The crabapple tree is fragrant in the tent, and the bright moon is in my arms

Zhaoyue left Yanxi Palace and coughed weakly a few times. Lingpin and the others left in a hurry without saying anything. Concubine Fang gave them a few instructions.

She walked slowly, and Baoer came to invite her as expected. Zhaoyue whispered a few words to Taoxi, and Baoer lowered his head and returned to Yanhuiyuan.

Hua promised: "Doesn't she want to see me?"

Baoer: "My lady, Lady Zhao said she will see you after the birthday banquet, so please be patient."

"After the birthday party." Hua agreed and nodded with a smile: "She is really smart."

"What?" Baoer didn't understand.

Hua Da Ying looked towards Concubine Gao's main hall, her eyes knowingly: "Close the door."

On the palace road, He Quan stood beside Zhao Yue, looking at her little face that was a little red from the wind, and put the hood of the cloak on her: "Tomorrow's birthday banquet, I'm afraid there will be a lot of farces."

Zhao Yue blinked and said, "I will be the one sitting there tomorrow, why are you so worried?"

He Quan smiled faintly: "Because I am afraid that the young lady will be deceived by your majesty's Chuntang Palace."

Zhao Yue chuckled and muttered to himself, "You're a jealous guy."

After returning to Ningzhu Pavilion and waiting for Zhaoyue to rest, He Quan changed into the official uniform of a low-ranking Yulin Guard and headed towards Huxinju.

Zhu Jing seemed to have been waiting for a long time, and saw him hand over the wine glass in front of him.

Yu Yuan called out respectfully, "Lord He," and closed the door.

He Quan sat on the stool and drank the wine in one gulp. His cold body finally warmed up a little, dispelling the cold wind outside.

"Just as you guessed, His Majesty didn't dare to use the old party this time because of the insect plague in Henan. He wanted to train new talents." Zhu Jing sneered: "This way, it will be easier for our people to get in."

He Quan hummed, "He is afraid of the Nangong family and the Gao family. 70% of Tianzhao's military power is in their hands. He weakened the Nangong family, but the Gao family became more and more arrogant."

Zhu Jing: "He is secretly training his troops in the suburbs, and I think he is planning to take back all military power."

He Quan's eyes were full of understanding, his fingers stroking the wine glass: "The court hasn't been settled yet, and he has already pulled out his claws in the harem."

"He wants to cut off the connection between the harem and the former dynasty." Zhu Jing coughed a few times and said sarcastically, "What a pity! This will make it easier for our people to get in."

His eyes sparkled, "With internal and external troubles, he won't be able to hold out for long!"

He Quan hummed: "It's not so easy to take back the military power. Find a way to let him share it with others. Do you still remember General Lan?"

"General Lan? Lan Huhui..." Zhu Jing thought, "He is not favored by His Majesty."

"This way Zhu Dingyuan will relax his vigilance. He is Concubine Fang's father. Your Highness does not need to worry about this matter." There was a smile in He Quan's eyes, as if he was thinking of something pleasant.

Zhu Jing looked at him and said, "You, you don't think that Concubine Zhao can influence Zhu Dingyuan's employment, do you?" He stood up and said, "No, it's too hasty."

"Why not?" He Quan curled his lips: "Your Highness, do you know what is... pillow talk...?"

"But..." Seeing that he had made up his mind, Zhu Jing could only sigh: "Forget it."

He Quan took another sip of wine: "Your Highness continues to exert pressure in the front court, and I am in the harem."

"By the way, there is movement in Houhai." Zhu Jing frowned: "Someone in the palace is doing business through Houhai, and those people are not ordinary palace maids."

"I know." He Quan put on his cloak and said, "They are the Queen's people. Don't worry about them for now."

"Ah."

Yu Yuan opened the door and said, "Master He, take care."

His figure disappeared quickly in the lakeside residence like black mist.

"Your Majesty, tomorrow's affairs have been arranged."

"Ahem, bring some more wine."

-

Ningzhu Pavilion.

Taoxi saw Hequan coming back and handed him the honey tea: "Just now, Huang Zongguan came and said that His Majesty would come in the evening."

He Quan's eyes sank slightly, "Yeah."

Zhao Yue was sleeping soundly leaning on a soft pillow. Looking at her sleeping face, He Quan put down the tea, squatted in front of her and looked at her carefully.

"Hello, it will take an hour to catch up on some sleep." He placed Zhaoyue's hand on the warm little hand warmer, leaned against her couch, and closed his eyes.

The wind was whistling outside, and the only sound in the room was the crackling of the charcoal fire. It was quiet and peaceful, and combined with the fragrance of the crabapple tree, it was reassuring.

After Zhao Yue had a good sleep, he opened his eyes and stretched. When he saw He Quan, he quickly covered his mouth.

He was still asleep, his eyelashes were long and black, he was thinner than when we first met, and his facial features were more smooth and distinct. Even with his eyes closed, one could feel the distance and coldness emanating from him.

But there was a smile on the corner of his lips, as if he had dreamed of something good.

Zhao Yue leaned over, stretched out her hand to trace his facial features, and then suddenly pinched his nose: "Wake up!"

He Quan couldn't breathe, frowned, and whispered vaguely: "My lord, I am so sleepy."

"Why don't you come up to sleep?" Zhao Yue let go of his hand and rubbed his cheek: "Did I kick you down?"

He Quan laughed a few times and opened his amber grey eyes: "Zhao Zhao is sleeping soundly, I can't bear to disturb you."

Zhao Yue blushed: "You went to find Prince Duan Ze."

He Quan stood up, took the warm honey tea and sat next to her: "My lady, you have a keen nose."

He smelled of alcohol and the cold fragrance of Prince Duan Ze.

Zhao Yue took a sip of the honey tea and thought of the cool plum blossom fragrance he had on him before. She asked, "Do all of you princes like to use this cool fragrance? I also smelled the plum blossom fragrance on you before. Whose fragrance was it?"

He Quan's eyes froze, and a layer of mist quickly filled his pupils. He fed Zhao Yue another sip, and said with a hint of sadness: "The prince's."

"Crown Prince?" Zhao Yue's eyes widened and she tilted her head to look at him: "You...you and the crown prince..."

She knew that He Quan had a strong background, but she didn't expect it to be that strong. However, the prince had passed away for a long time, and He Quan entered the palace... She felt like something was connected in her mind.

He Quan looked at her stunned appearance and chuckled, "Still drinking?"

Zhao Yue pushed the bowl away and asked seriously, "If I ask you now, you will answer."

"Yes." He Quan looked at her.

Zhao Yue wanted to ask, but after hesitating for a long time, she gave up and fell into his arms: "I only have one question, now...are you almost successful..."

He Quan was silent for a while: "It's not the right time yet."

Zhaoyue couldn't help sweating at the tip of her nose. She said, it has only been a short time. It took three years to force the emperor to abdicate in the previous life. She actually fantasized that Zhu Dingyuan would fall tomorrow.

She's crazy too.

Zhao Yue took the cup and finished her tea. He Quan put his arm around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder: "Zhu Dingyuan will be here soon. Don't praise him anymore."

Really holding a grudge.

"it is good."

After dinner, the sky darkened and the wind grew stronger. When Zhu Dingyuan arrived at Ningzhu Pavilion, the wind made him feel cold all over.

When he saw Zhaoyue standing in the hall and smiling at him, his listless face finally revealed a smile: "Yue'er."

But within a few days, the blueness under his eyes became more serious. Zhao Yue brought him some hot tea and said, "Your Majesty, you should take care to rest even when you are busy with government affairs. Why do you look so tired?"