After leaving the dried fruit shop, Granny Zhang seemed to have lost her soul, listless and powerless, her former charm completely gone.
After returning to the East Palace with Ningyin, Ningyin noticed that her complexion was not very good and worried that she might be unwell. She pulled Zhang Mama to sit next to her and took her pulse.
"Granny Zhang, your pulse is a bit irregular, and your qi and blood are insufficient. I will prescribe a medicine for you. Go to the Imperial Hospital to get some medicine to regulate your body."
Upon hearing this, Granny Zhang's eyes welled up with tears, and she opened her mouth, but choked up and couldn't speak.
The Empress herself was heavily pregnant, which made it difficult for her to move around and caused her to have poor sleep quality, but she noticed her condition immediately.
Not only that, Ningyin also had Suxin fetch twenty taels of silver for Zhang Mama and handed it over, saying softly, "Use better medicinal herbs. If you don't have enough money, just ask me for some."
When Granny Zhang refused to accept it, Ning Yin forced it into her palm and then waved her hand at Granny Zhang, saying, "Go on."
After Zhang Mama left, Ningyin turned around and called Suxin into the room. "Suxin, has Zhang Mama encountered any difficulties recently, or seen any people? I feel that something is really wrong with her."
As she asked Suxin, she recalled what had just happened on the street. After all, Ningyin had noticed something was wrong as soon as Zhang Mama got into the carriage.
However, Zhang Mama was trying her best to hide her panic, so Ning Yin did not expose her in public.
"Your Highness, you are overthinking it. Granny Zhang is probably just feeling unwell, that's why she looks a little pale. A little medicine will do her good."
Su Xin smiled and comforted Ning Yin, then removed the hairpin from her head and brought her a change of nightgown.
Ning Yin nodded and sighed. She hoped she was just overthinking things.
She reached out and stroked the little one inside her belly, and as if sensing her touch, the little one quickly kicked her.
Ning Yin smiled, looking forward to the day she would meet the little one.
After taking a bath, Ningyin was about to call Suxin in when she heard the palace door being slowly pushed open.
Thinking it was Su Xin, Ning Yin was still soaking in the bath with her eyes closed. The misty space washed away her fatigue.
Hearing the footsteps getting closer, she lazily said, "Suxin, help me change my clothes."
Xiao Xuan didn't say anything, but simply followed Ning Yin's instructions, picked up a towel from the clothes rack, and went over.
Ningyin got up from the bath and walked up the steps. The woman after the bath was like a flower bud about to bloom, exuding a faint fragrance.
Her black hair fell over her shoulders, and water droplets slid down the ends of her hair, dripping onto her fair skin.
Xiao Xuan unfolded a towel and wrapped Ning Yin in it, carefully wiping her. He felt a refreshing woody scent mixed with the aroma of herbs enter his nostrils.
She then turned around and saw Xiao Xuan behind her, smiling and gently drying her hair.
"It's getting cold, so don't take too long in the bath, or you'll catch a cold."
He quickly took off his nightgown from the rack and dressed Ningyin in it. Then he took off his own cloak and draped it over Ningyin before carrying her horizontally into the bedroom.
Although the two had bathed together before, Ning Yin's face was still flushed, like a blooming peach blossom.
"Dinner is ready. You have just finished bathing, so please eat in your bedchamber."
Ning Yin nodded, letting Xiao Xuan gently place her on the chair.
At this moment, the table was already full of sumptuous dishes. Xiao Xuan took the bowl and skillfully served Ning Yin the dishes. Then the conversation shifted from whether her departure from the palace went smoothly to Princess Chongning and Li Chengyan.
Xiao Xuan handed a bowl of soup to Ning Yin with a smile on his face. "Ning, your elder sister's wedding should be scheduled after our child's full moon celebration. By then, you'll have recovered enough, and I'll have finished dealing with Xiao Ling's matter. I'll take you to stay at the courtyard that Li Chengyan bought for a while. I heard from that kid Li Chengyan that it cost him his life savings, so it must be quite nice."
"If it's really as good as he says, let's buy one too, and go there for a short stay from time to time. What do you think?"
Ningyin was naturally very willing. Staying in this deep palace all the time, she always wanted to go out for some fresh air and see the scenery outside.
Just as the two were having a pleasant conversation, someone outside suddenly came to report that Xiao Ling had led tens of thousands of soldiers into the imperial city.
Xiao Xuan didn't have time to say much to Ning Yin before he quickly got up and headed out of the hall.
It turned out that Xiao Ling's spies had already informed him of Consort Chen's murder via carrier pigeon.
At that time, Xiao Ling thought the emperor wanted him to enter the palace to discuss the abolition of the crown prince and crown princess. He never expected that the old bastard would actually try to trick him into entering the palace and hand him over to Xiao Xuan for disposal.
Xiao Ling gritted his teeth in hatred and summoned all his troops overnight. Disguised as ordinary people, they rushed to the capital day and night to avenge his mother.
"Qingying, does your elder sister know anything about this?"
Qingying, holding her sword, replied, "Your Highness, Princess Chongning and Lord Li are mobilizing troops and heading towards the capital. The Imperial Guards and Qingyu Guards have also gone there. The Second Prince is really fighting like a cornered beast and can't cause any trouble. Your Highness, you don't need to worry."
He casually toyed with the jade thumb ring in his hand, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, exuding an intimidating aura.
He chuckled softly, his voice low yet laced with chilling intent. "My younger brother is delusional, indulging in fantasies for too long, thinking he can defy fate. Little does he know, a son of a concubine is a son of a concubine. He either obediently submits to me or becomes a soul beneath my sword!"
"Qingying, convey my decree: those who disobey will be executed!"
These few words echoed like thunder outside the hall. Qingying clasped her hands in a fist salute, quickly accepted the order, and left.
As Xiao Xuan had predicted, Xiao Ling's tens of thousands of troops were easily captured by Chong Ning, the Imperial Guards, and the Qingyu Guards.
Many soldiers had already abandoned their armor and knelt down to beg for mercy.
When Xiao Ling was bound hand and foot by several Qingyu Guards and escorted to the East Palace dungeon, Xiao Xuan had just coaxed Ning Yin to sleep.
Hearing Li Chengyan's loud noise outside the hall, he was afraid that Ning Yin would be woken up, so he hurriedly closed the door and went into the main hall.
"Jingyuan, fighting so late at night, shouldn't we get double the pay? After all, my wedding with Princess Chongning is approaching, and we need to spend money right now. What do you think...?"
Li Chengyan stared intently at Xiao Xuan with his greedy eyes, then spread his hands out towards the man.
Xiao Xuan smiled and gestured for Li Chengyan and Chong Ning to sit down.
"No, can you keep your voice down, kid? Don't wake my Aning, or I'll take your money. Don't forget, once the baby is born, you, as the uncle, have to show some appreciation, right?"
Li Chengyan chuckled and then said, "Of course, my little nephew, if I don't care, who will? But one thing at a time, waking me up in the middle of the night, I'll definitely have to pay double, hahaha."
Li Chengyan laughed heartily, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth. Chong Ning, standing beside him, looked at Li Chengyan with doting eyes, the love in his eyes almost overflowing, which gave Xiao Xuan goosebumps.
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