Ao Heng had actually ordered her to enter the palace to meet him! And it was while Qiao Yanhui wasn’t around! If it wasn’t an imperial edict, it would have been fine. She could pretend to be sick. However, this was an imperial edict. Since it was stamped with a seal, she couldn’t disobey it directly. Otherwise, she would be executed! She didn’t have the ability to go against the entire country. Moreover, she couldn’t react so intensely just because of a meeting.
“Please allow me to put on a dignified gown first.” Xu Qing had already recovered, but Uncle Yu was extremely anxious.
The person who came to announce the decree was Ao Heng’s personal butler. He was actually a very arrogant person, but he still had scruples in Qiao Yanhui’s house. After all, even the emperor had scruples in Qiao Yanhui’s house! He only reminded her, “Please hurry up. The emperor is waiting in the palace.”
Xu Qing knew what Ao Heng was thinking. Since he looked for her when Qiao Yanhui wasn’t around, he naturally wouldn’t give her a chance to ask for help. Of course, she wouldn’t either, but there were some things she had to say.
The three children followed Xu Qing the entire time. Seeing the solemn expressions of the people in the room, they were all very uneasy. Even the little fox paced around beside Xu Hanxue. Xu Yuanguang held the dagger Ao Jie had given her yesterday tightly and looked up at Xu Qing. “Mother, I’ll go with you.”
Actually, Xu Qing wasn’t worried that Ao Heng would do anything to her. After all, Ao Heng was still very afraid of Qiao Yanhui. He might have summoned her this time to test her. Xu Qing said in relief, “Don’t worry, I will be fine. I promise you all that I will return safely.”
“Mother, you have to keep your word.” Xu Tingdeng was very sensitive, so he didn’t feel at ease.
“Mother, you have to keep your word!” Xu Hanxue looked expectant.
“Okay!” Xu Qing kissed her daughter’s face. Her three children were really sensitive. They could sense many emotions even if she didn’t say anything. They were so sensible that it made her heart ache!
Uncle Yu also went forward and said, “Madam, I think we should wait for the general to come back. I have a way to stall for time…” Uncle Yu didn’t dare to bet on what that selfish man would do. If something really happened and the general went crazy, there would be a crisis!
Xu Qing shook her head. How long could the people outside wait? If things blew up, the children would be even more afraid. “Uncle Yu, don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I’ll get Qiao Yi and Qiao Er to secretly protect me.”
“But…” Uncle Yu was worried.
Xu Qing went to change with Xun Fen.
When Xu Qing came out again, the butler said, “Madam, the emperor only wants to see you.” After saying that, he looked at Teng Nian and Xun Fen, who had been following Xu Qing closely.
Teng Nian and Xun Fen’s expressions turned even uglier! If they didn’t follow Xu Qing, how could they protect her?
Xu Qing had already expected it and said to Teng Nian and Xun Fen, “Stay here and take good care of the three children.”
“Miss…” Xun Fen was a little anxious.
Xu Qing gave them a reassuring look and got into the car prepared by the butler before leaving.
Along the way, Xu Qing thought of what Qiao Yanhui had told her about his mother, Qiao Jiqing. She was an extremely beautiful woman and the only daughter of the Qiao family. She had always been weak and sickly, and she stayed indoors all year round. The Qiao family had been soldiers for generations, and the connections they had accumulated were enough to protect Qiao Jiqing, an orphan. However, later on, she met Ao Heng and the two of them fell in love. Ao Heng ignored everyone’s objections and married her!
At that time, Uncle Yu and the others had dissuaded Qiao Jiqing. It was very likely that Ao Heng was only worried about the Qiao family’s orphan girl and that was why he brought her to the royal family. After all, if he was sincere, why did he hide his identity when he met her? Who in the capital didn’t know that Qiao Jiqing was recuperating in the suburbs? This was all too suspicious. They were worried that if something happened to Qiao Jiqing, the Qiao family would be wiped out.
However, Qiao Jiqing was in love for the first time, and Ao Heng had promised to only love her in his life. She was too naive, so she resolutely chose Ao Heng.
However, she didn’t expect his love for her to disappear so quickly. He knew that she wasn’t in good health and how much pain she had to endure to give birth to their child, but when she was pregnant, Ao Heng actually impregnated another woman…
At that time, Qiao Jiqing was depressed, so her already ill health worsened even more. When she was about to give birth, she was slandered. People said that she was a cheater and that the child in her stomach wasn’t Ao Heng’s…