From the inner hall to the outside, Qing Zhen Hall was brightly lit. Layers of curtains fell from the sky and stretched out like a fairyland.
From the outer hall to the inside, one could only feel the fragrance of the wind and jade mist. It was as if even immortals could not compare.
Qianwandi did not like luxury. Normally, Qing Zhen Hall was just too solemn.
However, ever since the little noblewoman inside was not clear, she was especially afraid of nighttime. Once she woke up at night, she would cry and make a fuss. She would say that she saw people, and then she would say that she saw swords. Sometimes she would madly call out Noble Consort Ding, and sometimes she would call out Dongyang Wang Jinyuan. She would also call out the names of many people who had died before her. It was as if she was being haunted.
The imperial physicians had also come to take a look, but they could not say anything.
Hu Zhicheng had served the emperor for a long time. He knew what the emperor wanted to hear and what he did not want to hear. Thus, he could only secretly say, "Your Majesty, there is a saying that 'I did not kill Boren, but Boren died because of me.' Young master has killed too many people and is being haunted by those unreborn spirits!"
Qianwandi was definitely not willing to admit that Mingde had been driven crazy by him. He had more reason to believe that the souls of people before him were haunting Qing Zhen Hall.
Thus, every night, Qing Zhen Hall would be brightly lit. It was just using the aura of the imperial family to suppress the ghosts.
Tonight, Qianwandi returned drunk. He hurriedly ordered people to settle Prince Qiu Duo and the diplomatic group in the palace. He then dragged Mingde all the way back to Qing Zhen Hall.
The emperor rarely had a time like this. For a moment, the palace servants did not know how to serve him. Even the people from the Imperial Bedchamber could not get close. With a loud bang, Qianwandi had already slammed the door to the inner room.
The palace servants did not know what to do. The head palace maid of Xia Zhaoyi's palace, Yu Qian, secretly went over to give Zhang Kuo silver. She smiled and asked, "Your Majesty, do you need the Imperial Bedchamber to serve you tonight?
Why does it look like you are angry?
Gonggong, please tell us as soon as possible so that we don't say the wrong things tomorrow morning and provoke bad luck! "
Zhang Kuo smiled faintly and stuffed the money back. "Miss, you are a sensible person. It's good that you have the intention to show your filial piety. How can I let the person who personally serves you spend so much money?
But Miss, why did you let the little noble run from Qing Zhen Hall to Lian Yi Palace today? "
Yu Qian sighed and said, "Eunuch, you've served me for many years. Why don't you think about the noble lady's words and actions? How can you stop her?"
"That's it.
The Emperor drank a little too much and lost his composure. He behaved inappropriately in front of everyone.
Although no one noticed, the little noble lady … slapped His Majesty on the spot. "
Yu Qian cried out involuntarily.
Zhang Kuo shook his head. It was clear that he was used to this kind of thing. "Normally, His Majesty would just laugh it off. But at that time, the Yue family's prince's envoy was watching. His Majesty couldn't bring himself to do that. In a fit of anger, he canceled the banquet and returned.
Miss, bring a few palace maids and serve me carefully tomorrow morning. Don't mention what happened tonight. "
Yu Qian hurriedly agreed and secretly retreated.
That night, they didn't flip the tablet or summon the concubines.
People in Concubine Xian's palace asked several times, but they were all blocked.
Even the slap in front of everyone's eyes was deliberately treated as if nothing had happened.
Emperor Qian himself did not expect to receive such a slap. He was quite angry in his heart, but he did not know how to punish him in order to vent his anger without harming the little thing that could not be harmed even by a single strand of hair.
Mingde didn't know what to do. When she saw Qianwandi on the bed, she cried. When she asked him why he was crying, she heard him sob and say, "… It hurts!
It hurts! "
Qianwandi's anger had been suppressed to the point of no tolerance. He had to be gentle and careful for fear of hurting Mingde. When he heard her cry out in pain, he couldn't help but bite hard on her shoulder. "Try crying again!"
Other people were afraid of him, the Emperor, but Mingde wasn't. She cried even more fiercely, tears rolling down her face like beads.
Her cries were sharp and thin, like a kitten that was about to stop breathing. Qianwandi's heart was in turmoil. He bit her again and said in a muffled voice, "Cry again and I'll hit you!"
Mingde gasped in pain. Afraid of being hit, she resisted crying and choked a few times.
Qianwandi was, after all, drunk and had a burning desire. It was hard to control. Later that night, she didn't know how many times she had asked for it. In the end, she fell asleep in a daze.
The next day, when the morning court was held, there was no announcement in the inner hall. The people outside didn't dare to go in, and the people inside didn't dare to come out. The deadlock lasted for a while. Fortunately, Zhang Kuo was experienced and secretly went into the inner room. He knelt beside the bed and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, is there still morning court today?"
The inner room was silent for a while. Only Qianwandi's voice could be heard in a low voice, "There's no morning court today."
Zhang Kuo let out a sigh of relief. He carefully stood up and went to stand outside the inner room to wait on the emperor.
Qianwandi turned to Mingde. Who would have thought that this little thing had already woken up. As soon as she woke up, she yawned and immediately cried. She looked very pitiful.
Most men would be in a particularly good mood at this time. Qianwandi picked up Mingde and kissed her. He asked in a low voice, "Why do you look so pitiful again?"
Mingde muttered something. Qianwandi coaxed her for a long time before she heard him mutter, "You're going to hit me again!"
Qianwandi was just blinded by lust last night. He said those words in a moment of lust. He couldn't bear to actually hit her. When she heard this, she smiled and planned to comfort him.
Who knew that just as she opened her mouth, a bright light flashed through her mind. She hurriedly pulled Mingde over, "What did you say?
What do you mean I'm going to hit you again?
I hit you before. Do you still remember? "
Mingde stared at him in a daze. Her eyes were full of confusion.
Qianwandi asked in a trembling voice, "I hit you in Zhengtai Hall. Do you still remember?
You still remember something, don't you?
Mingde, Mingde, you haven't completely lost your mind, have you? "
He used too much strength and his tone was too intense. Mingde didn't know what was going on at all. He just reflexively shrank back and was in a panic. He rolled and crawled to the corner of the bed to hide.
Qianwandi pulled him back and hugged him fiercely in his arms, "Good boy, good boy, listen to me. Tell me, where did I hit you before?"
Mingde was so scared that she struggled in a panic. Qianwandi held her in his arms. She resisted the urge to coax him for a long time before she spoke. She said vaguely, "… Face …"
Qianwandi was completely shocked. Mingde hurriedly reached out to cover his face tightly, as if he was afraid of being slapped twice more.
However, Qianwandi only held him tightly in his arms. He used so much strength that it was as if he wanted to strangle Mingde to death right now, "… You evil, you evil … If I could harden my heart to kill you now, it would be fine. But you are so muddle-headed. What will you do in the future?
What will you do if I die?
Who will protect you? Who will take care of you?
I might as well strangle you now. When we enter the Imperial Mausoleum in the future, I won't have to worry about you! "
Mingde was uncomfortable from being strangled. He was so angry that he screamed.
Qianwandi ignored him. He hurriedly put on his clothes and got off the bed. He helped the little ancestor freshen up. Then, he opened the door and shouted, "Call Hu Zhicheng over!"
Zhang Kuo had already made preparations. He had already prepared an exquisite side hall in the Hall of Qing Frame for Hu Zhicheng to live in. Therefore, when he heard the order, it only took the time to drink a cup of tea to see Hu Zhicheng kneeling in front of the Hall of Qing Frame. He said in a clear voice, "This subject greets the Emperor!"
Qianwandi hurriedly went forward to welcome him, "My beloved subject, please rise!"
Hu Zhicheng had been an official for many years and had not been successful. However, he met Shangguan Mingde, a spoiled and unruly little ancestor. He would not take anyone's medicine except for Hu Zhicheng's.
As long as Mingde liked Qianwandi, he would like Qianwandi. Therefore, he was the most relied on and became popular. He didn't even need to bow to the Emperor.
Hu Zhicheng bowed slightly. He stood up and asked respectfully, "Your Majesty, you called this subject here for …"
Before he could finish, Qianwandi asked urgently, "Do you know if Mingde's illness has any signs of improvement?"
Hu Zhicheng was secretly surprised. Qianwandi had been afraid of people saying that Mingde had gone crazy. He hid his illness for fear of treatment. No one dared to mention how to treat him.
However, the Imperial Academy of Medicine had provided him with medicine.
He adjusted his posture and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this subject thinks that it's fine for the little noble to recuperate.
This subject dares to say that the people in the court are willing to tolerate a … a lunatic, but they might not be able to tolerate the Mingde General from that day! "
Emperor Qianwan was silent for a while. Hu Zhicheng looked at his expression and said carefully, "What's more, that person in the Spring Full Palace has been in the palace for many years. At that time, His Majesty also favored her quite a bit. The power of the Ding family in front of her must be guarded against …"
Qianwandi's expression was a bit awkward.
Ding Zhaorong lived in the Chun Man Palace. Back then, he favored him only to anger the Empress.
Now that the people in the palace had left or scattered, the hatred from back then was not enough for outsiders to tell.
Hu Zhicheng waited for a while. Qianwandi sighed and said in a low voice, "It's not that I don't want to take care of him for the rest of his life. However, I am much older. If something happens, who will protect him?
Almost everyone knows that I have wanted to depose the Crown Prince for many years!
In the past, I was afraid of the Empress. Now that the Empress is no longer here, I am afraid of that muddle-headed little ancestor! "
Hu Zhicheng hurriedly lowered his head, "This subject dares not."
This was the first time that Qianwandi had spoken so clearly to someone.
In the past year, he had imprisoned the Crown Prince and did not take action. The princes in his previous life had all grown up and started to gnash their teeth at him. He thought that it would be easy to depose the Crown Prince, who was like a commoner. Who would have thought that they would all hit a nail in front of Qianwandi?
After thousands of years, the only person who could protect Mingde was the Crown Prince.
Although the Crown Prince was not good, he was kind-hearted. After all, he was Mingde's blood relative.
If another prince ascended the throne, there was no guarantee that something would happen in the future that would make Qianwandi come back from the coffin.
"This subject also knows that Mingde is like this. Whether it can be cured or not is a matter of fate.
Beloved Official Hu, I can see that you have been loyal and devoted all these years. In the future, I will not treat you unfairly. "
Hu Zhicheng hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, "This subject dares not!
This subject is terrified! "
"This subject only hopes to find a famous doctor to cure that child.
If you say that the family of that person in the Chun Man Palace cannot be tolerated, this subject will sooner or later help Mingde get rid of this obstacle! "
Hu Zhicheng was shocked. He suddenly raised his head and saw Qianwandi's expression. It was so gloomy that it made people's hearts turn cold.
The two of them chatted for a while. Hu Zhicheng was about to leave when he suddenly heard Zhang Kuo come in. He bowed at the door and said, "Your Majesty, Ding Zhaorong sent someone to deliver something from the Chun Man Palace!"
Qianwandi was slightly stunned, "Deliver something?
What is it? "
Zhang Kuo said, "This subject is just presenting it for Your Majesty to take a look."
As he spoke, he walked in with a row of palace maids. Each of them was holding a golden box in their hands. There were so many of them that they were lined up outside the hall.
Hu Zhicheng followed Qianwandi down to take a look. He saw that the box was filled with all kinds of toys and drawings. Most of them were exquisite and interesting. There were also some mountain ginseng, deer antlers, and some precious medicinal herbs.
Hu Zhicheng's eyes were sharp. He sniffed the medicinal herbs and whispered in Qianwandi's ear, "Your Majesty, these are real treasures. They are not used to fool people!"
"Oh?
Then what does Ding Zhaorong mean by this? "
One of Ding Zhaorong's personal palace maids knelt down and said in a clear voice, "This servant greets Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!
Her Majesty said that this is not for Your Majesty, but for the young master in the Qing Zheng Palace Hall.
The Young Master's body was weak and his Qi was weak. He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to accompany the Emperor for the rest of his life, causing the Emperor to be sad.
These medicinal herbs and tonics had all been saved up by Her Highness when she was a young lady. Originally, she had brought them into the palace to recuperate. Who would have thought that she would be able to live a life of luxury in the palace? It had all been wasted.
When medicinal herbs are used to treat people, we can only treat as many people as we can. I only hope that Young Master can get better soon so that this thousand-year-old ginseng won't be wasted! "
Her first few words were exactly what Qianwandi was secretly worried about, and her last words were very pleasing to the ear. Even someone like Qianwandi, who did not like concubines, smiled and said, "It's rare for her to be so thoughtful.
That child didn't need so much. He might get sick from eating too much.
Take some back and leave them for Ding Zhaorong. We'll just keep some for ourselves. "
The palace maid immediately knelt on the ground to express her gratitude, "Your Majesty's words are more than enough for our Empress to enjoy!
There's no need for these medicinal supplements anymore! "
Hu Zhicheng smiled and said, "This girl is quite interesting."
Qianwandi nodded and said, "En.
Reward her with some gold and silk. Go back and thank Ding Zhaorong properly. "
The trusted palace maid went back to see Ding Zhaorong and chose some good ones to pass on. When she saw that Ding Zhaorong was silent for a long time, she ordered the people around her to leave. She also knelt at Ding Zhaorong's feet.
Suddenly, she heard a crisp sound. She looked up in shock and saw that one of the teeth of the ivory comb in Ding Zhaorong's hand had been broken.
"— What a 'we'!
What a Son of Heaven! "
The palace maid hurriedly rushed forward and said, "Empress, don't you want to live anymore?
Gossip is a fearful thing! "
"Listen to what His Majesty is saying!
He's been grounded in the harem for several years. He's an extremely cold person. I just sent some things over, and he immediately showed his concern and imperial favor! "
Although the palace maid knew that there was no one else here, she was still afraid. She said with tears in her eyes, "Empress, why do you have to suppress your anger with His Majesty?
The Mingde General was suppressed once because of the Empress, and now he's been driven crazy!
He has His Majesty's support. If anything happens to Empress, who will speak for Empress? "
Ding Zhaorong said fiercely after a long time, "I just can't accept it. I have to be humble and serve the one in Qing Zheng Hall. Only then will I have a chance to succeed!"
"Oh, Empress!
Isn't that how Hu Zhicheng got promoted?
That day, his nephew hit people outside and caused trouble in front of His Majesty. Didn't His Majesty give him a light punishment because of his meritorious service?
Empress, have you forgotten how the head palace maid Wan 'er was beaten to death that day, and why Dechun in Concubine Xian's palace ran into the spear head? "
Ding Zhaorong was stunned as if a basin of ice and snow had been poured on his head. After a long time, he smiled bitterly and said, "Forget it!
Forget it! "
The master and servant looked at each other and shed tears for a while. Suddenly, they heard someone say softly from outside, "Niang niang, niang niang ordered this servant to send something to Prince Yue. There is a reply now. Do you want to send it in?"