Chapter 1107: Grand Finale: Return of an Old Friend (15)
It is said that bystanders see things most clearly. Shen Miao felt that Emperor Yongle was also very affectionate towards Empress Xian De. It seemed that everything was going in the right direction. When Xie Jingxing returned, perhaps they could continue to be so happy for a long time.
Empress Xian De suddenly thought of something and said, "Tomorrow we're going to dig up the two jars of snow wine I buried under the plum tree last year. They'll probably be very fragrant when they're opened. Your Majesty, please come with me so we can bury this year's as well. Princess Consort and Miss Luo should also come with us. After we dig them up, we'll go to Cuihu Pavilion in the evening to admire the lotus flowers and taste the snow wine."
Luo Tan was a greedy person, so he naturally agreed happily. Shen Miao also nodded. However, Emperor Yongle seemed a little helpless. Empress Xian De was only interested in making tea and brewing wine. When she was happy, she was like a child. But in the end, he still nodded. Seeing this, Empress Xian De was very satisfied and continued to eat while chatting with Shen Miao about some interesting things.
The next day happened to be a bright sunny day. Summer always comes early in Longye. Fortunately, the mornings were the coolest, so Shen Miao and Luo Tan went early. Shen Miao was too heavy to accompany Empress Xian De to dig in person. Luo Tan was careless and was afraid of breaking the stones while moving, so Empress Xian De and Aunt Tao did the digging.
Emperor Yongle said, "Get up. It's not good to injure your hand."
"In previous years, Aunt Tao and I dug it together." Some shiny beads of sweat seeped out of Empress Xian De's forehead, but she still smiled and said, "Snow wine must be dug out by hand to be fragrant and mellow. If the emperor is interested in the future, he can come and bury and dig it out himself, and then you will know what it tastes like." While speaking, she and Aunt Tao dug out another jar.
Emperor Yongle suddenly frowned, paused, and pressed his chest calmly.
Empress Xian De picked up one of the jars. It was small and cute, and it was easy to lift. She didn't mind the dirt, not even worrying about getting the dirt on her clothes. She held it before Emperor Yongle as if it were a treasure. She pulled the cork out of the jar, put it under his nose, and asked, "Your Majesty, please smell it. Does it smell good?"
"It smells very good." Emperor Yongle frowned.
Empress Xian De looked at him and said, "Your Majesty, do you feel unwell? Otherwise, why do you look like that? Has the burial been ruined?" She smelled the wine herself with some suspicion.
Emperor Yongle smiled slightly and was about to speak, but suddenly he felt a black screen in front of his eyes, stumbled, and fell headfirst!
"Your Majesty!" Empress Xian De was startled, and the small jar of snow wine in her hand fell to the ground with a "bang" and shattered into pieces. The wine mixed with the fragments splashed out a rich aroma, bitter and long-lasting.
“Quick, call the imperial physician!” Shen Miao ordered hurriedly, but a sense of foreboding suddenly crossed her mind.
…
The gauze curtain was lowered, and outside the house, the head of the Gao family finally arrived.
This is Gao Yang's grandfather, Gao Zhan.
The Gao family had been practicing medicine for generations, enjoying considerable renown in Longye. Among the younger members of the Gao family, Gao Yang was the most skilled doctor, yet he was restless and aspired to enter the imperial court. Seeing his stubbornness, the head of the Gao family expelled him from the family. Empress Dowager Jingxian initially admired Gao Yang's talent but later arranged for him to go to Mingqi, where he became friends with Xie Jingxing and became his advisor.
It was Gao Zhan who personally discovered the poison that had infected Emperor Yongle. Without Gao Zhan's exceptional medical skills, Emperor Yongle wouldn't have lived for so many years. However, the thirty-five-year curse had long since passed, and those in the know considered it a miracle. However, miracles aren't easily created.
Gao Zhan shook his head at Empress Xian De.
Empress Xian De's tears suddenly fell.
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