During this rare time of leisure and ease, Jiang seemed to have almost forgotten about Ji Chongyi. It was only when Ah Man mentioned the Duke of Anguo's Mansion that he suddenly remembered him.

In the late spring of this year in his previous life, Ji Chongyi got drunk and never opened his eyes again.

It is said that after he drank too much, he kept repeating Qiao Niang's name.

This was a common occurrence, and she had heard it herself no less than three times. Because Ji Chongyi died in this way, it became a big joke to her.

The Third Young Lady was so incompetent that she couldn't even win over a dead woman, causing the man to think of another woman until his death.

Lady Anguo was so grief-stricken that she even cried in front of her, saying that if she had complied with her youngest son's wishes at that time, he might not have died.

Jiang Si still remembers the anger and humiliation she felt, so much so that she didn't even feel much pain for losing her husband.

At that time, all she had left was hatred for Ji Chongyi.

Later, when I moved to a new place, I no longer felt any hatred for this man. He was just a stranger.

But Ji Chongyi is alive and well now, which is completely different from his previous life, which makes Jiang Si still wonder.

Why did it change?

Of course, she didn't hope that Ji Chongyi would die soon, but it was always confusing that someone who had clearly passed away at this time in his previous life was fine now.

After thinking for a long time, Jiang Si laughed at himself.

It doesn't seem too strange.

Ji Chongyi loved Qiao Niang deeply and married her reluctantly in his previous life. Perhaps he drank himself to death because he missed her so much.

Now that he has gotten what he wanted in this life, he is naturally full of energy.

After figuring it out, Jiang Si put the matter aside and continued to live a peaceful life.

However, the people in Cining Palace were living a miserable life.

The Queen Mother's illness became more serious.

Oddly enough, the Empress Dowager had been feeling unwell not long after the plum blossom viewing banquet and had been bedridden, but the imperial physician could not tell what had happened.

Emperor Jingming went to Cining Palace more and more frequently, and concubines from various palaces came to pay their respects one after another. Although they could not see the empress dowager, the key was not to see, but to come.

Maybe I can meet the emperor by chance when I come here. Even if I can't, at least I will have a good reputation if the emperor hears about it.

"Your Majesty..." When the palace maids saw Emperor Jingming coming, they all bowed in unison.

The eunuch opened his mouth to pass the message, but Emperor Jingming stopped him: "No need."

Emperor Jingming strode in and went straight to where the empress dowager was resting.

The curtains in Ci Ning Palace were deep, and the smell of medicine became stronger the further one went inside.

The moment he saw the Queen Mother, Emperor Jingming felt heavy-hearted.

It is said that people cannot stand getting sick when they get older, and even the most noble woman in the world cannot avoid it.

The Queen Mother doesn't look well.

Emperor Jingming cursed in his heart, blaming himself for having wild thoughts. He quickened his pace and walked over to hold the empress dowager's hand: "Mother, are you feeling better?"

The Queen Mother opened her eyes with difficulty and said in a gentle voice: "It's still the same. Why is the Emperor here again? State affairs are more important. We can't delay them for my sake."

Emperor Jingming felt unhappy, but he did not show it on his face. He smiled and said, "There is no time to waste. Besides, nothing is more important than my mother's health. Those quack doctors should all be kicked out and beheaded..."

The Queen Mother squeezed Emperor Jingming's hand slightly and said, "Your Majesty, don't blame the imperial physician. I am old, and my body cannot keep up with the slightest disturbance. It's already time for me to..."

Emperor Jingming hurriedly stopped the empress dowager from speaking any further, sat with her for a while, and left only when he saw that she was in low spirits.

Walking on the road, the scent of wet grass after the rain went straight into his nose, but Emperor Jingming's mood did not improve with the brightness of early summer.

Another spring and summer has come, and the Queen Mother has reached her old age.

Could it be that the queen mother, who protected and loved him, really couldn't make it?

The whispers coming from behind the trees made Emperor Jingming pause.

"Have you heard that the Queen Mother is not ill at all, but was hit."

Seeing Pan Hai was about to speak with a sullen face, Emperor Jingming waved his hands and quickly hid behind the flowers and trees nearby.

Seeing that the emperor had gone into hiding, the chief eunuch Pan Hai had no choice but to follow suit.

The two of them listened together with their ears tilted up.

"Ah, was it hit? What hit you?"

"It is said that it was disrupted by the marriage of the Plum Blossom Festival Prince."

Another voice exclaimed, "Oh, it's true. The Queen Mother's health started to deteriorate after the plum blossom viewing banquet... Then, which prince's marriage interfered with her?"

After the plum blossom viewing banquet, the imperial edicts for the marriages of the King of Shu and the King of Yan were issued at the same time, and the marriages of the two princes took place only a month apart.

"Of course it's that guy—"

"Who?"

"Seven--" The little maid's next words were stuck in her throat. She was dumbfounded when she looked at the person who suddenly appeared in front of her.

The other palace maid was smarter. She pulled her companion to kneel down and tremblingly paid her respects to Emperor Jingming.

Emperor Jingming's face was as gloomy as water, and he asked, "Who?"

Seeing the two young palace maids bowing their heads and saying nothing, Pan Hai kicked them and said, "Your Majesty is asking you a question. Are you dumb?"

One of the young palace maids was kicked down, and she quickly got up and shivered with her forehead on the ground: "Your Majesty, everyone said that it was the Prince of Yan's marriage that offended the Queen Mother..."

Emperor Jingming walked away.

The two young palace maids knew that a disaster was about to happen, and they kept kowtowing and begging for mercy.

As the supervisor of Dongchang, no matter how respectful he is in front of Emperor Jingming, he is cold-blooded in front of others.

Pan Hai looked down at the two young palace maids and waved his hand not far away: "Take them away."

Two eunuchs immediately appeared not far away, walked over, skillfully covered the little palace maid's mouth, and dragged her away quietly.

Emperor Jingming walked faster and faster, obviously very angry.

Pan Hai caught up with him and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. It is not worth it to damage your body because of those cheap maids."

Emperor Jingming paused and looked at Pan Hai: "I didn't know there was such a ridiculous rumor!"

Whether it was the King of Shu or the King of Yan, the marriages were arranged by him. He said that the marriage of the King of Yan offended the Queen Mother. Does this mean that he was the one who caused the Queen Mother's illness?

The more Emperor Jingming thought about it, the angrier he became.

Pan Hai shook his head secretly.

Whoever spread this rumor is a fool.

It looked like she was going to meet Prince Yan, but she didn't know that the marriage was arranged by the Emperor, and the Emperor cared about the Queen Mother the most. If it was related to the Queen Mother's illness, how could he not be angry?

"I don't want to hear any more of this nonsense."

Pan Hai quickly responded with a yes.

It is the most difficult to find the source of this kind of rumor, but it is easy to stop the mouths of those who spread it.

But——

Pan Hai thought of the beautiful girl at the plum blossom viewing banquet and sighed.

The Princess of Yan will probably have a hard time in the future. Even if the Emperor doesn't care, she will feel uncomfortable in her heart. Moreover, you can stop the mouths of people but not the people's hearts. Even if the Emperor doesn't have any ideas, what about the Empress and those concubines?

Even the Queen Mother?

He has seen many cases where a rumor can ruin a person.

Of course, the Queen Mother also heard this rumor.

The confidant nanny advised: "Queen Mother, why don't I go and tell the Emperor."

The Queen Mother shook her head with difficulty: "What are you talking about? Isn't it ridiculous to say such nonsense in front of the Emperor?"

"But--"

At this time, the eunuch reported: "Princess Rongyang has arrived."