The spring of the 30th year of the Qianyuan Dynasty came belatedly. After Xuan Ling announced that the fourth prince would be crown prince, he became increasingly sick and finally became bedridden in mid-spring. In order to allow Xuan Ling to rest in peace, his sleeping quarters were moved to the palace.

Except for a few highly respected concubines, no other beloved concubines are allowed to enter the Xianyang Hall, which is the quietest in the palace, without an edict.

On this day, I still felt refreshed after reviewing the memorials. I went to talk to Concubine De for half a day, and then went to Xianyang Hall to see Xuan Ling. The chariot and sedan chair were not even a hundred paces away when the servants heard that I was coming and came over early to welcome me.

Respectfully, he stepped forward and opened the main entrance of Xianyang Hall. Xianyang Hall is tall, vast, ancient, and in a clean location, making it the best place to recuperate.

The tall red lacquered and gold-engraved palace door slowly opened with a "beep" sound, like the hoarse and long sigh of an old man. There were layers of red embroidered satin curtains embroidered with flying dragons in the sky hanging in the hall. The depth of the hall was already dimly lit.

, blocked by the airtight curtain, it is even more dark and strange.

For a moment, it was as if a ripple of wind penetrated the hall. The wind blew through countless layers of silent curtains hanging to the ground. It was like an invisible big hand, rushing forward all the way, blowing the heavy brocades to flutter.

I turned around the twelve-leaf red sandalwood mirror screen inlaid with the Chinese character "Shou" and walked around to the bed where Xuan Ling was recovering from illness. Xuan Ling seemed to be in a deep sleep. It was rare to sleep so peacefully. But I saw a woman in plain gauze palace clothes sitting on the couch.

Next to the incense burner under the bed, she seemed to be sobbing faintly, but after all, she was in a faint mood and did not dare to disturb anyone.

I stopped in the distance and coughed very lightly. Upon hearing the sound, the woman in palace clothes turned around, and it was Mrs. Zhenyi.

When she saw me, she quickly stood up, wiped away her tears, and said quietly: "The Imperial Concubine Jin An."

I helped her get up politely and said, "Sister, you don't have to be polite."

Mrs. Zhenyi has been in the palace for more than ten years, and she has the deepest love for Xuan Ling. She has a rare gentle and quiet temperament. She usually only focuses on taking care of the second prince, and spends her free time reciting poems and painting. This time Xuan Ling

She was seriously ill, except for praying in Tongming Hall and taking necessary rest, she stayed by Xuan Ling's side all the time.

Mrs. Zhenyi suffered from the disease after she gave birth. Her body was weak and she did not have to work so hard. Looking at her diligent and careful service of the decoction these days, she has already lost a lot of weight. Her eyes are as red and swollen as peaches. It seems that she has cried, and now there is even a piece of it.

A semi-circle of crow-green hair, with a yellow and haggard face.

Although the emperor had made her suffer so many grievances in the past and did not love her very much, during the long years in the palace, despite the fact that the emperor was the life support of the concubines, she was also very affectionate towards him.

I couldn't bear it and said, "Thank you for your hard work, sister." Then I asked, "Is the emperor feeling better?"

She was about to cry, but she really didn't want to cry in front of others, so she had to smile bitterly and said: "It's okay if it's not bad. The imperial doctor just came to see me. He took the medicine and just fell asleep." She shook her head slightly.

, said: "Sister, what you said is serious. I have to assist the government in approving memorials, and also take care of His Highness the Third Highness and His Highness the Crown Prince. I am already very tired. As I occupy the position of Madam, I naturally have to serve by my side." She said softly and caringly: "

The weather has been bad these past two days, with rain and shine, and I am afraid that the old disease in my sister's leg will recur. I heard from Hua Yi that her sister's leg injury recurred last night, and she was so painful that she couldn't sleep well in the middle of the night. She should take care of herself.

Now, I have to rely on my sister to take care of everything."

I nodded, held her arm and said, "It's an old illness. Once you get used to it, it won't matter. It's reasonable for my sister to care about the emperor, but she also has her own health, and she has to take care of His Highness.

" He laughed again, "I want to concentrate on taking care of the government. My sister personally takes care of the emperor. The trivial matters in the harem are all troublesome for Sister De Fei and Sister Guifei. They have also worked hard. However, the emperor is sick now, so we sisters should work together.

when."

Mrs. Zhenyi glanced at Xuan Ling who was sleeping with her eyes closed on the bed, and said softly: "Sister, that's right. No matter how hard it is, we all do it for the emperor." When she saw that I was just standing, she hurriedly gave way: "Sister

Sit down and let's wait for the emperor to wake up together. I have ordered the small kitchen to stew ginseng soup to refresh the emperor. It is best to drink it when he wakes up." She looked worried and sighed deeply, "The emperor's body is...

I'm so exhausted, I always thought that without the red peony root, the emperor would be better, but who knows..." She hesitated to speak, and finally refused to say any more.

Her words meant something. For more than a year, Xuan Ling favored the newlyweds, often entertained her until dawn, and repeatedly asked for the elixirs in the hospital. Concubine De, Concubine De, and I often advised him to take good care of himself, but he always laughed it off.

, she calmed down for a few days and then returned to her old ways. For this reason, Mrs. Zhenyi shed countless tears.

I came from Concubine De and had something in my heart to say to Xuan Ling alone, so I smiled and said: "Sister, it's been hard for me to take care of the Emperor for days. Why don't you take a good rest? It's time for His Highness to go to school. I must be looking forward to it."

Sister, please stay with him more."

Mrs. Zhenyi looked at the emperor, as if she was attached to him. She was reluctant to leave Xuan Ling, and missed her beloved son. She thought for a moment, knelt down and said goodbye: "Then, if the emperor wakes up later, please let me know.

Let me say something."

I looked at her with a smile and said, "That's natural, sister, don't worry."

Mrs. Zhenyi stood up and took two steps, then stopped and turned back to me and said: "When the ginseng soup in the small kitchen is ready, the servants will bring it to you. Please ask my sister to tell the emperor to drink it." She was about to turn around, and then thought about it again.

Said: "If the emperor wakes up with a bitter taste in his mouth, there will be freshly made date paste and yam cake on the bedside, which the emperor likes to eat."

Seeing her like this, I couldn't help but smile and said: "Please don't worry, sister. If you are still worried, I can only wait until the emperor wakes up and ask for permission to go to my sister's Kongcui Palace to rest."

Mrs. Zhenyi lost her composure slightly and was very embarrassed. She blushed and said, "Sister is joking. With sister here, I naturally feel at ease."

However, she still hesitated a little, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly, like the slightly curved creases on smooth silk. She hesitated for a moment and asked, "How do you plan to deal with Sun Cairen's matter?"

When I saw her asking, I pondered for a moment and said solemnly: "I have discussed with Concubine De. We are not the ones who can decide on such a matter. We must ask the emperor for permission after all."

She didn't hesitate, "That matter... it's better not to tell the Emperor yet. The Emperor's body can't bear to be angry..."

I frowned deeply and said worriedly: "I don't think so. It's just that Sun Cairen's affairs are too outrageous. There are constant rumors in the palace. If we don't ask the emperor to issue an edict, I'm afraid those dirty words from the palace people will reach the emperor's ears."

It made the emperor even more angry."

After thinking about it for a while, she finally had no choice but to say: "Rumors are hard to quell, so it's better for my sister to tell the emperor." She said sincerely: "I also ask my sister to tell the emperor slowly, so as not to make the emperor too angry."

I nodded slightly, and the long pearl-embedded pink diamond pagoda earrings rustled on the rich satin embroidered clothes. Like light rain, there was a slight echo in the empty hall. I responded to her words with a warm smile.

, "My sister's thoughts are what I am thinking at this time. It's just that there are some things that must be decided by the emperor. We sisters can't make the decision after all. I will choose a suitable time to tell the emperor slowly."

She was full of worries and sighed quietly, "The imperial concubine has the final say."

I called her personal maid, "Jiejie, Zhuru, please help your wife go back to rest. If I still look so haggard next time I see my wife, I will definitely take issue with you."

I personally sent Mrs. Zhenyi to the outside of Xianyang Palace. Seeing her leaving, Hua Yi whispered in my ear: "Mrs. Zhenyi is really pitiful. These days of accompanying the emperor have added so much sadness and discomfort. I pity her."

That body."

I just felt a little stuffy in my chest, so I casually told Hua Yi, "Tell someone to hook up the thick embroidered brocade curtains and replace them with crocodile gauze ones. In such a stuffy weather, using such thick curtains makes it even more stuffy."

"

Hua Yi responded "Yes" and ordered people to take action. Li Chang cautiously interjected: "The imperial doctor said that the emperor should blow less wind, so he used a thick brocade curtain with embroidery."

I glanced at him and said slowly: "How could I not know this? It's just that the imperial doctor said that it is necessary to prevent wind, but the patient's illness is serious, and it is also important to get fresh air properly. Besides, you are a good person, so

It's boring to be bored, not to mention that the emperor is so unhappy."

Li Changnuo agreed and did not dare to ask any more questions. I smiled and said, "I have looked at you with cold eyes in recent years. Eunuch Li seems to be afraid to talk to me anymore."

Li Chang said hurriedly: "Don't dare. Your Majesty is so graceful and noble, and she takes care of everything every day. There is no place for a servant to talk casually. I respect your Majesty very much."

Graceful and luxurious? I laughed out loud. Once upon a time, this was the word I used to describe the former Chinese concubine Murong Shilan. Today, in the eyes of others, I, the imperial concubine, am as sharp and sharp as the Chinese concubine back then.

Already?

Li Chang didn't know what I was laughing at, and became even more worried. I held the pearl armband on my arm, and wrapped it with nine red gold rings, and said almost casually: "Respect is enough, but awe is not necessary -

—You naturally know how to distinguish the right things here. Moreover, I will naturally remember the benefits you have given me over the years."

Li Chang's face almost broke out in cold sweat. Seeing that no one was paying attention around him, he took a step closer and lowered his voice and said: "I have something to report privately. Just now, Dr. Shao came to check for the emperor's pulse. He had been talking for a long time.

During the conversation, even Mrs. Zhenyi was invited out. This has never happened before. It seemed like we were talking in secret." He saw that I just pursed my lips and listened, not daring to stop, and then said: "Slave, don't

Don't worry, Your Majesty. I listened in private. It seems to be related to the Empress and the Third Highness. After Dr. Shao left, the Emperor's expression was not very good. He only ordered Dr. Wei to no longer diagnose his pulse, but only Dr. Shao. After drinking the medicine, he fell asleep.

Down."

I said "hmm", looked at him with a faint smile and said, "Very good, you are very loyal to me, but why did you come to tell me now?"

Li Chang raised his sleeves to wipe the sweat on his face and said hurriedly: "I wanted to send someone to report. First, I heard that the empress was at Concubine De's place and it was inconvenient to report back. Furthermore, I guessed that the empress was coming today, so I kept waiting.

Here."

I smiled lightly and said: "I understand. You can take everyone down, and I can just accompany the emperor quietly." I thought about it and then said: "Go down, I am here today, no matter who it is,

No one is allowed to disturb me."

Li Chang bowed and agreed, and hurriedly sent people down. There was no one in the hall, and it became more and more empty and lonely. I walked in slowly, and the three-foot-long fur satin skirt was gorgeous on the inch-thick red velvet and gold carpet, sweeping the floor.

Passed silently.

My heart became even more empty, almost cold to the depths.

Since Wen Shichu guarded the Zi Palace of Concubine Hui Yi, Wei Lin has been favored by Xuan Ling, and has gradually become the chief of the imperial hospital, becoming the head of the imperial hospital. Wei Lin has excellent medical skills, has always been relied upon by the emperor, and is my confidant.

, the emperor also knew it, so he trusted me even more. Now that he has suddenly abandoned me, it may not be that he does not trust Wei Lin, but he may have some suspicion about me.

The third highness's words are about Yu Han's child.

Xuan Ling's suspicions are growing day by day, and once provoked, they cannot be suppressed easily.

My heart became colder by the minute, as if it was tightly pressed by thousand-year-old ice. It was so cold that I couldn't breathe.

Over the years, I haven't felt like this for a long, long time, this cold and helpless feeling.

I walked slowly to Xuan Ling's couch. A faint white smoke came out of the underground bronze cauldron with nine lilies. The ambergris used by the emperor was precious and fragrant. I opened the cauldron lid and slowly poured a handful of ambergris into it.

, and after another injection, the aroma in the palace became stronger and stronger. It could almost seep into the depths of a person's bone marrow through the pores, and the whole person wanted to stretch out lazily, unwilling to move.

But at this moment, I can't relax, I can't stay still. Just one oversight, one mistake, and everything I have today, everything he gained by protecting me with his life, will be wiped out. Not only will I die, but also how many people will have to die because of this.

I die.

No! I can't take any more risks! After all these years of hard work and many desperate attempts, I have managed to hold on until today and I can no longer fall down.

I quickly closed the lid of the cauldron and walked to the window. As the long window with golden dragon carvings opened, the cool breeze rushed into my delicately decorated cheeks and into my head, which was dizzy with ambergris.

.The wind blew on my face, and also blew up my long hair scattered behind the bun. Several feet of green silk decorated with light purple fresh orchids fluttered in the wind. I suddenly felt in a trance, as if I was still young and still dew.

During those years in the temple, my black hair was often scattered like this, scattered like clouds, unrestrained.
To be continued...