Chapter 084 Chapter 84
【Chapter 84】
Ruan Jun stared at Yan Shiyu, wanting to get an answer from him.
The concubines in the palace either have the favor or have children. If they have neither, their future life will be very difficult.
She does have the emperor's favor now, but how long can this favor last?
Yan Shiyu's black eyes were deep, and the dim light reflected in his eyes, he saw Ruan Jun's aggrieved but stubborn look in wanting an answer.
In the dim and misty night, the rich aroma spreads through the summer night, the branches and leaves fall obliquely into the corridor, the silk fabrics are blown through by the cross-breeze, the sparse woods are like a painting, and there is a unique and secluded feeling.
The back of his hand touched the side of Ruan Yun's face. Her sparkling almond-shaped eyes were like flowing spring water, and there was still grievance leaking out between her gaze. There were still undried water drops on the corners of her temples, and the morning dew of flowers was not inferior to hers in the slightest.
He picked up Ruan Yun and walked straight into the bathroom. The palace maid who was cleaning inside lowered her head in panic, not daring to look any further, and retreated quietly.
"Prepare some water."
Yan Shiyu's voice seemed to roll through the wine, deep and low, intoxicating.
It just so happened that Ruan Yun was now very sober, and perhaps the emperor's current reaction had already explained what the emperor was thinking.
The palace maid quickly brought in hot water, and Yan Shiyu put Ruan Yun into the bathtub without taking off her underwear.
The water surface was rippling, and everything around was shrouded in mist.
Ruan Yun raised her eyes stubbornly, wanting to get an answer. Yan Shiyu then casually lifted the black hair that had fallen on Ruan Yun's shoulders:
"Take a good rest."
Ruan Yun's eyelashes trembled, and she buried herself in the water without saying anything else.
When she came out of the bathroom, the palace maid had already placed dinner on the table. Ruan Yun didn't even look at it and went straight to the bed and fell asleep.
Yingning was shocked, while Tingxu was extremely worried about what had happened to their queen.
Yan Shiyu said in a deep voice: "Withdraw."
The nice dinner was cleared away intactly. Ruan Jun was leaning on the pillow. Ting Xu handed the tea to Ruan Jun. After just one sip, Ruan Jun felt tired again and fell asleep again.
The curtains were lowered, leaving only the beaded curtains swaying with a crisp sound that gradually faded away as the wind died down.
Yan Shiyu opened his eyes and looked at Ruan Jun who was sleeping soundly beside him. He pulled her into his arms, letting her smell the sweet fragrance. He pinched her soft hands with his big hands and fell asleep with her in his arms.
…
Purple Palace
Imperial Physician Sun knelt trembling with fear, not knowing what the Emperor wanted to talk about.
After being in the Zichen Palace for quite some time, the emperor said nothing and just let him wait like that.
Seeing that the emperor was not in any serious trouble, I thought it was probably because of Ying Chongrong.
Yan Shiyu looked at the performance evaluation report of Jiangnan officials in his hand and threw it to the ground angrily, "These people really think that the new policy cannot be implemented!"
Wei Maoyuan picked up the memorial and respectfully placed it on the emperor's desk. He dared not say much and could only lower his head and push the teacup a little closer to the emperor, "Your Majesty, calm down."
Yan Shiyu put down the red brush in his hand, pinched his brows, and said in a deep voice: "Ying Chongrong, how is your health now?"
Doctor Sun didn't know what the emperor wanted to ask, so he said, "Ying Chongrong is fine. The bitter and cold tea invaded her body. Now she has recovered a lot by taking medicine and applying hot compresses every day. She will definitely get better if she takes good care of herself in the future."
Not hearing the answer he wanted to know, Yan Shiyu's brows knitted tighter, "Ying Chongrong hasn't been able to get pregnant for a long time, but she's not fully recovered yet?"
Doctor Sun rolled his eyes and said quickly, "The root of the disease caused by the bitter cold tea will not be completely cured in a short time. We can only take good care of it."
Yan Shiyu said coldly: "If you want her to get pregnant, is there any way?"
Doctor Sun was startled, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead:
"When the late emperor was alive, he asked the Imperial Medical Bureau to develop a prescription for Concubine Tao. This prescription is very powerful and can make a woman pregnant, but it will also severely damage her body. When giving birth, it will often result in... two deaths."
Yan Shiyu did not speak for a long time. When Doctor Sun saw that the emperor was still silent, he looked up at the emperor. When he saw the emperor's cold eyes, he lowered his head quickly, his voice trembling:
"Your Majesty, do you want to give Ying some space?"
Yan Shiyu was furious. "What a lie! You knew it would hurt her, yet you still dared to say such a thing!"
Doctor Sun didn't dare to say anything else and could only swallow his words silently.
Yan Shiyu pinched his brows and said, "Take good care of Ying Chongrong. There's no need to let her know what happened today."
Imperial Physician Sun crawled out of the Zichen Palace. When he came out, he let out a long sigh of relief and let Xiao Muzi carry the medicine box for him back to the Imperial Physician's Office.
Wei Maoyuan bent his body even lower. After what happened with Doctor Sun just now, he wished he could bury himself in the seams of a golden brick. Now the empress dowager is about to return to the palace. Seeing the emperor doting on Ying Chongrong, there is no guarantee that she will not think of what happened with Concubine Tao in the past.
Besides, Concubine Xian is the niece of the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother intended Concubine Xian to be the Queen. Now there is another Ying Chongrong, who has no family background and no children. The Queen Mother might really make things difficult for Ying Chongrong. However, Ying Chongrong's health is like this now. If the Queen Mother really knows...
Wei Maoyuan sighed for no reason in his heart, and when he saw the emperor's stern face, he didn't know what to say for a moment.
Yan Shiyu opened his dark eyes, the emotions hidden in them were like a deep pool that was unfathomable, "Have you cleaned up Shoukang Palace?"
Wei Maoyuan nodded, "Yes, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already sent someone, so everything is arranged according to the Empress Dowager's preferences, Your Majesty, don't worry."
Yan Shiyu looked at the memorial on the table again, "Go tell the empress that tomorrow she and I, along with all the civil and military officials, will go to Chengtian Gate to welcome the empress dowager back to the palace."
Wei Maoyuan responded to the emperor's oral order and went to Fengyi Palace.
The Queen was asking Shen Chongyi about the pregnancy. When Wei Maoyuan walked in, the Queen's frown had not yet relaxed.
Seeing Wei Maoyuan coming, the empress waved her hand and asked the imperial physician to go down first:
"But is there something wrong with the Emperor?"
Wei Maoyuan told the empress everything the emperor had just said, and the empress smiled slightly, "I know. I will ask all the concubines in the six palaces to go tomorrow."
After hearing the Queen's words, Wei Maoyuan left Fengyi Palace.
The queen picked up the silver scissors and trimmed the pale pink peony in the vase. "The emperor has also put a lot of thought into making Ying Chong's appearance."
Qiyue didn't quite understand what the Empress meant, so she could only say, "The Emperor values filial piety the most. Now that the Empress Dowager has returned to the palace, it is normal for the Emperor to do this."
The queen smiled faintly and said nothing, but simply trimmed all the extra branches in the vase.
…
Ying Ning placed several dresses in front of Ruan Yun and asked softly, "Madam, which one do you want to wear?"
Even though she was still feeling a little depressed recently, Ruan Jun still chose that pink dress and put on light makeup. Her delicate almond eyes were looking around and her rosy cheeks were smiling, making one fall in love with her delicate and timid eyes at first sight.
While still looking in front of the bronze mirror to see if there was anything wrong, someone quietly approached from behind. Tingxu, who was tidying up Ruan Yun's skirt, was startled and quickly saluted, "May the emperor be well."
The string of the dress in her hand also slipped from Ruan Jun's fingertips, and the soft ups and downs in front of her body suddenly fell into Yan Shiyu's eyes, and his black eyes became dangerous in an instant.
Ruan Jun bit her lower lip and tried to fasten her dress in a panic, but her mind was in a mess and her hands moved in a disorganized manner.
Yan Shiyu took it from Ruan Jun's hand and said, "I'll do it."
The hands with thin ropes were originally used to draw bows and ride horses, but now they can also tie women's skirts.
Ruan Yun said angrily, "The Emperor came in, why didn't you let anyone know?"
Yan Shiyu said with a hint of urgency, "Then I will miss the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery in vain."
She couldn't help but criticize the emperor in her heart, but she didn't dare to say a word. Ruan Jun could only lower her head and watch the emperor tie the laces with his nimble fingers.
"Your Majesty, are you not going to pick up the Empress?"
Ruan Jun was a little surprised why the emperor came here. Yan Shiyu's expression became much calmer. "I came to see if Ying Chongrong is still so nervous."
Ruan Yun opened her red lips slightly and whispered, "I am not as nervous as the emperor says."
Yan Shiyu pinched her earlobe and said, "You are with Concubine Ji today, so your mother will not pay attention to you today."
Ruan Yun looked at Yan Shiyu in surprise, and inadvertently saw the clepsydra. She said, "Your Majesty, please go to Fengyi Palace quickly and don't let the Empress wait too long."
Yan Shiyu left without saying anything more. She never cared about these things.
Not long after the emperor left, Ruan Yun took the ceremonial procession to Chengtian Gate. When she got off the ceremonial procession, she happened to meet Concubine Ji who was also coming.
Concubine Ji smiled slightly, "Sister Ying."
Ruan Yun nodded, remembering what the emperor had just said to her, and smiled, "The emperor went to your place? How was it? Everything is fine."
Concubine Ji was a little stunned, but then she regained her composure: "If the emperor is not sincere in coming to me, why should I do something that the emperor doesn't like?"
Ruan Yun angrily scolded her, "You haven't even tried, how do you know it won't work?"
Concubine Ji said nothing, but shook her head gently and said, "Sister Ying, I'm afraid Concubine Du is about to die."
Ruan Yun was shocked. Concubine Du had been tortured to that extent. If she still argued with her, it would seem like she was very petty.
But when she heard the news, she wanted to see Lady Du for the last time. Ruan Jun took a deep breath and the smile on her face disappeared. "In this case, I have to go see her."
Concubine Ji glanced around and noticed that some concubines were looking at the two of them vaguely. She glanced at them with her cold afterglow, and the turquoise hair in her temples swayed so brightly that the concubines quickly turned around and dared not look at them again.
"Sister, please be careful when you go." Jipin only said this and didn't say anything else.
Before the Emperor and Empress arrived, Concubine Ji's voice softened again, "Recently, the flowers in the Yu Garden need to be replaced, but I haven't been to see them many times because of the hot summer. When we come out of Shoukang Palace, Sister Ying, will you come with me to visit the Yu Garden?"
Ruan Yun was particularly impressed by Ji Bin's character, and in the remaining light of her almond-shaped eyes, there was a hint of heartache for Ji Bin.
Ever since she gave birth, she has not been as lively as before, but Ruan Yun has no other choice.
"If you want to go, we can go together. Why are you being so polite?"
Jipin's face was a little shy, "I'm worried that something might happen to my sister."
The palace is lonely and there is nothing else to do but find some fun to kill the morning time.
The two were still talking when Ying Ning, who was supporting the Empress, said, "The Emperor and the Empress are here."
The concubines and ministers waiting at Chengtian Gate all paid their respects to the Emperor and the Empress. Yan Shiyu stepped down from the imperial procession first, then walked to the back, stood beside the ceremonial carriage, and handed his hand to the Empress.
The Queen gently lifted the curtain and saw the Emperor's calm face with the same faint smile on her lips. She placed her hand on the Emperor's big palm.
Wei Maoyuan shook off the dust and announced the emperor's order for everyone to stand up.
Ruan Yun was helped to stand up by Ying Ning. She was so focused on talking to Concubine Ji that she forgot one thing.
She raised her head and looked around with her almond-shaped eyes. She had thought that she would stand out too much in a pink dress today, but she didn't expect that everyone was like that. Instead, it was Concubine Ji who was wearing a purple dress like a distant mountain, who was particularly eye-catching.
As she was looking at the people around her recklessly, her eyes happened to fall on the young prince Yu who was standing next to her.
After that time in Zichen Palace when Young Master Yu asked her rudely, such a thing never happened again. Unexpectedly, Young Master Yu took the opportunity to look at her again today, and the emotions in his eyes were even more complicated.
Ruan Jun didn't dare to look any longer, and didn't even know when Young Master Yu returned to Beijing.
I couldn't help but twitch the corners of my lips. I thought that Young Master Yu was probably crazy and didn't even know the situation.
She lowered her head and dared not look any more, but all her expressions fell into the eyes of Yan Shiyu who was sitting on the armchair.
The Queen did not notice these things at first, but saw them unintentionally. Her face turned pale in an instant, and even looked even paler.
After closing her eyes and opening them again, the Queen said in a gentle voice, "Sister Ying is wearing a purple dress today, which is very beautiful. Even I can't help but want to look at her a few more times. But Sister Ying must be scared to bear so many people's gazes."
Yan Shiyu picked up the teacup and said calmly, "She usually comes here to recruit people."
The Queen covered her lips with her handkerchief and said, "Sister Ying is young, so any kind of clothes will match hers."
Yan Shiyu did not deny this statement, it was indeed tempting.
When he looked at Young Master Yu again, his eyes seemed to be mixed with ice. The autumn heat was particularly fierce, but it made Young Master Yu shiver.
Soon, the imperial guards in front escorted a carriage towards Chengtian Gate.
Yan Shiyu and the Queen stood up together and walked to the front.
The leader of the imperial guards dismounted and knelt first. The curtain of the simple carriage behind them was opened by the palace servants. Ruan Jun could not help but look over.
The Queen Mother was indeed a beauty when she was young. Although she is older now, her appearance has not changed much. She just has a more simple and solemn look due to her years of fasting and chanting Buddhist scriptures.
"Mother."
Yan Shiyu was the first to speak up, "It's been a long and tiring journey."
The Queen Mother smiled faintly, "I am only returning to the palace to chant Buddhist scriptures. Why does the Emperor need to make such a big scene?"
Yan Shiyu put his hands behind his back and said, "My mother hasn't returned to the palace for many years, so I have to pay more attention to her."
The Queen also paid her respects to the Queen Mother at this time. The people behind her could only see three people standing there, but no one knew what they said.
Facing the Queen, the Queen Mother's expression was even more indifferent than before, "The Queen is still not feeling well?"
The Queen said softly, "I have always been like this. I am sorry to trouble you, Mother."
The Queen Mother waved her hands, "It's too much to bother talking about it, but I often hear Concubine Xian talk about the Queen's health. The Queen... must pay more attention to it."
The Queen seemed not to understand the meaning of the Queen Mother's words and stood aside to accompany the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother walked forward slowly, and everyone held their breath. Ruan Yun was of high rank, and now she was standing next to Shen Chongyi, facing the Queen Mother head-on.
When she reached Ruan Yun's side, the Queen Mother suddenly stopped:
"You are... Ying Chongrong?"
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