northernbook Chapter 513 Careful work
Chapter 513 Careful work
These words were practically stating the truth plainly.
Zhao Yi had found the answer in her heart.
A man will only keep a woman's portrait hidden away if he loves her.
However, this alone is not enough to convince the Imperial Tutor to support him as the Crown Prince.
Unless the mother's gratitude towards the Imperial Tutor is equal to the weight of her hatred.
"The Imperial Tutor is indifferent to everything, as if he has no emotions or desires and is untouched by worldly affairs, so I did not speculate in that direction." Zhao Yi still had many questions in his mind, and he needed the Imperial Tutor to answer them.
Shen Qingtan stared at the painting on the wall, feeling a sense of unease.
The Northern Qi emperor included Princess Yizhen in the painting because she gave him a breastplate in the pavilion, which saved his life, and it held a special significance for him.
What about the Imperial Tutor?
Perhaps Princess Yizhen did something in the pavilion that touched the Imperial Tutor, which is why he was so persistent in painting the exact same picture.
Given the extraordinary significance of this painting, why did the Imperial Tutor hang it in the Guangling Prince's Mansion when the Northern Qi Emperor bestowed the mansion upon Zhao Yi?
Given Princess Yizhen's noble character, even if she was forced to submit to the Emperor of Northern Qi, she would never have an improper relationship with the Imperial Tutor.
The Imperial Tutor had a special affection for this painting and was unwilling to destroy it. However, he was also afraid that if the painting were in his possession, it would ruin Princess Yizhen's reputation, so he gave the painting to Zhao Yi.
Shen Qingtan suppressed her many doubts: "Once the Imperial Tutor wakes up, shall we go to his residence to visit him?" She reached out and gently touched the woman in the pavilion with her fingertips: "Perhaps we can learn something about Mother from the Imperial Tutor."
From the stories told by the Imperial Tutor, they should be able to glean clues about any interaction between him and Princess Yizhen. Perhaps by following these clues, they can deduce the true nature of their relationship?
"Okay." Zhao Yi agreed, lifted the lid of his teacup, and took a few sips of tea: "Let's pack our bags first and try to set off in the next day or two."
“You have a residence in Yuncheng. You can write to the steward in advance to arrange your daily food, clothing, and lodging. We just need to prepare a few sets of clothes and some dry food.” Shen Qingtan leaned wearily against the long couch, kicked off her shoes, and gently nudged his hand with one foot, indicating that he should take off his socks. “I already had Liuyue and Tingxue pack these. We can set off at any time.”
Zhao Yi took her foot in his hand, sat down at the foot of the couch, and removed her silk stockings, revealing a pair of fair and delicate feet. He held her feet in his palms; these exquisite little feet were not even as long as his hands.
"It tickles." Shen Qingtan tried to pull her foot back, but Zhao Yi held it tightly in both hands, kneading it inch by inch. The calluses on his palms caressed the tingling sensation on her soles, drilling straight into her heart. She curled her toes and said in a soft voice, "Husband, I'm ticklish, please stop."
Zhao Yi watched as the blush crept onto Shen Qingtan's cheeks, spreading to the corners of her eyes. She gently bit her lower lip, seemingly enduring something. His heart stirred, and he yielded to her, releasing her feet. Before she could react, he pressed himself against her, forcefully kissing her lips, forcing them open. As she responded passionately, he whispered, "Do you really want me to stop?"
Shen Qingtan was still a little shy, but after being married for so long, she was no longer shy in front of him. So, under his gaze, Shen Qingtan hooked her fingers around his belt and skillfully untied it.
Zhao Yi's breath hitched slightly.
Shen Qingtan became even bolder, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling his head down. Her red lips brushed against his ear as she spoke, "Husband, why did you stop? Is your body unable to make love?"
Hearing her teasing, Zhao Yi lay down next to her instead: "Wife, your provocations won't work on me. If you want it, come and get it yourself."
Shen Qingtan's eyes widened slightly, seemingly not expecting him to do such a thing. She was so ashamed and indignant that she lay on top of him, bit his shoulder, and then tried to get off the bed and leave.
Unexpectedly, the man grabbed her waist with both hands and pressed her down.
She sat on his lap.
The next moment, clothes fell to the ground.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting clear shadows of the two figures on the wall. A gentle breeze stirred the sheer curtains, causing them to flutter and the two silhouettes on the wall to sway.
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The Imperial Palace, the Hall of Diligent Governance, the Inner Palace.
After Zhao Yi left, the Emperor of Northern Qi slowly walked to the painting and stared at the two figures in the pavilion. He couldn't help but imagine that if Yi Zhen hadn't been so stubborn and had been willing to submit to him and be as obedient as Consort Shu, she probably wouldn't have died such a tragic death.
The Northern Qi emperor felt no remorse for Yi Zhen's death.
After all, in his view, when Yizhen gave him the protective mirror, she wasn't saving him, but rather saving herself.
Only if he lives can Yizhen have a place to stay.
With his death and the loss of his protection, Yizhen's fate will be far more tragic than if she had stayed by his side.
If Yizhen had any other choice, she probably would have left him long ago.
Thinking of this, the Emperor of Northern Qi looked at the painting and felt disgusted.
He instructed the eunuch beside him: "Take this painting down."
"Yes." The eunuch took down the painting and asked, "Your Majesty, what should be done with this painting?"
The Emperor of Northern Qi said coldly, "Burn it."
It seemed that by doing so, he could completely erase all traces of Yizhen from his sight.
The eunuch carried the painting away.
Subsequently, the Northern Qi emperor summoned Liu Zhengrong, the Right Pillar of State, to the palace and said to him, "Minister Liu, I have arranged for the Prince of Guangling and his consort to reunite with the Prince of Zhenbei of the Great Zhou during the Mid-Autumn Festival. I believe that as long as the Great Zhou has the Prince of Zhenbei, the Northern Qi will find it difficult to win battles. Now we have an opportunity to sow discord between the Jing'an Emperor and the Prince of Zhenbei."
The Right Pillar of State, a trusted minister of the Northern Qi emperor, inquired, "What good plan does Your Majesty have?"
“The Prince of Zhenbei and the Princess of Guangling are father and daughter, and he cherishes the Princess of Guangling like a precious jewel. For this beloved daughter, he not only disregarded his own life, but also used the merits of his sons to exchange for a title and reward for his daughter. His actions are known not only in the Great Zhou, but probably throughout the entire world. Therefore, it is only natural that he would betray his country for his daughter.”
The Northern Qi Emperor revealed his plan: "If I secretly station troops in Yuncheng after the Prince of Zhenbei sees his daughter, how could the Prince of Zhenbei, who is completely unaware of this, possibly report back to the court that Northern Qi has stationed troops on the border and intends to attack them? Moreover, I have planted a spy by the Prince of Zhenbei's side. If this spy relays the news of Northern Qi's troop deployment to Emperor Jing'an, will Emperor Jing'an's trust in the Prince of Zhenbei still be unbreakable?"