After Lu Huiling returned to the palace, he rested early because he was too tired. However, in the dead of night, Yichun Palace stayed up all night.

Xia Rongxin looked at the dead leaves falling outside the window, feeling a little lost. She said softly: "Nowadays, I only hear the new people laughing, but I don't hear the old people crying."

Yun Xi knew that Concubine Mei was upset because Lu Huiling went out of the palace in a golden carriage to visit relatives today. She recalled that the last time Mrs. Xia came to the palace, it was many years ago. At that time, Concubine Mei was in full swing.

, the emperor would agree to any request she made, and he sympathized with her for having been in the palace for many years, so he privately arranged for Mr. Xia to bring his family to the palace to see her.

At that time, Qi Bingyu regarded this as a surprise for her, just like today when young people are talking about love, they inadvertently hide a bunch of candied haws behind their backs and insist on hiding it until the time is right to take it out to make each other laugh.

The bunch of candied haws on a stick is still the same candied haws on a stick, but the young man is no longer the same young man.

Xia Rongxin sometimes always wonders, could this be retribution?

Back then, Lu Fushuang and the emperor were in harmony, and Xia Rongxin inserted herself into their relationship out of thin air, fighting for half her life with the Lu Fushuang who let her into the palace. In the end, Lu Fushuang died. She thought she had won, but Lu Huiling came again.

, took away all the emperor's favor.

Xia Rongxin couldn't help but wonder if Lu Huiling was the reincarnation of Lu Fushuang, who had come to take back everything she had.

The more Xia Rongxin thought about it, the more confused she became, but her mind couldn't help but have random thoughts.

Aunt Yun Xi stood aside and looked at the current Concubine Mei with a worried look on her face. Her well-maintained hair now had a few silver strands slowly growing on it. Even when she learned that Prince Jing was going on an expedition, it was not like this.

trouble.

In Yun Xi's eyes, Concubine Mei really loved the emperor. She was willing to think about the emperor and went through all the hardships to give birth to a son and a daughter for him. There were too many concubines to count who were pregnant and miscarried in the harem, but this was the case.

Concubine Mei hid it from everyone, suppressing her nausea and going to greet Empress Mingxian every day. After hiding it for six months, the Empress Dowager tried her best to protect her.

But Concubine Mei was also willing to endure the humiliation and bear the burden of giving birth to a pair of children. Yun Xi couldn't help crying every time she thought about this.

She could know that there was still a place in the emperor's heart that belonged to Queen Mingxian, but she did not expect that the appearance of Lu Huiling could completely occupy the emperor's heart.

"My Lady...it's time to rest." It was already late at night, and there were only a few moving lights in the corridors of the splendid and beautiful palace compound.

Xia Rongxin turned her head and glanced at Yun Xi, and asked, "Did the Emperor go to Minghua Hall today?"

"It was too late when Concubine Ming returned to the palace. She said she went to Qinzheng Hall to have dinner with the emperor and then went back. The emperor did not go to Minghua Hall." Yun Xi said truthfully.

"The Emperor met Lu Huiling twice in one day." Xia Rongxin looked up at the bright moon in the dark blue sky and sighed.

"Yes..." Yun Xi raised her head and looked at Xia Rongxin's expression, and then said: "Ming Fei is no more dignified than the noble concubine. She clings to the emperor all the time and makes trouble. It won't take long for the emperor to get tired of it. Don't take it to heart."

"The Emperor likes such noisy girls now..." Xia Rongxin touched her saggy face with drooping skin and flesh, "But no matter how noisy I am, it still doesn't look good."

In the past, when she was still a girl, she once pestered Qi Bingyu to act like a baby. It has to be said that Qi Bingyu fell into this trap, but now they are both in their forties and fifties. No matter how much they act like a baby, they can't compare to the 28-year-old Hua Hua.

The girl.

Look at Lu Huiling again, every frown and smile is full of youthful atmosphere, he can smile lively with eight teeth, he can lie on the emperor's lap and gently rock like a baby, he can turn his back to the emperor and pouting in anger, or he can stand up

Pretend to be dignified and self-possessed in front of everyone.

But Xia Rongxin is different. Apart from being dignified, she can only feel sad. She wears a mask of dignity and virtuousness on her face, which she can never take off again.

That morning, Lu Huiling woke up early. When Aunt Xu Lan was still sitting at the door and taking a nap, she got out of bed and opened the door with her bare feet.

Xu Lan woke up suddenly when she heard the movement: "My dear, my dear, why did you wake up so early?"

Lu Huiling glanced at her and said calmly: "I am going to the Qinzheng Palace. You can bring a few people in to help me dress up."

After saying that, he turned around and sat back in front of the dressing table.

Xu Lan looked at the sky outside, and said as she walked in, "Your Majesty, the Emperor hasn't gone to court yet."

"I know that today's morning court will not end so soon." After thinking about it, she should know what will happen in today's morning court. It is nothing more than what she and her father said yesterday. She has to go to the Qinzheng Palace early to let the emperor know.

Her thoughts can also be known as early as possible about the emperor's attitude towards this matter.

When it came to court affairs, Xu Lan didn't know why Concubine Ming knew so much, but the harem was not allowed to participate in political affairs. As a slave, Xu Lan would not cause trouble, so naturally she did not dare to talk.

After finishing washing up, Xu Lan ordered the maid behind him: "Hurry up and bring the breakfast."

"No need, I will have breakfast at Qinzheng Hall today." Lu Huiling stood up and was about to walk out.

Xu Lan didn't dare to question this time. She knew in her heart that Concubine Ming must have some ideas if she dared to say this, so she also called the maid behind her to go out.

"Xu Lan, you will accompany me to the Qinzheng Palace today." Lu Huiling ordered. She still didn't want so many people to follow her. At least Xu Lan is trustworthy for now, and it will only cause so many troubles.

She knew very well that among these low-level palace maids, there must be spies from other palaces. As for who she was, she didn't know who it was, and she didn't want to investigate further. It was harmless, and she didn't do anything to ignore the king.

After Lu Huiling changed into dignified palace clothes, she walked to Qinzheng Hall with Aunt Xu Lan alone.

On the way, she kept thinking about how to mention the prince when she saw the emperor later, and the atmosphere was far less lively than yesterday.

Xu Lan lowered her hands and followed behind her without saying a word.

When he arrived at the Qinzheng Hall, he could only see the guards and eunuchs standing outside the door as usual, not even Eunuch He. Lu Huiling knew that the emperor had not left the morning court yet.

When the guards standing outside the door saw Concubine Ming, they all knelt down and saluted. The chief guard on duty stepped forward and cupped his hands and said: "I see Concubine Ming. Your Majesty is still in the Jinluan Palace. Before leaving, the Emperor gave you instructions. If Concubine Ming comes,

Then he led into the side hall and waited."

Several eunuchs and maids also rushed forward, trying to lure Lu Huiling to the side hall.

Xu Lan supported Concubine Ming and asked cautiously: "Concubine, otherwise..."

Lu Huiling smiled and said to them: "No, I'm waiting here. You all go and do your work, don't pay attention to me."

They all looked at each other and returned to their respective posts.

Late autumn is almost over, and winter is about to come. During this period, the mornings are still a bit cool, but Lu Huiling only wears thin autumn palace clothes, which is completely unable to resist the cold.

"Your Majesty, why don't you just go to the side hall and wait. You are wearing thin clothes and you really can't get the wind." Aunt Xu Lan said in a low voice.

Lu Huiling shook her head, the earrings dangling from her earlobes slapping her cheeks. She frowned and stared in the direction of the Jinluan Palace: "No, I'm fine."

Lu Huiling knew in her heart that the emperor knew that she would come early, so he arranged for someone to lead her to the side hall to wait. But waiting at the door or waiting in the side hall would have twice the result with half the effort. Xu Lan would not know

of.

She didn't know how long she waited, but Lu Huiling's stomach began to growl before she saw the emperor's carriage slowly approaching from a distance.

A smile as bright as the spring breeze bloomed on Lu Huiling's face. She held up her skirt and ran towards the emperor. The jewelry on her bun and earlobes jingled. Xu Lan exclaimed from behind: "Empress, please slow down."

Qi Bingyu was laughing and talking with Qi Jingyang at this time, discussing how Qi Jingyang, as the prince, took the lead in setting an example during the morning court today and led all officials to donate their family treasures and finances to temporarily solve the country's urgent needs. Although the food and grass exchanged were not much, it was enough to support the frontline war effort.

I can celebrate the New Year with enough food.

Qi Jingyang saw Lu Huiling running towards him from a distance. At first glance, he really thought it was his mother who looked young. His smile froze on his face and he said nothing.

Qi Bingyu saw Qi Jingyang's strange behavior and followed his gaze, and happened to see Lu Huiling who also slowly stopped.

The person Lu Huiling least wanted to see in the palace was not Concubine Mei, but also His Highness the Crown Prince.

Firstly, he was the prince's cousin, his mother's niece, and now he was his father's concubine. She had used his mother to gain her current status, and she really had no face to face him;

Secondly, she was supposed to be the carefree eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's Palace, but she was sent to the palace by her father because of His Highness the Prince's great cause. It would be false to say that she did not hate or complain. Only she could understand this pain and bitterness.

When Lu Huiling saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince among the people coming with the Emperor, she put away her warm and sunny smile and slowly stopped running.

Although the emperor was old and frail, and his eyes were no longer as good as before, he could still see the difference between the two of them. He coughed lightly and said to Qi Jingyang: "Since the matter has been agreed, then you should go back to the East Palace first.

Well, I still have things to deal with here."

Qi Jingyang also wanted to go back to the palace at this time. He also didn't want to see Lu Huiling. He knew Lu Gaohong's plan. When he saw Lu Huiling, he always felt that he was a waste and had to sacrifice his cousin to help him.

"Yes, I will take my leave." Seeing the emperor say this, Qi Jingyang of course also hurriedly saluted and said goodbye.

After His Royal Highness the Crown Prince left, Lu Huiling slowly stepped forward, knelt down and saluted the Emperor: "I send my regards to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor. Long live the Emperor."
Chapter completed!