After the Lantern Festival, the first spring rain of the year arrives.
The sound of dripping rain started before dawn, and by daybreak, the drops of rain dripped from the eaves and hit the ground, gathering into a stream.
When Su Ci woke up, the uncomfortable feeling was gone, but she felt a little cold. She wrapped herself in a quilt and lay on the windowsill facing the courtyard. She opened the window a little bit and peeked at the opposite side.
I didn’t feel anything when we did it last night, but after we were done, I thought about meeting again today and I always felt a little weird.
It adds a bit of an unnatural feel.
There was a shadow moving in the east side hall, and after a while a young eunuch came out holding a copper tray for washing. The door on her side of the hall also opened with a creak, and Aunt Zhang and the young palace maid came in with toiletries.
Su Ci put on the pale green dress with a small leaf collar and twined branches pattern and the large cape with white fox fur trim that she had chosen yesterday. She rubbed her face and put on some facial cream, and applied a little osmanthus oil that Aunt Zhang had enthusiastically recommended to her temples. After finally dressing herself up and satisfying Aunt Zhang, she pushed open the door and found Yang Yanzong already standing in the corridor waiting for her.
He was wearing black leather sleeves and a dark blue tight-fitting military officer's uniform. His body was as straight as a javelin, his face was silent and restrained, and his eyes were sharp. As soon as the door moved, he glanced over sharply.
Through the misty rain, the two looked at each other for a moment.
In this "U"-shaped vermilion corridor, two people stood on each side of the east and west side halls. After seeing each other, Su Ci blinked, and the two of them walked around the corridor to meet each other and go out of the palace gate.
It was drizzling, and Yang Yanzong was holding an oil-paper umbrella. The rain was hazy. The people in front and behind with umbrellas, leading the way and following him, kept a little distance away so that it was convenient for them to talk. Yang Yanzong turned his head to take a look. Her porcelain-white cheeks were sunken in the snow-white fluffy fox fur, which made her face look even smaller. Her lips were red, her teeth were white, and her hair was black.
He asked in a low voice: "Does your body still hurt?"
I was in such a rush yesterday that I didn't have time to take care of many things.
Su Ci: “…”
She wanted to laugh. Why did this question remind her so much of the classic lines between the male and female protagonists in romance novels after they had sex? It's just that Yang Yanzong's voice is naturally indifferent, and so is her expression. It sounds very different, but she didn't feel like laughing, so this question is a bit embarrassing.
She glanced at him, coughed twice, and said seriously, "It's okay. It won't take long anyway."
She didn't mean it when she said it, just wanting to show that she didn't feel uncomfortable, but she realized what she meant as soon as she said it and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
It turns out that people cannot be embarrassed, because it is easy to say the wrong thing when they are embarrassed!
Yang Yanzong's face darkened, but Su Ci's big eyes immediately looked over at him, with curved eyebrows and a smile: "Brother Yang." Don't be angry!
He snorted coldly, and finally spared her for the time being, but he said fiercely in his heart, just wait for me!
However, after this incident, the strange atmosphere disappeared and they returned to their normal relationship.
The two were going to Shangyang Palace. Deqing Palace and Shangyang Palace were very close, but some imperial roads were only for the emperor to use. Everyone else, no matter who they were, had to take a detour, which made a big detour.
They walked slowly along the stone road, circled the red corridor, and followed it all the way to the vicinity of Canglong Gate. The two whispered a few words along the way, but it was basically Su Ci who spoke. Yang Yanzong responded with a brief "hmm". As they walked, suddenly Aunt Xu, who was leading the way in front, paused. She looked towards the Canglong Gate outside the corridor. Her expression didn't change, but there seemed to be something obscure in her eyes.
So Yang Yanzong and Su Ci also looked over.
Behind the Canglong Gate, I saw a young man walking through the palace gate and heading towards the inner palace.
Su Ci exclaimed in her heart. She and Aunt Xu were getting familiar with each other, and she was quite brave, so she asked curiously, "Who is this?"
Aunt Xu had already retracted her gaze and said calmly, "This is His Royal Highness Prince Qian."
Su Ci suddenly realized that it was King Qian!
You may be a little unfamiliar with Prince Qian, but you are familiar with his son. As mentioned earlier, the old emperor's original preferred heir to the throne was Prince Qian's youngest son, born to Empress Kun's niece. The child is seven years old this year and is still being raised in Changqiu Palace.
Of course, for Su Ci now, this is not the point. The point is the King Qian in front of him.
At first glance, Su Ci was really surprised. Wow, this King Qian is such a talented person!
He was tall and thin, with fair skin and black eyebrows, and an elegant demeanor, like a young man who had walked out of a misty ink painting of the south of the Yangtze River. He was wearing a beautiful royal robe with a white satin base and a wide waistband. He was walking towards this side across the Canglong Gate Square. The sky was blue and misty, and the water fog was hazy as he walked closer and closer.
This was the first time Su Ci had seen this type of man. He was extremely handsome and had a very elegant temperament. The key point was that there was a hint of sadness in his brows, which made it impossible for people to associate him with power-hungry people in the slightest. Instead, at first sight, people subconsciously believed that he did not want to send his son to the palace.
"It is indeed King Qian. He must be here to visit his young son."
Su Ci said: "I originally thought that King Qian must be very old." I didn't expect him to be so young.
"King Qian has two sons. The eldest son is born to his first wife, the former consort, and the youngest son is born to his second consort."
King Qian was accompanied by a young boy in his early teens, who looked similar in height and appearance, so this boy must be the eldest son. The father and son went to the palace together to visit the youngest son and his younger brother who had been brought into the palace to be raised since they were infants.
Prince Qian passed by several people under the red corridor, recognized Aunt Xu and nodded. Aunt Xu lowered her eyes and returned the greeting.
From a close distance, this King Qian is even more pleasing to the eye. His skin is so white that not a single pore can be seen. The sense of elegance and melancholy that comes from him is extremely strong. He is simply the most elegant man Su Ci has ever seen, far ahead of everyone else.
Su Ci didn't actually show it, she just rolled her eyes, she didn't forget that Yang Yanzong was standing next to her, as his fiancée she couldn't show it too much, so she just admired him secretly and drooled.
But Su Ci didn't know that when people are in a very good mood, they will always be radiant. It would be fine if it were someone else, but Yang Yanzong was a man of extremely sharp observation. He withdrew his gaze from Prince Qian and glanced at her, only to find that the girl's eyes were shining, at least one degree brighter than before.
She seemed to have withdrawn her gaze, but her peripheral vision was still on the direction where King Qian turned.
Yang Yanzong was so annoyed that he was about to be pissed off to death by her. He had never seen such a woman before! He suddenly realized that even though they had had physical contact, she hadn't changed at all.
He remembered that when Su Ci met Ji Yuanhao for the first time, she hid in the bushes and stared at him for a long time.
Su Ci was pulled by Yang Yanzong and dragged forward with big strides. She turned her head in surprise, only to find that he was staring at her, his eyes seemed to be spitting fire.
Su Ci was puzzled: "What's wrong?" What was he angry about? Everything is fine?
Yang Yanzong snorted coldly, but what he was thinking in his heart was, it seems that this woman will not be honest unless they get married!
…
After going down the Zhulang, we walked along the palace wall and crossed the Canglongmen Square. The wind was very strong, sweeping across the room, soaking the hems of clothes and uppers of shoes, but no one said anything.
We are about to arrive at Shangyang Palace, and we can already see the big red and golden pillars under the double-eaved hipped roof.
At this moment, whether it was Yang Yanzong or Su Ci, all their inexplicable or angry emotions were thrown aside, and their faces tensed at the same time.
Su Ci told Yang Yanzong yesterday that the stitches on the old emperor's wound needed to be removed.
It could have been removed a few days ago, but the emperor's patient is different from others. For most people, the wound will still hurt for a while after the stitches are removed, but old emperor, do you dare to say that to him? Su Ci decided not to say anything and decided to wait until her injuries were almost healed before dismantling it.
In other words, the old emperor's treatment is now coming to an end.
The matter of her and Yang Yanzong entering the palace will soon have a final result.
If it weren't for this, the two of them wouldn't have been so eager yesterday, and Su Ci wouldn't have agreed to do it for him as soon as he made a gesture.
The turning point is right in front of us. Whether it is good or bad, whether we can return home safely, it all depends on today!
Curing the emperor is not the end of the story. There is a saying in ancient times that thunder, lightning, rain and dew are all grace from the emperor, especially now that the situation is so complicated and Yang Yanzong's identity is so sensitive.
Su Ci took a deep breath and turned her head to look at Yang Yanzong.
This man was reserved and silent, like the surface of a river in the cold winter. From the moment he glimpsed the roof of Shangyang Palace, he could feel an extremely dangerous tension in his silence.
Aunt Xu was the first to climb the stairs, and the other two were a few steps behind. As she was closing her umbrella, Yang Yanzong's deep and sharp eyes glanced over and he quickly said in a very low voice: "Don't panic, stay calm."
Su Ci nodded quickly. Aunt Xu had already turned around and handed the umbrella to the young eunuch who came over. Su Ci also handed the umbrella to him.
The three of them turned around and walked towards the main hall door.
On rainy days, the rain boots worn in the palace are high-soled wooden clogs. Aunt Xu somehow managed to walk on the hard white marble corridor without making any sound. But Su Ci was not the same. No matter how carefully she walked on tiptoe, she still made some sound.
"Clack, clack, clack", the subtle sound of wooden clogs knocking on the corridor was infinitely amplified in the extremely quiet palace corridor. There were so many people, but it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. No matter whether it was the guards with swords and spears facing outside or the little eunuchs standing by the wall with lowered brows and eyes, no one made any sound, as if they were dead sculptures.
The "click, click, click" sounds were very clear, like knocking on the heart, making people's hearts curl up involuntarily. Su Ci regretted it very much. If she had known earlier, she would not have worn rain boots. Although the soles of the embroidered shoes were as thin as paper, they were wet. Anyway, the uppers were wet and the soles didn't matter.
When they arrived at the palace gate, a palace maid brought a pair of soft-soled embroidered shoes and helped Su Ci put them on.
Now the palace maids and eunuchs in Shangyang Palace are very polite and caring towards her since she cured the old emperor. I just don't know if I will still have this treatment after today.
It was a cloudy day today, and candles were lit in the hall. However, the old emperor was old, and too much bright light would be dazzling to his eyes, so every time he came, the candlelight in Shangyang Hall would always be dim.
As I entered the hall, it felt two degrees darker. I don’t know if it was Su Ci’s psychological effect, but I always felt that the smell of ambergris was particularly strong today, making me dizzy.
The old emperor had just come off court and had changed into his regular clothes. He was sitting on a large gilded chair on the jade steps, leaning sideways and looking up, with one hand resting on the wide armrest.
Yang Yanzong came in with her, but both Aunt Xu and the eunuch guarding the door ignored them.
Su Ci licked her lips. Oh my god, I’m a little nervous.
It's really scary even if people don't die.
She was complaining in her heart but didn't dare show it on her face. When the old emperor didn't move, she followed Aunt Xu up the jade steps. Sun Shiping brought up a large gold-painted tray covered with white linen. On it were a bunch of scissors, curved needles, needle holders, tweezers and other items, all brand new and exquisite.
——In the past few months, she has upgraded a lot of medical equipment, but I don’t know whether it will be hers in the future.
Behind Sun Shiping, a row of young eunuchs were holding copper basins, pancreas and other things. Su Ci washed her hands and dried them. A palace servant had already knelt down and carefully lifted the blanket covering the old emperor's injured leg. Su Ci carefully cut open the bright yellow trousers, cut the black silk thread, clamped it accurately with tweezers, and pulled it out quickly.
She carefully glanced at the old emperor's face out of the corner of her eye. It was a bit painful to remove the stitches, but the emperor was not willing to take Ma Fei San again.
The old emperor slowly twisted a string of dark brown agarwood beads in his hand, neither hurried nor slow. When Su Ci pulled the thread, her movements did not slow down either. Her eyes, which were already deep and unfathomable, were visible under the layers of wrinkles on her eyelids.
Su Ci didn't dare to look again. She took a quick glance and quickly retracted her gaze, concentrating all her attention on the tweezers in her hand.
Although the emperor had many wounds, three in total, Su Ci's skills were very good. The initial wounds were small and the stitches were removed very quickly, only about a minute or so, and it was done.
A few blood beads oozed out of the stitches. After she wiped it with a cotton towel, the blood stopped oozing out after a while and the patient was healed.
Seeing Su Ci put down her things and wash her hands, Sun Shiping asked hurriedly, "Miss Su, don't you need some medicine?"
"No, it's just a minor skin injury. If it's not necessary, it's better to use less medicine." This is to reduce drug resistance.
Su Ci lowered her head to wash her hands, then stepped down the jade steps from the side quietly. Over there, Sun Shiping and the palace maids were about to help the old emperor go into the inner hall to change clothes, but the old emperor raised his hand and stopped silently.
He cast his gaze on Su Ci, who was standing at the jade steps, and Yang Yanzong, who was standing not far from the palace gate and remained silent.
Su Ci licked her lips. Here it comes!
Today’s theme is finally here!
I don’t know if it will eventually turn into a storm, and whether they can escape from the storm unscathed and reap the benefits of the fire! !
The last one was a flash of thought in Yang Yanzong's mind.
He lowered his eyes slightly, but his back, despite years of military service, was as straight as a javelin. Silently, his whole body was tensed to the extreme!
Inside the hall, the atmosphere changed quietly.
Sun Shiping, Aunt Xu and others, who had extremely keen senses of smell, immediately restrained their expressions, silently retreated to their respective positions, and bowed their heads in silence.
The emperor spoke to Su Ci first. At this time, he was still relatively friendly to Su Ci. His injuries had healed smoothly. Although he should not be injured again, it was natural for him to keep this miraculous doctor by his side just in case. It was a bit troublesome that Su Ci was a woman, but it was not a big deal for the emperor. For this reason, he had ordered people to pick a few royal family sons who were of good age, character and appearance, and circled one with his own pen.
"Doctor Su is a master of magic, and has skills that the imperial doctors and imperial physicians cannot match," the old emperor said in a gentle voice, "You are at the right age, and it is the right time to get married..."
Here we come!
It’s true!
Fortunately, they were prepared! !
Su Ci immediately raised her head, and before the emperor could speak again, she raised her voice a little: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty! I dare not take credit for it. I already have a fiancé."
She pretended to be shy and looked back at Yang Yanzong. Their eyes met and then separated. Su Ci turned back and said to the old emperor, "General Yang and I have a marriage alliance. It was decided by my father several years ago. The wedding date is set for this month."
She smiled and said, "Your Majesty, General Yang and I will be married soon."
"oh?"
The old emperor certainly knew this, and he said nonchalantly: "If we are going to get married soon, doesn't that mean it's not yet done?"
He didn't even look at Yang Yanzong.
Even the first and second rank court officials were nothing in his eyes, let alone a fourth rank military officer outside the capital?
In his eyes, Yang Yanzong is just a small figure.
But it was this little guy who single-handedly crushed his plan to take the opportunity to destroy the three royal palaces in Wuchuan!
Moreover, it even caused the three major royal palaces to become one, causing the situation in the court to change drastically again, making him fearful and unable to start anywhere! !
In the old emperor's eyes, Yang Yanzong was already a dead man.
So he was reluctant to even give him a glance.
"You have healed me, which is a great achievement. How can I not reward you for your contribution?!"
Su Ci clapped her hands in her heart, she knew this would happen!
Su Ci tried hard to hold it in. She thought it would be very difficult, but at the moment her adrenaline was surging. She didn't even need to try to hold it in. The blood was rushing to her face and it turned red.
Her heart was beating fast, her cheeks were dizzy, and she pretended to be too embarrassed to speak, but seeing that the old emperor was about to issue an order to grant the marriage without hesitation, she blurted out in desperation: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty can't do this!"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty," Su Ci turned back shyly, and just happened to meet Yang Yanzong's deep gaze. He must be very clear about the old emperor's mind, because she saw a deep and man-eating vortex of storm in his eyes. Su Ci's heart was beating fast, and she gritted her teeth. Whether the two of them could be safe today depended on what would happen next!
"…I, your servant, have had physical contact with General Yang!!"
She shouted loudly and kowtowed hurriedly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace, but, but..."
The old emperor was silent.
He lifted his half-closed eyelids completely, and his sharp eyes shot out like arrows, making Su Ci frightened! If she were an ordinary girl, she would have collapsed to the ground and been unable to speak. However, she felt a little trembling in her heart, but she was still very eloquent: "As the saying goes, one should obey his father at home and obey his husband after marriage. Besides, your Majesty's recovery is mainly due to the blessing of God and the power of the dragon. The extraction of penicillin was entirely due to General Yang's efforts to find the old mustard brine! It's not all my credit."
She lowered her voice, but it was still very clear in the huge hall: "I grew up in the boudoir, and I don't know much about external affairs. I only know that the husband is the leader of the wife. If Your Majesty wants to reward according to merit, just record it on General Yang!"
If Yang Yanzong couldn't get out today, the Su and Yang families would definitely not be able to survive for long in this chaotic court situation. If something goes wrong, her whole family would be in trouble.
In such an unpredictable situation, only a man as fierce and capable as Yang Yanzong could lead the two families to final peace.
So despite the heavy pressure and powerful gaze of the old emperor, she quickly finished her words and said, "If your majesty does not mind, I am willing to be listed in the Imperial Hospital, waiting for your majesty to summon me at any time."
This is all nonsense. No matter how good her medical skills are, the emperor will not use her again after today.
The huge palace suddenly became dead silent, one could hear a pin drop. All the palace servants and eunuchs hunched their backs, wishing they could disappear immediately.
Su Ci was as quiet as a chicken. She had set up the ladder, and now it was up to Yang Yanzong!
Her heart was beating too fast and she couldn't stand it.
The old emperor's gaze stayed on her for a moment, making her break out in a cold sweat. The old emperor suddenly raised his eyes and his sharp gaze fell on Yang Yanzong!
Yang Yanzong flicked his sleeves and knelt down on one knee with a "bang"!
No one spoke.
This deathly silence lasted for a while, and the old emperor laughed. He sneered. He didn't think this was Su Ci's idea. The old emperor's sharp eyes like an eagle swept over Yang Yanzong inch by inch. Feeling set up and his goodwill rejected, he simply overturned his original plan!
Yang Yanzong did not move, his eyes lowered as he looked at the old emperor. He no longer tried to restrain the aura that he had been suppressing. Military generals who had fought on the battlefield had a bloody and imposing aura, and Yang Yanzong was one of the best among them.
This is a very ambitious man.
But the other party did not hide his ambition at this moment!
The old emperor laughed, a cold sneer, and that old laughter made people feel creepy in the huge hall.
The old emperor suddenly sat up straight. "Yang Yanzong, the Envoy of Zhenxi and General Mingwei, since you have made contributions twice, I will promote you to the rank of General of the Left Guard and Deputy Commander of the Palace Front today!"
The General of the Left Guard and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guard was of the second rank, only half a level below the six ministers, and he jumped into the first echelon of the dynasty. However, the position of General of the Left Guard and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guard had always been held by the emperor's men, charging at the forefront of harvesting the princes' palaces. The previous General of the Left Guard and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guard had just passed away not long ago, when he was deposed during the period when the old emperor was seriously injured.
This is a position with a very high turnover rate, and those who have historically held it have all been the emperor's confidants.
But Yang Yanzong was not the emperor's confidant.
He is from the Sixth Prince's Mansion and the Sixth Prince's confidant!
This man with an unusual background was pulled to this blade-like position, and instantly separated Yang Yanzong from the Six Princes' Mansion.
The old emperor wants Yang Yanzong to become a knife in his hand! Go and attack the three great royal palaces without restraint! !
Su Ci broke out in a cold sweat when she heard this. At this moment, as the first person to sprint towards the three royal palaces, how could she end up well? !
Moreover, Yang Yanzong's foundation is all in the Six Princes' Mansion. If it is forcibly stripped away and the blade turns around, the Six Princes' Mansion will certainly suffer a great loss of vitality, opening a gap for the wolf-like old emperor, but Yang Yanzong's knife will also be broken with blood all over it. He will be deserted by his friends and relatives and have no one to rely on. He will surely die!
But the old emperor didn't care at all!
The king’s power is overwhelming in an instant. He has the power of life and death. He can make clouds and rain with a flip of his hand. No one dares to disobey!
But Yang Yanzong refused to obey the order. Amid the raging waves and whirlpool, he stood straight and did not move at all. His indifferent voice was as deep as water, but there was no fear at all.
He kowtowed, stood up straight, and clasped his hands, facing the old emperor's overwhelming majesty. He said word by word: "Your Majesty, I am willing to serve as the deputy commander of the Left Guard and the commander of Zhenxi."
"The six princes argued for it, but Your Majesty gave it to them."
The Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Left Guard sounds similar to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guard, but their functional scope is completely unrelated. The former is not held by the emperor's confidant, but is a position that has always been fought over by various forces. The previous deputy commander of the Left Guard has just stepped down, and the Six Princes’ Palaces are currently working hard to release their own people.
The Zhenxi Commander-in-Chief and the Left Guard General are even more different. They are the highest military commanders in a province. The Left Guard Deputy Commander-in-Chief is a Beijing official, while the Zhenxi Commander-in-Chief is a local official. Yang Yanzong was originally the Zhenxi Xuanfu Envoy. This place was where he started his career and where his influence was most deeply rooted.
Yang Yanzong sneered in his heart.
He can be a knife.
But you can’t do that!
The emperor could immediately release him and Su Ci from the palace, or chase them away or just give them money and property rewards. Naturally, the Sixth Prince would not give up so easily. He could try to incite the Sixth Prince to enter the palace and fight for it. After a tug-of-war between the two sides, the old emperor would give him another position of the same high rank and real power, but which would not offend the Sixth Prince at all.
Yang Yanzong can be used as a knife.
But he only used it as a hidden knife!
On the surface, he did not leave the Six Princes' Palace, and even made a leap forward in rank, but in secret, he obeyed the old emperor!
In the dim hall, the cold wind was howling. He suddenly raised his eyes and stared straight at the third step of the jade stairs which was at eye level!
From the moment he entered the palace, he knew that he was walking on a tightrope. Given the past with Wuchuan and the fact that he was in the palace, no matter whether he could cure the old emperor or not, Su Ci might still have a chance of getting well, but there was absolutely no chance for him!
Yang Yanzong guessed the old emperor's thoughts and today's situation. He had already considered over and over again how to deal with it and how to gain a glimmer of hope and take advantage of the situation.
This is a big gamble!
The old emperor needs a knife to quickly resolve this sticky situation where the three royal palaces are advancing and retreating together.
However, the old emperor was too old, and this injury had severely damaged his vitality. Even though the old emperor tried his best to conceal it and rarely let him and Su Ci enter the palace together, Yang Yanzong was still keenly aware that the emperor's hands sometimes trembled involuntarily.
At this moment, the old emperor must have deeply felt his old age and that his life was coming to an end. He must be feeling very anxious and worried.
However, he no longer wanted to put all his chips on the Sixth Prince's Mansion.
Although Yang Yanzong went against the emperor's will, his proposal to take a step back and protect himself was highly feasible, and he was obviously qualified to be a knife with great lethality!
This is a dangerous gamble like walking on a tightrope off a cliff. If you are not careful, you will die instantly, and your body will be smashed into pieces and blood will splatter three feet!
But as long as he wins the bet, he can get through the danger and successfully seize the opportunity, then no matter whether he plans overtly or covertly, he will achieve great success and will make great progress!
Su Ci was so worried about him that she broke into a cold sweat.
She didn't even dare to look up at the emperor.
Sitting on the throne, the old emperor looked extremely gloomy. He squinted his eyes and looked at Yang Yanzong, a storm was about to come.
For a long while, he didn't say a word.
In the hall, you can hear a pin drop.
Everyone's heart was in their throat!
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