Chapter 94 Returning to the Palace, Xiaoyi is Sick
Happy days are very short. Even if Emperor Xuanye wanted to celebrate the New Year outside the Great Wall, his status did not allow it. So, more than ten days later, Xuanye and Xiuyu discussed the matter of returning to the capital.
"Actually, I was just about to ask you when you'd be returning to the capital." Xiu Yu avoided Xuanye's gaze, adjusted herself for a moment, and then quickly curled her lips again: "I'm going to say goodbye to my father and mother."
"Yu'er." Xuanye held Xiuyu's hand. "From now on, whenever I come to the borderlands, I'll take you with me. I promise you."
"I believe it." Xiu Yu pulled her hand out of Xuanye's and smiled at him again: "Well, I'm going to look for my father and mother. I'll come back to collect my things."
Looking at Xiu Yu's back, Xuanye actually felt a sense of guilt in his heart. He had obviously treated her very well. At least compared with other women in the harem, he treated Xiu Yu in a unique way.
Xuanye finally sighed. There was nothing he could do. He was the emperor and Xiu Yu was his imperial concubine. They were destined not to feel the warmth of ordinary people's homes.
As if she knew her daughter would be leaving soon, Dong E didn't sleep well the night before Xiu Yu came to say goodbye. When she saw Xiu Yu face to face, her eyes were bloodshot.
"Mother..." Xiu Yu lowered his head slightly, not daring to look into Dong E's eyes.
Dong E held Xiu Yu's hand and said, "My Lady, are you going back to the palace?"
Xiu Yu simply nodded and said, "If you don't go back soon, it will be Chinese New Year soon, and the Emperor can't celebrate the New Year outside the Great Wall."
"Mother knows." Dong E touched Xiu Yu's cheek. Seeing her daughter's current appearance, she was actually relieved, but naturally she was reluctant to let her go. "My Lady, now that you've returned, I know you're indeed living well in the palace. I'm relieved."
Xiu Yu collected herself and when she looked up at Dong E, the corners of her mouth curved up. "The Emperor said that whenever he comes to the border areas in the future, he will take me with him. So, mother, maybe we will be living together again soon."
"Okay, okay." Dong E turned her head and blinked, trying her best not to cry in front of her daughter.
"Mother, how about you cook for your daughter again? I'll help you." Xiu Yu knew that keeping her mother busy at this time was actually the best way to relieve her sadness.
Dong E nodded, stood up, held Xiu Yu's hand, and walked to the kitchen with her daughter.
Although Sanguanbao was Xuanye's father-in-law, the relationship between the monarch and his subject was more important than anything else. During the time Xuanye and Xiuyu were outside the Great Wall, Sanguanbao still abided by the rules and did not dare to overstep the line.
For the last meal outside the Great Wall, Xuanye drove all the servants out. In the house, there were only four adults and two little kids. They sat around a round table, and it finally felt like his daughters returning to their parents' home.
Sanguanbao and Dong E were still somewhat reserved until three rounds of drinks, in fact, they were reserved for three rounds, before they relaxed. Sanguanbao held up the wine glass and began to formally toast with Xuanye.
During the meal, Dong E talked about the interesting things that happened when her daughter was learning to cook at home. Sanguan Bao also mentioned how many times Xiu Yu fell off the horse when she first started learning to ride. These were things Xuanye didn't know, and he became more and more interested the more he listened. Among the six people present, only Xiu Yu felt extremely embarrassed. After all, she was in front of Kejing and Yinqi, and as a mother, she still had to save face.
But no matter how harmonious the atmosphere is, the meal still has to be finished.
In the carriage, Xuanye put his arm around Xiuyu's shoulders and said softly, "I promise you, I will come again."
Xiu Yu held Xuanye's other hand tightly. Even though she was reluctant, the carriage still slowly headed south.
Sanguan Bao held his wife's shoulders, just like when he watched Xiu Yu enter the palace for the selection, and this time he sent his daughter to the capital.
Sanguan Bao smiled and said, "I was told that with our daughter's abilities, she would thrive even in the Forbidden City, a place with strict rules."
"Yes." Dong E wiped her eyes and said, "The emperor really treats our Yu'er very well. I never thought of this."
"We'll have a chance to see Yu'er again." Seeing the carriage gradually disappear, Sanguan Bao took his wife in his arms and walked back. "Maybe next year, maybe the year after, but at least we won't be separated from each other in this life."
"Yes." Dong E was actually relieved: "At least we won't meet again in this life. I should look forward to Yu'er accompanying the emperor to the border again."
"I will." Sanguanbao stroked his beard, his eyebrows and eyes showing pride for his daughter: "Our daughter is indeed worthy of being the daughter of our Guo Luoluo family."
In the carriage, Xiu Yu opened the big food box that Dong E had prepared for her. The food inside was still hot.
Xuanye smiled and said, "Yu'er, your mother's cooking skills are really good. She even surpasses you."
Xiu Yu took out a piece of plum blossom cake and handed it to Xuanye, saying, "I admit defeat on this one. When it comes to cooking skills, I'm afraid I'll never be able to surpass mother."
Seeing Kejing and Yinqi already sleeping soundly, Xuanye lowered his eyelids and said, "I met your brothers a while ago. There was one who ranked fourth. Do you remember him?"
"Hmm?" Xiu Yu was a little surprised that Xuanye would bring this up: "Are you talking about my fourth brother?"
"You're already the Empress, why are you still calling me Fourth Brother?" Xuanye was obviously unhappy, but this unhappiness was fleeting because... "He's now a minor official and has gained a lot of weight. I really should ask you to go and see him."
Looking at Xuanye's expression, Xiu Yu naturally understood what he was thinking. She immediately took his arm and said softly, "I almost forgot about this person. You still went out of your way to help me look for him."
"But I heard that your fourth brother once tried to stop you from entering the palace. Your fourth brother is quite well-educated. If you had listened to her..."
"Is that even possible?" Xiu Yu curled her lips. "My third brother, I ran into you on the street before I even had the chance to enter the palace for the selection. Thanks to your care during the selection, I had a smooth journey. How could I possibly fail?"
Xuanye put his arm around Xiuyu's waist, moved closer to her, and asked, "So... compared to your fourth brother..."
"Is there any comparison?" Xiu Yu whispered, "Third brother is priceless."
If it weren't for the fact that Kejing and Yinqi were asleep, Xuanye would have laughed out loud. He was really satisfied with Xiuyu's answer.
***
It was already the twelfth lunar month when the group returned to the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City, like the surrounding areas, was covered in silver.
Xiu Yu had been away for such a long time that she was worried about Yin'er and Yin'an. After all, the two little boys were still too young, and Xiao Tao was only the head aunt of Yikun Palace. Tong Jia Zi Fu would come to Yikun Palace from time to time to take care of them, but she couldn't stay in Yikun Palace for twelve hours a day. Therefore, no matter how comfortable her life outside the pass was, she was always concerned about Yikun Palace.
The carriage stopped outside the Yiku Palace. When Xiu Yu entered, a strong smell of medicine hit his nose.
Xiu Yu felt something was wrong and almost ran into the warm room.
Tong Jia Zifu heard the news that Yinzhen had a fever last night, so she brought Yinzhen to Yikun Palace and called the imperial physician to take Yinzhen's pulse and prescribe medicine. However, Yinzhen was too young after all, and the fever was really uncomfortable. He just kept crying. The decoction was heated several times, but he couldn't eat much.
After Xiu Yu entered the room, she immediately hugged Yin Zhen, who had cried until his voice was hoarse, and coaxed him softly, "Don't be afraid, little Eleven. Mother is back and she is by your side."
Tong Jia Zifu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, walked to Xuanye, bowed, and said, "Cousin, the imperial physician said that the weather suddenly turned cold, and Yinzhen was too young to bear it."
Xiu Yu touched Yinzhen's forehead, which was still very hot. She looked at Yinzhen's face carefully and was shocked: "Your Majesty, Xiao Eleven seems to be..."
Xuanye walked over to Xiuyu and saw a few red spots on Yinzhen's face. "Sun Zhiding!" Xuanye shouted, "What happened to the Eleventh Prince?"
Sun Zhiding was also a little panicked. He immediately went forward to check on Yinzhen's condition. After some diagnosis, he said, "Your Majesty, the eleventh prince has smallpox. Please ask Your Majesty to leave Yiku Palace as soon as possible." As he said this, he knelt on the ground.
"This..." Xiu Yu was also a little panicked. Kejing and the others had chickenpox before, but they only got it at a certain age. After all, Yinzhen was too young.
But then Xuanye said, "I'm not even afraid of smallpox, so why would I be afraid of chickenpox? Now that the young prince can't drink the medicine, don't you have any good solutions?"
"Your Majesty..." Sun Zhiding pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I will make some pills and I will make sure that the young prince takes them."
Xuanye nodded, and then said to Tong Jia Zifu, "Cousin, would you mind taking Ke Jing and the others to Cheng Qian Palace to take care of them?"
"Don't worry, cousin." Tong Jia Zifu knew that the Eleventh Prince might be in danger this time. "I will take good care of Kejing and the others. You and Xiuyu should also be careful."
Seeing Tong Jia Zi Fu taking Yinzhen, Kejing and others away, Xuanye walked to Xiu Yu and wanted to hug Yinzhen.
Xiu Yu stepped back and said, "Your Majesty, Yu'er will take good care of Yinzhen. You should return to the Palace of Heavenly Purity first."
"I'll take care of it with you." Without waiting for Xiu Yu to object, Xuanye immediately ordered Liang Jiugong, "Go and bring all the memorials from the Qianqing Palace to the Yikun Palace. From now on, I will review the memorials in the Yikun Palace."
Xiu Yu had no intention of persuading Xuanye anymore. She carefully put Yinzhen on the bed, picked up the medicine bowl beside her, and tried to get Yinzhen to drink the medicine, but to no avail.
Xuanye held Xiuyu's shoulders and comforted her, "You have to believe in Xiaoyi. He will definitely get through it."
"But he's too young." Xiu Yu's eyes were filled with worry. "It's all my fault as a mother. I shouldn't have gone outside the Great Wall at this time and left Little Eleven in the palace."
"Whether you're here or not, Little Eleven will have to go through this." Xuanye looked at his son, who no longer had the energy to cry, and felt a pang of sadness in his heart. "Fortunately, we're back. With you and I guarding him, Yinzhen will definitely be safe."
Xiu Yu nodded, stood up and washed the handkerchief, but her brows were still furrowed.
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