Chapter 261 Interlude
Chu Linglong's health gradually recovered. Concubine Zhou came to see her several times and came again today.
Chu Linglong saw that Concubine Zhou was touched. She felt guilty towards Concubine Zhou. To be honest, she couldn't empathize with her before, but now, ironically, she could empathize with her.
Concubine Zhou said, "You are well now, and you will be able to serve the emperor in the future. The emperor has pity on you, and there will be more for you in the future."
Chu Linglong pursed her lips. She might not be unaware of this, but Xuanyuan Ling did not mention it at the beginning and ignored Concubine Xi for more than ten days until she went to Zhaohua Palace again before promoting her. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed that the emperor promoted her because Concubine Xi was also implicated in this matter. This meant that she could not blame Concubine Xi for this.
She couldn't even say this in front of Concubine Zhou; only she knew it in her heart.
Being promoted to the throne without a child is not a happy event in itself. If the emperor really has this intention, it would be even more ironic.
Chu Linglong talked to Concubine Zhou for a while, and then Concubine Zhou left.
When Concubine Zhou returned to her place, she had a blank expression on her face. The maids around her felt bad for her and said, "Why did Concubine Zhou bother to comfort Concubine Yi?"
Lady Zhou said, "You all know that I have a good relationship with her. She has lost her child. If I don't go to comfort her, who else can?"
The palace maid wanted to say that the emperor was also partial. Why did he promote Concubine Yi? Concubine Zhou also lost a child, but she was not promoted.
Would this royal heir be more valuable if he stayed in the belly for a few more months?
Chu Linglong was also sad because of the loss of her child, otherwise she would not have failed to notice that Concubine Zhou's expression was different.
She was so sad that she couldn't get over it for a while.
Now that she has recovered, she can go out for a walk. This miscarriage has kept Chu Linglong home for such a long time. She used to love going out for a walk, but now she stays in this room. Ming Su is worried.
So she suggested: "Why don't you go out for a walk, my dear."
Chu Linglong was worried and didn't want to go out, but Ming Su persuaded her so many times that she went out for a walk. The Imperial Garden was far less lively now. Although it was spring, it was still cold.
Ming Su's cautious attitude since she lost her child made Chu Linglong know that she was doing this for her own good, but it also reminded her of her miscarriage. Now that she was out for a walk, she specifically asked Ming Su to stay and she went for a walk alone.
When I reached the rockery, I heard suppressed sobbing.
Chu Linglong was stunned. Crying was taboo in the palace. It was unlucky for a servant to cry secretly. She took two steps forward and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a boy about ten years old.
"The eldest prince?"
The child in front of him is the eldest prince. The eldest prince did not expect someone to come here at this time. He was startled and rubbed his hand on the stone next to him.
Chu Linglong saw the pain on his face and couldn't help but look at his hand: "Are you hurt?"
The eldest prince frowned and refused to show Chu Linglong his hand, with a hint of anger on his face. It was very embarrassing for people to see such a thing, and judging from the way Chu Linglong was dressed, she looked like Xuanyuan Ling's concubine.
Chu Linglong looked at his expression and the tears on his face and suddenly realized what was happening. She said, "I have something else to do, so I'll leave first. The eldest prince should go back earlier. Concubine Shun will be worried."
"She won't worry." The last sentence that the eldest prince said to Chu Linglong stung: "She only cares about whether I am praised in front of my father. She only wants me to keep studying and share my father's worries in the future."
These were words that a prince really shouldn't have said to a strange concubine, but he couldn't help himself.
The ten-year-old child already had a resolute face. The eldest prince looked very similar to Xuanyuan Ling in terms of his eyebrows and eyes. When he frowned, he looked even more charming.
Chu Linglong also paused when she heard this: "No, there is no mother who doesn't love her child. She is doing this for your own good."
The eldest prince couldn't stand hearing such words: "Yes, you all said so, she did it for my own good, but she never asked me if I liked it or not."
Seeing that he had his own ideas, Chu Linglong couldn't help but ask, "Then what do you like?"
The eldest prince didn't expect her to ask this. No one had ever asked him this. He paused and said, "Music."
Chu Linglong smiled and said, "I like it too."
The eldest prince didn't quite believe it, but the two of them started talking about music theory, and they talked for a long time. Chu Linglong had been depressed in the house for a long time, and even looking at Ming Su would remind her of her miscarriage. Now that she could talk about it with the eldest prince who didn't know about it, she felt relieved. The eldest prince had also been depressed for a long time, and no one had talked to him about these things. Now Chu Linglong told him, and Chu Linglong really loved music, it was not a lie, so the two of them talked for a long time.
This unexpected encounter was just a small episode, so naturally no one knew about it.
At this moment in the imperial study, Xuanyuan Ling smiled as he looked at the newly submitted memorial. After Shen Zhizhuo was exiled, he left the capital and later went to Quzhou. Unexpectedly, not long after that, Shen Zhizhuo actually improved the water conservancy. Although it was only a county town, it benefited the local water and soil and was a good thing for the people. It showed that he had some real ability and it seemed that he had not misjudged him.
Xuanyuan Ling was quite pleased and was not stingy with his reward.
Chen Qing was a conspicuous figure in the harem, and the previous dynasty might not be unaware of it, so Xuanyuan Ling's commendation was naturally of great concern to everyone. The Queen was now wary of Chen Qing, so she naturally knew about this. She couldn't believe it at once. Chen Zhizhuo was exiled, which basically meant that he would not return to the capital, but now he had received a commendation from the Emperor. She didn't dare to ask anyone to take action against Shen Zhizhuo, but Shen Qing's worry was making her more and more uncomfortable.
Xuanyuan Ling didn't know whether the Queen was feeling uncomfortable or not, but because of this matter, Xuanyuan Ling thought about it. The end of March is the time for early rice planting. Ever since the bumper harvests in various places last year, he had an idea to visit various states. Now he just happened to catch up, so Xuanyuan Ling made a decision - to go on a tour.
The emperor's tour is naturally a big event. Not only the front court, but also the harem will naturally have to have people accompanying him. After all, a tour will not take only a few days to return. Now it is Concubine De who manages the affairs of the harem, but the empress is still there after all, so both Concubine De and the empress have been notified of such a big event.
Soon, everyone in the harem knew that the emperor was going on a tour. The originally quiet harem became lively because of this. Who would the emperor take with him on the tour? Although Concubine Xi would definitely go, she had been in the palace for a year, and even if she was not going for the emperor's favor, it would be good to go out for a walk.
Chen Qing did not get the news from Xuanyuan Ling in advance this time, but Xuanyuan Ling came to Zhaohua Palace the next day.
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