Chapter 36 Superb Acting
After the court meeting on the second day, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory asked to see the emperor in Changqing Palace and said that the west side of Qixiang Palace was an ominous sign and not suitable for living.
Xiao Chenglan ordered Zheng Baolin to move to the palace. The new side hall was in the south. It was an empty palace without a main seat. Zheng Baolin moved into Cuiweixuan, the west side hall.
People from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were ordered to go to Qixiang Palace to help move the palace. Because they needed to count the items and servants, Su Xiuyi reluctantly let Qian'er go back.
The relocation was completed in one morning.
The imperial physician took Zheng Baolin's pulse and prescribed medicine, and she has been recuperating in Cuiweixuan ever since.
In Changqing Palace, the old doctor Zhang who treated Zheng Baolin knelt on the ground and reported Zheng Baolin's injuries to Xiao Chenglan.
"The young lady's pulse is long and tense, stagnant and unsmooth, a symptom of stagnant heart qi. She must have been in constant fear recently. Secondly, the young lady has several cuts, burns, and bruises on her body. Skin injuries are easy to treat, but qi stagnation requires rest for several days."
Xiao Chenglan listened quietly and said, "In that case, then take good care of her. Her illness only needs to be handled by you, and no one else needs to know a word."
When Old Doctor Zhang saw the bruises on Zhen Baolin's neck, he knew what had happened. He didn't dare to say anything and just kowtowed.
"This humble official will obey the Holy Spirit."
Xiao Chenglan stood up from the dragon throne and paced a few steps with his hands behind his back.
"Doctor Zhang, I remember that you learned from Master Du Xuanzi. Not only are you proficient in the medical skills of the Central Plains, but you also have some understanding of the medical skills of the Yuelin Nation."
Doctor Zhang, not knowing what this meant, said cautiously, "I have learned Yuelin's medical skills, but I have been in the Imperial Palace for forty-three years. What I am studying now are the medical skills of the Central Plains."
Xiao Chenglan smiled, "Don't worry, my dear. In my heart, territory has boundaries, but medical skills have no boundaries. How could I blame you for this? You are proficient in the art of all directions, which is my blessing."
Old Imperial Physician Zhang looked up in surprise. The late emperor did not like anyone learning foreign medical skills in the palace, and regarded it as evil. In order to avoid disaster, he even burned a book that he had worked hard on.
now...
Doctor Zhang bowed with tears in his eyes, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty is wise and wise."
Xiao Chenglan walked down from the imperial platform and personally helped old doctor Zhang up.
"I have a favor to ask of you."
Doctor Zhang said anxiously, "I am ashamed to accept your request! I wonder what Your Majesty needs me to do?"
Xiao Chenglan looked at him and slowly opened his mouth: "I wonder if there are any poisonous insects in Yuelin's medical skills that can repel people?"
Doctor Zhang paused, "Your Majesty, do you mean by repulsion that it is in opposition to the love Gu?"
Xiao Chenglan nodded, "Yes, since Yuelin has a love Gu that can make people lose their minds, he must also have a Gu that makes two people feel uncomfortable when they are close to each other."
Doctor Zhang pondered for a moment, "Yes, it is, but for whom is Your Majesty seeking this item?"
"For myself."
The old doctor Zhang's gray brows suddenly frowned, and he hesitated and dared not say anything.
"What's the problem? Tell me, my dear."
Doctor Zhang bowed in fear and said, "If this thing is used on Your Majesty, it will need to be nurtured with Your Majesty's essence and blood for a full half month. When the insect matures, it can then be implanted into another person's body. Therefore, this action will harm the dragon's body, and I am truly terrified."
Xiao Chenglan smiled indifferently, "Don't panic, just go ahead and do it."
Half a month...the time is just about right.
Old Doctor Zhang didn't dare to think too much about what His Majesty wanted this thing for, so he quickly took his leave.
Xiao Chenglan looked at the sky outside Changqing Palace with great interest.
"Fu Wanquan."
Fu Wanquan hurried forward and asked, "What are your instructions, Your Majesty?"
"I want to go out for a walk."
Fu Wanquan felt very relieved. His Majesty had been immersed in government affairs since he entered Changqing Palace without a break for a moment. He finally had the mood to relax!
"Alright, I will prepare the dragon chariot for Your Majesty right away."
Not long after, Xiao Chenglan sat on the dragon chariot and the imperial carriage moved majestically along the palace road. After a while, they arrived at the imperial garden.
Fu Wanquan tried to cheer Xiao Chenglan up, "Your Majesty, the flowers are in full bloom right now. After touring the Imperial Garden, would you like to go somewhere else?"
Xiao Chenglan didn't say anything, just raised his hand.
Fu Wanquan hurriedly said, "Get out of the sedan chair!"
The dragon chariot stopped, Xiao Chenglan lifted the curtain and came down, walking to the flower garden with his hands behind his back.
In the carefully tended flower garden, flowers of various colors are in full bloom.
Xiao Chenglan stretched out his slender hand and stroked a peony. The peony swayed gently, like a beauty's skirt swaying in the wind.
A faint smile appeared on Xiao Chenglan's face. "Get the iron shears."
Fulin hurriedly asked a nearby craftsman for a pair of scissors and handed them over with both hands.
Fu Wanquan lowered his head and walked forward to hold Xiao Chenglan's wide sleeve.
Xiao Chenglan cut off a few royal yellow and light yellow peonies that were in full bloom. The petals were layered, noble, elegant and pleasing to the eye.
Xiao Chenglan tossed the scissors to Fu Wanquan and handed the bouquet to Fulin, "Send it to Zhaohua Palace."
"Yes." Fulin accepted the order.
Fu Wanquan couldn't help but sigh as he watched Fulin running away.
Oh my, he saw it more and more clearly. His Majesty had a special favor for Concubine Jia. If it were someone else, he would just send his servants to pick flowers.
However, Your Majesty probably wouldn't refuse to give flowers from the Imperial Garden as a reward.
"What are you standing there for? Get going."
Fu Wanquan quickly came back to his senses and shouted, "Let's go!"
"Your Majesty, there's a garden of Zhaofen ahead. Would you like to go take a look?"
Xiao Chenglan propped up his forehead with an expressionless face, "No need, let's go to Qixiang Palace."
Qixiang Palace? Fu Wanquan almost didn't react, thinking it was Zhaohua Palace.
Isn't Su Xiuyi the only one under house arrest in Qixiang Palace now?
But without giving it much thought, Fu Wanquan quickly ordered his troops to go to Qixiang Palace.
Outside the walls of Qixiang Palace, Xiao Chenglan shouted for the sedan chair to stop.
"Fu Wanquan, ask for the pen and ink."
Fu Wanquan hurried to the tail of the imperial procession to find the young eunuch holding the pen and ink, and asked him to come forward to offer.
The young eunuch immediately stepped out from among the attendants and came forward with writing brush and ink.
Xiao Chenglan lifted the curtain, and the young eunuch quickly handed over the pen and ink.
Inside the dragon chariot, Xiao Chenglan picked up the pen without hesitation, and in just a moment, he had written two lines of poetry in a flamboyant style.
Xiao Chenglan handed over the poem, "Send it in, and say that I stayed here for half an hour and was inspired to write it down."
Fu Wanquan's eyes twitched.
Stop for half an hour...
It’s not even half an incense stick of time yet!
Your Majesty is really good at coaxing people.
And this poem...really expresses the longing for love.
However, Fu Wanquan could not feel any affection at all, and instead felt a little creepy.
He didn't dare to think too much and quickly asked someone to deliver the poem to Qixiang Palace.
Fu Wanquan asked tentatively, "Since Your Majesty has come to the harem, could you please go somewhere to rest?"
Xiao Chenglan said directly, "No need. Return to Changqing Palace immediately. I have important matters to attend to."
Fu Wanquan quickly asked the carriage to start again, sighing in his heart.
His Majesty is really busy. I thought he just came out for a walk to relax.
As a result, he first picked flowers for Concubine Jia, then rushed to Qixiang Palace without stopping, hurriedly wrote two lines of poetry, and then went back to deal with government affairs.
The dragon chariot passed by the main gate of Qixiang Palace. Xiao Chenglan turned his head slightly to look at the vaguely visible plaque of Qixiang Palace. His eyes were cold and a scornful smile flashed at the corner of his lips.
At this moment, in Qixiang Palace, Lan Xiang was overjoyed when he received the poem from the young eunuch, and hurried into the hall to present it to Su Xiuyi.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty just stayed outside Qixiang Palace for half an hour and even wrote a poem for you!"
"Really?" Su Qingrong stood up from the couch in ecstasy and snatched the poem from Lan Xiang's hand.
"When will the beautiful flowers stop blooming so that I can see your face..." Su Qingrong recited these two lines of poetry infatuatedly.
Lan Xiang didn't dare to read the poem carefully just now, but now when she heard Su Qingrong reading it out, her eyes became more and more shocked and delighted.
She was a second-class maid in the Su family and was naturally well-versed in poetry and literature.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty actually misses you so much that he hopes to see you when the flowers fade and your confinement is lifted!"
Su Qingrong's heart began to beat wildly, and the handsome face of the emperor that she had seen from afar on the day of the audition reappeared in her mind.
She knew that His Majesty also liked her!
In an instant, she forgot all the unhappiness caused by Zheng Baolin's hanging, and her heart was filled with joy.
Su Qingrong pressed the poem to her heart and asked anxiously, "Is His Majesty still outside the palace?"
Lan Xiang shook her head.
Su Qingrong felt a little lost and murmured, "Since Your Majesty misses me so much, why doesn't he lift my house arrest?"
Lan Xiang was silent for a moment. "Perhaps, His Majesty also wants to do so, but he is reluctant to issue an order because he is not a joke. Otherwise, we can find a way to write a letter to the Empress Dowager. If the Empress Dowager mentions it, His Majesty will have a way out."
Su Qingrong's eyes lit up. "Lan Xiang, you really are my confidant! Let's do this. Go get the money and go explain this to the Empress Dowager."
Lan Xiang quickly stood up and said, "Yes, I'll go right away."
Su Xiuyi looked out at the spring scenery with anticipation, "My lady, the confinement will be lifted soon."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com