Chapter 63 Chapter 63 [VIP]
The emperor's royal procession was accompanied by majestic flags and shining swords. The common people had no idea of the sorrow and misery that the princes and nobles under the same sky were experiencing. They only knew that the emperor's travels were more frequent this year than in previous years, and they vied with each other to see the emperor's procession.
However, this time when we went to Cuiwei Palace, we were in a hurry and didn't even choose an auspicious time.
Not to mention the chariot they were riding in, even the soldiers setting up the tents were left far behind.
Cuiwei Palace is close to Mount Zhongnan. Even if you ride a horse at full speed, it is still about a day's journey from the capital. Traveling through the mountains late at night without sending anyone to inform local officials to welcome the emperor is absolutely not in line with the travel standards of a supreme emperor. If something happens along the way, no one can take the responsibility.
But at this time, the Censorate was as silent as ever. Having witnessed the situation of the Eastern Palace in recent days, no matter what crazy act the emperor wanted to do, no one would want to make him unhappy at this critical juncture.
Chen Rongshou seemed calm, but he was actually very nervous. The imperial concubine's behavior was often unexpected. She only asked him to give some gold and gems to the parrot, and didn't tell him anything else. At this point, he had no idea what this beauty wanted to do.
A lot of time has passed since the imperial concubine sent the letter of thanks to the emperor into the palace. It is still unknown whether the imperial concubine is still in Cuiwei Palace, but no one dares to say this fact out loud.
He prayed that this eccentric beauty would be more patient. Since she had used such a subtle method to show her goodwill, it would be best if she could wait a few more days.
However, things did not go as planned. The next morning, when the sound of horses' hooves pounded the cold dew, the guards of Cuiwei Palace were shocked to see the emperor, who should not have been there.
——They are all elite soldiers of the Northern Court. Their superiors have ordered them to guard the Queen and Madam Shen, and they don't have to use the rules of the Imperial Palace to restrict the Shen family. However, unless Madam Shen has a letter that must be submitted to the Emperor, or if she is not ill or in good health, they are not allowed to act on their own and mention the Shen family in the report.
Therefore, no one thought much about Madam Shen leaving the palace; it was only a matter of time.
The Empress hurried over to greet him. Emperor Yuan Shuo looked gloomy and asked, "Where is she?"
Her face was calm, her attitude respectful. "Your Majesty, your arrival is somewhat unfortunate. Concubine Shen left the palace with her parents and brother a few days ago. I have already held a farewell banquet for them."
However, she was still somewhat surprised that the emperor appeared here.
Yi Niang had only lived with her intimately for a few days when she began to look worried, fearing that the events in the palace would affect the Shen family. The emperor's power was unpredictable, and one day Emperor Yuanshuo might remember the beauty hiding in the palace and resent her for alienating the father and son and ruining the emperor's reputation.
When the imperial concubine was in high spirits, few people who knew about it dared to discuss the incestuous affair in the royal family. But once she lost power, there was no telling how many versions of this affair, in which she served a father and a son, and the emperor took the wife of a minister, would have spread.
The empress thought that she was naturally overly concerned in this situation, and that the emperor had some magnanimity. Since he had spared her life, he would not go back on his word and sentence her to death again. However, Yiniang fell on her knees and sobbed, "I also want to stay with you for a long time, but my whole family is here. If anything happens again, my father and mother can no longer bear such torment."
The Queen suppressed the slight upward curve of her lips and softly counseled, "Since Your Majesty has decided to exile Shen, why trouble a young girl like her any longer? You are rich and powerful, and there is no beauty you cannot obtain. She is young and impetuous, and always annoys you. Although she serves you, she is often demoted. It would be better to select again. I believe you will be able to choose a beauty with a gentle temperament who will suit Your Majesty's taste."
The women in the inner court waited for the emperor's favor day after day. Even if they were as favored as the imperial concubine, Emperor Yuan Shuo would walk away if they were found guilty. The emperor had enough patience to wait for her to figure things out, and there was no need to punish or scold her. The flattery in the palace could make the arrogant concubines humble themselves in front of the king for the sake of their past glory.
Although Yi Niang was also a girl who coveted wealth and fame, the Queen did not think of her that way. The Imperial Concubine was very accustomed to the king's changing moods. If she had something to ask for, she would patiently deal with the Emperor, but she did not flatter him much. If she was willing to be humble, she probably would not have even experienced that period of being out of favor.
The Empress seemed confused as to what Emperor Yuanshuo was looking like, and whispered, "I see you've lost a lot of weight these days. There's a lot going on in the palace, and you're the one who's in charge. You should take care of your health. This is God's will. I think Madam Shen has learned to be fearful after this experience, and she will be grateful and live a peaceful life in the future. Why bother with her anymore?"
Emperor Yuan Shuo finally showed some fatigue and dejection on his face. If there was nothing else, he could still listen to the Queen's high-sounding and hypocritical remarks and say a few insignificant polite words to her.
But today he didn't want to hear a word.
He loved Yiniang, but despised the useless affection between men and women. It was just a pastime for the emperor to have fun after governing the country. He should love her. A poor widowed woman loved him devoutly and humbly. As long as he showed a little favor, he could lift her from the hell of endless suffering to the paradise of bliss, and he could also happily obtain the most primitive happiness of a man from her.
If this woman is just sweet-talking and actually extremely greedy, he will properly settle her.
But even though he knew that she hardly ever told the truth, and was even hypocritical towards him, and had even had an affair with the Crown Prince, he still liked her... even loved her!
, it's too late.
If the first time he was later than the prince, it was just God's will, but this time, it was because of himself.
"Heaven's will..." He chuckled softly, his calm tone chilling. "Is it that I am the ruler of all people, so I am going against Heaven's will?"
What is God's will or fate? He just likes Yi Niang, and loves her liveliness and eccentricity, like a wild spring in the boundless desert. If he gets her, he can live, but if he doesn't have her, he will be burned to death.
This torture made him unable to sleep at night and lose the appetite. If it lasted any longer, he would go crazy.
It was ridiculous to be so tolerant and generous, giving her the choice of staying or leaving, but it was just because he still had a little hope for her.
Perhaps one day she would lean on a pavilion and smile at a young and handsome man. Even if she only thought about it, this thought would streak through his heart like a poisonous snake, leaving a wet and sticky discomfort.
His life had been so smooth, and he had never had anything he wanted but could not get, so he actually felt that he could allow her to leave him even a little bit.
Sun Ze'en, the commander of the Yulin Army, was in a panic. The people guarding the palace were all from the Yuanm Yulin Army, whom he personally selected. These people let the Shen family go, and as a general, he could not escape the blame.
Emperor Yuan Shuo didn't even look at him as he ordered, "Go investigate the various counties surrounding the capital to see if anyone has used my seal to enter or leave the city recently. If the imperial concubine refuses to return to the capital... tell her to stay at a local inn and report back immediately!"
The Queen's lips opened slightly. She had long since stopped wanting to care about things that took up all her energy, but since it concerned Yiniang, Emperor Yuan Shuo at this moment made her feel a little uneasy.
She pondered for a few moments and then said softly, "Your Majesty... at this point, I think it would be better to return her to freedom. The Shen family has been campaigning throughout the capital to secure the position of Crown Princess, and quite a few people know about it. If we bring her back, who knows how many unpleasant words will be hurled at her."
It seems that she can't teach Yi Niang to come back for the time being.
However, when Emperor Yuan Shuo looked at her, his expression was cold: "Queen, you'd better put away those thoughts of sympathy and tenderness. Don't think that I don't know what you think!"
He didn't want to be jealous of a woman other than Yiniang, but that didn't mean the queen could do anything in the palace that would damage the royal family's reputation.
The emperor has no more mouth than other people, nor does he have two heads and six arms. What if he cannot stop the people from talking nonsense and the historians are unwilling to keep secrets for the emperor?
Not to mention just taking away a woman his son had slept with, there were even many emperors who killed their sons!
He had a nearly splitting headache, but the knot of anger in his heart still forcefully supported his body, as if he could only escape from this tension when he caught her.
King Zhao's leg was a little better, but when he learned that the emperor had returned to the palace, he still limped to the study to wait.
He was bored and was feeding the bird raised by his brother the emperor through its cage, when he discovered an interesting pattern.
If you feed it one golden melon seed at a time, it will shout "Yi Niang loves Your Majesty". If you feed it two golden melon seeds, it will shout "Your Majesty, please don't abandon Yi Niang".
He never gets tired of it.
The eunuch who stayed behind in the study probably regretted not sealing the parrot's mouth earlier or poisoning it to make it mute, and could only look at the beast in anger without saying a word.
So King Zhao found it even more interesting.
Emperor Yuan Shuo heard the familiar voice from afar, and his heart suddenly ached.
He had marched for several consecutive days and nights before, but the moment he stepped into the Liangyi Palace, the familiar feeling of dizziness came over him again. His eyes went dark and he could hear the King of Zhao's changed voice and many noisy and hazy sounds in his ears.
…
Shen Youyi changed into a set of unmarried woman's clothes and leisurely half-reclining in the book drying pavilion, now renamed Chen Wang's residence, drinking the kitchen's freshly brewed honey yogurt and reading the second prince's collection of medical books to relieve her boredom.
When the second prince came back, he saw the funny scene of the beauty sleeping soundly in the garden in the dusk of the night.
The book in his hand was half-opened, covering his slightly flushed face. The corners of his lips rose slightly, and the restlessness in his heart disappeared.
Many years ago, he had expected the warmth of a normal couple, but the girl, who was as obedient as a cat, would never be satisfied with the dullness of her backyard, just as he was happy to see the turmoil she had inadvertently stirred up.
He reached out to take the book, his eyes fell on the green cover, his expression changed, and his fingertips rested on her wrist.
Shen Youyi has been a little sleepy lately, but he has been worried and has not slept well.
She asked her brother to take her father and mother back to Luzhou first, while she herself stayed in Chang'an, patiently waiting for God's will.
She didn't know whether the bad-tempered parrot would still sing, and she wasn't sure whether Emperor Yuan Shuo still had enough affection for her to overlook all the estrangement and quarrels.
However, there was another matter that occupied her mind these days.
——This month’s menstrual period is only sporadic and comes very late.
Because she didn't like eating, she became thinner and didn't seem to gain weight as expected, but her "heavy limbs, dizziness" and "still having her period" seemed to be consistent with the signs in medical books. The only thing that couldn't be verified was that she didn't know how to take her own pulse and couldn't diagnose whether she was pregnant or not.
A woman who is alone in a foreign country suddenly has the possibility of becoming a mother. She is secretly uneasy, but she also feels inexplicably happy in her heart.
She had been taking various medicines for a long time, and vaguely guessed that conception might not be successful. The last time a princess was born in the harem was several years ago, and Emperor Yuan Shuo might find it difficult to make a woman give birth to a child again.
She had been worried and frightened these days, and had suffered a lot of bumps, but the child did not cause her much discomfort. He only occasionally reminded his mother of his existence in a subtle way.
But spotting is not a good thing for a pregnant woman. She rested for more than ten days before realizing that she was worrying too much.
Apart from feeling a little heavy, I didn't seem to feel anything special. I even felt a little irritable and my front was sore. I had some strange dreams a few times, in which I was being laid on the desk like a peeled bamboo shoot. It was so ridiculous.
The man's slightly cool fingers rested on her wrist, and Shen Youyi suddenly woke up.
She quickly withdrew her hand, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the man standing in front of her. She said lazily, "Your Highness, are you jealous of others being at ease and are deliberately trying to scare me?"
Before the Second Prince could examine her closely, he saw her subconsciously defensive posture, and his suspicions were already confirmed to a large extent. He simply sat down beside her and casually threw her a cloak. "It's obvious that Yi Niang can't bear to see me have a moment of leisure, so she came to destroy my books."
If she hadn't fallen asleep here, the servants would have put the books away and sorted them out instead of watching the sun set.
Although he found it amusing, he was puzzled by the astonishing thoughts that emerged from her body. He looked at her thoughtfully and said, "Yi Niang, you don't think that just because you're pregnant, you can piss off your father-in-law and become the Queen Mother, and then have a few male favorites, do you?"
Shen Youyi stood up suddenly. The mystery she had been guessing for many days was suddenly exposed. She didn't know whether to feel embarrassed or happy. She was a little confused. When did she plan to anger Emperor Yuan Shuo to death?
I could only reluctantly say, "Is there something wrong, Your Majesty?"
She realized that she seemed to have lost her composure in front of this patient, so she lay back down. No one in the Cui family was normal. He took pleasure in watching others panic, especially her.
The Second Prince looked at her calmly as she curled up under his clothes. In her panic, she seemed to have completely forgotten that it was a man's clothes and was stained with his scent.
He felt somewhat satisfied and was reluctant to speak, hoping that she would immerse herself in it for a while longer. Until Shen Youyi showed some impatience and anxiety, he slowly said: "Aye is probably not well this time."
Accustomed to the night, he could clearly see the astonishment on Shen Youyi's face, and said lightly: "Isn't it Yi Niang's handwriting?"
Shen Youyi's ears were buzzing, and she barely pulled the corners of her lips: "What does this have to do with me? Can I still reach out and poison the imperial meal?"
The Second Prince sensed the uneasiness beneath her calmness, looked at her nonchalantly, and said with a smile, "But His Majesty went to Cuiwei Palace to look for you a few days ago and even ordered a search of the city."
Shen Youyi's heart seemed to be pinched by someone. Apart from being strict with him when he was young, his father indulged him without any expectations most of the time. Naturally, it was difficult for the son to feel sad.
She half turned away, covering her face. "People eat all kinds of grains, so it's natural for them not to get sick. Your Highness, don't you think it's ridiculous that you're putting all the blame on a woman like me?"
"If Father were willing to eat whole grains, it would be fine." He couldn't feel Emperor Yuan Shuo's pulse, but he could still hear some of the words. "Although Your Majesty is in the prime of life, he can't stand the onslaught of anger. He vomited blood twice in succession, and his appetite has dropped drastically. He can't sleep. He's like a copper lamp that's about to burn out, with no oil to add, but the wind fanning the flame, making it burn brighter and brighter."
When he said this, his face became serious, but he still wanted to tell her a joke: "Yi Niang, who do you think will benefit if there is a big chaos now?"
If the spleen and stomach are diseased, food cannot nourish the body, but instead becomes a burden that consumes people. Lack of sleep and excessive work are the axes that destroy the body like alcohol and sex. Shen Youyi's fingers trembled slightly, and she seemed to have done something extraordinary.
She had become accustomed to his strong body and did not think that this little teasing and probing would cause such a big trouble. Or perhaps it was just the last straw that would crush him.
...She didn't even want to think about who would be the next to ascend the throne if the mountain collapsed, the prince or his son?
"I don't know who will benefit, but Your Highness is about to suffer disaster. Can you remain indifferent?"
Maybe it was because of the changes in her body, but she could even notice the excitement in her voice: "You're not at all...sad or afraid for yourself?"
In the cold moonlight, the Second Prince could clearly see the anger in her eyes.
He naturally knew that this beautiful woman who was good at acting would not be as miserable and sad as she said in front of A Niang. She would just stay in his house for a few days and then return to the ancient palace of Cuiwei Palace, willingly serving a queen who had also lost her power.
But he felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart. No matter who it was, no matter what they gave to her, they could not get her true love.
She was indeed panicked by the events in the palace that disrupted her plans, but he could not experience much joy from being awake outside the game.
A beauty who is like a moth to a flame, falls into more than just the trap of power. She leaves the man who broke his mother's heart, but actually runs into a poisonous spider web, becoming numb little by little without realizing it.
"Everyone has his own destiny. One day, my brother will take the throne. If the king orders me to die, I will have no choice but to die. What should I worry about?"
The young man spoke a little faster: "The Empress Dowager has already known about your affair with the Crown Prince. Before I left the palace, she was cursing the evil concubine for causing trouble..."
The crown prince is still imprisoned in the Eastern Palace. If Emperor Yuanshuo falls seriously ill, only the empress dowager can take power in the palace. Prince Zhao is the regent, and the country relies on the eldest prince. The throne may not fall to the child of Prince Hengshan, or the baby in her belly whose gender is unknown.
However, her chest was heaving, and she even took a few steps forward, holding his cold hand, and interrupted him anxiously, "Zi Yan, can you quietly send me to the palace so that I can take a look, please?"
It was almost curfew at this hour. She was a woman who was considered unlucky and was pregnant. If she entered the palace now, she would have a chance to escape tomorrow morning. He frowned and wanted to mock her, but he couldn't open his mouth.
Those affectionate eyes were fixed on him, filled with pleading, and her tone softened: "Zi Yan, this isn't difficult for you at all, is it?"
That gentle and pitiful attitude had disappeared from her for a long time, at least in front of him. The last time she did so was for her first husband.
He could refuse by simply closing his eyes and pushing her hand away.
…
The Zichen Palace was filled with a bitter smell of medicine. The eunuchs standing in the corridor did not dare to breathe, not only because of the dispute between the royal mother and son.
A concubine who had once been high and mighty suddenly appeared in the palace, following behind him, dressed as a eunuch. Zhao Yuelai's forehead and palms were sweating profusely. He looked at the concubine apologetically, handed her the medicine in his hand, and whispered, "Don't be afraid, my lady. Prince Zhao will be attending to the sick tonight. The old lady is old and will return to the palace soon."
Your Majesty's illness is not as serious as it is rumored outside. Although you are heartbroken and angry, which has led to a high fever, you have woken up several times in the meantime. Many memorials that Prince Zhao cannot handle still have to be sent to the palace for review.
I don’t know why, but in front of outsiders, I appear to have some otherworldly looks.
Shen Youyi was a little distracted. The emperor's brothers were not very promising. The King of Yue and his son were plotting treason. The King of Zhao, who forcibly took other people's women, was not necessarily any better. Leaving him to take care of the emperor's illness... I'm afraid he even wished the emperor would die soon!
But she was no less irritating, and said softly, "There's no need to be so embarrassed, Li Shi. I'm just a little worried, which is why I've made you all anxious too. If His Majesty is alright, I don't want to bother the old lady."
She could hear a few intermittent words from Emperor Yuan Shuo, but she actually felt a little timid. The threshold that she had stepped over countless times became unattainable, and for someone who rarely backed down, her legs seemed to have grown roots.
Zhao Yuelai immediately frowned and sighed slowly, "My lady, why do you have to say that? His Majesty is so worried about you. Even if he must leave the palace, it wouldn't take much to see you one last time and exchange a few words."
Shen Youyi could hear such fooling words in front of her, but her whole mind was in the hall, so she just nodded.
The Queen Mother still had some lingering anger, and she shed tears as she said, "Ah Heng, how could you be so foolish as to bring yourself to this point just for the sake of someone who wanted to drive a wedge between you and your son?"
She still remembered the emperor's firm words, that a king regards the world as his home and is not trapped by personal feelings. But why is he so hurt now?
"Mother, why do you say that about her?"
Emperor Yuanshuo lay back on his pillow, feeling almost powerless. The Imperial Guards galloped for days, intercepting Shen's carriage en route. But they didn't see the Imperial Concubine. "Even the Emperor fears the anger of a common man. A son's undiscipline is the fault of his father. Zihui killed her husband and took his wife. If she doesn't seek revenge on her son, what can she do to the Crown Prince?"
The Queen Mother didn't want to cause him to cough up blood again at this moment, but when she looked up, she saw another disappointing son. She sobbed softly for a while, then stood up and choked out, "How could I have given birth to such an evil pair like you!"
Emperor Yuan Shuo had become accustomed to his mother's weeping every night when she visited him, but whenever that person was mentioned, the two of them would inevitably have disagreements.
Seeing that it was getting late, Prince Zhao would promptly persuade the Queen Mother to return to the palace to rest so that the Emperor could take his medicine and go to sleep.
The medicine for the night had already been inspected several times by the heads of various departments and the generals of the guards, and was not delivered to the imperial bed until the Crown Prince tasted it himself.
Tonight was no different.
But his eyes seemed a little blurry, and in the dim light, he caught a glimpse of a familiar but much thinner figure outside the curtain.
But he was a eunuch.
The man lowered his head and silently brought in the medicine, but he seemed a little nervous and did not dare to ask the emperor to use the medicine.
Shen Youyi couldn't believe that in just a month or two, the man who was strong enough to catch a tiger had become like this.
She put the medicine aside and listened carefully to his weak breathing. Suddenly, someone grabbed her wrist. The king, who was lying on the sickbed, half opened his eyes and called out softly, "Yi Niang."
She was instantly like a frightened bird and wanted to get up and run away, but the man on the sickbed was no longer able to restrain a girl, and even his voice was a little weak.
"My dear, I really like you."
His eyes closed again, revealing his powerlessness and vulnerability in front of a woman: "Since I'm about to die, can you stay in my dream for a moment longer, please?"
Shen Youyi's arms slowly relaxed, but her heart ached. He was indeed sick and confused, otherwise how could he say such irrelevant and soft words... It was so strange that she thought he was possessed by someone.
She cleared her throat and soothed a child like she was saying, "It's me...take the medicine before talking in your sleep, okay?"
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