and yet she takes care of people from the Prime Minister's residence behind their backs?'

At this moment, Qiao Xinting had already happily pushed open the door. Before she had even entered, her voice had already resounded through the courtyard. "Mother, big sister is back with me."

Qiao Liangjin followed him into Calming Heart Garden. She smiled, and that smile was bone-chilling cold, it really was a Calm Heart Garden. There were only three rooms, exactly three people, and there wasn't even any kitchen left.

A violent coughing sound came from the room. Qiao Liangjin frowned and followed Qiao Xinting into the room. The moment they entered, the strong smell of herbs assaulted their nostrils. A hoarse voice on the bed said apologetically, "So the big miss is here …"

Only now did Qiao Liangjin clearly see Guo Caijing lying on the bed. Compared to the last time she saw her on the mountain, they were two completely different people. That slightly plump and plump woman was now lying on the bed as if she was out of shape, raising her frightening skinny arms and waving at Qiao Liangjin.

Qiao Liangjin quickly walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. She pressed her fingertips to her pulse and gradually, her long eyebrows slightly furrowed. She originally thought that it was a simple chill, but after seeing this pulse, she sneered in her heart.