"Madam?"

Jingle couldn't believe it, and stared at the lady with her peach blossom eyes without blinking. For a moment, she even thought she was hallucinating.

She called out carefully, fearing to alarm the lady.

The old lady propped herself up and sat up. Jingle came to his senses and quickly picked up the pillow, patted the non-existent dust on it, and placed it behind the old lady so that she could lean on it more comfortably.

"Is it Awu?"

The lady asked again, and Jingle nodded quickly, "I am Awu, Awu."

The lady slowly reached out her hand, touched Jingle's cheek, and said softly, "Little Awu... has grown up."

Jingle almost cried with joy.

"It's been a long time..."

The lady's consciousness was not completely blurred, but in the past few years, she seemed to be in endless darkness and could not find a way out.

Occasionally she would be lucid for a while, but such lucidity would not last long and she would be pulled back into the darkness again.

She didn't want to be swallowed by the darkness, so she tried hard to hold on to the only light in the darkness.

Sometimes awake, sometimes asleep.

She didn't know how much time had passed until just now, when she opened her eyes, she found that the darkness that had trapped her for so long was gone.

"Madam."

Jingle threw herself into her arms, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably, and before she knew it, she was crying loudly.

Ever since Zhenbei King Chu Shen died in battle, Chu Yuanchen has been far away in the northern border, and his life or death is uncertain. Jingle has never dared to cry or show her vulnerability. She must shoulder the responsibility of Zhenbei Palace so that Chu Yuanchen will not have to worry about the future. No matter how difficult it is, she has to grit her teeth.

But in fact, she also wanted to have an elder who could rely on her when she was occasionally vulnerable and helpless.

Just like this moment.

"Little Awu...don't cry..."

The lady hadn't spoken a complete sentence for a long time. Her voice was hoarse and somewhat intermittent.

Her old hands gently patted Jingle's back and coaxed her softly.

Jiaoyang was almost dumbfounded. She tilted her head and called, "Sister?"

Sheng Xiyan was also stunned, and only then did she come to her senses. She said softly, "Jiaoyang, go call your eldest brother."

Jiaoyang was at a loss because she didn't know what she could do. After Sheng Xiyan gave the order, she immediately became excited and ran out.

Jingle vented her inner joy and anxiety. After crying for a while, she slowly stopped crying and smiled at the lady in an embarrassed manner, just like the little girl in the lady's memory.

She loves to run around and make noises. When she does something wrong, she pretends to cry and act pitiful. Once someone softens their heart, she will stick to them and act coquettishly. No one is willing to say a harsh word to her.

"Awu."

The lady touched her head, just like before.

Jingle laughed. After a while, she suddenly realized what was going on and turned around nervously to call out, "Sister Yan, come over here and take a look."

Sheng Xiyan was standing beside her. Upon hearing this, she walked over and asked softly, "Madam?"

The lady turned her head and looked at her. After a few breaths, she smiled softly and said, "I seem to remember you..."

When she was in darkness and was about to lose the last bit of light, a gentle voice called her. Since the voice appeared, her head no longer hurt so much, and the light that was about to go out became brighter and brighter.

She remembered the sound.

Sheng Xiyan was stunned for a moment, then slightly opened her lips and said, "I'll take your pulse."

The lady stretched out her hand.

Sheng Xiyan took her pulse.

Not long after, Chu Yuanchen hurried over and went into the house with Jiuyang. When they saw Sheng Xiyan taking the pulse, they stood quietly by.

Sheng Xiyan withdrew his hand and pondered silently.

"Madam."

Chu Yuanchen came over with a smile and asked, "You're awake now, how do you feel?"

Chu Yuanchen was born late, and the old lady had never seen him. She glanced back and forth between Chu Yuanchen and Jiaoyang, and suddenly understood something. She smiled and said, "Little Awu... has become a mother too..."

Jingle just remembered that she forgot to introduce them, and hurriedly said, "This is Achen and Jiaoyang, and Sister Yan. Sister Yan is Achen's engaged daughter-in-law."

The lady was still a little weak and didn't react very quickly. After Jingle finished speaking, it took her a while to slowly understand what she meant.

She smiled, but it was a bit forced: "How long has it been?"

Jingle suppressed a sigh and said with a smile, "Twenty years."

It’s been twenty years... The old lady has been silent for even longer. It’s already been twenty years.

It seems like past life and present life.

No wonder little Awu has become a mother now.

"Where's the jade bracelet?"

In her confused memories, the old lady thought of the jade bracelet.

"The letter in the jade bracelet has been obtained." Chu Yuanchen said.

The lady showed relief on her face, as if this was more important than anything else.

Seeing this, Chu Yuanchen simply told her his arrangements.

The lady was slow to understand, so Chu Yuanchen calmed down and spoke slowly, one sentence at a time.

"Students..."

She understood that Chu Yuanchen wanted to incite the students and put pressure on the emperor from the literati and the people.

What Chu Yuanchen needs is to take advantage of the greater good.

When Chu Yuanchen finished speaking, Sheng Xiyan noticed the fatigue on Madam Tai's face, so she interrupted them and asked, "Madam Tai, are you hungry?"

She had been in a coma since she had a high fever and hadn't eaten for almost two days.

Jingle also said: "There is porridge in the kitchen, would you like some?"

There was porridge simmering in the small kitchen, waiting for the lady to wake up so that she could have some anytime.

The lady knew that they did not want to upset her too much, so she nodded gently. Jingle immediately and happily told Nanny Lan to serve the porridge.

The long-lasting gloom and depression were swept away by the lady's awakening, and were replaced by a faint joy and hope.

Sheng Xiyan quietly pulled Chu Yuanchen's sleeve, and Chu Yuanchen immediately understood and followed her out.

Sheng Xiyan said bluntly: "...It may be related to high fever." The human brain is really too complicated.

These days, Sheng Xiyan has been giving the old lady acupuncture to slowly eliminate the blood stasis in her brain. The old lady's mental confusion is mainly caused by the pressure of the blood stasis.

"After the accident, the lady didn't lose consciousness immediately. It was only over the years that her condition gradually became more serious."

"I guess the blood clot is not too big. The silver needle treatment has been somewhat effective these days, and the lady herself is very determined."

It is precisely because of her strong will that she has been able to remain clear-headed no matter how difficult the situation is and has survived until now.

Sheng Xiyan said uncertainly: "So, maybe it was the high fever this time, and after the stimulation, he suddenly woke up."

"Is the Madam okay now?" Chu Yuanchen asked.

"I don't know." Sheng Xiyan shook her head, "There is still blood stasis in the pulse."

Being sober is like a miracle.

She couldn't explain why she woke up.

She was a little depressed. If only she could be as powerful as her grandfather, then maybe she would know the reason.

"It's okay." Chu Yuanchen touched her black hair. "Twenty years have passed. What are you afraid of?!"

Even if it was only a brief moment of clarity, it at least gave them hope.

"It can't be any worse than it is now."

Chu Yuanchen has always been optimistic. With just a few words, he made Sheng Xiyan feel relieved and the corners of her mouth curled up in joy.

That’s right, I’ve encountered the worst situations before, and now it’s much better!

"Let's go."

The two went in together again.

Jingle noticed them when they went out. Now seeing them come in talking and laughing, she knew at a glance that the lady was fine, so she was completely relieved and didn't ask any more questions.

Sheng Xiyan no longer worried about why the old lady suddenly woke up. She would just continue the treatment by following her pulse!

Ah Chen also said that her medical skills were amazing! Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a little proud, and she felt relieved.

The lady was not in a very good mood. After eating the porridge, she fell into a deep sleep without saying a few words.

Sheng Xiyan changed the paste on her hands and quietly reminded Jingle to continue taking Chen Jie Cai Su.

Originally they were somewhat worried that the lady might become stupid again after falling asleep, but fortunately, that did not happen.

She still remembered them when she woke up, and her condition improved day by day, and she gradually remembered more things.

By the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the long-festering wound on her arm finally began to heal.

It turned out that her high fever was caused by the unhealed wound. The healing of the wound meant that she was completely recovered, and she had not had a fever since the eighth day of the first lunar month.

Jingle stared at the thin layer of scab, looking left and right, her eyes full of smiles, as if it was not a scab but a flower.

"Okay, I'm fine now. Stop staring at me," the old lady smiled at them and said kindly, "In this year, each of you looks more haggard than me."

"And you." She stared at Chu Yuanchen and said, "It's the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and you didn't even take your future wife out to play. How can you be so dull? Be careful that Sister Yan thinks you're stupid."

Sheng Xiyan covered her mouth and chuckled, glancing at him.

Jingle also thought so. She knew that her son, apart from having a good-looking face, didn't know how to please girls, which really made her worry.

The lady pretended to stroke her forehead and said, "Go out and play. Don't keep showing up in front of me. You're making my head hurt."

Chu Yuanchen said naturally: "Then I will take Ah Yan out to play first, and then pick you up to see the lanterns in the evening."

They had promised the lady early in the morning that as long as she recovered from her illness, they would take her out to see the lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and eat Yuanxiao together.

"You don't have to come to pick her up." The lady waved her hand and said, "I'll go to the restaurant with your mother and Jiaoyang and wait for you there."

Chu Yuanchen had already booked a private table in the restaurant.

That's fine!

Chu Yuanchen readily agreed.

The lady no longer pretended to have a headache, and nodded with a smile, and asked, "Go quickly, have fun."

After the two of them left, she sent Jingle to rest. Jiuyang was still in class at the moment. Starting from the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Jiuyang's vacation was over.

After sending them all away, the lady returned to her room and, under the pretext of taking a nap, she sent away the maid who was serving her.

She leaned back on the couch and raised her hand to touch her wrist, where the bracelet was.

Over the past few days, my memories of the past have become increasingly clear, especially when I was half asleep and half awake, when I could already string together those little bits and pieces.

The lady lifted her sleeves, revealing the scar on her wrist that had just scabbed over. She pondered for a moment, used her fingernails to pull apart the thin crust on it, and then lifted it up suddenly.

The wound that had just healed was forcibly peeled open, and a little blood seeped out. Not long after, the wound became a bloody mess again.

She lowered her sleeve to cover the wound.

From beginning to end, her face was very calm and her eyes were filled with determination.

At this time, it was just past midday.

The sun was high in the sky, adding a touch of warmth to the cold capital city.

Around the seventh day of the first lunar month, all the shops and restaurants in the streets and alleys of the capital city had already opened their doors. Various lanterns were hung at the doorways of the shops, creating a lively atmosphere similar to that of the Lantern Festival.

Various stalls were set up on the street, the vendors were shouting loudly, and most of the pedestrians walking on the road were in high spirits.

The carriage arrived at Huashang Street and stopped at the street corner. Sheng Xiyan said with a burning gaze, "I wonder if there will be any lion dances to watch today."

The joy on her face made Chu Yuanchen smile as well, and he said, "Go and see for yourself."

Sheng Xiyan readily agreed and took his hand and jumped off the carriage.

Chu Yuanchen took out a frosty-colored cloak inlaid with rabbit fur from the carriage and wrapped her in it. She wore the jade hairpin he gave her in her hair, and her face was lightly powdered. Her distinct black and white almond-shaped eyes were filled with expectation and joy.

She took the lead and walked forward briskly: "Let's go."

Huashang Street is more lively during the Lantern Festival than usual, with people coming and going, and many stalls selling lanterns.

Except when she was a child, Sheng Xiyan had not gone out during the Lantern Festival for many years. Now she was dazzled by the sight, and her eyes were not enough. She could not help but stop in front of a lantern shop.

Chu Yuanchen asked: "Which one do you like?"

Sheng Xiyan pointed at a cat light and said, "This one!"

The lantern is a cat sitting and licking its paw, which is quite interesting.

"That's it."

Chu Yuanchen went up to ask, but it turned out that the lanterns in this shop were not sold individually, but were prizes for ring-tossing.

The stall owner said cheerfully, "Ten coins for ten rings. You get whatever you catch. Do you want to try it, sir?"

Chu Yuanchen didn't have a copper plate, so he took out a silver ingot and said, "Give me ten."

He took ten crudely made bamboo rings, aimed at the target, and threw them easily. The bamboo rings were firmly put on the ears of the cat light.

Sheng Xiyan clapped her hands happily: "I got it right!"

That’s amazing!

The stall owner smiled and gave the cat light to Chu Yuanchen, saying, "Young Master, you have a really good eye."

He sets up this stall every year. Others rely on luck to set the trap, unlike this young man who not only has good eyesight but also has precise arm strength and can hit the target in one set.

This cat lantern could be sold for a hundred coins, and was originally intended to be the treasure of the stall. However, it was sold out as soon as the stall was put up.

The stall owner asked carefully, "What else do you want to get, sir?"

Chu Yuanchen turned around and asked Sheng Xiyan: "What do you think?"

"No." Sheng Xiyan took the cat light and said with a smile, "I just like this one."

She held the cat lantern and shook it gently. The lantern spun in a circle, and the cat's pink little tongue was still licking its paw, looking very lifelike.

As far as I can remember, no one has bought her a lantern for a long time.

After a moment of daze, she smiled and said, "There seems to be a man selling spring cakes in front. Let's go and have some."

Not only do they sell spring cakes, they also sell Yuanxiao, wheat cakes, and Yuanxiao tea...

They ate and shopped along the way. When they finished shopping on Huashang Street, Sheng Xiyan had a bracelet made of red rope mixed with gold thread on her hand. Not only her, but he also had one.

The stall owner said cheerfully that the red string was obtained from Yue Lao Temple, and that tying the red string on one's neck meant tying a lifelong relationship, so Chu Yuanchen immediately took out some money.

They each had one.

"Come."

Chu Yuanchen picked up a fried Yuanxiao with a bamboo stick and handed it to her lips.

There was still lip balm on her lips, so she had to take a gentle bite carefully.

The Yuanxiao was filled with black sesame filling, and by the time she finished eating one, some black sesame seeds were on the corners of her lips. Sheng Xiyan was about to take a handkerchief, but Chu Yuanchen was one step faster than her and gently stroked the corners of her lips with the tip of his thumb.

His voice was a little deep: "It's... black sesame."

Sheng Xiyan smiled.

There was a sound of gongs not far away, and her eyes lit up: "There's a lion dance!"

"Let's go watch the lion dance."

Sheng Xiyan held the cat light in one hand and naturally grabbed Chu Yuanchen's sleeve with the other hand and shook it gently.

Chu Yuanchen smiled slightly, held her hand with his backhand, and walked quickly in the direction of the crowd in coordination with her steps.

The sound of gongs became louder and louder. Amid the crowd of people, a colorful lion dance was leaping to catch the ball and then passed it to another lion dance.

Chu Yuanchen protected her and brought her to the front. Someone brought a ladder and the dancing lion stepped on it staggeringly. On the high ladder, the dancing lion stood upright and upside down from time to time, experiencing many thrills.

There were shouts of surprise and applause all around.

"Achen, look, he caught the ball! They jump so beautifully."

"nice."

Chu Yuanchen said softly, lion dancing and the like are not as pretty as her!

After watching the lion dance, it was almost time, so Chu Yuanchen said, "Let's go out and watch the lanterns later."

It is not until dark that the lanterns in the capital city will be lit one after another.

Sheng Xiyan asked: "Will the Holy Driver come today?"

Chu Yuanchen nodded with a smile: "Yes."

Every year during the Lantern Festival, there will be a temple fair and a lantern festival in front of the Huangjue Temple, and the emperor will come here to enjoy the show with the people. This is a rare opportunity for the people to see the emperor's face.

The emperor has been "ill" for so long, if he doesn't appear at the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, people will probably have a lot of speculations again.

He said: "The restaurant I booked is right next to Huangjue Temple, and I can see the lantern festival and fireworks at Huangjue Temple."

As they were talking, they walked out of Huashang Street, got on a carriage, and headed straight for the restaurant.

There were already many imperial guards patrolling the streets in front of Huangjue Temple, so carriages could not pass through, so people had to get off the carriages and walk in.

The wine shop was not far from the street corner. As soon as I walked in, I heard a student's passionate voice: "...The late emperor's actions were really unfair. How could he be worthy of the soldiers who died in vain in Lingnan?"

"As people of our generation, we should uphold justice and not bow to power!"

Sheng Xiyan glanced at Chu Yuanchen, he nodded with a smile and led her to the stairs to the second floor.

Chu Yuanchen said to Sheng Xiyan: "It started before the New Year."

The emperor fell ill after returning from Huangjue Temple. He ignored state affairs and was unwilling to face this matter. He instinctively wanted to escape, covering his ears and not listening, and covering his eyes and not seeing, as if as long as he did this, this incident would not have happened.

The emperor's escape gave them an opportunity.

After his family was destroyed and his loved ones died, Chi Yu was no longer as radical as before, but gradually instigated the scholars.

Taizu gave the students the power to discuss politics, but no one dared to question the late emperor and the present in public. At first, the students were worried that the soldiers would arrest them, but gradually, they calmed down and began to speak freely. It has only been more than half a month, and Chi Yu has already raised his arms and shouted loudly, and now the students have begun to spontaneously speak up for the Lingnan Palace.

Chu Yuanchen said: "Chi Yu will lead the students to petition today."

The emperor rarely left the palace, so of course he couldn't let him go back "safely".

"I have to go to Huangjue Temple later." He winked at Sheng Xiyan and whispered in her ear meaningfully, "Add fuel to the fire."

As he was speaking, Chu Yuanchen pushed open the door of the private room and saw that the Madam and her companions had already arrived.

After the greeting, Jiaoyang said happily, "Sister, the lady bought me a lantern."

Jiuyang's lantern was a revolving lantern placed on the table. The lantern had eight sides, each of which was painted with a detailed painting, which together told a short story. When they came in, Jiuyang was looking at the painting on the revolving lantern.

"I have one too." Sheng Xiyan picked up the cat light.

She also put the cat lantern on the table, side by side with the revolving lantern. The two, one big and one small, sat side by side, facing the two lanterns, chatting with each other, and Jiaoyang giggled from time to time.

"Awu." After they all sat down, the lady drank a sip of warm water to moisten her throat, and then said solemnly, "I will go and beat the drum for hearing the news in a while."

Jingle was startled and blurted out subconsciously: "No."

The Dengwen Drum was set up outside the Meridian Gate. If the people had grievances and nowhere to appeal, they were allowed to beat the Dengwen Drum, report their grievances to the emperor, and have them heard by the emperor.

However, in order to prevent someone from beating the drum for reporting the case casually, the "Da Rong Law" stipulates that anyone who beats the drum for reporting the case must first be beaten with thirty sticks in the court.

Generally speaking, the Dengwen Drum only serves to monitor local officials, and few people would dare to strike it in order to impose thirty strokes of the cane.

How could the Madam, at her age, bear the punishment of a cane?

"Awu, listen to me."

As the lady spoke, she pulled up her sleeve, revealing the bloody wound on her forearm.

Sheng Xiyan let out a soft cry. Before they came out, there was still a thin layer of scab on the lady's wound. How come...

"I did it myself."

The lady knew that they would definitely try to stop her, so she simply avoided them and quietly opened the wound, cutting first and reporting later.

"A bruised wound is more likely to arouse sympathy."

Even when the word "sympathy" was mentioned, the lady remained calm and composed, as if the injury was not on her own.

"Madam," Chu Yuanchen said, "I have already made arrangements for today."

"I know." The lady said with relief, "You did a good job."

Such a simple letter has actually been used to the fullest by Chu Yuanchen.

"But it can be better, right?" The lady asked with a smile, "It will be better if I do it."

"Ah Chen, you actually know this, too."

Chu Yuanchen: “…”

Chu Yuanchen certainly understood this.

In the Lingnan Palace back then, apart from..., the Dowager was the only survivor. It would be more logical for her to come forward as the victim and for Chi Yu to cooperate with her.

However, once this is done, it would be equivalent to requiring the lady to step back into the spotlight.

Become someone the emperor wants to get rid of as soon as possible.

She is almost seventy years old and has suffered for half her life.

How could Chu Yuanchen bear it?

"I have endured twenty years, waiting for this day."

Chu Yuanchen's heart was shocked.

It’s not just the Madam who has endured for twenty years.

He looked into the wise and calm eyes of the old lady. He seemed to see another person in her, someone who had also endured for twenty years.

After a long pause, he nodded: "Okay."

Jingle: "Achen!"

Chu Yuanchen shook his head gently at her and said, "Mother, let the Madam go."

Chu Yuanchen calmed down and said, "Madam, the emperor will arrive at half past the Shen hour. You will strike the drum at the You hour, and leave the rest... to me."

The lady smiled with relief and said seriously, "Okay."

"Ayan." Chu Yuanchen's expression had returned to normal, and he said to Sheng Xiyan with a smile, "Do you want to go to Huangjue Temple with me?"

Of course!