Chapter 36 Old Tales of the Forbidden Palace The two should have known each other, but their meeting was an unexpected...

A military couch was set up in the study of Weiyang Palace.

Logically speaking, it would be absolutely impossible for an emperor's minister to recuperate in his study.

However, the current emperor is too frugal, and he has no concubines, so there are not many palaces available for him. If Xie Qianli is not placed in the study, then he would have to be placed on the dragon bed, which would be even more unacceptable.

With the emperor's decree, all the imperial physicians were already waiting in place.

The Duke of England was once so valiant and imposing, dressed in white robes and silver armor, like a birch tree covered in frost and snow.

Before the guards even carried the person into the house, the smell of blood had already spread along the way, and drops of blood were seeping out of the stretcher, dripping down one by one.

The maids along the way couldn't help but cover their mouths in astonishment at the sight.

It was an exaggeratedly bloodied figure, his lips almost completely drained of color, and he had fallen into a deep coma. He was carried to Ying Xi by the guards.

Dr. Liu and others quickly provided treatment.

In an instant, the armor was removed, disinfected, bandaged, and the rust inside the muscles and bones was cleaned...

The imperial physicians surrounded Xie Qianli.

Yingxi couldn't help with the diagnosis.

Knowing that his continued presence would only make Physician Liu and the others feel constrained and require them to report to him frequently, he returned to his bedchamber, leaving the Weiyang Palace study entirely to the wounded.

Yu Jing pondered the emperor's meaning. Before leaving, she carefully instructed the imperial physicians: "His Majesty has granted you permission to treat patients in Weiyang Palace. The Duke of Ying must not die."

The imperial physicians all nodded in agreement.

Such an unprecedented event, who would dare to be negligent?

The imperial physicians became increasingly busy.

Doctor Liu was the most skilled doctor. When treating the deepest knife wound, he first cleaned the wound with a decoction of herbs. However, there was also an arrow wound next to the knife wound, and the arrowhead had destroyed the muscle tissue.

Doctor Liu had to deal with the necrotic parts, removing a portion with a knife. The blade was heated with fire, as the anesthetic had not yet taken effect.

I can't wait any longer.

Dr. Liu used his blade to scrape away the bits of flesh!

Even in his unconscious state, Xie Qianli experienced excruciating pain, like his bones being scraped. His body suddenly convulsed.

He said in a hoarse voice, "I—"

The imperial physicians were drawn to his words, their hands still moving, but they were all listening intently to what he was saying.

After a long silence, the Duke of England finally uttered the rest of his sentence in a daze: "I don't know I'm wrong... I want... I must..."

Then keep repeating the word "want".

But what does he want?

The imperial physicians were all puzzled.

Although the Duke of England's mansion seems to have lost some of its former glory since the new emperor took office, Xie Qianli's imperial favor still seems to be as strong as ever.

Although the imperial physicians were curious, they all shook their heads, none daring to probe too deeply for fear of touching on royal secrets.

The Duke of England rose to fame at a young age and held a noble title.

What else is there that he can only dream of but never reach?

...

***

"Uncle, I'm asking you to let me marry the noble lady who holds the position of mistress of Fanglan Palace!"

That was the Lantern Festival several years ago.

The Weiyang Palace of yesteryear was very different from what it is now.

The gentle sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air, and the concubines of the Spring Palace lined up in a row.

Camphor incense burned everywhere in Weiyang Palace. Even the lamp oil was specially made, releasing a long-lasting fragrance when burned.

As is customary, royalty and nobility would attend the New Year's Eve banquet.

Xie Qianli's seating arrangement at the banquet was far superior to that of all his peers, given his special favor from his maternal uncle, the emperor.

The Lantern Festival is Xie Qianli's birthday.

Therefore, a regular feature of the annual banquet was that Emperor Yuantai would ask Xie Qianli what birthday gift he wanted.

When he was five years old, he received a complete set of shadow puppet toys.

When he was twelve, he liked the snow-white warhorse presented by the Kingdom of Dayuan and wanted to ride it.

At the age of fourteen, he obtained a handy weapon called the Dragon-Edge.

He is fifteen years old today.

Xie Qianli made this request to his uncle at the palace banquet in order to prepare for the future. He had followed his father on a military campaign and won a great victory. Logically speaking, this would have brought great honor to his uncle, and his uncle would have been happy. If he was happy, he would definitely have agreed!

If Emperor Yuantai agrees, Xie Qianli's plan will succeed.

After several rounds of drinks, the banquet was halfway over.

Xie Qianli rehearsed what he was about to say one last time, his heart pounding with excitement.

Even though he is usually calm and composed, what he is about to do this time may be a bit outrageous compared to his usual actions.

Xie Qianli tried to suppress his emotions, but couldn't help but smile slightly. He drank a cup of honey water; the honey was sweet, with a slightly sour aftertaste, and he couldn't help but think of his first meeting with Xiao Xi.

One spring day, Xie Qianli climbed up a large tree outside Fanglan Palace to pick magnolia blossoms. The tree was covered in lush, snow-white flowers.

Xie Qianli had just broken off a branch of flowers and was looking down casually when he saw the interplay of light and shadow on the flowers and trees. He was so captivated by what he saw that he thought fairies and immortals had appeared in the flower bushes.

He suppressed his surprise and checked many times before realizing it was an overly beautiful face, a face that was crying alone, with tears in its eyes.

That must be a young girl, right?

Xie Qianli looked down at the person, and the little girl looked up at him.

Their eyes met, and the magnolia blossoms on the tree lost their color. Xie Qianli clenched the flower branch in his palm, unaware that a small thorn had already pierced deep into his hand.

"..."

When did a little fairy move into Fanglan Palace? And what has caused people to shed tears?

Xie Qianli was extremely familiar with this palace. He jumped down from the treetop, wanting to explore it.

The moment I landed, I was hit squarely in the face by the other person.

The little girl gripped Xie Qianli's arm tightly with both hands, their clothes rubbing against each other, her nostrils filled with fragrance, and Xie Qianli's muscles tensed instantly.

It should be known that the Xie family had strict discipline, and apart from enemies, no one had ever gotten close to him. Xie Qianli was taken aback and didn't even have time to dodge.

The little girl suddenly looked up and said urgently, "Run!"

Almost at the same time—

Shadow guards emerged from all directions of Fanglan Palace, their blades flashing in a chaotic display.

The sound of a sword being drawn triggered Xie Qianli's instinctive protective instincts. He shielded the little girl behind him, instantly erasing his innocent demeanor from when he was picking flowers. Xie Qianli glanced at the group of shadow guards, calmly giving them a look.

How could those shadow guards not recognize Xie Qianli?

In an instant, their swords were sheathed, and they knelt in neat rows, all the shadow guards bowing in unison, saying, "Thank you, Young Master!"

With thunderous force and biting wind, those secret guards who had been troubling, monitoring, and pressuring Ying Xi, as well as Emperor Yuan Tai's lackeys and hawks, vanished in an instant under the young general's warning gaze.

Ying Xi cherished this moment of peace and couldn't help but tighten her grip on Xie Qianli's arm a little more.

Xie Qianli's heart skipped a beat. He looked back and thought that the girl was slender and did not seem to know martial arts. She had warned him earlier when she thought he might be in danger, and she did not seem to be a vicious person.

He was imprisoned in Fanglan Palace and guarded by Emperor Yuantai's secret guards. What heinous crime had he committed?

Xie Qianli felt pity and asked the palace servants inside the hall. They only replied that they had not broken the law, but they were not allowed to leave the hall, talk to outsiders, or reveal their identities.

Brilliant as fireworks, treated like prisoners.

Xie Qianli was filled with anger and resentment. He first dismissed the palace servants and then threatened the secret guards, determined to become the first outsider to step into Fanglan Palace.

At that time, who in the palace didn't know Xie Qianli?

He was the nephew of Emperor Yuantai, the only son of Princess Huining, and the sole heir to the British dukedom.

Despite having every reason to be a playboy, Xie Qianli is incredibly ambitious and has a bright future ahead of him. Who would dare to offend him?

Xie Qianli thus became acquainted with Xiao Xi.

Then, Xie Qianli naturally paid more attention to those he had personally protected, and visited Fanglan Palace intermittently.

People of the same age always get to know each other very quickly.

Compared to the thrilling encounter at their first meeting, with Young Master Xie's example, no one dared to stop them from coming to Fanglan Palace again.

Only then was he able to observe Xiao Xi, who was kneeling in front of the table, grinding ink and practicing calligraphy. Her profile was bathed in a thin, lustrous light, like jade, by the light streaming through the window.

Xiao Xi was composed and quiet, with a beautiful demeanor that made one hesitant to look directly at her. Her aloof and solitary air seemed almost divine.

Even the palace servants who served in Fanglan Palace rarely spoke to Xiaoxi.

Ultimately, I am different.

When the other party saw his smiling face, Xie Xiaogongye's heart was filled with the fragrance of magnolia blossoms.

Just as striking as her appearance is Xiao Xi's knowledge.

He was knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, skilled in painting, adept at chess... and even understood military strategy.

When Xie Qianli explained the principle of "surrounding with ten men," Xiao Xi meticulously argued:

"If I only have 60-70% of my troops, yet I dare to surround the enemy, causing their morale to plummet, or forcing them to retreat and change course, thus achieving victory against overwhelming odds, wouldn't that be considered a form of deception?"

“Colt, surround it with ten, half true and half false.”

"I'm not deliberately trying to oppose you; I'm just worried that you're being limited by military strategy books."

That expression of concern was so comforting.

Looking across Chang'an, Young Master Xie finally found a playmate of equal skill.

The most amazing thing is that her white horse and fledgling eagle were not at all shy with Xiao Xi. Without any guidance from her, they competed to get close to her.

There was another person in the world who could easily ride his fierce and untamed steed and steal his eagle, and Xie Qianli was not stingy at all.

Fanglan Hall is even more attractive.

It seems like the two were destined to meet, and their encounter was an unavoidable fate.

Despite repeated questioning, Xiao Xi still refused to reveal her identity or ask him for help to escape.

Out of respect, Xie Qianli continued to keep the secret. The most outrageous thing he did was to secretly take Xiao Xi out of the palace for some fresh air and then return her unharmed.

Xie Qianli was quite discerning about the importance of things.

Over time, the palace staff began to turn a blind eye to his behavior.

The guards were increasingly no match for Young Master Xie, and dared not complain even if they wanted to.

Time flies.

Xie Qianli and Xiao Xi knew each other for three years, from the age of twelve to fifteen.

As Young Master Xie traveled and gained experience, he became more and more knowledgeable.

He began to understand that Emperor Yuantai was absurd and lustful, and he saw his uncle in reality many behaviors that he considered inappropriate.

And the mysterious Fanglan Palace was thus shrouded in an ambiguous shadow.

Xie Qianli began to wonder why such a beautiful woman was imprisoned.

Is Xiao Xi's existence merely to satisfy her uncle's fetish, to keep her as a mistress, or to keep her as a kept woman?

In that instant, the pure white of the magnolia blossoms was stained with mud. He felt conflicted about Emperor Yuan Tai; he still respected and loved him, but found it unbelievable.

It wasn't until one winter day when Xie Qianli couldn't resist visiting Xiao Xi at Fanglan Palace that he was surprised to find the palace doors wide open, all the palace servants inexplicably replaced, and even more secret guards.

He had a strong sense of foreboding.

He entered the inner hall, where broken porcelain was scattered all over the floor, as if someone had once chased or argued there.

Xiao Xi heard his footsteps and peeked out from the corner. Xie Qianli was surprised to find that Xiao Xi's fair cheek was injured!

He could examine the injuries and clearly see the purplish-blue finger marks, the marks covering Xiao Xi's neck. He had been bullied, his eyes red-rimmed as he looked at him. Those usually calm and serene eyes were filled with a longing to leave, brimming with overwhelming grievances.

Xie Qianli was filled with intense anger.

He wanted to vent his anger and seek justice for others, but instead discovered the jade pendant that Emperor Yuantai had smashed.

Xie Qianli's pupils constricted suddenly.

The long-held, hidden worries have finally become a cruel reality.

The boy's growth came from witnessing the ugliness of the world. The details enriched Xie Qianli's imagination, and the sense of crisis was like layers of dark clouds pressing down on Fanglan Palace.

The little fairy in the clouds is about to fall into hell.

He couldn't bear to see Xiaoxi forced to serve the emperor by her uncle again, just as Xiaoxi worried that he would offend the emperor: "Ju'er, I fell down on my own."

today.

With the intention of saving people from dire straits, Xie Qianli plotted and laid the groundwork, demanding a birthday gift. He wanted to get to Xiao Xi, and then set him free.

Anyway, my uncle has countless beauties in his harem, and there are plenty of women willing to serve him, so he won't miss Xiao Xi.

Xie Qianli publicly begged for favors at a night banquet.

However, this touched a nerve with Emperor Yuan Tai, who was reminded of some unpleasant memories of not getting what he wanted and was furious!

The emperor reprimanded him for trespassing into Fanglan Palace, and also scolded his nephew for being young and not learning good manners. He punished Xie Qianli by making him kneel outside Weiyang Palace until dawn.

However, Xie Qianli had never suffered such injustice as being falsely accused.

Impulsiveness led to the uncle and nephew saying things they shouldn't have.

Xie Qianli knelt before the palace and loudly protested to Emperor Yuantai: "Uncle, you are forcing people to do what they cannot and taking away what they love. This is contrary to the way of a gentleman!"

"I have already pledged my love to Xiaoxi and intend to formally marry her into the Duke's mansion!"

"I will never take a concubine in my life. Xiao Xi is my only beloved wife!"

"I want to marry the noble lady who holds the position of mistress of Fanglan Palace!"

"..."

He has always been low-key, even though he knows his status is important.

This behavior was completely different from his usual actions, making it seem to others that Xie Qianli was undoubtedly possessed.

What's more, Xie Qianli even dared to criticize the emperor!

In an instant, the music and instruments fell silent, the guests looked at each other in bewilderment, and the banquet at Weiyang Palace fell into a deathly silence.

Emperor Yuantai was furious about this and ordered his guards to severely punish Xie Qianli.

Then, Grand Princess Huining pleaded for mercy, and Xie Ji personally carried out the execution. On Xie Qianli's fifteenth birthday, at a palace banquet, he whipped him until he was covered in wounds and almost on the verge of death.

However, Xie Qianli was stubborn.

Even as the other person was beaten unconscious, with the whip lashing his body, he mechanically repeated, "I want... I want to be married..."

— Xie Qianli's fifteenth birthday celebration was a brutal beating.

Because of this huge farce, the fact that a mysterious person was hiding in Fanglan Palace has been exposed, and this person's identity must be revealed.

Even though Emperor Yuantai coveted the beauty, he still retained some humanity and did not commit the despicable act of fraternizing with his adoptive father and son, or competing with his nephew for the same beauty.

Ying Xi was brought into the open and officially appointed as the Crown Prince.

...

When Xie Qianli learned that Xiao Xi was neither a girl nor a concubine, he was speechless.

It turns out that Ying Xi has been deceiving herself all along.

Thinking back to how I made a scene at Weiyang Palace for him and said countless things that made me blush with embarrassment.

Xie Qianli went from being speechless to feeling utterly ashamed.

He spent a month recuperating from his injuries and was confined to a small dark room in the Duke's mansion for two months.

Young Master Xie, who has always been upright and honest, is now accused of being frivolous and dissolute, and of tarnishing the Crown Prince's reputation.

Xie Qianli's parents punished him by telling him to have less contact with His Highness the Crown Prince in the future, to avoid suspicion, and to keep his distance.