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

The hall was quiet. Zhao Yue leaned on the couch, and He Quan stood beside her holding the book. After she finished reading, she turned a page.

Both of them had their eyes on the book, but from time to time they would glance at the hardworking maid who was trying to make the bed.

-

Zhu Dingyuan sat in the imperial sedan chair, listening to the crackling sound of rain, and was extremely anxious: "Why hasn't he arrived yet?"

How could Chuntang Palace be so far away?

He opened the curtain: "How long will it take!"

Huang Quan's head was covered with rain, and the umbrella that Xiao Xiazi held for him was blown all over the place and didn't cover him at all.

"Your Majesty, I don't know which wicked person did this job. The stones are covered with moss, and the people carrying the sedan chair are afraid of slipping, so they are moving slowly."

Huang Quan wiped the rain off his face and said, "They are cleaning up ahead!"

Zhu Dingyuan frowned and looked ahead. They cleared one step and the sedan chair moved one step. The rain was getting heavier and the sky was completely dark.

How long will this take?

"I'll go by myself!" Zhu Dingyuan waved his sleeves, his face as gloomy as ink.

"Get off the sedan!" Huang Quan shouted hurriedly, snatched the umbrella, and followed the man: "Your Majesty! Be careful not to slip!"

Zhu Dingyuan had learned martial arts, and was too lazy to let Huang Quan support him, so he hurried towards Chuntang Palace.

Huang Quan chased after him, extremely anxious. Xiao Xiazi also chased after Huang Quan: "The road ahead is being repaired. I'm afraid there will be puddles. Your Majesty, be careful!"

Zhu Dingyuan was wearing a cloak, his hair was covered with raindrops, and he felt relieved when he looked at the eaves of Chuntang Palace. But he didn't know if he was too uneasy or overly anxious.

He actually stepped into a puddle, and his inky fox fur cloak was splashed with mud and water.

The stones in the puddle are pebbles, very smooth and covered with moss.

He had no way of avoiding it.

Zhu Dingyuan fell to his knees with a plop, his hands on the ground, rubbing his skin: "Hiss..."

Huang Quan followed suit and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty!"

Xiao Xiazi also screamed loudly: "Call the imperial physician!"

"I'm fine!" Zhu Dingyuan was helped up by Huang Quan: "I want to see Yue'er."

He stood up, his feet hurting.

Zhu Dingyuan lowered his head and saw blood oozing from under his boots.

Huang Quan was about to faint: "Your Majesty! You are injured!"

Someone had tampered with the road with some malicious intention. He glanced at the puddles, dozens of them, large and small. He was afraid that they might contain sharp weapons covered by moss.

"Can't die."

Zhu Dingyuan said coldly and adjusted his posture. The hem of his dragon robe covered his boots. The wound on the sole of his foot felt stinging as he walked, and the blood flowed more and more.

But his face looked uncertain.

Finally arrived at Chuntang Palace.

Zhu Dingyuan breathed a sigh of relief and knocked on the door himself.

Huang Quan looked at him, his body shaking violently from the cold, also out of fear.

Their Majesty's hair was wet, his cloak was covered in mud, his hands were scratched, and his foot was sprained. He looked as miserable as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

Zhu Dingyuan knocked on the door several times, but there was no response from inside.

Huang Quan burst into tears. Concubine Zhao still refused to see him. Their Majesty was so pitiful!

But he didn't dare say anything bad about Concubine Zhao, and could only look at His Majesty with tears in his eyes.

Zhu Dingyuan was not annoyed at all, and said loudly: "Yue'er! If you don't see me! I will wait forever!"

The rain was pattering on the ground, and the servants were kneeling in the rain with their heads hung.

A young eunuch could not help but say: "Noble Lady Zhao is so bold! She actually let the emperor get wet in the rain and was turned away by her! Your Majesty, you can't spoil her!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Dingyuan's eyes shot over coldly. He drew out the guard's sword, walked quickly to him, and raised his hand to draw the sword.

The young eunuch screamed and spat out blood.

"Pull it down, don't dirty the road."

Xiao Xiazi quickly stood up and said, "Yes." He called a few guards to carry the dead eunuch away.

Huang Quan's teeth were chattering and he begged in his heart, "Master Zhao, please open the door quickly!"

"Yue'er! I know you feel wronged and unhappy, so you don't want to see me! But I really have my reasons! You know, you are the only one in my heart!"

Zhu Dingyuan spoke again, with grievance in his eyes.

A cup of tea passed and the door of Chuntang Palace remained motionless.

Huang Quan decided that after half an incense stick of time, he would kneel on the ground and cry, or ask the guards to climb in and open the door.

Otherwise, his job would be over.

Zhu Dingyuan sneezed.

Huang Quan screamed: "What are you still kneeling for? Go get the imperial physician! Are you all blind?"

The branches beside the palace wall were broken by the rain and fell to the ground.

Zhu Dingyuan sneezed again, and the vermilion palace gate finally opened.

His eyes showed joy, and Taoxi saluted respectfully: "Your Majesty, the young master is waiting for you inside."

Zhu Dingyuan walked as fast as the wind and threw the cloak into Huang Quan's arms.

His heart was pounding and he felt an inexplicable tension spreading through his limbs, causing his breathing to speed up.

He stood at the door of Zhaoyue's bedroom. The door was not closed, but he did not dare to step in. He asked hesitantly: "Yue, Yue'er...can I come in?"

Zhao Yue's voice came softly and faintly: "Your Majesty, why can't you go in? Why are you asking Yue'er..."

Zhu Dingyuan's heart paused and he hurried in. His warm face was wet with rain, but his clothes were fine, with only the hem wet.

He looked at Zhao Yue who was leaning on the couch, his eyes full of annoyance and expression: "Yue'er..."

He called out softly.

Zhao Yue did not raise her eyes. The grievance in her voice was about to overflow, but she was still trying to remain calm: "I am weak after being poisoned. I am unable to pay my respects. Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Zhu Dingyuan could hear that she was trying hard to hold back her tears, and also saw the corners of her eyes quickly turning red. Her body was still trembling slightly, and her crying voice was pitiful.

His heart softened and he hurriedly walked closer: "I am guilty... I hurt Yue'er's heart."

"Your Majesty is the king, how could he be guilty? I know that I cannot compare to the position of the noble concubine in your Majesty's heart. There are many sisters in the harem, and I do not ask for your Majesty's exclusive favor. I only hope that your Majesty will remember Yue'er in his heart and leave a little place for Yue'er."

Zhao Yue raised her eyes and looked at him.

Her charming cheeks revealed a hint of weakness, her hair fell on her shoulders, she was not wearing any makeup, no pearl hairpins, her face was plain and pure, and her eyes, which were always full of affection, shed tears at just the right moment.

Her pale lips slightly opened: "Your Majesty, you said you would protect Yue'er."

That tear seemed to fall into Zhu Dingyuan's heart. He frowned and even his breathing felt painful.

I reached out and wanted to touch her face, but I was afraid that she would avoid me.

Finally he stood still.

This was the first time he was helpless against a woman.

"Noble Concubine Gao's methods were sinister, but I gave her a light punishment and a heavy warning out of consideration for the Gao family."

Zhu Dingyuan looked into her eyes and held her soft hand tightly: "I will issue an order now to banish her to the cold palace. If Yue'er is still not satisfied, then I will give her a cup of poisoned wine and execute the entire Gao family, okay?"

He actually called himself, me.

Zhao Yue hid the mockery in her eyes and covered his lips in panic: "Your Majesty, what are you talking about!"