Chapter 53: An IOU

Chapter 53

All of this was premeditated.

Xiao Luo Zi was made a scapegoat. The silver bills found in his residence were promissory notes issued by Prince Chu’s residence.

Yuan Qingling was reported to have secretly treated The Retired Emperor. If the matter of Jiu Zhuan Dan was not uncovered, she would always be under suspicion of harming The Retired Emperor. Rread latest chapters at novelhall.com

Now, has she cleared herself? Unlikely. The Emperor was only secretly investigating. Prince Chu’s residence was still in the eye of the storm.

How would The Retired Emperor see this matter? She couldn't help but glance at The Retired Emperor.

The Retired Emperor was staring at her, his gaze severe.

Yuan Qingling put down Fubao and lowered her head to gloss over the situation.

She knew The Retired Emperor might have noticed something, but if she didn't say it, The Retired Emperor probably wouldn't understand Fubao's words either.

"Come over!" The Retired Emperor said coldly.

Yuan Qingling slowly stood up and walked over. "Your Majesty, please give your order."

"What were you thinking just now? Why did your expression change dramatically?" The Retired Emperor asked directly.

Yuan Qingling glanced at Eunuch Chang and Xi Mama. She shook her head, "Replying to Your Majesty, I was not thinking about anything. My change of complexion was probably because I'm physically weak and haven't eaten breakfast."

Xi Mama smiled and said, "His Majesty hasn't eaten yet either. It's being prepared now and will be ready soon."

"Thank you, Mama Xi," Yuan Qingling said softly.

The Retired Emperor didn't ask further. After being detoxified, his body was very weak. He couldn't even glare at Yuan Qingling for long.

Breakfast was meat congee. After two bowls, Yuan Qingling felt her strength gradually returning. Fubao's tongue hung out long and saliva kept dripping. She smiled and said to Xi Mama, "Fubao can drink congee now. Make some for it, but don't add salt. Dogs should eat light food. In fact, His Majesty should eat light too."

"I can't eat plain food," The Retired Emperor said hastily.

"You must!" Yuan Qingling turned her head and looked at him seriously.

"You, a nosy woman, manage everything under the sun, and now even what I eat!" The Retired Emperor was angry. He knew it was a mistake calling her over.

"I don't manage other things, but diet must be managed!" Yuan Qingling punned.

The Retired Emperor stopped talking then.

This old man is so shrewd.

So does he know who poisoned him? Will he think it was Xiao Luo Zi?

Xi Mama went to make meat congee for Fubao, and Eunuch Chang went to supervise the soup cooking.

Chu Mingcui's fists tightened slightly as hatred grew in her heart. His Majesty had always doted on Prince Qi and herself. If the Emperor did not allow her in, His Majesty would not do this. She could not sit still and wait for death. She must gain His Majesty's renewed favor. If she did not attend to him in the palace, she could not stop Yuan Qingling.

Thinking of this, she smiled slightly. "Why not wait a little longer?"

"But Mother is in poor health. Isn't it better we go back to accompany Mother?" Prince Qi knew Chu Mingcui was being filial and did not want to make things difficult for her.

Hearing this, Chu Mingcui suddenly said to Prince Qi, "That's right. I heard Consort Xian has been suffering frequent headaches recently. Why don't we go visit Consort Xian?"

When she spoke, she glanced intentionally or unintentionally at Yuan Qingling.

Yuan Qingling ignored her and went back inside. She was suspicious in her heart. Consort Xian was the birth mother of Yuwen Hao. She had always stayed out of politics. Even when Yuwen Hao was seriously injured this time, she did not come. The Emperor must have blocked the news and not allowed her to know.

Back inside the hall, Mu Ru Eunuch had also left.

Xi Mama was feeding Fubao congee. Yuan Qingling casually put the pearls on the table and went to take The Retired Emperor's temperature.

"This thing is too cold," The Retired Emperor complained.

Yuan Qingling was used to his complaints by now and simply ignored him.

The Retired Emperor was very bored. He glanced at the tray on the table. "What nice things did he reward you?"

"South sea pearls and an IOU for one thousand taels of gold," Yuan Qingling said.

"An IOU?" The Retired Emperor laughed. "Girl, you'd better treasure it."

"I know. Eunuch Mu said these south sea pearls were tributes from Ryukyu, top treasures."

"What are pearls worth? Dead objects, neither filling nor warming. The IOU is the treasure."

Yuan Qingling was puzzled. "How is the IOU a treasure?"

"Didn't Turtle Son owe you one thousand taels of gold? Why did he give you an IOU?" The Retired Emperor asked.

"..." Turtle Son, so does that make you Old Turtle? "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

"Take a closer look at the IOU. In the future if you face mortal danger, take this IOU into the palace. Perhaps it can save your life."

Hearing this, Yuan Qingling hurriedly fetched the IOU and opened it. Written in swirling calligraphy was "Owed to the Princess of Chu, one thousand taels of gold." Below, by the large seal, a few small words were added: If you don't care for money, you can exchange it for something else.

Yuan Qingling was confused. "Why did His Majesty write it like this?"

"Who knows? Perhaps he saw something." The Retired Emperor shrugged.

As he shrugged, his armpit opened and the thermometer probe dropped out. He fished it out and handed it to Yuan Qingling. "Done."

Yuan Qingling took it and saw no fever, his temperature was normal.

"I'm going to sleep now. You go out and fight the battle," The Retired Emperor mumbled with eyes closed.