Two days later, Wen Qingci delivered the prepared lotus elixir to Ninghe Palace.
At that time, the emperor was playing chess with Concubine Lan while discussing his trip to Mount Yishan to offer sacrifices to the gods in the near future.
He has been preparing for this for nearly a year.
It is different from blood inheritance, and even more different from founding a country through military merit.
"Gaining the throne in an unjust way" has always been a thorn in the heart of Xie Zhaolin, who was elected emperor.
The more others said this, the more he wanted to prove that he was appointed by heaven.
Concubine Lan placed a white piece on the chessboard. "… The imperial tomb of the previous dynasty is at the foot of Mount Yishan. After the Fengshan ceremony, will Your Majesty go to pay homage?" Her tone was quite cautious.
"Hmm..." The emperor's expression was gloomy. He looked at the chessboard without even raising his eyelids. "Go, it's time to go."
Wen Qingci, who was writing a medical record, subconsciously looked up and glanced at the emperor.
The eyes of this emperor, who usually hid his emotions, showed a rare hint of nostalgia.
Wen Qingci remembered that it was written in "Fu Ming Tang" that the royal family of the previous dynasty had a family hereditary disease. Not only were there few offspring, but almost all the emperors died early.
In fact, Emperor Ai is a little younger than the current emperor.
"After the worship, let's go see Chen Ling." The emperor said casually as he made his move.
"Chenling" is the burial place of Xie Zhaolin a hundred years later. Its construction began when he ascended the throne, and it took nearly twenty years to complete.
"… yes."
I don’t know if it was an illusion, but when Lan Fei heard this, her expression seemed to become a little strange, but the next second she hid that strange emotion by making a move.
The Ninghe Hall fell silent once again.
Only the sound of falling pieces remained, occasionally reaching my ears.
Wen Qingci was about to finish writing the medical record when he heard footsteps outside the hall.
Then, the eunuch's shrill voice came: "Your Majesty, Wen Zhaoyuan requests an audience!"
The emperor had just raised his eyelids and had no time to say anything when a water-red figure, regardless of the eunuchs' obstruction, knelt down outside the palace: "Your Majesty, Qingyun has a favor to ask -" After speaking, he kowtowed heavily.
Everyone in the hall looked at her.
"I heard that Xi'er has been... taken to the Ministry of Justice," Wen Zhaoyuan cried as she spoke, "Your Majesty, please spare his life. Xi'er was indeed confused this time, but he is not a bad person by nature and has no intention of harming Your Majesty!"
Hearing this, the emperor couldn't help but put the ring on his forehead with an unhappy look on his face, and his eyebrows were tightly furrowed.
It looks like the old headache has come back again.
This time, Concubine Lan spoke first: "Wen Zhaoyuan, don't bring up the affairs of the imperial court now!"
The woman kneeling on the ground sniffed, took a deep breath and said: "Yes... Yes, I..."
"You have been in the palace for many years, don't you understand these rules?" Concubine Lan's tone was already stern, and she even put down the chess piece in her hand.
Wen Zhaoyuan finally shut up with sobs.
The pearls and jade on her head made crackling sounds as her body swayed.
This was undoubtedly a torture for the emperor, who was already troubled.
This "Wen Zhaoyuan" was hardly mentioned in the original novel, so Wen Qingci recalled for a long time before remembering that the person in front of him should be the biological mother of the youngest fourth prince in the palace, and also the younger sister of Marquis Zhong'an.
Wen Zhaoyuan is only twenty years old and the only daughter in the family. She grew up in a pampered environment and has the innocence of a noble lady in her character.
Wen Qingci had seen so many gossips before, but he had never seen anyone who came to the emperor to beg for mercy and act pitifully while still wearing gold and silver.
After a moment of silence, Wen Zhaoyuan couldn't help but mutter, "As an aunt, I really can't watch Xi'er's life ruined..."
"Doctor Wen, bring me the Convolvulus Pill—"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Wen Qingci paused and said after standing up, "... Your Majesty needs to rest for the next few days and must not get angry."
As soon as Wen Qingci handed the medicine over, the emperor swallowed it directly and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Du Qingyun, haven't you said enough?" Concubine Lan took a deep breath and said to the eunuch beside her, "Send her back. This is not the place for her to talk nonsense."
"Yes, yes... Concubine Lan." Eunuch Xian immediately obeyed and ordered someone to take the reluctant Wen Zhaoyuan away.
This was the first time that Wen Qingci saw Concubine Lan so angry, but compared to her hypocritical attitude when she pleaded for Concubine Wan, it seemed that she really cared about the other party.
Wen Qingci looked at the person on the dragon throne nervously.
I don’t know if this prescription is as magical as it is described in the book.
Ninghe Hall fell silent, and everyone held their breath, observing his expression.
After two or three minutes, the person on the dragon throne finally slowly opened his eyes, and his tightly furrowed brows relaxed.
The Convolvulus Pill really works!
The other people in the hall also widened their eyes in shock.
The emperor removed the white jade ring from his forehead, paused for a moment, and said to Wen Qingci: "Dr. Wen has made great contributions in providing medicine. I hereby award him 100 taels of gold and 10 pieces of brocade... He is to be given the same rank as the Imperial Physician."
Wen Qingci immediately bowed to express his gratitude.
The Convolvulus Pill, which is considered a miraculous painkiller in modern times, was like a magic pill for him who had been suffering from headaches recently.
The pain suddenly disappeared, and the emperor's tone of voice became higher and higher: "As for the doctors who went to Wanghe with me, I will also give them ten taels of gold each."
As a modern man, Wen Qingci had no idea about the emperor's gift.
His reaction was very calm, and he didn't pretend to shirk responsibility like the others, but this also invisibly fits the original owner's personality.
As for the other people in the hall, after the emperor finished bestowing the rewards, they all exchanged glances silently - His Majesty really valued him!
How many imperial physicians have spent their entire lives only to become a sixth-rank "imperial physician", but Wen Qingci is so young, and not long after entering the palace, he is on par with Yu Guanlin, who is over seventy years old!
Not to mention the gift of 100 taels of gold... Before this, the emperor had only bestowed this kind of gift on important officials of the court.
According to the rules of the Wei Dynasty, all recipients of rewards had to express their gratitude in front of the emperor. Upon hearing his words, Eunuch Xian immediately sent someone to the Imperial Medical Bureau to inform the doctors.
"Wait—" The delighted emperor suddenly stopped him and added, "And the eldest prince, give him ten taels of gold as well."
The emperor finally remembered Xie Bufeng!
In recent months, Wen Qingci, as the "attending physician", has received many rewards, but the emperor has never mentioned his son who was testing medicine for him.
The people in Taishu Palace are the best at observing people's words and expressions. After the news of the reward spreads, Xie Bufeng's situation will be a little better.
Wen Qingci's mood also became much more relaxed.
Eunuch Xian quickly summoned people from the Imperial Medical Bureau, and the reward gold ingots were brought to the palace early.
However, unlike the doctors who were in tears and were so excited that they could hardly control themselves, Xie Bufeng did not show the slightest excitement of receiving the reward.
After eunuch Xian made many hints, Xie Bufeng simply thanked him briefly, then took out a gold ingot and shook it casually.
From beginning to end, he never showed the slightest respect for the emperor.
The emperor, who was originally in a good mood, immediately changed his expression.
Fortunately, his headache had eased a bit, and he didn't want to ruin his mood with Xie Bufeng anymore. Seeing the other party's stubborn attitude, he waved his hand and told Xie Bufeng to leave.
"Okay, my beloved concubine, you should go back and have a good rest." The emperor gave birth to his last child and said to Concubine Lan without raising his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Ming Liu helped Concubine Lan, who was already pregnant, up and carefully left the Ninghe Palace.
The willow trees in Taishu Palace have sprouted, and the thawed lake surface is forming tiny ripples in the breeze.
At noon, Xie Bufeng was the only one on the corridor beside the Ninghe Hall.
"You go down first. I have something to say to him." Concubine Lan sent Ming Liu away.
At this time, Xie Bufeng, who was walking in front, also turned around.
Concubine Lan lifted her skirt and walked over quickly.
"Why were you so rude in the palace just now?" Concubine Lan paused and said, "After all, he is your father..."
If Wen Qingci were here, he would be shocked at the private state of these two people. They were not as "unfamiliar" as they usually appeared.
Xie Bufeng did not answer Concubine Lan's question, but looked into the distance and said, "There are many people in Taishu Palace, so mother, please don't let your guard down here."
Concubine Lan pursed her lips, sighed softly, and lowered her voice to remind Xie Bufeng: "The Divine Doctor Valley has been secluded from the world for generations. Even when Emperor Ai of the previous dynasty was critically ill... they were unable to invite a divine doctor to come out of seclusion. Yet, Wen Qingci entered the palace on his own. Don't you find it strange?"
"Whether it's me or your majesty, the illness we suffer from is not a problem for him. Besides, he has been focusing on the water plague in recent years and has no interest in your majesty's illness at all." Obviously, Concubine Lan had already carefully checked Wen Qingci, and her speed of speech became faster and faster. "I don't know what his purpose is this time... But since he is a human, he must have a purpose. The deeper he hides, the more careful we have to be."
After saying that, Concubine Lan took a deep breath and said, "Anyway, you will be with him day and night, so remember to be careful. Don't neglect your studies in the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Xie Bufeng finally spoke: "After some time, I will move back to Yuguang Palace."
"That's good..." Lan Fei couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Outside the Ninghe Hall was not a good place to talk. Concubine Lan once again reminded Xie Bufeng not to hold a grudge against the emperor anymore, and then left in a hurry.
Only when her figure disappeared in the corridor did the young man smile and gently twirl the small gold ingot in his hand.
Holding a grudge
Hatred is based on existing feelings. Xie Bufeng left the palace at the age of three and had no impression of his father at all, let alone "hatred".
Xie Bufeng had long been accustomed to all kinds of malice, and ordinary disgust was like wind passing by his ears.
The reason why he had been against the emperor was because Xie Bufeng had "heard" an interesting thing early on -
The current emperor has murderous intentions towards his prince.
Not only himself, but also Xie Guanzhi and Xie Yinshang were the same.
Xie Bufeng finally walked slowly towards the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Xie Zhaolin came to power in an illegitimate way. He was not only afraid of the nobles and court officials, but even wary of his own children.
As an emperor, Xie Zhaolin didn't care at all whether others were truly admiring him or just pretending to be.
He just wants to understand at a glance and have a firm control over everyone.
The more openly Xie Bufeng expressed his disgust and disdain, the more relieved the emperor became.
Thinking of this, Xie Bufeng couldn't help but raise a sarcastic arc on his lips.
—To him, the emperor in the Ninghe Palace was nothing more than a vicious dog that he could take for a walk.
As long as a person has negative emotions, he will present his weaknesses to Xie Bufeng for him to take advantage of.
Xie Bufeng always likes to get along with bad people.
Only Wen Qingci is an exception among exceptions...
Sometimes Xie Bufeng felt that Wen Qingci was indeed devoted to medicine and had no distractions, but sometimes he felt that he was a deep pool with a calm surface and no one knew what was hidden beneath the water.
The boy couldn't help but narrowed his eyes slightly.
Since we are human beings, we will always have jealousy, resentment, hatred, and fear.
No one is exempt from this.
Wen Qingci is like the moon in the water. The fuller and calmer it is, the more it makes Xie Bufeng want to break the moon into pieces and find out what's inside.
(End of this chapter)