Qiulan Palace.

Ever since Concubine Yue was confined to her house because of the incident with Concubine Xi, her originally healthy body has been declining rapidly like fallen leaves in the autumn wind.

Countless doctors were invited to see him, but they still could not figure out the cause.

Now Yue Fei is so thin that she is just a bag of bones, and her skin is covered with red rashes. These rashes are like vines, tightly wrapped around her and causing unbearable itching.

This kind of itching goes deep into your bones, like ten thousand ants gnawing at you. Every time it occurs, it is also her time of pain.

Yue Fei seemed to be going crazy, digging her long nails into the flesh. Even though she scratched until blood was dripping, she still couldn't relieve the itch.

And even if it is cured, it will relapse day after day, month after month, with no end in sight.

When Zhao Yuancheng learned that she was ill, he lifted her house arrest and allowed her to eat and live as usual.

But everyone knows that Concubine Yue will not live long, and she is just trying to survive.

In order to avoid illness, the second prince was sent to be raised by Concubine Zhuanghe. Now, in Qiulan Palace, apart from Concubine Yue, there are only Yun'er and a palace maid who is responsible for making medicine.

On this day, the spring was bright and beautiful, and a hairpin flower banquet was held in Yuqing Palace, with pleasant music of stringed instruments.

Yue Fei leaned forward to look out the window and asked weakly, "What's that noise outside?"

"The Yuqing Palace is holding a flower-hairpin banquet."

"Hairpin Flower Banquet."

Yue Fei murmured through her dry lips, "It must be very lively outside."

"The princess's husband selection is certainly a lively affair," Yun'er replied softly. After a moment's thought, she added, "I heard that the eldest son of the Fu family came in third, the third place winner, and the runner-up is the son of the Minister of the Central Secretariat."

Yue Fei chuckled and said that the Fu family was nothing special. She then casually asked, "Who is the top scholar?"

Yun'er prepared, "Yes, it's Master Pei."

"Did he really win the first place in the imperial examination?"

The corners of Yue Fei's eyes twitched slightly. Thinking of the past, her heart felt like it was being strangled by a pair of invisible hands, making it impossible for her to breathe.

If she had not chosen this path that day, she would now be the wife of the top scholar, and how glorious it would be to be the legal wife.

As they were talking, the music outside suddenly stopped. Yue Fei supported her withered arms and yelled outside, "Someone, someone, come!"

After waiting for a long time, Dong'er, who was in charge of boiling medicine in the small kitchen, came in hurriedly with a happy look on her face.

"Where have you been? Can't you hear me?"

Dong'er smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. The hairpin banquet was over and Concubine Zhao was distributing the rewards, so I went to join in the fun."

Concubine Yue was stunned. "Why is Concubine Zhao distributing rewards?"

"Princess Yuxian has taken a fancy to the newly crowned number one scholar, Lord Pei. The Emperor has already granted their marriage, and it will be completed by the end of the year."

Upon hearing that Pei Xuan had become a consort, Concubine Yue felt as if she were in an abyss. Regret and annoyance surged into her heart like a tide. She gasped for breath, her eyes glaring wildly: "He promised to marry only me. How could he go back on his word now? Princess Yuxian, the one Pei Xuan loves is me. I am the number one scholar's wife!!!"

"Empress, what nonsense are you talking about!" Yun'er was frightened and quickly ordered Dong'er to call the imperial physician.

Yue Fei lay on the bed, her eyes wide open, her gaunt face looking even more ferocious and terrifying: "Pei Xuan, you can't let me down, you can't let me down!!"

Due to the stimulation, Yue Fei fainted again.

She didn't wake up until the evening. By then, Dong'er had gone to the Imperial Hospital to get medicine, leaving Yun'er alone in the room.

Concubine Yue got up with difficulty, walked tremblingly to the desk and wrote a letter. Then she turned around, took out a jade pendant from the box, and called Yun'er in.

"Find a way to get this letter out of the palace and into Pei Xuan's hands."

Yun'er was terrified and knelt on the ground, "My Lady, you are sick and confused."

Yue Fei's chest heaved violently, almost madly: "I'm not confused. I still remember every word of the promise I made back then. Now that I'm dying, I just want to see him one last time."

"But, you are in the harem, how can you meet a man from outside the palace?"

"The Emperor has granted the marriage, and the Pei family must come to the palace tomorrow to express their gratitude."

Yun'er continued to advise, "Your Majesty, please think twice. If this is discovered, it will be a capital crime. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about the Liu family. Didn't you enter the palace for the glory of the Liu family?"

Yue Fei sneered, "The glory of the Liu family has bound me my entire life. Now that I am about to die, I just want to live for myself."

Yun'er wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Yue Fei, "I have made up my mind, you don't need to persuade me anymore."

After coming out of the bedroom, Yun'er thought about it again and again and decided to burn the letter.

But before she could reach the kitchen, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, then her vision went black and she lost consciousness.

Dong'er walked forward tremblingly and checked Yun'er's breath. After confirming that she had just fainted, she picked up the letter and jade pendant that had fallen on the ground and walked towards Zichen Palace.

On the way, Dong'er met Xi Zhaoyi in the imperial garden, accompanied by Wanpin and Wei Cairen.

Seeing her panic, Qiancao said unhappily, "Which palace do you belong to? How dare you be so reckless? If you offend the Empress, you'll be in trouble for your life."

Dong'er knelt down, breathing rapidly, and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am from the Qiulan Palace and have important matters to report to the Emperor. I did not mean to offend you. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Xi Zhaoyi raised an eyebrow and said insincerely, "It's so late, and you still want to ask to see the emperor? Could it be that Concubine Yue is not feeling well?"

Dong'er hesitated, and seeing this, Xi Zhaoyi was rarely in a good mood. "The emperor is not feeling well, and my two sisters and I are going to pay our respects. You should come with me to avoid disturbing others."

"Yes, thank you for your grace, Madam."

Zichen Palace.

Zhao Yuancheng was dozing off on the couch due to a cold.

Zhu Yu bowed and came in to report, saying in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Concubine Xi, Concubine Wan, and Concubine Wei are here to pay their respects to you."

Zhao Yuancheng waved his hand impatiently, "I'm very tired, let them all go back."

“Yeah.”

Zhu Yu agreed and added, "Also, Dong'er from Qiulan Palace is here too, saying she has something important to report."

Mentioning Qiulan Palace, Zhao Yuancheng slowly opened his eyes, remained silent for a moment, and said in a cold voice: "Let them all in."

"yes."

Zhu Yu bowed and left. Not long after, Xi Zhaoyi and three others happily entered. After kneeling and bowing, they sat down beside Zhao Yuancheng and asked worriedly, "Your Majesty, are you feeling better?"

Zhao Yuancheng supported his forehead and said slowly, "My beloved concubine is so thoughtful. I just took some medicine and I feel much better now."

Concubine Xi nodded, pointed at Dong'er behind Concubine Wei, and said softly, "When I came here, I met a maid from Qiulan Palace. I thought Concubine Yue was still ill, so I brought her here."

Dong'er took the opportunity to step forward and kneel on the ground, saying with great fear and trepidation, "Your Majesty, this servant has something important to report."

"you say."

Dong'er slowly raised her eyes and said in a grave tone, "Empress Yue is having an affair with the newly crowned number one scholar. Master Pei Xuan, I'm here to report this to you!"