Inner Palace, Chong Ren Palace.
Although the autumn sun shone brightly outside, the doors to the inner palace were tightly shut. The bedding and furnishings cast a blurry shadow in the dim light.
The thick smell of medicine in the air was so strong that every inch of the paulownia wood and every crack between the bricks was soaked with bitterness. It made it hard to breathe.
The Crown Prince lay under the heavy muslin curtains. His face was pale and gray, and his eyes were terrifyingly dark. No signs of breathing could be seen under the blankets.
Queen Wu stood by the bed and stared at the Crown Prince's unconscious face. She seemed to be quietly sizing him up and did not speak for a long time.
The palace maids and eunuchs behind her knelt on the ground. The silence in the hall was suffocating.
After a while, Queen Wu finally asked, "What did the imperial doctor say?"
"Your Highness, the imperial doctor sees him three times a day. Since Langjun vomited blood in the middle of the night last time, he has followed Commander Xie's method and switched to stronger medicine. Although he is hanging on, it is very taxing on his body. Right now, he is barely … barely …"
The palace maid in charge trembled slightly. It was obvious that she could not continue.
Queen Wu asked, "Who has come to see him these past few days?"
"Your Highness, the Saint ordered the Eastern Palace to be closed. He came to see him yesterday.
Other than that, only Miss Pei is led by a nanny. She comes every other day. "
Queen Wu's red lips curled into a cold smile. "The Pei family of Hedong."
She did not say anything else. She turned around and picked up a snow lotus flower from the red sandalwood tray in Xie Yun's hands. It was completely white from the calyx to the stamen. Only the petals still had traces of dried blood. She gently threw it into the water.
With a soft splash, the flower melted when it came into contact with the water. A fresh and strange fragrance immediately wafted out of the empty inner palace.
"Mother and son are connected by heart. If one is hurt, the other is hurt.
After the Crown Prince was poisoned, I was so worried that I ordered Commander Xie to leave the capital to search for him. Finally, I found this snow lotus flower that had been lost among the common people. It is said to be a living thing. "
Everyone in the Eastern Palace kowtowed deeply. Queen Wu raised her cup and walked to the Crown Prince's bedside. She gently held him in her arms and was about to feed him.
However, it was unknown whether the Crown Prince's mind was really muddled or what, but his teeth were tightly shut and he couldn't feed it.
Queen Wu tried twice but to no avail. She smiled and said, "Xie Yun, you do it."
Xie Yun took the porcelain cup and pinched the Crown Prince's jaw without another word. She did not use much strength at all and forcefully pried open the Crown Prince's mouth.
Thus, the crown prince had no choice but to wake up.
"... Ahhh …" The crown prince struggled to get to his feet. He waved his hands helplessly and turned his head away, "M-my lady … Don't …"
Queen Wu said gently, "The Crown Prince is obedient.
This is a miraculous medicine that can cure your illness. Commander Xie went through a lot of trouble to obtain it. Drink it and you'll live. "
The Crown Prince's slightly trembling gaze moved from Queen Wu to Xie Yun. Then, he looked at the cup of fragrant clear water in front of him. Fear gradually appeared on his face.
"Hong'er?" Queen Wu asked.
The Crown Prince suddenly turned his head.
Queen Wu asked, "Hong'er, do you not trust your mother?"
No one dared to make a sound. The heart-palpitating silence lasted for a long time.
"... Commander Xie …" The Crown Prince said weakly in a hoarse voice.
Xie Yun said, "I'm here."
"That day at Ci'en Temple … where is Master Xin Chao from Ci'en Temple?"
Queen Wu's expression changed immediately. Xie Yun was also a bit surprised. However, the emotions on his face were instantly covered by an even calmer expression, "The monk Xin Chao is waiting outside the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince wants to see him, so I ordered someone to call him over."
The Crown Prince said, "Go call him."
Under Queen Wu's intense gaze, Xie Yun paused for a moment. Then, he turned to the palace servant on the ground, "... According to the Crown Prince, summon the monk Xin Chao for an audience."
When he said these words, he felt Queen Wu's gaze on the back of his neck. There was even a slight chill in his bones. However, Queen Wu didn't say anything.
In this situation, with so many people watching, she couldn't say anything.
As expected, the palace servant did as he was told. A moment later, the door to the inner room creaked. The attendant palace maid said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the monk Xin Chao is here."
Xie Yun's knuckles, which were pressed against the wall of the cup, changed color slightly.
The door to the hall opened. Light extended from the crack of the door into the hall. The golden brick floor gradually spread out into a belt of light.
A man's figure was cast in the belt of light. He had broad shoulders and a slender figure. Against the light, his face couldn't be seen clearly. His figure was wrapped in masculine strength. He stood at the door of the hall like a silent rock.
Queen Wu stared at him. Her expression was complicated. Her face was slightly pale. Her fingertips trembled slightly on the golden red palace gauze.
The attendant palace maid at the door said softly, "You need to greet Her Highness the Empress …"
Xie Yun interrupted her without turning his head. He looked up at the golden tassels beside the bed curtain. However, he said to the person behind him, "... to greet Her Highness."
Very few people were able to distinguish the huge difference behind the way they addressed each other. Even Dan Chao, who stepped into Daming Palace for the first time, did not know. However, Empress Wu suddenly stood up and said, "No need to bow."
She strode away from the bed. She turned around and said coldly, "The Crown Prince will only take the medicine if he sees you. Come and feed him."
Shan Chao didn't understand. Under everyone's gaze, he walked into the East Palace.
The Crown Prince was already supporting himself against the pillow. Shan Chao walked to the bed and took the porcelain cup in Xie Yun's hand.
At this moment, he and Xie Yun sat on the left and right sides of the bed. The Crown Prince only stared at Shan Chao. A smile of relief slowly appeared on his pale face.
"I knew that the master would come to save me."
Shan Chao didn't know why, but his heart felt warm. He said gently, "Your Highness, take the medicine."
The Crown Prince nodded and said, "Yes, I believe you. My life is in your hands." Then he took the porcelain cup and drank the snow lotus water in one gulp.
Everyone held their breaths. The Crown Prince let go and the porcelain cup fell silently on the bed.
Then, the Crown Prince's gray cheeks strangely turned white and then red. The darkness under his eyes faded. He spat out a mouthful of thick black blood.
The palace servants hurried forward in panic. Before they could say the words "Your Highness", the Crown Prince's eyes lit up. It was as if he had been reborn.
Xie Yun put her finger on the Crown Prince's wrist. She stood up and ordered outside the hall.
"Come, raise the Zhong Xiaoyu Three Palaces."
"The Crown Prince of the East Palace has recovered. The country is safe!"
In the second year of Linde, the Empress took medicine to cure the Crown Prince. The shocking poisoning case in the East Palace came to an end.
The great bell shook Chong Ren Palace and then went far away. It passed through the nine gates and resounded through the beautiful Daming Palace.
The three sounds of the bell reverberated endlessly, reverberating for a long time in the sky above Chang 'an.
That night, the Emperor came to Chong Ren Palace to visit the Crown Prince. He was very happy and ordered a banquet to be held in Qing Ning Palace to celebrate.
Inside the Pure Peace Palace, there were fireworks and silver flowers. Dancing girls' robes danced in the light, and musicians' melodious music drifted in the Brocade Hall.
The Emperor and the Empress sat in the main seats. Outside the dance floor, the royal relatives and favored concubines sat in a circle. Closer to the lower part of the hall, there was a hall full of favored officials. On the south side of the hall, there was a carved marble screen, separating a relatively secluded space. There was a small table inside, and only two people sat facing each other.
Xie Yun and Shan Chao.
Xie Yun seemed to be very interested. She tasted every dish that was served. When she was about to pour herself a drink, Shan Chao raised his hand and stopped her, "You are injured. You should not drink."
The wound on Xie Yun's forehead had already been treated with medicine. The bandage was hidden in her hair. Shan Chao subconsciously reached out to touch it. When he realized what was going on, he suddenly stopped. He stiffly turned his hand back in the air, "What happened? How did you get injured?"
"I bumped into something.
I didn't look carefully when I was walking in Qing Ning Palace. I bumped into the door frame in front of the Empress. "
Shan Chao asked, "Did you bump into it to save my life?"
"…" Xie Yun put down the wine cup. She smiled and asked, "Why do you have such a ridiculous and stupid idea? What does your life have to do with me?"
He deliberately dragged out his lazy voice. It sounded full of sarcasm. However, Shan Chao looked at him calmly and unmoved,
"Because the Empress wants me dead."
Looking out from the small table, one could see all the people at the banquet through the hollowed-out screen. However, the people outside could only vaguely see the two people drinking inside. They could not see the specific situation. They just thought that the guards on shift were resting in the hall.
Xie Yun looked away from the outside and said casually, "Do you know why the Empress wants to get rid of the Crown Prince?"
Shan Chao hesitated for a moment and said, "Because … of the Mount Tai Pilgrimage?"
Xie Yun laughed.
"The Emperor decided to set off for the Mount Tai Pilgrimage. According to the rules, the Emperor is the host and the Prime Minister is the prime minister. However, this year, the Empress proposed that she would replace the Prime Minister on the pilgrimage. She and the Emperor announced to the world that they would be called the 'Two Saints'. When they returned to the capital, they would officially be called the 'Two Saints'."
"The Emperor did not directly reject this proposal. However, it was fiercely opposed by the Eastern Palace party. The reason is simple: A hen taking over the throne is an unheard of since ancient times.
The Emperor's body is weak and he can't see clearly. The Empress, on the other hand, has always been strong.
If the Empress really starts to attend to the affairs of the court, when the Emperor is powerful in the future, do you think the Empress will smoothly return the power to the Crown Prince? "
"Therefore, the Empress made the decision to take drastic measures. Instead of letting the Eastern Palace party grow, it would be better to change the Eastern Palace. That is why the bowl of sour fruit soup in Ci 'en Temple was poisoned.
Liu Gelao was caught in her own trap. The Empress beat her at her own game. The Crown Prince's life was originally in the bag. This flawless plan was ruined by only one person, and that was you. "
Xie Yun raised her hand and pointed at Shan Chao. She mocked, "You came out of nowhere to mess things up … Blockhead."
Shan Chao was pointed at and stepped back.
This was originally a move full of malice. However, for some reason, Xie Yun's smiling eyes shone like pearls under the light. Her light red thin lips were very moist and soft because she had just drunk tea. Although it was full of sarcasm, her expression made people's hearts flutter.
Shan Chao hurriedly looked away, "… What about now?"
"Now?" Xie Yun mocked, "It's good enough to spare your life. You still want a reward?"
"No, it's about the Mount Tai Pilgrimage."
In fact, Shan Chao just subconsciously continued the topic. It seemed that only by talking could he relieve the inexplicable tightness in his throat and cover up his slightly hot cheeks, probably because he was too close to the light.
Xie Yun didn't care. She looked past the hollow screen and saw the Emperor and Empress at the banquet in the distance.
The Emperor was personally pouring a cup of wine and handed it to Queen Wu with a smile.
"The Mount Tai Pilgrimage …" Xie Yun said lightly.
"Two days ago, the Crown Prince was sick. I was also depressed and didn't talk to the Empress often."
Under the brilliant lights of the banquet, the Emperor smiled and there was a hint of subconscious apology in his voice, "Now that I think about it, the Empress didn't have a good time either. It's really …"
Queen Wu smiled and took the wine cup, "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"
"I didn't expect that in the end, it was the Empress who found a miracle medicine and cured Hong 'er." The Emperor sighed, "Mother and son are connected by heart."
"Mother and son are connected by heart. The Crown Prince is my flesh and blood. How can I not wish him well?"
"Yes, I wronged the Empress!"
The Emperor placed his hand on Empress Wu's dazzling armor and said in a low voice, "After the Mid-Autumn Festival, We plan to set off for Mount Tai to perform a pilgrimage. You said that you wanted to act as Ya Xian, We have carefully considered it …"
Queen Wu's smiling expression didn't change.
The Emperor took a deep breath and was about to say something. Suddenly, a coquettish voice came from beside him.
"Your Majesty, this dance is not nice. Please ask them to leave!"
Queen Wu's eyes suddenly flashed with a trace of coldness.
— Madam Wei.
As expected, the Emperor immediately turned his head to greet her. The ten-year-old Helan Shi was wrapped in a light green palace dress. She looked fresh and beautiful like a spring onion that had just sprouted. Even her complaints were in a seductive voice, "Your Majesty, the performances in the palace are all the same!
I'm so tired of it. Ask them to leave quickly! "
When the Emperor saw Helan Shi, his whole body seemed to soften a little. He quickly came up with all kinds of gentle words to coax her.
However, Helan Shi was used to the Emperor's indulgence. She insisted that she didn't want to see the performances in the palace. The surrounding officials also flattered her according to her wishes. The Emperor didn't know what to do. "This is obviously a newly made song. Why doesn't Yue like it?"
Helan Shi said angrily, "It's all the same soft music. How can I be interested in it!"
The Emperor quickly coaxed, "Then what do you want to see?"
Helan Shi glanced around the banquet. That glance was very deliberate. Then, she asked in a seemingly casual manner, "Why didn't Commander Xie come to the banquet today?"
The Emperor didn't notice that Xie Yun wasn't here. He was stunned.
"I heard that Commander Xie is good at swordsmanship. She even has an ancient divine weapon."
Helan Shi paused. She didn't seem to notice Queen Wu's cold gaze. She pulled the Emperor's sleeve coquettishly.
"Your Majesty, I haven't seen what an ancient divine weapon looks like. Why don't we ask Commander Xie to perform a sword dance? What do you think?"