After the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, the streets of the capital became increasingly bustling, but Xu Rao felt the atmosphere in the capital was becoming more tense. Chen Zhaoci had been in the palace for more than twenty days, while Chen Zhaocheng, who had gone to the southwest to collect and prepare medicines, had not yet returned. Xu Rao didn't know what would happen next, and his greatest wish now was for Chen Zhaoci to return as soon as possible.
As evening approached, the sky darkened, with heavy, light gray clouds pressing down overhead, creating an inexplicable sense of oppression. Xu Rao stood in the courtyard, looked up at the sky, and couldn't help but sigh. The most critical moment had arrived. Not only was his side deploying troops and taking strict precautions, but the enemy was also making many underhanded moves.
Xu Rao visited Chen Zhaoci in the Imperial Study. Chen Zhaoci was dressed in the clothes of a senior palace maid, her hair simply tied up, and wearing a simple jade hairpin. She was very happy to see Xu Rao. Xu Rao was relieved to see that she was in a good mood and was not unhappy because she had been in the Imperial Study.
The 21st day of the twelfth lunar month was Emperor Liang Cheng's birthday. Not only the concubines in the palace, but also the ministers in the court went to the palace for dinner that night. The palace was crowded and noisy that night, which was the perfect time to take action. This night was also an opportunity specially created by Emperor Liang Cheng for Wang Xiuyuan and her son.
In fact, the most important thing is that Chen Zhaocheng returned to the capital on the evening of the 20th of the twelfth lunar month. To be on the safe side, Chen Zhaocheng found a test subject in the death row. After taking the poison, the test subject also took the antidote. Chen Zhaoci and Chen Zhaocheng guarded the prisoner all night. Nothing unexpected happened. After breakfast, Emperor Liang Cheng took the antidote.
Chen Zhaoci didn't sleep all night, and had to guard Emperor Liang Cheng all day the next day, which was quite tiring. Emperor Liang Cheng usually used a small dose, and some of it had already been metabolized by his body. Therefore, after taking the antidote, he was quickly detoxified. Only then did Emperor Liang Cheng feel truly relaxed, and he was eager to wipe out the Sixth Prince's entire lineage at the banquet that night.
The banquet was held in the hall where the grand court assembly was held in the past. That hall was next to the Imperial Study. Chen Zhaoci was sitting in the west side room of the Imperial Study and could hear the sound of string and wind instruments coming from there.
It was Chen Zhaoci's first time attending such a banquet, and he was understandably excited. After the banquet began, he sat with two eunuchs in the west side room of the imperial study to eat. The food prepared by the imperial kitchen was indeed different from that outside. Chen Zhaoci sat in front of the red clay stove used for decocting medicine. On the stove was a clay pot containing a pot of milky white bone broth. Chen Zhaoci held chopsticks in one hand and a small celadon bowl with prepared sauce in the other. On such a cold day, eating hot pot in a warm room was a real treat.
Over the past twenty days, Chen Zhaoci had gotten along very well with the eunuchs and maids serving in the Imperial Study. Chen Zhaoci was approachable and kind. No matter what your status was, if you were unwell, you would come to see Doctor Chen. Doctor Chen would always examine you carefully and give you a prescription. As long as she had the medicinal herbs, she would not let you buy them elsewhere. She would pick them out herself. If you insisted on paying, Chen Zhaoci would just tell you to give her two.
A young eunuch smiled and said, "Madam Xu, Eunuch Chen said that you can tell us what else you would like to eat, and we will go and get it for you."
Chen Zhaoci glanced at the sliced meat and some fresh vegetables on the table to the side, and said with a smile, "This is too much for us to eat. You two should go and eat your meal. You don't need to be waited on here."
Another one smiled and said, "Madam Xu, servants are here to serve others. Eunuch Chen has repeatedly instructed us to serve you well, so how could we go and eat by ourselves?"
Chen Zhaoci knew this was the proper way to eat. Seeing that the meat in the pot had started to boil, he quickly put his chopsticks in. There were some chili peppers in the pot, making it spicy and causing Chen Zhaoci to sweat profusely as he ate.
After the meal, the two eunuchs cleared away the food. Chen Zhaoci brewed herself a large pot of fruit and flower tea to cleanse her palate. As she drank, she strolled around the small room. After a few laps, the two eunuchs who had served her the meal rushed in from outside and whispered to Chen Zhaoci, "Madam Xu, there's been a commotion over there. Eunuch Chen sent someone to instruct us to take you to the back annex for shelter."
Chen Zhaoci knew that this was the start of a fight. Emperor Liang Cheng had been holding back for more than twenty days, and tonight bloodshed was inevitable. However, these insignificant people were easily caught in the crossfire. Without saying a word, Chen Zhaoci simply packed her belongings into a bundle, and followed the two eunuchs to a small annex behind the Imperial Study.
The three side rooms were warmly lit by underfloor heating. A young eunuch entered the room, lit a small candlestick, and carried it to a bookshelf. He gently pressed a small spot on one corner of the bookshelf, and the bookshelf swayed to one side. Chen Zhaoci then saw that there was a secret room behind the bookshelf.
The young eunuch said softly, "Not many people know about this place. Eunuch Chen specifically instructed me to bring you here, Madam, to ensure your safety. Madam, there is ventilation in the secret room. The floor heating is connected to the floor heating in this room. There is also some clean water and dry food. Please take this candlestick and make do here for a while. Once things are settled over there, someone will come to let you out."
After thanking the two eunuchs, Chen Zhaoci entered the secret room, which was over fifty square meters in size.
The secret room must have been built when the house was first constructed. It was rectangular. Chen Zhaoci placed the candlestick on a table, and when his eyes were warm enough to see the light, he saw that the walls were lined with bookshelves. Some of the bookshelves were filled with books, while others were empty. Chen Zhaoci put his bundle on the table and, by the light of the candlestick, took out his medical records and began to read.
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