The copper leak of "tick-tock" was the only sound in the silent Qianqing Palace. The hall that had not been aired for a long time was filled with a heavy, rotten smell. The embroidered curtains hung low on top of each other, obscuring most of the light in the temple.

Bypassing the huge screen carved with dragons and phoenixes and inlaid beads and gold, you can see Zhu Xian's face like gold paper at a glance, lying on the luxurious dragon bed behind him with his eyes closed. A big bubble appeared at the corner of his mouth, and the hand on the brocade quilt was so thin that only a layer of skin remained, and the whole person looked like a skeleton that could breathe.

There are many eunuchs and palace maids who hold dust whisks, spittoons, and handkerchiefs on the side of the dragon bed. and Liu Yuanju took the medicine boy to kneel quietly in the corner. Everyone even held their breath, and didn't dare to make a sound, for fear of disturbing the rest of the collapsed people.

The tall vermilion lacquer carved golden palace door was slowly opened with a "squeak", and Queen Guo held the arm of the female official Yao and came with all the money. At the moment of opening the door, a cool wind seemed to blow in, blowing away the rotten smell in the hall. Unfortunately, after all, there was only a moment, and the heavy door of the temple was closed tightly again, and that rare wisp of breeze was fleeting like a flash in the pan.

"I've seen the Queen Mother!" All the people in the temple bowed down in unison.

"Get up! Don't disturb the emperor. Empress Guo commanded lightly.

"Yes."

Female Officer Yao helped Empress Guo to sit down on the edge of the couch, and Empress Guo leaned over and looked at Zhu Xian's face carefully, and her face immediately showed sadness. She took out a piece of brocade and lightly imprinted it at the corner of her eye, then frowned and said, "Zhao Quan, who was serving last night?" ”

Zhao Quan was Zhu Xian's chief eunuch. Others may still have the ability to take a breath, but he can only **** follow Zhu Xian's collapse every night, and he doesn't dare to leave a single step. This period comes down. His originally plump and slightly festive complexion was obviously sunken, and under his eyes was a large area of black blue, looking very haggard.

Seeing Empress Guo's exit to ask, Zhao Quan immediately stepped forward to bow down and said, "Originally, Concubine Li was serving the illness, but the mother was at the end of the year. Suddenly felt an unbearable headache, so he went back to Lingxiao Pavilion. ”

"Nonsense, it's nonsense!" Empress Guo heard this. said angrily: "Can she not care about the emperor's life or death if she has a headache?" The emperor was originally sick like this because he accompanied her on horseback. Now she just wants her to take care of the emperor for one night, and she dares to push back! Come. ”

"Yes." Several palace maids immediately knelt down to receive orders.

Empress Guo lowered her head and stroked the three-inch-long red gold pearl armor on her fingers, with a cruel smile on the corner of her mouth. Said coldly: "Pass on the oracle of the palace." Concubine Li deceived the monarch and did not know how to advance or retreat. Let her kneel in Changle Gate for three hours and meditate on herself. ”

"Yes." The palace maids got the word and immediately retreated.

A trace of worry appeared in Lady Yao's eyes, she knew that Empress Guo had endured Concubine Li for too long. At this time, the arrogant Concubine Li still doesn't know how to restrain herself, isn't she rushing to send a handle to the queen! Just kneeling for three hours. That doesn't sound like a heavy punishment. But where is Changle Gate? It was the place where the palace maids and eunuchs frequented the most. Not to mention kneeling for three hours, it is kneeling for half an hour. Concubine Li's proud temperament will also be unbearable, and she will feel more uncomfortable than killing her.

She opened her mouth, Empress Guo raised her eyes and glanced at her with a smile, and said, "What, Lady Yao still has something to say?" Lady Yao saw the fierce color in her eyes at a glance, and was suddenly shocked. Hurriedly curtsied and said, "The queen also takes care of her body, don't be too angry for these ignorant concubines." ”

Empress Guo withdrew her eyes and raised her hand to comb her sideburns, sighed lamentingly, and said, "Hey! Bengong He wanted to be angry, but one or two of them didn't let Bengong worry. ”

"Why is the imperial sister-in-law so angry?" As soon as Empress Guo's words fell, Zhu Yi's voice came in from the side hall. She couldn't help but look up, and saw Zhu Yi wearing a golden crown and a bright five-clawed python robe, striding from the side hall in high spirits.

Empress Guo didn't seem surprised at all by his appearance, she leaned over and wiped the sweat from Zhu Xian's forehead with a brocade handkerchief. said lightly: "Prince Rui is not serving the Queen Mother in Cining Palace, why did he come to Qianqing Palace?" ”

Zhu Yi also looked at Zhu Xian's sleeping face, and saw that he was sleeping extremely unsteadily, his eyebrows were deeply frowned, and he was so thin that his sallow cheeks were covered with brown spots. He let out a long breath and said, "The Queen Mother has never been worried about the emperor, so let me take a look!" Liu Yuan judged, can the emperor's popularity recede a little? ”

Liu Yuanju hurriedly came out of the ranks, he secretly wiped the beads of sweat from the corners of his forehead, bent down and saluted, and said: "Back to the prince's words, the heat of the emperor's ugliness has indeed subsided, but it has been repeated again when it comes to Mao!" ”

Zhu Yi snorted coldly and said, "The first emperor was ruined by a cold wind, and he died after lingering on the sickbed for several months. I didn't want it all these years, and your hospital still hasn't made any progress. actually let the emperor go down the old path of the emperor again"

Liu Yuanju knelt down with a "poof", and his old body trembled like a sifting chaff.

"Please be cautious about Prince Rui!" Empress Guo's hand wearing three-inch armor slapped on the couch suddenly, and she said sharply: "The emperor is different from the previous emperor, he will definitely have a holy body of health and longevity." ”

Zhu Yi smiled silently, he took a few steps back, bent down slightly, and said, "It's the younger brother who is anxious, so he is quick to speak for a while, and asks the queen for forgiveness." ”

Empress Guo gradually slowed down her tone and said, "Later, I will ask Liu Yuan to judge the emperor to administer the needle, since Prince Rui has already seen the emperor, please go back and rest!" ”

"Then the subordinate brother will retire!" Zhu Yi smiled again, he saluted Queen Guo with a fist, and then retreated. Before going out, he suddenly looked back and said casually: "By the way, the younger brother heard that the queen wanted to punish Concubine Li for kneeling in Changle Gate for three hours, and the younger brother thought it was inappropriate. ”

Empress Guo didn't look back, but said with a cold face: "Could it be that this palace, as a queen, doesn't even have the right to punish a concubine?" ”

Zhu Yi bowed respectfully and said, "The queen is in charge of the harem, so she naturally has the right to punish the concubines. It's just that as far as the younger brother knows, the emperor misses this concubine a lot. If you wake up later, you want to invite the concubine to come and serve. It's just that Concubine Li's mother is limping again, so it's not beautiful. ”

The corners of Empress Guo's mouth twitched. After half a ring, he lowered his head and said, "It's the negligence of the palace, come here, pass the order." The punishment of three hours for Concubine Li was changed to one hour. She raised her head, a pair of bright eyes forced to look at Prince Rui, and a sentence burst out from between her teeth: "Prince Rui is still satisfied?" ”

Zhu Yi laughed abruptly. Flicked his sleeves, turned around and strode away.

"Zhao Quan." After Zhu Yi left, Empress Guo suddenly commanded: "Let people check immediately." What is the relationship between Concubine Li Niangniang and Prince Rui in private. ”

"Yes."

Zhao Quan was startled, and hurriedly retreated after receiving the order.

Empress Guo lowered her eyes and was silent for a while, before she ordered: "Go and get a basin of hot water, and the palace will wipe the emperor's face." ”

"Yes."

A large basin of hot water was brought to Queen Guo. Lady Yao rolled up her sleeves. twisted a piece of hot brocade and handed it to Queen Guo. Empress Guo took it and wiped it seriously on Zhu Xian's thin face.

Rubbing and wiping, she grabbed the handkerchief and suddenly felt sad. Then he leaned down and cried bitterly: "Your Majesty, when will you be well?" Now these people are all bullied to the heads of the concubines, you have to hurry up and be the masters of the concubines! ”

It doesn't matter if Queen Guo cries, the eunuchs and palace maids around her knelt down in a big way, but she still cried to vent the grievances and fears in her heart regardless of it.

In the empty and silent hall, the air seemed to freeze. Only the mournful sobs of Empress Guo echoed. She clutched a piece of rain and sunny brocade in her hand, because she was pushing too hard. On the back of the white hand, tiny blood vessels burst out one by one, like a group of twisted and tangled earthworms.

I don't know how long it took, but she suddenly felt the back of her hand being lightly touched. The warm, moist and sticky feeling made her heart tremble. She hurriedly raised her head and happened to meet Zhu Xian's yellow and godless eyes.

"The queen is here!" Zhu Xian's spirit was extremely sluggish, he frowned tightly, and he was panting when he spoke. He coughed violently for a few times before he said slowly, "What about Concubine Li?" ”

Empress Guo's face stiffened, and then she wiped the remaining tears on her face, and said with a reluctant smile: "Concubine Li took care of the emperor all night, it was very hard, and the concubine let her go back to Lingxiao Pavilion to rest." ”

Zhu Xian half-closed his eyes tiredly, muttered vaguely, and seemed to be going to sleep again in a daze. Empress Guo hurriedly raised her voice and shouted: "Your Majesty, let's have some food!" If you have something in your stomach, you will feel better. ”

Zhu Xian didn't answer for a long time, and Empress Guo had to raise her voice and call: "Your Majesty? Zhu Xian's body trembled slightly, and then he opened his eyes in a trance, and said yes weakly.

The palace maid and eunuch immediately became busy, and Empress Guo even rolled up her sleeves and served him to wash herself. Then he set up a large table full of porridge and pastries that he loved to eat. After a busy meal, Zhu Xian half leaned on the head of the bed, and only barely used a few spoonfuls of thin porridge with Queen Guo's hand, so he shook his head and refused to eat anymore.

Queen Guo had no choice but to wave her hand to let people take down the meal, and then let people take the longevity pill. Zhu Xian's eyes lit up immediately when he saw the bright red longevity pill. He struggled to sit up, stretched out his trembling hand to take the elixir, and put it in his mouth with difficulty. Empress Guo hurriedly served a warm water that had been prepared a long time ago. Zhu Xian stiffened his neck and struggled for a long time to swallow this pill, but shining tears appeared in the corners of his eyes.

It's also strange to say that after eating Wanshou Dan, his spirit immediately improved a lot, and his high raised cheekbones were stained with a layer of redness. Zhu Xian finally recovered a little bit of energy, he rolled his dull eyeballs to look around, and suddenly said angrily: "Where is Zhao Quan's bitch? Seeing that I went out to drill sand when I was sick, it could be that he didn't want his doglegs! ”

"The emperor forgives the sins, the emperor forgives the sins!" Zhao Quan happened to hear Zhu Xian's roar outside, and immediately broke out in a cold sweat, hurriedly rushed in, knelt in front of Zhu Xian and kowtowed to confess.

Zhu Xian's noses on both sides were incited, looking very angry, his yellow eyes were gradually filled with a layer of demonic blood, and he grabbed a tea cup and smashed it on Zhao's body.

It's a pity that his strength is limited now, and the crystal thin white porcelain peony tea cup softly touched Zhao Quan's shoulder, rebounding to the ground where the white jade was spread, and he didn't even break a corner.

It was a ridiculous scene, but no one in the temple dared to laugh, and they were even terrified. There was a timid palace maid who couldn't help but tremble all over, and almost went limp.

Because every time he eats Wanshou Pill, Zhu Xian's spirit will improve, and his temper will become very irritable, and he will be furious at every little thing. For this reason, in the past ten days, the Qianqing Palace has killed five little eunuchs and three little palace maids.

Looking at the tea cup dripping and turning on the ground, Zhu Xian became more and more angry, and he stared at Zhao Quan in front of him "snorting" and panting. The eyes bulged even bigger, and the bloodshot eyeballs looked like they were about to fall out of their sockets. It looked like a soul-locking ghost from hell, and even Queen Guo felt frightened when she looked at it, and she couldn't help but open her eyes and didn't dare to look at it again.

"The emperor forgives the sins, the emperor forgives the sins!" Zhao Quan trembled with fright, he desperately slammed the hard white jade, and a large patch of purple immediately appeared on his forehead.

Empress Guo hurriedly said: "The emperor is angry, when this tiger is napping, Zhao Quanyi has served you for more than ten days, even if you are a little negligent, you will not die!" ”

Zhu Xian snorted heavily and said, "He also deserves to use the metaphor of a tiger, at most he is a leprosy dog!" I didn't want you to die, what are you doing here crying and wiping away tears? Don't roll up yet! "Zhao Quan is different from other eunuchs, Zhu Xian didn't think about his life for the time being, even in his anger.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhao Quan wiped his tears and stood up cautiously.

Zhu Xian gasped, closed his eyes and recuperated his spirits, and then said, "Zhao Quan, go to the imperial study and get ten books!" ”

"This" Zhao Quan peeked at Empress Guo. Zhu Xian was angry when he saw this, he patted the bed and shouted: "Dog, I can't move you anymore, you still have to look at the eyes of others!" He coughed violently because of his agitation. He coughed so hard, as if he wanted to cough out his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys out of his mouth. Imperial Physician Liu hurriedly came up with the medicine box on his back, and he was pricked with needles, massage, and smoked mugwort, and he was busy for a while.

Seeing that the scene became uncontrollable, Queen Guo pointed at Zhao Quan and said sharply: "Confused things, the emperor asks you to take them, you can take them!" Even if you feel sorry for the emperor and are afraid that he will be tired, you can't disrespect the holy will! ”

Zhao Quan hurriedly bent down and saluted: "Your Majesty, you must take care of the Holy Body, and the slave will go and get you a fold." ”

Seeing him run out of the hall with a smoke, Queen Guo hurriedly turned around and patted Zhu Xian's chest and back. Zhu Xian coughed, grabbed her hand and shook it hard, and then glared at her fiercely.

Empress Guo was startled and withdrew her hand in disdain. She knew that Zhu Xian had always been extremely suspicious, especially during the period when he was seriously ill, almost to the point of rumors. Zhao Quan's subconscious glance had already sprinkled poison in his eyes and nailed him. (To be continued.) )