Chapter 6 The Secret of Begonia Flowers
"My lady, my lady, I just found that the osmanthus flowers in the courtyard are in full bloom. How about I pick some and make some osmanthus cakes for you?"
Liu Zhu walked towards Zhen Huan happily from a distance, holding a branch full of osmanthus flowers in her hand.
"Okay, okay, I knew you, the greedy little cat, must be craving for it again. Go ahead and make some more. I think Chun'er will like it too."
Zhen Huan looked at Liu Zhu with a doting look on her face. This girl had grown up with her since childhood, and their affection over the years had already surpassed the ordinary master-servant relationship. In her heart, she treated her the same as Huanbi, both like her own sisters.
Looking at Liu Zhu's back as she left with joy after receiving her approval, Zhen Huan leaned against the pillar of the corridor and looked into the distance, enjoying this rare moment of leisure.
After a while, a corner of the yard caught her attention.
"Pearl, what are you looking at? You are so engrossed in it."
Zhen Huan walked forward curiously.
"My dear, look, the ants here are so strange. They keep moving around in circles while carrying the sugar. They look so stupid."
Pei'er pointed at the tree in front of her and shared with Zhen Huan what she had just seen.
Zhen Huan squatted down and took a closer look. It turned out that these swarms of ants were following the crabapple tree but did not dare to get close.
She couldn't help but pick up a branch at hand and start digging in the soil beside the tree, trying to find out what was going on.
Unexpectedly, the branch had not poked a few times when it seemed to hit something hard.
"Xiao Yunzi, give me the small shovel in your hand."
Holding the shovel handed to her by Xiao Yunzi, Zhen Huan continued to explore downwards.
After shoveling the soil a few times, an object shaped like a jar caught everyone's eye.
"Hey, what is this?"
"Quick, take it out and have a look."
Seeing this, other people in the yard gathered around and looked at the "treasure" in the soil curiously.
"I heard that Concubine Fang here was banished to the cold palace after she had a miscarriage. After all, she was favored before. Could this be some treasure she hid?"
Kang Luhai, who was standing nearby, came forward at this moment.
"Xiao Yunzi, take it out and open it."
Following Zhen Huan's words, Xiao Yunzi quickly dug out the thing, picked it up and took a look, it really was a jar.
"Wow, what a nice smell!"
Huanbi stepped forward, took out the contents, and opened the packaging, but she didn't expect that an unpleasant odor would waft out.
Everyone exclaimed and took a few steps back.
Zhen Huan realized that the things here were probably not ordinary things, but she pretended not to care at all and gave instructions to everyone.
"They are just some ordinary things, don't worry about them. Huanbi, put them away quickly and don't let them get in the way."
Zhen Huan glanced at Huanbi as she spoke, and Huanbi understood and rewrapped the things in her hand.
"Don't tell anyone a word about what we dug up here today. If someone with ulterior motives hears it, it will cause trouble for Suiyuxuan."
After hearing Zhen Huan's instructions, everyone agreed.
"Okay, let's go and do what we need to do."
"Liu Zhu, let's make the osmanthus cake tomorrow. I don't really feel like eating it today."
"yes."
Liu Zhu noticed that something was wrong on Zhen Huan's face and quickly stepped forward to support her arm.
"Liuzhu, Huanbi, come in with me."
After several people walked into the house, Zhen Huan no longer concealed her inner uneasiness.
"Huanbi, please help me invite Doctor Wen over. Remember, it has to be Doctor Wen."
Sitting on the couch, Zhen Huan solemnly and repeatedly instructed Huanbi.
"Yes, my lord, don't worry."
"My lady, what's wrong? You don't look very well now. Do you want to lie down for a while?"
Liu Zhu looked at Zhen Huan worriedly. Something seemed to be wrong with her master ever since she saw the jar in the yard.
"It's okay, Liu Zhu. When Doctor Wen comes over later, you go guard the door and remember not to let anyone else get close to the house."
"Yes, I remember."
Huanbi, who was arranged by Zhen Huan to invite Doctor Wen, did not dare to stop all the way to the Imperial Hospital. It happened that Doctor Wen was sorting out previous materials at the desk.
"Doctor Wen, my young master is feeling a little unwell. I'd like you to come over and take a look."
Doctor Wen, who was busy with his work with his head down, raised his head when he heard Huanbi's voice. After listening to what she said, he stood up without saying a word, picked up the medicine box beside him and prepared to leave.
"What's wrong, young lady? You seemed to be in good spirits a few days ago."
When they reached a deserted place, Doctor Wen asked Huanbi anxiously.
She had never hidden her feelings for Zhen Huan, and as Zhen Huan's personal maid, Huanbi knew something about it.
When Wen Shichu first learned that Zhen Huan was chosen to enter the palace for the selection, he volunteered to go to the Zhen family to propose marriage, which would also help her avoid the difficulty of the selection. However, he did not expect to be politely rejected by Zhen Huan.
But even though Zhen Huan has entered the palace now, his concern for her has not diminished in the slightest.
"Maybe I caught a cold today, so I feel a little unwell. I'd like to ask Doctor Wen to take a closer look at me when the time comes."
As they were talking, the two had already arrived at Suiyuxuan.
"My lady, Doctor Wen is here."
Huanbi went into the house first to report and then brought Wen Shichu into the house.
As Wen Shichu entered the room, his eyes fell on Zhen Huan's face with worry: "My lady, are you feeling unwell?"
"I'm sorry to bother you, Doctor Wen, with the trip. I just had a slight chill, so I thought I'd ask you to come over and take a look."
Wen Shichu carefully took the pulse, fearing that he would miss any sign of the patient's condition.
"Given my current condition, would it be inappropriate for me to sleep with you?"
"Yes, the young lady probably caught a cold and needs to rest for a few days."
As an experienced palace physician, Wen Shichu has experience in various palace matters.
He felt the beating of her pulse under his fingers, pondered what Zhen Huan had just said, and soon understood her concerns.
The new lady will be able to serve the emperor in the next few days. No one knows how many eyes are staring at her in the palace. The fact that she is already on the emperor's mind before she even enters the palace is enough to make her extremely cautious.
"I have recently reported to the Empress the health conditions of each young lady before they came to sleep with me. Now that the young lady is not feeling well, please forgive me, and I will report the truth."
There was always deep affection in Wen Shichu's eyes, but he had no choice but to suppress it. As fate would have it, there was no possibility between him and Zhen Huan anymore.
He knew that he no longer had the chance to accompany her for the rest of her life, but he just wanted to use his entire life's strength to protect her for the rest of her life.
"Oh, there's one more thing I'd like Doctor Wen to take a look at."
Zhen Huan signaled Huanbi to take out the things she had just dug out.
Wen Shichu put it in the palm of his hand and smelled it, then looked at it carefully for a few more seconds, his expression gradually becoming solemn.
"I wonder where did you get this from?"
"I accidentally discovered it under the crabapple tree in the courtyard. It hasn't bloomed since this spring. I heard that Concubine Fang, who used to live here, had a miscarriage for no apparent reason."
Zhen Huan had doubts in her mind before, and now seeing Wen Shichu's reaction, her guess was further confirmed.
"Fortunately, the young lady discovered it early, otherwise, with this powerful thing, all the women living here would be ill."
Wen Shichu felt heartbroken when he saw that his beloved woman was now caught up in this palace fight.
"If you don't mind, I will come here regularly to check your pulse."
This was the best he could do for her.
"Then there's Dr. Lawrence."
"My lady, I will first go to the Queen to report your health condition."
"Liu Zhu, send Doctor Wen."
Watching Wen Shichu leave, Zhen Huan's body couldn't help but soften on the couch. The deep palace was even more dangerous than she had imagined.
"My Lord, what do you think we should do now?"
Huanbi held Zhen Huan's hand worriedly.
"Huanbi, remember when we first arrived at Suiyuxuan, Kang Luhai mentioned that the Empress had specially sent two osmanthus trees to the courtyard. The osmanthus flowers are fragrant and pleasant, and the crabapple trees are fresh and elegant."
It seems that I have already entered the game and become a pawn.
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