The Mid-Autumn Festival has just passed, and the festive aftertaste of the grand Mid-Autumn Imperial Banquet held in Chongyuan Hall has not yet dissipated. However, Shulan Hall in Bian Palace is immersed in a solemn and depressive atmosphere. Concubine Zhou Shu is critically ill.
Ignoring those palace servants who were afraid of saluting, he went straight to Shulan Palace. However, before stepping into the bedroom, he subconsciously stopped and frowned slightly, which was a hesitant expression.
Of course, Emperor Liu's gloomy face showed his mood at the moment. After more than a year, Emperor Liu once again set foot in Shulan Palace. In fact, if the time is extended further, in the past ten years, Emperor Liu was very
This shows the neglect towards Concubine Zhou Shu at such a young age.
Twenty years ago, Concubine Zhou Shu was favored by Emperor Liu for her talent, beauty, and heart. She was once close to the queen, noble concubine, and virtuous concubine. At that time, Emperor Liu liked to listen to Concubine Zhou Shu play the piano and admire her.
Dancing, when it is the most favored, can even lead the dance at the Pingnan Imperial Banquet.
Because of Concubine Zhou Shu's favor, Emperor Liu also loved the seventh prince Liu Hui and the fifth princess Liu Xuan who were born to her. Among the princes with different origins, how could Liu Hui dare to compete with the ninth prince Liu who had a background in the Fu family?
Shu's tit-for-tat confrontation was the reason why Concubine Shu was so favored.
As for the Zhou clan, they have received more blessings. The late Zhou Zong, the old patriarch of the country, had made great contributions to the court. In the early years of Kaibao, he was also designated as a first-class knight.
Yanghou.
Although with the death of Zhou Zong, this title was taken back due to the imperial noble system, but who dares not to regard the Zhou family as a noble class?
However, facts have proven that Emperor Liu's favor is always limited and reserved. The series of favors in the past will always stay in the old days.
The accident still happened to Xiao Zhou. Although a large part of the reason for marrying Xiao Zhou Yifei was to cater to some readers, Emperor Liu also really liked this sister-in-law who had both beauty and aura. At the same time, it was also to satisfy his heart.
That kind of curiosity-seeking mentality that seems repressed.
But Emperor Liu didn't know how Concubine Zhou Shu had grown up, so she was so dissatisfied and angry, and even dared to look coldly at Emperor Liu.
How could Emperor Liu get used to this? After so many years, Emperor Liu considered himself to be very restrained when it came to female sex. So far, there are less than twenty concubines in the harem who have been favored by him.
For an emperor who has three thousand beauties to take advantage of, this is already considered as a stoic thing. In recent years, due to his health, it has become even more so.
In Emperor Liu's harem, even Empress Fu was arranged for him by his great ancestor Liu Zhiyuan. As for the other concubines, they were either political marriages or donations from foreign vassals and ministers. Most of the concubines came to him from others.
Sent from the couch.
There were only three people who Emperor Liu really took the initiative to flirt with, Xu, the second concubine Li who surrendered to Meng Chang of Shu, and the third one was Little Concubine Zhou, and Little Concubine Zhou was the one Emperor Liu paid the most attention to.
However, it was rare for him to take the initiative, but he aroused strong dissatisfaction from Shulan Palace. Emperor Liu was naturally very unhappy and even incomprehensible. He did not understand that sisters serving the emperor could take care of each other in the palace and outside the palace.
What’s the problem with benefiting the Zhou family more?
But Concubine Zhou Shu's almost paranoid and tearful behavior really annoyed Emperor Liu. He just felt that she had read too many books, and she was stupid and roundabout.
In ancient times, there was a story about Empress E and her daughter Ying. There were also two talismans in the current dynasty. When it comes to reading, the queen read fewer books than the concubine Shu. She didn't have any objections. How can you, a concubine, be so enthusiastic about it?
Under such a mentality, Concubine Shu's fall from grace is doomed. The more unhappy you are, the more Emperor Liu will favor Xiao Zhou. He has suffered such disobedience in his private life.
Of course, out of anger, Emperor Liu only ignored Concubine Zhou Shu, and did not completely relegate her to the cold palace. The reason was that she had a pair of children, and the second was that Concubine Zhou often interceded and consoled her.
After so many years, the original anger has long since dissipated, and Emperor Liu has felt relieved, but it is difficult to return to the original "harmonious music". If Concubine Zhou Shu could change her tune and flatter her, maybe she could still
Gained favor again, but she didn't.
Relationships need to be maintained. Over the years, the friendship in the past has naturally become indifferent and blurred, just a memory.
Concubine Zhou Shu's body also collapsed step by step in these years. Even the doctors couldn't cure it. In their words, it was a heart disease, and heart medicine in the world is harder to find than any precious medicinal materials.
Emperor Liu occasionally heard that Concubine Zhou Shu was not in good health, but he only lightly ordered her to be treated if she was ill. The few times he couldn't bear Concubine Zhou's request and went to visit her, it was just a formality, and it was like giving alms.
manner.
By now, Concubine Zhou Shu was somewhat unfamiliar to Emperor Liu. Even at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet in Chongyuan Hall a few days ago, Concubine Zhou Shu did not attend due to health reasons, and Emperor Liu did not feel that she was missing anyone.
However, when he heard that Concubine Zhou Shu was seriously ill and in critical condition, Emperor Liu still moved his legs that were difficult to walk and came to Shulan Palace.
At this time, a bead curtain separated them. Concubine Shu was lying inside, and Emperor Liu was standing outside. However, Emperor Liu's heart was inexplicably filled with various feelings. This last step seemed a little difficult to take.
Recalling Concubine Shu's appearance in my mind, the originally vague impression gradually became clearer. The once-pleasant smile kept reappearing in my mind, but I felt a little heavy and found it difficult to move my legs.
The dormitory hall was already filled with a sad atmosphere. Empress Fu arrived earlier than Emperor Liu. At this time, she was sitting aside with a sigh. Little Concubine Zhou sat beside the couch with concern on her face. Fifth Princess Liu Xuan also knelt beside the couch.
With tears in her eyes, she held Concubine Shu's pale and weak hand tightly. As for Concubine Shu, she was already dying, and her originally beautiful face had no trace of blood, which made people feel pitiful.
There was also an imperial physician who was also staying aside at this time, looking anxious and worried, with a deep fear on his face.
After hesitating for a moment, Emperor Liu opened the curtain and entered with gentle steps. Emperor Liu's bright yellow clothes were iconic and particularly eye-catching. Fu Hou had already noticed him from the corner of his eye and stood up to salute when he saw him entering.
Emperor Liu's mood made him no longer care about the rules of the palace. He waved his hand and looked at Concubine Shu on the couch. Emperor Liu asked softly: "How is Concubine Shu?"
This was almost nonsense, but the imperial doctor couldn't answer with nonsense. He hesitated and hesitated, and didn't know how to answer. But seeing his performance and the situation, Emperor Liu didn't know.
There was a slight smell of medicine in the air. Following the smell, I saw a small bowl of medicinal soup quietly placed beside the couch, still steaming a little.
"Daddy!" Fifth Princess Liu Xuan couldn't help crying. She looked at Emperor Liu. She was so moved that she wanted to throw herself into his arms, but she stopped abruptly.
As she grew older and became more knowledgeable, Liu Xuan had already realized that the man in front of her was no longer the kind father she had been when she was young, who loved to hug her and watch her mother dance. He was like a mountain peak.
The usual reliance on majesty almost no longer exists, replaced by the majesty and awe that the solitary peak brings to people.
Liu Xuan is almost fifteen years old, and is as tall as Emperor Liu's neck. She has inherited her mother's beauty and elegance, and is still as quiet and well-behaved as ever. However, her teary eyes and she hesitates to speak are really pitiful.
"You all go out first, I will stay with Concubine Shu for a while!" Emperor Liu sighed softly, caressed Liu Xuan's bun lovingly, and ordered.
Emperor Liu spoke, and no one dared not listen. Everyone bowed and left one after another. The imperial doctor felt as if he had been granted amnesty. When he left, he had night sweats on his forehead and back.
Soon, Emperor Liu and Concubine Shu were the only ones left beside the hospital bed. Concubine Shu was on her deathbed and her consciousness was a little blurry. However, Emperor Liu's arrival seemed to arouse her last effort, and she opened her long-lost pair of eyes.
No matter how moving his eyes were, he looked at Emperor Liu. From those eyes, Emperor Liu seemed to read resentment, expectation, and excitement.
Emperor Liu sat on the edge of the couch and looked at Concubine Shu. His eyes were finally not as cold as before, and his expression was no longer hard. After many years, he held Concubine Shu's hand again.
The slender hands in the past have become as thin as withered due to the torture of illness, and the charming face is also full of morbidity. Under the erosion of time, the youth is gone.
Her hands were very cold. After a brief contact, it could almost reach Emperor Liu's heart. It was already very difficult for Concubine Shu to speak and she could only communicate with Emperor Liu through her eyes.
Emperor Liu seemed to understand what she wanted to say, but he didn't seem to understand anything at all. He tried his best to use his hands to bring warmth to Concubine Shu, but it seemed a little late.
After a long silence, Emperor Liu said in a low voice: "I have been sorry for you all these years!"
The words were simple, but full of emotion. The guilt lingering in Emperor Liu's eyes almost overflowed. Seeing Emperor Liu, who had always been strong, "admit his mistake" in front of him, Concubine Shu's pale face suddenly returned to a little rosy, and her eyes were crystal clear.
It turned into two strands of hot tears, slowly sliding down her cheeks.
Seeing this, Emperor Liu didn't say anything more, he just reached out his hand and gently shed tears for her. I don't know how many years have passed, but Emperor Liu didn't treat Concubine Shu so gently.
The atmosphere in the dormitory changed slightly. Emperor Liu didn't say anything, but quietly accompanied Concubine Shu, accompanying her through the last short period of her life, until the bowl of medicinal soup beside the sickbed no longer existed.