Chapter 103: I know you, and you know me...
Zhao Changning followed the doctor into the room. Seeing Yunsheng already awake, staring blankly at her, she couldn't help but smile. She asked softly, "What? After not seeing me for two years, you don't recognize me anymore?"
Yunsheng realized that he was not dreaming. His heart ached and tears welled up in his eyes. "Auntie..."
His voice was hoarse and unclear, his body was thin and all bones, his cheeks that used to be plump were now completely devoid of flesh, and despite his young age, he had white hair on his head.
The doctor shook his head after hearing this. "His voice is irreversible. He needs to be taken good care of, or it will be completely ruined. And the frostbite and internal injuries are also quite troublesome."
Zhao Changning felt very sad when he heard this. This kid was a simple-minded person. He didn't know how long he had been shouting in the ground and how many times he had been beaten.
What a fool! It doesn't matter if he wrote those letters randomly.
She sat by the bed, her eyes gentle. "Take good care of yourself. I'm back, everything's fine."
Yunsheng burst into tears and choked up, "I messed up, Auntie. I'm sorry."
Zhao Changning told him to stop talking, "Don't worry, everything has been handled."
Yunsheng shook his head, a look of self-blame in his eyes, "If I hadn't forced Anyi, he might not have been like this. Aunt, it was me..."
When he was alone, he thought about these things over and over in his mind and figured out a lot of things.
Zhao Changning sighed, "Stop talking and take good care of yourself. I'll take care of the rest."
She stood up and told the doctor, "As long as you take good care of him, money is not a problem. Thank you for your trouble."
Gao Cong held Xiaobai in his arms and followed closely, "Are you going back to the palace?"
Zhao Changning nodded, she still had a lot to do.
"I came out in a hurry and didn't bring any money. Please find some skilled people for me to protect Yunsheng and yourself."
Gao Cong nodded, hugged Xiaobai, and said hesitantly and concernedly: "Be careful yourself too."
This Yujing doesn't seem safe either.
Zhao Changning hurried back to the palace again.
Yujing, covered in white snow, always had a solemn and depressing atmosphere, especially after the death of the prince, when everyone mourned, making the coldness and loneliness even more obvious.
Today was a day off for court. On the way to the imperial city, new snow covered the old snow, making it a vast expanse of white without a trace of other colors. Even footsteps were rare. The closer I got to the imperial city, the whiter the snow became, and the fewer traces there were.
Zhao Changning suddenly stopped the driver, gave him the money, gathered his cloak, and walked slowly.
In the vast snow, footprints appeared and extended into the imperial city, which was inexplicably desolate.
Without the officials, the imperial city was quiet and peaceful. The only people coming and going were eunuchs and palace maids sweeping the floor, and soldiers on patrol. Everyone was silent as usual, maintaining the basic dignity of the imperial city.
Zhao Changning walked step by step, her body gradually warmed up and her heart gradually settled down. She has never been an indecisive person, and this journey cleared up all her thoughts.
She strode towards Kunning Palace.
The third prince was gone, and the eldest princess, for the sake of her mother and brother, was unwilling to see the emperor, and could not get any comfort from the queen. She stayed in her own small courtyard every day and refused to go out.
The wet nurse was very happy to see Zhao Changning, but also very sad. "Aunt, the eldest princess is also the emperor and the queen's child, why don't they care about her?"
Zhao Changning: "How long has it been like this?"
"Ever since the eldest princess was scolded by the queen." The wet nurse wiped her tears and said, "Aunt, I have been nursing the princess since she was this little. I watched her grow up little by little, and I dared to treat her as my own child. This time, the queen really went too far. What does the death of the third prince have to do with the eldest princess..."
Zhao Changning interrupted her right away and said, pursing his lips, "Go prepare some light food. I'll dine with the princess."
When Zhao Changning entered, the eldest princess threw herself into her arms and choked up, saying, "Aunt, you didn't say goodbye to me when you left, and why didn't you write to tell me you were coming back?"
The ten-year-old girl already understands a lot of things and she is really sensible.
Zhao Changning stroked her hair and apologized gently, "It was my aunt who didn't think it through. Is the princess angry with me?"
The eldest princess nodded, then shook her head, and pitifully reached out to pull her aunt's hand, "Aunt, I'm not angry with you now. Please don't leave me in the future, okay?"
"Okay, Auntie won't leave you from now on." Zhao Changning took her to the table. "But you have to eat. How can you grow taller if you don't eat?"
The eldest princess burst into tears. "Aunt, the Queen Mother has also been refusing to eat. I'm worried about her."
Zhao Changning picked up some food for her and said, "Mother will get better. Princess, eat quickly. Once you are full and grow up, everything will be fine."
The eldest princess ate her meal in small bites, tears streaming down her pale and thin cheeks into the bowl. Her eyes were full of worry and fear. Such a little child actually looked like an adult.
Zhao Changning saw this and sighed inwardly, "This is not your fault. It has nothing to do with you, Princess. Time will heal everything. Now you need to grow up quickly."
The eldest princess' eyes were filled with tears. "My brother is gone, and my mother has lost her son. Is this the end of me and her?"
"Nonsense." Zhao Changning took a handkerchief and gently wiped her tears. "Who said that? I'll see if my aunt pulls out her tongue. Princess, you and mother will be fine. Don't worry. I'm here, and so is our father. You're the eldest princess, don't be afraid."
"I don't like my father anymore." The eldest princess's face was filled with sorrow. "My father didn't avenge my brother, so I don't want to see him anymore..."
Zhao Changning touched her head and said, "Your brother is gone, and your father is very sad. He can't sleep or eat well. Your father loves you the most, princess. Do you want to stop loving your father?"
The eldest princess hesitated, "But mother said..."
Zhao Changning stopped her from continuing. "Mother was just too sad and was talking nonsense for a moment. Princess, now that you've lost your brother, you should go before Father. You're grown up now, so you can understand what I'm saying, right?"
The eldest princess looked into her aunt's calm and deep eyes and nodded ignorantly. She understood.
But facing Zhao Changning, she was willing to speak her mind, "But I don't really want to go. Why doesn't the emperor give my brother a fair go?"
Zhao Changning stroked the princess's black hair with relief. "Because the price of fairness is too high, it is difficult for your father to pay it. But it doesn't matter, Princess, study hard and learn more skills. When you grow up, you will find a way to be fair."
The eldest princess looked confused, but nodded obediently.
This year's New Year was very dull, even a little shabby. The palace seemed to have lost its bright colors, and music and anything related to liveliness were banned. Even firecrackers were not allowed to be set off, making the place even more desolate and cold.
Because Anyi was gone, Zhao Changning did not rely on anyone else and personally stayed by the emperor's side. The emperor had not been to the harem during this period and stayed in the Qinzheng Palace.
Zhao Changning served the emperor tea as usual and said gently, "Your Majesty, I will be returning to court soon. Please take care of yourself."
The emperor sighed, took the teacup and asked, "Is the queen feeling better?"
"Much better." Zhao Changning helped him up. "He's been willing to go out for a walk these past couple of days, and he's barely eating three meals a day now."
The emperor nodded and said in a deep voice: "She is the queen after all, this matter must be resolved."
He suddenly said, "Send the child born by Yu Zhaoyi to her lap to raise. It will at least comfort her heartache."
Zhao Changning took the tea bowl and said carefully, "Your Majesty, Yu Zhaoyi's child is too young. The Empress has been heartbroken for a long time and I'm afraid she doesn't have the energy to take care of the child. Besides, Yu Zhaoyi is her biological mother, so she must be taken care of more attentively."
The emperor waved his hand and said, "The queen likes children. Having a child to take care of her will make her feel better and stop worrying all day long."
Zhao Changning had no choice but to agree.
The emperor suddenly said, "I haven't seen Anyi for a few days."
Zhao Changning said calmly, "Your Majesty, Anyi suddenly fell ill and has passed away."
"Oh?" The emperor looked over with calm eyes. "Why are you still with his two brothers?"
Zhao Changning knew what the emperor was talking about, so he followed suit, "I was planning to send them out. They really aren't very good at their job."
The emperor nodded. "After all, outsiders can never be trusted. We've been through so much together, so we can trust each other."
Zhao Changning dealt with it with a smile.
She keenly realized that as the imperial power became more and more concentrated, the emperor's previously cautious and cold character gradually exposed its shortcomings. He was unwilling to listen and even a little stubborn and self-righteous, which made him seem more and more like the lonely emperor of the previous emperor.
However, if someone could have made a suggestion back then, she could have spoken out, but who would speak out now?
As for Yu Zhaoyi's child, he was eventually brought to Kunning Palace.
The Queen looked at the baby in the cradle with a lukewarm attitude, "If I take care of other people's children, who will take care of mine? Since the Emperor has spoken, then of course I must obey."
Zhao Changning sighed helplessly, feeling really troubled by the current situation.
"Your Majesty, you know very well that the dead are gone, and the living must live on. Even if you don't do it for yourself, you must consider the eldest princess and the Zhou family. Going against the emperor's order will not benefit you in the slightest."
She really persuaded the emperor with all her heart. Now the emperor still feels guilty towards the queen. If he doesn't maintain this, what will happen in the future?
People have to look forward.
The queen held her hand tightly and choked up for a moment, but after being the queen for so many years, she also knew what to do and what not to do.
"Changning, don't worry, I won't do anything rash." Her face was pale and she forced a smile.
After Zhao Changning comforted the Queen, he went to comfort Yu Zhaoyi.
Yu Zhaoyi's eyes were swollen from crying. "Aunt, the child is still too young. He can't be separated from his mother. Please talk to the emperor and let him come back."
She seemed to have thought of something, and said in a sad voice, "Aunt, I don't want my child to be the crown prince. I won't argue with the Empress. Please talk to the Empress too. Please."
Zhao Changning felt helpless. "Yu Zhaoyi, the emperor is going to promote you to a concubine, and your family has also been granted the title of Earl. You must not act willfully at this time."
Yu Zhaoyi knew that the decree could not be changed, and she collapsed to the ground inch by inch, her shoulders heaving and her heart dead.
Zhao Changning helped her up and wanted to comfort her again, but finally kept his mouth shut.
Time is the best medicine.
When the winter snow melts, the water gurgles, fish swim on the lake, the ground is covered like a green carpet, buds burst on the branches, and birds chirp again, everything indicates that spring is coming.
The emperor had been depressed for the entire winter and had regained his former spirit. Since there was nothing to do in the court recently, he prepared to go to the Jingshan Palace for an outing.
Zhao Changning naturally accompanied him.
The emperor ordered two concubines to follow him, but did not let them get on the imperial carriage. Instead, he turned his head and looked at Zhao Changning.
His eyes were bright and there was a smile on his handsome face. He looked even more handsome and gentle, and more calm than when he was young.
"Changning, you sit with me, it's a good opportunity to talk."
Zhao Changning faced the puzzled and suspicious looks of the two newly favored concubines and pretended to be calm as she got on the imperial carriage. She had a vague premonition in her heart and felt a little uneasy.
Fortunately, she was already prepared, and her mind was calm and her expression was composed.
The double-drawn carriage with a brocade canopy was moving slowly. The spring weather was beautiful and the comfort was rare.
"I suddenly remembered the scene when my father took everyone to the Jingshan Palace." The emperor leaned leisurely on the soft pillow, supporting his chin with his hand, his eyes fell on Zhao Changning. After two years away from Beijing and seeing the mountains, rivers, lakes and seas, she seemed to be more gentle and calm, making people unable to take their eyes off her. The same throbbing that he was amazed by her at the beginning was aroused again.
"Back then, you were so considerate, kneeling beside the Emperor, massaging his legs and shoulders. You were so thoughtful, and that's how the Emperor trusted you..."
His eyes were filled with scrutiny, appreciation, and understanding, as if he were looking at one of his own kind.
"Changning, I know you, and you know me. Now, do you believe me?"
The emperor smiled and extended his hand towards Zhao Changning.
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The author has something to say: [helpless] [helpless]
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