The next morning, I woke up, dressed up, combed my hair and smoothed my face, and managed to pull myself together, trying to cover up the sadness and desolation of last night. Swallowing Novels www.

When I asked about Xuan Ling's whereabouts, I heard: "I rested at Hu Zhaoyi's place in the latter half of the night. The one who called ahead was Yan Changzai." I didn't say anything, but Jin Xi came back and said, "The queen has been well in the past two days. Your Majesty."

Do you want to move around more?"

She returned home last night, and the news must have been heard from Li Changchun. I said "hmm", Zhu Huayi picked up a red gold peach branch and an emerald hairpin with a heart and put it into her bun, and just asked: "Has anyone been there?

"

"We are very close to Hu Zhaoyi, so we have to attend the occasion," Jin Xi paused and lowered her voice, "There is also the concubine Jing."

I raised my eyebrows and was about to speak. Hua Yifu was learning to comb a bun. His gestures were not yet proficient. For a moment, his hands were unstable and he pulled his hair tightly. I couldn't help but feel the pain and let out an "ouch". Jinxi hurriedly said: "My hands and feet are hairy."

Yeah, when will you learn to be sensible?"

Hua Yi pouted aggrievedly and said, "I was just surprised when I heard that Concubine Jing went to the Queen's Palace. Not to mention the rumors that the Queen is in better health these days, I saw Concubine Jing going to attend to her illness a few days ago."

I said calmly: "It is also appropriate to attend to illness. If I hadn't been pregnant, I would have gone according to the rules."

Hua Yi was puzzled, "But didn't the empress also say that the queen didn't like to see people when she was ill? How could she agree to be the concubine, even if Hu Zhaoyi is her cousin?"

I smiled dumbly, looked at Jinxi who was also smiling, and said, "The flowers should have grown a lot." After saying that, I stood up and put a silk tassel embroidered with white epiphyllum flowers on my arms, and said, "Let's go

Look at the queen."

The Queen is in much better spirits. When I came in, she was leaning on a sandalwood bench carved with colorful phoenix and peony groups, holding a volume of Wang Xizhi's copybooks and browsing leisurely. The Queen has been ill for several months, and today she seems to be in high spirits.

She felt quite refreshed. Her slightly pale face was covered with thin makeup, and the light red rouge seemed to be floating on her face. Because she had not recovered from the illness, she only wore a quiet and elegant moon-green ruffled gold embroidery dress.

Dressed in silk gauze palace attire, the plantain bun on the head is only dotted with a few round pearls, but in the middle is a pair of phoenixes holding pearls and swaying with golden wings, clearly showing their noble status.

When the Queen saw me coming in, she pointed to the seat in front of her and said calmly: "Why are you so heavy and running over here? I'm not in good spirits, so Concubine Wan can do as she pleases."

I smiled humbly and said, "I will keep your lessons in mind, and I am very grateful. Your Majesty has been unwell for a long time, and I have not been able to serve you. I hope you will forgive me."

The queen smiled kindly, raised her hand and said: "Concubine Wan has fulfilled her responsibilities in taking care of the emperor, and also made Shen Shuyuan pregnant. She is so virtuous, so why should I be worried?" There was a brief silence between the queen's words, as if she was pregnant.

Take a breath.

"The Empress and the Queen Mother have always hoped that the harem will be filled with children. Now that Shen Shuyuan is pregnant, this is the fruit of the Queen and the Queen Mother's virtues." I glanced slightly and saw a piece of silk lying on the Queen's lap, embroidered with colorful silk threads.

Ruoyun Jin's Yutang Peony. I recognized it as the embroiderer of Concubine Jing after just one glance. I didn't say much at the moment and just ignored it.

The queen looked at me quietly for a moment and then said slowly: "I have been ill these days, and the affairs of the harem have been entrusted to Concubine Jing and Concubine Duan. Now that I am in better health, I should be able to deal with them one by one."

My heart suddenly jumped, then I calmed down, and said with a smile: "Yes, the Queen is the Lord of the Sixth Palace, and it would be great to have the Queen in charge of it herself."

The queen's eyes were deep and soft, a little blurry and elusive under Bu Yao's sparkling jewels, "Concubine Wan is one of the three concubines, so she will naturally become my right-hand man and help settle everyone in the harem, right?"

Returning to Rouyi Hall, I immediately summoned Wen Shichu and asked, "What is the full story of the queen's illness?"

Wen Shichu said slowly: "It was no serious problem at first, but then I got angry and got cold, had a headache, suffered from depression, and was really sick for a few days. Now I'm feeling better."

I calmed down and looked out the window at the countless undulating palaces. "She is fine, but because she is so good, I am afraid that I will have countless troubles." I whispered: "Ignore her for now. Others

Everyone thinks that I am only eight months pregnant, but you know it well. If it is absolutely necessary, oxytocin should be prepared first."

"This humble minister will make arrangements and keep the delivery date exactly." Wen Shichu concentrated for a moment and said: "In the eyes of outsiders, the empress is already eight months pregnant. It is not convenient for the empress to take action at this time. The empress is not in danger for the time being. You should worry.

Instead, it is about the time when the mother gives birth and what happens after the child is born."

I said "Yeah" and thought more deeply, and couldn't help but said: "I am pregnant...the delivery date is not far away, even if she wants to give birth control pills, it is not something that can be obtained immediately. Now I, Shen Shuyuan and Xu Jie

Both of you are pregnant, but Shen Shuyuan's pregnancy is less than three months old, which is the most unsafe. Now that you are taking care of Tangli Palace, I have entrusted Shen Shuyuan mother and son to you with full authority. You must keep them safe."

I said a few words in succession, but Wen Shichu was speechless and lost his mind. I looked at him carefully, but in half a month, he had become quite haggard, his cheeks were thin, his chin had a green stubble, and his usually honest eyes were also a little blank.

, with a few traces of scarlet bloodshot eyes. I had never seen him look like this before, and I was startled. I quietly waved to Huanbi and asked Huanbi to bring me a bowl of barley and red date soup. He said, "Master Wen looks haggard. Eat first."

A bowl of barley soup will calm you down."

After calling him twice, he came back to his senses, coughed and said, "I've been a little short of energy recently. I think it's because I didn't sleep well at night. It doesn't matter."

I sighed softly and said with emotion: "Now that you are relying on the safety of me and Shuyuan, mother and son, running around will naturally be a burden. If you don't take good care of yourself, how can we stay safe?"

Wen Shichu's eyes dimmed, as if the autumn rain was about to come outside the curtain, "In the past, I always thought that I was a doctor who could cure diseases and save people, but it turned out that was not the case."

I saw that his expression was very different, and I felt shocked and worried. I advised him: "How can you say such discouraging words? It makes no sense."

Wen Shichu smiled dejectedly and said: "It's not that Wei Chen himself is discouraged, it's just that after being in the palace for a long time, there are always some things that he can't control."

I heard what he said, and Wen Ran explained: "No one can help himself, and everyone has his own difficulties. What should come will always come, and you just have to take it step by step."

Wen Shichu stared blankly at the newly bloomed bushes of wood chrysanthemums under the window. The fine yellow petals revealed a bit of arrogance in their beauty. He had never looked at a flower with such concentration, with such a confused, helpless and pitiful expression, depressed.

Said: "There are just some things that Wei Chen never thought would happen to him."

"So what?" I approached him and smelled a hint of the intoxicating smell of strong alcohol. Wen Shichu never drank alcohol, but at some point, he was also contaminated with the strong and decadent smell of alcohol.

Worry is even worse, and a man must always bear his own responsibilities. No matter what happens, he can just bear it silently and bear it with all his strength - not only for himself, but also for others."

"A man's responsibility?" He hesitated and said: "Empress, no - sister Huan, if I have made a huge mistake, will you forgive me?"

I just felt that his eyes were miserable, as if he had thousands of words that he was choking on, but he couldn't say them out. He said without thinking: "Even if you have done anything wrong, you don't need me to forgive you, as long as you have a clear conscience. If you can't do it, I won't forgive you."

If you have no regrets, try your best to make up for it and don’t make any mistakes again.”

He lowered his head and pondered for a long time, "Actually, some things may have been forced by someone, or maybe they were just allowed to take their own course -" He smiled bitterly, "Even I don't understand it, let alone you." He flicked his sleeves, calmed down and said, "Your Majesty.

For the matter that was entrusted to Shen Shuyuan just now, I should do my best, even through fire and water, without hesitation." After that, he bowed and slowly exited.

I looked at his departing back. Under the strict and solemn official uniform, there were several layers of desolation, like the autumn sorrow that the wind could not blow away, lonely and warm.

The Queen is getting better and better, and the concubines also stay to talk and laugh when they go to pay their respects. I am getting more and more clumsy, and I don’t go out much, but Xuan Ling needs to visit me once or twice a day to talk to me.

Huanbi smiled secretly, "It seems that Xu Jieyu's delivery date is approaching, and the emperor has been going to her Kongcuitang very frequently. It's true that mother is more valuable than son."

I laughed and scolded her, "Recently I always see you sitting at your desk reading late into the night. Could it be that you read too much and become so naughty?"

Huanbi lowered her head and said, "Your Majesty, the drunkard does not care about wine. Yesterday, the slave sent a drawer of pomegranates to Yuzhao Palace. When Liu Deyi came out, she said that the one next to Xu Jieyu was so charming. She had to endure red peony seeds again.

, and I had to prevent Xu Jieyu from getting angry and try to persuade her everywhere, and I complained for a long time before I was done."

I peeled an orange in my hand and said slowly: "What can I say about the things in the palace? I just hope that Xu Jieyu won't take it to heart. If she does, it will be useless no matter how hard others try to persuade her." I broke it off.

I ate a piece of orange and said, "It's so sweet! Jinxi loves oranges, so leave two for her." I thought about it and asked again, "Where is Jinxi? Why hasn't he been seen for a long time?"

Huanbi made a face and smiled, "Jinxi is not in Rouyi Hall. Where can the lady say she can go?"

Huanbi blushed, lowered her head and chuckled twice. Before her laughter fell, she heard the shrill voice of the inner prisoner outside handing over loudly and urgently, startling the pigeons hovering above the Rouyi Hall.

"The Queen and the Queen have arrived——Mother Duan and the Concubine have arrived——"

I stood up quickly, holding Huanbi's hand and stood outside the palace gate to greet them, full of suspicion. The Queen was a very noble person, and she rarely visited the concubines in person to receive information. What's more, it was unprecedented for her to bring her husband with her to pay homage to the two concubines.

thing.

After a moment, the queen was followed by Duan Jing and the second concubine, and a large group of palace people lowered their waists and followed quickly.

I hurriedly gathered my crotch and bowed with great difficulty, and respectfully said, "May the Queen be blessed with peace of mind."

The queen stared at me and said "get up" casually. Her tone became more solemn and lost her usual gentleness. I didn't understand what happened for a while, so I had to let the queen sit on the huanghuali open-carved rose chair with Luan pattern in the main hall.

After sitting down, the queen was quiet for a while, just sitting facing south, and did not ask me to sit down. Concubine Duan's face was so calm that there was no expression, as if nothing had anything to do with her. Concubine Jing twisted the silk in her hand

, showing a slightly uneasy look.

After a short silence, the queen picked up the teacup, gently blew away the foam and took a sip, saying: "Logically speaking, Concubine Wan, your concubine in the Rouyi Palace does not need to come. It's just that you are pregnant, so after all, you are pregnant."

Regarding matters in your palace, I have to make this trip. You are one of the three concubines and the biological mother of Emperor Longyue. There are some things that I cannot ignore your face. So for today’s matter, I only have to make this trip.

Call Concubine Duan and Concubine Jing, who are equal to you, to come over."

The Queen said something, but didn't say a word about what happened. I became more and more suspicious, so I had to smile and say, "Thank you, Queen, for your concern." I paused for a moment, then raised my head and said, "I don't know what happened.

It's something, but please let me know clearly."

The queen was dressed in a sapphire blue woven silver silk peony tunic, looking solemn and dignified. "I have been ill for the past few months and feel powerless to do anything, so I left it to Concubine Duan and Concubine Jing to take care of. Concubine Duan's body

She has always been weak, and Concubine Jing and Emperor Longyue are too busy taking care of themselves, and it is inevitable that there will be some mistakes..." She cleared her throat, "The peace of the harem is related to the peace of the front, so I have to be extra careful... But today, our eyelids

Such a thing happened down there, and it happened in Concubine Wan's palace, I can't help but be furious!"

My heart was pounding, and I felt something ominous, but my face refused to reveal anything. I only said respectfully: "Please express it clearly, Queen."

The Queen's voice suddenly became stern, "In the Tang Dynasty palaces, there were often maids who had secret friendships with the eunuchs, which were called rivalries. As a result, the eunuchs in the inner palaces took advantage of their power, colluded with each other, formed cliques, disrupted the government, and ran amok. Several generations of kings were toyed with by the palace officials.

In the palm of the hand, even usurping the throne happened repeatedly, and the Tang Dynasty was destroyed here, and finally it was irreversible. This dynasty was strict in governing the palace, and little was said about food. Today, I discovered it under my nose.

This—" The queen threw the object in her hand towards me and said, "Concubine Wan, do you recognize this thing?"

Huanbi crouched down and picked it up for me, and her face suddenly changed. It was the willow-leaf heart-shaped necklace that Li Changsu had hidden in his belt. My heart sank suddenly, and I understood. I calmed down, looked at it several times, and said:

"It looks very familiar, like I've seen it somewhere before? As for the craftsmanship of this Yingluo, it's very similar to Jin Xi's craftsmanship in the concubine's palace."

The Queen calmly said: "You have very good eyesight, and it is exactly what Jin Xi made."

I smiled and said, "It's true that Jin Xi can't control things at such an old age. I'll teach you a lesson when she comes back."

"It's no big deal to throw something away." The queen smiled, lowered her head and fondled the red gold ring with three-color gemstones on her hand, and said in a low voice, "What matters is where she picked it up - it was held close to her by Li Chang. As for Cui Jinxi

, she has been taken care of, and there is no need for Concubine Wan to discipline her herself." After saying that, he looked at Concubine Jing.

Concubine Jing was a little embarrassed, but she quickly said: "Today at noon, Concubine An was going to send some seasonal fruits to the Emperor, but she happened to meet my concubine in Shanglin Garden, so she said that she would go to Yiyuan Hall to pay her respects to the Emperor.
To be continued...