After her luck was taken away, she fell in love with the woman who traveled through time.

Days passed one by one, and in a blink of an eye, Cui Ling had been in Chenshi Palace for nearly half a month, but he had never been summoned by Liang Tan. Instead, he himself could not hold back his anger and would peek through the crack in the door from time to time.

After peeking a few times, he had already figured out some clues——

This Concubine Chen seemed to have a very hard life. She had to go out before dawn every morning and did not come back until dark. When she came back, she could hardly hide the fatigue on her face.

It was another night. After dinner, he blew out the candles after Eunuch Li left, and then sat at the door waiting. He couldn't tell what he was thinking. Perhaps he had been lonely for too long, or maybe he was wary, so he couldn't help but look at the master of Chenshi Palace.

Liang Tan came back long after he turned off the lights. He walked through the small courtyard and went straight back to the dormitory. He closed the door and the yard became quiet again.

Cui Ling waited for nearly half an hour, but only saw this scene. He continued to sit on the cold stone floor, feeling indescribably uncomfortable.

Although he was calm, he was only thirteen or fourteen years old. He was very confused by the sudden change. In addition, he was inexplicably brought to Chenshi Palace and was well taken care of. He became even more confused and puzzled. It was fine during the day, but at night, all the uneasiness would come up. As soon as he closed his eyes, he could see the shiny knife in the silkworm room.

Cui Ling sat alone for a long time, his body almost numb from the cold floor. He was about to get up and go back to bed to sleep. However, as soon as he moved, he saw the door of the master bedroom opened quietly. He paused, then sat down again.

Liang Tan didn't know that he was seen clearly. After sneaking out of the house, he quietly went to the corner of the yard to enjoy the cool breeze. While doing so, he had to be alert to his surroundings to avoid being discovered.

It was the coldest time of the year and the water tanks in the yard were frozen. She was only wearing a thin layer of clothes and soon began to shiver with cold.

Her unusual behavior aroused Cui Ling's curiosity. After staring at her for a long time, he finally couldn't help but open the door a little wider.

Liang Tan was concentrating on blowing his hair. He was startled when he heard the noise. He turned around and saw Cui Ling appear at the door. He immediately looked around nervously. When he vaguely heard someone coming, he hurriedly ran towards Cui Ling.

Cui Ling wanted to greet her, but he saw her rush into her room in two or three steps and close the door.

Cui Ling paused for a moment before bowing and saying, "Greetings to Her Majesty the Concubine Chen."

"No need to formalize, just stand up." Liang Tan said, and casually glanced outside. After making sure that the palace servants had left, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Cui Ling was still young after all, and seeing her strange behavior, he couldn't help but ask, "Madam, what were you doing just now?"

Only then did Liang Tan look at him.

A thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy should be in an awkward period of appearance, but he is very handsome with red lips and white teeth. When Liang Tan saw this familiar face, a smile flashed in his eyes: "I think I have a cold."

She did not call herself "this lady" in front of him.

Cui Ling was stunned for a moment, then frowned: "Because you don't want to pay respects?"

"You know?" Liang Tan was surprised.

Cui Ling was afraid that she would discover his peeping, so he quickly explained: "I saw it by chance when I woke up early."

Liang Tan didn't take it seriously and admitted it generously: "Yes, it's because I don't want to pay respects, and I don't want to deal with people in the palace. It's too annoying."

She spoke casually, and Cui Ling felt a little friendly: "Then why don't you just pretend to be sick?"

"The people in the palace are not so easy to fool," Liang Tan sighed, "If the Queen finds out that I'm pretending to be sick, I'll be in big trouble." To be on the safe side, it would be better for her to pretend to be sick.

She really wanted to rest so badly that she had to resort to this desperate measure. Otherwise, she would never have ruined her body.

Cui Ling was silent for a moment, then asked, "I wonder if the Majesty can use spices on a daily basis?"

"Of course I use it."

"To enhance the fragrance, spices often add a herb called whip pot. It is harmless to burn with spices on a normal day, but if taken with water, the pulse will become weak and the face will turn pale," Cui Ling paused after speaking, "but it's just a superficial symptom. It won't cause any harm to the body. At most, it will cause gastrointestinal discomfort, which is better than blowing cold wind."

Liang Tan's eyes lit up: "There is such a good thing?"

Cui Ling nodded: "Yes."

"Then come with me and find some from the spices." Liang Tan said, and walked away.

Cui Ling looked at her overly lively back and felt that although this person was a few years older than his mother, she did not look like an elder at all. He did not think much about it, followed her into the master bedroom, and picked some unburned whip pots from the incense burner.

After Liang Tan took it, he drank it directly. Cui Ling was stunned for a while, and it took him a long time to react: "Your Majesty trusts me so much..."

He had originally wanted to try the medicine on himself to dispel her doubts, but she had no doubts at all and took the medicine directly... Was the empress in the deep palace so unsuspecting? Or was she sure that he would not harm her? Whatever the reason, it was really hard for Cui Ling to understand.

Liang Tan smiled and said, "Of course I can trust you."

Cui Ling couldn't tell what he felt, he just nodded woodenly.

The master bedroom suddenly became quiet.

After a long while, Cui Ling finally mustered up the courage to ask, "My Queen, why did you save me?"

This question still arises, but compared to the initial vigilance, now there is only doubt, and the attitude is naturally much better.

Liang Tan cleared his throat and looked at him sincerely: "From the first time I saw you, I felt that you and I were destined to be together. Although I don't get along with your father, I did... think about accepting you as my godson."

Cui Ling was stunned for a moment. When he came to his senses, he looked at the face in front of him, which was over 40 years old but still charming. He inexplicably felt that something was not right... The woman in front of him was old enough to be his mother, but for some reason, he felt something was not right when he looked at this face.

It's not right.

The thirteen-year-old child tried hard to keep a straight face, but he was too young, and even if he tried hard to hide it, clues would always appear inadvertently.

Liang Tan looked at his face that looked younger than his peers, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why, do you think I'm not worthy?"

"...No," Cui Ling said dryly, "I just think...it's a bit strange."

"It's not strange at all. At my age, I'm probably more than qualified to be your grandmother, not to mention your mother." Liang Tan crossed her arms. In ancient times, people got married early, and many people became grandmothers in their forties. What she said was not an exaggeration at all.

Cui Ling forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty is right."

"Alright, I'm just saying it casually. I didn't recognize you as my godson before, and now that you're guilty, I'm even less likely to do so," Liang Tan glanced at him, "but since you look so likable, it's okay to save you once. It just so happens that I'm in need of a trustworthy servant in the Chenshi Palace, so you can follow Eunuch Li in the future."

Although Cui Ling was young, he knew it was just an excuse when he heard her words. Although he still didn't understand why she saved him, he was grateful in his heart, so he knelt down in front of her with a solemn face and bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Madam, for saving my life."

"It's just a piece of cake." Liang Tan curled his lips.

Cui Ling put his forehead to the ground and said, "Your Highness, saving me is deceiving the emperor, a capital crime. How can it be just a simple favor? Although I don't know why Your Highness saved me, as long as it does not involve the Cui family in the future, I am willing to do anything for Your Highness."

"You are quite smart. You still remember the Cui family at this time." Liang Tan took the whip pot. His stomach began to feel uncomfortable and he spoke absentmindedly.

Cui Ling looked up with guilt upon hearing this: "My Lady..."

"Okay, it's getting late, you should go back and rest," Liang Tan laughed, rubbing his belly with one hand from time to time, "Put your heart in your heart, I won't use a little kid like you for anything, I saved you... really just because you like me, and I have spies all over the palace, and there is really no one else I can use except Eunuch Li. If you really want to repay me, then just be loyal to me in the future."

Cui Ling stared at her for a long time, and finally bowed deeply again: "Yes."

After saying that, he got up and left.

When he reached the door, he couldn't help but look back. After seeing Liang Tan lying down, he quickly lowered his gaze to the ground, "My Lady, the whip pot may cause slight abdominal pain. If you feel uncomfortable, drinking some hot water may relieve it."

Liang Tan stopped rubbing his belly and said, "Got it."

After Cui Ling left, she asked someone to bring her a pot of hot water. After drinking two cups, her discomfort was relieved a lot. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw that her face was pale and her lips were colorless, as if she had a serious illness.

He is worthy of being the male protagonist, with such rich knowledge in various subjects.

A smile flashed in Liang Tan's eyes, and he stretched and went back to bed to sleep.

At the hour of Mao, the palace servant came again to wake her up.

Liang Tan snorted softly while lying on the bed: "I am not feeling well today. Please go and apologize to the Queen Mother on my behalf and tell her that I cannot go today."

“But, but, it is a rule set by the late emperor that concubines should pay their respects to the empress every day…” The palace maid didn’t finish her words when she saw her pale face and immediately shut up in surprise.

Liang Tan looked at her dimly: "I know the rules set by the late emperor, and they cannot be changed without reason, but I am not feeling well now. If I rashly go there and pass on the illness to the queen, who can take the responsibility? You?"

The palace maid knelt down hurriedly: "I dare not."

"Why don't you go and confess your crime?" Liang Tan said, covering his mouth and coughing.

The palace maid agreed repeatedly, stood up and ran out. Liang Tan watched her leave, stretched his body comfortably, turned over and continued to sleep.

She slept until noon, until the palace maid came to her bedside and called her again. She reluctantly opened her eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Your Majesty, the Queen has sent the imperial physician to treat you." The palace servant said cautiously.

This queen is so useless, she guessed exactly the same as she did. Liang Tan's mouth twitched, and when he looked out the door, he not only saw the imperial physician, but also Cui Ling who appeared outside the door at some point.

Cui Ling looked into the distance from time to time, as if he was waiting for someone. Not long after, Eunuch Li came. He immediately lowered his eyes and stood quietly. To others, he looked no different from before, but Liang Tan could tell at a glance that he had relaxed a lot.

What are these two people plotting?

When Liang Tan was confused, Cui Ling looked up as if he had realized something, paused after looking at her, and signaled her with his eyes to be patient.

Is he... comforting her? Liang Tan was unsure at first, but after staring at each other for a moment, he no longer had any doubts.

Liang Tan couldn't help wanting to laugh when she thought about the fact that she was in her forties and still had to be comforted by a teenager's eyes. However, before the corners of her lips could curl up, Cui Ling frowned at her.

...Well, I can't laugh. How can I laugh when I'm sick? Liang Tan coughed and became weak in a second: "Then please ask the doctor to come in."

"Yes." The palace servant responded and invited the imperial physician who had been waiting outside for a long time in.

When the imperial physician entered the room, Cui Ling followed him in, but stopped when he reached the incense burner.

Liang Tan glanced at him before speaking to the imperial physician.

After a brief consultation, the imperial physician took out a brocade handkerchief and felt Liang Tan's pulse.

Although Cui Ling said that the pulse would not be detected, Liang Tan was still a little nervous. While waiting for the imperial physician to feel his pulse, a thin layer of sweat broke out on his back.

After a long time, the imperial physician stood up with a frown on his face.

"How?" Liang Tan asked immediately.

The imperial physician bowed his head respectfully and said, "Your Majesty's pulse is weak, as if an evil wind has entered your body, but it is nothing serious. You just need to take some pills and stay indoors for a while to recuperate."

"Stay indoors?" Liang Tan exclaimed, then realized that he was being too pretentious, and quickly stopped acting, "How can that be possible? I still want to pay my respects to the Queen every day."

Cui Ling at the door lowered his head silently after hearing this, so as not to laugh.

"It's cold in winter, especially in the morning and evening. For the sake of your Majesty's health, you'd better not go out these days." The imperial physician continued to persuade politely.

Liang Tan looked worried, and after a sigh, he said with regret: "That's all I can do. The Queen is kind-hearted, and I don't think she would mind my efforts over the past few days. I'm sorry to bother you, Imperial Doctor."

"Your Majesty, you are too polite." The imperial physician packed up his medicine box, turned around and walked out. However, he suddenly stopped when passing by the incense burner and looked at it with a puzzled look on his face.

Liang Tan's heartbeat stopped: "What's wrong?"

"The butterfly-attracting incense your Majesty has here seems to be lighter than ordinary spices." The imperial physician frowned again.

Cui Ling paused, and his palms suddenly began to sweat.

Liang Tan swallowed silently and said, "I don't like strong fragrances, this taste is just right."

"But I remember that the fragrance of this spice should not be so light," the imperial physician said halfway, and suddenly thought of something, "Your Majesty, may I borrow the incense burner to take a look?"

"...Why are you looking at the incense burner?" Liang Tan pretended to be confused.

The imperial physician looked at her tentatively and said, "I suspect that your Majesty is feeling unwell because someone has poisoned you."

Cui Ling subconsciously looked at Liang Tan, and his heart became more and more nervous.

If that thing was poisonous, she would have died last night. Liang Tan knew that the doctor was talking nonsense, but when he met his gaze, he still had to act horrified: "Really?"

There was no other way. Since the imperial physician had asked to see the incense burner, it was obvious that he had guessed about the whip pot. If she kept stopping him or looked panicked, he would definitely guess that she was pretending to be sick. The person sent by the queen was naturally her confidant. I'm afraid that as soon as this person knew about it, the queen would get wind of it.

Liang Tan looked calm on the surface, but she was panicking on the inside. After all, no one knew how the Queen, who was so petty, would deal with her after finding out that she was faking illness.

Just when she was wondering how to get the doctor to give up the idea, Liang Tan looked up and suddenly met Cui Ling's gaze. Her boiling mood instantly calmed down. After a moment of silence, she slowly said, "The incense burner is still burning. To avoid hurting the doctor's hand, let me put out the fire first."

After saying that, she looked at Cui Ling.

Cui Ling responded softly and turned sideways to put out the incense.