After a few more days, Ning Yuxi clearly felt that the atmosphere in the palace had become more tense.
The court officials still refused to let go, and even more and more of them came to the emperor's defense, all trying to get him to punish Concubine Jing in order to restore order in the palace.
In the evening, the emperor, who had not been seen for several days, came to Shuqing Palace again.
At that time, Ning Yuxi was instructing the palace servants to pack up several of Cheng Zhao's favorite dishes and send them to Chonghua Palace.
She hasn't seen Cheng Zhao for more than half a month. Cheng Zhao went to Chonghua Palace to study and she can't see him often. She has been worried about him for the past half month.
Hearing the palace servant's announcement, Ning Yuxi hurriedly stood up and went out with Cheng Yao and Shu Yu to greet him: "Your Majesty (father) is here to pay your respects."
Gu Qilan's originally gloomy face gradually softened after seeing Ning Yuxi, her mother and her two children: "Get up quickly."
Almost as soon as the emperor finished speaking, the two little guys instantly rushed to his side, each hugging one of his thighs, looking up at their little faces and chattering non-stop.
"Father, you are finally here. Shu Xuan missed you so much~"
"Cheng Yao also misses his father~"
"I think about it even more. I think about it while I eat, sleep, and even in my dreams!"
"No, I heard you talking in your sleep and told me not to snatch the Jade Dew Cake from you. That's why I didn't dream about my father!"
"You're talking nonsense, I clearly have it, you stinky little brother!"
"I'm your older brother. I'm older than you, not your younger brother!"
"Brother, brother, you are my brother!"
“…”
Seeing the two little guys about to quarrel over who was older, Ning Yuxi could only say quietly, "The eight-treasure duck and honey-brewed dumplings will get cold soon."
As soon as the words fell, the two chattering little guys immediately stopped fighting, holding the emperor's hands on the left and right and walked inside: "Father, let's go eat~"
When passing by Ning Yuxi, the little Shu Xuan who was nearby raised her little face and stretched out her other hand to hold Ning Yuxi: "Mother, eat, eat, eat~"
"Okay, okay, go slowly and be careful on the steps." Ning Yuxi reminded softly.
The warm orange afterglow of the setting sun shone on the two adults and two children, and the elongated shadows were cast all the way to the end of the yard. With the incessant chatter of children in his ears, Gu Qilan felt that most of the depression he had felt during this period seemed to have disappeared.
"Is Cheng Zhao adapting well in Chonghua Palace?" Gu Qilan suddenly asked.
"Fortunately, I asked Fang Quan to reply every day, and Fang Quan said everything is fine."
Although he said so, Gu Qilan could still see the worry between Ning Yuxi's brows.
"I promised to visit him often, but I haven't been able to find time lately. I'm afraid Cheng Zhao must be sad. You should visit him more often."
What? Ning Yuxi looked up at Gu Qilan in a daze: "Is what the emperor said true?"
Gu Qilan laughed a little: "How can I lie to you?"
Ning Yuxi was instantly overjoyed, and her eyes were filled with joy. But suddenly she thought of something, and a hint of worry flashed across her face.
Gu Qilan caught it keenly: "If you have something to say, just say it. I will make the decision for you."
The biological mother of the prince sent to Chonghua Palace was not allowed to visit him at will, and could only visit once or twice a month at most. Only the queen, as the legitimate mother of all the children in the harem, could visit at any time.
Now the emperor said that she could visit Cheng Zhao often, which was good, but she was afraid that the queen would resent her because of this.
Ning Yuxi asked carefully: "Isn't this against the rules?"
"That's fine. Cheng Zhao started school a year earlier. He's still young, so he needs more attention from you. The Queen will understand."
Since the emperor has said so, what is she afraid of? The queen dislikes her anyway, so she is not afraid of this happening again.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ning Yuxi said happily.
After a lively meal, Cheng Yao and Shu Xuan were taken away by their wet nurse to rest.
Ning Yuxi saw that the emperor had no intention of leaving yet, and she couldn't help but wonder why the emperor hadn't left yet. She couldn't fight with him because her pregnancy was not stable yet.
Just as I was thinking about it, I saw the emperor holding an empty cup of tea and putting it into his mouth. He didn't look like he was drinking tea, he was obviously thinking about something.
Ning Yuxi hurriedly took the teapot and refilled the emperor's teapot. "What is your Majesty thinking about?"
She could probably guess that it was just because of Concubine Jing's matter. The officials in the court had been pressing the matter closer and closer in the past few days, with no intention of giving in.
Concubine Jing is a righteous woman. In order to avoid putting the emperor in a difficult position, she went to the Shengchen Palace yesterday and publicly admitted the charges, asking the emperor to deal with her impartially.
Of course the emperor did not do so. He said that Concubine Jing was seriously ill and talking nonsense, so he had Concubine Jing forcibly sent back to the palace and did not allow her to come out again.
This is really difficult. Even if Concubine Jing was wronged, there is no evidence, and the witnesses who could prove it are dead, plus there is pressure from the previous dynasty.
Concubine Jing had no support from her maternal family. Her parents died early, and now the only relatives she had left in the world were Concubine Lan's family. It was Concubine Lan's family, her uncle and cousin, who harmed her.
Gu Qilan came back to his senses and curled his lips slightly: "Nothing, have you been hurting your mouth seriously these days? I see you are still thin."
"Much better. Your Majesty, you are still talking about me, but you yourself have lost a lot of weight." Ning Yuxi looked at the emperor with a sad face.
The Emperor said he was full after just two bites of dinner. If Shu Yu and Cheng Yao hadn't pestered him to eat more, he probably wouldn't have eaten as much as before she vomited. "..."
This won’t do. Eating less and thinking more is not a sign of longevity!
Gu Qilan seemed to have recalled the scene at the dinner table and coughed lightly, "Okay, from now on, I'll eat and gain weight together with you."
Ning Yuxi: “…” You can gain weight on your own, don’t drag me into this!
After chatting with the emperor about meaningless topics for a while, Ning Yuxi really couldn't hold it any longer, but the emperor still had no intention of getting up and leaving.
Can you please be considerate of the pregnant woman? She is very sleepy.
Just when Ning Yuxi was thinking about whether she should subtly remind the emperor that it was time to leave, a noise came from the distant gate of Shuqing Palace.
After a while, the eunuch guarding the gate came from outside the door and reported: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, someone from Yunqing Palace wants to see Your Majesty."
"What's the matter?" Gu Qilan asked.
Before the young eunuch had time to report, he heard a noisy sound, as if someone was trying to break in and the eunuch guarding the door was trying to stop them.
"Let me in, my queen is in trouble, I want to see the emperor!"
"Xiao Dezi has already gone in to pass the message. Please wait."
"Get out of the way. If anything happens to my wife, can you afford it?"
Several people were arguing in the courtyard when the door to the main hall suddenly opened. Ning Yuxi shouted sternly, "What a disgrace to tug at! Xiao Anzi, back off!"
Xiao Anzi, who was stopping the person from coming, retreated upon hearing the sound.
The palace maiden looked terrified. Without even bothering to greet the emperor, she knelt before him and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, this is bad. Concubine Jing is seriously ill. The imperial physician said she's... I'm afraid she's not well!"
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