Chapter 67: The Emperor's Methods But, you gave it to the Niuhulu family...
In the carriage on the way to Tsinghua, Xiu Yu felt that Xuanye seemed to be hesitant to speak. She put down her hand warmer, took Xuanye's hand, and asked, "Do you have something to say?"
"No." Xuanye avoided Xiu Yu's inquiring gaze.
Xiu Yu smiled and said, "If you don't want to talk about it, then Yu'er won't ask."
Xuanye hesitated for a moment and said, "The incense burning matter..."
"You know?" Xiu Yu squinted his eyes: "You didn't do it on purpose?"
"I don't know." Xuanye sighed and said, "But Mama does know. When I first found out you were pregnant, I went to Mama and asked her to protect you."
Xiu Yu continued, "So, the Imperial Household Department's little tricks didn't escape the old ancestor's eyes?"
"It's more than just the Imperial Household Department." Xuanye knew his Imperial Mama's abilities well. "There's nothing in this world that Mama wants to know that can escape her eyes. What she doesn't know, she simply doesn't want to know."
Xiu Yu nodded: "Our ancestors have lived through three dynasties, so they should have such ability."
"Hmm..." Xuanye looked into Xiuyu's eyes and said tentatively, "When we return to the palace, I hope everything will be normal when you see the old ancestor. After all..."
"You don't have to say anything." Xiu Yu's eyes were full of understanding. "The incense hasn't been lit yet. Besides, even if Xiao Tao didn't notice, I think the old ancestor wouldn't let the incense stick enter the incense burner."
"Of course." Xuanye hugged Xiuyu in his arms, still feeling a bit scared. "But, thinking about this, it's still scary. If that incense stick had been burned, if every incense sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs had been filled with that stick, if you and the child were harmed by it, I will make them pay with their lives."
Xiu Yu touched her belly, recalling that horrible dream. She wondered if perhaps this had actually happened. Perhaps, at that time, Concubine Yi hadn't enjoyed the care of the ancestors, nor had Xiao Tao, a caring maid, been around. Burning incense sticks one by one, day after day, and then being attacked by a wild cat from nowhere, she would have been in danger of death.
"I promise you this time." Xuanye and Xiuyu touched their child together. "Anyone who dares to use such despicable means will no longer be allowed to live in this world."
Xiu Yu heard murderous intent in those light words. She raised her head to look at Xuanye's sharp, angular profile, and for the first time, she felt the emperor's murderous decisiveness.
After entering Tsinghua University, the carriage headed east and north, and finally stopped in front of the frozen Houhu Lake.
Xuanye got off the carriage first, then carefully helped Xiuyu down and said with a smile, "Last year we had a drink on this lake. Do you remember?"
"I remember." Xiu Yu turned around and looked at the lake, saying mischievously, "It's still frozen. How about we go have another drink?"
Xuanye pinched Xiuyu's nose and took her in his arms as they walked into the house. "This house is built in front of the Houhu Lake. I like it very much. I have ordered people to finish the renovation. We can live here."
Xiu Yu walked to the front of the steps, raised his head and looked at the plaque that had been hung up. It was exactly the four words "Qingxi Book House".
"Have you chosen a name?" She turned her head to look at Xuanye.
Xuanye smiled and said, "Yes, not only this place, I have even thought of a name for this garden. I will use the words 'Changchun'. What do you think?"
"In spring, I imagine this garden must be shaded by green willows and full of the vitality of spring. The word 'Changchun' is very appropriate." Xiu Yuming knew the result but still had to praise it. For a moment, he even felt that he was a little hypocritical.
Xuanye seemed very happy to hear this, and said softly in her ear: "Be careful with the steps. We'll be riding in a carriage all the way. You should go and rest first."
Changchun Garden has not yet reached its full size, but precisely because it has not yet undergone major renovations, it appears even more peaceful, and Xiu Yu's life is easy and happy.
It wasn't until February that Xuanye was squatting in front of Xiuyu, his ear pressed against her belly, listening for the baby's movements. Liang Jiugong hurried in, not caring about etiquette, and simply knelt and said, "Your Majesty, there's news from the palace that the Empress is not well."
Xuanye frowned, stood up and waved Liang Jiugong away.
Xiu Yu also stood up and said, "The Queen..."
"Don't worry about this matter. Just pretend you don't know." Xuanye helped Xiuyu sit down again. "I have to go back to the palace. You... I will inform the Imperial Hospital and have them submit a memorial saying that you need to rest and take care of the pregnancy."
Xiu Yu hesitated, feeling somewhat embarrassed: "Yu'er knows you care about me, but the Empress's affairs are different from other matters after all. I should go back."
Xuanye hesitated for a moment, then finally said, "Go back and stay in Yikun Palace for the time being. You cannot go to Kunning Palace without my permission. Can you always do this?"
Xiu Yu nodded. Although Xuanye hadn't told her anything these days, a smart person could guess what was going on.
In Kunning Palace, the strong smell of medicine filled the entire palace. Niu Hulu Yanlan lay on the bed, her face almost pale.
As soon as Xuanye entered the bedroom, he ordered all the palace maids and eunuchs serving the queen to leave.
Seeing Xuanye, Niuhulu Yanlan forced a smile. "Your Majesty, I am not feeling well and cannot pay my respects to you."
Xuanye hummed, and after a long pause he said, "Do you know why it has come to this?"
Niu Hulu Yanlan closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks: "Your Majesty, do you want my life? If you do, I will give it to you."
"You were originally a clean girl." Xuanye still sat down beside Niuhulu Yanlan's bed, "I have already given you the position of queen."
"Yes, you gave me the position of Queen." Niuhulu Yanlan opened her eyes and looked at Xuanye: "But, you gave it to the daughter of the Niuhulu family who was sent to the palace. If it was someone else, you would give it to me, right?"
Xuanye did not answer.
Niuhulu Yanlan continued, "In your heart, I have always been Aobai's goddaughter. My father was also wavering when you first ascended the throne. So, you despise me, right?"
"I only hope that you can be the Empress of the Qing Dynasty in peace and stability." Xuanye looked at Nianhulu Yanlan coldly: "I always thought that you were a kind girl. If you were the Empress, the harem would be peaceful. However, you have disappointed me. Xiuyu, what exactly is she doing to you? I still can't figure it out."
"Is it difficult to solve?" Niu Hulu Yanlan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I am a woman. I have seen how my father treated my mother, and I have always hoped to have that kind of luck. I thought I was really lucky to marry the emperor who is both civil and military. I thought that the emperor would be like my father. However, all this is just what I thought..."
She suddenly started knocking her head, and it started bleeding, but she didn't care and continued, "Xiu Yu, how is she a hindrance to me? She has everything I want. I don't have your favor, and I can't get it no matter how hard I try. But she, on the other hand, gained favor as soon as she entered the palace. I don't have children, and she will be my mother. Your Majesty, tell me, isn't she a hindrance to me? I hate her, I hate her child, I'm almost driven crazy by the torture..."
"When did you become like this?" Xuanye raised his hand to smooth down Nianhulu Yanlan's messy hair. "Is it because I like Yu'er?"
"She got something that I will never get." Niuhulu Yanlan looked at Xuanye, her eyes gradually becoming vague: "I know that you know about the Imperial Household Department. You want my life, right? After all, you are the emperor. If you keep pulling the tiger's beard, the tiger will bite. Now, I don't need you to take action. Or have you already taken action? But it doesn't matter..."
Niuhulu Yanlan closed her eyes and said, "If I die, the Niuhulu family will send another princess. It's really pitiful..."
Xuanye watched Nianhulu Yanlan breathe her last. As he left Kunning Palace, he couldn't articulate his feelings. Returning to the Qianqing Palace, he lay back on his bed, and Nianhulu Yanlan's image flickered before his eyes. For a moment, he couldn't tell whether Nianhulu Yanlan had intended to harm Xiuyu, thus asking for trouble, or whether everything was due to him, the emperor.
"Liang Jiugong," he ordered in a deep voice, "Go and tell the ministers of the previous court that the queen has passed away. I am deeply saddened and will suspend court for five days."
"Yeah." Liang Jiugong hunched his body and walked out of the warm room of the Qianqing Palace.
Xuanye was the only one left in the empty warm room. He grabbed the pillow and covered his head with it for a long, long time...
At night, snowflakes began to fall again. Xuanye didn't know when he fell asleep. When he woke up, he felt a splitting headache and a cold hand was covering his forehead.
He opened his eyes and saw Xiu Yu.
"When did you come?" He realized his voice was hoarse after he said that.
Xiu Yu said, "You have a fever. Eunuch Liang said that you called my name in your dream."
"Really?" Xuanye helped himself to the bed and sat up: "Queen..."
"The Imperial Concubine is in Kunning Palace." Xiu Yu picked up the medicine bowl and stirred it slowly with a small spoon: "Are you, too sad?"
Xuanye didn't know what to say, nor could he explain it clearly, so he just said, "Whatever you say is what it is."
Xiu Yu scooped up a small spoonful of medicine and brought it to Xuanye's mouth: "Try it, is it still hot?"
Xuanye drank it and frowned, "It's not hot anymore, it's bitter."
"I was supposed to be guarding Kunning Palace." Xiu Yu said as she fed Xuanye medicine, "Now that you're awake, should I leave?"
"Go to Kunning Palace and kneel down?" Xuanye simply picked up the medicine bowl and drank it in one gulp: "Kunning Palace, the yin energy is very strong now, you can't go there."
Xiu Yu lowered her eyelids and said after a while, "Something seems to be wrong with you."
"Is it okay to have a fever?" Xuanye held Xiu Yu's hand: "I will go to Kunning Palace, so you don't have to go. It's really not good for your health." As he said that, he lifted the quilt and got out of bed.
Xiu Yu quickly supported him: "The imperial physician said that you should rest for a few days."
Xuanye was indeed feeling a bit dizzy, and he almost pulled Xiuyu down. He sat back on the bed, pulled Xiuyu to sit beside him, and then frowned and said, "Tell me, do souls exist in this world?"
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