jdhmnovel Chapter 547: Active Flattery
Chapter 547: Active Flattery
The emperor did not deliberately conceal his whereabouts. To those who were interested, most of the secrets in the palace could not be hidden.
The next day, when An Lingrong was getting dressed, she heard the news.
"Master, last night the Emperor personally visited Fengxian Hall to offer sacrifices. It's said that the flames in the copper basin shot up so high that even burning paper was swirling in the air."
"Burning fire paper swirling in the air?"
An Lingrong repeated these words softly, a hint of deep thought flashing in her eyes.
Aunt Xiao once mentioned to my mother in a casual chat that when offering sacrifices, burning paper money would be thrown at people to help the ancestors wipe away the bad luck from the descendants or to bestow blessings.
As for the fire paper circling in the air, everyone has their own explanation.
The emperor has always been suspicious and will definitely summon people from the Imperial Observatory to clarify this strange phenomenon.
An Lingrong had a plan in mind, and she whispered a few instructions to Baoque.
"Do you understand?"
"I understand. I'll send someone to do it right away."
Baoque knew that this matter could not be delayed, so he apologized and hurried out.
At this time, Zhen Huan in Zhongcui Palace also stood up. She looked at the dark circles under the eyes of the person in the mirror and slightly opened her thin lips.
"Aunt Jinxi, the capital is dry in mid-October. I'll ask the kitchen to make a bowl of lotus seed soup at the end of the morning hour. Please take it to the Yangxin Palace to help the Emperor cool down."
"Master, I will give the order right away."
Cui Jinxi keenly sensed the worries in Zhen Huan's heart.
It has been almost ten days since my master returned to the palace. Except for the first day when he went to express his gratitude, he has never seen the emperor again.
Although the emperor was busy with government affairs and had never set foot in the harem, this was still embarrassing enough.
Wasn't it because Lady He saw this when she spoke rudely to her master during the greeting yesterday?
Cui Jinxi always felt that the emperor seemed to have undergone subtle changes in some areas that they were unaware of.
In the past, the master didn’t even need to send any messages to the Yangxin Palace, the emperor would come to visit on his own initiative.
No matter how busy the emperor was, he would send people around him to deliver some small gifts to please his master.
This time there has been no movement for almost ten days, which is really unexpected.
Cui Jinxi secretly decided to pass a message outside the palace, and if necessary, she would ask Prince Guo to come forward to have a heart-to-heart talk with the emperor and find out what he was thinking.
After a quiet breakfast, Bai Zhi went to the Imperial Hospital to ask Wen Shichu to come and take her pulse.
Zhen Huan never forgot the sinister intention of Concubine Hua in trying to get the imperial physician to take her pulse, and she was afraid that the concubine with bad intentions would cause any more trouble.
She decided to take the initiative and asked Wen Shichu to go.
As soon as Wen Shichu stepped into the main hall, he saw other palace servants in the room and bowed respectfully.
"Your humble servant, Wen Shichu of the Imperial Hospital, pays his respects to Concubine Zhen!"
"Doctor Wen, please stand up! I'm not seriously ill. I just suddenly moved to a new place, and I'm worried that the dragon fetus won't be able to adapt, so I'm asking you to come and take a look."
As Zhen Huan spoke, she cooperated by showing her wrist.
Wen Shichu took the patient's pulse through the snow-white handkerchief as usual. He carefully felt the pulse for a long time before bowing and reporting.
"Empress Zhenpin, the dragon fetus in your belly is all normal. However, I still say the same thing as before, your Majesty is weak and needs to be nourished."
"I will have the medicine boy bring some donkey hide gelatin later. Your Majesty should eat some every day. If there are any supplements such as bird's nest, ginseng, deer antler, wolfberry, etc., Your Majesty can also use some."
Zhen Huan did feel more tired recently, she instructed Cui Jinxi.
"The Imperial Household Department sent a batch of supplements. Ask Imperial Doctor Wen to take a look and see which ones are most suitable for use and whether there are any contraindications."
"Slave, go now."
This was something the two of them had discussed long ago, and they asked Wen Shichu to check if there was any dirt in it.
The supplements Zhen Huan used these days were all brought in from outside the palace, and she had to make sure they were foolproof.
The matter concerned the Master's health. After a careful examination, Wen Shichu did not find any abnormalities.
But he still warned worriedly.
"Your Majesty, I will come to take your pulse at the agreed time. If you feel unwell, please send someone to inform me as soon as possible."
Wen Shichu has decided to be on duty at the Imperial Hospital every day before Huan'er gives birth, so that he can be summoned at any time.
At the same time, he also planned to select an honest doctor for training, hoping that he could help Huan'er in the future.
"Okay, then we have Dr. Lawrence."
Zhen Huan's voice was full of gratitude.
As Wen Shichu walked out with the medicine box on his back, Bai Zhi came in with a tray.
"Master, the lotus seed soup is ready. Please have a bowl too."
"it is good."
Zhen Huan took the bowl and winked at Cui Jinxi.
Bai Zhi pretended not to see it. Zhen Huan sent lotus seed soup to the Yangxin Palace, begging the emperor to "have mercy on his son".
She used to be extremely disdainful and disgusted with the common flattery tactics in the palace.
Now I am taking the initiative to flatter him.
I don't know how she feels about her behavior.
Is it contempt?
Or do you feel that you have no choice but to endure it?
Bai Zhi stood aside with her head lowered, thoughts popping up one after another in her mind.
After returning to the palace, Concubine Zhen became more cautious than before.
No matter where I go, I must take Cui Jinxi with me.
Most of the time, she had to stay in Zhongcui Palace, responsible for intimidating the newly assigned group of palace servants, and at the same time checking whether there were any spies sent by others.
After several days of "investigation", Bai Zhi made some vague discoveries.
She planned to find an opportunity in a few days to report the people planted by Prince Guo to her master.
Cui Jinxi left quickly and came back quickly.
As soon as Zhen Huan looked over, she shook her head gently.
"Master, I was unable to see the Emperor at the Yangxin Palace. Steward Su has already delivered the lotus seed soup. I heard that the Emperor is discussing state affairs with the officials at the Imperial Observatory."
Zhen Huan was stunned. Wouldn't this lotus seed soup be given away for free?
"Jinxi, is there anything else happening over there in the Yangxin Palace?"
Cui Jinxi took a step forward and spoke in a low voice.
"Master, on the way back, I heard someone say that the Emperor went to Fengxian Hall to offer sacrifices last night during the Lower Lantern Festival."
Who is in Fengxian Hall?
The master and servant both knew it well.
Zhen Huan closed her eyes tiredly, with a surge of resentment in her heart that was difficult to vent.
What the emperor says cannot be believed!
In order to coax me back to the palace, he lied to me about his true feelings for me.
This is really ridiculous!
Zhen Huan calmed herself down for a while and spoke in a low voice.
"Doctor Wen said pregnant women should move around more."
"Jinxi, please accompany me to Yonghe Palace."
"Yes. Master, would you like to bring the cloak you made for Princess Longyue?"
This cloak was made according to Princess Longyue's stature by Cui Jinxi after she returned to the palace and met her.
Zhen Huan was pregnant and only had a few symbolic stitches.
She thought about it and agreed.
As soon as Longyue was born, she was forced to leave the palace.
At first, she thought that the empress dowager could take good care of Longyue, but who would have thought that the empress dowager, who was in good health, would leave as she said.
If it weren't for Sister Mei's compassion, Longyue...
Zhen Huan didn't dare to think too deeply about how much suffering her daughter would suffer.