Chapter 154 Chapter 154
[Chapter 154]
The palace maids of Jingzhang Palace knelt on the ground. The palace maids who served the eldest prince were trembling all over. They prostrated themselves on the ground with their heads bowed.
Defei looked as usual, with a faint smile on her face as she trimmed the branches sent from the greenhouse.
The evening camellia that was growing very well was directly cut off by Concubine De. The crisp sound touched the hearts of everyone in the palace, and they couldn't help but shudder.
Concubine De threw the silver scissors on the table, picked up the armor and put it on slowly, "Tell the flower shop not to send these flowers again in the future."
Wang Yi quickly responded to Concubine De's words, "I'll remember that."
He quickly stood up and took the vase away, then Wang Yi stood beside Concubine De, and all the servants in front of him were in full view.
Concubine De fiddled with the gold-threaded armor in her hand, raised her eyes and asked, "Who will serve the eldest prince today?"
When two servants heard this, they were shocked and immediately kowtowed, saying, "Yes, we are servants."
When Concubine De saw the two eunuchs, she said coldly, "Raise your heads."
The two of them raised their heads in fear, not daring to look directly at Concubine De.
Seeing the look in front of her, Concubine De chuckled, "Why? Now you don't even dare to look at me?"
As soon as these words came out, the two servants kowtowed quickly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
Concubine De stopped touching the armor and said slowly, "I remember that you have served the eldest prince for many years."
The two servants knelt and looked at each other, not understanding what the queen meant.
Concubine De was in no mood to waste time talking to them, so she said bluntly, "In these few years, you still don't understand my likes and dislikes. What use are you, such a fool, staying by the side of the eldest prince?"
The two looked up in horror, but before they could say anything, Concubine De closed her eyes and said, "Drag him away."
No one knew where he was sent to, but the servants who were thrown out of Jingzhang Palace in this way were directly taken to the Ministry of Punishment when they heard about it, and they died the next day.
The two men kept begging for mercy, but Concubine De seemed not to hear them. Her expression was very calm, as if she was not deciding the life or death of the two.
"Mother!" The eldest prince came over without anyone noticing.
Concubine De did not do anything wrong because of the appearance of the eldest prince. Instead, she just let the two eunuchs stay where they were.
The eldest prince saw the two eunuchs were frightened out of their wits, pursed his lips and walked into the inner hall, stood in front of Concubine De and said: "It was my son who insisted on going to the Purple Palace, and it was also by chance that I met Empress Ying, it has nothing to do with them."
"Mother, can you please let them go?"
Defei had no expression at first, but when she heard the eldest prince's words, her brows suddenly wrinkled.
The change in emotions was so obvious that even the eldest prince couldn't help but feel scared.
Concubine De glanced past the eldest prince and looked at the two people kneeling on the ground, with a smile on her lips:
"In the past, mother only cared about teaching you knowledge, but today, mother will teach you properly."
After Concubine De said this, although the eldest prince was still young, he already felt what his mother was going to do next.
He took a step forward and was about to speak, but Concubine De spoke first, "You are the master, you can't be wrong. The only ones who are wrong are them. They are the ones who served you and failed to find out that you went to Zichen Palace and met Concubine Yinggui at the first time and came to tell me. It is them, the servants, who are guilty."
The eldest prince always spoke softly, but today he suddenly said, "No! No!"
But Concubine De was no longer willing to listen to the eldest prince. She looked at the two people kneeling on the ground and said, "Drag them away!"
The eldest prince wanted to step forward to stop them, but he was small and Wang Yi was standing in front of him, making it impossible for the eldest prince to move.
Wang Yi said softly, "Prince, your arm is still injured, please stop moving."
The wet nurse who served the eldest prince also wanted to step forward, but the eldest prince was extremely excited.
He watched helplessly as the two palace maids were dragged away and begged for mercy, but no one in the palace was willing to let them go.
When Concubine De saw the eldest prince's appearance, the anger in her chest dissipated a lot.
Approaching the eldest prince, Concubine De said softly, "Ting'er, you are a prince, the eldest son of your father. You are a noble person in this palace. Those servants are not worthy of you to grieve for them."
The eldest prince looked up at Concubine De and felt that his always familiar mother was particularly different today.
He wanted to say something, his lips slightly opened, his vision blurred, and he suddenly passed out.
Wang Yi was the first to notice that something was wrong with the eldest prince, and she quickly said, "Eldest prince! Eldest prince!"
At this moment, Concubine De showed panic in her eyes. She squatted down and touched the eldest prince's neck. The eldest prince's pulse in her palm was very weak. She said in a sharp voice: "Go and get the imperial physician!"
…
When Ruan Yun came down from the procession, Ji Zhaoyi also hurried over.
The little princess saluted Ruan Yun according to the rules. Ruan Yun touched the little princess's head and walked inside with Ji Zhaoyi.
Jingzhang Palace was in chaos. The two walked slowly. Ruan Yun had time to talk to Ji Zhaoyi:
"Yesterday, the eldest prince went to Zichen Palace, and I took him there."
Ji Zhaoyi thought for a moment, thinking back to the morning when Yicui joked with him and said something to her:
"Today, the Jingzhang Palace sent two palace maids to the Ministry of Punishment. I'm afraid they have been taken to a mass grave by now."
Ruan Jun paused, and the little princess looked at her in confusion.
Ruan Yun squatted down and looked at the little princess, touching her face. "Empress Ying has something to tell Mother. Can Xin'er go in and see the eldest brother first?"
The little princess nodded, turned around and said to Ji Zhaoyi: "Mother, don't let Xin'er wait too long."
Ji Zhaoyi smiled tenderly at the little princess and glanced at the wet nurse, who immediately followed the little princess.
Seeing the little princess walk in, Ruan Yun said, "Those two servants must be people around the eldest prince."
Ji Zhaoyi was relieved when he saw the little princess enter the palace. He turned his gaze back to Ruan Yun and said, "Sister Ying also noticed it."
Ruan Yun waved her round fan slowly and said something ambiguous, "Empress Defei, you care too much about the emperor."
The smile on Ji Zhaoyi's lips grew wider. "This way, it will be very beneficial to me and my sister."
The concubines arrived one after another, but the emperor had not come yet.
The Queen is seriously ill, and Ruan Yun has the highest position among them.
Ruan Yun turned around and said, "Sisters, you don't have to go in. You're disturbing the eldest prince's peace." The concubines bowed and waited for Ruan Yun and Ji Zhaoyi to leave. Concubine Su curled her lips and said, "The eldest prince has always been fine, how could he suddenly faint? Could it be that Concubine De hasn't seen the emperor for too long, so she came up with this idea?"
Concubine Zhou, who was always quick-witted, remained silent at this time. Normally, she would have just talked about the concubines, but the eldest prince was the heir to the throne. To talk about him like this, Concubine Su was really brainless.
Concubine Liu, who had always been aloof from the world, turned around and looked at Concubine Su with displeasure in her eyes, "Sister, please don't say such things. Children are the apple of their parents' eyes. How could Concubine De do such a thing?"
Concubine Su was choked by Concubine Liu's words and glared at her. "Could it be that you are the roundworm in Concubine De's stomach and know so much?"
There was a flash of helplessness in Lady Liu's eyes. She turned around and simply stopped talking to Lady Su.
Ruan Yun and Ji Zhaoyi walked into the inner hall, their eyes fixed on the incense burner that was slowly emitting white smoke, and they walked in with their noses covered with handkerchiefs.
Defei leaned on the low stool with her hands, a tired look on her face.
Hearing the footsteps of Ruan Yun and Ji Zhaoyi, even though she was reluctant, she had to stand up and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Ji Zhaoyi also gave a gift back to Concubine De, but Concubine De pretended not to notice it and asked, "Why is the noble concubine here?"
Ruan Yun heard these words, which were filled with reluctance and unwillingness.
Ruan Yun's expression was the same as usual. "The eldest prince is ill. I am here to help the Empress take care of the six palaces, so it is natural for me to come here."
Defei looked at Ruan Yun's smile and found it too dazzling.
Her fingertips were already embedded in her palms, but she still had to pretend that nothing had happened. "Don't worry, Concubine. The eldest prince is fine."
Ruan Yun ignored Concubine De's words and asked, "I heard that the eldest prince suddenly fainted. Why?"
Concubine De was in a state of great emotional turmoil. When she heard Ruan Yun's words, she turned around and said, "Your Majesty, just take good care of the Third Prince. Why are you holding on to my First Prince?"
After saying this, Concubine De looked at Ji Zhaoyi.
Before Ruan Yun could even open her mouth, she heard the eunuch's voice:
"The Emperor has arrived!"
The three of them turned around and saluted. When Yan Shiyu entered the hall, he just placed his hand in front of Ruan Yun.
There was a smile in Ruan Yun's almond-shaped eyes. When she raised her eyes, the cunningness within could not be concealed at all, and Yan Shiyu narrowed his eyes slightly.
The jade-like hand was placed in Yan Shiyu's palm. Ruan Jun turned around and her eyes inadvertently fell on Concubine De.
Defei's fingertips were embedded in her palms, and there was a hint of red at the corners of her eyes.
The one who was sick was her Ting'er. This was also the Jingzhang Palace, but in the emperor's eyes, he could only see Ruan Yun, this lowly maid!
A person who climbed up from a lowly palace maid was worthy to be above her and to sit in the position of a noble concubine.
Defei closed her eyes. Wangyi looked at the empress worriedly and supported Defei to prevent her from falling.
Yan Shiyu did not notice the appearance of Concubine De, but this scene was seen by Ji Zhaoyi.
The eldest prince was lying on the bed. The imperial physician knelt in front of the emperor and said what the emperor wanted to hear the most: "The eldest prince has hot blood and dry qi, and was stimulated for a while. He needs to be taken care of."
Yan Shiyu looked at the eldest prince's arm, remembering that the eldest prince's arm was injured, "Is the eldest prince's arm seriously injured?"
The doctor paused and said, "When I was giving acupuncture to the eldest prince, I could feel that his wrist was swollen. I think it's because he uses his hands too much. The eldest prince is still young, so this is really inappropriate."
Ruan Jun raised her eyes slightly, thinking about the eldest prince's depressed look that day, and the eldest prince's practiced calligraphy that appeared every day in Zichen Palace. Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, and she didn't know what she was thinking.
Yan Shiyu touched the eldest prince's face and said, "Take good care of the eldest prince."
There was a chill emanating from his body, and Defei naturally felt it.
Seeing the emperor was about to leave, Concubine De couldn't help but call out, "Your Majesty..."
Yan Shiyu turned sideways to look at the eldest prince on the bed, and said calmly, turning the white jade ring, "My beloved concubine, please take good care of Ting'er here."
Since Defei entered the palace, she had never seen the emperor in this state. His eyelashes were blinking so violently that Defei took a step back in disbelief.
Wang Yi hurriedly supported Concubine De, using a little force, hoping that the Empress would calm down.
Holding Ruan Yun's hand all the time, Yan Shiyu led Ruan Yun out of Jingzhang Palace. The concubines outside had not yet left.
Yan Shiyu frowned and said, "You all go back to the palace."
Concubine Su was the first to speak, "I wonder how the eldest prince is doing?"
Yan Shiyu gave Lady Su a neutral look, and Lady Su immediately shut up and dared not ask any more questions.
Ruan Yun watched the concubines leave and said in a sweet voice, "Sisters have not seen the emperor for a long time, so naturally they want to see him more often."
Yan Shiyu pinched Ruan Yun's waist, and the warning in his words was self-evident.
At this moment, Ruan Jun recalled what happened in Zichen Palace yesterday, so she dared not say anything more.
The little princess came up at this time, stood in front of Yan Shiyu, bowed and said: "Father, big brother, will you be okay?"
The eldest prince was very kind to the little princess and would give her a share of anything fun he found.
Yan Shiyu picked up the little princess and his voice became softer, "Yes."
The little princess hugged her father's neck and said, "Xin'er wants to come and see my eldest brother every day."
Ji Zhaoyi listened to the little princess' words, stepped forward with a smile, and said, "The little princess doesn't understand these things. I will ask the Empress Defei's opinion and bring Xin'er here."
Yan Shiyu nodded, "It's okay."
Putting the little princess down, Ruan Jun hooked her fingertips around the emperor and asked, "Your Majesty, will you stay a little longer to accompany the eldest prince?"
Yan Shiyu's voice became colder, "Since he is asleep, come back when he wakes up."
He closed his palms and held Ruan Jun's dishonest hand, "Do you want to do something else?"
Ruan Jun's ears turned red with embarrassment, "Your Majesty."
The sweet voice fell into Yan Shiyu's ears, and Yan Shiyu pinched her little face and said, "I still have some political affairs to deal with."
Ruan Yun dared not go to the Purple Palace with the emperor. She hurriedly took away her hand and stood in front of the emperor. "I think Dongdong should wake up. I have to go back to the palace to check."
Yan Shiyu let out a laugh from his chest and turned around to get on the imperial staff.
Seeing this, Ruan Yun also got on the ceremonial carriage and returned to Linxuan Palace.
Dongdong was still asleep after his nap. Ruan Yun washed her hands and sat beside Dongdong's rocking bed. Tingxu and Yingning were standing by and waiting.
Ruan Yun lowered her voice and asked, "Is Concubine De different today than in the past?"
Tingxu looked at Yingning, and Yingning immediately understood what the queen meant. "I saw it all from the side. The queen Defei couldn't help but want to say something several times, but was stopped by Wangyi."
Ruan Jun couldn't help but think back to the past when Concubine De planned every step extremely well. Today she acted like this on purpose in front of Concubine De. If it were in the past, Concubine De would definitely not do this. Today she was so out of control.
Ruan Jun tapped her fingertips lightly, her expression relaxed, "It seems that Wen Baolin's medicine is indeed useful."
Ying Ning and Ting Xu both agreed with what the queen said, "With such a good opportunity, why don't you take Madam into the palace?"
Ruan Yun shook her head slightly. "Without solid evidence, it would be futile to bring the nanny into the palace. It would be best to wait for someone to become confused on his own."
Tingxu nodded, "I will obey your majesty."
The Queen was not in the mood to organize the first birthday banquet, so she asked Ruan Yun to do it herself.
Ruan Yun touched the moving little face and said softly, "At the palace banquet that day, ask the palace servants serving Concubine De to be more clever. Wen Baolin's medicine can be used now."
Ying Ning said: "Nothing will happen at the banquet. What will be useful is that there will be a reaction after Concubine De returns to her bedroom."
If she hadn't thought of this, Ruan Jun really wouldn't have done such a thing at Dongdong's birthday party.
Since he was her child and grew up in the deep palace, she didn't want Dongdong to be involved in the whirlpool of gossip at such a young age. Moreover, that day was Dongdong's first birthday banquet.
Seeing that Dongdong was still not awake, Ruan Yun stood up and said, "Let's go. When Dongdong wakes up, let the nurse take him to see me."
Ting Xufu bowed and watched the queen walk back to the inner hall.
The Third Prince’s first birthday banquet is not far away, I just hope nothing goes wrong.
…
June 23
Various gifts had already been delivered to Linxuan Palace early in the morning.
Ruan Yun got up early in the morning, and when she was having breakfast, the wet nurse brought Dongdong over.
He stumbled towards Ruan Jun, who picked him up and said, "Be good."
Dongdong seemed to understand what A Niang was saying. He sat obediently in A Niang's arms, not moving a single muscle.
Ruan Yun touched Dongdong's nose and saw that he liked the hairpin on her head, so she took it off and gave it to the wet nurse, who then took Dongdong away.
Ying Ning took another golden crabapple pearl flower swing and inserted it firmly into Ruan Yun's bun, "Look, Madam."
Ruan Yun smiled and said, "I remember that this hairpin was given by the Emperor. The craftsmanship of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is indeed good."
Ying Ning laughed secretly, "The Emperor loves His Majesty especially."
Ruan Yun tried to open it, but Ying Ning dodged her, "You are just a poor talker."
Today is a busy day, and the Linxuan Palace is very lively.
At the hour of You, Ruan Yun got on the ceremonial procession and headed towards Qingxuan Palace.
The emperor went directly from the Zichen Palace to the Fengyi Palace. It was rare that the empress was able to hold on, and Ruan Jun was particularly happy.
"Let the nurses watch carefully."
Ruan Jun couldn't help but say this.
"Hey." Ying Ning helped the queen down from the ceremonial procession, "Don't worry, madam. I will go and explain it again."
The Queen Mother was seriously ill and didn't like to move, so she naturally wouldn't show up on such occasions.
Ruan Yun sat at the top. The concubines had already arrived, and Concubine De and Concubine Xian were already sitting next to Ruan Yun.
Seeing that Concubine De was still indifferent, Ruan Yun asked, "There have been a lot of things going on in the harem recently. I forgot to ask my sister if the eldest prince is okay."
Concubine De smiled and looked at Ruan Yun. "I'm sorry to trouble you, Concubine Gui. The eldest prince is doing well."
Ruan Yun said, "That's great."
Concubine Xian, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly asked, "Why didn't Concubine De bring the eldest prince here today?"
Concubine De's eyes were filled with coldness, "The eldest prince's hand injury has not yet fully healed, so it is not appropriate for him to go out."
Concubine Xian picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, without asking any other questions.
But Ruan Jun could hear something different in just a few of these sentences.
Yan Shiyu and the empress quickly entered the Qingxuan Palace, and all the court officials and concubines stood up.
Yan Shiyu walked to the top and said in a deep voice, "Stand up."
Ruan Yun sat beside the emperor, and the wet nurse carried Dongdong to the table.
Today, everyone was envious of the Imperial Concubine and the Third Prince who were sitting at the top, and they were particularly curious about what name the Ministry of Rites had drafted and which one the Emperor had chosen.
Dongdong stayed in the Zichen Palace for a long time and couldn't help wanting to go to his father's place.
Yan Shiyu glanced at the wet nurse, and the wet nurse hurriedly carried the third prince to the emperor.
The queen looked over, her eyes filled with love.
Dongdong sat obediently on Yan Shiyu's lap, playing with the longevity lock hanging around his neck.
Suddenly, Yan Shiyu's steady voice, neither loud nor soft, fell into the ears of everyone in Qingxuan Palace.
"Zhang'er."
Ruan Jun froze there for a moment, even her breathing stopped for a second.
The wine cup in Defei's hand fell directly onto the table, and the only thing she could hear was the emperor calling the third prince's name.
It is tall and straight, like a jade or a sapphire, and is pleasing to the eye.
Ruan Yun blinked her almond-shaped eyes vigorously. The emperor's meaning was very obvious.
His black eyes looked at Ruan Jun, the emotions in them were self-evident, but it was more than Ruan Jun could bear.
At this time in the Qingxuan Palace, the only thing that could be heard was the movement of Yan Shiyu's knee, and no one knew what had happened.
What does "Zhang" mean when used on a prince? Who doesn't know it?
Even Concubine Xian, who had already given up hope, couldn't help but have tears welling up in her eyes when she heard this name.
Ying Ning reminded Ruan Yun, "My Queen, it's time to thank you."
Ruan Jun was helped to stand up by Ying Ning and bowed softly to the emperor, "Thank you, Your Majesty, on behalf of the Third Prince."
Yan Shiyu gave the move to the nurse and said, "No need to be polite."
The hand was stretched out in front of Ruan Yun. Ruan Yun looked at the emperor's big palm and placed her hand on it naturally.
I sat down next to the emperor, but I couldn't forget what he had just said for a long time.
Many eyes fell on Ruan Yun, including Young Prince Yu.
He picked up the wine glass and held it in his hand. He didn't know what he was thinking about. A smile appeared on his lips and he drank the wine in one gulp.
As long as she is living well, that's the best.
Ruan Yun felt that her face was a little red in the inner hall at this time, and she whispered to the emperor beside her: "I want to go out and sober up."
His dark eyes fell on Ruan Yun's almost motionless wine cup, and Yan Shiyu nodded, "Come back soon."
The intimate words fell into Ruan Yun's ears, making her walk faster.
Yan Shiyu glanced down inadvertently and saw the man in the green official robe stand up and leave the table as Ruan Jun walked out. His black eyes darkened unconsciously.
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