As soon as she opened her eyes, she was forcibly carried back to the East Palace by the paranoid pri

There was a huge uproar in the court the next day, and His Majesty issued an imperial decree.

The court officials simply couldn't believe that Empress Yuanmu was still alive!

As for the excuses His Majesty gave, such as being murdered by a villain, faking his death through poisoning, and having to rest for a year, no one would believe it. There must be a huge secret behind it!

After the court session, Bai Huixian had already formed a rough idea in his mind. He asked his men, "Has Duan Zan not returned to Yuncheng yet?"

The subordinate replied respectfully, "My lord, the mistress of the Duan Mansion has passed away, and he will be in mourning for three years."

"Gone." Bai Huixian sneered, his face understanding, "What a coincidence, it seems that only one of Empress Yuanmu and Madam Duan can live in this world, it's possible that the two of them are incompatible."

In Yongding Palace, He Yue sat leaning against the bedpost, with two people kneeling at her feet, Xiaobi and Huiqing.

After a whole night of making a fuss, she didn't have much strength left, but her anger was like a blunt dagger, repeatedly scratching her wounds that had never healed.

She raised her hand and slammed it hard on the bedpost, making a dull thud. "What are you doing here?"

He Yue spoke too quickly, choking her throat and coughing rapidly. She bent down and took a long rest before mumbling, "What are you doing in the palace?"

Xiaobi and Huiqing actually arrived when He Yue returned to the palace, but they only appeared in front of her now.

Xiao Bi crawled a few steps on her knees and put her hands on the quilt. Finally, she found someone who could protect her. She couldn't hold back her tears and cried out, "Madam, I miss you so much, and I'm so scared!"

The rules of the palace were too strict and too complicated. Xiaobi and Huiqing entered the palace as maids. With the precedent of Xiaolizi and Li Momo, Xiao Guanzi personally sent people to teach them the rules. Huiqing was lucky because she had worked in the palace as a female doctor for a period of time and probably understood some of it.

But Xiaobi, as a daughter of the Duan family, had been confined to the Duan family since she was a child, and had never left Xihedao. Now she was forced to leave and came to the solemn and dignified imperial palace. Those who taught the rules said openly and secretly how humble the palace maids were. If they dared to cross the line, they would die. How could she not be afraid?

The body under the brocade quilt was weak and thin, but Xiaobi knew that He Yue could protect her, and only He Yue could protect her.

He Yue's true identity had long been concealed by layers of status and prestige. In the eyes of others, she was the mistress, the queen, and an honorable superior.

Xiaobi almost curled up in He Yue's arms. She often did this at the Duan family. The mistress was always gentler and more indulgent towards her.

And He Yue, as usual, gently stroked her head as a protector, but asked Hui Qing, "Hui Qing?"

Hui Qing smiled bitterly and said, "Madam, it was the Duan family clan that made the decision."

But even if they made the decision, there had to be a trigger. Someone must have said something to them, so they would be eager to offer the two people.

"We are also volunteers." Huiqing said.

Regardless of whether they jumped into the fire pit voluntarily, even if they did, they would inevitably regret it in the future. He Yue didn't want to drag others into despair.

"I will talk to His Majesty and ask him to let you leave the palace." He Yue said, just like Li Momo did at the beginning.

But Xiaobi shook her head tremblingly, "The maid will not leave the palace, the maid must accompany the mistress."

"Madam, our indentures are still in the Duan family, and our family members are servants who have been loyal to the Duan family for generations." Hui Qing was still kneeling beside them, her eyes full of determination.

They are different from Li Momo. They were raised by the Duan family, and loyalty to the Duan family is their code of conduct. If the Duan family asks them to stay in the palace, they will do so no matter how scared they are.

"Go out." He Yue waved her hand tiredly, closed her eyes, and her elegant face was filled with deep weariness.

Xiaobi was reluctant to leave the comfort of He Yue's arms, but she still stood up and bowed to Hui Qing before leaving.

As they were about to step out of the door, they heard He Yueqingling's words, "Don't call me mistress anymore. No matter how careful you are, there will inevitably be a day when someone hears you."

"Yes, Queen."

A month passed in a flash, Xiaobi and Huiqing had adapted to life in the palace. With He Yue's overt and covert care, no one dared to make things difficult for them, and their lives were relatively easy.

Summer is here, and the air is filled with lingering warm notes.

The Queen is ill again. Her illness is not very serious, but it comes and goes, and she never seems to get better.

On the one hand, he was physically weak, and on the other hand, he was mentally exhausted. The two overlapped and led to his lingering illness.

The imperial physician said that as long as the knot in your heart is untied, everything will be solved.

Most people in Yongding Palace knew what the knot was, but they kept silent.

The curtain was drawn aside, and He Yue's hand was held tenderly in Ning Rushong's palm. She was still sleeping after taking the medicine. Ning Rushong sat on the edge of the bed for a long time.

The red string between him and He Yue seemed to be cut off by the matchmaker and could never be reconnected. He Yue was kind and gentle to many people, but she was unwilling to give him any charity.

…………

Bai Huixian brought an old man in strange clothes into the palace for an audience.

An old wooden box was placed on the imperial desk. It looked very old.

Bai Huixian and the old man knelt on the ground and saluted, "Your Majesty!"

"Get up." Ning Rushong's cold and handsome face showed indifference and fatigue. Forcing two people who did not love each other to be together was torture and pain for both of them.

"Bai Huixian, what's in this box? Who is this person?" Ning Rushong asked bluntly. Bai Huixian hurried to see him at this moment, obviously there was something important.

Bai Huixian said solemnly, "Your Majesty, this is Lan Country's Gu Master Cha Yi. The box contains the only pair of mandarin duck Gu left in the world."

"Yuanyang Gu?" Ning Rushong raised his hand and placed it on the old box, tapping it lightly with his fingers a few times.

It is easy to tell what Bai Huixian is planning from the name.

The cold eyes fell on Bai Huixian, looking him up and down. Bai Huixian swallowed and felt the sharp blade that was almost real.

He lowered his head as much as he could, not daring to look at each other, and explained clearly with a trembling voice, "In the rumors, mandarin ducks are a pair of lovers who live and die together. As the name suggests, mandarin duck Gu can make two people live and die together, and share health."

He then mentioned a shortcoming that was not really a shortcoming, "But any Gu insect has side effects. The side effect of the Mandarin Duck Gu is that it makes the two people more dependent on each other. The one who loves will love each other more, and the one who doesn't love will fall in love with time."

This is like a pair of poisonous insects tailor-made for you. Ning Rusong smiled and said, "Why don't you give it to Xia?"

Bai Huixian knew that His Majesty was suspicious, so he knelt down and told the truth without leaving anything out. "I have been looking for this pair of poisonous insects for three years. They were originally found for me and Xia, but Xia is now imprisoned in the Buddhist temple with Li."

"I am always worried about Xia who is in the temple. It is time to change her medicine prescription, but I cannot get in. That is why I am planning to offer this pair of poisonous insects to you. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy and release Xia."