Chapter 152 Chapter 152
【Chapter 152】
Yinli covered her shoulder where Concubine Xian had hit her. The teacup broke apart beside her, splashing the warm tea. Yinli had never seen Concubine Xian so out of control. She knelt there with panic in her eyes.
Concubine Xian stood in front of the window and saw that all the flowers in the palace had bloomed, but some of the flowers fell into the dust. After being stained by mud, they could never regain their former bright and beautiful appearance.
It cannot be compared with the flowers growing on the branches.
Concubine Xian couldn't help but think of what Concubine De said. If she really went to Mount Putuo, and the Third Prince really ascended the throne in the future, based on the past grudges between Concubine Du and Concubine Ying, she would have no chance of survival.
Her eyelashes trembled violently, and Concubine Xian clutched the clothes around her chest tightly. Thinking of the days to come, she couldn't help but feel afraid.
Yinli ignored the pain in her shoulder and stepped forward to support Concubine Xian, "Your Majesty, please sit down quickly."
Concubine Xian held Yinli's wrist and looked at her coldly, "I only want to ask you one question. I want to hear the truth from you."
After she finished speaking, Concubine Xian gripped Yinli a little harder.
In the past, Concubine Xian had a gentle temperament and had never spoken to Yinli in such a tone.
"Your Majesty..." Yinli looked at Concubine Xian with sparkling eyes, the nervousness in her eyes was not fake.
Concubine Xian loosened her hand, lowered her eyes to look at the pear wood stool, and said in a flat voice:
"Queen Mother, are you planning to let me go to Mount Putuo with her?"
Yinli knelt down quickly and said, "I don't know. I am here to serve you."
If Concubine Xian had heard these words and seen Yinli panicking and crying like this in the past, she would have softened her heart a long time ago.
But today, when she looked at Yinli, she felt no sympathy at all.
With a sigh, Concubine Xian calmly wiped away the tears on her face, "Since my aunt is ill, I should go to Shoukang Palace to check on her."
Before Yinli could smile, Concubine Xian walked out, leaving a message:
"Since you are feeling uneasy, you should go back to the side room and have a rest. You don't have to follow me."
When the palace maids in Chaoxi Palace heard this, they couldn't believe what they heard, but none of them dared to disobey their master's words.
He could only secretly look at Sister Yinli who was kneeling on the ground, and then quickly retracted his gaze and followed Concubine Xian to Shoukang Palace.
The ceremonial procession soon landed outside the gate of Shoukang Palace. Concubine Xian looked up with cold eyes and saw the plaque hanging high on the pillar. She was so overwhelmed that she almost couldn't breathe.
When the palace maids in Shoukang Palace saw Concubine Xian, they hurried in to report the matter.
The Queen Mother was taking medicine, but after hearing this, she started coughing.
Aunt Jingqiao quickly supported the Queen Mother and said, "Slow down, Queen Mother."
The Queen Mother's eyes were filled with excitement, "I heard it right, it's Song Shuang who is here."
Aunt Jingqiao also smiled very happily, "Yes, Concubine Xian is here."
The Queen Mother chanted "Amitābha". She owed Concubine Xian a lot and knew that Concubine Xian must blame her. But now that Concubine Xian could come, she might have different feelings.
"Quick! Let Songshuang come in."
The Queen Mother couldn't help but push Aunt Jingqiao. Aunt Jingqiao agreed to the Queen Mother's words and walked to the outer hall in person.
When she saw Consort Xian, Aunt Jing Qiao bowed and said, "Your Highness has arrived. The Queen Mother is waiting for you."
Concubine Xian looked no different from usual. She asked softly, "I have been feeling unwell these days and have not come to see the Queen Mother in person. Is the Queen Mother okay?"
Aunt Jingqiao said, "It's all the same. You can see for yourself if you go in and take a look."
A smile also appeared on Concubine Xian's lips, and her question was full of concern, no different from before.
The Queen Mother had already been sitting on the couch. When Concubine Xian walked in, she smelled the strong smell of medicine, stopped imperceptibly, walked back in, and bowed obediently.
But before she could finish this action, the Queen Mother quickly grabbed Concubine Xian, patted the back of her hand and said, "It's good that you're here."
When Concubine Xian saw the Queen Mother's pale face, she could hardly hide the expression on her face.
When he lowered his head, his eyes suddenly closed and opened again.
When she looked up again, Concubine Xian asked, "Song Shuang hasn't been here for these days. Is Auntie okay?"
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "It's all the same as before. I am the one who is worried about you."
Concubine Xian held the Queen Mother's hand and said, "Song Shuang is fine. Maybe she didn't think it through before, but now she has figured it out."
The Queen Mother wiped away her tears and said, "The Emperor has been bewitched by Concubine Ying Gui, and you have suffered greatly."
Concubine Xian smiled calmly and put her hand on the Queen Mother's hand. "It's all in the past. Song Shuang can't decide who the Emperor favors. It's enough for Song Shuang to be by the Queen Mother's side."
She paused for a moment, then said to the Queen Mother: "Just don't forget Song Shuang when you return to Putuo Mountain."
After she finished speaking, Concubine Xian looked at the Queen Mother without blinking.
Not only did she miss the light in the Queen Mother's eyes, but she also saw the slightly guilty look on her face. Concubine Xian's heart suddenly sank to the bottom of the valley.
Her hands quickly became cold. If she hadn't tried her best to restrain herself, she would have burst into tears by now.
The Queen Mother kept patting Concubine Xian's hands and said, "Good child, I'm sorry for wronging you."
He didn't say anything to deny it. Although he said he felt wronged, he still let her go back to Putuo Mountain.
Concubine Xian's eyelashes completely closed, her throat hoarse, "I'm not wronged."
The Queen Mother thought about it and still did not tell Song Shuang about her plan.
She was afraid that if she said it now, Song Shuang would not agree, so she had to let the people around Song Shuang persuade her.
The Queen Mother looked at the palace maid behind Concubine Xian and asked in confusion, "Why isn't Yinli here today?"
Concubine Xian spoke calmly, with no difference from her usual tone, "She is not feeling well, I will let her rest first."
The Queen Mother did not doubt Concubine Xian's words and held Concubine Xian's hand tightly without letting go.
But the empress dowager was too ill and couldn't stop coughing. Concubine Xian quickly stood up, helped her drink medicine, and helped her rinse her mouth before leaving Shoukang Palace.
Aunt Jingqiao escorted Concubine Xian out. Concubine Xian smiled at her and said, "Aunt, go back and take care of the Queen Mother. I'm fine."
Seeing Concubine Xian's current state, Aunt Jing Qiao felt a little relieved and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, please go slowly."
Concubine Xian sat on the ceremonial seat with a faint smile on her lips, but the moment she turned around, the smile on her face completely disappeared.
After returning to Chaoxi Palace, Concubine Xian couldn't help but recall what the Queen Mother had said. It turned out that from the very beginning, the Queen Mother had wanted to take her to Putuo Mountain.
So why did she enter the palace?
Is it just to stay by the Queen Mother's side and make her happy?
She doesn't want to admit it, she doesn't want to listen to the Queen Mother!
The maid carefully served the tea. Concubine Xian looked from the teacup back to the maid and asked calmly, "What's your name?"
The palace maid knelt down hastily, thinking that she had done something wrong, and kowtowed, saying, "My name is Li Xing."
Li Xing's body couldn't help but tremble, and even when she was kneeling on the ground she couldn't hide her nervousness.
Concubine Xian picked up the teacup and said, "I remember that you have been serving me in Chaoxi Palace since I returned to the palace?"
Li Xing whispered, "Yes."
Concubine Xian stared at Li Xing for a few moments, and when she saw her trembling, a smile appeared on her lips.
People who are so timid are the easiest to control.
"Yinli is seriously ill. From now on, you will be the head maid of Chaoxi Palace."
Lixing couldn't believe what she heard. She remembered that her sister Yinli was still fine. She was about to speak, but suddenly closed her mouth.
"I obey your command."
Concubine Xian waved her hand and said, "I am very sorry for Yinli's illness. Let's find an imperial physician to see her."
Li Xing was a little confused about Concubine Xian's thoughts, "Sister Yinli, just rest in the ear room..."
Concubine Xian gave Li Xing a neutral look, causing her to kneel down hurriedly again.
Concubine Xian smiled and said, "Look at you, why are you so cowardly? A person is sick but she doesn't know it, but says she is sick. Tell me, what's going on?"
Li Xing understood now and immediately sent someone to find the imperial physician.
When Concubine Xian saw Li Xing go out, she sat there calmly, no longer paying attention to the screams that gradually sounded in the ear room.
…
Jingzhang Palace
The eldest prince was sitting at the desk, practicing calligraphy with full concentration, while Concubine De was looking at the words that the eldest prince had just written.
Her beautiful handwriting appeared on the paper where the eldest prince was practicing calligraphy, and she had a faint smile on her lips, asking Wang Yi to keep it in mind.
The eldest prince finished practicing another piece of calligraphy. He had written too much today and his arms were shaking slightly. He asked in a low voice, "Mother, can I practice for a while?"
The smile on Concubine De's lips disappeared instantly. "What's wrong with Ting'er?"
The eldest prince put down his pen and walked to Concubine De. "Today, I was riding a horse and the horse suddenly jumped up. I had to tighten the reins, but I didn't expect to hurt my arm."
Concubine De frowned and looked at the eldest prince's arm.
Although the eldest prince pursed his lips, his face still revealed some of the expectations that a child could hardly conceal.
Wang Yi first uttered an "ouch" and then said, "The eldest prince has seen the imperial physician, why didn't he tell me just now?"
Defei looked over with disapproval, and Wang Yi quickly closed her lips.
The eldest prince's eyelashes covered the expectation in his eyes. Sure enough, the next moment he heard his mother say, "Mother, I heard that your father was already very good at riding when he was your age. Ting'er, there are professionals who train you to ride horses. Is it because you made a mistake in your movements that the horse jumped up?"
The eldest prince clenched his hands and shook his head quickly, "Son, I am doing everything according to what the master said."
Concubine De looked at the eldest prince's arm, her brows furrowed tightly. "Today, it was just a small horse that injured your arm. If your father needs you in the future, Ting'er, you will be defeated easily. You are the oldest prince, so you naturally have to learn everything from your father."
In the past, the eldest prince would have agreed to Concubine De's words directly, but today he hesitated and said sullenly, "My mother often told me that as long as I did a good job, my father would come to Jingzhang Palace to see me often. But in fact, my father only came one or two days a month."
After saying this, the eldest prince lowered his head nervously.
Concubine De was not angry, she just placed her hand on the words written by the eldest prince.
"I'm glad you still remember."
"Mother did say that. Your father didn't come to see you, so you became depressed and didn't want to go to school, ride a horse or shoot arrows? Do you know how your father got here? If you still act like this, you don't have to be his child anymore."
The eldest prince raised his head in panic and looked at Concubine De, not knowing what to say.
Wang Yi was watching anxiously, and De Fei also noticed that her tone was a little heavy, so she said:
"It has been a long time since your mother has seen your father, so Ting'er, you must do better so that your father can see us mother and son."
Waving at the eldest prince and asking him to stand in front of her, Concubine De touched his neck and said softly, "You don't need to practice calligraphy today. I'll ask the imperial physician to come and check on you later. But when you're better, can Ting'er make up for the few missing pieces today?"
The eldest prince looked up at Concubine De and saw that his mother's face was gentle towards him. He then nodded and said firmly, "I can do it."
Defei tilted her head to look at Wangyi, who immediately understood what Defei meant and left the palace to find the imperial physician.
The wet nurse took the eldest prince away, and Wang Yi stood next to Concubine De again, "Do you want to tell the emperor about this?"
Defei glanced at Wangyi with deep disapproval in her eyes, which made Wangyi realize that she had said the wrong thing.
Concubine De didn't look at the calligraphy that the eldest prince practiced. After more than a year, his handwriting was only slightly similar to that of the emperor:
"The emperor hates concubines using the princes to win favor. Ting'er's injury today is not serious. I have asked for the imperial physician. If the emperor is interested, he will know. I went to ask the emperor specifically, which will inevitably make the emperor think that I have other intentions."
Wang Yi said cryptically, "But I see that the eldest prince seems to want to see the emperor very much."
Concubine De glanced at Wang Yi and asked, "Can't you be with me in the palace on the first day?"
Wang Yi understood what the Empress meant. There were many concubines and royal heirs in the palace who could not see the Emperor, and they had never seen anyone before. If they wanted to see the Emperor, they would use this as an excuse.
"I understand."
De Fei held her forehead and said, "Put it away. Wait for Ting'er to practice more, and then I will select the best ones and send them to Zichen Palace."
Wang Yi responded, "Your Majesty, do you want to go see the eldest prince?"
De Fei shook her head, "No need, he is old now, it's time for him to calm down."
After a pause, he said, "If the emperor comes, you can come and tell me again."
Wang Yi nodded and gently put away the papers on the low table.
Just as she was about to leave the inner hall, Concubine De seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly opened her eyes and asked, "Is there any movement from Concubine Xian?"
Wang Yi paused, "After the queen left, Concubine Xian didn't stay in Chaoxi Palace for too long. She went to Shoukang Palace and said she was going to wait for the queen mother to sleep before returning to the palace."
Concubine De smiled indifferently, "It seems that Concubine Xian is going to find an answer."
"Keep an eye on Chaoxi Palace. If anything goes wrong, come and tell me."
Wang Yi whispered, "Don't worry, Madam."
Walking out of the inner hall, Wang Yi bumped into the eunuch serving the eldest prince and asked with a frown, "Why are you so flustered?"
The eunuch knelt down and said, "The eldest prince's arm is slightly dislocated. I would like to ask Your Majesty to come and take a look."
Remembering what the queen said just now, Wang Yi paused for a moment, and then said: "The queen has gone to bed, so it's inconvenient to disturb her. I'll go with you to take a look."
The eunuch wanted to say that the eldest prince was just a child after all, but when he saw Wang Yi was so sure, the words got stuck in his throat and he couldn't say them out.
In the side hall, the eldest prince's bedroom is simply decorated.
When Concubine De heard that the emperor had disliked extravagance since he was young, she naturally hoped that the eldest prince could be like the emperor in everything.
Wang Yi opened the curtains, and the eldest prince looked up expectantly, but soon the curtains fell down. The eldest prince couldn't help but look behind Wang Yi. Wang Yi smiled and said, "Your Majesty has been in the Queen Mother's palace for a long time today. You are a little sleepy now. When you wake up, you will come to see the eldest prince."
The eldest prince's arms could not move, so the palace servants carefully supported them, making the eldest prince's sitting posture a little stiff, "Then..."
Wang Yi looked at him encouragingly, and the eldest prince continued, "Will father come?"
Unable to bear saying hurtful words, Wang Yi's answer was flawless, "If the emperor is not busy today and knows that the eldest prince is injured, he will come, but I can't say for sure."
A hint of joy appeared on the eldest prince's face. He hadn't spoken so much in a long time. "Before, I followed my master's words and went to Linxuan Palace to visit my third brother. There I met my sister Xin'er. She said... if she didn't understand something in class, not only would Ji Zhaoyi teach her, but my father would also teach her personally."
Wang Yi choked. She didn't expect the eldest prince to suddenly say these words.
Then, without waiting for Wang Yi's reply, the eldest prince said, "My mother doesn't teach me often, and my father doesn't come often. Is it because... my father doesn't like me?"
"Of course not." Wang Yi hastily denied, "You are the emperor's eldest son, and a role model for the little princess and the third prince. It is precisely because you are a very good student that the emperor is confident in you. First prince, please don't think so."
The eldest prince's face was tightly wrinkled. He wanted to ask why his mother never taught him.
He had seen how Empress Ying patiently coaxed her third brother and the little princess, and he also felt the tenderness from Empress Ying.
Sister Xin'er chatters all day long, and what she talks about the most is that Empress Ji coaxes her to sleep every night.
At that time, Xin'er's sister would always ask him, is his mother like this?
The eldest prince wanted to deceive people, but his body instinct made him nod first.
Wang Yi saw that the eldest prince looked unhappy, and she knew that she couldn't say the following words, so she said quickly, "Your Majesty, please tell me something when you wake up. The eldest prince should take a good rest. If Your Majesty wants to see the eldest prince, I will send someone to come over."
The eldest prince waved his hand absentmindedly, and Wang Yi walked out quickly.
Standing in the outer hall, thinking of the eldest prince's lonely eyes, I couldn't help feeling distressed.
…
Ruan Yun brought Dongdong to Yu's garden and saw him happily holding the flowers in his hands. The corners of her lips curled up unconsciously.
Touching the moving little face, "Call me mother."
Dongdong was still young and could only speak simple words. The occasional baby talk he uttered could make Ruan Yun laugh.
Seeing that he seemed to be interested in the rabbits raised in the garden, Ruan Yun said softly, "Take Dongdong there."
The wet nurse took the order and Tingxu followed her.
Ruan Jun waved a round fan, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on the flowers on the branches, and a different idea came to her mind.
"I remember that the emperor admired a transparent white porcelain vase?"
Ying Ning was suddenly asked this question and couldn't remember it for a moment. After thinking for a long time, she said, "It seems to be in the warehouse."
Ruan Yun said cunningly: "The Emperor's Purple Palace is too boring, and he needs some spring scenery."
The Zichen Palace is where the Emperor and officials hold meetings, so placing vases there is naturally inappropriate. But since the Empress likes it, the Emperor will not try to stop her too much.
With this idea in mind, Ruan Yun picked the best flowers from everywhere.
After taking a few steps, she heard the eunuch's voice coming from the other side. She stopped and put her ear close to him, listening carefully, "Prince, your arm is not healed yet. Why don't we go back to the palace?"
The eldest prince said gloomily, "It's too boring to stay in the palace. I want to go out for a walk."
The eunuch said in embarrassment: "The Queen allowed you not to practice calligraphy during this period, but allowed you to review your studies. If the Queen knew that you sneaked out, she would definitely be unhappy."
The eldest prince interrupted the eunuch, "I just want to go to the Purple Palace to see my father."
After he said this, the eunuch was even more embarrassed, "The Queen said that if you have nothing to do, you cannot go to the Purple Palace."
The eldest prince heard such words every day. If it were in the past, he might still listen.
But today he had already figured it out, he must meet his father.
He wanted to ask his father why he didn't come to see him and why he couldn't see his father even though he was injured.
Ruan Yun and Ying Ning looked at each other, and neither of them moved.
On the other side, the eldest prince had already raised his feet to go to the Purple Palace. The eunuch knelt down in front of the eldest prince in a hurry, and the crown on his head almost flew off:
"My Lord, if you were to go there today, Concubine De would definitely kill me!"
The eldest prince showed reluctance on his face, but Ruan Yun's almond-shaped eyes flickered and moved slightly.
Could it be that Concubine De also knows about what happened in the past?
The eldest prince saw the eunuch kneeling on the ground, his body trembling, and pursed his lips and said, "Get out of the way. If mother asks, just say that I ran away secretly and you didn't know anything about it."
The eunuch wanted to say something, but the eldest prince threatened him for the first time, "If you don't get out of the way, I will send you to the Ministry of Punishment!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the eunuch lowered his head very low, not daring to say another word.
Ruan Yun took Ying Ning to the tree and pretended to look for branches on it.
Ying Ning was fanning the Empress and her eyes inadvertently looked at the eldest prince. She also saw that the eldest prince was looking in this direction.
He reminded her in a low voice: "My Lady."
Ruan Yun turned around, which alarmed the eldest prince, causing him to lower his head and leave.
But how could Ruan Jun miss such a good opportunity? She asked softly, "Grand Prince?"
Being stopped, the eldest prince had to stand where he was.
When the eunuch heard Ruan Yun's voice, he hurried to the side of the eldest prince.
The eldest prince pursed his lips, clenched his fists, and saluted Ruan Yun, "Empress Ying."
Ruan Yun smiled and said, "Where are you going in such a hurry in such a hot day?"
The eldest prince did not say anything, but asked, "What are you doing here, Madam Ying?"
It was not quite what Ruan Yun thought, but it was not a big deal. He turned aside and said:
"I saw that the flowers in the Yu Garden were in full bloom, and I thought that the Emperor's Purple Palace was missing a touch of spring, so I wanted to pick a few and place them in the Purple Palace."
After hearing this, the eldest prince's face was full of envy.
Ruan Yun waved her handkerchief and said, "The Third Prince is playing with rabbits not far away. Does the First Prince want to go?"
The eldest prince raised his eyes and saw nothing, but his gaze remained on Ruan Yun's side for a long time:
"Mother said that these toys can cause one to lose one's will."
Ruan Yun was not annoyed after hearing this, "Empress Defei comes from a famous family and is proficient in poetry and calligraphy, so naturally she has much higher expectations of you."
The eldest prince suddenly asked, "Can I pick flowers with Empress Ying and send them to Zichen Palace?"
Ruan Jun didn't ask why, but thought for a moment, "I wonder if the eldest prince has finished his homework?"
The eldest prince said honestly: "I recently injured my hand and did not go to school."
Ruan Yun understood, "If that's the case, then of course it's possible."
This was the first smile in many days that appeared on the eldest prince's face.
…
"Your Majesty, the Concubine has arrived."
After Wei Maoyuan finished speaking, he stood still. Yan Shiyu said in a deep voice, "Let her in."
Wei Maoyuan said hesitantly: "The imperial concubine did not come here alone today."
"The eldest prince has arrived with the noble concubine."
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