Life in the harem was dull and tedious. Zhao Yuancheng was busy with frontier affairs and seldom set foot in the harem. Even if he came, he mostly went to visit the queen and the queen mother.
In mid-July, the eldest prince caught a cold. Even though all the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital gathered around the child's bedside, the eldest prince's health showed no improvement.
The eldest prince is the queen's life. Seeing her beloved son suffering from illness, the queen cried all day long. She even copied the blood sutra herself, just praying that her beloved son would be safe.
That day, Fu Xiyu went to Fengqi Palace to pay her respects to the Empress. However, before she even entered, she heard the Empress's furious voice from the side hall, "You bastard, how come after all this time, Chen'er still hasn't shown any improvement?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Seeing this, Fu Qianyu quietly asked the palace maid guarding the gate, "It's been so long, and the eldest prince's health is still not better?"
The palace maid also had a worried look on her face. "Although the imperial physician said it was just a cold, the eldest prince's condition has been recurring. He even had a seizure last night. The Empress stayed by his side all night, not daring to close her eyes. He only felt better this morning."
Fu Qianyu sighed, "In that case, I won't bother you any more. Please inform the Empress that I'm here to pay my respects."
"Yes, I've made note of it. Take care, Madam."
As soon as Fu Qianyu left, Jinmei came out of the small kitchen carrying medicine. Seeing a figure passing by the door, she asked the palace maid, "Who was here?"
"It's Consort Yi who comes to pay her respects to the Empress."
Jin Mei snorted lightly and said disdainfully: "The cat cries over the rat, it's just false sympathy!"
When I came out of Fengqi Palace and passed by the Imperial Garden, I happened to see Zhao Yuancheng's imperial carriage coming towards this side.
Zhao Yuancheng valued his legitimate son, so he must be going to Fengqi Palace. Fu Qianyu did not stop, but when she raised her leg to leave, she saw that the imperial carriage had stopped.
Looking through the gaps in the vines, he saw Zhao Yuancheng talking to a woman.
The person was wearing a jade-colored brocade shirt, with long, flowing hair and a hollow orchid-shaped red hairpin inserted diagonally in her hair. But even though she was dressed simply, her face was still charming and beautiful, and her appearance could not be concealed.
Lingyun whispered, "My Lady, it looks to me like Lady Ming."
Ming Wanshuang, the daughter of a cabinet scholar, is also the one with the highest family background among this year's beauties.
However, she fell ill after she was favored by the emperor. The Shangqin Bureau removed her green card, and she rarely went out.
If she hadn't seen her today, Fu Qianyu would have almost forgotten that there was a beautiful lady named Ming in the palace.
The two of them talked about something, and Zhao Yuancheng helped Ming Meiren onto the imperial carriage. Seeing this, Fu Qianyu just smiled and turned away.
Lingyun saw that there was no anger on Fu Qianyu's face and asked curiously, "Madam, aren't you feeling uncomfortable at all?"
"Why do you feel bad?"
Lingyun, "When you were in the Eastern Palace, you and the Imperial Concubine always shared the favor equally. But now that the Emperor has ascended the throne and new people have entered the palace, the Emperor has not been as frequent as before. Are you really not jealous at all?"
Fu Qianyu smiled faintly, "Before entering the palace, my mother told me that I could regard the emperor as heaven, as God, but not as my husband, and certainly not pour my feelings into him. Once I fall in love with the emperor, I am doomed to fall into the abyss."
Seeing her master's insightful observation, Lingyun's eyes were filled with heartache. "I'm relieved that you can let it go."
The affair between Zhao Yuancheng and Ming Meiren in the Imperial Garden soon reached the ears of the Queen.
Last night, the eldest prince suddenly had a convulsion, and the queen was so anxious that she couldn't sleep all night. Although the eldest prince is safe now, the queen still dare not relax for a moment.
It was Nanny Cen who came over to persuade her, "Your Majesty, you haven't slept all night, your eyes are red. We have servants and imperial doctors to watch over you, please go and rest."
The Queen rubbed her brows wearily. "I'm fine. I heard that the Emperor ran into Lady Ming in the Imperial Garden."
Nanny Cen was always steady, but when she mentioned this, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the Queen. "You stayed up all night last night, and the eldest prince finally recovered. No matter what, the Emperor should come to see him."
"I am now firmly seated on the throne of Empress, and I have a legitimate son. This is all I need." The Empress smiled indifferently, looking down at her son's peaceful sleeping face with a look of satisfaction in her eyes. "What's more, Concubine Ming comes from a distinguished family. She has been quiet for so long, and it's time for her to be favored. Jinmei, tomorrow you will deliver something to Lanyue Pavilion according to the rules."
"Yes, I've made note of it."
Nanny Cen continued, "Pin'er just came to report that Consort Yi had come. I heard you didn't sleep all night, so I didn't come in to disturb you."
The Queen nodded, "She is quite thoughtful."
Jin Mei didn't care, "I think she is just gloating over other people's misfortune."
The Queen glared at her sideways, "Jinmei, although you are my personal servant, you should be careful with your words. Do you think you can talk about the Master?"
Seeing the Queen's anger, Jin Mei said awkwardly, "I know I was wrong."
The next morning, news came from the Zichen Palace that Concubine Ming was promoted to the position of Jieyushi and was given the title of Wan.
Zhao Yuancheng seemed to be very satisfied with this Concubine Wan. Apart from Fu Qianyu, she was the one who slept with him the most, and he would also summon her to the Zichen Palace to play chess from time to time.
The days passed peacefully until August.
The news of the great victory on the border was like a stone thrown into a lake, which immediately caused ripples. Perhaps the queen's sincerity moved God.
The eldest prince's health is gradually recovering.
The dark clouds that shrouded the former court and the harem dissipated at the same time. As the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, the empress dowager ordered the Shanggong Bureau to prepare the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner.
It was thought that the generous donation from the Liu family would allow Concubine Liu to rise to prominence and be promoted to the position of imperial concubine, but even though the news of the great victory on the border had been reported to the capital for several days.
The Zichen Palace was completely silent, without any movement at all.
On this day, Liu Zhaoyi was lying on the couch eating honeydew melon, and the red gold beads and golden hairpins on her temples emitted bursts of cold light as she moved.
"A great victory on the border, I thought the Emperor would appoint me as his consort, but in the end, I was just wishful thinking."
Yun'er half-sat on the edge of the couch, carefully massaging her legs and advising her, "The Emperor conferred the title of Zhaoyi on you right after ascending the throne. It's been less than half a year, so please be patient for now."
Liu Zhaoyi snorted softly, "It would be fine if it were any other case, but I really hate that Heaven has no eyes. The eldest prince is so ill, yet he is still safe and sound!"
"Your Majesty, don't worry. The eldest prince can survive this test, but who can guarantee that he can survive the next one?"
Liu Zhaoyi carefully stroked her belly, raised the corner of her lips to smile, but her eyes were as cold as ice: "Whether it's the Queen's legitimate son or someone else's child, the only one who can inherit the throne in the future is my child."
Yun'er agreed with a smile, "Yes, the emperor confined you to your room, but it actually saved the baby in your womb. But the eldest prince has recovered now, and after this incident, Fengqi Palace is guarded like an iron barrel. If we want to take action, it will be extremely difficult."
Liu Zhaoyi sneered, "Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. When the time comes, I will present a great gift to the Empress."
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