In March of the 19th year of Yongchang, the emperor returned to the palace from his southern tour.

In just one month, there are two things that are most rumored in the palace.

First, it was the return of King Gangneung, who was missing in the Battle of Yanchu.

And the other is that the emperor suddenly fell seriously ill.

The emperor's illness is different from usual. Although he went to court and handled government affairs as usual every day, everyone could see that the emperor's expression was not as good as before, and he was already haggard day after day.

Shen Changle, the noble concubine who heard the news, insisted on breaking into Mingde Palace despite her eight-month pregnancy.

Chang'an walked out of the hall and looked down at her coldly, without the slightest temperature between his lips and teeth, "The emperor is resting, please go back, concubine." ”

"Queen Mother!" Changle's lips had chapped lines, she raised her face and looked at Chang'an quietly, "The concubine is worried about the emperor's well-being, and she also asks the queen to let the concubine see the emperor!" ”

Chang'an looked at her so indifferently at this moment, and in the midst of his thoughts, he actually thought of a past incident many years ago.

On that day, it seemed that it was also like this, she knelt on the steps and begged the then queen Li Shushen to let her allow her to see Chu Luo.

It turns out that after so many years, the same situation has been encountered again.

Standing in the position of the queen, she can also experience the sourness that ordinary people can't understand.

Chang'an was about to speak, but suddenly saw Cheng Dehai coming out of the palace, respectfully beside her and whispered, "Queen Mother, the emperor said that he wanted the concubine to go in and accompany her." ”

Chang'an's eyebrows darkened, and the slightest chill suddenly spread to the depths of the bone marrow, she glanced at Changle coldly, turned around and handed her hand to Wanxiang's hand, "The palace is tired, go back to the palace." ”

When she walked by Changle's side, Chang'an clearly and clearly saw a trace of pride on her lips.

It was a victor's posture, and such a look had also appeared on the faces of himself and Zhong Yuxiu.

And now, the wind turns and reincarnates, and it has long been a matter of things and people.

At that time, Shen Changle walked out of Mingde Palace, and his face was lifeless.

Back at the Splendid Palace, her face was even more ugly, Yixiang saw this, thought that she was unwell, and immediately rushed to summon the imperial doctor, but suddenly heard Changle sigh behind her.

"The emperor is not going to be done."

Yixiang was startled, and hurriedly looked back, "What did Niang Niang just say?" ”

"The emperor is not going to be a ......" Changle's throat made a hoarse sound, and his palms were completely cold sweat, "The palace has already asked the imperial doctor in private, and the emperor's stay will be in the past two years." ”

Yixiang was so shocked that she couldn't speak, and said in a trembling voice, "But...... But Imperial Physician Zhu, who treated the emperor, said that the emperor was fine......"

"How can it be all right?" Changle's face was heavy, as if a boulder was sinking into his heart, "The emperor has been talking to the palace for a while, and he is already sweating all over his body, and the palace looks at the blood that the emperor coughed up, all of which are dark, before the elder brother of the palace died, the palace was by his side, and the emperor's symptoms were exactly the same as the eldest brother's." ”

Yixiang opened her mouth, as if it was difficult to Qichen, "Then Imperial Doctor Zhu ......"

"Zhu Zheng is the queen's person, don't you still understand?" Changle's gaze was as cold as a sharp edge in an instant, "Now that the emperor is seriously ill, the situation in the court and the central government is out of control, and among the princes, only the eldest prince is a little older and can share the emperor's worries." The queen is the adoptive mother of the eldest prince, she tried so hard to arrange the eldest prince to be by the emperor's side, and concealed the emperor's illness, just to let the emperor set up a prince unconsciously, in case the emperor suddenly dies one day, the new emperor ascends the throne, and the queen is the queen mother. ”

Thinking of this, Changle's body trembled again and again, "This child in the womb of this palace, whether it is the prince or the emperor, can't wait. The eldest prince is sixteen years old, the second prince is not favored, and the mother of the fifth prince is a dead concubine. ”

Yi Xiang frowned slightly when she heard this, "But the eldest prince may not have the intention of seizing the heir, and now the status of the Li family in the court is not as good as before, and the emperor may not appoint the eldest prince as the prince......"

"The eldest prince has the queen as a backer, which is the biggest win." Changle's expression was cold and rational, and he said solemnly, "If the palace doesn't do it again, waiting for the emperor to give the will of the prince, it will be too late." ”

In May of the nineteenth year of Yongchang, the concubine Shen Changle gave birth to the eighth son.

The emperor was seriously ill, and the palace wanted to take advantage of the birth of the little prince to rush to rejoice, but the emperor was really sick, and even the name of the eighth prince was prepared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and sent to the Splendid Palace.

Because of this heavy reason, Changle is always a little unhappy in his heart, and he inevitably has to complain a few words in the day. When he was in better health, he immediately called Yixiang to his side and told him repeatedly, "Have you done everything I told you to do?" ”

Yixiang nodded solemnly, lowered her voice a little and said, "Don't worry, the slaves and maids are ready." ”

Changle sighed lightly, still a little uneasy, "It's about the eldest prince, the queen is suspicious, you must be careful." ”

Yixiang bowed her head, "The slave understands. Rest assured, Qinghe is a person who is a mother, and she must know how to measure proportions. ”

Changle lowered his eyes and sneered lightly, "That's fine." If the eldest prince dies in front of the emperor, and the palace is more favored than the queen, Yun Heng and Yun Xuan are not afraid of the day when they will not come out. ”

Yi Xiang's heart was shocked, and she slowly said respectfully, "Yes." ”

Changle's gaze seemed to have unintentionally skimmed over her, with a meaningful smile, and said quietly, "Don't worry, after the matter is completed, this palace will not treat you badly, and I will promise your brother a good future." ”

Yixiang lowered her eyelids respectfully, "Thank you for your kindness." ”

Changle smiled with satisfaction, looked up at the bright sunlight outside the window, and a faint and invisible smile gradually appeared on his lips, "This palace is now well, and I can also serve the emperor." ”

At that time, Chang'an was sitting in Taoyao Palace, and her empty eyes didn't know where to go. Her expression fell in the eyes of Chu Ying opposite, and she didn't feel a little worried, so she said loudly, "What are you thinking?" ”

Chang'an heard Chu Ying's words, and only then did she wake up, she took a sip of tea, and sighed, "The emperor has not been well, and the old ministers in the court have also begun to write to persuade the emperor to establish a prince, and the implication is that the emperor may not be able to survive these few years." ”

Speaking of this, Chang'an's eyes were slightly red, Chu Ying glanced at her, and said with some concern, "Brother Huang's health has always been very good, and the imperial doctor is also a little exaggerated, how can he be so sick with a cold." ”

Chang'an's heart was stunned, he opened his mouth silently, the corners of his eyes were a little moist, and he was about to speak, when he suddenly saw Wanxiang hurrying in with a cold wind.

As soon as she entered the palace, she first blessed herself, "The slave maid will give the queen mother, and the king of Jiangling will say goodbye." ”

Chang'an frowned slightly, "What's the matter?" ”

Wan Xiang bowed slightly, got up and let Xiao Dezi in. Xiao Dezi held a medicine bowl in his hand and held it high, Chang An looked at him suspiciously, "What is this?" ”

"This is the great prince's soothing decoction." Wan Xiang lowered her eyes slightly, and a trace of panic suddenly flashed on her cautious face, "The eldest prince has been studying hard recently, and he has to help the emperor deal with political affairs, so he can't sleep well every night." When Imperial Physician Zhu came back, he prescribed a calming decoction to the eldest prince and asked the eldest prince to take it every day. ”

"This palace knows." Chang An frowned deeply, looked at the decoction in Xiao Dezi's hand, and his doubts deepened, "Do you think there is anything wrong with this medicine?" ”

Wanxiang lowered her head deeper, and said in a deep voice, "The slave maid just looks at the eldest prince's poor expression in the past few days, and he always has dizziness, and the symptoms of insomnia have not been reduced but worsened. If the slave thinks about it, maybe the problem lies in this medicine. ”

Chu Ying frowned tightly when he heard this, his face was so cold that there was no trace of expression, and he turned to Xiao Dezi and said, "Take it."

Xiao Dezi didn't dare to hesitate, and immediately handed the medicine bowl to Chu Ying.

Chu Ying took the decoction, sniffed it lightly, took another sip, and his face sank involuntarily, "I also took this soothing soup when I was in Pingjiang, and it smells the same, but the taste is jerky, not like the usual soothing soup." ”

The suspicion on Chang'an's face became heavier and heavier, "What are you suspicious of?" ”

"I'm worried that someone has added something to it that shouldn't be added." After finishing speaking, he turned his head slightly to Wanxiang, "Go and get the prescription." ”

Chang'an was stunned when he heard this, "You understand pharmacology?" ”

"Long-term illness has become a self-healing medicine, and besides, this kind of soothing medicine, Yingsleeve's father has also prescribed a lot in the past."

Chang'an was silent, looked at Wanxiang and handed a piece of paper to Chu Ying.

Chu Ying condensed slightly, he looked at it carefully for a moment, and his eyebrows jumped, "There is no problem with anything else, but the amount of cinnabar is much more than normal." Cinnabar is slightly toxic, and high temperature is not a good sign. ”

Chang'an's heart trembled suddenly, and his cheeks turned pale instantly. Chu Ying glanced at her and calmed her panic with a calm gaze, "I can't say how much this medicine is, so let's ask the imperial doctor to take a look." ”

When Chang'an heard this, he calmed down and commanded, "Wanxiang, you go and pour out the dregs in it, and ask Zhu Zheng to come and see it." ”

Evening fragrance nodded her head, "Yes." ”

After Wanxiang and Xiao Dezi left, Chang'an couldn't hold his breath anymore, and his clenched hands trembled uncontrollably.

Chu Ying glanced at her deeply and tried his best to comfort, "Don't worry...... you first."

"How can I not be in a hurry!" Chang'an's eyes were blood-red with anger, and he couldn't help but tremble and said, "They calculate the palace, and they actually count the children of the palace!" Yun Jing of this palace died in their hands, and until now, they still refuse to let go of Yun Ke......"

Chu Ying groaned slightly, staring at her, "You have already guessed who did it?" ”

Chang An sneered, his eyes were so thick that they were almost bleeding, "I always thought it was Zhong Yuxiu, she deliberately harmed the children of this palace for the sake of the five princes." But when she died, others would not dare to do such a thing, thinking about it, people with such thoughts, in the palace, only the concubine remained. ”

Chu Ying seemed to be a little incredulous, and her eyebrows jumped suddenly, "But the noble concubine is your sister......"

"She is my younger sister, but in her heart, she has long lost my eldest sister." There was heavy anger and sadness floating between Chang'an's eyebrows at the same time, she fell silent, and suddenly said in a deep voice, "Apart from her, I really can't think of anyone else who would think of such a way to harm Yun Ke." ”

Chu Ying bowed his head silently and stopped talking.