Chapter 278 Phoenix's Health is Unwell
Shang Ruyi hurriedly took the letter, opened it, and saw that it was indeed a letter from Shen Wuzheng. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Finally, we have news of them."
Tushe'er also happily came over: "Miss, how are the master, madam, and young master?"
Upon realizing it was a matter concerning the Shen family, Changwan and Woxue discreetly withdrew and closed the door. Only the mistress and servant remained in the room. Shang Ruyi unfolded the letter and began to read it carefully. The letter was short, consisting of only one sheet of paper, clearly written in haste.
Even so, the words in the letter are still elegant and flowing, with a lively and agile style that is pleasing to the eye.
As Shang Ruyi read the letter, her expression shifted between joy and slight worry. After finishing it, she fell into deep thought.
Tushe'er grew anxious and gently tugged at her sleeve: "Miss, what did the young master say in his letter?"
Shang Ruyi remained silent for a while before slowly saying, "He said that they had received the Emperor's decree of amnesty and were preparing to leave Lingnan, so we don't need to worry."
As she spoke, she thought for a moment and murmured, "Now, they should already be on their way."
Tushe'er immediately laughed and said, "Oh, that's wonderful!"
"Yes, that's great."
Shang Ruyi said this, but the increasingly serious expression on her face told a completely different story. Tu She'er, though overjoyed, noticed her unusual mood and asked, "Miss, Master and Madam can finally leave Lingnan, isn't that a good thing? Young Master also told you not to worry, so why do you seem even more worried?"
Shang Ruyi said, "It would be a good thing to be able to leave Lingnan. But the journey is not safe right now."
Upon hearing this, Tushe'er's face immediately fell: "Yes, there are rebels everywhere outside, and there is fighting everywhere. It would be good if they could return to Dongdu sooner—alas, Dongdu is not peaceful now either."
"..."
Shang Ruyi's brows furrowed even more.
After a long pause, she murmured, "There are only three of them, so the journey is indeed a bit dangerous."
Tusheer asked, "Miss, what are your plans?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi thought for a while, then carefully folded the letter along the original creases and put it away. She then said, "We'll talk about this later."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Chang Wan knocked on the door from outside, her voice tinged with urgency: "Young Madam."
Shang Ruyi asked, "What is it?"
Changwan pushed open the door and came in, saying, "Young Madam, that Eunuch Lu is here again."
"Eunuch Lu?"
Upon hearing that it was an eunuch from Empress Jiang's side, Shang Ruyi seemed to sense something and hurriedly straightened her clothes before going to the reception room. There she saw Eunuch Lu bowing to her and saying, "Madam, I apologize for disturbing you."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly returned the greeting and said, "I wonder what brings you here today, sir?"
Eunuch Lu smiled and said, "Naturally, it's Her Majesty the Empress. She summoned the Lady to the palace for a meeting."
"Your Majesty?"
Shang Ruyi's heart stirred slightly—speaking of which, Empress Jiang used to be very close to her, sending people to fetch her to the palace every few days. But since the battle of Xingluocang, they had hardly seen each other. The last time Eunuch Lu came, she presumptuously thought he was summoning her, but it turned out to be summoning Yuwen Ye.
Originally, in Shang Ruyi's eyes, the Empress was gentle and ethereal. But now, she understood that the reason she looked gentle and ethereal was because a layer of mist surrounded her.
This layer of fog made it impossible for me to see her clearly.
Even so, Shang Ruyi still smiled and asked, "I wonder what important matter Your Majesty has summoned me to the palace for?"
Then Eunuch Lu glanced at her before sighing and saying, "Her Majesty is unwell. She summoned you to the palace just to have a chat and relax."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi was immediately taken aback: "Your Majesty is ill? When did this happen?"
Eunuch Lu sighed: "That is, not long after His Majesty issued the decree. The Empress was worried day and night and did not take care of her own health, and caught a cold."
At this time, are you sick?
Shang Ruyi frowned, thought for a moment, and immediately said, "Alright, I will go to the palace with you immediately, Eunuch."
After saying that, she turned back to Tusheer and the others and said, "Stay home and wait for me to come back."
The maids had no choice but to agree.
Shang Ruyi followed Eunuch Lu out of the Yuwen residence and, as before, took a carriage to Xuanren Gate. She was quite familiar with the place now, unlike when she first entered the palace. However, she felt a different kind of unease as she entered the palace again.
That's Chu Yang...
Previously, almost every time Empress Jiang met with her, Chu Yang would find an opportunity to take her away, but this time—
Whether he sensed her worries or the Empress had given prior instructions, Eunuch Lu walked forward and said casually, "These past few days, His Majesty has not attended court or seen outsiders. He just rests in the Warm Dock and enjoys some singing and dancing in his spare time. He probably doesn't have time for anything else."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately understood.
She thought for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty is very busy and should get some rest."
Eunuch Lu stopped talking and led her forward. Before long, they arrived at the Left Treasury Palace. There were several times more people coming and going than usual. Shang Ruyi watched as the eunuchs lowered their heads and carried boxes of things out. From a distance, it looked like ants busily making their way before a heavy rain.
She couldn't help but ask, "Father-in-law, why is it so busy here?"
Eunuch Lu turned his head and glanced at it.
He gave a wry smile and said calmly, "His Majesty is going to tour Jiangdu, so naturally the things here will be taken with him."
"……oh."
Shang Ruyi's heart sank again. She pursed her lips and didn't ask any more questions.
If it were just a normal tour, like the last tour of the northern frontier, Chu Yang wasn't seen carrying anything from the Left Treasury Palace. But this time, during his tour of Jiangdu, he's taking everything with him, which shows—
Her heart sank further, and she followed Eunuch Lu forward without saying a word.
Before long, they finally arrived at the East Palace where Empress Jiang resided.
It was quieter here than usual, and as soon as Shang Ruyi entered the main hall, she smelled a faint medicinal scent in the air, a scent that was obviously only present in places where patients were.
She frowned slightly, and her steps became lighter as she followed Eunuch Lu inside.
Normally, Empress Jiang would meet her in the outer hall, but this time, Eunuch Lu led her all the way inside, all the way to the inner hall.
But as soon as I stepped inside, I heard a strange man's voice coming from within, lazy and even with a hint of nonchalance—
"Your Majesty, you have fallen ill at a very inopportune time."
"...?!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's brows immediately furrowed.
Who dares to speak to the Empress like that!
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