Drunk Bamboo

When someone in the previous dynasty displeased the emperor, there were also people in the harem who spoke up for the prince.

The Emperor doesn't want to see the Queen and the Crown Princess recently.

The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and the heat was even more irritating. The emperor couldn't even have a good nap.

Seeing this, Eunuch Dong suggested:

"The Royal Concubine's Anfu Palace has many exotic plants and flowers planted there. It is the quietest and coolest place. On hot summer afternoons, Your Majesty likes to rest for a while at the Royal Concubine's place. I heard that the Royal Concubine has a poor appetite recently. Would Your Majesty like to go and take a look?"

"Ji'er, don't you have a good appetite?" The emperor frowned slightly. The matter of Prince Wen had somewhat affected his attitude towards the imperial concubine. But when he heard that she had a poor appetite, he became worried again. "Recently, things have been a mess. I haven't visited her for some time. Please go to Fu'an Palace."

Eunuch Dong understands the emperor best.

"Show off!"

In Fu'an Palace, the Imperial Concubine was dressed simply, but her stunning beauty could not be concealed.

Even though she is no longer young, her delicate face remains as beautiful as before.

"His Majesty."

"Hurry up and get up. I've already told you that you don't need to be polite when there are no outsiders around. I haven't seen you for a few days. Why have you lost weight again?"

As soon as the emperor saw this fair and beautiful face and this slender and delicate body, his heart melted and he no longer had any grudges.

Furthermore, the Imperial Concubine lived in the palace, worshipping Buddha all day long, and except for burning incense at the Daci Temple at a fixed time, she had no contact with the outside world. This had been the case for the past twenty years.

"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, and I cannot disturb Your Majesty with every little thing. Your Majesty loves me and uses Ming'er, so I am very satisfied."

The frail body of the Imperial Noble Consort nestled against the Emperor's chest, too weak to take care of herself.

"How can your health be such a minor problem? Is it because of the hot weather that you have lost your appetite? I'll have someone send you some bird's nests. You should eat some even if you have no appetite."

"Your Majesty has rewarded me with too much. Let me serve Your Majesty and rest for a while."

She looked at the emperor with her soft eyes, she was very lovely, with no makeup on her face, and she was naturally charming.

The imperial concubine gently helped the emperor lie down on the couch, waving a round fan in one hand to bring him coolness.

"When I came in, I saw that the flowers in the yard were in full bloom and smelled delicious. The whole house was filled with fragrance."

With a beautiful woman by my side, smelling the fragrance of flowers, the irritability in my heart gradually dissipated.

It was a rare opportunity for the emperor to relax his whole body and close his eyes to rest.

"Besides worshiping Buddha, I spend my time planting flowers and plants. Your Majesty likes them, so I asked Xuan'er to move them to the flowerpots and send them to Baoping Palace. Your Majesty will be able to smell the fragrance of the flowers while reviewing memorials." The Imperial Concubine said gently.

She devoted herself to serving the emperor, did not mention any court affairs, did not talk too much, and just quietly waved her round fan.

Even though the emperor closed his eyes and couldn't see, the smile on her lips did not diminish, and the light-colored pupils under her eyelids were as cold as frost.

"Ming'er hasn't come to pay his respects recently?"

The slender hand paused for a moment, then quickly continued shaking.

"Your Majesty asked Ming'er to work in the Ministry of Personnel, but he couldn't spare the time for the time being, probably because he was always busy. I have no important matters in the palace, so I asked Ming'er to concentrate on his work and not to come to pay respects every day. I like quietness and am lazy. Occasionally, officials and noble ladies came to see me, but I always said I was not feeling well and avoided meeting them."

After hearing this, the emperor opened his eyes, held the imperial concubine's hand, and said, "Fu'an Palace is very good, and it's also good that you devote yourself to worshiping Buddha and tending to flowers and plants. The affairs of the previous dynasty are complicated, and you are right not to get involved. Next time you see Ming'er, remind him for me to do his own thing and not to have unreasonable thoughts. As long as he behaves himself, I will arrange everything for him."

"Did Ming'er do something wrong? Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

The fan in the Imperial Concubine's hand slipped, her body went limp, and she knelt beside the couch with tears in her eyes.

"What are you kneeling for?"

Eunuch Dong saw the emperor's expression and immediately stepped forward to help the imperial concubine up: "Your Majesty, you are not in good health. His Majesty must be distressed by your kneeling."

"I am not like the Empress who is well-educated, intelligent and capable. The Empress helps His Majesty manage the harem, and the Prime Minister helps His Majesty in the court. Their family has worked hard and made great contributions. I know I am incompetent, and I come from a remote and backward mountain area. The Nanjiang tribe cannot help Your Majesty, but Your Majesty gives me food and cloth every year."

"I am grateful and I love and respect Your Majesty, but I am not in good health and Ming'er has been weak since birth. It's all my fault that I didn't give Your Majesty a healthy child. Every time I see Ming'er, I always feel guilty for letting him suffer from illness since he was a child."

"Ming'er is an obedient child. If he accidentally does something wrong, Your Majesty must not blame him. If you want to blame someone, blame me. It is because I am incompetent and did not teach him well."

The beauty shed tears, and the emperor softened his heart.

Instead, he began to comfort her: "Ming'er is busy in the Ministry of Personnel all day, what could she have done wrong? Don't cry, it's not good for your health. You blocked a sword for me that year, and you got sick and weak. How can I blame you for everything?"

The Imperial Concubine threw herself into the Emperor's arms and sobbed softly, "Gao Fengyu said that Ming'er's body is not like that of an ordinary person, and he cannot live as long as an ordinary person. Your Majesty, Ming'er will not fight for it, so what's the point of him fighting for it?"

Eunuch Dong standing by lowered his head and eyes, his face showing no emotion, but in his heart he was always on guard against the Imperial Concubine.

She was born with such charm that even emperors couldn't escape it.

The emperor rubbed her shoulders and softened his voice: "There are the best doctors in the palace. Ming'er will be fine, and so will you."

"With Your Majesty in the palace, Ming'er and I have someone to rely on."

The imperial concubine hugged the emperor tightly, as if she was grabbing the only piece of driftwood in the sea.

……

Coming out of Fu'an Palace, the emperor's voice suddenly changed, and he said majestically:

"The Imperial Concubine likes quietness. People outside the palace should refrain from disturbing her. Anyone who dares to say anything in the palace will be beaten to death if caught."

He believed that the Imperial Concubine was innocent and had no involvement in anything at court.

"I obey your order." Eunuch Dong asked carefully, "Will King Wen still investigate?"

The emperor glared at her and said, "The Imperial Concubine is the Imperial Concubine, and Prince Wen is Prince Wen. Can the affairs of the court and the harem be mixed up?"

If King Wen had any second thoughts and dared to go against his will, he would not be forgiven.

"Yes, I understand."

After a while, the emperor added: "If it is found that Prince Wen is deeply involved, do not make it public. I will handle it privately first."

This is preference.

"The slave obeys."

Changle Palace.

"Father, have you received any news about the prince?" The queen looked haggard and restless, and she hadn't slept well for several days.

Even so, she never slacked off in the affairs of the harem, always dressed appropriately and sat upright in her seat.

The personal maid Qiao'er's face was full of heartache and she shook her head.

"Your Highness, the Prime Minister has asked you not to worry. The Crown Prince will never do anything corrupt or accept bribes. The Prime Minister is here to take care of matters outside the palace. Your Highness still needs to take care of matters in the harem, and you must take good care of your body."

The Queen's eyes were dull: "I have never doubted the Crown Prince. I am worried that he will be hurt mentally and physically. Your Majesty's partiality and suspicion chills my heart. How can the Crown Prince not be chilled by Your Majesty's respect since he was young?"

"Your Majesty, the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince are still in the palace. Your Majesty, you must not fall down, they still need your protection and care..."

Qiao'er really doesn't understand why His Majesty favors the Imperial Noble Consort and Prince Wen. It's obvious that the Queen is the most dignified and generous, and the Crown Prince is the most virtuous and polite. Why doesn't His Majesty always get close to them?

"Lin'er..." The queen's eyes suddenly flickered, "I will definitely protect Lin'er."

The Queen was angry, and Qiao'er finally felt relieved.

Queen: "Prince Feng and Princess Feng saved the Crown Prince in Mount Lou. I have not yet thanked them. I will summon Princess Feng to the palace tomorrow."

When Qiao Er heard that Princess Feng was entering the palace, she was delighted and said with a smile, "Yes."