After the death of the host: the tyrant cried red eyes

Just as she was thinking about this, Eunuch Wei walked slowly into the palace with a hunched back and reported respectfully, "Your Majesty, dinner is ready. May I ask if you would like to serve it now?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi gently stood up, and his slender fingers naturally held Shen Bingning's soft hand, with a gentle voice that could not be refused: "It's just right, my beloved concubine, please accompany me for dinner. After dinner, your medicine should be ready."

Shen Bingning muttered to herself, is there any choice left? The answer is obviously no, she can only obey obediently.

Perhaps because Xiao Yi sensed her reluctance, this time, he did not force her to eat more, which made Shen Bingning feel slightly relieved.

After dinner, Xiao Yi lazily half-lay on the soft cushion, flipping through an ancient book in his hands, while Shen Bingning sat far away beside him, silently counting the passage of time in her heart, trying to kill this seemingly endless time.

Suddenly, an unignorable bitter smell quietly spread. Shen Bingning stood up suddenly almost as a conditioned reflex, and met Xiao Yi's cold and gloomy eyes that seemed to see through everything.

She hurriedly pointed in the direction of the side hall and made an excuse: "I...I want to go to the bathroom."

As soon as he stepped out of the palace door, he almost bumped into Qing'er who was hurriedly coming with a bowl of medicine.

Just as Qing'er was about to ask, Shen Bingning quickly stopped her with her eyes. She turned around and quickly glanced inside the hall, then lowered her voice and said, "Give me the medicine, and go do your thing first."

Qing'er nodded obediently, without asking any more questions, and left quietly.

Shen Bingning caught a glimpse of the eunuch waiting at the door from the corner of her eye, forced a relaxed smile, and slowly walked towards the courtyard with the bowl of medicine in hand.

Since she could no longer pour the potion into the orchid, she had to choose a patch of flowers in the yard. After all, they were deeply rooted in the soil, and the potion should not cause any harm.

She tilted her wrist carefully, and just as the potion was about to spill, Xiao Yi's faint voice came from behind her: "My beloved, what are you doing?"

Shen Bingning turned around hurriedly, only to see Xiao Yi standing quietly at the entrance of the hall. In the dim courtyard, the main hall was brightly lit. Under the interweaving of light and shadow, his face looked even more profound and somewhat unpredictable.

She quickly straightened the medicine bowl and tried to look considerate: "This medicine is too bitter. I am worried that it will affect the emperor's mood for dining, so I thought of coming out to drink it."

Xiao Yi slowly approached and gently held her hand, making the medicine bowl more stable so that not a drop would leak out: "My beloved concubine is so considerate of me. In this case, let me personally supervise my beloved concubine to drink this medicine."

Shen Bingning wailed in her heart, this was really a unnecessary move!

Xiao Yi caught the flash of difficulty on her face, and a mischievous light flashed in his eyes. He urged: "The medicine will be more bitter if it gets cold, my beloved concubine, please drink it quickly!"

She was secretly complaining in her heart, but didn't dare to say it out loud. She could only silently say in her mind: Drink, you big-headed ghost!

"My dear, drink it quickly."

Xiao Yi's voice sounded again, this time with a hint of impatience.

Shen Bingning stared at the bowl of black medicine, hardened her heart, closed her eyes, held her breath, and swallowed all the bitter liquid in one breath.

Enduring the bitter taste spreading in her mouth and the discomfort in her throat, she couldn't help but miss the convenient modern capsule medicines.

His eyes involuntarily turned to the candied fruit handed to him by the palace maid, intending to use it to ease the unspeakable pain in his mouth.

Xiao Yi caught her gaze sharply and picked up a candied fruit.

Shen Bingning originally thought that he would feed her gently, but unexpectedly he put the candied fruit directly into his mouth and enjoyed it alone.

Shen Bingning couldn't help but mutter in her heart: How could this person be so unromantic?

"This preserve is really good. Let's put away the rest."

Xiao Yi gently pinched Shen Bingning's face, which was slightly frowned due to dissatisfaction, and said with a smile: "My beloved concubine has already drunk the medicine, so I am relieved. I will go back to handle government affairs today and come to visit my beloved concubine tomorrow."

He wasn't staying the night? This unexpected news instantly relieved Shen Bingning's bitterness. The sadness on her face disappeared, replaced by a joy that was difficult to conceal.

She bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, I respectfully send you off."

Before leaving, Xiao Yi deliberately teased, "My beloved concubine, are you so looking forward to my departure?"

Shen Bingning immediately put on a reluctant expression and said softly, "Your Majesty has misunderstood. How could I be willing for Your Majesty to leave? I just don't dare to delay Your Majesty's state affairs."

Although Xiao Yi did not comment, he had his own thoughts in his mind. He thought that keeping this interesting person to entertain him would be a good idea.

As soon as he stepped over the threshold of Fengqing Palace, Shen Bingning immediately turned to Qing'er and ordered: "Qing'er, go and get me some more candied fruit. This medicine is so bitter that my tongue is almost numb!"

Qing'er swiftly presented the candied fruit, smiling and jokingly saying, "Today's medicine seems to be more bitter than usual. I've never seen you complain so bitterly when taking medicine before."

Shen Bingning held the candied fruit in her mouth and nodded repeatedly, as if pounding garlic: "Yes, it's really too bitter, unbearable."

This was indeed the first time in her life that she tasted Chinese medicine. She had never suffered such pain before.

Inside the Hanqing Hall, candlelight flickered and the air was filled with a faint scent of incense. It was quiet all around, with only the occasional cry of night birds breaking the tranquility.

Xianglan stood quietly behind Lady Zheng, holding an ivory-carved comb in her hand, carefully combing her long hair. Every movement was extremely cautious, for fear of making the slightest sound that would break the depressing atmosphere.

The young eunuch who had just hurried back from Fengqing Palace had beads of sweat on his forehead. He hurriedly reported, "Your Majesty has decided to sleep in Fengqing Palace tonight."

As soon as she finished speaking, the teacup in Concubine Zheng's hand fell to the ground, and the pieces scattered everywhere. She was furious and her eyes were as sharp as torches. Then the porcelain and furnishings in the room became victims of her anger and were thrown to the ground one by one, making heart-pounding shattering sounds.

Not until her strength was exhausted did she gradually calm down, gasping for breath, her eyes filled with resentment and despair.

After a moment's calm, Lady Zheng's face became gloomy again. She held Xianglan's arm tightly with such force that Xianglan turned pale in pain, but she could only endure it.

"Am I, Concubine Zheng, not beautiful enough to attract him? Why does His Majesty never want to stay in my palace?" Her words were filled with pain and confusion that were difficult to conceal.

Xianglan felt the severe pain in her arm, but she could only grit her teeth and answered in the softest voice: "My Master, perhaps His Majesty has a lot of government affairs to attend to, and he is still in mourning for the late emperor, so he may have some concerns in his heart..." Her voice was as thin as a mosquito, and she tried to use the most reasonable explanation to comfort Concubine Zheng's wounded heart.