After leaving Yongshou Palace, Wei Shuyi couldn't calm down for a long time.
I had thought that with a high-ranking concubine as my backing, my path forward would be less bumpy. Furthermore, Rong Zhaoyi wasn't competitive or interested in the emperor's favor, so I thought it would be easier to get along with her. I had never imagined that beneath this mask, she harbored such malicious intentions!
"Minmin, that's your child! You absolutely can't give it to her!" Liang Cairen was still defending her. "No matter how good the foster mother is, how can she be as good as your biological mother? She said that other people would teach the child bad things. Can she really persuade him every day..."
"Sister, there's no need to say more. My current position is indeed inferior to others, so I have no choice but to nod and agree."
"But! You won't be able to sit above Zhaoyi in the short term! What should we do?"
Wei Shuyi paused, determined. "Didn't my sister just say that? As long as I can ask for a favor, even if I'm the last in line to inherit the throne, I'll still be qualified to raise the heir. We have to find a way to get someone else to do this. That way, Rong Zhaoyi won't blame me."
Wen Yu listened silently throughout the whole process without expressing any opinion.
It was not until they returned to Sang Yuxuan that he advised in a trembling voice, "Young lady! You absolutely cannot give the Emperor's eldest son to me! The Emperor has been on the throne for several years without having any children. This person of noble birth must be kept by my side!"
"The eldest prince?" Wei Shuyi took out a brush, dipped it in paint of different colors, and began to paint on the ink lotus painting. "You all hoped for a son, but I have a feeling that this is a daughter."
"Even so, she is still the noble eldest daughter of the Great Zhou Dynasty!"
"Yes, she is destined to be noble. Despite repeated attempts, she has never left me. So, this time, I must keep her! No one can take her away!"
Seeing this, Wen Yu said no more.
The new ink is used to paint the old work, and the bright colors spread out, further highlighting the black at the edge. Wei Shuyi adds the color that the ink lotus in the pond should have.
She wrote with such force that the force penetrated the back of the paper, and after a careful carving——
"Wen Yu, find a place to hang it. I think it's just right over the head of the bed."
"Yes." Wen Yu carefully picked up the painting, "What do you mean, young lady?"
"I just wanted her to watch carefully how her mother brought her back from those villains step by step."
Ever since the unwritten agreement between Wei Shuyi and Rong Zhaoyi, the few people who knew the inside story seemed to lack interest and had no motivation to do anything.
Jing Ning held her chin in her hand and looked at Wen Yu's back: "Sister, she is now a highly valued maid in Sang Yuxuan. What else could she be unhappy about?"
A small stone flew over and hit Jingning's forehead!
Liang Cairen flicked the dust off his fingertips and said, "Don't ask about other people's affairs in the palace anymore."
"Master Liang, didn't you promise my Master that you wouldn't hit anyone casually in the future? Why did you break your promise again?" Jing Ning rubbed his head in dissatisfaction and muttered, "I always feel like you guys are acting strangely. Are you hiding something from me and my sister?"
Jing An stepped in to smooth things over: "Alright, stop asking about matters between the master and the mistress. If you have time, go sweep up the fallen leaves in the yard!"
Liang Cairen gave him a grateful look, then took a deep breath and walked into the inner hall.
"Minmin, there's a pavilion in the palace that the emperor built specifically for the Imperial Preceptor. It's called Yiqing Terrace. I heard that praying there is quite effective and can even dispel bad luck. Would you like to come with me to take a look?"
Wei Shuyi knew the other party's good intentions. He felt that staying in the palace would be dazed anyway, so he might as well go out for a walk to dispel his sorrow. "Okay, then I'll go with my sister."
Yiqingtai is located on the east side of Changsheng Hall, right next to the Forbidden Palace.
As they climbed the stairs hand in hand, Wei Shuyi took a special look at the surrounding scenery and instantly recognized the palace where she had met the emperor in the rain.
"Minmin, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing, just a casual look." She retracted her gaze and walked towards the hall where smoke curled up. "There's constant burning of incense here. Are there palace servants offering sacrifices every day?"
"Yes, the Emperor has ordered that the Yiqing Terrace must remain unchanged. Whether the Imperial Master is present or not, the incense must not be extinguished. This is a very bad omen!"
"oh?"
A gentle, deep voice emanated from behind the incense table. Just one word revealed a mixture of indifference and unpleasant sarcasm.
It feels like sinking into ice water. While resisting, I also want to get closer to the mystery.
Wei Shuyi took a few steps and tried to check the situation behind the incense table, but saw the national teacher Yu Huai walking out from the darkness.
"Master, Master?!" Liang Cairen immediately knelt on the futon and bowed devoutly. "It was thanks to your protection that Minmin and her child were safe and sound last time..."
What's going on here?
Before Wei Shuyi could even ask, he heard Yu Huai's invitation: "After we parted at Liufang Garden, my lady is feeling much better now. But I noticed you didn't look well today. Have you encountered any new difficulties? If you don't mind, you can go sit in the backyard. I might be able to help."
"Go, go quickly!" Liang Cairen finished his greeting and leaned close to her ear. "It's a rare opportunity to have the Imperial Master give us private guidance! Who knows, he might even tell us how to keep the heir by our side and keep him from being noticed by others!"
These words touched her heart.
At present, the Queen is still staying indoors, the Imperial Concubine is keeping her troops on hold, and Rong Zhaoyi continues to live a carefree life. It is not convenient for her to take action.
If the Empress Dowager of Shoukang Palace knew about making a request to the emperor that violated the palace rules, she would be doubly blamed.
"Then, I'll trouble you, Master Imperial Master."
Wei Shuyi finally followed Yu Huai, walked around the incense table, passed through the dark corridor connecting to the underground, and walked towards the backyard rooms where open flames were burning everywhere.
She gathered her sleeves, a puzzled expression on her face: "Isn't the Imperial Master hot? Why is he still lighting a fire in the room during this scorching summer?"
"I have been cold since I was young, and only by being surrounded by a blazing fire can I keep warm."
Having said that, he still fiddled with a mechanism somewhere and extinguished them one by one.
She glanced at the mechanism inconspicuously, but he caught her attention. The mist in his eyes faded away. "What are you worried about, young lady?"
"I... am worried about being separated from my own children. I might even be forced to become their enemy."
"My lord, would you allow me to tell your fortune?"
"Master Imperial Master, please."
Yu Huai's figure was as thin as a bamboo, with white clothes and black hair, and he looked pure, aloof and proud. As he turned and scattered the broken bones, his clothes fluttered, like a banished immortal.
He leaned over and picked a few pieces, then walked over to her side and said, "My lady, close your eyes and choose any one you like."
Wei Shuyi looked at the slender and sickly pale hand. There was a faint green sheen flowing on the skin, which made her inexplicably remember the glazed color of Yongshou Palace. With a tremble of her hand, she took out a piece of broken bone from his palm.
"Master Imperial Master, is this auspicious or ominous?"
"this……"
Yu Huai held it, glanced at the lines on it, and a smile played on his lips: "It is a good omen, but for you, young master, it may hide bad luck. As for how to choose, it all depends on your heart."
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