Jiang Zhili and Yuan Mo played on the grassland for three months before returning to Mingyuan.
During this period, Yuanxi and Yuancong had a lot of fun. Every day they were either riding horses or hunting rabbits. At night they sang and danced, and played until late at night. Jiang Zhili was too lazy to care about them. After returning to Mingyuan, there would be no chance for them to play, so he just let them play.
Three months later, Jiang Zhili and Yuan Mo returned to Mingyuan. Not long after they returned, the emperor fell ill due to catching a cold. The entire palace was shrouded in a layer of dark clouds, and state affairs were taken over by Yuan Mo.
Yuan Mo suddenly became busy, often returning to the East Palace late at night. The emperor's health had always been poor, and this time his illness was even more severe, so many things had to be prepared in advance...
The emperor and the queen have always been very kind to Jiang Zhili, almost treating her as their own daughter, and treating her better than Yuan Mo.
This time the emperor was seriously ill, so she took Yuan Xi and Yuan Cong to visit him often. The emperor would feel happier when he saw the two little babies.
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It was as warm as spring inside Qingyang Palace.
The charcoal fire in the hall burned so fiercely that it almost made one feel hot. The lingering smell of medicine floated in the air, making one's tongue bitter.
The emperor had just taken the medicine and went to sleep. Jiang Zhili and the queen were sitting on chairs outside.
The queen looked pale and had lost a lot of weight. After the emperor fell ill, she had been serving him every day and had not had a good night's sleep for many days. She also had to deal with the affairs of the harem and was really exhausted.
The emperor was seriously ill, and the concubines in the harem began to become restless again. They tried all kinds of ways to see the emperor.
Because of his health problems, the emperor has only one son, Yuan Mo, which makes the concubines in the harem feel extremely insecure.
They were worried that once the emperor died, he would drag them to be buried with him. Since ancient times, there has been a rule that concubines must be buried with him. They could only escape if they obtained the emperor's will.
During the days when the emperor was ill, the concubines wanted to come to Qingyang Palace every day to ask for a will to save their lives.
"Have a try of this Longjing tea, it was recently offered as tribute. If you like it, take some back to the East Palace later," the Queen said with a tired look on her face, but her words were very gentle.
Jiang Zhili nodded: "Thank you very much, mother."
After that, she continued, "You have worked hard these days, mother. Please take good care of yourself."
The entire harem is managed by the queen alone, and she is also the only one who takes care of the emperor. It is really too hard for her.
The Queen sighed and patted Jiang Zhili. "Xiao Xi'er and Xiao Cong are older now. Starting tomorrow afternoon, you will come to Qingyang Palace. As the Crown Princess, it's time for you to help me share my worries."
She didn't dare to hand over the harem to other concubines, so she could only let Xiao Li share her worries.
"I will do my best," Jiang Zhili replied solemnly.
She is the only person the queen can trust in the harem.
At this time, the nanny outside the hall walked in.
The nanny's face was gloomy. She walked to the queen with a hunched back, and her originally kind tone was now tinged with sadness.
"Your Majesty, Concubine Wen and Noble Lady Wang have arrived along with the other concubines. They are waiting at the door and want to see the Emperor."
These concubines came to ask for the emperor's will under the pretext of serving him. It was natural for the emperor to sympathize with the concubines' thoughts, but in the eyes of the queen, it was like stabbing her in the heart.
The Queen and the Emperor had a very good relationship. These concubines were eager to ask for the Emperor's will, which was a tacit acknowledgement that the Emperor would not survive this, and this was unacceptable to the Queen.
Although she had been prepared for this, she still found it hard to accept. She and the emperor were childhood sweethearts. Although there had been disagreements and quarrels in between, their friendship always prevailed. After so many years, their relationship was extremely deep.
In the early years after the Emperor ascended the throne, the Crown Prince wasn't the only one who had children. He had the opportunity to have other children. At that time, she couldn't accept having three thousand concubines. Every time a concubine came to sleep with her, she would send someone to bring her contraceptive soup...
The emperor saw it but did not say anything. He only told others that His Majesty was in poor health. It was not until the emperor's health deteriorated and he stopped visiting other concubines in the palace that she stopped giving her the contraceptive soup.
To the Emperor and the concubines, what she did was too arbitrary, and she owed them...
The Queen sighed softly, suppressing the discomfort in her heart. She ordered the maid, "Please invite Concubine Wen and Noble Lady Wang in."
Mammy responded softly.
A moment later, Concubine Wen and Noble Lady Wang walked in.
Concubine Wen was dressed in a lavender dress. She was beautiful, but there was a hint of sadness between her brows. She looked very lovable. She was only about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.
Concubine Wang had a dignified appearance and a decent temperament. She looked slightly older than Concubine Wen and was about the same age as the Queen.
Jiang Zhili had never seen these concubines before. In the past five years, they were like invisible people. Although they were in the harem together, she had never seen them, and she had not been able to attend various palace banquets and flower banquets.
The Queen appeared gentle and generous, but she did have some tricks and schemes, but she just didn't use them on Jiang Zhili. Furthermore, the Emperor also indulged her, so over time, these concubines in the harem became as invisible as if they were invisible...
As the most beautiful concubine among them, Concubine Wen was unwilling at first, but after arguing a few times, she found that all her efforts were in vain. No matter who the royal family wanted to indulge, it would be useless even if the harem caused trouble in the former dynasty.
Fortunately, the Queen does not deduct the share of the harem. As long as they do not have the intention of competing for favor, the Queen will not make things difficult for them.
Later, she became quiet, and spent her days in the harem admiring flowers and embroidering clothes, which was enough to kill time. She also became a true sister with the other concubines in the harem...
Jiang Zhili looked at Concubine Wen and felt that it was a pity. It was really a pity that such a beautiful woman was imprisoned in the harem. However, in this era, being able to stay safely in the harem was a good place to go. Life outside the palace was not any better than inside.
After Concubine Wen and Noble Lady Wang came in, they were both stunned when they saw Jiang Zhili.
There was amazement in their eyes, and when they saw the two little kids Yuan Cong and Yuan Xi beside them, they could guess that this person was the Crown Princess.
Concubine Wen concealed her amazement and she and Concubine Wang knelt down in front of the Queen.
"Please be merciful, Your Majesty. We, your servants, wish to serve you."
After saying that, the two of them kowtowed to the queen.
The Queen's face showed both dignity and coldness. She did not speak until Jiang Zhili finished drinking the flower tea in front of them. Yuan Xi and Yuan Cong came running over with their short legs, clamoring to be held by the Queen.
The Queen, with a smile on her face, held the two little babies on her lap, and then gently signaled Concubine Wen and Noble Lady Wang to stand up.
The expressions on Concubine Wen and Noble Lady Wang's faces were always humble, and they never showed a trace of dissatisfaction.
Jiang Zhili knew something about the rules of burying concubines alive with the queen, so he could understand why Concubine Wen and Noble Lady Wang led all the concubines to ask the queen for help.
"Your Majesty..."
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