Traveling through the Tang Dynasty: The Concubine Goes to War

When Ye Ling'er arrived at Xingqing Palace with great anticipation, the gatekeeper, Eunuch Chen, immediately came forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Meet Concubine Ye Shu."

Ye Ling'er responded with a smile: "Eunuch Chen, no need to be polite. May I ask how the emperor is feeling now?" As she spoke, she stepped forward and prepared to enter Xingqing Palace.

However, Eunuch Chen did not seem to have the intention of giving way. He bowed slightly and replied, "Madam Shufei, Imperial Concubine Xi is taking care of the emperor inside..."

Ye Ling'er paused when she heard this. But soon, she smiled gently and said softly, "In that case, I will wait here for Concubine Xi to come out." After that, she turned and walked to the pavilion next to her and sat down gracefully. Although she looked calm on the surface, her heart had already stirred.

Eunuch Chen looked at Ye Ling'er's back and sighed inwardly. He knew that Concubine Ye Shu was not easy to deal with, but the emperor was unconscious at the moment, and Yunxi and Princess Xiangcheng had specifically instructed not to disclose the emperor's illness to the outside world, so as not to cause unrest in the court. In this way, it would be extremely difficult for Ye Ling'er to get close to the emperor.

As time passed, Ye Ling'er's patience was gradually exhausted. She frequently cast her eyes towards the gate of Xingqing Palace, with a hint of anxiety in her eyes.

Finally, Yunxi walked out of Xingqing Palace with a tired face. She was quite surprised to see Ye Ling. Ye Linger stood up quickly, walked forward to greet her, and asked with concern: "Sister, has the emperor's health improved?"

Concubine Xi responded calmly: "Thank you for your concern, sister. The imperial physician told me that the emperor is fine, but he needs to rest and recuperate for a while."

Upon hearing this news, Ye Ling'er couldn't help but feel delighted and said hurriedly, "That's great. I have some secret recipes for nourishing the body, can I...?"

Yunxi sighed softly and said, "It depends on your majesty's physical condition. Even the imperial physician cannot be sure."

A sly look flashed across Ye Ling'er's eyes, and she gently asked, "I have a small wish. I wonder if you can let me enter the palace to visit His Majesty? Even if it's just a glance from afar."

Imperial Concubine Xi looked embarrassed, with a hint of helplessness and worry in her voice: "This... I also know your majesty's condition, so it's better not to go in. If I really care about your majesty, I will just wait here quietly."

Ye Ling'er bit her lip, her eyes full of disappointment, but she did not continue to pester him. She just nodded silently and said softly, "Okay, sister is right, I will wait here."

She knew that it was useless to force it, so she had to say goodbye to Yunxi and turned away. But at the moment she turned around, a trace of unwillingness flashed in her eyes, and she secretly vowed in her heart that she would find a way to find out the emperor's condition no matter what.

After returning to the palace, Ye Ling'er thought more and more that something was wrong. She frowned and said to herself, "The emperor's illness has always been treated by the imperial physician, why is he not allowing anyone to visit him now? Is there something wrong with the emperor's illness?"

Thinking of this, she decided to take action. She called her personal maid Xiao Cui and whispered in her ear for a while. After listening, Xiao Cui nodded and walked out.

After Xiao Cui left, Ye Ling'er sat by the bed, unable to calm down for a long time. She didn't know if what she did was right, but she had to find out the emperor's true condition. If the emperor's condition really changed, she had to be prepared to deal with it.

In the evening, Xiao Cui hurried back and told Ye Ling'er a shocking news: "Your Majesty, I have found out that the emperor's condition is much more serious than we thought. The imperial doctors have tried various methods, but none of them can cure his disease. Now everyone in the palace is very worried and doesn't know what to do."

Ye Ling'er's eyes widened and she asked in disbelief, "How could this happen? The emperor has always looked healthy."

Xiao Cui shook her head and frowned, saying, "This is also what confuses everyone. The imperial doctors said that this disease is very rare and they have never seen it before. The atmosphere in the palace is very tense now, and everyone is guessing what will happen next."

Ye Ling'er fell into deep thought, with an ominous premonition in her heart. She realized that the situation in the palace might be more complicated and dangerous than she imagined. If the emperor was really seriously ill, the balance of power in the palace would be broken, and all parties would begin to compete for the throne. And as Rui Ze's mother, she would also become the focus of everyone's attention.

Ye Ling'er clenched her fists tightly and said with a firm look in her eyes, "No matter what, I must protect Rui Ze. Xiao Cui, you continue to inquire about the emperor's condition and tell me immediately if you have any news."

Afterwards, Ye Ling'er called other palace maids and began to prepare for the next plan. She knew that in this power struggle, she had to be careful in order to preserve her and her son's status.

A few days later, Xiao Cui brought back news again: "Your Majesty, I have heard an important situation. It is said that the ministers in the court have not seen the emperor for many days, and now they are beginning to feel uneasy and restless."

Upon hearing this news, Ye Ling'er's heart was shocked. She knew that time was running out for her and her son. Faced with this situation, she had to find a way to let Rui Ze replace the prince as soon as possible.

After careful consideration, Ye Ling'er decided to visit the Queen Mother, hoping to get her support.

The Queen Mother is one of the most powerful figures in the palace. If Rui Ze can get the Queen Mother's approval, then the possibility of ascending the throne will be greatly increased. Ye Ling'er knows this very well, so she is determined to win the Queen Mother's support.

For this meeting, Ye Ling'er dressed up carefully to show her beauty and nobility. Then, she went to the Queen Mother's bedroom with a nervous and expectant mood.

When Ye Ling'er came before the empress dowager, she knelt down with a thud, tears in her eyes, and cried to the empress dowager: "Empress Dowager, I cannot express how much I miss the emperor. Now that the emperor is seriously ill, I really don't know what to do..." As she said that, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

The Queen Mother looked at Ye Ling'er crying and was touched. She gently stroked Ye Ling'er's hand and comforted her, "Ling'er, don't be too sad. I believe the Emperor will get better."

Ye Linger raised her head, looked at the Queen Mother with tears in her eyes and said, "Queen Mother, I beg you to help us mother and son. The Emperor has praised Rui Ze for his intelligence many times. He has the demeanor of an emperor at such a young age... It can be seen that the Emperor has high hopes for Rui Ze. If he can inherit the throne in the future, we mother and son will definitely be grateful to you, Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother listened to Ye Ling'er's words and nodded slightly to show her agreement. She felt that Ye Ling'er's words made sense, and she also liked Rui Ze very much. However, she still reminded Ye Ling'er: "This matter is of great importance and needs to be considered carefully. After all, the Emperor has already established the Crown Prince, and there are other princes in the court."

Ye Ling'er nodded firmly, expressing her understanding. She knew that if she wanted Rui Ze to replace the prince, she would need to put in more effort and wisdom.

But she firmly believed that as long as she had the support of the Queen Mother, everything would be possible. The Queen Mother looked at Ye Ling'er, and after a moment of silence, she said, "The matter of the royal heir is of great importance. I need time to consider it."

Ye Ling'er understood the Queen Mother's concerns, but she firmly told her that she and Rui Ze would not let her down.

After leaving the Queen Mother's palace, Ye Ling'er became more determined. She began to secretly contact the ministers who supported Rui Ze, and at the same time paid close attention to the developments in the palace. A thrilling power struggle began...