Chapter 49 [49] Isn’t it a kind of retribution?
【49】/First release
Yun Ran originally wanted to wait for Sima Jing to come back before going to sleep, but she was really too sleepy, and her hair was warmed by the heat, so she fell asleep unknowingly.
When I woke up again, it was already afternoon.
Yun Ran sat up, hugging the quilt, looking at the sunlight shining through the sky-blue window screen, his mind still a little confused.
Hot springs, scars, a forced kiss in a cold pool, Sima Jing who seems to be possessed by a ghost...
Everything that happened last night seemed like a bizarre dream.
Now she woke up from the dream and was sleeping alone in bed, with no one around her.
"Qingling?" Yun Ran shouted twice, his throat a little hoarse due to discomfort.
Qing Ling, who had been guarding the outer room, heard the noise and quickly walked in: "Madam, are you awake? How are you feeling? Are you feeling unwell? Do you want to sleep a little longer?"
"I'm fine, just my throat... cough, a little hoarse. Maybe I have a slight cold. I'll be fine after drinking some hot water."
Yun Ran pressed his throat, cleared it, and asked again, "Where's His Highness? Hasn't he come back yet? Why am I lying in bed?"
Qingling sighed, "My lady, you must be too tired. I had only dried half of your hair when you fell asleep. His Highness returned at 3:00 AM. When he learned you were asleep, he came in and carried you to bed. He then ordered the maids to spread out the bedding in the side hall and rested there."
Yun Ran was slightly surprised.
Sima Jing actually went to sleep in the side hall.
Although there was a bed in the side hall, it was rather simple and far less spacious and comfortable than the step-out bed in the bedroom.
Since he had already carried her to bed, why didn't he just sleep here instead of going through the trouble of making the bed...
Is it because he doesn't want to disturb her, or... because of what happened last night?
Yun Ran is more inclined to the latter.
"Is His Highness in the side hall now?"
Yun Ran threw off the quilt and got up. While Qing Ling helped him wash up, he asked, "When he came back, how did you see him? Was there anything wrong with him?"
"Your Highness left half an hour ago with Eunuch Chang and Nanny Lan Gui."
Qing Ling handed the tooth powder to Yun Ran, frowning as she thought, "It was already very late when His Highness returned. He looked very upset, with a gloomy face, as if he wanted to kill someone... I didn't dare to look at him any longer, and kept my head down."
She carefully asked, "Madam, what happened last night?"
Yun Ran was brushing his teeth, his mouth full of white foam, and he shook his head: "It's a long story."
After gulping down some clean water to wash away the foam, he sighed from the bottom of his heart again: "Actually, I'm not quite sure what's going on, but... it's not simple."
She suddenly thought of something: "Oh, right, you just said that His Highness took Nanny Lan Gui out?"
"Yes, it seems to be going to the Queen Mother."
Qing Ling nodded and carefully guessed, "Could it be that he is going to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager?"
Yun Ran: “…”
Greetings?
Uh, why did she feel like she was going to ask for an explanation?
Yun Ran was reviewing what happened last night. Inside the Wanshou Hall, Nanny Lan Gui was kneeling on the ground, her face ashen.
"Your Highness, all the mistakes are my fault. I was blinded by my phlegm and only wanted to help you and the princess consummate your marriage as soon as possible. That's why I caused such a disaster."
As she spoke, Nanny Lan Gui knelt beside the young man in the black robe. Her aged voice was filled with sorrow: "If Your Highness wants to kill or chop me, just come at me. I was just being arrogant and acting on my own. Please don't vent your anger on the Empress Dowager. She is completely unaware of this!"
Sima Jing glanced at the old woman lying on the ground with tears in her eyes, then silently took a step aside without saying a word.
Finally, Queen Mother Zhao took the seat, rubbed her forehead, and said, "Alright, Lan Gui, there's no need to cover up for me."
Nanny Lan Gui was startled, tears streaming down her face as she shook her head repeatedly, "Empress Dowager..."
How can you recognize it?
Queen Mother Zhao knew that since her youngest son had mentioned Nanny Lan Gui in public, the matter was already decided in his mind.
There's no point in saying more, and there's really nothing to refute.
"Lan Gui, get up."
Queen Mother Zhao gave a solemn command, then looked at the figure standing upright in the hall. "Ajing, don't forget, you were raised by Nanny when you were little. She loved you like the apple of her eye. When you got smallpox at the age of three, it was she who took care of you for seven days and seven nights without a wink. She lost a lot of weight throughout her life, and only then did you survive that ordeal."
"Now, her kneeling on the ground and kowtowing to you to apologize is not enough. Do you really want her to die to relieve your anger?"
"Queen Mother, stop talking, stop talking..."
Nanny Lan Gui covered her face with her hands, unable to hide her sadness. She couldn't understand how her good intentions could have turned out to be such a bad thing.
I don't even know why His Highness is so angry. He just added some love powder to liven up the atmosphere, so why didn't he and the princess get anything done?
Queen Mother Zhao never expected that the good news she had been looking forward to on her wedding night would turn into her youngest son's attack on her.
She let out a deep breath and looked at Sima Jing: "Tell me, what do you want?"
Sima Jing looked at the graceful lady in gorgeous clothes who was sitting at the upper seat. There was helplessness and displeasure in her noble eyes, but not a trace of guilt.
Too.
The person before him was no longer his gentle and loving mother, but the powerful and noble Empress Dowager of the Great Jin Dynasty.
How can we expect her to feel guilty?
"Withdraw your men from me and the princess."
Sima Jing said expressionlessly: "Don't interfere with my affairs with her in the future, otherwise -"
Queen Mother Zhao raised her delicately painted eyebrows, waiting for his response.
But he said in a very calm tone: "The Queen Mother is rich and powerful. I have nothing but my life. Since it is given by the Queen Mother, I can only repay it with my life."
Queen Mother Zhao's expression suddenly changed.
Sima Jing turned a deaf ear to her, his dark eyes gazing straight at her: "I have never understood why you took me back after abandoning me all those years ago? Why not just assume that I died in the Rongdi tribe, and you and Sima Ji can turn a blind eye to it..."
"shut up!"
Queen Mother Zhao's face had turned pale. She gripped the carved armrest of the throne tightly with one hand, her chest heaving violently. "How can you say such heartless words? I am your mother, your biological mother!"
Sima Jing fell silent.
Queen Mother Zhao's eyes were red as she stared at him closely. "Yes, I was wrong about what happened back then, but there's nothing I can do. The palms and backs of my hands are all made of flesh. You and your brother are both flesh that fell from my body. Giving up on either of you would be tearing my heart out! Do you think I have no regrets or pain? But what can I do...what can I do..."
The emotions in her heart surged like waves, and Queen Dowager Zhao almost cried, but years of hardship and forbearance had long made her unable to cry anymore.
Just looking at the son in front of me, my heart still aches.
Why couldn't he understand her? Why was he always so hostile to her?
"Don't you like the princess?"
Queen Dowager Zhao said, "You have been married for many days and have been getting along harmoniously in private, but you have yet to become a true husband and wife. I know that you are both reserved, so I wanted to give you a push to get married sooner. How could I possibly threaten you with your life?"
"To facilitate good things means giving drugs?"
Sima Jing scoffed lightly: "Today, I gave you a poisonous drug with good intentions. If you have murderous intentions tomorrow, poisoning you will only take a thought."
Queen Mother Zhao really didn't like this sarcastic and cold tone: "Speak nicely!"
Sima Jing: "I have been speaking in a good way, but my words just don't resonate with you."
Queen Mother Zhao: “…”
Sima Jing looked at her calmly: "I'm afraid that mother has been the Queen Mother for too long and has long forgotten how to treat people as human beings, rather than kittens or puppies, or servants who can be summoned and dismissed at will."
"I don't want to be a slave or a cat or dog, and I believe the princess feels the same."
"If my mother still wants me to live, then treat me like a human being. If she refuses, you can give me a cup of poisoned wine at any time. I will not hesitate."
After a pause, as if thinking of something, his throat rolled slightly and his voice was deep: "Only two things."
"First, let me burn all those snakes in Liuxian Garden."
"Second, let the princess return home. She is the apple of the eye of the Marquisate's crown. She shouldn't be burdened by me and waste her precious life in the royal family."
This was the first time that Queen Dowager Zhao heard Sima Jing's true feelings after he returned from Rongdi.
Even though it was a last will...
My heart was filled with mixed emotions, and I was overwhelmed with emotions.
Could it be that she was really wrong?
How could he have misunderstood her like that and thought so badly of her?
Obviously, he was the one she loved most in this world——
How can a mother not love her children?
Smoke curled from the crane incense burner. Just as the mother and son sat and stood in a stalemate of silence, a message came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty has arrived."
The expressions of Queen Mother Zhao and Nanny Lan Gui both changed.
Sima Jing's face showed little emotion, but one could clearly hear a sneer coming from deep within his heart.
"Lan Gui, go out and make some tea first."
Queen Mother Zhao gave Ma Lan Gui a look, and Ma Lan Gui immediately understood. She propped herself up from the ground, bowed respectfully to Sima Jing, and then went to the outer hall.
The crystal bead curtain swayed gently, and there was no one else in the inner hall for a while.
Queen Mother Zhao stood up from the throne and walked in front of Sima Jing: "A Jing."
She stretched out her hand, but Sima Jing dodged it.
Queen Mother Zhao's eyes dimmed, she withdrew her hand, and sighed, "Okay, this time it's my fault. I meant well but ended up doing something bad. I apologize to you."
"But mother, I swear, I have no intention of harming you. Even the Hehuan Powder I put in that dish, I specifically consulted the imperial physician and added it according to the dosage for both of you. It only enhances pleasure, not harms your body."
At this point, she frowned and looked at the tall and strong young man in front of her with considerable doubt: "That medicine, you and the princess... didn't work?"
It shouldn't be.
Last night, the kitchen reported back that because of the exhaustion from riding horses, the four dishes and one soup that were served were eaten up completely, leaving nothing behind.
When the young couple ate, they never allowed any third person to be present, and they never gave the dishes to the servants.
If I ate it all, how could there be no reaction at all?
The princess looks so charming and beautiful. After being drugged and emboldened, she takes off her clothes and throws a seductive glance at her. Which man can resist touching her?
Sima Jing frowned when he heard her words: "You put the medicine in the dinner?"
Queen Mother Zhao: "Yes."
Sima Jing: "Which dish?"
Queen Mother Zhao was not clear about this.
The matter of drugging was naturally left to Nanny Lan Gui.
Seeing this, Sima Jing suddenly thought of something and sneered.
Queen Mother Zhao felt her spine tingle at his laughter: "What are you laughing at?"
Sima Jing said, "It can be considered retribution."
Queen Mother Zhao: “……?”
Sima Jing: "The princess is never picky about food. She shared all four dishes of yesterday's dinner with me. The only exception was the tofu and mullet soup. Due to the Taoist taboo of not eating mullet, she didn't touch a drop."
Nanny Lan Gui had been serving Yun Ran for many days and knew very well that Yun Ran paid great attention to diet and health, and always drank soup before meals. Naturally, she put the medicine in the soup to ensure that both of them would drink it.
If it was any other soup, Yun Ran would definitely drink half a bowl.
But it happened to be Taoist mullet soup. In Taoism, mullet is considered "filial piety" and is listed as one of the four animals that should not be eaten, along with cows, dogs and geese.
Yun Ran has always been frugal and never wastes anything. He took out the whole fish and asked him to eat it alone.
Sima Jing still remembered how she had advised him last night: "Your Highness, please eat more, otherwise this fish will have died in vain."
The fish's death was not in vain, as he was almost tortured to death by the double dose of the Hehuan Powder.
Now that I think about it, all the medicines given by the mother were taken by her son. Isn’t this a kind of retribution?
Queen Mother Zhao obviously didn't expect that the well-planned plan would go wrong at this point -
People at that time were fond of Buddhism and despised Taoism. She had been a Buddhist for many years, so how could she know that her family didn’t eat mullet!
He was filled with annoyance, and when he looked at Sima Jing's handsome face with a sarcastic look on its face, he felt his face burning.
"Ah Jing, Mother didn't know... didn't know it would turn out like this."
The more Queen Mother Zhao thought about it, the more distressed she felt for her son. She frowned and complained, "But why are you so stubborn, child? Although the princess doesn't have Chinese medicine, she is your wife. How can you..."
Before he could finish the rest of his words, he was blocked by Sima Jing's stern eyes.
"She is my wife, yes, but she is also a person."
Looking at the figure that left without hesitation, Queen Zhao's face turned pale and blue.
But before she could think about it, there was a noise coming from the outer hall -
"Ajing, you..."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. His Highness is...he's having a quarrel with the Empress Dowager..."
“…”
Soon, the emperor's gentle voice was heard from outside: "Mother, may your son come in?"
Queen Mother Zhao calmed herself down a bit, tucked her red eyes with a handkerchief, took two deep breaths, and then returned to the seat of honor. "Come in."
***
Inside Feiluan Palace, Yun Ran lazily lay on the couch eating a snack when he suddenly saw Qing Ling rushing in: "Madam, Madam! Eunuch Chang is back!"
Yun Ran sat up with a start: "Finally I'm back!"
She had been waiting for most of the day, from the time she woke up to the time she finished lunch.
Seeing her happily about to leave, Qingling added awkwardly, "But... His Highness hasn't come back yet."
Yun Ran paused: "Huh?"
Qing Ling nodded: "Only Eunuch Chang came back, and His Highness was not seen."
"This shouldn't be the case."
Yun Ran muttered and shook his head: "No matter what, go out and ask."
She soon saw Chang Chun busy counting heads outside the hall.
After not seeing each other for one night, Chang Chun seemed much more haggard, with obvious dark circles under his eyes.
"Eunuch Chang." Yun Ran stepped out of the door and walked forward with big strides.
Chang Chun greeted the visitor and said, "Your servant greets the princess..."
"No, no, please get up quickly. I have something to ask you."
Yun Ran was impatient with these empty formalities. He glanced at the row of trembling palace servants in the corridor and looked at Chang Chun: "Where is His Highness? Why did you call these people out?"
Chang Chun guessed the princess would ask, lowered his eyes and replied, "His Highness has been unwell recently and is temporarily staying in Yingxuan Palace. He told the princess not to worry about him and to enjoy herself."
"As for these palace servants... His Highness needs some help, so he ordered me to go and do some work."
This reason was reasonable, so Yun Ran didn't think much about it. He just frowned and asked, "He is not feeling well. Has the imperial physician been consulted?"
Chang Chun: "I've consulted, and the imperial physician said there's nothing serious, just rest."
Yun Ran breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the sky again: "Where is Ying Xuandian? I'll go see him."
Chang Chun stopped her, saying, "Please forgive me, Princess. His Highness has instructed that he must rest and no one should disturb him."
Yun Ran: "Including me?"
Chang Chun forced a smile out of embarrassment: "That's what His Highness ordered."
Yun Ran felt depressed when he heard this: "What's wrong with this guy? He doesn't recognize me after I put on my clothes?"
She braved the cold wind to look for him yesterday, and not only did she spend most of the night troubled, but she didn't even get a word of thanks from him, and he even "turned her away"?
"Then what if I insist on seeing him?"
"This...this, Princess, please don't make things difficult for me..."
Please go find His Highness quickly, go quickly.
Chang Chun prayed in his heart, but he saw the princess folding her arms across her chest, frowning, thinking for a long time, and finally snorting: "If you don't want to go, then don't go. Who wants to play with him?"
After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave.
Chang Chun saw this and became anxious. He couldn't help but said, "Princess, wait a minute. Actually, His Highness..."
Yun Ran stopped and turned his head away: "What's wrong with him?"
Chang Chun wanted to kneel down and say, "Auntie, please go." But when she thought of the cold and indifferent look on her prince's face, she knew that if he knew that she was talking too much, he might really have his tongue cut off.
"Nothing... nothing." Chang Chun forced a smile.
Yun Ran: “…”
baffling.
But this interruption reminded her of something else: "Where's Aunt Lan Gui? Why hasn't she come back yet?"
Chang Chun lowered his head again when he heard this. "The Queen Mother missed Nanny Lan Gui, so she kept her by her side to serve her. She will no longer be able to serve the Princess. His Highness told the Princess not to be sad about leaving. If there is a shortage of staff, he will arrange for you."
The nanny was transferred back again?
After a brief thought, Yun Ran guessed that this was just a cover-up, and that what happened last night must be related to Nanny Lan Gui.
I just don't know what exactly happened, but Sima Jing is hiding and refusing to see her, which is really annoying.
"I understand. Tell him that I'm not short of manpower. The people I brought from my mother's family are enough."
The rich dowry prepared by the Marquis of Changxin's mansion included not only gold, silver, treasures, jewelry, silks, and farms and shops, but also a large number of servants, from the steward of the outer courtyard to the cooks in the back kitchen. All of them had signed a death contract, meaning that they were hers in life and hers in death, and would only recognize her as their master from beginning to end.
In other words, the Empress Dowager suddenly sent Nanny Lan Gui over, otherwise the person Yun Ran would be most useful to would be Nanny Zhou arranged by Zheng.
Now, Nanny Zhou is in charge of Yun Ran's dowry in the palace. She never competes with Nanny Lan Gui for the first place and honestly guards the money for her young master.
Chang Chun was relieved to see that the princess did not ask any more questions about Nanny Lan Gui, so he bowed and continued to clean up the staff.
Qing Ling accompanied Yun Ran back to the bedroom and also noticed something was wrong: "Madam, is Aunt Lan Gui..."
Yun Ran rarely put on a serious expression and shook his head at her: "I don't know either. But no matter what she did, she is the Queen Mother's person. Right and wrong are up to the Queen Mother to decide. It's not our business to interfere."
Qingling was stunned, and suddenly her wife pulled her to sit down.
"Your Highness once told me that people in the palace cannot be trusted. I didn't think much of it before, but after last night, I feel that some words must be believed."
Yun Ran looked at her and said, "My mother sent you to take care of me when I was in Yangzhou. This shows how much my mother values and trusts you. From now on... from now on, we should be careful when we walk around the palace."
Qing Ling was a few years older than Yun Ran, and she had always felt that she was more mature and stable than the young lady. She had never thought that she would be comforted and advised by the young lady. She felt both soft-hearted and distressed, and held her own lady's hand: "This servant will remember this."
"Please rest assured, my lady. No matter what, I will always be loyal to you and will only recognize you as my master from now on."
Night fell in the blink of an eye.
Nanny Lan Gui left, Chang Chun also took away a dozen palace maids, and Sima Jing was also not there. The already spacious Feiluan Palace was half empty and suddenly became even quieter.
Yun Ran originally thought that she would not be affected, but whether she was staying in Feiluan Palace or soaking in the hot springs in Xingchentang, her mind was full of Sima Jing.
What's wrong with him? Why is he avoiding her?
Yes, even though Chang Chun said he was feeling unwell, Yun Ran's intuition told her with certainty that—
He was just avoiding her!
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed and depressed she became. Even chanting scriptures couldn't suppress her emotions.
Yun Ran couldn't swallow the thought that Sima Jing had ruined his sleep last night and was about to ruin his sleep tonight.
One of the principles of health preservation is that you should not be angry overnight.
She had to find Sima Jing to find out.
As soon as the thought came to his mind, Yun Ran immediately sat up from the bed, put on his clothes and shoes, wrapped himself in a cloak, and ran straight out of the house.
Qingling was dozing off in the outer room. When he saw his wife coming out, he was startled: "My wife?"
Yun Ran said solemnly, "Light the lamps. I'm going to Yingxuan Hall."
In the dead of night, snow rolled down the eaves in the wind.
Yingxuan Hall, located on the north side of the palace, is in a remote area, backed by Dongshan Mountain, and is extremely quiet.
Although there were only a few dim lights on in the bedroom, they were enough to clearly illuminate the white porcelain vase of red plums on the windowsill.
A handsome man sat beside the couch, his black hair casually spread out, wearing ivory-white pajamas and a loose dark blue satin robe draped diagonally. He was quietly gazing at the red plum blossoms.
The flickering candlelight enveloped his handsome profile and tall figure, as if casting a hazy veil over the white jade statue.
It was already past midnight, so she should have gone to bed long ago. Maybe she even had two sweet dreams.
Thinking about how she subconsciously frowned when she fell asleep when he carried her to bed this morning, Sima Jing's eyes couldn't help but darken.
Despite all the precautions, she was still dragged into these dirty schemes.
Perhaps, he is indeed a calamity.
She should stay away from him, the farther the better...
“Crack, crack…”
Suddenly there was a rustling sound outside the window. Sima Jing's eyes suddenly became sharp. He took out a dagger from the drawer of the desk and hid it in his sleeve.
The rustling sound continued, as if someone was prying open the window.
Sima Jing frowned. If it was an assassin, opening a window would make such a big noise, which is really stupid.
If he was a petty thief, he would have been very bold to come in while the lights in the hall were still on.
That leaves only two possibilities.
The first type is animals in the mountains and forests, such as weasels, squirrels, or birds.
The second type...
His throat rolled slightly, and he was silent for a moment, but he still walked to the window and opened it from the inside.
The lights were dim, the moonlight was bright, and a bright little face rose from the snow-covered window, instantly illuminating the entire quiet snowy night.
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The author has something to say: Jingzi, open the window, it's baby [erect ears rabbit head]
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Sorry for the long wait, little treasures, here are some red envelopes for compensation~
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