Chapter 58 Planning Sleepiness
The night passed, and the Zhaoshui Palace didn't call for water. The next morning, before the hour of dawn, the emperor donned his sash and Liuhe boots and went to court. He appeared refreshed, his expression relaxed, a stark contrast to his usual cold and stern demeanor.
It was not until last night that the emperor realized that falling asleep in the arms of the woman he loved was a great tonic.
But this was not his intention. She felt sleepy as soon as she touched the bed. She closed her eyes, leaving only two small black furry fans facing him. However, the fans soon stopped flapping and lay safely on her moon-like face, which made people feel pity.
Even if he wanted to do something, he couldn't do it.
The emperor smiled and shook his head.
After court was over and I returned to Taiji Hall, my shoulder bones seemed to be looser than yesterday.
The Zhu family was raided and Zhu Mingcheng was stripped of his official position, and the corruption case came to an end.
However, it was only a temporary suspension. The emperor stood in front of the desk and circled a few names on the memorial. These were the surviving cliques.
I think the reason why he originally sent Zhu Mingcheng to the southwest to provide disaster relief was just to investigate the past affairs between the Duan family and Su Yun.
Before his rise to power, the Marquis of Yongning relied heavily on his father-in-law to maintain his position in Shangjing. Therefore, the cover-up of the Suoyun case must have been orchestrated by Zhu Mingcheng. To prevent the evidence from being destroyed, the emperor expelled Zhu Mingcheng from Shangjing.
I don't want to end up with something that grows into a forest by accident.
It was not easy to move Zhu Mingcheng. The country and the court are like the sea, which naturally has both clear and turbid waters. As a monarch, one must be able to tolerate both mud and sand.
Corrupt officials are never just one person, but a tangled web of meridians, countless connected cancers. If you can't kill them with a single, precise blow, the venom will only spread faster.
But the Zhao family's sudden attack this time was without warning, catching everyone off guard, and at the same time, they caught the criminals red-handed, effectively killing them. Naturally, those accomplices in the corruption gang had no choice but to fight for their lives.
This tumor had grown large enough to be successfully removed.
After all, this was a surprise given to him by someone.
He should have rewarded her more to reward her for using a knife to kill someone who should be killed.
However, this kind of thing can only happen once, and he has been very busy cleaning up the mess for her, so let's just make it up.
The emperor pondered the person's name several times in his mind, and unknowingly walked to the treasure box in the hall, and his smile faded.
He pressed hard with his fingertips on a piece of blue agate that seemed to be used for decoration, and a wooden wedge popped out from the solid wood grid of the multi-treasure cabinet.
After removing the wooden wedge, one could see a narrow, flat secret compartment in the hollow of the wood.
The emperor took out a secret scroll from inside and read the words on it that he had already memorized by heart. His expression gradually became as cold as water.
He suddenly asked Xu Delu, who had been standing by with his head lowered, "Tell me, if I feel guilty and can't make amends, how should I resolve this?"
Xu Delu had no idea what the emperor was talking about, so he didn't dare to speak out. He just flattered him, saying, "Your Majesty is kind-hearted, which is why he feels guilty. As a servant, if you can make the emperor feel guilty about something, it would be an honor for that person."
The emperor listened to these slick and empty words, and his deep eyes, like a frosty edge, swept across the smiling face.
Xu Delu's smile froze, and he immediately understood that His Majesty was dissatisfied with what he said and asked him to repeat it.
He pondered the matter over in his mind, finally deciding to place his bet on Ying Ronghua. He said, "I've heard that the more you love someone, the more you tend to feel indebted to them. Perhaps Your Majesty has already given you more than you owe her?"
Xiao Fang rolled up the paper in his hand and stuffed it back into the secret compartment.
With a click, the wooden wedge returned to its place.
Xu Delu was still feeling uncertain. Did he make the right bet or not?
The emperor said nothing more, but when he passed by, he reached out and patted him on the shoulder, two touches neither light nor heavy, which were meaningful.
It also feels a bit like a compliment.
The next day, the emperor summoned the top scholar to the palace for a chat. The weather had cooled, the drought in the southwest had eased, and the relief funds had been effectively spent. It was a rare autumn of peace and quiet at court.
Finding a friend to chat with is also a happy thing in life.
When the two newly arrived young palace maids in Taiji Hall heard that the number one scholar was coming, they chose the right time and hid in the corridor, wanting to catch a glimpse of the number one scholar's beautiful face.
Even before I saw anyone, my heart was already beating fast with anticipation.
However, because they acted too sneakily, they were both discovered by Xu Dajian and sent back to their respective duty posts, which was a bad start.
Dong'er was making tea in the tea room in the side hall. Seeing the dejected look of the little girl who came in, she naturally wanted to ask what had happened.
The little girl was honest and explained everything while helping out. "Ever since I was little, I've admired those who were good at studying. This is the first time I've had the chance to see a real top scholar! I wonder what he looks like. Is he as handsome as Pan An, or as elegant and graceful as a scholar?"
Dong'er was delighted when she heard this and tapped her nose: "It's just a nose and a mouth. Not only have I seen him, I've even talked to him!"
The little palace maid was surprised and curious, and immediately came up to ask more questions: "Sister Dong'er, please tell me quickly, what did the top scholar say to you? Did he speak in a very literary way?"
Dong'er smiled mysteriously and went to the front hall with tea.
The little palace maid quickly thought about it and chased after him, saying, "Sister Dong'er, next time the number one scholar comes again, can you let me serve tea in the palace?"
Dong'er was amused by her and didn't look back, but just replied: "You can go out first before we talk!" Different from the busy, orderly atmosphere in Taiji Hall, the whole palace in Fengzao Palace has been a little lifeless recently, like a giant beast that devours people and tears their bones apart.
On this day, the Queen claimed that she was not feeling well and ordered all the palace maids not to enter the palace without permission so as not to disturb her recuperation. The palace maids moved even more cautiously and did not dare to make any noise.
Jin Yu was originally considered a marginal figure among the palace maids serving in the front hall. She was only thankful that she was brought from her master's home and knew many secrets that could not be told to others. There were some things that her master could only feel at ease if she did them.
Today, she followed the Queen's order and invited Doctor Fang from the Imperial Medical Bureau.
The queen sat on the phoenix-head couch with an elegant appearance.
But Jin Yu knew very well that her master was just holding on. Ever since she came back from the hunting palace, her master had nightmares every night and looked abnormal when she woke up in the middle of the night. She put on several more layers of makeup on her face every day than before, and was busy comforting Concubine Yang during the day.
Doctor Fang had never been responsible for the Queen's pulse, so when he saw the Queen, he looked a little frightened and hurriedly performed a very grand ceremony.
The queen was lazy and didn't seem to intend to speak.
Jin Yu spoke on her behalf, "Well, as you know, Imperial Physician Zhu was implicated and demoted. Her Majesty doesn't have anyone she can trust in the Imperial Physician's Office right now. I heard you were in charge of checking the pulse of Rong Hua in Chengluan Palace, and I trust your medical skills. So, why don't you also be responsible for checking the pulse of Fengzao Palace in the future?"
Normally, no one in the Imperial Medical Bureau would be reluctant to be employed by the Empress. However, the Empress was powerless and unfavored, and Imperial Physician Fang was no fool. He immediately said tactfully, "My medical skills are not very advanced. Just being responsible for Ying Ronghua's pulse is enough to keep me on my toes. I'm afraid my willingness is insufficient, and I'll be a disappointment to Her Majesty."
The queen sneered and was too lazy to keep him in suspense any longer. She let Jin Yu open a soft bundle and a long box under the nose of Doctor Fang.
Then he pointed with his chin and said, "They say doctors don't treat themselves. I heard you have a sickly daughter at home who relies on ginseng soup to survive. Here are 1,000 taels of silver and two rare wild ginsengs. Could you please ask the imperial physician to do me a small favor?"
This time she really invested a lot of money. Half of the one thousand taels of silver was given by her mother, and the other half was taken from her dowry.
Doctor Fang was stunned.
There was no job in the palace that was not lucrative, but their daughter's health really cost money like water, often causing their family to be unable to make ends meet.
It was for this reason that his colleagues gave him the opportunity to check the pulse of the favorite concubine Ying Ronghua so that he could have more money.
But the Queen has investigated his family situation so thoroughly and gifted him a thousand taels of silver. This favor must be quite significant.
Doctor Fang suppressed his urge to say, "No merit, no reward... I truly lack the ability, and I'm afraid I've failed the Empress."
Some money can only be earned at the cost of one's life.
"Doctor Fang, don't be nervous. It's just a matter of a word, very simple. After the matter is completed, I will find the best medicinal herbs and the most famous doctors for you. All of your daughter's future expenses will be covered by the Yongning Marquis' Mansion!"
The Queen gripped the armrest, veins bulging on the back of her hand. "Listen carefully, I want you to—next time, when you check Ying Ronghua's pulse for safety, you must 'diagnose' her for pregnancy."
As the queen said this, she seemed to be able to see the emperor glaring at Qingzan, and even banishing her to the cold palace in anger, and she could not control the smile on her face.
Doctor Fang had already knelt down, complaining in his heart, he didn't want to listen at all!
Just as his body was about to collapse, unable to even kneel steadily, the Queen suddenly changed the subject and snorted coldly, "Doctor Fang should know that now that you know of my plan, you have no choice but to accomplish this for me. If you dare to refuse, or attempt to betray me, you will be in danger of your family's lives."
Even after leaving Fengzao Palace, Doctor Fang still felt a lump in his throat and swallowed hard. The Queen's words still rang in his ears, leaving him bewildered and disoriented.
The banknotes and ginseng in his arms could not be lost, but he could not hold on to them either.
Claiming that Rong Hua is pregnant... This is making something out of nothing and is a lie!
Doctor Fang's back was already wet and cold.
As the scheduled day for visiting Chengluan Palace to check the patient's pulse was approaching, Doctor Fang took a dose of croton oil early in the morning, suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, and took sick leave to stay home.
Doukou waited outside Chengluan Palace for a long time but Doctor Fang didn't show up. Instead, she saw a young apprentice who came to tell them that Doctor Fang had taken a leave of absence.
Returning to Zhaoshui Palace, she exclaimed, "What a coincidence! I was told to ask Imperial Physician Fang to take a look after I took my pulse, but I just got sick today. How about I go to the Imperial Physician's Office and ask for another Imperial Physician?"
Pingting hurriedly tried to stop him, saying, "If you report being ill today, you'll definitely come tomorrow. If you go and ask for the imperial physician, it'll definitely draw attention, and it'll be hard to hide it then."
Having said that, the final decision still depends on the master's intention. The two of them looked at Qingzan at the same time.
Qingzan was still not in a good mood, and just said, "Let's wait until tomorrow."
She lay on her side on the chaise longue and fell asleep soon after.
At dusk, when the emperor came, he saw the beauty sleeping peacefully with a peaceful face, and naturally he could not bear to wake her up.
But she has been sleeping too much lately.
*
At Fengzao Palace, Jinyu returned with tranquilizers for the Empress. Remembering what she had just heard at the Imperial Physician's Office, she cautiously reported while massaging the Empress's forehead, "I heard that Imperial Physician Fang seems to have had a stomach upset."
The Queen closed her eyes and enjoyed it, sneering bitterly: "How could it be such a coincidence?"
But it didn't matter. She believed that Doctor Fang would figure it out. She hadn't wanted to do anything extreme, but since he was disobedient, her mother should have sent someone to do it secretly by now, unless he didn't care about his daughter's life.
Jin Yu didn't understand: "The Queen wants others to think that it was that lowly maid who ordered the imperial physician to lie about the pulse. But she is now the favorite of Youlong, so why would she need to rely on faking pregnancy to win favor? Even if she exposes her later, will others believe her?"
The queen felt that the man was really stupid and was not as easy to use as Fu Cui.
If her mother hadn't repeatedly told her that such important matters should be handed over to someone she knew well, she would never have been willing to use her again.
The Queen raised her eyelids and said angrily, "Who said she faked a pregnancy to win favor? Couldn't she have deliberately faked a miscarriage to frame me? This vicious woman, just to put me to death, didn't hesitate to let His Majesty and the Queen Mother have false joy. Tell me, what is her crime?"
The Queen's face was slightly ferocious, and she didn't want Jin Yu to continue pressing her head. She just said, "She wants me dead, and I will take advantage of this and make her die a miserable death."
This was a brilliant plan she had come up with after being unable to sleep day and night. Everyone in the palace was looking forward to having a child, and Ying Ronghua was favored by the emperor every night, so she would not doubt the authenticity of her pregnancy.
She spent countless thoughts on the layout alone, and even considered having someone put menstrual delay powder into those dishes that were high in oil, salt, or spicy food to ensure that there was no unpleasant smell.
Ying Ronghua should have discovered by now that her menstrual period has not come, but she didn't know that it was just due to the medication she took.
When she believed it and cried with joy that she was pregnant, that was exactly when she was about to suffer a blow on the head and be uprooted!
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The author has something to say: [Let me tell you] Why are female geese so sleepy? It’s so hard to guess.
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