Time is the most amazing thing. It can go very slowly or very fast. It all depends on different people and different moods.
The most difficult thing in the palace is time. However, for Sima Duran, four years is just a blink of an eye, which is frightening. In fact, she is too busy to have this illusion. She faces the same thing every day. There are many people, the same scenery, and they have to keep worrying about those trivial things that make people headache. Amidst the troubles, time slips away quietly.
The flowers have withered, the trees have turned yellow, the birds' nests in front of the palace have lost their chirping sounds, and countless remembered or forgotten people and things are gone forever.
Of course, there are many things that have not changed.
"Mother, after reviewing my homework, can I go to see my uncle, the national teacher? Today, my uncle, the national teacher, did not go to teach the disciples, so I am a little worried!" Yi Chenyu held his cheek and pouted, squatting naughtily in the Huanqing Palace. On the seat in the inner hall, opposite Sima Duran was looking down at the letter, looking extremely serious.
"Go and see if you want, and try not to let outsiders know. By the way, Xiaobi sent two boxes of Yuruo ointment a few days ago, saying it can relieve coughs and eliminate phlegm, warm and nourish the lungs. Please take them to Master Shen." Putting down the letter and touching Yi Chenyu's pink face, Sima Duran smiled softly and said, "The border war is winning every step of the way. It won't be long before your uncle can return to the imperial capital. Then my mother will take you to his uncle's house." , let you see what it’s like outside the palace.”
Life outside the palace has great appeal to the princes who have lived in the palace since childhood. However, except for the fifth prince Yi Chenxuan, Yi Huaiyu never took other princes out of the palace and did not allow them to leave privately. Yi Chen Because Yu was frail and sick, he seldom walked outside the Huanqing Palace, and his curiosity about the strange world became even stronger. When he heard that Sima Duran was finally willing to take him outside, he couldn't help but cheered. He hurriedly reviewed his homework and ran to find Shen Junfang.
Yuzhi, the palace maid who was most trusted by Sima Dalan, and Yi Chenyu walked past each other. She looked back at Yi Chenyu and stepped into the palace. She looked at Sima Dalan and asked in a low voice: "Is your Majesty going to see Master Shen? Listen to them. It is said that Master Shen's health is getting worse day by day. A few days ago, he even fainted while writing poems to his disciples. He clearly knows medical skills but cannot take care of himself."
"What's wrong with him? It's just that he's exhausted from overwork. Even if the miracle doctor comes back, he can't help." Sima Duran sighed, with a trace of concern in his eyes, "I haven't seen him for more than half a year, and I don't know how he has been lately. What's the matter? He sent me so many supplements and didn't remember to reply whether they were effective or not. His bad habits are becoming more and more like the emperor's."
Recalling Shen Junfang's pale face when she saw him a few months ago, Sima Tulan always felt uneasy.
Shen Junfang is still very young, but his best years have been spent on the country's country. Yi Huaiyu is busy enough dealing with government affairs all day long. He is actually three points busier than Yi Huaiyu, and he is only in his early twenties. She was already in pain. However, Sima Tulan knew that she had no right to complain. A large part of the reason why Shen Junfang was so tired was her. If he hadn't racked his brains to mediate, and had not had the courage to find a way to save Sima Yuan's life, maybe Sima Yuan would have been saved at this time. Sima Tulan was the only one left at home.
"Yuzhi, please take another risk on my behalf. I am really worried. Just now, the prince said that Master Shen did not go to teach the princes today. He is probably ill. If you go over and see him, He still forced himself to work hard, so he told him that if he doesn't rest, I will go there myself." After saying that, Sima Tulan tilted her head to think about it, and suddenly smiled, "By the way, go to the dining room and ask for some goose fat and lotus paste cakes to take with you. Go, he likes to eat."
Yuzhi covered her mouth and smiled teasingly: "Your Majesty, you know exactly what Master Shen likes, so you're not afraid of the emperor being jealous?"
"If you are not afraid, why should I be so secretive as a thief, not even daring to take a look at Master Shen?" Yuzhi originally wanted to make a joke, but unexpectedly it made Sima Duran sigh quietly, with a look of despair in his eyes. , "Because of my quarrel two years ago, although my brother was forced to go to war, he did not have to go to the battlefield in person. The emperor was always holding back a ball of anger. Later, my brother made several reckless mistakes and the emperor deliberately made a fuss. It was Shen Guoshi. He helped solve the problem overtly and covertly, but the repeated troubles made the emperor less and less trustful of him. After careful calculation, I owe him too much."
Shen Junfang's loyalty to Yi Huaiyu has never changed, but Yi Huaiyu's trust in him is far less than before. After going through ups and downs, the person who has always been by Yi Huaiyu's side and whom he trusts is still Ou Suiliang.
In four years, many things have remained the same and many things have changed.
When Yuzhi brought a basket of things to Shen Junfang's residence, a visitor had arrived first. Looking at the seventh prince Yi Chenjing who was being held in Shen Junfang's arms, Yuzhi hurriedly smiled and said: "This slave has come to see the country on behalf of the Crown Prince. Sir, by the way, I brought you some Yuruo paste and goose fat and lotus paste cake - His Royal Highness the Prince said that Master Shen liked this the most, so I brought some more."
"Thank you, Miss Yuzhi." Shen Junfang nodded, a smile appeared on his pale cheeks, "After all, the prince and the seventh prince still care about me. One brings food and drinks, and the other sneaks out to accompany me. My usual love is not in vain."
"Of course, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince have the closest relationship with Master Shen. Who in the palace doesn't know it? The kindness of the two highnesses is exactly the same as that of Master Shen. If there is a teacher, there must be a disciple." Yuzhi had a clue. As soon as he agreed, he secretly winked at Shen Junfang and then looked at Yi Chenjing.
Shen Junfang was stunned at first, but then he understood what Yuzhi meant. He let go and rubbed Yi Chenjing's head, and said softly: "Your Highness, it's time to go back. Don't let Concubine Jing worry."
Yi Chenjing nodded obediently, said farewell respectfully and left. Yuzhi breathed a sigh of relief and said in a very low voice: "The queen is very worried about the illness of the Imperial Preceptor. She also said that if the Imperial Preceptor doesn't pay attention to her health anymore, the Empress will do it." I have to come and teach you a lesson in person. The empress asked me to send you this Yuruo paste and goose oil and lotus paste cake. Especially the Yuruo ointment, there are only these two jars. The empress did not keep a jar herself, so she asked me to take them. .”
"Then I should work harder." Shen Junfang coughed and laughed, his young face becoming more and more haggard.
Yuzhi wanted to rebuke him, but when he heard the hoarse cough, he sighed and couldn't help but soften his tone: "Why are you still so stubborn? Even though you haven't gone to Huanqing Palace in the past few years, your Majesty is always there. I said some stupid things intentionally or unintentionally, but luckily the only one who heard it was me. If an outsider had heard it, it would have been another round of gossip."
"I'm obsessed with it... How can I realize it myself since I'm obsessed with it?" Shen Junfang smiled bitterly while coughing violently, "To avoid being suspected, I just don't go to the Queen. You can't even let me think about it. Can Miss Yuzhi understand this thought? That’s all, I won’t tell you if you’re not allowed to. As long as she’s well, I’ll be relieved.”
The small conversation was intermittent, and the light clouds and breeze outside made the not-so-loud voice particularly clear. When Yuzhi exited Shen Junfang's room, a figure quietly disappeared around the corner of the house.