Xiaoliju by Qinghu Lake was previously named Huaqingyuan, which was a word from the two names Duanhua and Qingning. No one except them knew that it was the place where the two fell in love.

Princess Protector spent several years carefully building this villa, hoping to live a leisurely life here after Zhang Qingning retired from the court. However, all of this was wiped out by Zhang Qingtian's rebellion.

After the rebellion was completely put down, she did not hesitate to hand over the military power and never interfered in the government affairs. On the one hand, she was disheartened by Zhang Qingning's death, and on the other hand, she was worried about arousing the suspicion of Emperor Yuan He, so that Jing Heng would not be able to grow up safely.

.

She allowed Jing Heng to hate her father and never explained it to him for so many years. Only he was full of hatred for Zhang Qingning and hated the rebellious Zhang Qingtian. Only then could Emperor Yuan He tolerate him, who has the blood of the Zhang family.

's nephew.

No matter how smart Jing Heng is who is only three years old, he cannot know all of this. Being "abandoned" by Zhang Qingning has become a thorn in his heart. The thought that has been lingering in his mind for more than ten years is still that of being stabbed by his father with a sword.

A scene towards the chest.

Qin Xiaoxiao hugged the trembling man tightly, feeling so distressed that he couldn't help himself: "Brother Li, no matter what the truth is, it has been so many years, please stop torturing yourself, okay?"

Jingheng's eyes were blood red, and he fell into deep regret: "He, does he know that as long as he lives, as long as he lives, even if he does not have a prominent background, even if he is demoted to a commoner with him, as long as he lives, I

As long as he lives..."

Qin Xiaoxiao's tears burst out, wishing she could bear the heartache for him: "Brother Li, father, father hopes you live a good life, and he, Youzhi Quanxia, ​​definitely doesn't want to see you like this!"

Jing Heng's breathing became rapid and he could no longer listen to her words.

Qin Xiaoxiao was extremely anxious and stroked his back over and over again to comfort him: "This is my father's choice, not your fault!"

At this moment, she regretted telling the truth. This would be another huge harm to Jingheng. She might be immersed in regret all the time. This was not what she wanted to see.

But it's too late to say anything now. All she can do is help him face this matter: "Do you know where my father is buried? The New Year is here, let's take the children to worship, okay? Let him see it.

look after baby."

This time, Jing Heng had a reaction: "I don't know. I have never asked my mother or visited him at his grave in these years. He must blame me."

Qin Xiaoxiao shook his head hastily: "No, no, father will understand, so why would he blame you..."

After her persuasion, Jing Heng calmed down a bit and hugged her tightly: "I am too stupid to understand his good intentions for so many years. If, if I could have done it earlier..."

Qin Xiaoxiao sighed secretly and patted his back gently as if coaxing him silently: "How old were you then? If you had figured it out earlier, would it be a good thing?"

Jingheng fell silent.

Qin Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do you resent His Majesty?"

In the darkness, Jing Heng's expression dimmed: "Uncle Huang and Aunt Huang have a deep relationship, and my little cousin and I are with each other every day. Both their mother and son died at the hands of Zhang Qingtian, even if my father and I had to sacrifice our lives for our lives.

Of course, how can I have the face to resent Uncle Huang?"

Conspiracy was a major crime against the Nine Tribes. When their father and son were forgiven by Emperor Yuanhe, it was an act of mercy outside the law. Zhang Qingning's death was his own choice and could not be blamed on Emperor Yuanhe.

It was just that Xiao Jingheng was only three years old at that time, and he witnessed his beloved father being killed by random arrows from the guards. If he had known the truth earlier, he would have thought that Emperor Yuan He forced him to death.

Once his heart was full of resentment towards Emperor Yuan He and the royal family, Emperor Yuan He would not be able to let him grow up in peace. There are many ways to destroy a person, and it is not necessarily necessary to kill him.

This answer made Qin Xiaoxiao breathe a sigh of relief, and put his forehead against Jingheng's forehead: "Brother Li, let's look forward together, okay?"

Jing Heng stroked her face and whispered: "Okay."

That night, neither of them slept well.

When Qin Xiaoxiao woke up the next day, Jingheng had already stepped on the snow to go to court. She had breakfast in the house, then wrapped herself in a thick cloak and braved the snow to the main hall.

Princess Protector smiled and said: "Today is not the day to say hello, but you have something important to tell me?"

Qin Xiaoxiao glanced at Hongying and the others and nodded: "I have something I want to ask my mother."

Upon seeing this, Princess Protector raised her hand and waved away Hongying and others, and soon only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were left in the room.

Qin Xiaoxiao looked at Princess Protector's peaceful face and felt timid, fearing that she would be sad again when she remembered the past.

Princess Protector is so smart. One look at her expression and guessed that what she wanted to ask was not simple: "Just ask whatever you want. You will only make me worry."

Qin Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and quietly paid attention to her face: "Mom, the Chinese New Year is coming soon. Brother Li and I want to bring Mo Mo and Nao Nao to pay homage to our father."

Princess Protector's eyelashes trembled slightly: "Okay... you are determined."

But he didn't ask them why they suddenly wanted to worship.

Although everything seemed normal to her, Qin Xiaoxiao's emotions were so depressed that he subconsciously held her hand: "Mother, I..."

Princess Protector raised her hand to interrupt her words, with a hint of gratitude in her eyes: "Xiaoxiao, thanks to you... He must be very happy to see you."

Qin Xiaoxiao shook her head hurriedly: "Mom, we should have gone to visit our father early. I just hope that my father will not blame me!"

Princess Protector touched her head and said with a faint smile: "No, I'm afraid he never thought that one day you would visit him."

Qin Xiaoxiao felt extremely uncomfortable. She was already sure that her guess was correct. Her father-in-law chose to die to save Brother Li.

"Originally, I thought Ah Li would never know about it, and I didn't plan to tell him, but I didn't expect him to know it anyway." Princess Protector gently wiped away her tears, and her face was full of joy: "A Li married you.

, is his blessing."

Qin Xiaoxiao said with a tearful tone: "Mom, I am also lucky to have a mother-in-law like you and a husband like Brother Li."

Princess Protector's smile became more loving: "Your father will also like you when he sees you. He wanted a little cotton-padded jacket before he was alive, but it's a pity..."

At this point, she paused and told Qin Xiaoxiao the location of his mausoleum: "He was an elegant man, good at landscape painting and landscape poetry. I buried him on the northeast side of Xiaoliju."

Qin Xiaoxiao was grateful to her father-in-law whom she had never met, but she did not expect that his mausoleum was there. Even for so many years, she and Brother Li did not find a mausoleum on the northeast side of the garden.

It is a nice place surrounded by water and mountains. I also realized that Huaqingyuan, where Xiaoliju is now, had a very special meaning to my mother-in-law.

Thinking of this, she felt sad again and did not dare to show it on her face.

After chatting with Princess Protector for a while in the main hall to make sure that her mood was normal, she got up and returned to Anyiyuan. When she walked under the eaves, she heard the giggles of two little kids coming from the house.

Her mood became a little lighter.

Jing Heng came back very late that day. After making a report to Emperor Yuan He, he hurried to the Maritime Trade Department to deal with the long backlog of official business.

When he returned to the house, it was already past dinner time, and the kitchen prepared another meal for him.

Qin Xiaoxiao sat at the table, ate a little with him, and told him the location of the mausoleum.

Jing Heng was silent for a while, then lowered his eyes and said, "After paying New Year's greetings to my father-in-law and mother-in-law on the third day of the first lunar month, we stayed overnight in Xiaoli and went over to visit him on the fourth day of the lunar month."

Qin Xiaoxiao had no objection and said hurriedly: "I will prepare incense and candle offerings some other day and ask Uncle Shitou to deliver them in advance."

The matter of worshiping has to be done quietly. Fortunately, it has been so many years and no one is watching their every move. As long as they are careful, it will not spread and cause unnecessary suspicion.

Jing Heng put down the bowl and chopsticks, stared at the lights on the table and said, "My father likes to paint. Buy him a pair of drawing paper and brushes. I think he will like it."

Seeing that he still remembered his father-in-law's preferences, Qin Xiaoxiao's throat seemed to be blocked: "Yes, I remembered it."

Jingheng stopped talking, picked up the bowl and continued eating, but he didn't eat much.

After a few days, the weather cleared up and the snow on the ground melted. Qin Xiaoxiao took Xiqiao out in simple clothes. After buying all the sacrifices she needed, she carefully warned Shi Shi and asked him to send them to Xiaoli.

Residence.

In the blink of an eye, another new year has arrived. Compared with the incident that broke out on New Year's Eve last year, this year seems particularly calm and peaceful.

Except for the two cubs who couldn't stay up all night, Qin Xiaoxiao, Jingheng Heng and Princess Huguo didn't go back to their rooms to rest until after eating Yuanbao dumplings.

On the morning of the first day of the first lunar month, a family of five entered the palace to pay homage to Queen Mother Jing. When she saw the memorial tablet of Queen Mother Jing, Qin Xiaoxiao knelt down and cried uncontrollably.

When Empress Dowager Jing passed away, she was still in confinement and could not see off Empress Dowager Jing for the last time. This incident became a regret in her heart. After that, she had no reason to enter the palace, so she never paid homage to her.

All the relatives of the emperor who came to pay homage were there, and when they saw her crying so sadly, the princess and others thought that she was acting coy and deliberately crying for others to gain a reputation as a filial piety.

Some people were even more slanderous, secretly laughing at her that the Empress Dowager Jing was gone, and her crying was in vain.

Hearing her cry, the two little cubs also started crying in confusion, shouting vaguely "Biao", and the two identical little faces were full of tears.

As soon as Emperor Yuan He came over, he heard the cries of his mother and father, and his expression was quite moved. He even hugged the two cubs and comforted them with his own hands.

I don't know whether it was because he seemed kind-hearted or because he had a good rapport with the two little ones, but he really managed to coax him. He made Long Yan very happy and rewarded the two little guys with many things.
Chapter completed!