If Gu Jue really brought Wuhejia Tower back, he probably wouldn't place people outside the palace, after all, there are too many unstable factors.
Gu Jue is a person with a strong desire for control, who likes to show off and is reluctant to delegate power.
If he really brought Uhagalou back, he would definitely have placed the person in Prince Chen's Palace.
This is Gu Jue's own territory.
Andaman should have suspected the same thing, which was why he ordered the five Nanhao people to set fire and sneak into Prince Chen's mansion at night after Gu Jue left the capital with the emperor.
The question is, did the five Nanhao people gain anything after sneaking into Prince Chen's mansion that night? Probably not.
Otherwise, the guards of Prince Chen's Mansion should have killed all five Nanhao people. Why would they send them to the Wucheng Military Command?
etc!
The emperor opened his eyes, gleaming with light, and suddenly he realized what was wrong.
According to the style of Prince Chen's Mansion, if anyone dared to enter the Mansion without permission, it would be reasonable to kill them all, but Prince Chen's Mansion left some people alive.
Did the Prince Chen's Mansion also have the same purpose as himself, intending to give the five Hao people back to Andaman, so Andaman showed goodwill to Gu Jue? !
Therefore, it could be that the five Hao people were kidnapped by the people from Andaman and Prince Chen's Palace, so they were able to disappear without a trace right under the noses of the Jinyiwei.
The more the emperor thought about it, the more frightened he became, and the more he thought that this possibility was very high.
The emperor could hardly sit still, and whispered to himself, "We must go to Prince Chen's Palace to take a look."
Perhaps once he confirms whether Uhaga Tower is in Prince Chen's Mansion, he will know what Andaman and Gu Jue are up to.
The emperor frowned tightly, and felt more and more that Lu Siji and the Jinyiwei were too useless. They couldn't even enter the Prince Chen's Palace.
A fierce flame burned from the emperor's heart and suddenly jumped up.
The emperor couldn't help but raised his foot and kicked Lu Siji hard.
Lu Siji groaned, his body hit the table behind him, and a line of blood flowed out of his mouth.
The emperor didn't even look at Lu Siji. He lifted a corner of the curtain and looked outside.
Outside the dragon chariot were the imperial guards guarding the side and passers-by standing by the street to watch the excitement. The area near the west gate was bustling with hustle and bustle, and to the emperor, it was just noisy.
The dragon chariot had already passed through the city gate, while the carriage of Prince Chen's palace was still outside the city gate. The emperor could not see Gu Jue at all at this moment.
However, the emperor knew that Gu Jue had been in the carriage and not riding a horse, just like on the previous journey.
The emperor stared out the window in a daze.
At some point, fine snow began to float in the sky again. The continuous snow fell sporadically, like fine willow catkins, and the cold wind became even colder.
The emperor's memory went back several years, when the late emperor was still alive. It was also a day when snowflakes were falling, and they went out winter hunting with the late emperor.
That day, he took a carriage because he had caught a cold.
Gu Jue, who was only thirteen years old at the time, rode on a horse, accompanying the late emperor, and said to him in high spirits: "Father, my ancestors of the Great Qi conquered the world on horseback. Men are naturally self-respecting and domineering, and I, the younger generation, should be like this!"
At that moment, the late emperor's appreciative laughter is still so clear in my memory.
The late emperor said: "Well, a good man should ride on a horse!"
As he thought about it, the emperor's eyes became more and more sinister.
Gu Jue was a very scheming person. His words at that time were not only a mockery of himself riding in a carriage, but also a deliberate attempt to sow discord in front of the late emperor!
Whenever the emperor thought of this past event, he felt furious.
The atmosphere inside the dragon chariot was chilly, while inside the red-wheeled carriage of Prince Chen's palace, it was as relaxing and cozy as always.
Gu Jue leaned casually on the carriage, with his eyes half closed, as if he was dozing off, like a lazy big cat.
"Your Highness, Brother Yi is here too." Chu Qianchen looked out through the window of the carriage and made eye contact with Chu Yunyi who was mixed in the crowd not far away. Today, Chu Yunyi came with other sons of noble families to welcome the emperor.
Gu Jue also came over to look, his broad chest pressed against her back, one hand naturally resting on her slender shoulders.
There is a door in Chu Qianchen's heart. Most people are isolated outside the door, such as the Chu family's lady and Chu Lingxiao. Only a very few people can stand inside the door.
Chu Yunyi is the younger brother who was recognized by her and allowed into the family.
And he was also the one standing inside that door, and she looked at him differently.
Those who are cared for by her are lucky.
Gu Jue looked at her with a smile on his face.
Chu Qianchen was waving and greeting Chu Yunyi.
Chu Yunyi was wearing a lake blue straight gown today, with a black sash around his slender waist. He sat upright on a snow-white horse, and both the man and the horse looked energetic.
He nodded slightly in the direction of Chu Qianchen and straightened his back as a greeting.
Carriages and horses outside the city gate began to line up one after another to enter the city.
The Prince of Chen was of noble status, and the royal motorcade followed directly behind the dragon and phoenix chariots into the city.
Chu Yunyi greeted his friends, pulled the reins, and kicked the horse's belly, intending to catch up.
He had just turned his horse's head when a young man's voice came from behind: "Chu Yunyi, are you going to Yunting Pavilion this afternoon?"
"Go." Chu Yunyi turned around and waved to his friends, looking relaxed and confident.
When he turned around again, his elbow hit something...
There was a "pop" sound, and a closed folding fan fell on the bluestone floor, and a few snowflakes lightly landed on the folding fan.
While Chu Yunyi was wondering why he was waving a folding fan in the middle of winter, he looked up at the man on his right who he had bumped into.
The handsome man in his thirties was wearing a Taishi blue cloak. He looked noble and graceful, with an air of majesty that came from his presence.
"Sorry." Chu Yunyi bowed to the other party politely.
He didn't say much, nor did he make any other unnecessary movements, but in his every move, he exuded the madness of a young man with a heart as blazing as the sun, three parts of boldness and three parts of pride.
Chu Yunyi didn't have to dismount his horse. A servant would pick up the fallen folding fan and hand it to Kang Hongda's entourage.
Kang Hongda's follower wiped the folding fan with a handkerchief, held it high with both hands and presented it to Kang Hongda.
"It's a small matter." Kang Hongda smiled slightly, staring at Chu Yunyi who was only three feet away from him with burning eyes.
The twelve-year-old boy rode on a beautiful white horse, dressed in fine clothes and full of vigor and vitality. He was more energetic and sharper than the previous two times, like a long spear with a red tassel, or a leopard that was about to grow up.
Kang Hongda's eyes were dark. He swallowed and his Adam's apple rolled up and down twice.
Just now, when he was looking at Chu Yunyi from afar, he felt that he stood out among the group of young men in gorgeous clothes and was very eye-catching, so he came over to talk to him.
Boys like this are very rare.
Kang Hongda pursed his lips and licked the inside of his front teeth with the tip of his tongue calmly.
The capital was filled with fair-skinned, frail young men who spoke and behaved in a delicate manner, just like girls. On the other hand, those in the army were strong, smelly, and rough, as if they had crawled out of mud. People did not even want to look at them for a second glance.
The young master of the Chu family is different from those people. He has the elegance and refinement of a young man from a noble family in the capital, but he also has a wild and untamed spirit and is full of vigor and vitality. People can't help but want to see this young man with tears in his eyes and about to cry.
Kang Hongda felt a warm feeling in his heart, and when he heard his follower calling him "Master" again, he came to his senses, grabbed the slightly cool folding fan, and smiled gently.
"You are Mr. Chu, right? Nice to meet you again." Kang Hongda greeted Chu Yunyi as if nothing had happened.
Chu Yunyi: “…”
Chu Yunyi was stunned. This person had seen him before?! When?!
Looking at the other person's face again, Chu Yunyi felt vaguely familiar with him, until the white horse Shuangyue under his crotch neighed, he remembered him.
By the way, in early October, on the day when his second brother-in-law gave him this horse, he went out of the city with his second sister and brother-in-law to ride the horses, and he also met this man by chance at the west city gate.
How did my second brother-in-law call this person at that time?
Chu Yunyi tried hard to search his memory, held the reins, and politely bowed to Kang Hongda again, "Chu Yunyi greets Lord Kang."
Chu Yunyi found out that the other party was Kang Hongda, the governor of the Beijing camp.
The speaker may not mean it, but the reader may take it seriously.
Kang Hongda watched Chu Yunyi's every move and felt that this young man had beautiful features and a lively expression, unlike those young men who were artificial.
Kang Hongda's smile deepened, and he whispered his name: "Chu, Yun, Yi, what a good name!"
Then, he asked knowingly, "Mr. Chu, where are you working now?"
Kang Hongda's follower looked at Chu Yunyi on the horse with a strange look, with a little pity, a little contempt, and a little ridicule.
Then he lowered his eyes again and stood there like a shadow.
Chu Yunyi had his back to Kang Hongda's followers and didn't notice his abnormality at all. He smiled calmly and replied, "I am studying martial arts at the Imperial College."
As he spoke, his eyes had already followed Chu Qianchen's red-wheeled carriage into the city, and he thought to himself that this man was really nagging.
He was still young and had not yet learned to conceal his emotions. He casually swung the whip in his hand twice, adding a bit of arrogance and rebelliousness to his temperament.
If the same expression and action appear on a person with a mean look, it will only make people feel disgusted.
But Chu Yunyi is good-looking, with facial features inheriting the best features of Chu Lingxiao and Aunt Jiang, and he is also young. In the eyes of Kang Hongda, a "concerned person", he feels that this young man is more and more different from others.
Kang Hongda's eyes became even more blazing and bright, and he said calmly, "In the spring, the Emperor will review the Imperial Guards. The Ministry of War and I are discussing whether to recruit a few students from the Imperial College to participate in the military exercises in the spring..."
Kang Hongda has been in official circles for so many years and has become a confidant of the emperor. He must be a man who is good at socializing. He knows that to please someone, the most important thing is to do what he likes.
really--
The next moment, Chu Yunyi's eyes lit up like a lit lantern, shining brightly, and he couldn't help but ask: "Master Kang, is this confirmed?"
Chu Yunyi was confident that even if he only recruited one quota from the Imperial College, he would have an 80% chance of success. During this period, he had not been idle in the Black Armor Camp.
Sparse and scattered snowflakes continued to fall from the dark sky, landing on the boy's black hair, eyelashes, cheeks, shoulders... The snowflakes on his cheeks quickly turned into water, and the crystal water droplets slid along the well-defined jaw line to the neck and disappeared between the collar.
Kang Hongda's Adam's apple rolled again, and his bony fingers stroked and rubbed the handle of the folding fan again and again, carrying an inexplicable atmosphere of ambiguity.
The followers noticed Kang Hongda's little movements and knew that Kang Hongda was interested in the young master of the Chu family.
Kang Hongda said nonchalantly, "About 80 to 90 percent. I'll go to the Imperial College in a few days to take a look."
After a pause, he added meaningfully: "Then let's see how Mr. Chu performs."
Now that the bait had been laid, Kang Hongda would not stay any longer. After all, he was still accompanying the emperor today.
He laughed out loud, pulled the reins, said "I'm going first", and drove his horse into the city first.
He licked his thin upper lip with the tip of his tongue, a determined smile appeared at the corner of his lips, and his eyes were deep.
In this world, there is no one he likes but cannot have! This brother-in-law of Prince Gu Jue, the feeling must be different...
Kang Hongda squeezed the horse's belly and waved the whip, releasing a murderous aura that was completely different from the one he had just released in front of Chu Yunyi. The black horse under his crotch chased towards the dragon chariot like a gust of wind, with its hooves flying.
The surrounding imperial guards and other people accompanying the emperor knew Kang Hongda's identity and all gave way to him.
This mighty convoy entered the capital, causing half of the city to be in an uproar. Wherever it passed, people came to watch.
According to the rules, the motorcade of the people would follow the emperor to the palace gate first, and everyone would kneel to escort the emperor into the palace. Only after the emperor's permission could everyone return to their own residences.
These rules were only used to restrain ordinary people. When they reached the intersection, the motorcade of Prince Chen's Mansion left the team on its own and went back to the palace first, which attracted many people's attention, but no one dared to stop them. At most, they would gossip a few words in private.
Chu Yunyi originally came to pick up Chu Qianchen and Gu Jue, and left the team with them. He sent them all the way to Prince Chen's Mansion. After that, he ran away, under the pretext of not disturbing his sister and brother-in-law's rest.
Chu Qianchen originally wanted to ask Chu Yunyi to bring some local specialties back to the Yongding Marquis Mansion, but Chu Yunyi ran too fast. Before she could say anything, she saw a man and a horse galloping away. In the blink of an eye, he ran to the end of Suzaku Street.
“This brat!”
Chu Qianchen shook his head and felt that he still needed to temper his temper as he was still a little kid.
When she looked away, her eyes inadvertently swept across the house next to the palace.
The Prince Chen's Mansion was large and magnificent. In comparison, the house next door seemed inconspicuous. However, the outer wall of the house was a little charred, which made it a little too "eye-catching". Apart from that, the house was not seriously damaged. It seemed that it should have been rescued in time when the water broke out that night.
"We still need to find someone to renovate the house next door." Chu Qianchen whispered.
"Just leave it to Sui Zhou." Gu Jue said, not wanting Chu Qianchen to worry about these insignificant matters.
Chu Qianchen lowered the curtains, and the interior of the red-wheeled carriage became dark again. Only the night-shining pearl used as a lamp was shining brightly.
After a pause, Gu Jue added, "Wuhejialou and his family moved back next door a few days ago."
Chu Qianchen responded and understood.
For Gu Jue and Wuhejialou, the relationship between them is a partnership rather than one of one being a vassal of the other.
Although Wuhejialou has no choice but to stay in the capital city due to Nanhao's current situation, he and his people will not rely too much on the Prince Chen's Mansion.
This is fine, Chu Qianchen thought.
Outside the red-wheeled carriage, the red lacquered gate of Prince Chen's palace had already been opened.
The palace's chief secretary Cheng Linhua, Yun Zhan, Tang Yuchu, the stewards, and the guards all came out to greet them, shouting in unison: "Welcome the prince and princess back to the palace."
The red-wheeled carriage and a series of carriages following it entered one after another and were led into the palace, where they stopped in a row at the ceremonial gate.
Gu Jue was the first to get off the red-wheeled carriage. The servant Jingfeng quickly put a thick cloak on him. "Your Highness." The Chief Clerk Cheng Linhua saluted again, and while bowing, he couldn't help but look at Gu Jue twice more.
Gu Jueyue left the capital at the beginning of the month to embark on the winter hunting trip, and the round trip took more than half a month, but he did not show any signs of fatigue, and his complexion and spirit were obviously better than before he left the capital.
Obviously, it was because the princess kept a close eye on the prince.
Cheng Linhua calmly exchanged glances with Su Mubai who had just dismounted from his horse.
Su Mubai stood with his hands behind his back, smiling slightly.
The fox's eyes were shining, and his usually elegant smile now carried a hint of obvious complacency.
What I mean is, thanks to him, they were able to bring the princess in.
This Su Mubai still deserves a beating! Cheng Linhua's eyes twitched, and he couldn't help but feel that Su Mubai didn't kneel enough last time.
The prince should let this fox who knows his fault but refuses to repent kneel for another day, no, two days! At this time, Chu Qianchen helped Gu Jue get off the red wheeled cart.
As soon as she landed, she became busy. She told Sui Daguanshi to arrange for the repair of the house next door, and then she told Cai Mama to sort out some specialties they brought back from the Xiyuan Palace later and make a list. Then she asked people to add charcoal to everyone in the mansion and make sure they kept warm...
She was never idle on the way to Shaohua Hall with Gu Jue. The housekeeper and maids around her were coming and going, seeming to be in a hurry.
The originally deserted palace suddenly came alive with the return of the two masters.
When Gu Jue, Chu Qianchen and the others sat down in Shaohua Hall, Cheng Linhua couldn't wait to talk about some of the things that happened in the half month since Gu Jue left Beijing: "Your Majesty, the second batch of 3,000 Black Armor Army arrived in Beijing ten days ago and have been settled in Fengtai Camp..."
As they were talking, a maid served hot tea to everyone.
The tea was the best Dahongpao, but Chu Qianchen frowned.
She wasn't listening to Cheng Linhua at all. She waved quietly to Amber and told her to prepare a charcoal brazier, serve some fruits, snacks, dried fruits, candied fruits, etc., and also bring two sleeve stoves.
Chu Qianchen glared at Cheng Linhua with disdain, thinking that the men in the palace were really thick-skinned, and the prince couldn't take care of them! Cheng Linhua was still reporting military affairs to Gu Jue, and inexplicably got a disdainful look from his own princess. He was confused and felt a little wronged. He was not that bastard fox Su Mubai, who even dared to plot against the princess. He didn't do anything! When the charcoal brazier, fruits and snacks were sent to the main hall one by one, Cheng Linhua couldn't help but touch his nose guiltily, and he knew what the princess disliked about him.
Didn't he expect it?! When the prince was young, he was not afraid of the cold at all. Because of his martial arts training, his body was stronger than that of an average person. He could wear only one piece of clothing even on a snowy day.
This was the first winter that the prince had stayed in the capital after returning from the north after many years. The prince's health was not as good as before due to old injuries... Fortunately, the prince met the princess.
Cheng Linhua felt mixed emotions in his heart. He glanced at Su Mubai who was sitting opposite him and temporarily put aside his disdain for him.
The two charcoal braziers soon heated up and made the room warm.
Cheng Linhua, Yun Zhan and others continued to report on military affairs. As for Chu Qianchen, he just drank tea and ate candied fruit on the side, listening absent-mindedly, and what he said went in one ear and out the other.
After a while, she yawned lazily.
But in this life, she was only fourteen years old and was still growing. After the long journey, she was already a little sleepy.
If she were somewhere else at this moment, she would not show any sign of it, but in Prince Chen's Mansion, next to Gu Jue, she could let down all her guard, and sleepiness suddenly came over her.
When Gu Jue turned around to look at her, her head was already nodding like a woodpecker, and she was drowsy.
Gu Jue raised his right hand and made a gesture for silence, and Cheng Linhua and others immediately shut up.
Anyway, there was no urgent matter that needed to be discussed now, so everyone retreated quietly and soundlessly. Chu Qianchen, who was dozing off, didn't even realize it.
Amber, who was standing behind Chu Qianchen on the right, could naturally see why the others left, and was a little hesitant about whether to wake up Chu Qianchen.
Amber was still hesitating when she heard Gu Jue ask softly, "Where's the cloak?"
Gu Jue lowered his voice, obviously because he was afraid of waking Chu Qianchen.
Amber subconsciously went to get the tray with the cloak.
6◇9◇Book◇Bar
Gu Jue casually picked up a black cloak from the tray and draped it over Chu Qianchen. When the thick cloak was unfolded, it poured down like water...
Wrong! Amber immediately realized that Gu Jue had taken the wrong one. This overly large cloak obviously could not belong to the princess, so she blurted out, "The king..."
Amber only said this one word, and then her voice stopped abruptly. The next moment, Gu Jue put one hand around Chu Qianchen's back and hugged her left shoulder, and with the other hand, he held her knees, and easily lifted the half-sleeping Chu Qianchen from the chair by the waist.
Her whole body was enveloped in the large men's cloak, which made her originally not petite figure look unusually slender. A pair of exquisite deerskin boots hung from under the cloak, dangling in the air.
"..." Amber simply shut her mouth and looked away silently.
Chu Qianchen, who was originally drowsy, suddenly opened his eyes after being picked up, and yawned again, with wet eyes.
She was still in a daze, with a blank look in her eyes, and seemed to have no idea where she was.
She blinked again and found it was Gu Jue, and smiled sweetly.
"Your Highness." She raised her hands and hugged her neck, nudging her head into his arms and snuggling into him, her actions not concealing her attachment to and joy for him.
"Go back to sleep." Gu Jue said in her ear. Looking at her jet-black hair, his heart seemed to be wrapped by something soft, and his heartbeat speed increased.
Chu Qianchen buried her face between his neck and shoulders and responded vaguely, as if she was acting coquettishly.
Gu Jue carried her out of the hall.
Amber followed behind, consciously lagging behind by several steps, and was somewhat unable to look straight ahead.
The prince was really good to the princess, better than she could imagine, even better than the talented scholar and beautiful woman in the storybook! How should I put it, the prince seemed to have the potential to love beauty instead of the country... Wait, if that was the case, then wouldn't the princess be a demon who brought disaster to the country? !
Amber was lost in thought and her mind had already flown away, and she didn't know where her thoughts were going.
When they returned to the main courtyard, the kang in the courtyard had already been heated.
Gu Jue carried the person all the way into the inner room, while Amber and other maids tactfully stayed outside.
Chu Qianchen slept all the way, and when Gu Jue put her down, she woke up again. When she opened her eyes again, her eyelids were half droopy, and she was as drowsy as a kitten that had not woken up yet.
Gu Jue covered her with the quilt, closed her eyes with his palms, and coaxed her softly, "Go to sleep."
In the small bedroom, his soft voice was full of intimacy, which naturally gave rise to a sense of ambiguity.
Chu Qianchen still held his cloak in her hand. She liked the smell of him, which had a calming power.
She was sleepy and wanted to sleep, but she had a subtle feeling in her heart and didn't want to fall asleep like this.
She wanted him to talk to her again and comfort her.
So, she made small talk: "My Lord, remember to remind me to find someone to repair the konghou tomorrow."
He covered her eyes, so she couldn't see him. She could only hear his familiar voice: "It's okay. I'll do it."
"Your Highness, can you repair the konghou?" she asked again, thinking: Your Highness's voice is so beautiful.
She curled her lips, as if something sweet was injected into her heart, making her feel soft and sweet.
Gu Jue said: “A little bit.”
Seeing that she refused to sleep, Gu Jue simply took the initiative to speak: "After it is repaired, I will teach you to play the konghou?"
Chu Qianchen: "Okay."
Gu Jue: "I'll write a piece of music when I have time. Can we play it together?"
Chu Qianchen: "Okay."
“…”
After Chu Qianchen responded with "OK" several times in a half-asleep state, her consciousness became groggy again, and before she knew it, she fell asleep peacefully.
The young man sitting on the edge of the kang gazed at her sleeping face tenderly.
The house is filled with the scent of incense, warm and comfortable.
The Prince Chen's Mansion was full of life, and everyone was busy, as if they were completely unaware of the winter chill.
In contrast, Prince Jing's Mansion was in chaos, and the entire mansion was shrouded in a dark cloud.
In the afternoon, the wind became stronger and stronger, and the snow fell heavily.
Even with the doors and windows closed, you could still hear the whistling of the wind inside the house, as well as the sharp and rough creaking of branches and windows caused by the cold wind.
A little maid quickly closed the window that was originally not closed tightly, and looked at Princess Shen Wan cautiously.
Shen Wan was in a daze and paid no attention to anything else. The only thing in her eyes was Gu Zhiyan lying on the couch.
Yesterday, Gu Zhiyan had a fever again on the road.
Previously in the Hunting Palace, Shen Wan had asked someone to go back to the capital to Wuwei Temple to ask for talisman paper, but after feeding it to Gu Zhiyan, it was of no use at all, just like the talisman paper that Shen Wan had asked for herself before.
As the day passed, Gu Zhiyan's fever became worse and worse.
"Qiniang." Shen Wan called her daughter's nickname with a pale face. She couldn't help but touch Gu Zhiyan's forehead again. Her palm felt hot as if it was about to burn.
The unconscious Gu Zhiyan's face had an unusual flush, her brows were furrowed, her breathing was extremely heavy, and her expression showed pain and discomfort.
The wet nurse and Madam Rong also looked at each other in bewilderment.
Originally, when Gu Zhiyan first started to have a fever yesterday, Prince Jing wanted to ask the imperial physician to see her.
However, the emperor was slightly ill the day before yesterday due to anger, and all the accompanying imperial doctors surrounded the emperor, consulting, prescribing, acupuncture... all kinds of methods were used.
In this situation, no one else could get a royal physician.
Prince Jing and Shen Wan had no choice but to ask the palace guards to find a doctor on the road. However, the medicine prescribed by the doctor was of no use after two doses, and Gu Zhiyan's condition became worse and worse.
At this time, the nurse reached out her hand to test Gu Zhiyan's forehead temperature again, and replaced a wet towel for her. She said hesitantly, "Princess, the magic water seems to be useless. The county lady has a worse fever."
Shen Wan felt as if her heart was being gripped by an invisible giant hand. She felt a dull pain and was afraid that if the other party exerted a little force, she would be shattered to pieces and die without a burial place.
Gu Zhiyan on the couch suddenly twitched slightly, and a vague mumbling sound escaped from between his lips and teeth:
"Mother, mother..."
"Mom, I'm so scared..."
"Help...don't hit me."
“…”
Gu Zhiyan's dry and pale lips moved slightly and she began to talk nonsense.
Her body was getting hotter and hotter, as red as cooked shrimp.
Shen Wan held Gu Zhiyan's hot little hand, trying to give her strength, and said with heartache: "Qiniang, mother is here."
"Don't be afraid! Mom is here."
Shen Wan repeated this over and over again, breathing with difficulty.
The color of her face faded visibly, becoming as pale as a white wall, and her vision went dark, as if she would faint at any moment.
Aunt Rong looked at Shen Wan with deep worry. She wanted to advise her to take care of herself, but she also wanted to suggest that she should secretly invite the miracle doctor from Jishidiang to come to the house.
Before she could finish her words, the maid came hurriedly and said, "Princess, Miss Chu is here and wants to see you!"
Shen Wan: “…”
Shen Wan didn't move, she lowered her eyes and stared at Gu Zhiyan without saying a word.
The room also fell into silence.
The silence continued quietly for so long that the head maid couldn't help but pursed her lips, thinking that Shen Wan would not answer. Then she saw Shen Wan slowly stand up. Her limbs seemed a little stiff, making her movements lack her usual elegance, as if she was a person who had been bedridden for a long time getting out of bed for the first time.
There was no need for Shen Wan to say anything else, as the head maid, Madam Rong and others all knew what she meant. She planned to meet Chu Qianhuang.
"Princess." Rong Mama then noticed that a tear had flowed from the corner of Shen Wan's eyes. She took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears distressedly. "How about I go and see Miss Chu?"
Shen Wan looked at Gu Zhiyan lying on the couch with tearful eyes. Her heart felt as if it was stabbed several times, and her eyes were even more sore.
Over the past year or so, she has been suppressing herself because of her daughter's illness, putting her daughter first in everything. But at this moment, it seemed as if a crack appeared in her heart, and a surge of emotions was about to burst out.
Grief, sadness, resentment, anger, fear and other emotions intertwined into a big net, trapping her in it.
Countless nights, she asked herself again and again: Why couldn't her daughter grow up safely like other girls?
Why did her daughter have to face such a thing? Why didn't she protect her daughter...
…
However, these questions will never have answers.
All she could do was to re-arm herself and try her best to accompany her Qiniang to face it all.
Tears are not medicine, what's the point of crying? !
Shen Wan wiped away the remaining tears with a handkerchief, calmed down, and said firmly: "I'll go."
She asked the maid to help her tidy up her appearance, left the wet nurse to take care of Gu Zhiyan, and went to the warm room with Rong Mama.
When Shen Wan arrived, Chu Qianhuang was already in the warm room.
She stood with her back to Shen Wan in front of the coffee table by the window. On the coffee table stood a pastel-colored plum vase with a few branches of wintersweet flowers in it.
She leaned forward slightly, as if admiring the plum blossoms, and as if smelling their fragrance.
Hearing the sound of the door curtain rising and falling, Chu Qianhuang slowly turned around and smiled slightly.
"Aunt." Chu Qianhuang bowed gracefully to Shen Wan.
The girl, wearing a pink padded jacket and a bright red bodice, smiled gently, standing gracefully, with her eyes looking around, she had the elegance of a lady from a noble family.
Shen Wan sat down on the kang, and the maid quickly served tea to them.
Shen Wan said casually with a normal expression: "Sister Huang, why are you here?"
"Aunt, I heard that you, my uncle, and Qi Niang returned to Beijing today, so I came to see you." Chu Qianhuang smiled generously and asked, "How is Qi Niang recently?"
When Shen Wan heard Chu Qianhuang mention Gu Zhiyan, her expression changed slightly and her brows furrowed.
Chu Qianhuang stared at Shen Wan's face without blinking, paying attention to the changes in her expression, and knew in his heart: Qiniang was sick.
Her eyelashes trembled, and she leaned forward slightly, asking with concern: "Aunt, is Qi Niang sick? How is she doing recently?"
Shen Wan stared at Chu Qianhuang who was a few steps away. She looked the same as before, but Shen Wan was sure that something had changed.
She watched Chu Qianhuang grow up and used to treat her niece as her own daughter. But now, when she looked at the familiar girl in front of her, she felt almost suffocated, as if even the air around her had become thinner.
She couldn't figure out Chu Qianhuang's intention. She thought about it over and over again, but still had no clue.
No matter how turbulent her heart was, Shen Wan remained calm on the surface.
She simply followed Chu Qianhuang's words and said, "Qiniang has a fever again..."
As she spoke, Shen Wan raised her hand and rubbed her brows, looking exhausted and extremely anxious.
Shen Wan's anxiety was real, but on the other hand, she also wanted to test what Chu Qianhuang was trying to do.
Shen Wan has been feeling uneasy ever since she discovered that Chu Qianhuang seemed to have tampered with the talisman paper.
She had a vague feeling that Chu Qianhuang seemed to be planning something, but until now, Chu Qianhuang had not revealed her true motives and intentions.
The more this happened, the more uneasy Shen Wan became. Her heart was in turmoil. She felt like she was in a thick fog full of thorns, or walking on a tightrope, and could be doomed at any time.
She didn't want to be so scared every day, and she didn't like the feeling of uncertainty, so she had to take the initiative.
Shen Wan lowered her eyes, a strange light flashed across them, and she sighed deeply: "The talisman paper you asked for has just been used up. I called a doctor for Qi Niang, and she took the decoction, but Qi Niang's fever still didn't go down, and it got even worse."
Chu Qianhuang felt relieved when he heard this.
Everything went as expected without any problems, which was a good thing for her.
Only she can save Gu Zhiyan! She picked up the teacup and drank a sip of tea slowly. Her calmness was unconsciously revealed in her every move. Rong Mama frowned fiercely. She was not only uncomfortable, but also had a bad premonition.
"Sister Huang," Shen Wan looked directly into Chu Qianhuang's eyes and asked very slowly, "Where did you get these talismans for me?"
"Wuwei Temple." Chu Qianhuang took another sip of tea and said calmly.
The wind outside the window became more intense, forming a sound like the roar of a wild beast, as if it was going to twist the branches and leaves off the treetops, and the wind was cold and biting.
Chu Qianhuang pursed her lips and smiled.
Shen Wan only felt a chill rising from the soles of her feet and quickly spreading to her limbs and bones.
She held the handkerchief in one hand, her fingers trembling slightly, and continued, "I asked someone to go to Wuwei Temple to ask for talisman paper, but the talisman paper they got didn't work. Qi Niang's fever wouldn't go away."
"Why is it that only the talisman paper you brought is useful?"
Shen Wan tried hard to control her emotions and spoke at a steady pace, but when she said the last sentence, she could no longer conceal the sharpness in her words.
The invisible veil between the two of them was torn open by her own hands.
Chu Qianhuang sat upright, looking calm and composed, without even moving his eyebrows.
"Maybe it's because I have a connection with Wuwei Temple. Everything is about fate. The Queen has a connection with Wuwei Temple, so she was able to cure the third princess."
Chu Qianhuang spoke carelessly, obviously speaking casually.
Both Shen Wan and Madam Rong could see at a glance that Chu Qianhuang had a perfunctory look on her face.
Shen Wan's heart felt like it was pierced with several holes. It felt empty and painful.
She was convinced that there was indeed some "mystery" in the talisman paper.
Shen Wan took a deep breath and said, "Sister Huang, Qi Niang has had a fever since yesterday afternoon. It has lasted for a whole day and night, and it is getting worse and worse."
"Please, please!"
Her eyes suddenly turned red, and there was pleading in her eyes as she looked at Chu Qianhuang.
Chu Qianhuang also sighed, stared into Shen Wan's eyes, and sighed: "It depends on fate."
This time, she didn't even bother to hide her perfunctory emotions.
10,000. This chapter is relatively coherent, a little hard to tell apart, I'll try to get better points in the next chapter.
(End of this chapter)
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