kvmb Chapter 186 Yixiu 55
Chapter 186 Yixiu 55
After the marriage issue was resolved, everyone in the harem breathed a sigh of relief.
Chao Gui, who was at the center of the storm, suddenly asked for permission to practice cultivation. No matter how good the excuse was, they still thought it was the emperor's dissatisfaction.
Before he knew it, the emperor was labeled as petty.
Jinghe can now slowly learn to walk, but for some reason she suddenly developed a high fever in the evening.
Wen Shichu tried his best to look the same as usual.
When I arrived at Yonghe Palace, Zhen Huan was also here.
Shen Meizhuang was holding her daughter anxiously. She raised her hand to signal Wen Shichu to get up quickly. "The princess was fine after her nap. I don't know why she has a fever."
Wen Shichu frowned as he looked at his daughter's red face from crying. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I'll check it out first."
"Did you eat anything special today? Or where did you go?"
Wen Shichu regularly checked the pulse of the mother and daughter. Jinghe had always been in good health, and this was the first time she was sick, so he asked particularly detailed questions.
"I didn't eat anything special. I've only eaten steamed applesauce a few times."
Shen Meizhuang recalled carefully, "When I woke up early, my wet nurse helped me walk a few steps in the yard. Could this be related to this?"
"Just walking won't cause a fever. Children at this age should really learn to walk."
Jinghe, who was already feeling unwell, burst into tears again when someone touched her. Only then did Wen Shichu notice that her gums were slightly red.
He patted his daughter's belly lovingly to comfort her and carefully checked her mouth.
"It's the fever caused by teething. I'll get some medicine right away."
Wen Shichu raised his head and looked at Shen Meizhuang. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will do my best. The princess will be fine."
Shen Meizhuang couldn't stop crying, she knew what Wen Shichu wanted to say.
"Okay, here's Dr. Lao Wen."
Zhen Huan saw all the eye contact between the two. It felt a bit bad that she was still paying attention to her child's illness, but she couldn't help it.
Wen Shichu has tried his best to adjust the prescription, but children are always resistant to taking medicine.
Both mother and daughter are afraid of suffering, and Wen Shichu has decided to go back and study the prescription carefully.
I coaxed Jinghe to drink it, and by the time the temperature dropped, it was already completely dark.
"My Lady, this situation isn't uncommon. As long as the food is kept at the right temperature, there won't be any major problems. Just be careful and watch over it."
Wen Shichu gave a few instructions and left reluctantly.
Zhen Huan waved her hand in front of Shen Meizhuang's eyes a few times, "What are you daydreaming about?"
"Oh...it's nothing, let's go over and talk."
Shen Meizhuang looked at her daughter sleeping soundly on the bed, and took Zhen Huan to the soft couch beside her.
"I originally invited you over to chat today, but who would have thought something like this would happen."
Seeing that Shen Meizhuang was in a bad mood, Zhen Huan spoke to comfort her: "Don't worry, Sister Mei, Imperial Physician Wen said everything will be fine."
"Not because of this."
Shen Meizhuang shook her head, and the worry in her eyes became even more intense.
"She wasn't feeling well today, and I felt bad too. Seeing her cry, I wished I could have suffered for her. If she had grown up..."
"The marriage is over, but in the future, whenever I think about Jinghe being randomly married off by the Emperor, I feel like a lump in my throat."
Zhen Huan sighed softly upon hearing this, "Jinghe is still young, and we don't know what the situation will be like by then. Let's slowly make plans for her."
Such comfort was pale and powerless, but Zhen Huan really didn't know what to say.
The princess's fate has remained the same throughout several dynasties and will not change just because a dozen years have passed.
Shen Meizhuang felt a chill in her spine when she thought of the emperor's attitude. She looked at Zhen Huan worriedly, "Huan'er, there are some things I shouldn't have said."
"The Emperor is the King. Look at his attitude. He treats his own flesh and blood like this, let alone the concubines. Perhaps the relationship between you two is truly extraordinary."
"But Huan'er, look at Concubine Qi. Back then, she was extremely favored in the palace and gave birth to many children. But in the end, only the Third Prince survived."
"The Emperor now despises her for being too old. She even wears a pink dress and gets criticized. He doesn't care about Concubine Qi's reputation at all. Can't you see?"
Shen Meizhuang didn't want to say these words before. She watched her good sister being honored and favored, being made a concubine without having children, holding the power of the palace, and being allowed by the emperor to serve in the Yangxin Palace.
Even discussed state affairs with the emperor in private...
Each and every one of these was an unprecedented honor, and Zhen Huan had a smooth journey.
Shen Meizhuang didn't want to pour cold water on Zhen Huan when she was in love.
She has been smart since she was young and has read so many books by sages. Shen Meizhuang thought that she would be able to understand it sooner or later.
The marriage was a heavy blow to Shen Meizhuang, and she once again saw the emperor's cruelty. The emperor was different from ordinary powerful men. He was more ruthless in doing things and paid more attention to gains and losses.
Zhen Huan lowered her head and hummed softly.
He casually pulled out a chrysanthemum from the vase and pulled the petals one by one.
This was the first time she remained silent. She knew that Shen Meizhuang didn't like the emperor, so she would always smile and change the subject whenever she talked about something. But only this time.
Zhen Huan didn't know what to say when she heard the emperor say, "If Wen Yi is a full-year-old, then I don't have to worry."
At that time, she was shocked no less than anyone else. The emperor once said that he would cherish their child, and Zhen Huan never doubted it, but now it is different.
"Sister Mei, the emperor is responsible for the country and the people. There are some things he has to do even if he is reluctant. It is not his original intention."
Shen Meizhuang raised her eyebrows and sat up straight. She noticed that Zhen Huan's eyes were not as firm as she said, and then she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Never mind, I've said enough. There are some things you understand better than me, and you didn't read those history books in vain."
This look of disappointment made Zhen Huan laugh.
"Sister, this reminds me of Madam Shen. Do you still remember when we were little, you dragged me to eat sweet-scented osmanthus candy? Even after being scolded, you still stubbornly said you knew what was going on."
"As a result, I was in so much pain that I called the doctor that night, haha!"
When talking about her childhood embarrassment, Shen Meizhuang couldn't help laughing.
"Why are you talking about this again..."
She is now in the mindset of a mother. She doesn't want to destroy her "daughter's" happiness, but she is also afraid that she will be hurt in the future.
It was getting late, so the two talked for a while and then Zhen Huan left.
Shen Meizhuang couldn't help but sigh as she looked at her friend's back, "Caiyue, you said such a smart person, with so many examples, why is she unwilling to admit it?"
Caiyue pursed her lips. Everything seemed trivial to her now.
"My Lady, I have everything that others don't have. That's what makes me special. I don't understand matters of the heart, but I know that even the smartest people can easily get carried away by this."
Shen Meizhuang felt something was wrong when she heard it, and when she looked up she saw Caiyue smiling strangely.
"You are getting bolder and bolder, girl."
However, these words reminded Shen Meizhuang that matters of the heart cannot be simply measured by right or wrong.
"Your Majesty, when Doctor Wen left, he left behind a sachet containing calming herbs. He said that hanging it over your bed will help you sleep better."
"give it to me."
Inside the Yangxin Hall.
The emperor was sleeping soundly, but his furrowed brows and the sweat on his forehead indicated that this dream did not seem so peaceful.
In the imperial garden where flowers are in full bloom, the emperor is attracted by the sound of a flute in the distance. When he gets closer, he sees Zhen Huan playing the flute on the swing.
The emperor stepped forward with a smile and said, "Wanwan, why are you in such a good mood today? You didn't even invite me to enjoy the flowers."
The emperor was expecting a shy smile from the beauty, but who knew that the flute in Zhen Huan's hand would poke into his chest.
The moment he fell to the ground, the emperor heard the other party's disgusted voice.
"Where did this stinky man come from? He actually wants to touch me, Huanbi, drag him out and feed him to the dogs."
Just as he was about to reach out to stop her, he saw a woman holding a big knife walking out of the apricot blossom forest and rushing towards him without saying a word.
"Don't be afraid, sister. Lingrong will chop it into pieces for you so that it will be easier for Huanbi to feed it."
"what!!"
The emperor suddenly woke up and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Only then did he realize that he had just been dreaming.
"Su Peisheng, prepare the sedan chair and go to Yikun Palace."
After experiencing what happened in the dream, the emperor was eager to see Nian Shilan, as if only this woman whose eyes were full of him could give him some comfort.
In a blink of an eye, they arrived at Yiku Palace, where bursts of laughter and joy could be heard.
He walked inside, "Shilan? I haven't seen you in a long time."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw all the palace doors opened automatically without wind and with a bang.
The emperor's Adam's apple rolled, and the pain of being killed just now swept through his body again. It seemed as if countless pairs of eyes were staring at him through the dark window.
The emperor, who was not very smart, did not seem to find it strange and continued to move forward based on instinct.
"Your Majesty! You are finally here. Have you forgotten me now that you have a new lover?"
The beauty took the initiative to throw herself into his arms, and everything was just like before. The emperor's uneasiness dissipated, "I am here now, Shilan, you are finally willing to see me."
When the emperor was dragged into the house, he felt hungry.
Nian Shilan brought him a bowl of porridge with a smile. The emperor took a closer look and saw that the bowl was full of Huan Yi Xiang.
"No~no! No!"
"How can you eat this? Se-ran, you got the wrong one."
The emperor turned around and saw that the table was full of delicious food. He stood up and wanted to leave but found that he could not move at all.
"Come on, open your mouth!"
Hearing the sound, the emperor opened his mouth uncontrollably and took spoonful after spoonful of Huan Yi Xiang into his mouth. The bitter powder went down his throat and into his stomach.
The sticky mass seemed to cover his entire mouth, and the emperor couldn't even open his mouth to beg for mercy.
He just watched Nian Shilan feed all the spices into his mouth with a smile, and when he lowered his eyes, he saw that his belly was already bulging.
It grew bigger and bigger, and finally exploded in front of the emperor's horrified gaze.
"Su Peisheng!"
The emperor suddenly sat up from the bed. Looking at his sweat-soaked clothes, he felt confused and didn't know where he was.
"I'm here. How come the emperor is awake now? It's still early."
The emperor glanced at the teacup in Su Peisheng's hand and felt a sticky feeling in his mouth, as if it was covered with incense ash.
He wanted to drink it but was a little hesitant. He took it and looked at it carefully before drinking it.
Fortunately, it was all a nightmare.
"Let's go and review the memorials!"
The Hall of Mental Cultivation was empty, with a large number of candles lit. The emperor was about to ask Su Peisheng to move the lights further away when he noticed that the content on the memorial was wrong.
What does it mean that the Queen proclaimed herself King? Did Concubine Jing form a construction team within the harem? Did Concubine Qi's clothing company, Hongfen Nianhua, evade taxes? Did the Third Prince grow into a giant and march towards the palace?
I know every word, so why can't he understand anything?
Before the emperor could get angry, the originally quiet Yangxin Palace suddenly became lively.
A group of concubines dressed in court robes rushed in with all kinds of incomprehensible weapons.
"How dare you! Are you planning a rebellion? Where are my imperial guards?"
Before the emperor could finish his words, he was dragged away by the collar. Pain emanated from all over his body. Listening to the curses, the emperor felt as if the sky was falling.
When he opened his eyes again, the emperor did not act rashly. He suspected that he was still dreaming.
I raised my hand and looked at my arm. There were no teeth marks on it, but the feeling of someone pulling a piece of flesh out of it still seemed to be there.
Su Peisheng heard the noise and hurried in to serve.
The emperor didn't say a word the whole time, which made Su Peisheng sweat on his forehead, not knowing what he had done wrong.
Seeing the reactions of the people around him, the emperor finally felt the reality. He had never seen so many palace servants coming in to serve him in his dreams. When he smelled the slightly cool air, the emperor finally confirmed that he was really awake this time.
Su Peisheng just watched the emperor touch the branches and look at the petals, wondering what was going on.
"Let's go see the Queen Mother."
The empress dowager was very dissatisfied with the ending of the marriage. She thought that this incident would severely damage the emperor's reputation, but she never expected that the emperor would actually send troops.
The only thing that comforted her was that the emperor's new children were all princesses.
The emperor came to pay his respects to the empress dowager as usual. Zhu Xi thought that the emperor was still kowtowing outside the hall, but in the blink of an eye he had come up to her.
"Aunt Zhuxi, I have something to discuss with the Empress Dowager."
Zhuxi didn't dare to receive the news and didn't dare to stop it, so he could only let people in.
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I will go and fetch the Queen Mother."
The mother and son hadn't seen each other for a long time, but they looked harmonious, as if the quarrels and difficulties they had had in the past had never happened.
"Has the emperor had breakfast? Please use some to accompany me."
"Yes, I will listen to the Empress Dowager."
The emperor came here to seek comfort, so naturally he was willing to stay with the empress dowager for a while longer.
"Mother, I want to ask you, what do you think about the Queen's situation?"
The empress dowager paused in drinking porridge when she heard this. She knew that the emperor would definitely be wary. It had only been a short time.
"The Queen? She's always been a well-behaved person. What happened?"
"This marriage with the Dzungars has caused a lot of turmoil. Originally, Chao Gui should have been the most suitable candidate, but rumors are spreading everywhere, and Chao Gui has made great contributions in disaster relief efforts several times."
"For various reasons, my son had no choice but to send troops to deter others."
"Originally, Chao Gui was a well-behaved and obedient child, but after being taught by the Queen for several years, he became too unruly."
"The Queen is also using the nominal dowry to amass wealth. My son is worried that if the Queen uses this to threaten others one day, there will be chaos."
The emperor also didn't mention Zhen Huan, the concubine Wan who always pleased him.
Zhen Huan showed off her talents in front of the emperor without restraint. In the past, these were just a way to deepen their relationship, but now it was different.
The emperor seemed extremely passive on the issue of marriage.