When King Qi and Chu Mingcui entered the palace, they went to pay their respects to the queen first.
When Chu Mingcui entered the palace, she saw that the queen's face looked a little bad and she was sitting sullenly, stroking her chest.
Chu Mingcui had always been considerate in front of the queen. After greeting her, the queen was still unhappy.
Chu Mingcui knew that the queen had something on her mind, so she smiled and said to the king: "Didn't the prince say that he had written a new poem and wanted to recite it to King Lu? Go quickly."
King Qi didn't like to write poetry, but King Lu liked it. King Qi and King Lu were both descendants of the queen, and they had the same mother. In order to please the poor brother and relieve his fatigue, he began to learn to write poems.
Now that he had composed a new poem, he was eager to show it off in front of King Lu. When he heard Chu Mingcui say it, he smiled and left.
As soon as King Qi left, Chu Mingcui sent away the people serving in the palace, sat next to the queen and asked: "Aunt, what happened?"
When the Queen saw her son leaving, she said angrily: "I and Your Majesty have been married for more than 20 years. Since the wedding day, I have never had a meal alone with you. Tonight, he actually issued an order
Give Yuan Qing Ling a meal together."
Chu Mingcui was shocked, "Yuan Qingling? Wasn't she taken into the palace for questioning? Why wasn't she locked up?"
She didn't ask when she entered the palace, thinking that according to the crimes Yuan Qingling had committed, even if she was not thrown into prison, she would be locked up in a darkroom first, and then she would be deprived of her position as the Princess of Chu after an investigation, and the remaining punishment would be as that of a commoner.
identity to deal with.
Empress Chu said coldly: "Guan? Now she is dining alone with the emperor. I wonder what she will say in front of the emperor."
Chu Mingcui was slightly frightened. Yuan Qingling seemed to be much smarter recently. If she even mentioned her doubts about him in front of the emperor, the consequences would be disastrous.
She turned around and looked at the queen, with a cunning light in her eyes, "Aunt, do you feel dizzy?"
Dinner is served in Feilong Hall, one palace away from the Imperial Study Room.
Yuan Qingling hopes that Prince Rui will have dinner with him, at least one more person and one more word.
However, when Eunuch Mu Ru led her to Feilong Palace, her fire of hope was extinguished.
A small sandalwood round table, if it weren't for the tableware, Yuan Qingling would have thought it was a coffee table for tea. No, the coffee table is too small, and it can only hold one dish.
At such a small table, even if we sit across from each other, the distance is still very close.
Now, Emperor Ming Yuan was sitting next to the round table, with his back straight, his hands on his knees, and he raised his sharp eyes to look at her.
He may have tried his best to look gentle, but he had been so majestic for too long, and he couldn't achieve this gentle expression. He just curled his lips slightly and then froze. This expression made people feel even more chilled in their hearts.
Yuan Qingling walked over slowly and was about to salute when Emperor Ming Yuan said: "There is no need to be formal. Sit down."
Yuan Qing made a sound, walked to the dining table with small steps, and sat down carefully.
"Don't be formal, it's a normal meal." Emperor Ming Yuan saw her nervousness and comforted her.
Yuan Qingling was thinking, how could she not be nervous? It is not said that only the father-in-law and his daughter-in-law eat alone during a normal meal, not to mention, you are still the emperor.
"Yes!" she responded.
When she came, she thought in her mind that Emperor Ming Yuan must have something to ask her when he asked her to come for this meal. Her guess was actually the same as Yu Wenhao's, it was nothing more than asking about the affairs of Prince Chu's palace.
, ask about Yu Wenhao’s movements, who he associates with, etc.
She also thought about the appropriate words in advance.
Emperor Ming Yuan did not ask, but simply said to Eunuch Mu Ru, "Serve the meal!"
Yuan Qingling looked at the size of the table and asked how many meals could be served.
The first course is stew.
Two exquisite small stew pots were brought up and placed in front of Emperor Ming Yuan and Yuan Qing Ling. The lids of the stew pots were taken away, and the aroma wafted out and went straight into Yuan Qing Ling's nose.
She immediately moved her index finger and wanted to drink it right away.
It’s just that she doesn’t think it’s that simple. Doesn’t the emperor have to test for poison and wash his hands after eating?
The palace maid came forward to pour the soup into a small bowl for her and put a silver spoon on it. On Emperor Ming Yuan's side, Eunuch Mu Ru was waiting on her.
Yuan Qingling didn't dare to move. It wasn't until Emperor Ming Yuan picked up the silver spoon and started drinking the soup that she breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to touch the spoon.
I was really hungry, and with the delicious food in front of me, I slowly relaxed my nervous mood, thinking that no matter what he asked me later, I already had the answer, so there was nothing to be afraid of.
She put the soup into her mouth, but before she could drink it, she heard rapid footsteps outside. She put down the spoon and looked outside.
Eunuch Mu Ru's eyes were slightly gloomy and he walked out quickly. After a moment, Eunuch Mu Ru came in with a slightly changed expression and said: "Your Majesty, the queen is not feeling well and has passed away."
Emperor Ming Yuan frowned and stood up, "Show me!"
Yuan Qingling breathed a sigh of relief again. The emperor was gone, so she could eat as she pleased.
I'm really too hungry and can't eat elegantly.
Emperor Ming Yuan glanced at Yuan Qing and said, "Follow me."
Yuan Qingling struggled to move her eyes away from the soup in the bowl and replied: "Yes!"
She stood up, and Eunuch Mu Ru took out a cloak. Emperor Ming Yuan turned his back to Yuan Qingling and asked Eunuch Chang to put on the cloak and straighten the wrinkles on the clothes.
Yuan Qing Ling was so hungry that she took advantage of Emperor Ming Yuan and Eunuch Mu Ru not seeing her. She suddenly picked up the soup bowl and brought it to her mouth. After two mouthfuls, the bowl of soup went down. The hot soup went down her throat along her mouth.
It slid down and burned all the way to her stomach, so hot that tears came out of her eyes.
Emperor Ming Yuan turned his head and looked at her with some surprise.
Yuan Qingling's eyes were filled with tears, she forced a smile and stood there awkwardly.
Emperor Ming Yuan suddenly asked Eunuch Mu Ru, "Can King Qi and Princess Qi enter the palace today?"
"Back to the emperor, King Qi and Princess Qi entered the palace not long ago." Eunuch Mu Ru replied.
Emperor Ming Yuan slowly adjusted the straps on his cloak, thoughtfully.
He sat down again and said, "Please ask the imperial doctor to come to the Queen's Palace to see you and continue your meal."
Yuan Qingling was slightly surprised and looked up at Eunuch Mu Ru. Eunuch Mu Ru seemed to be relieved.
What on earth is going on? The queen fainted, why can’t the emperor pass?
Does this have anything to do with King Qi and Princess Qi entering the palace?
She didn't dare to ask, so she drank the soup slowly, then removed the stew pot and served the appetizer. It turned out that there were one dish after another on the floor. She saw that Emperor Ming Yuan only took two bites of each dish and would not order it a third time.
Chopsticks.
There was a dish of roasted elbow. Yuan Qingling ate it very well. After taking a bite, Emperor Ming Yuan said to Mu Rugong: "This elbow is good, please reward Prince Rui."
"Yes!" Eunuch Mu Ru walked out and asked the eunuch to deliver it to Prince Rui.
Yuan Qingling knew that emperors had such a hobby and liked to give their leftovers to ministers. This was a favor, and ministers generally felt it was a great honor.