Chapter 187 High Fever
His Majesty's imperial procession stopped at the gate of Changqiu Palace, but Concubine Xiang in Changqiu Palace had already fallen asleep.
When she heard His Majesty at the door, Xiang Guipin murmured a few words, still half asleep: "What did you say?"
"Your Majesty..." Yunque hurriedly pulled Concubine Xiang out of the quilt.
"The Emperor is really here."
Concubine Xiang paused and glanced at Yunque. Then without saying a word, he got off the bed without even putting on his shoes.
"Is His Majesty really here?"
Concubine Xiang still found it a little hard to believe, as she hadn't seen the Emperor alone for several months.
She had never been favored. After all, she entered the palace just to look after the third prince. His Majesty rarely came to her place on weekdays, and even if he did, it was just to see the Third Prince.
Like today, she didn't send anyone to invite him, and the Third Prince was fine, but His Majesty came on his own initiative. This was unprecedented.
Yun Que nodded: "They are really here. The imperial procession has stopped at the door. His Majesty is waiting outside, waiting for the Queen to come over."
"I..." Xiang Guipin took a few deep breaths and looked down at her pajamas.
She's already asleep, with dishevelled hair and no make-up...
"Hurry up and help me dress up." She absolutely couldn't let herself appear in this state under the eyes of the Emperor.
Concubine Xiang was in a panic and wanted to get out immediately. But after taking just a few steps, Yun Que stopped the man.
"Your Majesty, don't you think today is a little strange?" Yu Que stood beside her and spoke in a low voice.
"What's the meaning?"
Xiang Guipin was still thinking about going over to choose clothes, and when she heard this, she asked without turning her head.
"I heard that His Majesty came out from the Hehuan Palace." Yuque squatted down and helped Concubine Xiang put on her boots.
"Your Majesty, come here so late at night, could it be..."
Xiang Guipin paused as she buttoned her clothes and her expression turned extremely ugly.
Could it be that bitch Chen Fu had reported her to the police?
She hadn't even complained yet, but Shen Fu had already bitten her back.
Concubine Xiang was feeling very anxious. His Majesty was still waiting outside, so she did not dare to delay any longer. She just picked up a piece of clothing at random and hurried out.
As soon as she walked out from behind the screen, Concubine Xiang saw His Majesty sitting on the bench.
It was obvious that His Majesty had just come out of the Imperial Study, and he had not yet changed out of his dark robe. A purple-gold crown was adorned on her long black hair, and one could sense her imperial aura at first glance.
Concubine Xiang shrank back and clenched her palms in her sleeves. He forced a smile and walked forward:
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
Concubine Xiang was still wearing her pajamas, but she was afraid that His Majesty would have to wait for her, so she just put on an extra coat on the outside.
When she knelt to salute, her waist was slender and weak. Although her face was a little dull, she looked more delicate without the heavy makeup she used to wear.
Xiao Yu sat on the bench, holding the teacup in his hand: "Get up!"
His Majesty's tone was indifferent, but Concubine Xiang felt a sense of relief in her heart.
She hadn't seen the Emperor for a long time, and now just hearing his voice made her feel ripples in her heart.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiang Guipin couldn't help it, and her clenched throat became as tender as water again.
Xiao Yu frowned slightly, but didn't say anything in the end.
However, Concubine Xiang, seeing that His Majesty did not speak, lowered her eyes and thought for a while, then took the initiative to step forward.
As Xiang Guipin approached, she cast her gentle eyes on His Majesty's face.
To be honest, Concubine Xiang hasn't seen His Majesty for a long time. Not to mention, like today, the His Majesty was sitting next to her, and she was sitting so close to the His Majesty.
Concubine Xiang wanted to talk to His Majesty, but she was anxious and didn't know what to say. He stood there hesitating for a moment, and finally spoke hesitantly.
"Your Majesty, why are you here today?"
When Xiang Guipin said this, there was a hint of anticipation between her brows.
It’s a pity that His Majesty obviously didn’t see it. His Majesty placed the teacup in his hand on the table and said calmly, "Where's Xiao Rui?"
Xiao Rui is the name of the third prince, which was chosen by Concubine Dunhe herself.
Even Xiang Guipin guessed that the Emperor did not come because of her. But when I heard His Majesty speak so directly, without concealing his meaning at all, I still felt a little disappointed.
Even though she knew that His Majesty did not come for her, Xiang Guipin could not help feeling disappointed when she heard His Majesty say so in person.
"Rui'er is asleep." Concubine Xiang clenched her palms to hide the loss in her eyes.
"How about I send someone to wake Rui'er up?"
"Forget it." Xiao Yu heard and immediately waved his hand. He looked at the dark night outside the window and realized that he had come at the wrong time.
"I'll come back another day."
Xiao Yu stood up as he spoke, but he had just stood up. Xiang Guipin called out to him from behind: "Could it be that Your Majesty is here just to see Rui'er?"
When Xiang Guipin said this, she felt a scarlet feeling in her throat.
It has been such a long time since His Majesty came to sit in her room. Today he came just to see the Third Prince.
Since he couldn't see the Third Prince, His Majesty decided to leave immediately.
What about her?
Xiang Guipin used her palm to pinch me so hard that blood almost came out: "Your Majesty, are you here just to see Rui'er? I am not worthy of your nostalgia at all?"
Xiao Yu frowned and looked towards Xiang Guipin: "What do you mean by that?"
His Majesty's gaze was too sharp, and Concubine Xiang's heart suddenly tightened when she saw it.
But she still had to say, "Your Majesty has only favored Concubine Shen during this period of time, and has stayed in the Hehuan Palace day and night."
At least it wouldn't be like this before when His Majesty doted on Concubine Shu. He would stay with Concubine Shu all day and night, and other concubines could at least get a share.
But now that we have Concubine Shen, it’s good. Concubine Shu has fallen out of favor and been demoted to a noble concubine.
Concubine Shen, however, holds on to His Majesty tightly. If this continues, does he intend to favor only her among the three thousand concubines in the harem?
Xiang Guipin couldn't help but sneer in her throat when she thought of this: "No wonder Concubine Shen is so arrogant. Today, I sent someone to invite her over, but she didn't even show up and sent a servant to send me away."
When His Majesty heard this, he finally stopped walking forward.
"What did you say?"
No wonder Shen Fu went to bed so early today. I'm afraid it's because of this reason?
Xiang Guipin saw His Majesty stop in his tracks. Before she could even smile, she saw His Majesty turn his head towards her with a grim expression:
"Concubine Shen injured her arm and needed to rest. Everyone in the palace knew about it. Why did you send someone to look for her?"
Concubine Xiang was shocked by His Majesty's words and stood there motionless for a long time.
She was a noble concubine, and Chen Fu was just a concubine. In the harem, according to the hierarchy of status, her status is above Shen Fu.
Sending someone to invite her to his courtyard was a natural thing to do, but how could it be her fault in the eyes of His Majesty?
"Your Majesty..." Xiang Guipin murmured to herself, wanting to say something, but Your Majesty obviously didn't want to pay attention to her.
He glanced at her impatiently and spoke in a low, warning voice, "Don't do things that would disgust others. Take good care of the Third Prince in Changqiu Palace."
After His Majesty said this, it seemed as if there was something in the room that disgusted him.
Just walk away without stopping for a moment.
Xiang Guipin was left standing there alone, looking at His Majesty's back, kneeling on the ground heartbrokenly: "Your Majesty..."
Two lines of clear tears flowed from Concubine Xiang Guipin's eyes, and the thin powder she had just applied flowed down her cheeks along with the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Yun Que hurried forward to support her and said, "My Lady, please don't cry."
I have to pay my respects to Concubine Rong tomorrow, and my eyes will be swollen from crying. I'm afraid all the concubines in the harem will know that the Emperor has scolded them.
Concubine Xiang didn't want to cry, but she couldn't stop her tears.
She cried so hard, the only words in her mind were from His Majesty asking her to take good care of the Third Prince.
From the moment she entered the palace, she had been a noble concubine, just so that she could raise the third prince, Xiao Rui, openly.
In the past five years, His Majesty has come to her place quite often. But nine times out of ten it was because of visiting the third prince.
She took care of the Third Prince because of her elder sister's last wish, but the Emperor seemed to have forgotten that she was also his concubine.
Even at this late hour when they arrived at her room, His Majesty even refused to stay.
"Yuque." Xiang Guipin helped Yuque stand up while holding her hand, her palms trembling.
"Tell me, is His Majesty's kindness to me all because of Rui'er?" Xiang Guipin said:
"In the past five years, has His Majesty shown any affection towards me?"
Seeing his own queen like this, Yun Que felt a sour feeling in his heart: "Your Majesty must have feelings for your Majesty. Your Majesty has served His Majesty for so long, how could His Majesty not be moved at all?"
In the past, Xiang Guipin would have believed it in her heart, but today, she felt that Yunque was just deceiving her.
“That’s all…”
Xiang Guipin waved her hands repeatedly, but at this moment, the nanny stumbled in and said, "Mother, the queen is not well."
The nurse didn't even greet him, and said nervously, "The Third Prince is crying non-stop and feels uncomfortable. Would you like to go over and take a look, Your Majesty?"
"Waste!" As soon as the words fell, Xiang Guipin slapped the man in the face.
"I am a concubine in the harem, not the Third Prince's wet nurse. If anything happens to the Third Prince, can't you ask him to take care of him? What's the point of asking me?"
The nanny covered her aching face and knelt on the ground with weak knees: "Madam..."
What's wrong with you, my lady? In the past, whenever something happened to the Third Prince, the Queen was more anxious than anyone else.
What happened today?
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince..." His whole body was hot, as if he had a high fever.
Before the nanny could finish her words, Concubine Xiang shouted in a cold tone, "Get out!"
Seeing the Empress like this, Yunque knew that Concubine Xiang could not stand to hear the words "Third Prince" the most.
She hurried forward to comfort Concubine Xiang and signaled with her eyes that the nanny should go down quickly.
The nanny knelt on the ground, wanting to say something but stopping herself. But seeing Xiang Guipin's ferocious look, he finally covered his face and took it off.
Concubine Xiang locked the room and did not allow anyone to enter the inner hall. She lay on the bed and cried heartbrokenly for the whole night.
When I woke up the next day, my throat was dry and my eyes were swollen and red.
There was food on the table, but Concubine Xiang was eating carelessly. Yunque was fanning her at the side and had just asked for leave from Concubine Rong.
Then the young eunuch stumbled in from the door and asked, "What's wrong?"
Yun Que pointed at the person at the door and asked, "Why are you so flustered?"
"Madam?" However, the young eunuch knelt down, his eyes full of panic:
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince has suddenly developed a high fever and is vomiting non-stop. He is now unconscious and has fainted."
With a "bang", the soup spoon in Xiang Guipin's hand fell to the ground.
She remembered that His Majesty had specifically told her last night to take good care of the Third Prince.
He placed his hands on the table, and everything in front of him was dark: "It's over..."
What grace, what friendship.
It's all over now.
********
The fact that the third prince was seriously ill could not be concealed after all, and soon the entire harem knew about it.
Even Shen Fu was alarmed.
"Why is the Third Prince sick again?" The pregnancy-preserving medicine tasted very bad, so Chen Fu scooped a spoonful and put it down.
Shisu quickly went to get a plum and handed it over: "I heard that he caught a cold the day before and that's why he fell ill."
"The nurses went to report to Concubine Xiang Gui, but Concubine Xiang Gui didn't take it seriously and kept delaying the whole night. By the time the report was made, the Third Prince had fainted from fever."
"It's pitiful too." Chen Fu had seen the third prince twice, and he was very cute.
He is just a little timid. Even though he is five years old, he still doesn't like to talk much.
"Your Majesty and the others have already arrived." Zi Su said, "I heard that he reprimanded the palace servants and eunuchs who served him as soon as he arrived. No one in Changqiu Palace was spared."
His Majesty was very angry this time!
"Let's go and take a look." Shen Fu said.
"Young lady, are you going to come?" Zi Zi asked hurriedly, looking at Chen Fu's belly: "The imperial physician said that you should rest. Besides, you are pregnant..."
What if I get bumped into there?
"It's been more than a month, it's okay." Shen Fu's palm fell on her lower abdomen.
"Your Majesty is so angry because he cares about the Third Prince. The entire harem is here right now, and if she doesn't go, it will only make people suspicious."
Hehuan Palace is quite a distance away from Changqiu Palace, so Chen Fu specially called for a sedan chair to go there.
Although given her status, she is not the main lady now, and using a sedan chair is an act of usurpation.
But looking around, everyone in the harem knew about Shen Fu's favor. Not to mention riding in a sedan chair, she had no idea how many times she had ridden in the Emperor's dragon sedan chair.
As soon as the sedan chair stopped at the gate of Changqiu Palace, a strong smell of blood could be smelled from afar.
Chen Fu held Zi Su's arm and walked ahead following the small cabinet. As soon as he arrived at the Changqiu Palace, he was so frightened that he stopped.
In the Changqiu Palace courtyard, there were a dozen or so wooden benches neatly arranged in a row. The young eunuchs who were carrying out the execution held up boards and brought them down heavily on the young palace maids and eunuchs who were sitting on the stools.
The palace servants on the stools were beaten to a bloody mess, and the blood flowed down the stools onto the bluestone slabs, forming a river.
Shen Fu was a little frightened and stood there for a long time, not daring to move forward.
Lin An spotted Chen Fu in the crowd, his face changed with fear, and he quickly reached out his hand: "Stop!"
He looked at Shen Fu standing at the door and his face suddenly changed with fear.
Why is this lady here?
Lin An's hands and feet were weak and he hurried over to greet her: "Concubine Shen, why are you here?"
When Lin An rushed up, he smelled of blood. Shen Fu covered her nose with a handkerchief and said, “I’m here to visit the third prince.”
this……
Lin An's eyelids twitched violently as he looked at the scene of blood flowing all around him.
The executioner stopped and bent over, saying, "Then I will take you in."
Lin An took Shen Fu away, but the Wansui Lord in the house was furious.
Seeing that the movement outside the house stopped, he became even more furious: "Who told you to stop?"
"Fight, keep fighting for me!"
Xiao Yu was still furious. He waved his long sleeves and threw the teacup on the table towards the door.
And Shen Fu happened to come in at this time.
As soon as she stepped into the house, the teacup fell at her feet.
“…”
Shen Fu screamed in shock, her face pale as she stood there, staring blankly at His Majesty...
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