Qianwandi's injury was kept a secret. Other than his personal palace servants, almost no one knew about it.
Zhang Kuo didn't even dare to call for an imperial physician. Every day, he sent medicine to Qianwandi and let him bandage himself.
His injury was on the back of his waist. When he did it himself, it was very inconvenient. When he held the bandage covered in medicinal powder with the back of his hand, it would fall all over the floor.
It was very painful, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
In the piercing pain that felt like needles, there was a sense of relief.
Even the pain … was given by the person who held him in the palm of his hand and hated that he couldn't spoil him, hated that he couldn't indulge him.
Could this stab make him feel better?
He had such a bad temper, and he had accumulated so much anger in his heart for so long. With this stab, his flesh and blood would splatter. Could it let him vent a little bit of his resentment …
As he thought about it, there was an almost imperceptible, secret sweetness in his heart. Slowly, like knitting, it wrapped around his heart.
Outside the curtain, the palace maids laughed softly as they swept away the flowers. The pink petals floated on the clear water and gradually drifted away with the waves.
The whispers of the swallow floated into the hall from the high window lattice. Mixed with the smell of medicine, it made people drowsy.
Qianwandi lowered his head and tied a knot with some effort. His elbow slipped on the table, and the medicine bottles fell to the ground.
Mingde, who had been sleeping on the table, suddenly woke up. His small head swayed around in a circle, looking very alert and alert.
Qianwandi looked at him, pitiful and cute. He couldn't help but reach out to touch his face. "It's okay. Go to sleep."
Mingde broke free from his hand and yawned.
He really was a person who couldn't be spoiled. He had only been spoiled for a few days, and his impatience and sharp little thorns were all on display. He looked incomparably proud.
Qianwandi wanted to reach out and hug him, but he was hit by Mingde's hand. Mingde then moved closer and reached out to bandage his wound.
The youth's warm fingers gently rubbed against her skin. It was almost unnoticeable.
Qianwandi could hear the sound of his own heavy breathing. He felt his muscles tense up, and his nerves felt like they were about to snap.
"Mingde …"
The young man behind him snorted.
"… Tomorrow is the official consort selection. Can you come with me?"
Mingde suddenly tightened the bandage. Qianwandi sucked in a cold breath and almost jumped up. He only heard Mingde's cold and low voice behind him: "What is Your Majesty doing?
This subject's life is already very difficult. Are you going to remind this subject that his future days will be even more difficult? "
Qianwandi suddenly realized his slip of the tongue. He turned around to explain, but Mingde had already fiercely thrown himself into the layers of cloud-like blankets. In the huge dragon bed, his thin figure was almost invisible. Only cold laughter could be heard.
"Mingde, Mingde," Qianwandi grabbed him and hugged him fiercely, "How could I think that … … how could I mean that … … you're such a fierce little guy. Who in the harem can do anything to you?
… … No matter what, as long as you're obedient, the one who has the best days is you … … "
The blankets were so soft. That man's embrace was also very careful, afraid that he would break them or damage them.
But the resentment in Mingde's heart was like a kitten's claws. He didn't know why he was unhappy, but he was unhappy.
The small needles stuck there made him restless. He almost wanted to jump up and bite something to vent.
He arched his body in the blankets like he was venting, but he didn't stick his head out. Qianwandi held him tightly, rubbing his thin body into his arms. He kept kissing his soft and cool hair.
That gentleness almost wiped away all the violence and pain from before.
… … Why do you have to act like a good person?
Have you forgotten all the blood and pain?
It's so unfair. When you want to be a bad person, I have to obey. When you want to be a good person, I have to be grateful. Is that right?
… … It's useless. I won't listen to you. I won't … …
Qianwandi was in a trance. He couldn't hear the small voice, the resentment that contained fear and hatred.
He bent down and kissed Mingde's hair, from the back of his neck to his back. The kiss was so gentle that it was like he had taken off the body of an emperor, leaving behind the soul of an ordinary man who was ill with infatuation and uneasiness.
The next day, the consort selection was officially held.
Eight hundred beauties gathered in a hall. They went forward in a row, two by two, and bowed to the high and mighty Emperor through the bead curtain.
Those who stayed had the chance to be favored. Those who were favored had the chance to be consort and give birth to a child.
A young girl's first desire for riches and honor lay in her full bow.
The night before the consort selection, Yunzhou's Madam Chang was respectfully invited to Jing 'an Hall by the Empress's palace.
The Empress leaned on the brocade couch in Ziyun Palace. She stared at her for a while and slowly said, "Come here."
Madam Chang walked over with fear. Suddenly, she saw two well-maintained fingers that were obviously raised like a prince reach over and gently lift her chin.
Madam Chang timidly raised her eyes and met the Empress's scrutinizing gaze.
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"So similar … …" The Empress sighed. "… … This smell, this look … …"
Madam Chang trembled and said, "This, this girl doesn't dare!"
"Why wouldn't you dare?" The Empress smiled and let go of her hand. She looked very dignified as she picked up the maple leaf tea at her hand. "— Your appearance, it is your supreme weapon.
What do the women in the harem rely on?
Don't they rely on their faces? "
Madam Chang hurriedly knelt on the ground. "Nubi … … nubi definitely doesn't dare to have thoughts of defying the Empress. Nubi only asks to serve the Emperor and will definitely abide by the virtue of a woman … …"
The Empress sneered and suddenly put down the teacup with a bang.
"Virtue of a woman?
What is virtue of a woman?
A woman without talent is virtue. But look at the favored women in the harem. Which one of them isn't proficient in the four arts?
The Emperor won't like you to abide by virtue of a woman like a block of wood. He likes your face!
Do you understand?
Your face, it is to the Emperor's liking! "
Madam Chang trembled and knelt. The Empress became angry and slapped the table, saying, "Stand up!"
Madam Chang was so frightened she didn't dare to move. The Empress pulled her up and said harshly, "Stand up!
Act a bit like a master!
Don't be so aggrieved like a little wife. Who owes you money?
Act a bit more insolent!
When you see the Emperor tomorrow, don't kneel to talk to him!
How can you be so insolent! "
Madam Chang stuttered in fear, "Empress, empress, but … … but this commoner … …"
The Empress waved her hand and said, "Gu gu!"
The mama behind her immediately came forward and bowed. The Empress pointed at Madam Chang and coldly said, "— Take her away and act like Mingde gongzi.
Tomorrow, tell her that she doesn't need to come to the hall. Leave her in my palace and give her to the Emperor.
She is this empress's last resort … … "
The mama wasn't surprised at all. She replied yes and took Madam Chang away.
Madam Chang was in a daze from beginning to end. It was as if she didn't understand anything, but there were countless people pushing her forward.
She was pulled out of the door in a daze. The Empress stared in the direction she disappeared in. After a while, she sat down on the luxurious phoenix chair.
Princess Qinghe quietly walked out from behind the heavy bead curtains and silently knelt beside the Empress.
The two women didn't speak for a long time. After a long time, the Empress sighed and slowly asked, "A Zui, do you think this empress is … … too … …"
A Zui suddenly interrupted, "Niangniang, it's all for the Crown Prince."
The Empress lowered her gaze. There was a bowl of black soup in front of her.
— — This was the best safflower soup that was prepared to be given to Madam Chang. One bowl, and she wouldn't be able to give birth for the rest of her life … …
"She's different from me. It's hard for me not to give birth for the rest of my life. It's okay if she doesn't give birth. As long as the Emperor dotes on her, she will have a day of wealth … …"
Zui listened in silence. He placed one of his hands gently on his slightly bulging abdomen.
"It's not that I want to harm her. She can't provoke me. Why should I harm her and make her unable to give birth for the rest of her life?
If she wants to blame someone, let her blame the Emperor!
Who told her to look so much like Mingde's face!
Other people don't necessarily have a Crown Prince after they give birth. If she gives birth, the Crown Prince will be finished! "
A Zui was slightly startled, "But niangniang, Madam Chang's birth isn't noble. If the Crown Prince is determined, the court officials will do their best to stop it. The Emperor may not … …"
"— — You don't know the Emperor's thoughts," the Empress interrupted her. Her tone was hard to suppress the intensity. The ending of her words could even be said to be sharp.
"… … This empress once spent a lot of money to get a sentence from the Emperor's number one favorite, Eunuch Zhang.
At that time, when Imperial Concubine Ding was pregnant, Eunuch Zhang asked the Emperor if it was possible to make the dragon seed in Imperial Concubine Ding's belly the new Crown Prince.
At that time, Mingde was asleep. The Emperor pointed at him and said to Eunuch Zhang … … 'I want to have another son. I don't want the same temperament or character, I only want the same color. Then, the son can be made the Crown Prince. After a hundred years, he can ascend the throne as the Emperor. If it's a daughter, she can be made the Feng Ling Wang.
A Zui's face turned pale with fright.
The Emperor's words meant that if there was a child that looked like Shangguan Mingde, then it could be … … raised as a child between him and Mingde!
The Empress' long and beautiful fake nails pressed tightly on the table. Her knuckles were white. "As long as that Madame Chang goes to serve the Emperor, Mingde will definitely be able to get rid of it … … After all, he's not a girl, so he won't be very favored … … If he has that kind of face and is a girl, the Emperor will definitely, definitely not hold onto Mingde … …"
"My child," the Empress covered her mouth tightly. Even her sobs were suppressed. It was incomparably stifling, "— — My child, even if he had no choice but to be ruined by that man, it would only be a temporary grievance. How could he be tortured to death in the hands of that man?
He's not a girl who can be made a concubine. What if he's old and ugly? What will happen in the future?
Who will save him?
Who will love him?
… … "
Therefore, Madame Chang must serve the Emperor. She must become a substitute for Shangguan Mingde.
She would enjoy all the glory and wealth.
Other than not being able to have children, as long as the Emperor still liked Shangguan Mingde, she would be able to enjoy the Emperor's favor.
As an ordinary girl, what else could she ask for?
What else could she complain about?
… …
On the second day of the concubine selection, a heavy bead curtain hung high beside the Emperor in Xiuyuan Hall.
Behind the bead curtain, a beautiful woman could be vaguely seen sitting upright. She coldly looked at the people coming and going. The corners of her clothes fluttered in the wind. She didn't say a single word.
Of the eight hundred beauties that day, none were selected.
The Emperor ordered: Those without both beauty and virtue would not be selected to enter the palace.
The Empress was ordered to select the best beauties to bestow to the Imperial Family. There was no need to keep anyone in the harem.
Of the eight hundred beauties that were gathered in the world, none … … could enter the Emperor's eyes.
That night, when Qianwandi had just returned to the palace, the Empress sent someone to invite the Emperor. She said that she had an urgent matter to discuss and begged the Emperor to come to Jing 'an Hall.
Qianwandi sneered. He didn't know what this "virtuous empress" had to say.
This woman was constantly thinking about how to get Mingde away from his side. It was as if this would bring peace to the world.
He leisurely arrived at Jing 'an Hall. The Empress's palace servants were all waiting at the door. They were all kneeling on the ground.
After entering, the Empress knelt on the ground. She was wearing a neat court dress. She kowtowed three times and kowtowed nine times. She loudly shouted: "Long live the Emperor!"
Qianwandi sneered: "The Empress doesn't need to be so formal.
What, you came to invite zhen in the middle of the night. Do you have some ancestral teachings to bear on my head? "
The Empress stood up and looked directly at the Emperor. Her voice trembled slightly: "… … No, chenqie … … chenqie recently found a beauty. I hope to present it to the Emperor."
She moved to the side, so Qianwandi's gaze could pass by her.
A woman stood in the brilliant candlelight. She had a thin body, beautiful eyebrows, and clear facial features. She was pale and thin.
She wasn't wearing any nice clothes. Instead, she was wearing an old set of men's clothes. The old white color made people think of the soft cotton and proper texture of the sleeves at a glance.
Qianwandi was stunned.
The Empress knelt down quietly: "Emperor, are you satisfied?"
… … Satisfied?
… … Satisfied?
Li Ji didn't know whether he was satisfied or not.
His heart was gripped by an indescribable emotion. It was a little sore and a little sad.
… … That child also had such a pitiful and weak attitude … …
He had also … … been presented like this … … Frightened, scared, desperately struggling, only to see himself being swallowed by the vortex of fate … …
… … If only he could protect him … … If only he could sit in the most honorable position, openly and honestly, and announce to everyone how much he loved him … …
If only he could give him everything he had … …
The Empress raised her face and saw Qianwandi's expression.
The man's expression was very strange. He seemed to be looking at Shangguan Mingde, but there was also a kind of gentle and sad expression, as if there was infinite love.
The Empress shook her head.
How could it be?
When this man looked at Mingde, he always held a sharp knife and announced clearly at any time: If you don't listen to me, I will cut you down.
Since when did such an obvious threat and oppression have the slightest bit of warmth?
"… … Very good," Qianwandi slowly opened his mouth, "very good … …"
Madam Chang slightly shrank back.
She didn't know why the Emperor said it was very good. She didn't even know if the Emperor was really happy.
Perhaps in the next second, this unpredictable Son of Heaven would suddenly change his attitude and then drag her out and chop her into pieces.
Qianwandi didn't do what she imagined.
He stood there for a while and opened his mouth blankly. His voice was so faint that it didn't even belong to him.
"Come … … zhen has decided to make her … … Consort Xian."
The head eunuch behind him, whose palms were thin, almost dropped something.
Consort Xian, from first rank to fourth rank.
It was the first time in the history of the imperial harem for someone to be promoted to Consort Xian without having any children.
Qianwandi didn't even ask what her name was.
He didn't care what her name was or where she came from.
What he saw was nothing more than someone who looked like Ming De, someone who could openly express his love and affection for Ming De.
The Empress' fingers were trembling.
Everything was going so smoothly, even more smoothly than she had imagined.
When Qianwandi looked at Madam Chang, there was even a kind of intoxicated and happy warmth in his eyes.
"Emperor," The Empress released a breath, her voice filled with joy, "will you be staying in Consort Xian's palace tonight?"
Qianwandi looked back at her as if it was very strange, "Of course not."
It wasn't just the Empress. Everyone was shocked.
"Let her stay with the Empress for now. After a while, we will build a new palace. Remember, give her everything the best. No one can neglect her."
Qianwandi took half a step back and said with a slight smile, "Zhang Kuo."
Zhang Kuo hurriedly bowed, "This servant is here."
"Let's go back to Qing Zhen Hall."
Qianwandi turned and strode out.
Zhang Kuo staggered for a moment and followed after him.
Everyone was immersed in a great confusion. The Empress knelt on the ground, so stiff that she couldn't move.
… … This … … this was … … why was this?
… …
A great question rose in her heart. There seemed to be an answer, but no one could give her an answer.
The door of the hall was wide open, and the beautiful spring night breeze blew in. The huge candlelight swayed a little, and the shrinking flame actually made people feel an inexplicable chill out of nowhere.