Ever since the little princess disappeared from Shoukang Palace, the Queen Mother's mood had worsened. She used to have the leisure to copy scriptures and worship Buddha, but now she was reduced to praying day and night.
"Empress Dowager, Miss Xin is here."
"Please come in!"
Although the Queen Mother still had doubts about Concubine Xin's true ability, she let down her guard after witnessing the entire process of Yu Pei treating the princess.
"How is it? The Jiaofeng Palace where you live is quite close to Sangyuxuan. Is my Zhaohua feeling better recently?"
As soon as Concubine Xin walked into the door, she heard the Queen Mother's anxious questions.
She had a mission to accomplish, so she quickly responded with a smile, "Empress Dowager, I visit the princess every day, and I see she's getting better day by day! She doesn't have to take the pills given by Senior Brother as frequently as she did at first, which shows she's getting much better!"
"That's good! It's a good thing!" The Queen Mother fiddled with the Buddhist beads in her hand and chanted, "Gods, Zhaohua is young and innocent, please don't bring disaster upon her!"
Xin Xuanshi took the tray from Yin Zhu and took the initiative to approach the couch to serve the empress dowager: "However... Your Majesty, there is something I want to ask you. I wonder if I can..."
"If you have something to say, just say it. There's no need to be hesitant in front of me."
"Yes, when I asked my senior brother for advice on the talisman, he told me that the disease in Yonghua Palace is contagious. In particular, it can be passed on to unborn children."
"What?!"
Although the Queen Mother did not like the Qu sisters, the children also had royal blood after all.
If she was born with a deadly poison, wouldn't that be a curse? If it affected the country, it would be her responsibility!
"I'm afraid that Noblewoman Wen's dragon fetus will also..." Concubine Xin took the initiative to pour a cup of tea, "So, I specifically asked Senior Brother what method can be used to eliminate it. He said that during the Shangsi Festival, a grand ceremony will be held in the capital. The raging fire can drive away evil spirits, and the Goddess Gaomei can also bless... Perhaps, if all the palaces travel together, we can prevent the spread of bad luck."
"The concubines of each palace?"
After hearing these words, the Queen Mother fell into deep thought.
When the late emperor was still alive, there was also an example of a grand plowing ceremony. If we can use this opportunity to eliminate the evil spirits in Yonghua Palace, it would be a brilliant plan!
Concubine Xin was afraid that the Empress Dowager would reject this proposal, so she pretended to be profound and unfathomable. "Elder Brother also said that the evil spirit must be resolved as soon as possible. The longer we delay, the weaker the effect of praying to the gods and Buddhas. Empress Dowager, I firmly believe that you care about the little princess, even if it is for her sake..."
"I understand and have made up my mind! I will naturally inform the Emperor about this matter." The Queen Mother interrupted her and added an additional instruction, "Remember to talk more with Taoist Yu. If he has any better suggestions, please let me know immediately. Zhaohua is a child I have watched grow up. There must be no mistakes!"
"Yes! I thank the Queen Mother on behalf of the little princess!"
So, after Concubine Xin left, Aunt Zijin was ordered to go to Changsheng Palace to invite Xie Yanci over.
The long-overdue secret conversation between mother and son finally began.
"Send out all the palace?" The emperor frowned upon hearing such a familiar suggestion. "Mother, is this what Noble Lady Yi requested?"
"No, it's the maid who lived with her in Lin'an Palace. When she first entered the palace, she was acting weird and put talismans on you. Do you remember?"
"Remember."
"Her senior brother is Taoist Yu, who has clearly stated that there is an evil spirit in the palace, so there is unrest. I am thinking that since you ascended the throne, you have never held a proper plowing ceremony. Why not take this opportunity to hold a grand one!"
It turned out that she also went to ask Taoist Yu for help.
Xie Yanci once again thought of his daughter, who had suffered in her cradle, and felt pity. "Noble Lady Yi is truly a fool. I didn't understand the reason, and I was afraid that mobilizing a large force would attract treacherous individuals, so I turned her down. She didn't explain, and only asked the Imperial Master to accompany her. If I had known that Taoist Yu would say this, I would have agreed."
"The Imperial Master is going too?" The Queen Mother frowned in dissatisfaction. "Isn't he busy in seclusion practicing?"
"Mother, you don't know. He had a conflict with Consort Yi, was forced to interrupt his training, and even injured the first-class maid of Sang Yuxuan. To reconcile their relationship, Consort Yi made this request, and I have already agreed."
"I was so panicked that day, fearing Zhaohua had contracted some serious illness and would die if he didn't receive treatment! Yet, he calmly declined Zijin's request, claiming he was in seclusion. He was the Imperial Preceptor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, after all, yet he couldn't even foresee such a major event! It's not an exaggeration to say he stood by and watched someone die without rescuing them, right?!"
"My Queen Mother is right. Therefore, having the Imperial Master come to protect the concubines can be considered as a way to atone for the sin."
"Oh! I hope he doesn't have any evil ideas!"
——Qingming Pavilion.
Yu Huai did not go back to Yiqingtai directly, but stood outside the door waiting.
"Why don't you come in? You don't even bother to come through my door without a guard around to catch someone?"
Yu Pei was busy cooking in the yard. He glanced at her as he passed by and said a few words loudly.
He moved, then sat down on the familiar wooden bench, continuing to stare at Yu Pei's busy movements.
"I remember you were incredibly lazy and didn't like to cook. In the past, you either bought food directly or had someone cook it for you. Where did you get your cooking skills now?"
"A bowl of porridge and some pickled vegetables, you call this good cooking?" Yu Pei smiled. "Compared to the delicacies you've eaten in the official's house and in front of the emperor over the years, what I have is really nothing."
"Why do you want to enter the palace?"
"A junior sister I know entered the palace and became a concubine. She needed my help, so I asked for my help..."
Yu Huai looked at him seriously and asked again, "Why did you enter the palace? Tell the truth."
"What about you?" He put out the charcoal fire and leaned against the wall. "I asked you that question a long time ago. But you haven't given me a clear answer. So far, you've either been evasive or lying."
"Are you here to take revenge on me?!"
"I dare not, I dare not. How can a common Taoist priest compare to the highly respected Imperial Master?"
Yu Huai couldn't help but wanted to use his internal energy to fight back, but at the moment of activating his internal energy, he covered his chest in pain!
"I warned you long ago that going against the will of heaven is enough. You're lucky enough to have managed to survive. Now, you're trying to take advantage of this opportunity to kill her... Now you've experienced the pain of the backlash, right?"
"You, how did you know!"
"Yu Huai, you haven't forgotten what you did to me before, have you?" Yu Pei pushed aside the messy hair on his forehead and pointed at the scars. "I've endured so much alone. I know how you feel every moment, so what?"
"So, you're here to get revenge on me, right?!"
Yu Pei sat down and started drinking porridge without responding.
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