Chapter 187 Proposal

"The ruler of a country..."

Lu Haozhi muttered to himself and hugged Meng Yan's slender waist.

"Since I am the ruler of a country, what's wrong with me wanting to win back the woman I love?"

"Since I was chosen as the Crown Prince, my food, clothing, housing and transportation have all been taken care of by others. I have no say in what I wear or what I wear every day. Even my marriage was decided by the late Emperor's decree..."

Hearing Lu Haozhi's tone seemed a little depressed, Meng Yan couldn't help but gently persuade him, "The late emperor... was also considering the situation."

"I understand this principle, and I have never blamed the late emperor. However, I finally have someone I love, so how can I let anyone take her away so easily? Besides, I have already tasted this feeling once, and I really don't want to go through it again. I just want them to send you back."

Lu Haozhi's tone was calm. Taking blood from the heart seemed like a trivial matter to him. "This matter has nothing to do with you. You don't have to take it to heart. I know my limits."

Not wanting Meng Yan to dwell on the matter any further, Lu Haozhi changed the subject. "Yan'er, I've issued strict orders that the news of your awakening must not be spread outside of Shanghe Garden. Currently, only your attendants and a few people close to me and the Queen Mother know about this. Even within the Imperial Hospital, only Xiahou Yu is aware of it."

Meng Yan's mind moved slightly, and she said softly, "The Emperor wants to..."

Lu Haozhi pinched her cheek and said calmly, "When the time is right, I will make you my queen."

He had said to her several times that he would make her the queen, and hearing it now still made her heart tremble.

After putting on the phoenix crown, I stood shoulder to shoulder with him and overlooked the country.

Gazing into her clear eyes, Lu Haozhi smiled and said, "Yan'er, will you marry me? Be my wife in this life."

Meng Yan looked into the man's eyes, and saw her own reflection in his clear eyes. "Okay." Then she took the initiative to raise her lips.

Married together, they will stay together until old age.

The next day, when Meng Yan woke up, it was already bright.

There was no one beside her, so she turned around and saw Lu Haozhi sitting on a chair, drinking tea leisurely.

She sat up, her long black hair hanging down, and smiled, "I woke up late, making Your Majesty laugh at me. Ruizhu and Yunxiang are really unreasonable. They didn't even wake me up, leaving Your Majesty sitting there."

Lu Haozhi waved his hand, "You are weak, you need to rest well. They came in twice this morning, and I chased them out each time."

The palace maid guarding the door outside heard the noise and came in to ask for instructions. Seeing that the empress had indeed woken up, she brought in a washbasin, hot water, towels, soap and other things to help Meng Yan wake up in the morning.

After washing up, Meng Yan learned that Lu Haozhi had not had breakfast yet, so she quickly ordered the palace servants to bring breakfast over.

It was already winter, and there was a custom in Beijing of eating hotpot in winter. Even for breakfast, the imperial kitchen sent a copper pot of yam stewed with mutton.

The silver charcoal was burning red in the brass stove, the white soup in the pot was bubbling, the snow-white yam and soft mutton were rolling up and down in the boiling soup, white smoke was curling, and the fragrance was everywhere.

Mutton soup nourishes the stomach, and yam is also a good warming tonic, which is just right for Meng Yan at the moment.

Lu Haozhi was in a very good mood. He personally served two bowls of soup to Meng Yan. Watching her finish it all, her pretty little face turned rosy and her complexion was very good. She was no longer the gray and sickly look he had seen in March. He felt very happy.

After breakfast, Lu Haozhi and Meng Yan spent some time together, then he put on a mink headband and a fox fur cloak and went to Zhonghe Hall.

Meng Yan sat idly in the main room, having nothing to do and feeling very bored.

She was a patient recuperating from illness, and even though she had woken up temporarily, everyone still treated her like a fragile piece of glass and was extremely cautious of her.

Last night, Lu Haozhi ignored her objections and ordered Ruizhu and Yunxiang to collect all her medical books, and specifically warned them, "You are not allowed to show them to the imperial concubine without my permission."

After taking the medicine and sitting down to drink a cup of tea, she asked about Bai Yuxin, and Ruizhu replied, "Lady Bai was summoned early in the morning to check the charcoal distribution accounts at various places."

Meng Yan couldn't help but smile after hearing this, "Now I have become a free person." As she said this, she considered whether she should go to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Jiang.

Ruizhu said, "The Empress Dowager sent someone to convey an oral order yesterday, saying that the Imperial Concubine had just recovered from a serious illness and would be weak and fatigued. The morning and evening visits for the next few days should be cancelled. The Imperial Concubine should just rest and recuperate."

Even though Meng Yan had been favored by the empress dowager for a long time, she was still quite moved when she heard about this. The empress dowager treated her like her own mother and even thought of these things for her first.

But in this way, she really became a big idler.

Just when she was feeling bored, she suddenly heard a child's voice outside.

"Mother!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Yan hurriedly looked up and saw a small figure rushing in like the wind and throwing himself into her arms.

Meng Yan was bumped by her and uttered a cry of pain. She laughed and said, "Little girl, you were so reckless that you almost knocked your mother over!"

As soon as I said that, my nose felt sore and tears fell.

Doukou threw herself into her arms and cried loudly while hugging her.

"Mother... Mother... I miss you so much... I thought, I thought I was no longer loved by you..."

Although she had only raised the girl by her side for more than half a year, in Meng Yan's heart, this little girl who had lost her parents had already become her own flesh and blood.

During the days of coma, she wandered in the darkness, feeling deeply attached to Lu Haozhi, her brother, and Queen Mother Jiang, but what she was most worried about was Xiao Doukou.

Even though she was a princess and was favored and cared for by the empress dowager and the emperor, a child who lost her mother in the palace also lost the most direct protection.

If she really passed away this time, and the child fell into the hands of someone with ulterior motives, the princess's future would be truly worrying.

In the previous life, Doukou was almost sent to marry a foreign prince by Lin Yanrong, which is a perfect example.

Fortunately, fortunately she is back...

"These two mothers finally met, why are they crying again? Stop crying so much, you're making me laugh."

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled and walked into the room surrounded by palace maids.

Meng Yan quickly wiped away her tears, stood up, and took Doukou with her to greet her. She was about to bow, "Your concubine greets the Empress Dowager..."

Empress Dowager Jiang supported her and exempted her from the formalities. "You are not in good health, so don't excuse yourself. We are mother and mother, and we don't talk about such nonsense."

As she said that, she sat down on the kang opposite Meng Yan.

The palace maid brought up a cup of Pu'er tea. Meng Yan personally served it to her, then sat down beside her with her arms around Doukou.

Today, Empress Dowager Jiang was wearing a Autumn Fragrance colored satin cotton coat with a swastika pattern on it. She also had a crown on her head with the design of the Three Friends of Winter, a silver mouse and a lying rabbit. Her eyes were kind, she looked very energetic, and she looked very happy.

Meng Yan held Doukou in her arms and wiped the child's face with a handkerchief, saying, "It's all my fault for not living up to my expectations and not doing things properly, causing the Empress Dowager to worry."

Empress Dowager Jiang waved her hand and chuckled, "What are you talking about? You're now a great contributor to the Great Zhou. The common people outside are very grateful to you. Even the officials in the court who used to have some complaints about you have changed their minds. Yan'er, you did very well this time." She sighed again, "But I didn't expect it to be so dangerous. After you passed out, I kept wondering if I hadn't said those words to you, would you have taken such a risky move? So, it's actually me who harmed you. Fortunately, you're safe. Otherwise, I would regret it so much, as a mother-in-law, I ended up ruining my own daughter-in-law."

The Queen Mother's voice was filled with both relief and deep remorse.

"Don't say that, Empress Dowager. I did this all voluntarily," Meng Yan said hurriedly, smiling faintly. "I was really muddle-headed in the past, but after your guidance, I finally understood. In life, we must shoulder our own responsibilities to have a clear conscience. The Empress Dowager did this, as did the late Empress, and I should do the same."

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled, her eyes sparkling, without the slightest hint of old age. She nodded and said, "That's right. So, little girl, have you made up your mind? Yesterday, the Emperor should have told you that he wanted to make you empress, right?"

Thinking of the beautiful things last night, Lu Haozhi mentioned the matter of becoming the queen to her during their passionate love. Meng Yan blushed slightly and nodded gently, "The emperor did mention it."

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled and said, "Throughout history, whether it was concubines in the harem or daughters of prominent families, hearing of a new empress, few failed to be overjoyed. The world only sees the glory and power, but knows the bitterness and burden behind it. But I believe that phoenix crown must be a perfect match for you, little girl." As she spoke, the Empress Dowager gave a mischievous smile, "During the time you were asleep, the former court was in turmoil, with a group of old ministers pressuring the Emperor to appoint a new empress. Now, they can finally get their wish..."

Meng Yan smiled knowingly when she heard this.

Empress Dowager Jiang nodded and sighed, "It's time for us to return to the palace."

Imperial City, inside the Yiku Palace.

Liang Chengbi sat on the chair, staring at the two guards with knives guarding outside the hall.

A young palace maid, Bi Tao, brought over a plate of fruit and said timidly, "Your Majesty, please have some snacks."

Liang Chengbi glanced at the fruit plate and said calmly, "Why is it so shabby? Where are the silver thread milk puffs and salt and pepper gold cakes that I ordered this morning?"

Bi Tao looked up at her and whispered, "Your Majesty, the people in the imperial kitchen said that the Emperor had issued an order earlier that the Imperial Concubine had fainted and was unconscious. The entire palace was to pray for her and to keep her food and clothing simple, with all three meals being vegetarian. Therefore, even the daily snacks had to be reduced a bit..."

Bang!

Before she could finish, Liang Chengbi waved his hand and swept the cake plate to the ground.

"Meng Yan! Meng Yan!! Meng Yan!!! It's Meng Yan again!"

"It's all for her, it's all because of her. Whether she lives or dies is none of my business! The Emperor has done everything for her! Why? Is she the Empress?!"

Liang Chengbi lost all her sanity, her eyes were red, and she screamed hysterically. Her originally pretty face was distorted and hideous.

Meng Yan had just gone to Shanghe Garden when Lu Hao followed her.

When Liang Chengbi heard about this, she was so angry that she was fuming. She cursed men in her heart for being so servile. When someone clearly ignored her, she still tried to please him.

Later, an epidemic broke out in the capital, and people in the imperial city and Shanghe Garden also fell ill one after another. She thought that the opportunity had come, and she activated several secret agents that had been planted early on, thinking of taking this opportunity to throw some dirty water on Meng Yan and bring her down in one fell swoop.

Unexpectedly, everything was calm in Shanghe Garden, and the people she sent to gather information never returned, like a drop in the ocean.

No news is probably the worst news.

Did Meng Yan find out? Did the Empress Dowager and the Emperor know?

The worst thing was that her mother asked someone to pass a message to the palace, saying that her father was planning to promote her half-sister and she was about to become an outcast in the family, so she had to think of a solution as soon as possible.

A chill spread from the bottom of his heart, and Liang Chengbi was so frightened that he almost vomited.

Without the emperor's favor and the support of her family, what kind of situation will Liang Chengbi fall into in this harem?

First of all, Meng Yan would not forgive her.

Liang Chengbi was born into a prime minister's family. She had been well-read since childhood and was familiar with historical allusions. She knew that the revenge methods used by the concubines who had been bullied in history after they came to power were extremely cruel.

No... She must not end up like that!

Perhaps God heard her voice, at this critical moment Meng Yan suddenly fell into a coma and was in danger of death.

Liang Chengbi was overjoyed and quickly signaled to his father to take advantage of this opportunity to force the emperor to establish a queen and help him ascend to the throne.

As long as Meng Yan was gone, she would be the concubine in the palace most likely to be crowned empress. Although there was a virtuous concubine above her, Ren Shuyi had been out of favor for many years and her family was weak, so it was impossible for her to be crowned empress.

When she becomes the queen, even if Meng Yan wakes up in the future, she will be trampled under her feet and will never be able to stand up.

However, just when the previous dynasty was in chaos, Rong An suddenly brought an imperial edict from Shanghe Garden. The emperor ordered all the concubines in the palace to pray for the imperial concubine and ask God to bless her to wake up soon.

In addition, he ordered the palace guards to guard all the palaces.

The emperor has decreed that if the imperial concubine dies of illness, all the concubines in the palace must be buried with her.

The two guards at the door were ordered to watch over her.

Buried alive?

She, Liang Chengbi, wants to be buried alive with Meng Yan?!

Upon hearing the news, Liang Chengbi could hardly believe his ears. Although Lu Haozhi was not a very merciful king, he seldom beat or punished the concubines in the harem. Now, for the sake of Meng Yan, he wanted all the women in the harem to be buried with her!

She roughly understood that the emperor was announcing to the world that even if Meng Yan died, he would never appoint someone else as the queen.

Lu Haozhi forced everyone to pray for his favorite concubine.

If Meng Yan died, the Great Zhou would be faced with an extremely tyrannical king.

Liang Chengbi felt depressed and hopeless. She had no hope of survival if Meng Yan lived, and she would die too if Meng Yan died.

Chunqing heard the noise and hurried over. She whispered to Bitao, who was crying on the ground, "Hurry up and get down. Don't make the queen angry here." She also advised Liang Chengbi, "Quickly, queen, be patient. If those two people outside hear it, it will be bad."

Previously, although the emperor had sentenced Chunqing to hard labor in the Ministry of Punishment, now the emperor and the empress dowager were both in Shanghe Garden, and there was no one in charge of the palace. Concubine Ren Xian was always under her feet, so she found Concubine Xuanhe and found a reason to order the Ministry of Punishment to release Chunqing.

Chunqing suffered a serious crime in the Ministry of Punishment. After finally escaping, she became even more grateful to her master and was willing to serve him wholeheartedly.

"Hmph, now that things have come to this, what am I afraid of?"

Liang Chengbi snorted and asked, "Are you all ready?"

Chun Qing hesitated for a moment, but still replied, "Everything has been prepared according to the Empress' instructions."

She felt a little uneasy. Practicing witchcraft in the palace was... a serious crime.

Liang Chengbi smiled sinisterly. Since Meng Yan couldn't die, it should be okay for her to be neither dead nor alive, right?