After killing four concubines, the queen was sentenced to death and reborn

Zi Rui's words woke Zhang Mengying up. She slowly raised her head and said softly, "You are right. I, Zhang Mengying, am doing this for myself, not for anyone else."

Zi Rui was relieved after hearing this. She picked up the bowl of steaming medicine again, blew away the foam, and carefully handed it to Zhang Mengying's lips, saying softly, "My queen, although this medicine is bitter, it can warm your body and your heart. Please drink some."

Zhang Mengying smiled slightly, as if she was touched by the warmth. She slowly opened her mouth and drank the medicine mouthful by mouthful. The bitterness was mixed with a hint of sweetness, just like her mood at the moment. Chunhua, who was standing by, had red eyes, but had stopped crying. She gently wiped the medicine stains from the corners of Zhang Mengying's mouth with a handkerchief, and a long-lost smile appeared on her face.

Just as the atmosphere in the house was becoming warmer, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door, and Lu Chuyi rushed in with an anxious look on her face. She saw Zhang Mengying on the bed and Zi Rui beside her, and was slightly startled. Then she asked with concern: "Sister, I heard that you were sick, which made me very worried. Miss Zi Rui, why are you here?"

Zi Rui quickly put down the medicine bowl in her hand, bowed respectfully, and explained: "Madam Chongyi, I came to Yuhua Palace on the orders of the Empress to take care of Madam Yifei."

Hearing this, Lu Chuyi frowned slightly, with a hint of doubt in her eyes, "Why did the Queen ask you to take care of my sister? There is no shortage of maids in Yuhua Palace."

Zi Rui replied, "I know a little about pharmacology. The imperial physician said that Concubine Yi is weak, so the Empress asked me to stay in Yuhua Palace to take care of Concubine Yi."

"So that's how it is." Lu Chuyi was half-believing and half-doubting, but then she was relieved. She knew the queen's kindness and wisdom very well, so she stopped asking and just said softly, "The queen is really very attentive."

Zhang Mengying coughed a few times, her voice weak but full of gratitude: "Chuyi, you don't have to worry too much. The Queen does have good intentions. With Miss Zirui here, I will surely get better day by day."

Lu Chuyi walked to the bedside, sat down gently, and held Zhang Mengying's hands tightly with both of hers. "The Queen is so thoughtful."

Zhang Mengying smiled calmly and said, "Yes! The Queen is kind-hearted. She is a blessing to the harem."

"How do you feel now, sister? Are you feeling better?"

Zhang Mengying smiled slightly, with a hint of fatigue in her smile, "I'm much better now, don't worry, I just need to rest for a few days."

"Then I'm relieved. How come sister caught a cold when she was fine?"

"I guess it's because I was sitting by the window and was blown by the wind these past few nights. I was careless."

Lu Chuyi gently patted the back of Zhang Mengying's hand and comforted her, "Sister, rest assured and recover. I will come to accompany you often in the next few days and won't let you get bored."

Outside the window, the breeze blew gently, bringing bursts of flower fragrance. Zhang Mengying looked at Lu Chuyi's sincere eyes, and a warm feeling surged in her heart. She nodded gently: "Okay, with you here, it won't be boring."

"Ah."

In Shoukang Palace, the autumn sun shines through the carved window lattices, casting mottled shadows on the empress dowager's weathered face. Upon hearing the news that Concubine Yi is seriously ill, the empress dowager can't help but show a hint of doubt, and whispered: "Concubine Yi is ill? The queen actually personally ordered someone to take care of her, this is strange."

Nanny Yu stood to one side and explained respectfully, "Your Majesty, it is true. Imperial Physician Yuan has gone to Yuhua Palace for a diagnosis. He said that the patient has caught a cold and his condition seems to be quite difficult to treat." She frowned slightly, as if she was also puzzled by this matter.

The Queen Mother gently stroked an ancient book on the table, her eyes deep, as if she was thinking about something. "It's cool in autumn, and it's normal to feel a cold occasionally, but the Queen's behavior is really puzzling." She shook her head slowly, "The Queen seems to be too kind to Concubine Yi. Since Concubine Yi entered the palace, she has taken good care of her."

Upon hearing this, Nanny Yu was also confused, but she could only comfort him, "Queen Dowager, maybe you are overthinking it."

"I don't think too much about it. There must be something fishy going on." The Queen Mother was very certain.

Yu Ma asked, "Empress Dowager, are you doubting the Empress or Consort Yi?"

The Queen Mother was silent for a moment, then said, "I can't really explain it, but this matter is definitely not that simple."

"That can't be! Imperial Doctor Yuan has been to Yuhua Palace. He is His Majesty's man. How could he..."

"Yes! Doctor Yuan is the emperor's man and has always been loyal to him. What's wrong with this?" The empress dowager was puzzled.

Yu Ma advised: "Queen Dowager, perhaps you really think too much. The Queen is kind-hearted and it is reasonable for her to protect the concubines."

The Queen Mother smiled slightly, but there was no warmth in her smile, but a hint of coldness. "Kindhearted? In this deep palace, people's hearts are more complicated than anything else. If I were just a concubine who had just entered the palace, I might believe it. But I have been in this deep palace for nearly forty years and have seen too many intrigues and schemes in this palace. How could I believe it so easily? The Queen's move must have a deep meaning."

Upon hearing this, Nanny Yu was also thinking about it in her heart. Just as she was about to speak, she saw the Queen Mother raised her hand to stop her. "Forget it, let's put this matter aside for now. Doctor Yuan is the emperor's confidant. Since he didn't say anything different, there is no need for him to take any action. If the Queen really wanted to take action against Concubine Yi, she wouldn't be so blatant. She's not that stupid."

Yu Ma Ma asked again, "Empress Dowager, are you really displeased with Concubine Yi?"

The Queen Mother said coldly, "It's not that I don't like her. This child has a stunning face, but she doesn't have any scheming or intentions. She is much better than Concubine Yi."

"After all, she is a girl from a famous family and grew up in seclusion. Naturally, she can't be bad."

She was about to leave when she heard the Queen Mother say calmly, "Since she is ill, go to the storehouse and pick out some top-quality supplements and send them to her on my behalf."

Upon hearing this, Yu Ma Ma quickly responded, "Yes, I'll do it right away." After that, she bowed and turned to leave, but then she seemed to remember something and turned back to ask, "Empress Dowager, you still have some sympathy for Concubine Yi, right?"

The Queen Mother looked out the window, silent for a moment, and finally sighed: "Pity? Maybe. Although Concubine Yi is simple, she is rare."

After saying this, the Queen Mother gently waved her hand, signaling Nanny Yu to leave, and Nanny Yu took the order and left.

In Yihua Palace, the candlelight flickered, illuminating the half-lit and half-dark face of Yi Zhaoyi. A sneer flashed in her eyes, like a winter plum blossom blooming in winter, with a bit of piercing. "She is sick at this critical moment? God is really wise. She hurt me like that before, I will definitely find a chance to take revenge." She thought to herself, with a sneer on her lips.

Caiwei stood to one side, fanning herself gently in an attempt to dispel the stuffiness in the room, and at the same time she consoled him in a gentle voice, "Your Highness, be careful with what you say. I heard that the Queen has specially sent Sister Zirui to Yuhua Palace to take care of Concubine Yi. I think it won't take long for Concubine Yi to recover from her illness."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Yi's face suddenly changed. She clenched the silk handkerchief in her hand into a fist, her knuckles turning white. "What did you say? The Queen actually asked Zi Rui to take care of her? This..." Her voice trembled slightly, and a hint of disbelief flashed in her eyes.

"That's true. Aunt Zirui is currently in Yuhua Palace, serving wholeheartedly." Caiwei's voice was somewhat soothing, but it couldn't hide a hint of worry.

Concubine Yi was in a state of anxiety. She walked to the window and looked at the lonely moon in the night sky, feeling mixed emotions. "Why does the Queen favor her so much? Is the Queen really going to abandon me?" She murmured to herself, with anxiety and unwillingness between her brows.

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