"Put it on the table."
Consort Xian didn't even bother to lift her eyelids.
Gone was the enthusiasm of the past; instead, a lukewarm indifference appeared.
Although Lianxia was puzzled by the change in Consort Xian's attitude, she didn't say anything and returned to Weiyang Palace after paying her respects.
"Your Majesty, let me check if this tonic is poisonous." Yi Cui excitedly went to get the silver needles.
Consort Xian looked at her with disdain and said, "What's the point of testing? Just pour it out."
“But,” Yi Cui hesitated, “Lian Xia said that this tonic contains many rare medicinal herbs, which would be perfect for Her Majesty to nourish her body…”
"You good-for-nothing!" Consort Xian scolded. "She gave me this stuff she didn't want to drink. What does she take me for?"
When Yi Cui saw that Consort Xian was angry, she quickly knelt down and said, "This servant knows her mistake. This servant will go and fetch it right away. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
After returning to Weiyang Palace, Lianxia truthfully told Jianyang about Consort Xian's cold attitude.
"Your Majesty, for some reason, Consort Xian seems to be angry."
Jian Yang pondered for a moment and said, "Maybe it's because she's on her period. It's nothing to worry about. Women's emotions tend to fluctuate a lot during those days."
Lianxia asked, "Auntie?"
Jian Yang laughed and said, "I was just kidding. Go and see if the peach blossom cake is ready yet."
Lianxia quickly agreed.
She had only been gone a short while when a guard brought in a young palace maid.
The young palace maid looked to be no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, with a well-behaved and dignified appearance, but her face was filled with terror.
Jian Yang frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
She recognized the palace maid; she was one of the maids in her palace responsible for cleaning and sweeping.
The guard respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, I was ordered by the Emperor to investigate the practice in your palace. I discovered that this person had frequent contact with Yu Fu Palace, so I have arrested him for Your Majesty's disposal."
The young palace maid was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, trembling like a leaf, unable to utter a single word.
Jian Yang's expression tightened: "Are you sure? You didn't arrest the wrong person, did you?"
The guard handed over the slip of paper with both hands, saying, "This was found on this maid. Please take a look, Your Majesty."
Jian Yang took the note and saw that it was indeed filled with her schedule for the day in tiny, neat characters.
No matter how small the matter.
To be able to write so many words on such a small piece of paper is truly remarkable.
This is much better than her previous ability to cheat on exams.
Jian Yang placed the note aside and said seriously, "Why do you insist on working for Consort Yu? Have I been short of food or drink for you?"
The young palace maid, emboldened by some unknown source, suddenly raised her head and said fiercely, "Empress Dowager, our Lady will deal with you sooner or later!"
She probably knew that her identity as a spy had been exposed and that she was probably going to die, so she decided to be brave before she died.
Before Jian Yang could speak, the guard kicked her, sending the maid sprawling to the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Your Majesty, at your command, I will immediately kill her."
Jian Yang waved his hand at the guards and said, "That's enough. They must all be unfortunate people. Let's just kick them out of the palace."
After saying that, she stopped looking at the little palace maid and turned to enter the main hall.
In the afternoon, Jian Hong arrived.
Jian Yang was naturally overjoyed to see him again after so long.
She talked with Jian Hong for a while, and seeing that he liked the peach blossom cake she made, she quickly asked Lianxia to pack one for him.
Jian Hong watched Jian Yang chattering like a happy little bird, and finally couldn't hold back his emotions, choking out, "A Yang, if you're sad, you don't have to force yourself. If you're like this, it will break my heart even more."
Jian Yang: "???"
Jian Yang asked, "Brother, are you alright?"
Jian Hong forced a smile and said, "I'm fine, but you shouldn't be too sad about losing your child. You're still young, and you can have another child once you've taken care of yourself."
Jian Yang chuckled.
"Brother, this is a long story, but I'm really not sad, not sad at all, don't worry."
Jian Hong scrutinized her for a moment, and only after confirming that she was not deliberately hiding her emotions did he breathe a sigh of relief.
"In that case, I can leave with peace of mind."
Jian Yang was taken aback. "Brother, where are you going?"
Jian Hong smiled and said, "An army cannot be without a general for long. As your brother, I must continue to return to the northern border to guard the country and protect you and Father."
"Then, will you come back?" Jian Yang's nose suddenly tingled with emotion.
Jian Hong was the first person who had ever been genuinely kind to her since she came into this world, and she couldn't bear to part with him from the bottom of her heart.
"Silly girl, of course you have to come back, but you can't come back too often. Once every three to five years is fine. By the time you come back next time, A-Yang will probably be a mother."
Jian Yang's eyes reddened: "Brother, is the Northern Border beautiful?"
Jian Hong nodded and said, "The northern border is full of life in spring, lush with water and grass in summer, clear and vast in autumn, and covered in silver in winter. It is naturally extremely beautiful."
"Then when I'm no longer the empress, can I come and seek refuge with you?"
Jian Hong said seriously, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I didn't say anything stupid." Jian Yang's voice was a little muffled.
She had already made up her mind that after she resigned from her job, she would go to the Northern Border to seek refuge with her brother. With her brother protecting her, no one would dare to bully her.
Seeing that she looked like she was about to cry, Jian Hong quickly coaxed her, "Alright, alright, if that day ever comes, your brother will be waiting for you."
Jian Yang then stopped crying and started laughing.
After seeing Jian Hong off, she was so sad and reluctant to leave that she didn't feel well all evening and barely ate any dinner.
Knowing that the emperor wouldn't be coming to sleep with her tonight, Jian Yang simply washed up early and prepared to climb into bed.
No sooner had she lain down than Lianxia rushed over in a panic.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Yi Cui from Consort Xian's palace has run to say that Consort Xian has suddenly started having uncontrollable convulsions, and she doesn't know what to do!"
Jian Yang immediately sat up.
Uncontrollable convulsions?
It's most likely an epileptic seizure!
Although epilepsy is not a serious illness in modern times, people in ancient times did not know how to care for patients who fainted and convulsed, so she had to go and see for herself.
"Have you summoned the imperial physician?" Jian Yang quickly put on her shoes.
As Lianxia helped her change her clothes, she said anxiously, "This servant has sent Yicui to invite her."
"Very good, let's hurry and go see Consort Xian."
"This servant will go and fetch the lantern right away."
Guided by the dim light of the lanterns, the two walked towards the palace of the Virtuous Consort.
As they passed the artificial hill, Lianxia suddenly cried out in surprise and fell to the ground.
Jian Yang looked at her with concern: "What's wrong?"
Lianxia said with a sob in her voice, "Your Majesty, I'm useless, I've twisted my ankle."
Jian Yang asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"
Lianxia nodded.
Jian Yang patted her shoulder and comforted her, "Then sit here for a while. I'll come back to pick you up after I've finished seeing Consort Xian. Aren't you scared by yourself?"
Lianxia said, "This servant is not afraid, Your Highness, please go with peace of mind."
As she spoke, she handed over the lantern in her hand.
Jian Yang took it, comforted her a couple more times, and then turned to leave.
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