The faint voice made the Queen Mother lower her eyes. She had seen all these tricks in the palace for her entire life and had seen enough of them.
"Let someone in."
The emperor opened his mouth, but in the end he did not object, because he recognized who the voice belonged to.
Following Yuxiang, who was suppressing her anger, came in the palace maid of Haoyue. She kowtowed to the two people at the top and then fell to the ground and choked, "I beg the Queen Mother to have mercy and let the imperial physician come to see the Queen. If the Queen was not really unwell, she would not have asked for mercy again and again. Please have mercy."
The Queen Mother was not in a hurry to respond, for she knew it was far from over.
Sure enough, just as the conversation ended, a palace maid's sharp and piercing voice came from outside, "Hurry up, someone, the queen has her period."
The room was silent.
The emperor stood up and walked out quickly with a look of ecstasy on his face. When he reached the door, he realized that he had overreacted. He turned around and explained awkwardly: "My son was confused. Please forgive me, mother."
The empress dowager looked at her eldest son quietly. She married the late emperor at the age of fifteen and gave birth to him at the age of sixteen. Although there was no pure love in the palace, she gave him the most profound and selfless one she could. She remembered that they had a deep mother-son love, that he childishly said he wanted to protect her when he was a child, and that he couldn't help but run to her in person to tell her the good news when he became a father for the first time. He was once full of vigor and vitality, and his eyes were bright, but she didn't know when he became so old and frail now. Looking at him, he was not much better than herself.
Really, why think about these things? The Queen Mother suppressed the bitterness in her heart and said calmly: "Take her back."
"Mother." The emperor stepped forward, "It has been many years since a prince or princess was born in the palace. My son is just too happy."
"I am happy for you, go ahead. I am tired."
The emperor couldn't keep him any longer, so he had to take his leave.
Listening to the rustling noises outside that came and went, the empress dowager covered her eyes. She had tried her best to soften the emperor. As long as the emperor softened his attitude, the matter would not be difficult to resolve. But Haoyue chose to make trouble at this time!
After a while, when the empress dowager put down her hands, all her emotions had subsided, and she returned to being the calm and composed empress dowager she once was, as if no storm could defeat her.
"We saw blood on the first day of the Lunar New Year. If nothing happens this year, it's fine. But if something happens." The Queen Mother sneered, "Remember this. Let the Emperor remember this little bit of blood today. I don't know if it's real or fake."
"Yes, I've made note of it."
The huge palace was as warm as spring sunshine, but the empress dowager still felt cold. She picked up the hand warmer and put it on, thinking that her son who said he would have dinner with her might have forgotten this promise.
"My lady, I beg to see you."
Petition? The Queen Mother came back to her senses and immediately summoned someone in.
Chen Qing had worked in the Qixiu Division for many years, so it was not difficult for him to come in. Moreover, he was taking the formal route now and came to deliver something for his master.
After greeting, Chen Qing placed the mahogany food box that the empress dowager was very familiar with on the table, bowed his head and said, "The master ordered me to kowtow to you on his behalf."
Chen Qing knelt down again and bowed deeply, "I wish you a long life."
The Queen Mother looked at the box for a moment and said in a hoarse voice, "I accept this gift. Get up."
Chen Qing stood up and stated his purpose without waiting for questions. "The master, Miss Yang Fudong, personally prepared some dishes that you like. She said they are all light and easy to digest. Please try some of each. The master said that she will have me bring more to you tomorrow."
Lifting up and touching the food box, it felt warm to the touch, and this little bit of warmth warmed people's hearts, making them feel better. "How is Yan Xi's injury?"
"In reply to the Queen Mother, the master had a fever all night last night. Shaoyao and the eldest lady took good care of him and the fever subsided this morning. He is now much better and will be able to come and pay his respects to you in person soon."
"It's true that he has a fever, and it's also true that those two took care of him all night, but it's true that he got better." The Queen Mother looked at him and said, "Tell the truth."
"Yes, Shaoyao said that the master needs to stay in bed for a few days to recuperate. He will suffer a lot, but his life will be fine for the time being."
The Queen Mother guessed the same thing in her heart. She sighed, turned around and told Yuxiang, "Go and get that set of pearl jewelry. Oh, Shaoyao likes my pair of jade beads. Bring them to Chenqing to take away. Consider them my New Year gifts to them."
"yes."
At this time, Rulan Palace was also in a state of chaos, but the joy on the faces of the palace servants could not be concealed in the chaos.
After nine years, another concubine in the palace was pregnant with the royal family's blood. Whether it was a prince or a princess, it was a great joyful event, especially for the people in Rulan Palace. They saw from the corner of their eyes that the emperor personally brought medicine to the empress, and they were even more certain of this.
Haoyue obediently drank a bowl of pregnancy-preserving medicine, wiped the corner of her mouth, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.
The emperor was in a very good mood. Seeing her like this, he smiled and said, "Speak."
Haoyue lowered her eyebrows, and her unmade face looked plump and lustrous because of her youth. Her pale face now made her look even more pitiful. The emperor was a man who appreciated beauty, and his heart felt even softer.
"If you have anything to say, just tell me. I'll take care of it for you."
"I have never been wronged, so I can't say I have the final say, but..." Haoyue stroked her belly and raised her head, her eyes sparkling, "But this is the child I have waited so long for, and I am worried that I won't be able to keep him, so I dare to ask Miss Shaoyao to be my attendant doctor. Don't worry, I dare not make any plans, but I think it is more convenient to have a female doctor, don't you think?"
The emperor narrowed his eyes, but did not agree. "The Imperial Hospital has doctors who specialize in this area. You don't need to think too much. They dare not ignore it."
"But Your Majesty, I trust Shaoyao more."
"I believe her too." Thinking of his niece who rushed in yesterday without even glancing at him, the emperor didn't know whether he was more annoyed or helpless. "She is not only a doctor, but also a princess. Do you want her to serve you every day as a princess?"
Haoyue bit her lips, making them even whiter. "I dare not think so. I am just really worried..."
"I understand. Don't worry. I will make arrangements. No one will look down on you." The emperor turned around and told Lai Fu, "Appoint Haoyue as a concubine and raise her salary by two levels."
"yes."
"Your humble concubine thanks you." Haoyue bowed on the bed, and the emperor helped her lie down. "Take good care of yourself and give birth to my prince and princess, which will be the best way to thank you."
"Yes, I will definitely do it."
Haoyue covered her mouth and yawned. Seeing this, the emperor did not linger any longer and said, "You should have a good rest."
Haoyue pulled his sleeve and said, "I will just sleep for a while. Will you come over later?"
"Come." The emperor nodded with great pleasure. "Would you like me to have dinner with you?"
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
The emperor touched her face and strode away in a good mood.
The smile on Haoyue's face gradually faded. She had planned to keep it a secret for a while, but she didn't expect that she would have to let the child go today. Unfortunately, her plan did not come true. She knew that the leader of the Qisu Division was actually the prince. If she could catch Shaoyao and use the child as a handle to catch her, then would Gu Yanxi, who had a deep brotherly love, come to beg her