Chapter 275 Meeting Concubine Xiang
There was a commotion in Changchun Palace all night, and the third prince's condition was not stabilized until dawn.
Xiao Yu stood beside the bed, looking at the Third Prince who was sleeping peacefully on the bed, with a deep sense of weariness between his brows.
The children in the palace did not live long.
Xiao Yu has been on the throne for so many years, but he has few children, and the only one raised in the palace is the third prince.
Although he was not close to the Third Prince on weekdays, he was the only son after all. Seeing the Third Prince lying on the bed with a sick face, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken.
As soon as Concubine Rong stood up, she turned around and saw the Emperor's expression, and her facial expression changed slightly.
She stood up with the help of the nanny, lowered her voice and walked to the side of His Majesty: "I am here, Your Majesty, you should go back and have a sleep. You have been up all night and you must be tired."
In order to show her sincerity in front of His Majesty, Concubine Rong naturally did not sleep the whole night.
During this period, the third prince became seriously ill, and she stayed with him for several nights.
The already not young face was showing signs of fatigue, and looked a bit old.
Xiao Yu lowered his eyes, and after seeing the tired look on Concubine Rong's face, he gently stroked the jade ring with his fingertips: "The Third Prince is being raised in the Concubine's palace, Concubine, you have worked hard."
When Concubine Rong heard His Majesty's words, she was subconsciously stunned.
His Majesty hasn't called me Imperial Concubine for a long time.
This is a distant yet formal title, and His Majesty rarely calls himself that.
Concubine Rong subconsciously realized why: "Your Majesty is blaming me?"
Behind the screen was the third prince who had just fallen asleep on the bed.
Concubine Rong did not dare to raise her voice too loudly, so she had to lower her voice and stepped forward to say, "It is my fault that I did not take good care of the Third Prince. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
As she spoke, she knelt down on her knees in front of His Majesty.
Xiao Yu looked at the person kneeling on the ground, and his brows twisted almost rapidly.
"You have taken care of the third prince on my behalf. Even if you have no credit, you have worked hard." Xiao Yu signaled Lin An with his eyes to go forward and help Concubine Rong up.
"It's just that the Third Prince is not in good health, and will need your Majesty to take care of him in the future."
"This is what I should do." Lin An helped Concubine Rong to stand up, and Concubine Rong finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped the tears from her eyes: "Your Highness has entrusted the Third Prince to me, so I will naturally do my best to raise him, so as not to disappoint Your Highness's expectations of me."
"It's just that the child was fine before, but since the last time the Third Prince bumped into Concubine Shen, Rui'er has been frightened. The disease has recurred frequently. The doctors in the Imperial Hospital have come to see him, but they couldn't find out what's wrong."
"I wonder if it's because of what happened between Rui'er and Concubine Shen that day that you feel uncomfortable?"
Concubine Rong asked cautiously, but Xiao Yu heard the hidden meaning behind her words.
“You mean this is about Shen Fu?”
His Majesty's eyes suddenly became fierce.
Concubine Rong felt extremely sad, but seeing the fierce look on His Majesty's face, she changed the subject.
"How could I think like this?" She didn't expect that the Emperor trusted Chen Fu so much, and she hadn't even started to throw dirty water on Chen Fu yet.
His Majesty acted like this, as if Chen Fu was his Achilles' heel and could not be touched at all.
Concubine Rong felt very sad and swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth: "I just think Rui'er's illness is strange, and I really feel sorry for Rui'er."
"I was thinking about what frightened him. If he misunderstood Concubine Shen, it would be my fault."
She always looked like she was doing this for the Third Prince's own good.
Xiao Yu then retracted his gaze: “Chen Fu won’t.”
These four short words fully expressed Chen Fu's position in Xiao Yu's heart.
Concubine Rong felt bitter in her heart, but she had to shut up: "Of course."
Just at this moment, the imperial physician came in to take the third prince's pulse.
Concubine Rong breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.
She followed the Emperor and retreated, just walking out from behind the screen. The Emperor beside him suddenly spoke up: "My Lady, I heard that you once gave Lady Zhou a black gold cloud-embroidered dance costume?"
There was a smile on Concubine Rong's face, but when she heard these words, she felt her heart slow down.
"Miss Zhou?" She raised her head and pretended to think for a moment.
"Now that Your Majesty has mentioned it, I seem to have remembered that some time ago, Lady Zhou came to me and asked me to give her a dance costume as a reward."
"I don't think it's an important thing. I think Concubine Zhou has been in the palace for a year and has not served His Majesty yet. I can't help but feel uncomfortable, so I gave it to her as a reward."
Concubine Rong knew that the Emperor asked this question obviously because he had evidence, so it would be best for her to admit it at this time.
After she finished speaking, she asked, "Your Majesty, what's wrong with this dance costume?"
Concubine Rong asked with a questioning look. Xiao Yu lowered his eyes and inquired for a long time before he withdrew his gaze.
"I'm just asking."
What happened on New Year's Eve was kept extremely secret, and apart from him, only Chen Fu knew about it.
And is there someone else behind the scenes?
When Xiao Yu thought of New Year's Eve, a hint of murderous intent flashed between his eyebrows. It was then quickly covered up again.
"I have something else to do in the morning. I will leave first." Xiao Yu looked at Concubine Rong and whispered:
"Please, Imperial Concubine, take good care of the Third Prince."
After Xiao Yu finished speaking, he gave the imperial physician a few more instructions before leaving with Lin An.
Concubine Rong was left with a frightened face, looking at the Emperor in the distance, unable to control her panic.
"Do you think His Majesty has noticed something?" Concubine Rong watched His Majesty leave, then turned her head to look at Nanny Qin who was lying on the bed beside her.
"What if Your Majesty really finds out about Lady Zhou and then exposes me?"
Nanny Qin looked at the panic in Concubine Rong's eyes, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart, saying comfortingly:
"Your Majesty is only suspicious now, he won't know so soon." Nanny Qin said:
"Concubine Zhou also said that no one knew what happened that night except Concubine Wang. Concubine Wang's body has been buried, and His Majesty will not know about it because there is no evidence."
But even though Nanny Qin said so, Concubine Rong couldn't help but feel panicked.
"It's all Concubine Shen's fault!" All of this must have been said by Shen Fu! How would His Majesty know? If Shen Fu hadn't mentioned Zhou Shuyun, how could His Majesty be suspicious?
"I sent her something to tell her to shut up, but she complained to His Majesty in front of him!"
Concubine Rong sneered and broke her armor abruptly: "It seems that Concubine Shen is not willing to drink the toast and will have to drink the penalty wine!"
********
Xiao Yu had just come out of Changchun Palace and Lin An hurriedly followed behind him. As soon as he walked out of the courtyard gate of Changchun Palace, Lin An saw someone acting sneakily at the gate of Changchun Palace.
He hurried over and took a quick look: "Xiang Guipin?"
As Lin An finished speaking, His Majesty's footsteps also stopped.
Xiao Yu turned his head and looked over, his eyes fell on Concubine Xiang Gui: "What are you doing here?"
It was such a cold day, and the sky had just brightened in the morning. The strong wind blew on Concubine Xiang Guipin, and her clothes were curled up.
"Your Majesty, your concubine pays homage." Concubine Xiang Gui stood behind the red wall of Changchun Palace, with the stone lions at the door blocking her way tightly. When she saw His Majesty speaking, she hurriedly came out from behind the stone lions.
"I couldn't sleep this morning, so I came here to take a walk."
Concubine Xiang lowered her head and did not dare to look at His Majesty at all.
Ever since His Majesty took the Third Prince away from her, Concubine Xiang's arrogance has disappeared by half.
Afterwards, His Majesty taught Concubine Shu a lesson without mercy, and Concubine Xiang was completely silent.
He just sat on the bench in Changqiu Palace.
His Majesty has no affection for Shu Guipin at all. She was not even half as good as Shu Guipin before.
Naturally, Xiang Guipin didn't dare to make any more trouble. Even though the Changqiu Palace was the same as the cold palace, she just sat there obediently.
It's a rare thing to come out today.
Xiao Yu glanced at Xiang Guipin indifferently and said, "It's only an incense stick's walk from Changchun Palace to where you are. Why are you braving the strong wind to hang out here so early in the morning?"
When her lie was exposed, Concubine Xiang's face turned red instantly.
She looked embarrassed and hesitantly looked at His Majesty: "Your Majesty, how is Rui'er?"
Although Xiang Guipin's voice was soft, Xiao Yu still heard it clearly.
He looked at Concubine Xiang in silence, obviously not expecting her to ask this.
"Why is His Majesty looking at me like this?" His Majesty's eyes were undisguised, and Concubine Xiang knew the meaning of those eyes.
She felt sad: "After all, I have raised Rui'er for five years. I have brought him up by my side since he was born. Even if I have a heart of stone, I have developed feelings for him over the years."
When she entered the palace, she was only in her teens, still a child, and not even prepared to get married.
Just because of her elder sister's last words before she passed away, she was sent to the palace overnight.
The third prince Xiao Rui was sent to her when he was born. She became the third prince's adoptive mother without any preparation.
It would be a lie for Concubine Xiang to say that she had no resentment, but after all, she had raised him for so many years, how could she not have any real feelings for him?
What's more, this is her own sister's flesh and blood.
"Xiao Rui has the same blood as mine, how could I not feel sorry for her?"
Xiao Yu looked at Xiang Guipin's slightly trembling eyes. He didn't know whether what Xiang Guipin said was true or false.
But when he heard this, he obviously thought of the third prince's biological mother, Concubine Dunhe. Before her death, Concubine Dunhe's only wish was to let Concubine Xiangxiang raise the third prince.
If he hadn't seen that Concubine Xiang had gone too far, he would never have sent the third prince to Concubine Rong's palace.
"The Third Prince just took medicine and fell asleep." Xiao Yu retracted his gaze: "If you are worried, you can go and take a look yourself."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiang Guipin immediately forced a smile on her face, but then she thought of something and became hesitant again: "But..."
"If the imperial concubine is unhappy, you can tell her that I have given my permission."
Xiang Guipin's face, which was originally smiling, now actually smiled.
She raised her head, looked at the figure in front of her with gratitude, and said sincerely: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The voice behind him was full of joy, but Xiao Yu didn't even turn his head.
All was silent.
Lin An followed behind him, and seeing His Majesty's expression, he boldly said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. The Third Prince is a lucky man, and he will surely turn danger into safety."
But it must be said that the Third Prince had a very hard life.
He lost his biological mother at birth and has been raised by Concubine Xiang.
Although Xiang Guipin is the biological sister of Dunhe Guifei, she doesn't seem to be very attentive in taking care of the third prince.
In the past, she often used the third prince to win favor, which was a common occurrence.
Only then did His Majesty hand the third prince over to Concubine Rong.
I thought the Third Prince would grow up well with Concubine Rong, but unexpectedly, it would be even worse than being with Concubine Xiang.
Lin An looked up at the red glazed tiles on the wall above his head and couldn't help but sigh.
The children who grew up in this palace are so pitiful. People only see the wealth and splendor of the palace, but cannot see the bottomless darkness inside.
If you are not careful, you will fall into the abyss.
Sometimes I even don’t know whether it is better to be a child of commoners or to be a prince enjoying wealth and glory in the deep palace.
"I thought Concubine Rong would be different." Xiao Yu put his hands behind his back, his expression indescribably cold.
When Lin An heard this, he understood what His Majesty meant.
Letting Concubine Rong raise the third prince was not a sudden idea, but something that His Majesty had considered carefully.
After all, the third prince is too young and cannot be left unattended. Moreover, he has no biological mother, so he will definitely need the support of his maternal family when he grows up.
Xiang Guipin made mistakes repeatedly, but His Majesty never punished her or demoted her. Why? Because she was the third prince's maternal family.
As long as Concubine Xiang is around, the Third Prince will have to rely on his mother's family when he grows up.
The reason why the third prince was sent to Changchun Palace was not only because Concubine Xiang Guipin was always involved in everything, but also because of the high family background of the Rong family.
Concubine Rong had a child, so His Majesty sent the Third Prince to Concubine Rong's palace in order to give the Third Prince more power.
But what I never expected was that both Xiang Guipin and Rong Guifei were like this.
They all wanted to use the third prince to win favor.
"Your Majesty, please give her more warnings in the future." Lin An's eyes flickered slightly, and he said vaguely, "The Imperial Concubine will figure it out."
Xiao Yu didn't say anything, but he couldn't control the powerlessness in his heart.
"The Third Prince is not in good health, just take good care of him." Lin An bent down and followed beside him, comforting him softly, "Your Majesty, think about it, Concubine Shen is pregnant with a child, and the baby will be a healthy prince in a few days."
"Now I really hope that Chen Fu can give birth to a safe and healthy child for me."
No matter whether it was a princess or a prince, as long as they were born to Chen Fu, he would treat them like treasures.
Lin An quickly said something flattering: "I see that Concubine Shen is carrying a healthy baby. The little prince will surely be very lively when he is born."
When Xiao Yu thought of Chen Fu, the gloom in his heart eased a little.
But then he thought of something and his expression changed suddenly.
"It's broken." He stopped instantly.
Lin An was also shocked when he saw the emperor's expression: "But is there something important that needs to be dealt with?"
He racked his brains and thought about everything that happened in the previous dynasty.
But I saw His Majesty stretching out his hand and rubbing his eyebrows hard.
"I promised Chen Fu that I would return to Huihuan Palace last night, and it's already dawn today."
Is that all? ?
He thought the sky was falling.
Lin An looked at the Emperor's panic-stricken face, swallowed the words in his throat, and followed the Emperor to the Hehuan Palace in a dejected manner.
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