She had never mentioned to Song Yi that she wanted to find a way to cure Jiang Wang, and since Song Yi had said that Jiang Wang did not have much time left, he must be very confident that Jiang Wang's illness was incurable.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to say those words so confidently. If that's the case, why would he be afraid that she would find Master Ciyuan?
Isn't this a contradiction?
Shen Mingzhuang took two deep breaths. The little guy next to him had successfully caught the green snake and then quickly ran to the basket containing the snake and threw it into the basket.
"Your Highness, shall we continue feeding the snakes?"
Xiao Dianzi glanced tentatively at Shen Mingzhuang, then lowered his head and waited for Shen Mingzhuang to give him instructions.
"Not for now. Tie him up, lock him up, gag him, and don't let him bite his tongue to commit suicide. If he disappears or dies, you know what will happen to you."
The group was taken aback. Just moments ago, the Empress seemed to want to kill them without hesitation. Why had she changed her mind now?
The group of men did not hesitate and quickly tied "Ciyuan" up like a dumpling before taking him away and locking him up.
Manhuan was completely bewildered and puzzled. The Empress's behavior before and after was so different. Did she know something? Or was it because this matter was related to Song Yi, the heir of the Duke of Wen, that the Empress couldn't interfere and had temporarily detained him to discuss it with His Majesty before making a decision?
"Your Majesty, does the heir of the Duke of Wen harbor rebellious intentions?"
Man Huan couldn't suppress her confusion and whispered in Shen Mingzhuang's ear.
Shen Mingzhuang sighed softly and chuckled, but did not answer Man Huan's question. At this moment, silence spoke louder than words, and Man Huan seemed to have already heard the answer, and immediately fell silent.
This is indeed not something a servant like myself should be asking.
After Ciyuan was taken away, Shen Mingzhuang did not leave the Imperial Garden immediately. The palace maid who had been hiding in the bushes was also brought over. Shen Mingzhuang frowned when he saw her.
She wasn't a palace maid at all, but Song Jingxi dressed as a Buddhist nun.
After she woke up, she subconsciously avoided talking to Jiang Wang about what happened five years ago, and she also intentionally or unintentionally "forgot" those people from five years ago. She thought that Song Jingxi, like Liu Wenxin, had been sent to the cold palace.
Since Song Jingxi hadn't done anything to scheme against her, she hadn't paid much attention to her. She never expected to see Song Jingxi in this way.
"Your Majesty," Song Jingxi glanced at Shen Mingzhuang, her heart pounding, "May Your Majesty be well!"
She hurriedly knelt down to pay her respects, feeling extremely uneasy.
She had only been passing by the Imperial Garden when she unexpectedly encountered Shen Mingzhuang there, and he was even interrogating someone. Judging from his appearance, he was completely different from the Shen Mingzhuang she remembered. She couldn't believe that Shen Mingzhuang, who used to be unremarkable and had nothing to offer except for his looks, had changed so drastically after waking up five years later.
When she heard that Shen Mingzhuang had people fed snakes, she almost vomited from disgust. Shen Mingzhuang's actions were so vicious, yet Jiang Wang had guarded her for five years. During those five years, there were many arguments, and everyone said that this matter was absurd and ridiculous, but Jiang Wang was determined to do it, just for such a woman.
But upon hearing what followed, she covered her mouth in fright: Jiang Wang was ill, and Shen Mingzhuang was interrogating people here in order to find that Master Ciyuan to cure Jiang Wang's illness.
She was in a state of panic when suddenly a snake appeared out of nowhere, its tongue flicking as it stared intently at her. She screamed in fright, which is how she gave herself away.
"It's been years since I last saw her. I never expected that Consort Song would develop such a hobby."
Shen Mingzhuang glanced at Song Jingxi's nun's robes and dusty cloth hat with a half-smile. Five years had passed, and Song Jingxi's appearance made her seem like a completely different person. If it weren't for her highly recognizable face, which was as beautiful as before, Shen Mingzhuang probably wouldn't have recognized her.
I don't know how she got through these past five years. She looks extremely haggard, dressed in temple attire, as if she were practicing Buddhism while still keeping her hair, perhaps even in the palace.
"Your Majesty is too kind. I have now renounced worldly life and am now tending to the Buddhist hall for the Empress Dowager in Cixi Palace, praying for blessings and copying scriptures."
She says "Your Majesty" but claims to have renounced worldly desires... Shen Mingzhuang smiled knowingly. This was probably not Song Jingxi's true intention.
Thinking of the promise Jiang Wang made to her, the promise he made five years ago, Shen Mingzhuang lowered her eyes, her thoughts unreadable.
As Song Jingxi watched, her heart began to pound. "If Your Majesty has no further instructions, I shall take my leave now. I have not yet finished copying the scriptures for today."
He seemed to be in a hurry to leave.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Consort Song? We haven't seen each other for many years. Now that we've met, we should at least say a few words before you leave, shouldn't we?"
Song Jingxi gave a dry laugh and replied curtly, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Shen Mingzhuang didn't care what she said. Since she dared to hide in the bushes and listen to her talk, she must have wicked intentions. If Song Jingxi were upright and honest, she wouldn't have done such a despicable thing. She could have stood up openly. If she hadn't been frightened by the snake, she probably wouldn't have jumped out.
"Since you're copying scriptures, I have a good place for you to go."
She casually flicked the red gold and gemstone bracelet on her wrist. The bracelet was hollow, filled with colorful gemstones, and made a clear, melodious sound with a gentle shake of her hand.
Upon hearing this, Song Jingxi's eyes widened. "Your Majesty!" She looked at Shen Mingzhuang anxiously. "Your Majesty, I am doing well in the palace. His Majesty instructed me to manage the small Buddhist hall for the Empress Dowager in Cixi Palace. I am wholeheartedly devoted to my duties and would never have any other thoughts."
Shen Mingzhuang's words clearly intended to get her to leave the palace. Song Jingxi understood this perfectly well. However, she was still in the palace, still holding the title of Consort Song, and had no worries about food or clothing. Moreover, as long as she was in the palace, she could occasionally run into Jiang Wang. Perhaps Jiang Wang would change his mind after seeing her again, perhaps...
In short, she was unwilling to leave the palace.
Shen Mingzhuang hadn't expected that a single sentence from him would make Song Jingxi so nervous. She raised an eyebrow, a smile that was hard to decipher curving her lips.
"I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you in such a hurry?"
"Your Majesty..."
Song Jingxi opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
"Since it's just managing a small Buddhist shrine, is it really necessary to apply makeup?"
Song Jingxi then remembered that she had applied some rouge and blotted her face with red paper before leaving home, thinking she was going to the Imperial Garden. Now that Shen Mingzhuang had asked her this, she immediately regretted it.
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