Chapter 270 Reunion (Two chapters combined)
The two rode in Eunuch Wei's carriage to the palace.
As the chief steward of Huaqing Palace, no one at the palace gate dared to stop him from inspecting his carriage, and the group entered the palace smoothly.
Strictly speaking, Huaqing Palace was not part of the inner palace, and men from outside the palace were allowed to enter. However, without the emperor's summons, Eunuch Wei had to go and announce it.
However, by the time he went to inform the emperor, the emperor was already on the verge of losing consciousness. His condition was terrible; his face was swollen, and he was having difficulty breathing, as if he might not be able to catch his breath at any moment.
"His Majesty!"
Eunuch Wei didn't care about anything else and hurriedly went out to invite Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang in.
This was the first time Xiao Liulang had witnessed Gu Jiao rescuing a patient. The scene of her surgery on Gu Chenglin in Bishui Hutong was too bloody, so Gu Jiao closed the door and didn't allow Xiao Liulang to come in.
Gu Jiao carried the medicine box to the bright yellow dragon bed, her expression calm and unhurried: "Light the lamp."
"Quickly! Light the lamps!" Eunuch Wei hurriedly ordered.
All the candles were lit, and the oil lamps were turned up to their brightest setting, instantly illuminating the dimly lit bedroom.
Gu Jiao, dressed in a green robe, stood slenderly in the vast and open palace, appearing as small as a chestnut, yet radiating dazzling brilliance and aura.
Xiao Liulang stared at her intently. This was a serious look he had never seen before; it was somewhat unfamiliar, yet captivating.
"Scholar Xiao, I'm sorry." Eunuch Wei smiled awkwardly at Xiao Liulang, knowing he needed to help His Majesty undress and couldn't allow any more onlookers.
He had the palace servants place a screen in front of the bright yellow dragon bed, so Xiao Liulang could only vaguely see his reflection on the screen.
"Is His Majesty alright?" Eunuch Wei asked worriedly. "He was fine just now, how did he suddenly become so serious? It was just a few mouthfuls of water, wasn't it?"
This is dry drowning, a type of drowning. Often, the person swallows a few mouthfuls of water and appears normal after getting ashore, but after returning home, they may experience difficulty breathing, cyanosis of the lips, drowsiness, lethargy, coma, suffocation, or even death.
This condition is more common in young children and people who are physically weak. It can also occur occasionally in healthy people. It mainly occurs when not much water enters the lungs and does not affect gas exchange in the alveoli, but it can still cause laryngospasm, glottal closure, and cerebral hypoxia.
Gu Jiao stepped onto the dragon bed, untied His Majesty's nightgown, knelt beside him, cleaned the residue from his mouth and nose, and then performed chest compressions on him.
After doing all that, she opened the first-aid kit and found an extra bottle of portable pure oxygen.
Hmm, there are more and more things besides medicine these days.
Gu Jiao put the oxygen mask on the emperor.
Having felt more comfortable, the emperor slowly opened his eyes, and his blurry vision gradually became clear.
The moment the emperor saw that it was Gu Jiao, his heart settled back down.
He opened his mouth: "Miss Gu..."
Gu Jiao adjusted his oxygen mask: "Don't talk, just breathe properly."
He was severely oxygen-deprived, and it was unknown whether this had caused cerebral edema. Lacking precise instruments for testing, we could only make a judgment through observation.
We need to observe them overnight, and then determine whether they have passed the danger tomorrow morning.
Upon hearing this, the emperor could only nod slightly.
Eunuch Wei stepped forward, saw that the emperor had opened his eyes, and couldn't help but wipe away a tear: "Your Majesty, you scared this servant to death!"
It was fortunate that His Majesty made the decisive move to invite Miss Gu over; otherwise, the imperial physicians would have been helpless in such a serious situation.
The emperor quickly fell asleep.
Eunuch Wei intended to invite Gu Jiao to rest in the side hall, while he would stay and guard her himself. However, he suddenly realized he didn't know how to address her.
When I first met her, I thought she was unmarried, so I kept calling her Miss Gu, and it became a habit, mainly because the second boss and the people at the clinic also called her that.
The second boss calls them that because he senses the couple isn't a real couple; the people at the clinic call them that because that's what their boss calls them.
In short, everyone calls her Miss Gu nowadays, even though they know she has a husband. It seems that these three words have become her identity, and no one has changed their way of addressing her, nor do they feel that it is inappropriate. This is a very strange thing.
The screen was removed, and Gu Jiao returned to sit down next to Xiao Liulang.
Xiao Liulang looked at the thin layer of sweat on her forehead, took out a handkerchief and handed it to her.
He intended for Gu Jiao to wipe it herself, but perhaps he held it too high, causing Gu Jiao to misunderstand that he was going to wipe it for her personally.
Gu Jiao leaned forward across the small tea table in the middle, showing off her forehead.
Xiao Liulang paused, then squeezed his handkerchief.
He didn't pull his hand back in the end, but gently wiped her forehead.
Eunuch Wei prepared a side room for the two of them and invited them to rest there.
"I don't need it, you go and rest," Gu Jiao said to Xiao Liulang.
Xiao Liulang paused for a moment: "I don't need it either."
Gu Jiao stayed by the patient's side all night.
Xiao Liulang stayed by her side all night.
Deep within the palace walls, silhouettes against the cold window, clouds and moon clinging to the branches, a night of tranquility.
Early in the morning, Empress Dowager Zhuang went to court to continue her regency. Except for the Marquis of Xuanping, who loved to sleep in, almost all the civil and military officials were present, including the newly appointed Chancellor of the Imperial Academy and the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces.
Empress Dowager Zhuang sat behind a black beaded curtain, exuding elegance and grace.
As the morning court session drew to a close, the emperor still hadn't appeared, and the ministers began to whisper among themselves.
Why hasn't His Majesty arrived yet?
"Did he forget the time? Or is the emperor feeling unwell?"
It's unlikely that he'll become obsessed with the harem and neglect his duties, since everyone knows His Majesty has recently become enamored with elixirs and intends to abstain from worldly desires for two years.
Or perhaps she was angered by Empress Dowager Zhuang?
It's not surprising, really. On the very first day Empress Dowager Zhuang returned to court, she appointed the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Realm, forcibly taking away the military power that should have belonged to Marquis Xuanping. It would be strange if the Emperor hadn't fallen ill from anger.
The more the emperor acted this way, the more the court officials felt the power of Empress Dowager Zhuang, and they unconsciously submitted to her.
Just as the court officials were caught in a complex web of emotions, Wei Gonggong's voice rang out from outside the Golden Palace: "His Majesty has arrived—"
Civil and military officials knelt on both sides, holding their official tablets.
The emperor strode confidently through the center of the hall, ascended the steps, stood before the dragon throne, and bowed to Empress Dowager Zhuang behind the beaded curtain: "Mother, your son is late, I hope you will forgive me."
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at him calmly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "It's good that the Emperor has arrived."
The Emperor smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager seems quite disappointed?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang raised her chin and said indifferently, "Your Majesty is overthinking things. I would be disappointed if Your Majesty didn't come. Since Your Majesty is in good health, let's begin the morning court session."
The emperor gave a cold laugh, turned around and sat on the dragon throne, his imperial aura shaking the four directions: "Morning court!"
Meanwhile, Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao had a simple breakfast at Huaqing Palace before leaving.
Xiao Liulang took her small medicine box and held it in his hands. The box wasn't heavy at all, so he really didn't know how she could take out so many medicines from it.
The two passed by the Golden Palace.
The carriage stopped near the Golden Palace, and Eunuch Wei personally escorted them back.
There was nothing important to discuss at the morning court session, and it ended quickly.
Empress Dowager Zhuang emerged from the Golden Palace and boarded her phoenix palanquin, which was carried by eight imperial guards. Gauze curtains were drawn around it, allowing outsiders to vaguely see a graceful figure, though not clearly.
Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang went east, while Empress Dowager Zhuang's palanquin went west, both on the same central axis.
Just as the palanquin turned the corner toward the inner palace, as if sensing something, Empress Dowager Zhuang suddenly raised her hand, and the female official kneeling beside her hurriedly said, "Stop the palanquin."
The palanquin stopped.
The lady-in-waiting asked, "Empress Dowager, what's wrong?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang paused slightly and looked towards the back of the carriage, but before she could even glance at it, Zhuang Yuexi's voice came from the front: "Aunt!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang was slightly taken aback by the address of "aunt," and she stopped turning around, ordering someone to lift the curtain.
She looked at Zhuang Yuexi.
Zhuang Yuexi was wearing a simple, narrow-sleeved blue dress today, which was a popular style in the capital at the time. She was puzzled, because the capital had always regarded wide-sleeved and gorgeous dresses as beautiful.
The daughters of wealthy families wore wide and elaborate sleeves, while only girls from poor families wore narrow sleeves, as it was more convenient for them to work.
The last time she saw that the Empress Dowager really liked the fashionable vermilion makeup, she wondered if the Empress Dowager would also like the fashionable dresses. It turned out that she was right.
The Empress Dowager liked it very much.
Empress Dowager Zhuang's gaze softened, and she said to her, "Come up."
Zhuang Yuexi was overjoyed.
Is she going to be able to ride in the Empress Dowager's phoenix carriage?
The Empress Dowager's phoenix carriage was one that even princesses had never ridden in.
Zhuang Yuexi was flattered and sat down!
The phoenix carriage was covered with a soft velvet carpet, said to be made of the finest snow fox fur, making one feel as if walking on clouds, truly giving one a sense of supreme glory.
This was far more impressive than carriages and sedan chairs. Sitting next to Empress Dowager Zhuang, Zhuang Yuexi felt that the scenery of the palace was completely different from this height.
Zhuang Mengdie was still fast asleep, completely missing the opportunity to ride in the phoenix carriage.
Upon arriving at Renshou Palace, Empress Dowager Zhuang ordered the storerooms to be opened and all the finest items to be brought out. She carefully selected several items to present to Zhuang Yuexi, including a luminous pearl from the East Sea, a purple smoke bottle from the Western Seas, a black iron dagger from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the ancient sword of the previous dynasty, and the armor of a former war king…
The first two things are acceptable, but the last one just feels a bit off.
What kind of daggers, ancient swords, and armor are these? Are they gifts for a young lady?
A talented woman like her actually prefers masterpieces of calligraphy and painting.
However, since it was a gift from the Empress Dowager, she was still very happy.
Empress Dowager Zhuang kept sending gifts, even bringing out jade beads, gold Pixiu, and woodworking tools, leaving Zhuang Yuexi completely bewildered.
These all seem like toys for children...
"Isn't that too much?" she asked, composing herself.
Empress Dowager Zhuang said, "It's not much for Jiaojiao."
As soon as she finished speaking, Empress Dowager Zhuang was stunned. "What did I just say?"
Zhuang Yuexi was taken aback for a moment, then said, "It's nothing, it's not much, you said it was for me." The Empress Dowager really is something, how could she even call her by the wrong name? She did have a childhood name, Yueyue.
-
Gu Jiao returned to the courtyard of the clinic, and Xiao Liulang immediately changed her dressing.
She lay on the soft bed, and Xiao Liulang gently lifted her clothes. This time, he truly had no romantic intentions, because she was seriously injured. The emperor's rescue had aggravated her wounds, and several scabs had cracked open, with blood seeping into the gauze and sticking to it after drying.
Xiao Liulang took a deep breath, composed himself, and said to her, "It might hurt a little, just bear with it."
The person on the bed did not move.
Xiao Liulang leaned down and saw that she was already asleep. Her eyes were slightly closed, her long eyelashes cast a sparse shadow on her cheeks, and her nose was slightly sweaty, indicating that she was enduring pain even in her sleep.
It turns out it wasn't that it didn't hurt, it was that I didn't care about the pain.
Is it because there were times when it hurt even more in the past?
Xiao Liulang frowned and moved even more gently as he changed her dressing.
...
In Bishui Hutong, the family sat together for a meal. Gu Jiao, Xiao Liulang, and their aunt who always asked them what they had done that day were no longer at the table.
The food doesn't taste good anymore.
...
On the tenth day of the fifth month, the results of the imperial examination were released. Du Ruohan was on the list, ranking seventh. Feng Lin and Lin Chengye ranked eighty and seventy-nine respectively, with a total of eighty people admitted.
Of the Jinshi who participated in the imperial examination, there were 72 second-class Jinshi, and the rest were all third-class Jinshi.
Feng Lin and Lin Chengye were both third-class Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and it was no easy feat for them to defeat so many of their colleagues in the imperial examinations.
Therefore, even though he was at the bottom of the class, Feng Lin was so excited that he cried.
He had seen too many people fall behind during the exams. They all started from their hometowns together, but every time they took the exam, several would fall behind, and eventually no one could make it to the end, or they would have to walk to the end all alone.
It's truly a blessing from heaven that all of them managed to stay in the capital!
From this day forward, they will all be junior scholars of the imperial court!
The Shujishi were not officials in the formal sense. If a title had to be given, they would be considered as candidates for the imperial court. They would study in the Hanlin Academy for three years, and those who achieved excellent results would become true Hanlin scholars.
Back then, the chances of getting into the top 80 out of 200 were much higher. Each year, only three students were admitted after the final exams, and the rest were assigned to local positions as officials or teachers based on their grades and daily performance.
Although the exams are tough, thankfully there are still three years left.
Xiao Liulang was not too surprised by the result. Feng Lin and Lin Chengye were both diligent and hardworking people, and they had received a lot of guidance from the old Confucian scholar. The greatest Confucian scholar of the dynasty personally taught them. It would be unreasonable for them not to pass the exam.
On May 11th, Xiao Liulang went to the Hanlin Academy to report for duty, along with the second-ranked scholar, Prince An, and the third-ranked scholar, Ning Zhiyuan.
According to the laws and traditions of Zhao Kingdom, all newly appointed top scholars were granted the position of Compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official. The main responsibilities of the Compiler in the Hanlin Academy were to compile the Veritable Records, record the emperor's words and deeds, lecture on classics and history, and draft documents related to ceremonies.
The second and third place winners were appointed as compilers in the Hanlin Academy, a position of the seventh rank. Compilers in the Hanlin Academy were mainly responsible for drafting imperial edicts, compiling historical records, and serving as lecturers at imperial lectures.
They are new compilers and editors, and these important tasks are not yet their turn to handle. Their main responsibility is still to study. In addition to continuing to study the existing scriptures, they also need to familiarize themselves with laws, court politics, regulations, agriculture, mathematics, history, astronomy, and so on.
It can be said that they had to learn more and more complex things than during the imperial examinations.
Only those who pass the imperial examination can enter the Hanlin Academy, and only those who pass the Hanlin Academy can enter the Grand Secretariat. But is it so easy to enter the Grand Secretariat? Those who think that passing the imperial examination will guarantee their safety are simply too naive.
They take an exam every three months, and there's an annual exam at the end of the year. If they fail the annual exam once, they get a warning; if they fail twice, they get demoted.
Prince An's injuries healed, and he regained his handsome appearance.
Although he was a seventh-rank editor, the office he was assigned was larger and more spacious than Xiao Liulang's.
This is not surprising, after all, the Grand Secretariat was under Grand Tutor Zhuang's control, and the Hanlin Academy was also largely under his control.
However, Ning Zhiyuan's office was better than Xiao Liulang's, which is quite intriguing.
"No way, you..." Ning Zhiyuan was helping Xiao Liulang move his things when he smelled an indescribable odor as soon as he reached the door. He whispered, "Why is your office near the stables?"
It's alright in winter, but once it gets hot, the smell... well, it's just too intoxicating!
Ning Zhiyuan continued in a low voice, "You said you were going to make things difficult for me, but I think you're the one being made things difficult for. I've heard about the Zhuang family's affairs. The Empress Dowager Zhuang has returned, otherwise they wouldn't dare to act so blatantly. Just bear with it for now, and once this storm passes, perhaps His Majesty will find an opportunity to make room for you."
Xiao Liulang had long anticipated that returning to the capital would not bring him a smooth road, so he said nonchalantly, "Don't keep coming here."
"Do you think I wanted to come?" Ning Zhiyuan said in a low voice. "They sent me here to see you make a fool of yourself. I'll laugh a few times later, but don't take it to heart."
Ning Zhiyuan was well-versed in the ways of officialdom. On his very first day, he was swayed to another side and, unable to protect himself, had no choice but to feign defection to the enemy.
He actually favored His Majesty and was willing to become friends with Xiao Liulang.
"I've put the things down, I'm leaving." Ning Zhiyuan gently placed a stack of books on Xiao Liulang's desk, walked to the door, hesitated for a moment, then turned back, picked up a few books, and said, "Sorry, brother."
After saying that, he threw the book on the ground with a loud thud.
He then picked it up, patted it, quickly wiped it clean with his sleeve, put it away, and ran out as if fleeing.
Xiao Liulang shook his head self-deprecatingly.
Being isolated is just the first step.
There's also Ning Zhiyuan who offered timely help, so things aren't as bad as I imagined.
Several major events have recently occurred in the capital. The most eye-catching is naturally the high-profile return of Empress Dowager Zhuang, who had been recuperating for more than a year. Her return has changed everything in the capital. The second event is also related to Empress Dowager Zhuang, who is planning to build a grand mansion in a scenic spot in the capital.
Ever since Empress Dowager Zhuang returned to the palace, the people of the capital, regardless of whether they despised or scorned her, talked about her all the time.
"Is the Empress Dowager going to build another summer palace for herself? Isn't it enough for her to have three summer palaces? Why is she making another one?"
"It wasn't built for her personally; I heard it was for her maternal grandniece."
"Is she a grandniece, or a grandnephew?"
Everyone knows that Empress Dowager Zhuang herself had no children, so wasn't it Zhuang Yuheng, the grandson of her beloved elder brother, whom she loved the most, that was the Prince's Mansion she built for him?
He's almost of marriageable age, isn't he? It's time to build him a mansion.
"It's not Prince An, it's Prince An's sister!"
Which sister?
"Of course it's not that good-for-nothing sister! It's the eldest daughter of the Zhuang family, who's the top student in the girls' school. My brother-in-law is a craftsman there, and I heard him say that the Empress Dowager ordered it to be built to the standards of a princess's residence!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the teahouse gasped in shock.
Built to the standards of a princess's residence, is this an attempt to elevate the Zhuang family's daughter to the highest rank?
"However, this Miss Zhuang is truly talented and beautiful, and she is indeed worthy of the Empress Dowager's affection. After the Empress Dowager returned from recuperating at the temporary palace, she brought her to stay in the palace for a while. She is no less than any of our royal princesses."
A princess of the royal family is nothing but a title if she is not loved. Only a princess like the eldest daughter of the Zhuang family, who has the Empress Dowager to back her up, is the true uncrowned princess of Zhao Kingdom.
For a time, the people were extremely envious of Zhuang Yuexi. Zhuang Yuexi was already quite famous, and now, they wanted even three-year-old children to know about her.
Zhuang Yuexi was also very happy; she hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to dote on her so much.
She changed into a red dress to enter the palace today, hoping to catch the Empress Dowager's eye, but to her surprise, the Empress Dowager's expression turned indifferent.
"It doesn't look good," Empress Dowager Zhuang shook her head.
Zhuang Yuexi was slightly taken aback. This was her most beautiful outfit ever, and her mother and servants all said it looked better than her blue dress.
However, in order to please the Empress Dowager, Zhuang Yuexi changed back into her blue dress.
Empress Dowager Zhuang's expression softened.
Whether it was her imagination or not, it seemed as if the Empress Dowager was looking at her, yet also as if she was looking at someone else through her.
That afternoon, it was time to go to the palace for the emperor's follow-up medical examination.
Last time, the emperor had a severe case of urinary retention. Although he forced himself to attend court, he collapsed as soon as he returned to Huaqing Palace. Fortunately, Gu Jiao left him medicine. Today, the medicine was finished, and Eunuch Wei came to visit.
After school, Xiao Jingkong came to the clinic to find her. He saw her packing her medicine box and asked, "Jiaojiao, where are you going?"
"Going out for house calls," Gu Jiao said.
Where will you be making house calls?
"The Imperial Palace," Gu Jiao said.
For Gu Jiao, whether it was the palace or a private residence, it was just a work setting where she had to go on house calls, so there was nothing to be surprised about or hide.
The palace...
Xiao Jingkong blinked his big eyes, took a step forward, hugged Gu Jiao's hand, and said with an adorable expression, "Jiaojiao, can you take me with you? I haven't been with you for several days, I miss you so much."
If the emperor were here, he would be able to tell from whom his chubby son had learned such mushy talk.
Gu Jiao was completely powerless against Xiao Jingkong's adorable charm. In addition, Xiao Jingkong was an obedient child who never caused Gu Jiao any trouble. Gu Jiao thought that taking him along wasn't a bad idea, especially since there was really no one else at home today.
Xiao Liulang and the old chief priest went to the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial Academy, Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun went to learn their craft, and Yao Shi and Granny Fang went to the temple to make a wish.
Gu Jiao nodded in agreement: "Okay, but you can't run around."
Little Jingkong patted his chest: "I promise I won't run around!"
Gu Jiao brought Xiao Jingkong into the carriage. When Wei Gonggong saw Xiao Jingkong, his eyelids twitched. Why did this little darling come too?
"Greetings, Eunuch Wei." Xiao Jingkong greeted him politely.
Eunuch Wei gave an awkward smile: "Alright, alright."
There shouldn't be any trouble, right? In the past, the three of them would always fool around together. Today, the Seventh Prince isn't in the palace, and neither is the young master of Minister Xu's family. He's just a little kid, so he shouldn't cause any trouble.
Moreover, no matter how you look at it, this little kid is the most well-behaved of the three. The things like pasting paper on the wall and gang fighting must have been bad things that the Seventh Prince and Young Master Xu led the way to do!
Little Jingkong was exceptionally well-behaved throughout the journey, sitting next to Gu Jiao, looking as adorable as a porcelain doll, which completely put Eunuch Wei at ease.
After entering Huaqing Palace, Eunuch Wei led Gu Jiao to the Emperor for a follow-up medical examination, leaving the little guy to play in the small garden. He gave him snacks and fruits and arranged for a gentle-looking palace maid to watch over him.
As soon as Eunuch Wei and Gu Jiao left, the little guy went on a rampage!
"Sister palace maid, let's play hide-and-seek!" he said cutely.
Then he disappeared!
Niohuru Xiao Jingkong gave a mischievous smile and slipped out of Huaqing Palace.
He's going to find his great-aunt!
The palace is so big that he didn't actually know where his great-aunt lived. However, he had asked Xiao Qi and learned that the Empress Dowager lived in the inner palace, which was just a short walk through the Imperial Garden!
He promised Jiaojiao he wouldn't run around, so he really didn't run away; he jumped and hopped around!
He hopped into the Imperial Garden and saw a familiar figure.
"Oh? Jiaojiao? You're here too?"
He jumped over and grabbed the other person's leg in a flash.
The other person was startled and shoved him away!
Little Jingkong fell onto the grass. He wasn't hurt, but he was completely bewildered. He raised his little head and looked at the other person strangely: "You're not Jiaojiao! Why are you wearing Jiaojiao's clothes? Huh? I've seen you before! You're the sister who gave me candied hawthorns!"
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yuexi also recognized Xiao Jingkong.
Isn't this the little guy she met when she went to Bishui Hutong to find Gu Jiao?
She got pecked on the neck by the little gyrfalcon, and it hurt for days.
etc.
What did he call her just now?
Jiaojiao?
Suddenly, Gu Jiao's image flashed through Zhuang Yuexi's mind—a green dress, a red birthmark on her left cheek...
Zhuang Yuexi's expression changed instantly.
"Miss Zhuang, Miss Zhuang!"
A palace maid came over carrying a basket. "Here's the basket and scissors you requested."
This palace maid was sent by the Empress Dowager to serve her. She had just gone to get her the tools for picking flowers, otherwise she wouldn't have been alone.
A bizarre guess flashed through Zhuang Yuexi's mind. She thought it was impossible, but considering the various strange things that happened after the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, as well as the coarse clothes she wore when she appeared that night, she felt a chill run down her spine.
She didn't take the basket from the maid, but instead took several steps back, staring in horror at the little one in front of her. Her lips trembled, and she turned and walked away!
Xiao Jingkong scratched his head.
What's going on here?
Zhuang Yuexi stumbled and staggered back to Renshou Palace, looking utterly dejected.
A palace maid carrying a basket chased after her, asking, "Miss Zhuang, Miss Zhuang, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell? Or were you frightened by something?"
Although the Imperial Garden is maintained by craftsmen, it is not impossible for insects and rodents to appear in May.
"No...no..." Zhuang Yuexi murmured blankly.
The Empress Dowager dotes on her, not some lowly little doctor. She's the Empress Dowager's own niece. What is that little doctor? She's not even worthy to carry her shoes!
Huaqing Palace.
After Gu Jiao finished examining the emperor, she removed her stethoscope and said, "Your Majesty is in good health and there is nothing to worry about."
“That…” The emperor’s eyes flickered, and he hesitated to speak.
Gu Jiao then said, "Your venereal disease is cured. You need to have regular check-ups for two years. Sexual intercourse is allowed."
Well, the disguise really has been exposed. I'm utterly hopeless.
The emperor cleared his throat: "Ahem, it's not that I absolutely have to..."
Alright, I can finally favor my harem, I'm quite happy!
Who isn't a normal man?
Gu Jiao packed her things to leave, but when she got outside, she found a palace maid searching for her.
But Xiao Jingkong is gone.
"What are you looking for?" Gu Jiao asked.
The young palace maid said, "This servant is playing hide-and-seek with the young lady's younger brother."
You've been tricked, little girl.
Gu Jiao glanced at him and knew that Xiao Jingkong wouldn't hide here; the stove or rice bin were more likely places for him to hide.
The little guy has run away.
Gu Jiao hadn't mentioned her great-aunt's identity to Xiao Jingkong, so she didn't immediately guess that he had gone to find her.
However, the little guy's hopping and jumping left quite a few traces in the grass.
Adhering to the principle of never running away, Xiao Jingkong hopped like a little rabbit to the outside of Renshou Palace. The reason he knew that the Empress Dowager lived here was, of course, because he asked a palace maid on the road with his invincible cuteness skills.
To his anger, the two guards outside wouldn't let him in!
Xiao Jing puffed out his cheeks and said, "You can't stop me! I need to see my great-aunt!"
One of the eunuchs said, "Which palace are you from? This is the Empress Dowager's palace. Go back to where you came from!"
There are many concubines in the palace, and their relatives often come to visit. Among them are children as young as Xiao Jingkong. However, this is the Empress Dowager's palace. Not to mention the relatives of a concubine, even the Seventh Prince cannot enter without permission!
Xiao Jingkong ultimately failed to get in, but if he couldn't get in through the main gate, how about the dog hole?
He had heard Xiao Qi say that there were many dog holes in the palace.
What a coincidence, my aunt has some too.
He knelt on the ground and crawled over, only to find the eunuch who had stopped him earlier standing behind the dog hole, holding a small leather whip.
Xiao Jingkong: "..."
Xiao Jingkong silently climbed back.
Today is a beautiful sunny day, and Xiao Jingkong will never give up!
Okay, I can't get in, then I'll wait for my aunt to come out!
Perhaps he was lucky, because Empress Dowager Zhuang did indeed come out after her afternoon nap.
She boarded the phoenix palanquin, intending to stroll in the Imperial Garden to clear her mind. Zhuang Yuexi accompanied her, and they sat together in the comfortable and luxurious palanquin.
Little Jingkong scrambled up the big tree with a thud, stood on the high trunk, and watched the phoenix carriage pass by below. He squinted, stretched out his little arm, and suddenly slammed himself down!
Auntie, I'm here! Catch me!
Empress Dowager Zhuang was sitting on the phoenix carriage with her eyes closed, resting, when she suddenly heard a loud thud.
She shuddered, opened her eyes, and frowned, asking, "What hit the ground?"
That's right, Xiao Jingkong misjudged the situation, missed the phoenix carriage, and crashed into the grass where the carriage had passed, unable to pry himself out for a long time.
“A child, perhaps a relative of some empress,” said a eunuch outside the imperial carriage.
"Send someone to take him back." Empress Dowager Zhuang had no interest in other people's children.
"Yes!" the eunuch replied.
Gu Jiao followed Xiao Jingkong's footprints and found the vicinity. Then she heard a noise and hurried over, only to unexpectedly encounter Empress Dowager Zhuang's imperial carriage.
Are there any monthly passes left?
(End of this chapter)
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