Li Zhi was lying on Concubine Xue Xian's knees, and the two maids with the best massage skills in the palace were kneading his temples and forehead respectively.
However, Li Zhi's eyebrows were still getting tighter and tighter, and the muscles on his face were beating slightly.
Concubine Xue Xian was very experienced. Knowing that Li Zhi was about to have another headache, she hurriedly waved her hand and said: "Stop pressing the button, go and prepare hot water!"
The two palace maids agreed, climbed out of bed, and went out with a basin of hot and cold water.
Then slowly pour the cold water into the hot water. When the temperature is right, a palace maid shouted: "Your Highness, the hot water is ready."
At this time, Li Zhi, who was lying on Concubine Xue Xian's lap, had begun to moan softly, moving his head back and forth, with a look of pain on his face.
Concubine Xue Xian hurriedly helped him up and said: "Your Majesty, let's go soak in hot water. After soaking, it won't hurt anymore!"
Li Zhi said weakly: "Help me..."
Concubine Xue Xian helped Li Zhi to the table. The hot water was contained in a copper "fish basin". Li Zhi put his hands into the hot water without hesitation.
After a while, the pain on his face seemed to ease, but then, he suddenly shouted "ah" and overturned the copper basin filled with water.
With a bang, the copper basin fell to the ground and all the water spilled out.
Li Zhi held his head with one hand and supported the table with the other, shouting loudly.
Concubine Xue Xian said anxiously: "Quick, get the medicine and silk quickly! Hurry!"
The two eunuchs quickly fetched a yellow silk scarf, which was coated with a secret medicine ordered by the imperial physician. As long as it was applied on the head, the symptoms would be relieved.
However, the Imperial Physician's Order once warned that the more often this medicinal application is used, the less effective it will be. It is best not to use it unless it is critical.
Seeing Li Zhi's painful look, Concubine Xue Xian couldn't care less. She took the yellow scarf and wrapped it around Li Zhi's forehead.
Li Zhi seemed to have lost his mind and pushed her to the ground while struggling.
Concubine Xue Xian shouted to the eunuchs and maids who came to help her: "Leave me alone, quickly wrap the medicine and silk around your majesty's head!"
Everyone responded, hugged Li Zhi's legs and hands, and hurriedly wrapped the yellow scarf around Li Zhi's forehead.
However, Li Zhi's pain did not disappear immediately, and he still screamed.
Concubine Xue Xian came behind Li Zhi and hugged him tightly to prevent him from falling.
After a while, the medicine finally took effect, Li Zhi's moans became smaller and smaller, and his body stopped shaking.
After a long time, his hoarse voice sounded.
"My beloved concubine... I'm fine now... Please let go of me."
Concubine Xue Xian let go of her hands and said with red eyes: "Your Majesty, those imperial doctors are really damned. They can't relieve your symptoms at all. Why don't you call Master Sun into the palace to treat you?"
Li Zhi waved his hand, came to the couch and sat down, and said slowly:
"The Imperial Physician Liu Shenwei has obtained the true inheritance of Sun Simiao. Since he can't be cured, Sun Simiao can't do anything. Besides, I heard that he is also bedridden. If I force a patient to treat me, what will the people in the world think of me?"
Concubine Xue Xian cried:
"Then, you will go to the people to find a good doctor who is good at treating headaches. I heard that there are some strange people and strange things among the people, who have the power of ghosts and gods. Maybe they can cure you?"
Li Zhi shook his head and sighed:
"The destiny has come, how can manpower compete with it? In order to resist the destiny, many emperors in ancient times ended up embarking on the path of seeking immortals and ghosts. I don't want to be associated with them."
Concubine Xue Xian wanted to persuade her again, but Li Zhi stretched out his hand to stop him and said loudly: "Dongfu!"
Outside the door, Wei Dongfu walked quickly into the palace, bowed and said, "I'm here, old slave."
Li Zhi said: "Have all the people I asked you to summon come?"
"Back to Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness the Crown Princess, His Royal Highness King Zhou, His Royal Highness Princess Zhou, Pei Pushe, Li Pushe and Liu Shilang have all been waiting in the side hall for a long time."
Li Zhi thought for a moment and said, "Let the prince, princess, King Zhou and Princess Zhou come over first."
Wei Dongfu accepted the promise, left the dormitory, and shouted loudly: "Prince Xuan, Crown Princess, King Zhou, and Princess Zhou are here to see you!"
Wu Chengsi took Li Zhiying's hand to the dormitory. As soon as he entered the room, he felt a smell of medicine coming towards him and almost choked his nose.
Entering the inner room, he saw Li Zhi again.
Compared with the last time we met, Li Zhi has changed a lot, and the biggest change comes from his eyes.
Both of his eyeballs were sunken deep into their sockets, with layers of bloodshot eyes, and a layer of dark circles appeared on his lower eyelids.
Anyone who sees him like this will feel that his end is approaching.
However, he seemed to be in a good mood. He raised his right hand slightly and said gently: "Everyone, sit down."
Two feet away from the dragon couch, there are two chairs on the left and right.
Wu Chengsi and Li Zhiying came to the chairs on the right, bowed their hands, and then sat down.
Seeing that the four people below were looking at him with worried expressions, Li Zhi smiled and said: "You don't have to worry about my health. I called you here today because I want to discuss something with you."
The prince said anxiously: "Father, if you have anything to do, just ask me, and I will definitely help you handle it!"
Li Zhi said slowly: "Let me tell you straight. One of you is the future emperor of our Tang Dynasty, and the other is the pillar of the future imperial court. However, both of you have no heirs. I am very worried."
The prince was surprised and said: "Father, what do you mean..."
"I want to make the decision and appoint two concubines for each of you. You can choose one of them by yourself. The other candidate must follow my arrangements and must not disobey orders!"
The prince looked like he wanted to say something but didn't dare.
Wu Chengsi turned his head and looked at Li Zhiying, seeing that although she still had a smile on her face, her smile was a little forced.
Li Zhilang said in a loud voice: "Crown Princess, Princess Zhou, this matter is not only your family matter, but also a national matter. I hope you can understand."
Li Zhiying secretly sighed, Li Zhi was already a very benevolent monarch, and if it were the case with other emperors, he would not even explain a word to them.
"My wife doesn't dare." Li Zhiying said softly.
The Crown Princess on the other side suddenly gritted her teeth, knelt down on the ground, and cried: "My wife, I beg you, Your Majesty, to issue an order to allow Your Highness the Crown Prince to divorce my wife!"
The prince was startled and said in panic: "What are you doing...get up!" As he said that, he wanted to help her, but Pei refused to get up.
Li Zhi's face darkened, thinking that she didn't want the prince to take a concubine, so he said coldly: "Are you threatening me?"
Wu Chengsi hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, my cousin's remarks should not be for today's matter."
Li Zhi was startled and immediately remembered that Wu Chengsi had told him that the Crown Princess was neglected by the Crown Prince.
He frowned and said, "Princess, if you have any grievances, just tell me."
Mrs. Pei covered her face with her hands and sobbed:
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is no longer willing to talk to my daughter-in-law in the palace. My daughter-in-law would rather be divorced and return home to be with Qing Deng."
Concubine Xue Xian advised: "Princess, why doesn't the prince want to talk to you? You should find the reason from yourself instead of crying and making a fuss in front of His Majesty. What is this like?"
The prince glanced at Concubine Xue Xian gratefully and complained: "Yes, we have something to say when we go back and don't worry our father!"
Wu Chengsi originally wanted to speak for Mr. Pei, but then he thought about it, Mr. Pei would probably never be favored by the prince in this life, and speaking a word would not help at all.
Moreover, in front of Li Zhi, he did not want to appear to be in conflict with the prince, so he remained silent.
Mrs. Pei's crying gradually stopped, and she sat back on the chair with the help of the prince, her eyes becoming numb.
Li Zhi didn't have much energy to care about other things now, so he continued:
"I will give you two days to choose a concubine. The day after tomorrow, during the holiday, I will hold a winter hunt in Furong Garden.
When the time comes, you will bring your chosen concubine, and I will bring the one I have chosen for you, and together we will announce this happy event to the civil and military officials of the entire court!"
Concubine Xue Xian was surprised and said: "Your Majesty, how can your body..."
Li Zhi glanced sideways at her, and the coldness in his eyes instantly silenced her.
When Wu Chengsi saw Li Zhi's attitude, he knew that he wanted to get this done before he died and would not allow anyone to refuse, so he held his hand and said, "I accept the order."
"My son, I accept the decree." The prince followed.
After Wu Chengsi and his wife and the prince and his wife retired, Li Zhi rested for a while and then said: "Dong Fu, let Pei Qing and Liu Qing come in."
Wei Dongfu responded, walked outside the door, and said loudly: "Xuan Peiyan, Li Jingxuan, and Liu Qixian are here to see you!"
After a while, Pei Yan, Li Jingxuan and a man in his forties entered the dormitory together.
The man had bright features and a tall figure. He was Li Zhi's most admired minister, Liu Qixian, Huangmen's minister.
During the period when Li Zhi decentralized power, he never took the initiative to summon court ministers to meet him. Only Liu Qixian was always ordered to come to Jinluan Courtyard to report to him on major affairs in the court.
"I will pay my respects to Your Majesty."
Li Zhi slowly raised his hand and said: "Three beloved ladies, no courtesy."
When the three of them raised their heads, he said slowly: "It has been nearly fifty years since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. From the late emperor to me, we have been able to maintain a strong national power. This is inseparable from the support of virtuous ministers like you."
The three of them were all taken aback, with a hint of joy in their surprise.
Obviously, the emperor was making arrangements for his future affairs, and the three of them were favored by the emperor as the new emperor's right-hand men and women.
Li Zhi continued: "There are still many shortcomings in the East Palace, and we will need your help in the future. Xu Qing told me yesterday to return home, and I have agreed. From now on, Liu Qing will take over as the servant."
Liu Qixian cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your kindness."
Li Zhi added: "Liu Gong is getting older. I hope that the three of you will work hard for the country in the future, so that the country will be peaceful and the world will be healthy. I have nothing else to ask for."
"I will do my best to repay the divine favor!" Liu Qixian said loudly, and Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan followed suit loudly.
Li Zhi said: "Please step aside, Liu Qing will stay."
When Liu Qixian was the only one left at the bottom of the stairs, Li Zhi said slowly: "Liu Qing, are your two daughters okay recently?"
Liu Qixian hurriedly said: "Thanks to your majesty's great blessing, my two daughters are both healthy and safe."
Li Zhi stared at him and said slowly: "I have heard about the character and talent of your two daughters for a long time. Now that they have reached the age of marriage, I want them to be concubines for the prince and the king of Zhou. Are you willing?
?”
Liu Qixian had many thoughts in his mind. With his current status as a servant, his daughter should not be a concubine.
But one of them is the future emperor, and the other is a prince with military power. For Liu's daughter to be a concubine for these two people, not only is it not an injustice, but it is a favor from the emperor.
"I am willing," Liu Qixian said sincerely.
Li Zhi smiled and said: "Very good, please ask them to prepare. In three days, I will hold a winter hunt in Furong Garden. I will announce this to the civil and military officials of the court."
"I obey the decree."
After Liu Qixian left, Concubine Xue Xian said softly: "Your Majesty, you have met so many people today and you have worked too hard. Please let me help you."
Li Zhi said, "My beloved concubine, please go back to the palace today."
Concubine Xue Xian was shocked. Li Zhi would only drive her away under one circumstance.
When meeting the queen.
The biggest characteristic of Concubine Xue Xian was not femininity, but obedience. She didn't say anything more, silently resigned and left the room.
"Dongfu, go and ask the queen to come over." As soon as she left the house, she heard Li Zhi's voice ringing in the palace.
Not long after, Wu Mei came to the dormitory wearing a bright yellow Luanniaochaofeng palace dress.
Her body is still so upright, and she walks differently from other women, with long steps and extremely fast speed.
"Your Majesty, do you have anything to do with my concubine?" Wu Mei came to the dormitory and asked directly.
Although her eyes were gentle, they were not submissive. Li Zhi was attracted by these eyes in the first place.
Other concubines will be happy as long as you favor them, treat them well, and give them some rewards.
But Wu Meiniang is different.
The happiest time for her was when she helped Li Zhi and when she found out that Li Zhi trusted her.
So Li Zhi likes to make her feel this trust.
All the other concubines wanted to rely on Li Zhi, but Wu Meiniang hoped that Li Zhi could rely on her. It was this uniqueness that made Li Zhi crazy about her.
Li Zhi didn't say a word, just looked at her. Wu Mei didn't ask any more questions and silently walked to Li Zhi.
Li Zhi suddenly hugged her waist and buried his head in her belly. Wu Mei hugged his head and gently stroked the back of her head.
I don't know how long it took, but Li Zhi whispered: "Meiniang, I can't bear to leave you."
Wu Mei didn't speak. She didn't like to comfort others with empty words. She couldn't do anything about Li's illness, so she couldn't say any words of comfort.
"Meiniang, I want to take "Huiyuan Decoction"."
Wu Mei was slightly startled, let go of his head, squatted in front of him, frowned and said:
"Didn't Dr. Liu say that the decoction is too powerful? Although it can revive you in a short time, it will only make you weaker after the effect wears off."
There was a hint of reproach in his eyes.
Li Zhi grabbed her hand and said with a smile: "In three days, I want to hold a 'Winter Hunting' in Furong Garden. My happiest day back then was the 'Winter Hunting' day held by my father. I want to, before I leave,
Experience it again.”
Wu Mei was silent for a moment and said softly: "Since you want to do it, then go ahead and do it. I will always be with you."
Li Zhi smiled and said: "I also plan to announce on the day of the winter hunting that Liu Qixian's two daughters will be married to the crown prince and Chengsi as concubines. What do you think?"
"Very good, I have no objection." Wu Mei said calmly.
Li Zhi knew her very well, and it was obvious from her expression that she had some objections.
But at this moment, Li Zhi couldn't give up on state affairs arrangements just to make her happy. He could only hold her hand tightly to appease her emotions.
Suddenly, there was a throbbing pain in his forehead. Li Zhi gritted his teeth, filled with anger at his body.
Can't you just let yourself have some peace and quiet for a while?
"Mei Niang, you go and deal with political affairs. I'm a little tired." Li Zhi didn't want Wu Mei to see the embarrassment he looked like when he was sick.
Wu Mei looked at him silently for a while, seemed to be aware of his physical discomfort, and said: "Your Majesty, please let me stay and serve you."
Li Zhi waved his hand and said: "No, you go quickly, I'll be fine."
Wu Mei understood what he was thinking, nodded, and left the dormitory.
"Dongfu, go and call Concubine Xue Xian." Li Zhi's voice sounded again in the dormitory.
…
The wheels rolled, and the carriage of Prince Zhou's Mansion drove slowly on the street.
Wu Chengsi and Li Zhiying held hands, but neither of them spoke.
According to Wu Chengsi's wishes, even if he wanted to take a concubine, he would definitely seek his wife's consent.
However, this time it was the emperor's will after all, and he had no choice.
Normally, with Li Zhi's kindness, he might not be able to ask him to take back his life.
But this time it was different. Wu Chengsi knew very well that this decree was because Li Zhi was not sure about his relationship with the prince, so he added another layer of insurance and could not tolerate rejection.
When an emperor is making funeral arrangements, it is best not to go against his will, otherwise he may drag you along. Wu Chengsi could only accept it silently.
Soon, the two carriages arrived outside Xue's house. Li Zhiying looked through the car window and was suddenly startled, saying, "Husband, look, there are many carriages outside the door."
Wu Chengsi stretched his head and looked.
Sure enough, there were five carriages parked outside the door, some of them open-topped, and they seemed to be filled with furniture.
Could it be the furniture bought by the Xue family?
Just as he was wondering, a carriage suddenly attracted Wu Chengsi's attention.
This carriage is very luxurious and is closest to the gate.
Wu Chengsi immediately understood that someone came to visit the Xue family and dragged four carts of furniture.
Since the door was blocked, Wu Chengsi and his wife had no choice but to get off the carriage from a distance and walk towards the gate of Xue Mansion.
Just as he arrived at the door, the door suddenly opened, and Hedong Marquis Xue Hui walked out with a livid face, followed by two servants.
Each of the two people was holding a tray, which was covered with red silk. Judging from the appearance, it was clear that it was some gold and silver utensils.
As soon as the three masters and servants came out, Xue Ne followed them out and said with a cold face: "My father said, I hope Lord Xue will not come again in the future!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly noticed Wu Chengsi and his wife, and their faces were instantly filled with smiles.
Pushing Hedong Marquis aside, he came to Wu Chengsi's side and said happily: "Your Highness, King Zhou, Your Highness, Princess, you are here."
He said and welcomed the two people into the door.
With a bang, the door was slammed shut. Marquis Hedong looked at the closed door, his face green and slightly red, he flicked his sleeves and said: "Go home!"
On the other side, Wu Chengsi and his wife were welcomed into the lobby, and Xue Ne shouted: "Father, sister, His Royal Highness King Zhou and the others are here."
There was a sound of rapid footsteps, and Xue Yujin was seen running quickly from another room wearing an apron, holding a bright kitchen knife in his hand.
"Brother Wu, Zhiying, you are here just in time. I am cooking, please wait a moment."
After saying that, there was a whoosh and he disappeared again.
Li Zhiying stood up and said with a smile: "Husband, I will help her."
Wu Chengsi nodded repeatedly. He had tasted Xue Yujin's craftsmanship once, but he didn't want to try it a second time if possible.