Chapter 132 Chapter 132
[Chapter 132]
Jiang Baolin walked into the palace with a smile on his face, bowed politely to Ruan Yun, and said, "Good health, Your Majesty."
Ruan Jun glanced at her, and a hint of a smile appeared in her almond-shaped eyes. "Sister, get up."
The palace maid placed the tea next to Jiang Baolin's hand. Jiang Baolin picked up the teacup and smelled it. He said in surprise: "The tea in the palace of the Empress smells sweet. The tea in the palace of the concubine is really inferior to that of the Empress."
Ruan Yun looked at the teacup beside her, curled her lips and said in a low voice: "These are the Junshan silver needles that were just delivered to the palace. If you like them, you can take some away later."
Jiang Baolin was not polite when he heard this. He was very happy and said:
"Since your majesty has said so, I will not be polite."
Ting Xu was almost scolded by the side. Jiang Baolin was really rude. When the other concubines heard this, they tried to refuse several times, but they couldn't resist and accepted it. The queen just said it casually, but Jiang Baolin took it seriously.
No one spoke in the hall for a while. Ruan Jun was fanning herself with a fan. Her eyes were soft but sharp as she looked at Jiang Baolin. The meaning was self-evident.
When Jiang Baolin turned his head, he saw Ruan Yun's expression. He quickly swallowed the tea in his mouth, and the feeling of tension increased again.
She was so stupid. The noble concubine was polite to her and she actually accepted it.
Inwardly cursing herself for being stupid, Jiang Baolin remembered the purpose of this, and knelt down in front of Ruan Yun in panic, saying: "I bumped into the noble concubine before, and I am also a fool. I was blind and didn't realize that the noble lady Li... the concubine Li had such an improper mind."
Ruan Yun looked at Jiang Baolin quietly and let her kneel first.
Jiang Baolin could hardly hold back the smile on his face, but he didn't dare to stand up. He looked at Ruan Jun with a wry smile, and rubbed his knees secretly with his hands.
When Ruan Jun put down the teacup again, she looked at Jiang Baolin again, "Sister, why are you kneeling? I don't blame you."
Jiang Baolin listened to the first half of the sentence, and just as he was about to stand up, he was held back by her, his little face wrinkled.
If she didn't blame her, why would the Imperial Concubine let her kneel there? She must have been very angry and wanted to beat her.
Although her brain was not very sharp, she could still figure out what the words meant.
It seemed that the Royal Concubine was really unwilling to forgive her.
Jiang Baolin's tears fell, and he felt extremely aggrieved. "Although my family background is not good, my father is also a fifth-rank official. When Li Xianshi and I entered the palace, I was greedy for fun..."
As Jiang Baolin spoke, he raised his head to look at Ruan Yun's expression, "I feel even more beautiful. Madam asked us to have a good rest. I quietly went from Chuxiu Palace to Yu Garden, thinking that if I could meet the emperor, I would definitely be the first among the newlyweds."
"Who knew that the emperor didn't see it, and I met the then Concubine Zhang. She said that a palace maid seduced the emperor, and she beat the palace maid to death. I was scared to death, but I was lost and didn't know how to get back to Chuxiu Palace. I met Concubine Li on the way. She personally sent me back and kept the matter secret."
Ruan Jun rubbed his forehead. If he had some doubts just now, he was not so suspicious now.
After looking at Ying Ning and Ting Xu, the two walked to Jiang Baolin and helped her up. Jiang Baolin had already cried like a tearful beauty, and she was even more worried about telling the Royal Concubine about how she had disregarded the palace rules in the past. She was afraid that the Royal Concubine would ask a nanny to teach her a lesson.
Jiang Baolin cried even more sadly, but he still spoke despite his sadness:
"After I entered the palace, I was unfamiliar with the place and didn't know anyone in the palace. Thinking that Consort Lee had done me a favor, I often went to her palace. But last year, before I went to the temporary palace, Consort Lee and I were talking and joking. Suddenly, her face turned pale and her breathing became rapid. I wanted to find the imperial physician, but Consort Lee's maid skillfully took out medicine for Consort Lee to take. Consort Lee recovered quickly. That's when I learned that Consort Lee had a heart disease and had been relying on medicine to maintain her health."
Ruan Yun looked at her, sighed and said, "Don't cry, I don't blame you."
Jiang Baolin was still very sad, but after Ruan Jun said that, she dared not cry at all, and she looked very pitiful.
Seeing this, Ruan Yun stopped talking, held her forehead with her hands, and simply followed her.
Now I feel that letting Jiang Baolin in might be a wrong thing to do.
"If a concubine is ill, the jade plaque must be removed and she cannot sleep with the emperor. If she is mentally ill, the time she needs to be removed will definitely be longer." Jiang Baolin said while looking at Ruan Yun's face, "Concubine Li said that her family is in decline. If the jade plaque is removed, the family may decline further. So I suggested that Concubine Li find a backer. After thinking about it, I thought of the Royal Concubine."
"Your Highness will know everything that happened in the palace later."
Ruan Yun carefully recalled Li Xianshi's appearance at that time. Since Defei had already given her the medicine, she must have known long ago that Li Xianshi had a heart disease. Li Xianshi also wanted to break free from Defei's control, but unfortunately she did not succeed.
Later, because of Concubine Li and the royal heir in her belly, Concubine De used the excuse of heart disease to say that if she did not survive, that would be what she most wanted to see.
Thinking of this, Ruan Yun couldn't help but admire Concubine De's planning and strategy. Everything was planned so cleverly. Even if it was discovered later, others would probably only have doubts without any substantial evidence.
Suddenly, Ruan Yun paused while touching her armored hand. Defei's several plots were all about killing others with a borrowed knife. The Empress's miscarriage in the past was also due to the death of the Empress's sister, which indirectly caused the Empress to have a premature birth.
All these moves seem like something that Concubine De could do.
But if she was really Concubine De, why did she still keep that nanny?
Ruan Jun thought about it over and over but couldn't get an answer. In Jiang Baolin's eyes, the royal concubine's face became increasingly gloomy, which frightened her so much that she didn't know what to do.
Unable to control his emotions, Jiang Baolin actually cried out loud this time.
Ruan Yun then remembered that there was a person like Jiang Baolin in the inner hall, and winked at Ying Ning. Ying Ning understood and supported Jiang Baolin, saying softly: "My lady, my queen is a little tired, you see..."
Jiang Baolin looked at Ruan Yun with panicked eyes, and quickly stood up to wipe away her tears, saying, "It's my fault for disturbing the Royal Concubine's rest."
Ying Ning escorted Jiang Baolin out of the palace. When Jiang Baolin turned around, she gently called him, took the tray from the palace maid behind her, and said, "The Queen saw that the young lady liked to drink Junshan Yinzhen just now, so she asked the maid to bring two bottles to the young lady."
Jiang Baolin's heart, which had fallen to the bottom of a valley, was rekindled at this moment. He widened his eyes and asked repeatedly, "Is this really given to me by the Queen?"
Ying Ning nodded and placed the gift in the hands of Jiang Baolin's maid, "Of course, if you still like it later, I will send it to you."
Jiang Baolin didn't understand the politeness in Ying Ning's words at this moment, so she waved her hand and said, "No... no need, it's my blessing to be able to drink it, I dare not think about anything else."
After that, she gave the silver to Yingning. Yingning pushed Jiang Baolin's hand away and said, "It's what I should do. I am ashamed to receive your reward. The queen can't leave her place, so I will send you here."
Jiang Baolin nodded repeatedly and handed the silver in his hand to the palace maid.
Watching Ying Ning go in, his tense expression finally relaxed.
She changed her previous sadness and said triumphantly, "Did you see that? The Imperial Concubine must have seen my sincerity. From now on, I will do whatever the Imperial Concubine says."
Eryu listened to Jiang Baolin's words, frowned, looked towards Linxuan Palace, and said, "It seems to me that the noble concubine doesn't mean that."
Jiang Baolin waved his hand and said, "If I say so, then it must be so!"
The emperor's favor came and went quickly. In the year since she entered the palace, she had seen many concubines die. It was better for her to stay with the royal concubine. After all, the royal concubine had a prince. How could her life in the future be bad?
Except for the redness and swelling of his eyes, Jiang Baolin no longer showed any signs of sadness. He put his mood in order, shook his sleeves and said, "Let's go back to the palace!"
When Yingning entered the hall, she had her usual smile on her face.
Ruan Yun asked her softly, "Is Jiang Baolin gone?"
Ying Ning nodded. "If you don't leave now, won't Your Majesty be worried?"
Ruan Yun sighed when she heard this. She thought it was not easy for her to cry so many times in a play, but she didn't expect Jiang Baolin to be even worse. Her mind was so pure, and her family was willing to let her enter the palace without any worries. She didn't know how she survived in the palace for the past two years.
"Look, does she look like she's lying?"
Ting Xurao murmured while holding her handkerchief, "I always feel that Jiang Baolin is missing something. When the queen said she wanted to give her tea, she accepted it without even refusing. I don't think Jiang Baolin is fake."
Yingning also agreed with Tingxu's words. A person's naivety or deep thoughts can always be seen in a few words.
If Jiang Baolin could really fake his adorable and naive personality, he would be truly extraordinary.
After making sure that she was not the only one who thought so, Ruan Yun told the other two about her guess.
For a moment, the relaxed atmosphere in the inner hall disappeared, and the three people's faces became somewhat solemn.
"If Empress Defei is really the murderer of the former Empress, then it does make sense."
After all, Concubine De is very ambitious, so how could she tolerate others giving birth to a child before her? Who can say for sure whether it will be a princess or a prince? She must make every possible effort.
Ruan Yun always had a vague feeling that what she guessed was half true and half false. Ji Zhaoyi saw with her own eyes that Concubine Zhang was a little nervous when she said to Concubine De. What the two of them were like in the hidden residence, perhaps only the Empress and the palace maids serving them knew now. If they were incompatible from the beginning, what could have made Concubine Zhang uneasy and made Concubine De so calm and fearless?
But if the two had a good relationship, the way they are now is very different from before. The matter is extremely complicated and cannot be explained in a few words.
Ruan Yun rubbed her forehead, and Ying Ning asked worriedly, "Madam, do you have a headache? Is it urgent? Can I go find a doctor?"
Ruan Yun shook her head and said softly, "No need, I just need to get some sleep."
The arrival of summer made her feel tired and exhausted. She fell into a deep sleep in a short while.
But today, Cui Juebai's figure also appeared in her dream. Seeing his extremely hypocritical appearance, Ruan Jun wished she could scratch his face.
Unfortunately, this is only in a dream.
When she woke up again, the lights were already on. There were many beads of sweat on Ruan Yun's forehead. Tingxu wanted to wipe the sweat off for Ruan Yun, fearing that Ruan Yun would get sick again. Ruan Yun did not stop Tingxu's action, but lowered her eyes and looked at her own hands.
No matter how much she wanted to find Cui Juebai and get to know him personally, it was impossible under the current situation.
There are too many enemies in the dark and she has to be on guard.
Moreover, if they really wanted to use the nanny to lure out the culprit who did this, and people found out that she had been related to Cui Yubai, that would be a real way of handing the evidence to others.
…
Fengyi Palace
The Queen placed a handkerchief on her lips as she listened to the managers from various parts of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reporting on recent developments.
The empress sat on the couch listlessly, still suffering from a serious illness and with her heart knot unresolved.
Ran Xia had already changed several cups of hot tea for the Empress, but the Empress did not move at all.
Looking at the account book in her hand, the queen's eyes were solemn and no one knew what she was thinking.
After asking all the eunuchs in charge to leave, the empress suddenly started coughing violently, which frightened everyone.
Ran Xia and Qi Yue were both crying unconsciously, but the Queen looked calm, propped herself up and looked at the account book in front of her, saying:
"I have something to discuss with the emperor. Please ask the emperor to come to Fengyi Palace."
Except for the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, the emperor almost never came to Fengyi Palace.
A hint of joy flashed in Qiyue's eyes, and she quickly stood up and went outside.
But Ran Xia looked at the Queen worriedly, her lips opening and closing tightly, as if she had reacted to something.
Thinking of the Empress's health, Ran Xia did not dare to say a word. She could only offer the hot tea and said, "Your Majesty, drink some tea to moisten your throat."
The queen closed the account book in a calm and indifferent manner, and said after closing her eyes: "When the emperor comes, call me again."
When Ran Xia saw the Queen's appearance, her nose was sore and she wanted to cry.
She suddenly remembered that when the queen was still unmarried, she was also lively and bright. She would go out to play with her handkerchief and would try her best to be lazy when attending banquets. She was nothing like now, with such a lifeless look.
Ran Xia secretly wiped her tears with a handkerchief. Ever since she became a princess, she had been careful in her words and deeds. She knew that she was not the princess candidate that the Queen Mother wanted, so she followed the rules and never made any mistakes because of her identity. Her lively personality was completely worn out by the day-to-day life in the palace.
Yan Shiyu stepped down from the imperial procession, stopped the palace maid from passing on the message, and walked into the inner hall in the twilight setting sun.
Ran Xia was still fanning the empress. The empress was ill and it was not appropriate to use ice, so there was no ice basin in the inner hall.
Yan Shiyu felt the heat in the hall, and his brows tightened silently.
When Ran Xia saw that it was the emperor, she was so scared that the fan in her hand almost fell to the ground. She wanted to kneel down, but Yan Shiyu looked at her with his dark eyes. Ran Xia was frightened and bit her lower lip, bowed and quietly retreated.
The queen didn't know how long she had slept in a daze. When she woke up again, the inner hall was dim, with only the light of candles behind the pearl curtain.
Her eyes fell on that place, but she didn't see it clearly. When she regained consciousness, she realized that it was the emperor sitting there, so she stood up and wanted to kneel down.
Yan Shiyu walked over slowly, holding the book in his hand, with his palm facing upwards, not letting the empress bow, his eyes dark and deep, "No need to be polite."
The queen woke up with a hoarse voice and asked, "When did the emperor come? Why didn't he ask anyone to wake me up?"
Yan Shiyu sat beside the empress, and casually placed the scroll in his hand on the table. "The government affairs are not busy today, so there is nothing to do."
The queen curled her lips and said softly, "It's my fault. I didn't even notice the emperor coming. I am guilty."
As the queen was about to kneel down again, Yan Shiyu stopped her from moving and used his palm to force her to sit back on the couch. "You are not feeling well, so there is no need to be polite."
"Are you here to seek me out today just to apologize?"
Yan Shiyu's gaze stayed on the empress for a long time, and naturally he noticed the difference in her.
The smile on the queen's lips remained the same for years. The account book on the table had not been put away yet. She said softly: "I am not in good health now, and I can't spare too much energy to take care of the affairs of the harem. I think if Concubine Ying is willing, why not let Concubine Ying do the work of assisting in the management of the six palaces?"
Yan Shiyu's sharp eyes fell on the empress for a moment, but the empress seemed not to see him. She just held the teacup quietly, waiting for the emperor's words.
Yan Shiyu retracted his gaze and casually turned the white jade ring in his hand, "The Third Prince is still young, and it is inevitable that Concubine Ying will be tired from taking care of the Third Prince and handling palace affairs. In the past, Concubine De and you assisted in managing the six palaces. If she does it, it will be better."
The queen's eyes flashed with light, and when she raised them again, for the first time she did not follow the emperor:
"I know that the Emperor dotes on Concubine Ying and is afraid that she will be tired, but Concubine Ying is now a Concubine, while Concubine De is only a Concubine. If this matter gets out, I don't know if Concubine Ying's reputation will be damaged. I am afraid that it will hurt Concubine Ying's feelings."
Yan Shiyu knocked on the table and said, "Just ask her directly. If she is willing, I have no objection."
The smile on the Queen's lips widened a little. Seeing the Emperor stand up to leave, she bowed and saw him off from Fengyi Palace.
When Ran Xia saw the emperor walking away on the moon, she couldn't hide the disappointment in her eyes. She thought the emperor would stay, but he left anyway.
Entering the inner hall, Ran Xia saw that the queen was still looking at the account book in front of her, and said softly: "Your Majesty, it's getting late, let's look at it another day."
The queen looked at Ran Xia, pointed at the account book on the table, and said, "Put it on the table in the outer hall. Someone will come to see it in the next two days."
Ran Xia was shocked for a moment. Looking at the empress's back, she couldn't help but say, "If your majesty is unhappy, please ask the emperor for permission. Can I accompany your majesty out of the palace?"
The queen paused, but did not turn around for a long time. When she spoke again, her voice was choked with sobs, and she said, "I am the queen and the queen mother. I will never be able to leave this palace in my lifetime."
After saying this, she walked towards the bathing room.
The emperor should know her attitude towards Concubine De by now. What he said just now was just to let her stop thinking about it and let others help with the affairs of the six palaces. But the emperor knew that it was because of him that the second daughter of Mingdu Yang was completely ruined.
…
Yan Shiyu strode to the gate of Linxuan Palace. When the palace servants saw the emperor, they hurried in to pass on the message, but were stopped by Wei Maoyuan. They watched the emperor go straight into Linxuan Palace.
Today was not the day for Tingxu and Yingning to keep watch. The maid saw that it was the emperor who was in panic. Just as she was about to speak, Yan Shiyu's eyebrows fell on her indifferently. His sharp eyes were like ice water splashing on her. The maid bit her lower lip and knelt down.
Yan Shiyu entered the hall and saw the woman behind the curtain sleeping soundly.
The little person in her arms looked more and more like her. The small body lying in her mother's arms made Yan Shiyu's cold eyes gradually soften.
His fingers slid across Ruan Jun's little face, and the skin felt smooth when he touched it. She seemed to feel uncomfortable. Ruan Jun mumbled something, hugged Dongdong tighter, and then fell into a deep sleep again.
She felt comfortable, as if the turmoil in the harem had nothing to do with her.
When he was in Fengyi Palace, he rejected the Queen's words without thinking too much. On the one hand, he didn't want to tire the woman in front of him, and on the other hand, there was also some reason for the Queen's favor.
But just now, when he was on the imperial staff, the hot summer evening breeze blew over, which actually dispelled a lot of the depression in his heart.
If she wants, then go ahead.
Without staying in Linxuan Palace for too long, Yan Shiyu left the inner hall.
That night, the emperor went from Fengyi Palace to Linxuan Palace, and finally returned to Zichen Palace. The candles were lit all night long, and Wei Maoyuan really couldn't figure out what the emperor was thinking.
The Imperial Concubine's life story should have been told to the world long ago, but the Emperor has been slow to act, and no one knows how long it will take.
…
The next morning, Dongdong nestled into A Niang's arms hungrily. Ruan Yun blushed and handed Dongdong to the wet nurse, while Yingning helped her get up.
Ruan Yun was also particularly surprised when she heard that the emperor arrived at Linxuan Palace last night and left not long after. "Why didn't I hear anyone inform me?"
Ying Ning only found out about it early this morning and was afraid that the emperor might hear something else.
"The palace maids said that the emperor did not allow them to pass on the message."
Yingning mentioned this vaguely, and the doubt in Ruan Yunxing's eyes deepened. It was strange that the emperor came to Linxuan Palace but did not stay.
But Ruan Yun suddenly remembered something and asked again, "Has the emperor summoned anyone to sleep with him recently?"
Ying Ning paused as she was holding the Empress's hair up, then shook her head and said, "No, the Emperor has not been to the harem for more than five months."
Ruan Yun felt more and more strange, and was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.
After breakfast, Ruan Yun wanted to talk to Ji Zhaoyi, but Ran Xia, who was beside the Queen, came over.
Ruan Yun looked at Ran Xia with a smile on her face and said, "Why is Aunt Ran Xia here today? Does the Empress have any instructions?"
Ran Xia said to Ruan Yunfu, "The Queen has not seen the Third Prince for a long time. But the Queen has been ill recently and cannot leave the palace. I wonder if the Queen can take the Third Prince to Fengyi Palace?"
Ruan Yun nodded, "Of course, it's such a small matter, but you still let your aunt come in person."
Ran Xia couldn't help but wonder why the queen particularly liked Concubine Ying. Concubine Ying was very nice in everything she said and did, and was also kind to her servants.
Ruan Yun took the ceremonial procession to the Fengyi Palace, with the wet nurse carefully holding the third prince in her arms behind her.
As soon as she entered the inner hall, Ruan Yun smelled a strong smell of medicine. When she went to Fengyi Palace before, the smell was not so strong.
The third prince woke up silently from his nurse's arms. Ruan Yun walked around the screen and saluted the queen:
"May your majesty be well."
The queen covered her lips with a handkerchief. When she saw Ruan Jun coming over, her eyes were filled with a smile:
"It's hot, but I asked you to come here. It's my fault."
Ruan Yun said to the Empress with a frown, "What did your Majesty say? I am embarrassed by it."
The Queen personally helped Ruan Jun up and her eyes fell on the Third Prince.
Ruan Yun saw some expectation in the Queen's eyes and asked tentatively:
"Your Majesty, would you like to hold the Third Prince? He is a little older now and won't move around. He can sit very steadily. Your Majesty doesn't need to worry."
The queen put down the twisting bead in her hand and said, "In that case, let me give it a try."
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