Rebirth of the Duke's Daughter and the Little Imperial Uncle

Chapter 18 Parents and the Emperor and Empress (1)

The Empress said sternly, "Guards, immediately report to the Emperor what has happened here. The Emperor will decide everything." Not long after, the Emperor arrived in a flurry. As soon as he stepped into the room, he saw He Mingwen kneeling on the ground. He was instantly enraged and roared, "You worthless scoundrel! How dare you do such a despicable thing! Guards, drag this rebellious son away and give him fifty strokes of the cane, a year's salary deduction, and confine him to his residence for six months!"

Upon hearing this, He Mingwen was extremely anxious and immediately kowtowed, begging for mercy, "Father, please calm your anger! Your son is truly innocent! It is clear that someone has deliberately plotted to harm me. Please, Father, investigate thoroughly!" Consort Ning, who was standing nearby, was also sobbing uncontrollably. She choked out to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, Mingwen is usually well-behaved and sensible, and has always listened to my teachings. How could he have committed such a grave mistake? There must be more to this matter than meets the eye. I beg Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly!"

Upon hearing this, He Yanjing's lips curled into a sly smile. She spoke slowly and deliberately, "Consort Ning, could it be that this matter was orchestrated by you and your son? Just now, He Mingwen insisted with absolute certainty that he and Miss Qin of the Duke's mansion were in love, but after meeting her, he changed his story and claimed that he had been drugged and framed. It's truly perplexing! Your Majesty, this matter must be thoroughly investigated."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor instantly understood. It was clear that He Mingwen and Consort Ning had failed in their attempt to harm Qin Yaoyao and had instead been outmaneuvered. The reason for this plot against Qin Yaoyao was obvious. The Emperor roared in fury, "Guards! Take the Third Prince away and execute him immediately! As for the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Liu, since things have come to this, bestow her upon the Third Prince as his principal wife, and the wedding will be held on a chosen date. Consort Ning failed to properly educate the Third Prince, leading him to commit this grave error; effective immediately, Consort Ning is demoted to Consort Ning. Furthermore, the Qin family maid suffered greatly in this matter; Consort Ning and the Third Prince's residence must compensate Yaoyao for all her losses. A woman's reputation is of paramount importance and must not be taken lightly! This matter will be overseen by the Empress."

Upon hearing this, the Empress looked troubled and hurriedly began, "Your Majesty, this might be inappropriate... Your Majesty..." She trailed off, looking hesitant. Seeing this, the Emperor felt pity and said gently, "It's alright. You are in charge of everything. If there are any complaints, have them comply until you are satisfied. If anyone dares to harbor resentment or refuse to cooperate, let me know directly. I want to see who dares to disobey my imperial decree!" Hearing this, the Empress smiled slightly and softly replied, "Your Majesty, I accept your command and thank you."

The Emperor smiled slightly and gently patted the Empress's head. The Empress quickly glanced around and, seeing everyone staring in disbelief, her cheeks flushed instantly, unable to hide her shyness. She glared fiercely at the Emperor. Seeing this, the Emperor felt a surge of joy and thought to himself, "My Xue'er is truly adorable!" Then, he said to the Empress, "I have important matters to attend to and must take my leave."

The Empress then led everyone to respectfully see the Emperor off, but the Emperor didn't even give Consort Ning a glance when he left.

After the Emperor had walked away, He Yanxi spoke up, "Sister-in-law, since the Prince has been punished for slandering others, then the others who committed the offenses should also be punished." The Empress smiled and replied, "Indeed, they must be severely punished to prevent similar incidents from happening again." Hearing this, He Yanxi's lips curled into a sly smile, and he said, "Sister-in-law, rest assured, leave this matter to me. I have remembered those who spread rumors and tarnished others' reputations, and I will certainly seek justice for Miss Qin." Qin Yaoyao couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle softly, thinking to herself that this guy was truly cunning, and said gratefully, "Thank you for your help, Your Highness." He Yanxi raised his eyebrows but remained silent.

Just moments ago, those who had been pointing fingers and gossiping about Qin Yaoyao were now unusually tense and uneasy, especially Tao Chunni and her daughter, who were trembling uncontrollably. Upon hearing He Yanxi's words, they secretly rejoiced, relieved that only financial compensation was required and their master hadn't been implicated; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable! He Yanxi acted swiftly and decisively. Before his words had even finished, he instructed Lan Yu behind him to record everyone present, even meticulously registering the specific amount each family needed to pay. He then dispatched Lan Yu to handle the matter. Seeing this, everyone quickly found various excuses to leave.

Meanwhile, He Yanchen, accompanied by her fourth brother, arrived at Chaoyang Palace. The princess turned to her personal maid, Cui'er, and instructed, "Cui'er, quickly brew a pot of hot tea." Cui'er replied, "Yes, Your Highness." Soon after, Cui'er carefully placed the freshly brewed tea on the table. He Yanchen then instructed Cui'er, "Stand guard outside the door and do not let anyone disturb us." Cui'er quickly nodded in agreement and replied, "Yes, Your Highness, please rest assured." With that, she swiftly withdrew outside, dutifully guarding the place.

After Cui'er left, He Yanchen watched her go, then slowly turned around and looked at Qin Yunqi, who was sitting opposite him and gracefully pouring tea for him.

At this moment, He Yanchen was filled with complex emotions and didn't know how to speak. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and tried to use the act of drinking tea to cover up her nervousness and unease.

Qin Yunqi keenly noticed He Yanchen's unusual behavior. He put down the teapot in his hand, stared at the other person, and asked softly, "Princess, didn't you have something to say to me?"

He Yanchen's eyes darted around, her lips trembled slightly, but she couldn't utter a sound. Finally, she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but her voice still stammered, "I... um... um..." Qin Yunqi's eyes flashed with tenderness upon seeing this. He gently encouraged her, "Princess, please ask whatever you wish to ask. There's no need to be so nervous."

He Yanchen glanced gratefully at Qin Yunqi, composed herself, and mustered her courage to ask, "What you just said... is it true?" As she finished speaking, she gripped the cup in her hand tightly, as if drawing strength from it.

Qin Yunqi nodded without hesitation and solemnly replied, "Princess, everything I have said is true. I have been delighted with you since our first meeting ten years ago. However, I went up the mountain with my master to learn martial arts, and six years have passed since then. After returning, I have been looking for every opportunity to visit you at the White Horse Temple..."

He Yanchen stared wide-eyed at Qin Yunqi, his face filled with disbelief. His voice trembled slightly as he asked, "Then why...did you never look for me? Even when we occasionally bumped into each other, you would always just give a respectful bow and walk past me like a stranger. I tried to talk to you several times, but you ignored me completely, walking right past me without paying any attention. At that time, I really thought...you no longer recognized me." By the end, He Yanchen's eyes had dimmed, and he lowered his head slightly, seemingly somewhat lost.

Seeing this, Qin Yunqi quickly explained, "How could I not remember you? It's just that I'm not sure if you remember me, since we only met once. And regarding your actions of ignoring me, there was a reason for it. I was always accompanied by someone at the time, and I was worried that if others saw us, it would inevitably cause gossip and damage your reputation. Originally, I planned to find a suitable opportunity to ask you about the situation. Unfortunately, you have been living in the palace and rarely go out, so I have never been able to do so. Later, I heard that you already have someone else in your heart, so I dared not disturb you so easily."

Upon hearing Qin Yunqi's words, He Yanchen's tears flowed like a burst dam, streaming down her cheeks. She choked out, "I'm sorry... I really didn't know. I dared not stay in the princess's residence because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to control my impulse to find you. However, you don't like me, and if I did, it would probably only cause you trouble, or even make you hate me. I really don't want to be hated by you, so I'd rather stay in the palace and not go out anymore."

"Later, my mother and sister-in-law mentioned that they would choose a consort for me to arrange my marriage. In fact, I was very unwilling, but I knew that I was too old to delay any longer. My mother told me that if I did not make a choice myself, then they would decide for me. At that time, I thought that no matter who became my consort, as long as that person was not you, it would make no difference to me. But I never expected that you would return today."

Qin Yunqi looked at He Yanchen, who was sobbing softly, with a face full of pity. His heart was filled with regret and self-blame. At this moment, he no longer cared about so-called etiquette and rules. Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled He Yanchen into a tight embrace, and whispered to comfort her, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. If I had been braver back then, whether you still remember me or not, I would have come to you and asked you for an explanation. Then today's events might not have happened, and I've made you so worried. It's all my responsibility."

Upon hearing this, He Yanchen cried even harder, as if she wanted to vent all the grievances and anxieties she had endured over the past few days through her tears.

Qin Yunqi stared at the woman in his arms, who was crying her heart out, his heart filled with endless remorse. He wished he could slap himself right then and there. He didn't know how much time had passed before He Yanchen finally stopped crying. She slowly pulled away from Qin Yunqi's warm embrace, her gaze falling on his tear-soaked clothes. A hint of shyness appeared on her face as she softly apologized, "I'm so sorry, I've dirtied your clothes..."

Qin Yunqi smiled slightly, indicating that he didn't mind, and instead asked with concern, "Are you feeling better now? Do you need me to lend you my shoulder to lean on again?" Before he finished speaking, He Yanchen's face instantly turned red. She glared at Qin Yunqi angrily and shouted, "Qin Yunqi!" Then, she raised her small pink fist and swung it at Qin Yunqi. Qin Yunqi couldn't help but laugh out loud, and took her hands tightly, then gently kneaded them, and said softly, "Okay, okay, I wasn't joking with you anymore."

Immediately afterward, Qin Yunqi slowly released her hand, then gently placed his hands on her shoulders, gazing at her with firm and loving eyes, and solemnly declared, "Princess, I have long been in love with you. From now on, let me take good care of you! I will stay by your side until the day you tire of me. You can rest assured, our family has an ancestral precept that men must never take concubines. Therefore, I will never let you suffer any grievances, please trust me."

He Yanchen gazed quietly at the focused and sincere young man before him, nodded with delight, and softly replied, "I believe you." As he spoke, he couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke the young man's chiseled, resolute face. For a moment, both of them were stunned, seemingly not expecting this sudden action.

After regaining her senses, He Yanchen hurriedly withdrew her hand and apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..." However, she was interrupted before she could finish speaking. Qin Yunqi quickly moved closer and his lips covered hers without warning. He Yanchen felt her mind go blank, as if she had lost the ability to think.

Originally, Qin Yunqi intended to give just a light kiss, but the moment their lips touched, the cold and delicate touch made him lose his senses, with only one thought in his mind—he wanted more, for longer... Just as Qin Yunqi was about to let go, He Yanchen seemed to wake up from a dream and slowly and awkwardly gave a response.

This response was like a clear spring flowing into Qin Yunqi's body, making him feel as if he had found a treasure, and he became even more deeply immersed in the passionate kiss. Time passed by, and they were so engrossed in it that they couldn't extricate themselves until the very last moment. Qin Yunqi gazed at the princess before him, her cheeks flushed from the kiss, his heart overflowing with joy.

The princess, blushing uncontrollably, quickly covered Qin Yunqi's eyes with her hands, playfully scolding, "You're not allowed to look at me!" Qin Yunqi chuckled softly, pulling her tightly into his arms, his heart filled with boundless satisfaction. He murmured softly, "From now on, may I call you 'Achen'?"

Upon hearing this, He Yanchen looked up, her face beaming with joy, and nodded without hesitation, "Okay!" Then, Qin Yunqi gently said to her, "Then you can call me 'Yunqi'." The princess blushed again and replied softly, "Okay."

Qin Yunqi looked up at the sky and saw that it was getting late, so he said softly, "It's getting late, and I should leave now. I'll take you out for a stroll in a couple of days." Upon hearing this, the princess nodded obediently and replied softly, "Okay, I'll wait for you."

Qin Yunqi walked briskly out of Chaoyang Palace, but he didn't see his mother and younger siblings. A sense of doubt arose in his heart, so he stopped a passing palace maid and asked what was going on.

The palace maid told him, "Today's poetry competition ended abruptly for some reason, and everyone has already left." Upon hearing this, Qin Yunqi frowned slightly, pondering what might have happened.

Without a second thought, he decided to rush back to his residence immediately. His steps hurried through the bustling streets, his anxiety growing. Finally, when the familiar mansion came into view, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon entering the mansion, Qin Yunqi went straight to the inner hall, only to find the house quiet and unperturbed. Just as he was wondering about this, a servant came up to him and informed him that his family had all returned to their rooms to rest safely.

Qin Yunqi's heart finally settled down. He gently pushed open the door to his mother's room and saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes revealing a hint of fatigue. Seeing her son return, his mother smiled and said, "Yunqi, don't worry. There was just something that needed to be taken care of at the poetry gathering, so it ended early. We're all fine."

Qin Yunqi nodded and comforted his mother, "That's good. I was really worried while I was out. In that case, Mother, you should rest early too." After saying that, he turned around to check on his younger brother and sister, and only after confirming that they were all safe and sound did he return to his room with peace of mind.

After returning home from the poetry competition, Qin Yaoyao was filled with curiosity about the relationship between her mother and the Empress. So, she pestered her mother, begging her to tell her about her past friendship with the Empress. Her mother, unable to refuse, finally spoke: "Actually, the Empress and I have known each other since childhood; we are inseparable best friends. As for your father, he and the current Emperor are like brothers; they are truly bosom buddies. Back then, your father served as the Emperor's study companion; they grew up together, as close as brothers."

Then, Mother continued reminiscing: "Back then, your father and I were not yet married. This marriage was arranged by our elders. When the Emperor was still the Crown Prince, your maternal grandfather and your paternal grandfather were both tutors to the Crown Prince. One was skilled in literature and doctrine, and the other was proficient in martial arts and military strategy. They not only served in the same court but were also the top scholars in the civil and military examinations of the same period, and had a very close personal relationship. In addition, your maternal grandmother and paternal grandmother were pregnant at almost the same time. The two families decided that if the children born were of the same sex, they would be sworn brothers; if they were a boy and a girl, they would become in-laws. Unfortunately, both children were born to be boys, so your eldest uncle and maternal uncle naturally became brothers." "The parents of both families were very sorry about this. They had originally hoped that the two children could become in-laws. However, fate always seems to be full of drama. Soon after, your paternal grandmother became pregnant and gave birth to your father, but your maternal grandmother was unable to conceive again. Just when everyone thought that the agreement could not be fulfilled, Lady Luck finally smiled upon them—your maternal grandmother became pregnant with me."

So, the two families revisited their old agreement. This time, before her mother could even finish speaking, Qin Yaoyao agreed without hesitation. In this way, the regret between the two families was finally remedied.

“Hmm,” Mother nodded gently in response, “We were taught about marriage from a young age. Your father kept a proper distance from other women after he learned about it; and so did I. As time went by, we grew up and reached marriageable age, naturally entering into marriage. As for the Emperor and Empress? Actually, their union was also facilitated by your father and me.”