When the emperor received news of the epidemic in the capital, he was about to return to the capital immediately. His wife, children, and grandmother were all in the capital, so how could he leave them alone? However, the empress dowager ordered him not to go back, and the ministers who accompanied him also tried their best to dissuade the emperor.
To avoid the epidemic, he hesitated for two days. When he got the news that his fourth brother was ill, he could no longer hold back.
He rushed back to the Forbidden City day and night. He was afraid that the fourth elder brother would not be able to escape this disaster. If the fourth elder brother was gone, Lan Qi might not be able to survive. After Yinzuo left, he always believed that Lan Qi could survive the most painful days. She
It was true that he was not disappointed, but if even Yinzhen was gone... Xuan Ye could not imagine it.
"Huang Ama, my son is well." Yinzhen's face was not well, but his smile was very energetic. Xuan Ye approached and reached out to touch her forehead, but Lan Qi suddenly blocked it and said, "Has the emperor washed his hands?"
Xuan Ye smiled helplessly and simply did not touch his son. He stood aside with his hands behind his hands and looked at them. Lan Qi's bun was loose and the loose hair around her neck stuck to her fair skin due to sweat. She should have looked a little embarrassed.
, but because of this scene, a motherly light shines out. Watching her skillfully and tenderly giving Yinzhen medicine and changing clothes, it is almost impossible to remember that in those half months, she used to look as dull as a living death.
"Why haven't you changed your clothes and washed your hands? Go back to Qianqing Palace. The Empress Dowager must be very angry." Lan Qi urged the emperor and said to Yinzhen, "Brother Si, please persuade Huang Ama to go back."
Yinzhen nodded repeatedly: "Ama, please come back to Qianqing Palace quickly. My son is really well."
Outside the house, someone heard these words and left in a hurry. Qinglian and several palace maids held the imperial concubine on her left and right. She was too weak to walk a few steps, and almost relied on their support, but she worked hard to walk to her son's house.
, but seeing the warmth of the family of three inside, she felt very unwilling to do so, but she couldn't rush in and embarrass Yinzhen. God had not taken away the child's life, so she had to cherish it more.
The imperial concubine returned to her bedroom and lay down weakly on the bed. After just walking a few steps, she felt dizzy because she had no symptoms of fever. Although she was ill, it was probably not a current epidemic. The imperial doctor said it was an old problem and she was going to die.
The imperial concubine must rest.
In the past month, I have been worried about my child every day, from the sadness that Yin Zuo is gone, to the worry that Yin Zhen will be taken away, to the fear that the child will catch the epidemic. The weather is so hot, and I have to take care of my good health.
Exhausted.
"Why can't those quack doctors cure me?" The imperial concubine was very unwilling. She couldn't even walk well at the moment. No matter how jealous Wu Yalanqi was by her son's side, she didn't have the strength to fight with her.
Just as he was muttering, he heard Xuan Ye's voice saying: "You get angry even after taking a bowl of medicine and feel bitter. If you can calm down for a few days, everything will be fine."
The imperial concubine opened her eyes and saw the emperor walking in. She was stunned for a moment. Only then did she hear Concubine De and Yinzhen asking him to return to Qianqing Palace quickly, so she hurriedly hid and came back. Unexpectedly, Xuan Ye came to see her.
"Some people always wonder why I don't let you take care of the affairs of the Sixth Palace. What do you think you have done with your body?"
, don’t let me worry about you all the time.”
The imperial concubine pouted slightly and reached out her hand as if she wanted Xuan Ye to hug her. The emperor smiled bitterly, opened his arms and said with a smile: "I know what you want, don't worry, no one will take Yinzhen away from you.
"
The imperial concubine was very surprised. She did not dare to mention this matter, for fear that the emperor would be angry and say that she was narrow-minded. Do you mean what you say?"
"I am so eloquent, but I am still lying to you?" Xuan Ye smiled, asked her to lie down and have a good rest, and said seriously, "Because of this epidemic, the whole capital is in chaos, and the palace is not at peace either. Get well as soon as possible, imperial concubine The empress is in good health, and the Sixth Palace has a backbone so it won’t be afraid of chaos. I want to return to Qianqing Palace, and I won’t come to the harem until the epidemic is over. I can leave all the harem affairs to you."
The imperial concubine smiled lazily: "The emperor is being sarcastic. How can I control my concubine like this?"
Xuan Ye also smiled: "Then get better soon."
After the emperor and his concubine said these words, Xuan Ye immediately left the Chengqian Palace and did not even dare to go to the Cining Palace. After everyone guarded the emperor for two or three days, they were relieved that the emperor was not feeling unwell. The epidemic in the capital gradually subsided. , Taiyuan Hospital developed effective prescriptions, and fewer and fewer people died from the disease. It was already late June when the imperial court officially announced that the epidemic was over.
On this day, people from Rita Hospital came to each palace to sprinkle medicinal powder as usual. Concubine Wen stood under the eaves and watched. She was very impatient and asked when she could stop doing these things. The person who came said that the Empress Dowager had decreed that it should be done after it snows in winter. An Xin, Concubine Wen didn't want to embarrass them. As she was talking, she saw Master Jue Chan coming out of the side hall. During the epidemic, Concubine Wen was ordered not to go anywhere in the dormitory because of her pregnancy. Although the two of them were in Xianfu Palace together, they have not seen each other since the first day of June. Had a face-to-face meeting.
"You've lost a lot of weight." Seeing Mrs. Juechan coming to salute, Concubine Wen looked her up and down, waved her hand for Dongyun and others to step back, and said closer, "I heard that he also died of the epidemic. I am really jealous of the talented man."
Jue Chan's face was calm, and he nodded without saying anything.
Concubine Wen looked at her carefully and asked softly: "Are you okay? I'm worried that you won't survive. I'm also afraid that one day they will find you committing suicide in the house. I'm worried every day. I just wanted to come and see you that day. The Empress Dowager suddenly issued a decree not to let me go out. Fortunately, we were lucky enough not to catch the epidemic. Of the two promises sent out by the palace, only one came back. How pitiful."
Jue Chan said: "It's pity, but it's also fate."
"Fate?" Concubine Wen frowned.
Jue Chan nodded: "It's also his fate. As for my concubine, how can I not be sad when they finally met each other? But the relationship was broken off early, and it won't be as intense as the empress worried about me. But can the empress worry about me?" Concubine, I am very grateful."
Concubine Wen smiled bitterly: "But you fell ill that day, didn't you? Everyone is gone, so what if you tell me the truth?"
Jue Chan felt a pool of stagnant water in her heart and shook her head: "I have never told you a lie. As for that day, I just suffered from heat stroke."
"Really?" Concubine Wen knew that her mind was no match for the person in front of her, and there would be no results if she asked again. She had no control over Nalan Rongruo's life or death, as long as Jue Chan could always be loyal to her.
"I also heard that the woman he raised in his private house is about to leave the capital. Think about it, there is no room for her in the big house. She has no relatives and friends in the capital, so she can go back and forth wherever she wants." Concubine Wen sighed, "It's not easy for this woman either."
Mrs. Juechan listened quietly, her face calm, and in her heart she remembered what Shen Wan said to her that day at Mulan Paddock. But in the end, neither she nor Shen Wan, nor the wives and concubines in the mansion, were tolerated. Ruo, but Rongruo was finally free, as he said in his letter, he was finally free.
Outside the palace, due to the epidemic, the bustling capital city is much deserted than in the past. Most people are still cautiously avoiding the disease at home. The desolate panic of the worst epidemic period can still be felt in the streets and alleys. On the quiet roads, the neat sound of horse hooves can be heard. From far to near, Cao Yin came alone on horseback and stopped in front of Rongruo's private house.
After entering the courtyard, there were a lot fewer girls and women who were working here. Only a few people were seen packing things here and there. Shen Wan came out in plain clothes and said, "Mr. Cao."
Cao Yin nodded, entered the room with her, sat down, pushed some tea, and said directly: "Rong Ruo and I are as close as brothers, so I will naturally take care of you for him. If you feel that it is not appropriate here, I can do it elsewhere in the capital." It is better for you to choose a house than to go back to Jiangnan alone."
"Thank you, Mr. Cao. I have decided to leave. If it hadn't been for the epidemic, I would be in the south of the Yangtze River now." Shen Wan replied quietly, nodding, a scar looming on his face. The slap of Mrs. Mingzhu that day was not small, not only broken It has a layer of skin on it, and the wound is very deep. It is not yet known whether this scar can fade away. Now I can use some makeup to patch it up, and it can still hide it. But if it doesn’t fade away, I can use makeup to hide it from others for the rest of my life, but it can wash away the lead. Hua Shi, she could see clearly that this would be an indelible mark on her life.
"If you are worried about people in the government making things difficult for you, there is no need." Cao Yin continued to persuade Shen Wan to stay, "If Rong died due to an epidemic, it had nothing to do with you, and they would not vent their anger on you. You can still have a chance to see her in the capital. If I go to Jiangnan to see my child, I’m afraid I’ll never see him again in my lifetime.”
Shen Wan smiled bitterly: "Meeting each other in the capital and not recognizing each other is the real torture. It is better to go back to Jiangnan and never see each other again in this life. I can still imagine that my child has me as his biological mother in his heart. Mr. Cao and Rong Ruo are inseparable friends. You have I have good intentions in taking care of you, and I don’t want to cause any trouble to you. I will leave Beijing the next day. Sir, please rest assured that I will be safe here, and that is my final destination."
"In this case, I will send someone to take you back to your hometown. You can no longer make a living by performing arts, but you must make a living. I will ask someone to buy you a few acres of land, and you can collect some rent, so your life will not be too hard." Cao Yin sighed. , seemed a little hesitant, but then started to say, "Miss Shen can never go back to the land of fireworks."
Shen Wan smiled sadly: "Although she has no name or status, Shen Wan is Nalan Rongruo's woman in this life. How can she not be clean and keep her chastity for him? Master Cao is worrying too much."
Cao Yin felt a little embarrassed and could only smile and said: "I will have someone take care of you. Go back with peace of mind."
Shen Wan walked up to Cao Yin and suddenly bent his knees. Cao Yin said nervously: "What are you doing?"
"Master Cao, before leaving the capital, I got up and wanted to say goodbye to Rong Ruo's grave. The Nalan family tomb is heavily guarded and I can't enter. I will never return to the capital again in my life. This time is also the last time." Shen Wanbai He asked, "If Mr. Cao doesn't come today, I won't dare to ask for you. But since you are here, I just want to ask you for this favor."
Cao Yin was helpless, but not embarrassed, and promised her: "This is easy. I will pick you up early tomorrow morning."