Yu Huai finally rode back to the palace from Liangzhou at full speed.
After receiving the urgent report, Xie Yanci left the court and waited in the Changsheng Palace.
"Your Majesty, should I send someone to greet you at the palace gate?"
Yang Mingrui's suggestion was not within his consideration. "No need. Compared to previous disasters, this one isn't that serious. When the Imperial Master arrives at the palace gate, he will naturally come here to find me."
"Yes, I was overthinking it."
"You also think he'll be back soon?"
"How can that be!" Yang Mingrui bowed and replied cautiously, "After all, the Imperial Master has more important things to attend to. It's inconvenient for Yiqingtai to not be in Liangzhou."
Xie Yanci sneered, "But I think he's eager to go home, as if he has something important to do."
"Forgive my ignorance. I didn't see the key point."
Xiao Zhuozi's voice suddenly rang out from behind the screen: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Preceptor requests an audience."
"Let him in!"
After being away for so long, Yu Huai had indeed suffered in Liang Province. Not only had his complexion taken on a wheatish hue, but even his clothes were no longer clean and tidy.
Xie Yanci stepped down from the dragon throne to greet him: "My dear, you are finally back! Thank you for your hard work!"
"Your Majesty, please don't say that. This is what I should do."
"Is this because you came back exhausted from all the traveling, or is it..."
Yu Huai sensed the temptation and immediately replied, "Your Majesty, the water quality in Liangzhou is poor. It's rare to find water without mud and sand, so I just boil it and drink it. If I use it to wash clothes, I would be wasting the people's resources."
"By the time you left for the palace, were the people of Liangzhou still worried about their water supply?"
"That's right, but I've already led people to dig out several active springs. Once the local officials finish the job, it won't be difficult to drink purer spring water."
The emperor patted him on the shoulder: "Thank goodness for you!"
"Your Majesty, it would be best if you do not touch me. As you can see, my clothes are not clean, and I am afraid of soiling yours..."
"My dear minister, you are suffering for the people. How could I despise you? It's not good to keep you like this. Hurry and go to Yiqing Terrace to freshen up! And rest well!"
Yu Huai did not refuse. After paying his respects, he quickly left the Hall of Longevity.
Chu Mu, dressed in a tight suit, suddenly appeared behind Xie Yanci. "Your Majesty, do you need me to investigate? What exactly happened to the Imperial Preceptor in Liangzhou?"
"Don't worry, you continue to look after Prince Lian's mansion. I don't want to get involved in his affairs for the time being."
"However, the Eighth Prince has been drinking and having fun all day, looking for dancers. I have observed him for a long time, but I really don't see anything unusual. Why not take this opportunity to solve the mystery of the Imperial Master first?"
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Chu Mu, don't be impatient. Let them perform on the stage for a while longer, so that they will have more things to talk about later."
"Yes, I understand."
——
When Concubine Jin heard that Yu Huai had returned to the palace, she took her servants and went straight to Yiqingtai. She had been waiting for him for a long time, and finally he came back!
"Your Highness, the Imperial Master is bathing and changing clothes. Please wait outside."
"Um."
She sat in the main seat, took the teacup from the tray and took a sip: "Tsk, who made this tea?"
"It is you, humble servant."
"I've been here before, but I've never tasted such bitter tea. What's going on?"
The man frowned awkwardly and explained to her, "To answer your Majesty, the Imperial Preceptor used to brew tea personally, using the finest morning dew and other recipes unknown to me. That's why the tea tastes different. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
I see.
Concubine Jin did not pursue the matter further, but played with the cup and said nothing.
Seeing this, Qian Wei couldn't help but sigh, "Your Majesty is so powerful that even the Imperial Preceptor has to make an exception for you."
Only status and power are mentioned, and personal relationships and affection are not involved.
After hearing this, Concubine Jin did not care about the details. She tapped the table with her fingertips intermittently, waiting for Yu Huai's arrival.
"I am late."
He was still the bright and clear god in the world, but when he spoke from a distance, he seemed like an extremely unfamiliar stranger.
She stood up and said, "Master Imperial Master, you've traveled all the way here, and I'm asking you... I have two things I want to ask you today. Could you please tell my fortune for me?"
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"The first thing is that there's a suspected evil spirit in the palace. Jia Wanrong of Sang Yuxuan has repeatedly stolen my favor! The Emperor never broke his promises so easily before, but this behavior is out of character! So, I'm wondering if Jia Wanrong has gone insane due to the loss of the princess, and was possessed by the evil spirit at her most vulnerable moment, which is why..."
Yu Huai interrupted her speculation directly: "Your Highness, this is Yonghua Palace. There are no myths or legends here. Besides, the True Dragon Emperor is here, and with His Majesty's protection, which evildoer would dare to come close to serve him? Are you afraid of death?"
She suddenly felt embarrassed and hurriedly looked away: "Then, let me tell you the second thing. Can the intercourse time calculated by your disciples earlier really allow me to give birth to a prince?!"
When it comes to the royal heir, she is always full of hope, and the undisguised light in her eyes reflects an indifferent and impatient face.
Yu Huai walked forward, took out the commonly used tortoise shell prop, and began to deduce.
"How is it?" "Not well yet."
Concubine Jin stared patiently for a while longer: "Now?"
"Are you so anxious that you must give birth to his child?"
She was stunned: "What else?"
"Since the birth of the royal heir, as far as I know, there has been no precedent for blood test to confirm kinship."
"You, what do you mean?!" Concubine Jin panicked, looking around with a pale face, "The servants in Chengqian Palace are still guarding outside, Master Imperial Master, please be careful with your words!"
Yu Huai didn't take it seriously and continued, "What I mean is, even if the Imperial Concubine gave birth to someone else's son, it wouldn't arouse the Emperor's suspicion. After all, the prince most likely looks like his mother, and outsiders wouldn't be able to tell."
"Stop saying that! Just tell me whether the time is correct or not!"
He lowered his head dejectedly and looked at the result deduced on the table: "Accurate."
"Then I'm relieved!"
"Your Highness, do you really not consider what I just said?"
She was a little annoyed: "Since you can give birth to a child of royal blood, why did you force the bastard into my belly? Master Imperial Master, you may have been in Liangzhou for a long time. You need to rest for a while before you can reassess the situation in Yonghua Palace. I will take my leave first!"
"Compared to the Imperial Concubine, I believe that even though I have been exiled by the Emperor for many years and am no longer in the palace, I still know more about the situation in Yonghua Palace than you do."
"What on earth do you want to say?!"
"Your Majesty, please go find the Emperor!" Yu Huai picked up the tortoise shells one by one. "Anyway, you will return to Yiqingtai and ask me for help."
What nonsense!
She didn't take it seriously and pushed the door open and left.
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