Chapter 217 I'm waiting for your Buddha Jumps Over the Wall!
Imperial City, Warm Jade Pavilion.
His Majesty slowly opened his eyes, staring blankly at the bright yellow bed curtains above him.
Empress Zhang's eyes lit up with joy, "Your Majesty, you've finally woken up!"
His Majesty looked at Empress Zhang and subconsciously said, "Consort Zhang."
Empress Zhang was taken aback. She had not entered the palace through the imperial concubine selection process, so why would His Majesty call her Consort Zhang?
In an instant, His Majesty's expression returned to clarity, and he slowly sat up, supporting himself on the bed.
"Empress, how long have I been asleep?"
Empress Zhang turned around and took the ginseng tea from Eunuch Tian's hands. "His Majesty has been in a coma for three days."
"Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have worked diligently and tirelessly. The imperial physicians say that you are deficient in qi and blood and should not overwork yourself."
His Majesty gave a soft "hmm" and then continued, "Where are Zhou Congxian and Zhong Zhize? We can catch them if we don't investigate."
Eunuch Tian stammered, "Lord Zhou said... he didn't realize someone was there to help him, and that's how he escaped."
He immediately knelt down after saying that.
"Your Majesty, please don't get angry. Your subjects and servants deserve to be punished. Please don't upset yourself."
His Majesty sighed slowly.
He murmured, "Is fate something that cannot be defied?"
Grandpa Tian didn't understand, so he looked up.
His Majesty had already stood up, holding the Empress's hand. "Summon Zhou Congxian and Qin Daolin."
Empress Zhang wanted to offer a few more words of comfort, but His Majesty didn't look at her again, put on his outer robe, and left.
She watched His Majesty's retreating figure, her lips slightly pursed.
The female official helped her up and comforted her, "Your Majesty, don't be discouraged. His Majesty cares about the country, and the matter of Wule is at a critical juncture."
"If you pay more attention to His Majesty, he will see the Empress's good qualities."
Empress Zhang sighed softly, "Your Majesty has done so for the sake of the country; I am only concerned for Your Majesty's health."
She knew that Physician Cui was not telling her the truth.
No matter how exhausted they were, no one fell into a coma for three days.
The female official said, "Your Majesty, I have a prescription from my hometown that is very effective in replenishing qi and blood. Even an old man in his sixties had a son again thanks to this prescription!"
Empress Zhang's eyes lit up.
"Is it really true?"
...
The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
Meng Shilan carefully cut open the letter her brother had sent back home.
Her reply only reported good news and not bad news, and Meng Xingjiang is still completely unaware of her experiences in the capital.
Shuang'er brought in the fish soup.
"Sister, there are rumors circulating in the capital right now. Why doesn't the Crown Prince help you clarify things?"
Unbeknownst to him, his imprisonment in the Ministry of Justice's prison was already a secret, and his escape was virtually unknown to anyone.
Ironically, the news of Meng Shilan being kidnapped overnight spread throughout the capital.
Meng Shilan didn't care at all. "If they knew I faked my death and escaped from the capital for two years, wouldn't they cause an uproar?"
"If I cared about these rumors, I would have died eight hundred times over."
Shuang'er ladled a bowl of thick, white fish soup for her.
Her tone was still dissatisfied, "Back then, we were outside, and we didn't know anyone. Now it's different."
"Chuntao hinted at it all today, saying she wants to resign."
Actually, there were not only Chuntao, but also several maids.
Meng Shilan put down the letter and smiled. "How is it different? Besides the Zhou family, who else do you know in this capital?"
"As for their resignations, let them go. We can't force them to stay."
Shuang'er said, "That makes sense, but if we let them smear us, it'll seem like we're the ones with a guilty conscience."
"And Fu'er, those little brats at the Imperial Academy, I'm afraid they'll gossip behind my back."
Meng Shilan took a sip of the fish soup. "Mmm, so delicious!"
“Fu’er is stronger than you think. She has encountered this kind of thing since her first return to the capital.”
She paused, and besides, with the Seventh Prince present, who would dare to gossip?
Everyone treated Xiao Lin with utmost respect, except for Fu'er, who initially didn't know his identity and played with him.
They found out later, but they were already used to hanging out together.
Xiao Lin realized that Fu'er was his only playmate.
So, Xiao Lin, who was extremely bored, returned to the Imperial College last month.
Because he was there, Meng Shilan wasn't worried about Fu'er.
As the two were talking, Zhou Congxian arrived.
"It smells so good!" He smelled the fragrance as soon as he came in.
Shuang'er quickly placed both hands on the soup bowl, "This is for my sister!"
Zhou Congxian picked up the bowl that Meng Shilan had already drunk two mouthfuls from and drank it all in one gulp.
"When did Shuang'er become so stingy? You gave it to your sister, so why can't I drink it?"
Shuang'er gave a light "humph," and said, "If the young master clarifies things for my sister, I'll make you not only fish soup, but even Buddha Jumps Over the Wall!"
"Okay! I'll be waiting for your Buddha Jumps Over the Wall!"
Zhou Congxian took out a card from his pocket. "This is the invitation for the Royal Autumn Hunting Grounds."
"His Majesty only went on an autumn hunt during the two years of his ascension to the throne, and has not gone on an autumn hunt for four years."
"This year is definitely going to be exciting!"
Shuang'er was completely confused. "What does this have to do with clarification?"
Zhou Congxian: "Where else could you find a place with more people and a more complete selection?"
Meng Shilan frowned. "What are you going to play now?"
Zhou Congxian said, "There are still more than two months until the autumn hunt. The hunting grounds have not been used for four years and will need a lot of time to be repaired."
"We'll find out what to do when the time comes."
Meng Shilan said, "Then I won't go. Based on my experience, it's bound to be bad news."
"I'm only twenty years old, I haven't lived enough yet."
She now cherishes her life very much; she had never been this fearful in Ding County.
I've only been in the capital for a short time, and I've already encountered this twice.
If it happens again, she'll be scared to death!
Seeing her obvious resistance, Zhou Congxian leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words.
Meng Shilan's eyes widened. "Ah? Your Majesty..."
Zhou Congxian quickly covered her mouth, "Don't say it, it won't be fun if you tell the whole story."
Shuang'er was incredibly curious, but when she heard the words "Your Majesty," she wisely walked away.
It's fine to pry into any secrets, except royal secrets.
They'll die even faster.
Meng Shilan glanced at Shuang'er's departing figure, then changed her question.
"Now that we know who the unsuspecting contact is, why not arrest them immediately?"
Zhou Congxian shook his head, "It's not wise to alert them."
"Besides... this is also His Majesty's plan."
His brows furrowed slightly, and a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes.
His Majesty has always been calm and composed in his dealings, but this time…
He seemed to be able to sense His Majesty's hatred.
Two years have passed since Song Yitang's incident, yet this hatred seems to have suddenly surged up.
Zhou Congxian was unaware that His Majesty had been reborn.
He didn't know that when His Majesty reported that Song Jiyun might be the unsuspecting contact, he instantly understood two things from his previous life.
In his previous life, Song Yitang rose to the position of Grand Secretary at a young age.
They committed countless evil deeds, yet never considered the possibility of their great prosperity ending in ruin.
During the Great Sheng Dynasty, he was still the Grand Secretary.
Without the Great Sheng Dynasty, he was merely an official of a fallen kingdom.
The three months Zhou Congxian was missing directly led to a turning point in the crucial battle.
Song Jiyun, that woman twisted by jealousy.
It was she who, for her own selfish desires, disregarded the imminent danger of death.
This directly led to the accelerated demise of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
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