Thanks to the emperor, Yan Shu was lucky enough to ride on the imperial sedan chair.
The sedan chair was wide and stable, and it was fast. In just half a cup of tea, the two arrived at Ci'an Palace.
When they entered the palace, they found that Concubine Zhou, Concubine Ning, Concubine An, Concubine Li and others had already arrived.
At this time, seeing her arrive with the emperor, several people were almost furious, but they still had to bow to Yuwen Lan in a respectful manner, "Your Majesty."
Yuwen Lan said no need to bow, and walked to the bedside of the empress dowager.
The empress dowager had her hair loose, a headband on her head, and a pale face. Several palace maids knelt by the bed and rubbed her forehead and chest.
Yuwen Lan said
, "Your Majesty, the weather has been cold recently, which has triggered the Empress Dowager's old illness. She needs to rest for a few days, take medicine on time, and recover slowly."
Yuwen Lan nodded, and said to the Empress Dowager, "I have neglected to visit you these days, and you have suffered." The Empress
Dowager slowly opened her eyes and said weakly, "How can you blame Your Majesty? When I got this disease, Your Majesty was not even born yet."
Most people in the palace knew something about the Empress Dowager's past -
they heard that the Empress Dowager came from a prominent family, was the first wife of the late emperor, and was the first to give birth to the emperor's eldest son, so she had a smooth life. However, the eldest son died before he was one year old. The Queen
Mother was a new mother and could not accept such a blow. She cried for half a year. The root of her headaches and palpitations was from that time.
She was even unable to have children later. When the mother of the current emperor, Concubine Hui, died early, she took the emperor to her side and raised him.
The outside world knew that the mother and son had a deep relationship and that they had raised him for many years, which was better than their own.
Therefore, Yuwen Lan blamed himself again, "If I had cared more about my mother, she wouldn't have had her old illness relapsed." The
Queen Mother said, "Your Majesty governs the country and is loved by the people. I am also proud of Your Majesty. There is no need to waste time on me."
Then she suddenly asked, "I heard that Your Majesty was injured a few days ago? Is it serious?"
Yuwen Lan paused slightly, and said without showing any surprise, "It's just a small cut when practicing swordsmanship. It's not serious."
As soon as he finished speaking, the voices of the women around him flooded into his ears -
Concubine Zhou thought, [It's true.]
Concubine An was a little proud, [How could my news be false?]
Concubine Ning and Concubine Li were a little surprised, [It's actually true? 】
Yan Shu had sensed something was wrong. How come even the Queen Mother knew about the Emperor's injury?
Yuwen Lan remained calm and said to the Queen Mother, "How come such a small matter has reached you? I don't know who is the one who made you worry."
The Queen Mother said, "I also heard it accidentally. I'm glad that Your Majesty is fine. You should be more careful in the future."
Yuwen Lan agreed and heard the Queen Mother sighing in her heart, "These two people have come here, aren't they here to gather information?" As
soon as she finished speaking, a palace maid brought in the freshly boiled medicine. The Queen Mother's lady-in-waiting Zhu Shu was about to take it, but was snatched away by Concubine Zhou Guifei, who came forward and said, "I will serve the Queen Mother the medicine." The Queen Mother
had no way of refusing and let her feed her.
On the side, Concubine Ning snorted in her heart, [Do you think others don't know that you two are aunt and niece? You are the only one who is attentive!]
Concubine Li followed with ridicule, [Does Concubine Zhou know how to feed medicine? Don't burn the empress dowager!]
Concubine An was envious, [When will it be my turn?]
Yuwen Lan was used to these people, and just looked at Yan Shu curiously.
She was of low status and stood a little far away, so she couldn't hear clearly what was in her mind.
He quietly moved his steps outside and finally heard clearly, [After the empress dowager drinks the medicine, can she leave? Will the emperor go back with me? Will there be a chance to ask for money tonight? 】
Yuwen Lan, "..."
After about a cup of tea, the Queen Mother finally finished the medicine, but she still frowned, looking painful, and reluctantly waved her hand and said, "You all can leave, and Your
Majesty should go to bed early." Concubine Zhou once again showed her courtesy, "I will stay and watch over you tonight."
Concubine Ning followed, "It was hard for Concubine Gui to feed the medicine just now, so I will do it."
Yuwen Lan looked annoyed and simply said, "Everyone leave, I will stay here tonight to watch over my mother."
Everyone had no choice but to agree, and bowed to the mother and son, and left the palace one after another.
Concubine Zhou cursed in her heart, [Bitch, what qualifications do you have to compete with me! ]
Concubine Ning sneered, [I told you to show your courtesy, but you won't have the chance! ]
Yuwen Lan looked at Yan Shu again.
She looked like a well-behaved little white rabbit, but she thought to herself, [It's over, he won't go back with me, the money will be wasted! I finally won this time!]
Yuwen Lan, "..."
Are you so persistent?
How about asking someone to send it to her tomorrow?
~~
One night passed.
The next day, there was a small court meeting, and important officials of the court attended. Yuwen Lan wore a nine-dragon robe and looked serious. He asked about the progress of the Sichuan-Guizhou freezing disaster.
The Southwest Tongzheng Envoy reported, "Your Majesty, this morning the treasury's funds and food have been delivered to the southwest, and the prefectures are sending people to collect them. The local freezing rain has stopped and the situation is improving."
This is good news. Yuwen Lan asked the Ministry of War, "How is the Southwest Camp?"
The Minister of War replied, "The soldiers in the camp are on high alert. It is reported that due to the heavy snow in the snowy mountains for several days, many areas in Tubo have also been affected. There is no change at present, please rest assured, Your Majesty."
Yuwen Lan nodded.
Then the Minister of War Chai Weizhong stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, the front camp and the guard camp in the suburbs of Beijing have been training for more than a month. I wonder if the ice play will be held as usual tomorrow?"
The so-called ice play is an important activity in the palace in winter.
It is called "play", but it is actually a drill. It is a royal review of the various skills of the troops in winter warfare. It used to be held on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month every year.
But this year's frost disaster in the southwest and the Queen Mother's discomfort last night made people a little unsure.
Yuwen Lan said, "I have discussed with the Queen Mother last night that the ice play will be held as scheduled tomorrow. Instead of going to the West Garden, we will hold it in Jinbo Garden."
After saying that, Chai Weizhong should have left, but Yuwen Lan suddenly remembered the "secret" in Yan Shu's heart last night...
Chai Weizhong... is a traitor?
Of course, in addition to Chai Weizhong, there is another person close to him, Wei Ruzhang, the Grand Academician of Wenhua Pavilion. He
is the one that Yan Shu said last night, "was a gigolo for a prostitute when he was young"...
Yuwen Lan secretly twitched his mouth.
The person who was very familiar to him in the past, the more he looked at him, the more awkward he became.
- He stayed in Ci'an Palace last night, and took a nap until the empress dowager went to bed. He got up early in the morning and rushed to the morning court. He didn't think of this until now.
At the same time, he felt awkward, and he had more and more doubts about Li Yanshu.
How could she, a little concubine, know so many things?
Or...
did she make these up?
She was too bored in the palace, so she had wild thoughts all day long?
"Your Majesty,"
Wei Ruzhang, the Grand Academician of Wenhua Pavilion, stopped and said, probably because he had been glared at him several times, "Your Majesty, now the half of the month has passed, and spring is coming soon. The matters of the next spring examination and the enrollment of the Imperial College should be put on the agenda."
Yuwen Lan came back to his senses and nodded, "Yes, you discuss it with the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel, and report to Yu's study the day after tomorrow."
Wei Ruzhang and the officials of the two ministries who were named agreed.
After a short while, the court meeting ended, and Yuwen Lan returned to the bedroom to change clothes.
His mind was still on that matter.
After thinking about it, he made two decisions -
one, send people to Wei Ruzhang's hometown and Chai Weizhong's private residence to inquire;
two, ask Fu Hai to send a box of jewelry to Ganlu Palace.
He didn't want to hear that girl talking about money in her heart again.
It's as if he owes her a debt and won't pay it back.
~~
When Yan Shu woke up, she heard the news that the ice show would be held tomorrow.
Deep in the palace, the ice show in winter and the water show in summer are the most anticipated programs every year. Not only can you see the soldiers showing off their skills on the water or ice, but you can also go out of the palace to breathe fresh air. The concubines naturally yearn for it.
In previous years, her position was not high enough, so she could only stay in her own palace. This time, she was promoted to a noble, and finally had the opportunity to open her eyes.
This is really exciting. She got out of bed happily and was about to wash up. Before her hand touched the water in the basin, she heard the system alarm ringing, [The water is poisonous. ]
Poisonous?
She retreated in fear, [What's going on? ]
System, [Someone wants to harm you. 】
Ren Dong was startled by her and hurriedly asked, "What's wrong with the master?"
Yan Shu thought for a moment and said, "Where did you get this water?"
Ren Dong said, "Lu Yan prepared it, but it's too hot? I'll add some cool water for you..."
"No need,"
Yan Shu said, "Call her in."
Ren Dong agreed, although she was a little confused, but she did it.
In a moment, she saw the palace maid named Lu Yan enter the palace.
——When she was in Yongning Palace earlier, Yan Shu only had two palace maids, Ren Dong and Lian Xin, who served her closely. After she was promoted to a noble, the Internal Affairs Bureau transferred four palace maids and two eunuchs, and this woman was one of them.
At this time, Luyan lowered her head and looked honest. She just said with lowered eyebrows, "I wonder what the master wants?"
Yan Shu didn't waste time talking to her and said directly, "Come and wash your face with this water."
But the other party's face changed immediately, and she whispered, "This... I have already washed my face."
Yan Shu understood about 70% of it and sighed, "I have no grudge against you. Why do you want to harm me?"
The other party knelt down in front of her, but still tried to make excuses, "I don't know what I did wrong to make the master angry..."
Yan Shu gave up and said to Rendong, "You go and help her wash her face. Remember, don't touch the water with your hands."
Seeing this situation, Rendong had roughly understood it, so she stepped forward and pressed the other party's face into the water.
Instantly, I heard the green smoke howling like needles. Not long after, a rash appeared on the face, and some of them even oozed yellow water, which was unbearable to look at.
The author has something to say:
A certain emperor: Since I finished eating the melon secretly, I feel that everything around me is not right. What should I do?
A certain author: I got used to it after eating it.