Xiao Yun went back and sought credit from Wang Qingyao. Wang Qingyao praised him for being capable, kissed him several times, and he was so delighted his mouth almost stretched to his ears.
The next day, he still skipped work.
Wang Qingyao lightly kicked him in bed, "You'll be late."
He rolled over, hugged Wang Qingyao, and mumbled, "I'm not going to the Ministry of Revenue today. Didn't you say you wanted to go to Dabie Mountain? We couldn't go yesterday, so let's go first thing this morning. Have someone prepare the things..."
Wang Qingyao's heart warmed. She hadn't expected Xiao Yun to be so considerate. Although Xiao Yun would ultimately benefit from this, the fact that he remembered something she had mentioned made her feel that he was truly a good person.
She had thought they couldn't go yesterday because of the rain, and she didn't know when they would be able to go next.
Excitedly, she propped herself up on Xiao Yun and kissed his neck several times.
"Stop sleeping, get up quickly. Don't let it rain again later."
Xiao Yun felt ticklish from her kisses and laughed with his eyes closed.
"I'm the one who's cursed, why are you more eager than I am?"
Wang Qingyao laughed, "The Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu said that my destiny is precious and I can resolve the Xiao family's curse. Naturally, I have to demonstrate this value and not tarnish the Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu's reputation."
Xiao Yun laughed even harder, "That guy, Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu, doesn't have any reputation to speak of."
Wang Qingyao dragged him up, "Better safe than sorry. Stop sleeping, we still need to pay respects to Grandmother."
Xiao Yun leaned his face towards her, "Kiss me."
Wang Qingyao pinched his cheek lightly and kissed him a few more times. He finally woke up.
Soon, they were dressed, washed, and tidied up, and then they went hand in hand to the Old Imperial Consort's courtyard to pay their respects.
Xiao Yun mentioned going to offer sacrifices. The Old Imperial Consort asked curiously, "Why go on this day?"
Wang Qingyao did not hide it from the Old Imperial Consort, "To look for clues about the curse, and see if the ancestors can give me a dream."
The Old Imperial Consort was amused by her and did not delay them further, urging them to set off quickly.
The sacrificial offerings were prepared yesterday, so there was nothing more to prepare today. They set off soon.
In the carriage, Wang Qingyao spoke to Xiao Yun about Grand Tutor Wei.
"Although Empress Xiaoxian's death was related to Grand Tutor Wei, after all..."
Before she could finish, Xiao Yun exclaimed in shock, "Empress Xiaoxian's death was related to Grand Tutor Wei?"
Wang Qingyao was also surprised, "Ah, didn't I tell you last time..."
"No, when did you tell me?"
"It was when Fang Zheng's father inherited his title. Grand Tutor Wei threatened me, didn't I tell you?"
Xiao Yun shook his head.
Wang Qingyao recalled carefully. At that time, her mind was entirely focused on how to explain the original owner's suicide to Xiao Yun. It seemed... it seemed she really hadn't told him about Empress Xiaoxian.
She chuckled sheepishly a few times, "I forgot."
She then recounted her suspicions at the time and Grand Tutor Wei's reaction.
Xiao Yun pondered, "Even if Grand Tutor Wei was truly involved in Empress Xiaoxian's death, it's been almost twenty years now. All the evidence is gone."
Wang Qingyao clapped her hands, "Exactly, that's right. Since there's no evidence, why is Grand Tutor Wei still clinging to me, insisting on finding out the origin of 'Deep Palace Tragic Love Secret History'? What does that indicate?"
Xiao Yun's eyelids twitched.
Wang Qingyao looked at him and said meaningfully, "Because the Eldest Prince is still alive!"
Xiao Yun's expression turned serious, his brows deeply furrowed.
Wang Qingyao delivered the final blow, "Grand Tutor Wei is actually investigating the whereabouts of the Eldest Prince!!"
"Heavens!" Xiao Yun could only utter this sound.
The Eldest Prince?!
If the Eldest Prince truly existed, he would be the Emperor's only legitimate son. Then, what chance would Consort Wei's three sons have of inheriting the throne?
No wonder Grand Tutor Wei was so anxious and determined to investigate!
"Grand Tutor Wei probably has no other leads, which is why he's shamelessly pestering me, trying to get information from me."
Xiao Yun nodded in agreement.
Wang Qingyao lowered her voice, "Should we tell the Emperor about this?"
Xiao Yun glanced at her and shook his head, "This is all our speculation. We don't have a shred of evidence. How can we tell the Emperor?"
"Alas," Wang Qingyao sighed, "Then what should we do?"
Xiao Yun thought for a moment, "Should we also send people to investigate the whereabouts of the Eldest Prince?"
Wang Qingyao nodded, "I'll go see Consort Chen again another day and see if I can find anything out. You should have someone investigate the palace maids, midwives, and imperial physicians who attended Empress Xiaoxian during her childbirth back then."
Xiao Yun appraised her with a half-smile, "Why are you so clear about these things? You explain them so articulately and logically?"
Wang Qingyao dismissed it, "I often read these kinds of storybooks in that world, I've read so many, I can recall them easily."
"Are these kinds of storybooks so popular? The court doesn't ban them?"
Wang Qingyao casually replied, "The court in my place is different from yours. We don't have an emperor. We are very free. Freedom of speech, freedom of dress. Within the bounds of the law, everything is very free."
Xiao Yun's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Wang Qingyao said "my place," not "what I dreamt."
She had let slip.
She really did come from another world.