"Why did Your Majesty..." Qian Shengyan was taken aback, and unconsciously moved closer to the window, "Why did you come here in the snow?"
Yinzhen, who had just approached, didn't hear what she was saying, but seeing that she had the window open and was sticking her head out, he became anxious: "Where are the servants? Are they all dead? How could you serve the Imperial Noble Consort like this, opening such a large window?!"
"Why is the Emperor here!" Qian Shengyan shouted, raising her voice. After shouting, she felt discomfort in her chest and coughed twice.
Now Yinzhen was even more anxious. He walked over quickly, stood outside the window, and pushed Qian Shengyan into the house, saying, "Have you caught a cold? Go back inside!"
"It's alright, Your Majesty, please don't press my head..."
A moment later, the two sat in the inner hall, which smelled strongly of beef. The windows were tightly closed, and Qian Shengyan was wrapped tightly in Yinzhen's cloak.
Qian Shengyan: ...? ? ? ?
"Is there anything else to eat?" Yinzhen asked as soon as he sat down, seemingly unconcerned.
Qian Shengyan quickly ordered another pot of food to be brought out: "Did His Majesty not enjoy it at the banquet?"
"It's alright." Yinzhen didn't mention that he was worried about her. He casually drank some wine and returned. He also looked at the sky outside. "Hongli and the others will be staying in the palace tonight."
“It’s cold in winter, and Jiuzhou Qingyan is surrounded by lakes on all sides. Your Majesty should live in the palace,” Qian Shengyan advised.
Yinzhen frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then nodded: "What you said makes sense."
Then the next day, Qian Shengyan was carried onto the carriage back to the palace by him.
Qian Shengyan: ? ? ? ?
"The garden is damp and cold, which is not good for your wound healing. I have asked Physician Liu, and he said it is fine for you to ride in a carriage. If you are afraid of the bumps, I will carry you."
Qian Shengyan: ...
She thought Yinzhen was just saying it, but he actually carried her all the way, which scared her so much that she didn't dare to sit properly, for fear of hurting his legs...
Thanks to the Emperor, Qian Shengyan also visited the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City. The imperial carriage drove straight in and took her to the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Instead of going to the Palace of Eternal Longevity, Yinzhen carried Qian Shengyan directly into the inner palace of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Your Majesty..." Qian Shengyan wanted to go back to her own place, but Yinzhen pressed her shoulder and smiled, "It's too cold. I want you to stay with me a little longer, is that alright?"
What else could Qian Shengyan say?
Although it would be more convenient for her to stay in her own palace and see the children, she couldn't directly refuse Yinzhen's offer.
However, things were much more convenient once she returned to the palace. Yinzhen no longer had to travel back and forth to see her, and the children could come to pay their respects morning and evening.
The next day, Qian Shengyan, having nothing else to do, sent Qingxue to the Imperial Household Department to select young palace maids. When Yinzhen heard about this, he asked Su Peisheng to accompany her.
"I am at ease knowing that Su Peisheng is keeping an eye on things for you," he explained.
Qian Shengyan did not refuse. Qingxue had a good relationship with the people in the Imperial Court, which was also a good thing for her.
She met with Wang Baoen and other eunuchs who remained in Yongshou Palace, watched Xiang'er cry, gave her a few more instructions, and then sent them back.
Her body is still very weak. Although her wounds have healed, she can't help but cough if she does any strenuous exercise or inhales cold air.
The imperial physician said the blade was very close to her heart, and Qian Shengyan judged that it had probably damaged her lungs, which was why she was coughing so easily. But there was no other way in this era; it was good that she hadn't gotten an infection or fever, so she could only take good care of herself.
As the year draws to a close, Qian Shengyan, as a powerful imperial concubine, would normally have to wait in Yongshou Palace for ladies of high rank to come and pay their respects. Today, Yinzhen saved her all of that, and Qian Shengyan was happy to relax.
Having been in the Qing Dynasty for so long, Qian Shengyan's greatest talent is entertaining herself. Moreover, Yinzhen understands her preferences and has just ordered someone to collect a batch of interesting storybooks and send them to her.
Qian Shengyan ate and drank, flipped through storybooks, arranged chess scores, and practiced calligraphy; time flew by.
Yinzhen also promised to find several female storytellers for her to enter the palace after the New Year and raise them in Yongshou Palace. At that time, she could not only read storybooks, but also listen to and watch people perform them...
This was the first time Qian Shengyan had ever looked forward to the Chinese New Year so much.
Seeing the longing look on her face, Yinzhen couldn't help but laugh. He picked up a piece of candy and put it in her mouth, saying, "You're getting more and more childish."
"It's all because His Majesty is too good to me..." Qian Shengyan mumbled while eating candy. Recently, Yinzhen had noticed that she coughed every three steps, probably because she was feeling guilty, so he treated her so well that he was practically spoiling her like a child.
Yinzhen helplessly raised his hand and pinched her chubby cheeks, sighing inwardly that they felt much better than before, and that she had finally regained some of the weight she had lost.
"Master, it's time to take your medicine." Green Willow walked over with the medicine bowl, smiling at Qian Shengyan.
Qian Shengyan: ...
Both cheeks puffed out.
"I'll take it." Yinzhen took the medicine bowl, felt the temperature, and, finding it to be just right, scooped up a spoonful and brought it to Qian Shengyan's lips.
Qian Shengyan pursed her lips, stared at him with wide eyes, silently expressing her rejection.
Yinzhen: ...
here we go again.
“You’re really childish… Hongshan takes his medicine more readily than you do,” Yinzhen sighed.
Qian Shengyan: "Then let him eat it."
Yinzhen: ...
After much coaxing and pleading, Qian Shengyan finally managed to pick up the bowl and drink it all in one gulp before the medicine cooled down. After finishing, she quickly stuffed a candy into her mouth, grimacing as she said, "This medicine has been getting more and more bitter lately."
"Perhaps the master doesn't like it anymore? Physician Liu hasn't changed the prescription recently," Green Willow said with a smile.
But though the speaker meant no harm, the listener took it to heart. Yinzhen frowned and looked at Qian Shengyan: "The taste is off?"
Qian Shengyan was taken aback: "No, it hasn't been that bad, has it? It seems like it's always been bitter." But after thinking about it carefully, she added, "It does seem to be getting bitterer and bitterer..." She said with a bitter face, "I can't be sure..."
"Summon Liu Gaofei," Yinzhen said, smoothing the wrinkles between her brows.
Judge Liu arrived quickly. The medicine bowl was not removed, and Green Willow also brought over the pot for boiling the medicine and the remaining dregs.
She was still a little uneasy: "I've always been in charge of preparing the medicine, and even when I'm not around, Xiang'er is watching over it..."
Because it was inappropriate to brew medicine in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, as it would fill the front and back halls with the smell of medicine, Green Willow would always brew the medicine in the Palace of Longevity and then bring it over with the medicine pot. This made it easier for Imperial Physician Liu to investigate.
Before long, Xiang'er was summoned, followed by a timid little palace maid. Qian Shengyan recognized her at a glance; this was the newest maid she had named Qiu Shu.
Spring, summer, autumn, winter, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—these combined form the names of four palace maids. Qian Shengyan was too lazy to think of the other two, so she named them Green Moon and Green Star.
Qiu Shu knelt down with Xiang'er. Xiang'er said, "I watched the medicine being prepared today. But after it was prepared, I didn't see Sister Lvliu, so I went to call her. I had Qiu Shu keep watch over her during that time."
Over there, Judge Liu had finished his examination. He frowned and said, "There is indeed something wrong with these dregs."
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