QT: The Rescue Of The Miserable Bigshots

When Xiao Jinan returned to the bedchamber from the front hall after meeting Jiang Qingshan, he saw Jiang Jiamian just opening his eyes. His complexion was a little pale, and he looked somewhat unwell.

Seeing Xiao Jinan enter with an unmistakable air of satisfaction, Jiang Jiamian was still half-asleep. He looked at him in surprise and asked, "Where did you go so early in the morning?"

"Guess who came."

Xiao Jinan wore an irrepressible smile and was clearly in the mood to keep him in suspense. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

After all, not only had he successfully passed Jiang Qingshan’s test, he had done so far better than expected. The sense of relief and joy had yet to fade.

Jiang Jiamian raised his eyes and glanced at the uncontrollable smile on Xiao Jinan’s face, lifting an eyebrow slightly. "Who is it? Is there really anyone in this world other than me who can make you this happy? Hmm?"

Xiao Jinan: "..."

Is my empress... jealous?

But being jealous of his own father... Xiao Jinan shuddered, forcefully shaking off the goosebumps rising on his arms. He walked over, sat steadily on the edge of the bed, and gently helped Jiang Jiamian sit up.

He lowered his voice and chuckled. "It’s my father-in-law."

"Huh?" Jiang Jiamian was stunned. "So fast?"

That must have been a journey without rest, day and night.

Could it be that the moment Jiang Qingshan received news in the capital that Xiao Jinan had ascended the throne and made him empress, he rushed over to interrogate them?

It had to be said that these two guilty parties truly were a pair. Upon hearing how quickly Jiang Qingshan had arrived, their first reaction was identical.

However, Jiang Jiamian quickly dismissed the thought.

No. If his father had come to interrogate them, Xiao Jinan couldn’t possibly be wearing this expression.

"Where is he?" Jiang Jiamian asked hesitantly.

Now that Jiang Qingshan had arrived, it was only natural that he would want to see his son as soon as possible. Regardless of his attitude, meeting face-to-face would make things clear.

"Father-in-law has traveled a long distance without proper rest." Xiao Jinan said gently. "I’ve already arranged a bedchamber in the palace for him. There’s no rush."

"You should both rest properly. After you’ve slept and eaten well, there will be plenty of time for a proper reunion. I’ve also had the Jiang residence renovated, you can move back at any time."

It wasn’t that he didn’t want them to meet.

But Jiang Qingshan was exhausted from his journey, and Jiang Jiamian... was even more exhausted after last night.

In short, this was not the right moment.

Now that Jiang Qingshan, the most important figure, had arrived, everything could proceed step by step. After a few days of rest, it would be time to announce to the world that the Jiang family had been officially exonerated.

At that time, he would bring out the old emperor to personally apologize and publicly execute the treacherous minister Liu Fu, giving the Jiang family the justice they deserved.

The only remaining and most critical issue was the two northwestern states of Gele and Tuojia.

After all, those were sovereign nations. Revenge could not be completed overnight, large-scale warfare was inevitable.

But since Tuojia had been restless for so long, it would be better to wipe them out in one decisive strike.

"Wait a moment."

Jiang Jiamian raised an eyebrow, propping his chin on his hand. "My father didn’t give you any trouble?"

It really was Jiang Qingshan?

Then why did Xiao Jinan look so strange, so secretive, and smiling nonstop?

Could it be...

"Did he already notice something? Was he mentally prepared?"

Jiang Jiamian wasn’t as slow as Xiao Jinan, and this was his father. Even if not biologically, he had inherited all of the original owner’s memories. His understanding of Jiang Qingshan was no different.

Jiang Qingshan was loyal and righteous, but never rigid or narrow-minded.

Otherwise, Jiang Jiamian would never have dared confess in prison that he intended to board the Huainan King’s warship.

He had spoken frankly because he knew Jiang Qingshan wasn’t blindly loyal. Proud, yes, but also wise enough to choose the better path.

Once this thought surfaced, Jiang Jiamian recalled the month he spent at the Huainan King’s residence, how Jiang Qingshan had looked at him more than once, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Now, he was completely certain.

"I really didn’t expect it!" Jiang Jiamian sighed exaggeratedly. "My father is so perceptive and open-minded. How disappointing."

He shot a sarcastic glance at the emperor behind him, dressed in dignified dragon robes, looking proper and respectable, yet the same man who had turned into a ’criminal’ just last night.

"What a pity. I’m so disappointed."

Seeing that Jiang Jiamian had already figured it out, Xiao Jinan knew there was no need to explain Jiang Qingshan’s attitude further.

But he was surprised by his words. "Disappointed? Isn’t this a good thing? We’ve both eliminated a huge obstacle we couldn’t confront head-on."

"Of course I’m disappointed!"

Jiang Jiamian shrugged. "I was really looking forward to my father coming to the capital and giving you, the emperor, a good beating. I wanted him to vent my anger and scold you properly for all the trouble you’ve caused me. But he didn’t do his job. What a pity! I’m terribly disappointed!"

Xiao Jinan: "..."

What grievance?

"Ahem."

The emperor quickly focused on coaxing his empress. "If you have any grievances, you can vent them on me directly. Don’t let General Jiang worry himself at his age. He should enjoy his life."

"What grievances?"

Jiang Jiamian lowered his hands and pressed his sore lower back with force. "First, my back hurts. Second, go take a walk around the rest of your harem later, you’ll understand then."

Xiao Jinan froze. "The harem? Take a walk?"

What did that mean?

Since the new dynasty had just been established, the court and the world were still unstable. Since ascending the throne, he had been overwhelmed with affairs of state, barely stopping to rest.

Most nights, he arrived at the empress’s palace late and fell asleep almost immediately. They had only been intimate a few times.

Last night, taking advantage of the afterglow of the ceremony, he had finally returned early.

Jiang Jiamian chuckled, slowly reaching for the clothes on the rack beside the bed. "You’ll see when you get there. Tsk, so this is what happens when someone becomes emperor. Plenty of people can’t wait to throw themselves at you."

Xiao Jinan: "..."

Had someone in the palace already begun stirring trouble?

If so, this was indeed his negligence.

After seizing the throne, he urgently needed manpower. Palace servants couldn’t be replaced overnight. Many were former servants of Great An who had surrendered and been spared.

Aside from relocating the concubines to remote residences, he had largely ignored the rest, keeping those who submitted.

It was inevitable that a few would grow restless and seek trouble.

"No rush." Xiao Jinan said, his expression turning cold. "We’ll go together after breakfast."

It was time to establish proper authority, before anyone dared to obstruct his empress.