Don't be a salted fish, the daily life of the concubine in the palace

Shen Wei asked, "Is Concubine Shu's health improving?"

Cai Lian replied, "The imperial physician has examined her. She is in very poor health after giving birth last year. Adding to her long-term worry, she is now incurable and will not have much time left."

Ever since the Lu family fell from power, Lu Xuan has been depressed all day long, has lost her fighting spirit, and is getting weaker day by day.

Probably out of consideration for their past friendship, Li Yuanjing did not strip Lu Xuan of her position, but only confined her to Changxin Palace for a long time, leaving her to fend for herself.

Lu Xuan's two-year-old son was raised by another childless concubine.

"Master, are you going to see Concubine Shu?" Cai Lian asked in a low voice.

Shen Wei shook her head and said calmly, "No."

No matter what Lu Xuan was thinking, Shen Wei was too lazy to meet her.

Shen Wei would only see Concubine Shu at her funeral.

Zhang Miaoyu nodded in agreement, muttering, "Shufei is cunning, who knows if she is up to something bad again? It's best not to meet her, so as to avoid trouble again. Before you returned to the palace, many concubines died at the hands of Shufei. She deserved this fate."

Zhang Miaoyu stayed in Yongning Palace for half an hour, then stood up to say goodbye to Shen Wei. Before leaving, she did not forget to pack three snacks and a bucket of freshly made cold cakes.

In the afternoon, Shen Wei had lunch and was about to go back to her room to take a nap. A palace maid came to report that General Sun Qingmei wanted to see her.

Shen Wei showed a happy expression and hurried to the door to greet her. In the late spring breeze, Sun Qingmei was wearing a silver breastplate and had her long hair tied up high, looking particularly heroic.

Sun Qingmei bowed and saluted Shen Wei.

Shen Wei hurried forward to support her, with a smile on her face: "Sister Sun, it's been a long time since we last met. Come in and have a good chat."

Shen Wei was particularly happy to see Sun Qingmei.

Entering the house, the palace servants brought in fragrant and delicious spring tea and cakes. Shen Wei pretended to be sick a few days ago, and Sun Qingmei traveled thousands of miles to send her the detoxification pill. Shen Wei felt very sorry.

"Sister Sun, please deliver the medicine to me. I will keep your kindness in mind." Shen Wei said sincerely.

Seeing Shen Wei's rosy cheeks, Sun Qingmei smiled and said, "Seeing that the imperial concubine is safe and sound, your elder brother must be relieved. I have been fighting on the battlefield for many years, and I am not too tired after traveling thousands of miles."

Shen Wei is very interested in the world outside Yanjing City.

She wanted to see the misty water towns of the south of the Yangtze River, the desolate desert of Liangzhou, and the scenery of the snow-capped mountains outside the Great Wall. Unfortunately, she was trapped in the palace and could only imagine the vast world in books.

Sun Qingmei happened to be visiting, so Shen Wei took Sun Qingmei aside to chat and asked her about the outside world.

The two chatted for the whole afternoon.

During the trip, Eunuch Deshun came by. He was ordered by the emperor to give Shen Wei a bowl of red dates and snow clam soup to nourish the body and replenish blood. Shen Wei drank the tonic every day, and the whole person exuded a faint medicinal fragrance.

She didn't want to drink it, so she gave all the red date and snow clam soup to Sun Qingmei to taste.

The sun was setting until dusk. Seeing that it was getting late, Shen Wei wanted to let Sun Qingmei rest in the palace.

Sun Qingmei politely declined. She said, "The desert barbarians are still ambitious. The sixteen cities of Liangzhou must be defended at all times. I have asked the emperor for permission to leave Beijing and return to Liangzhou tomorrow morning."

Shen Wei was surprised: "So soon? You finally came back, you should stay a few more days."

Sun Qingmei shook her head: "Guarding the border and resisting foreign enemies is the duty of every Daqing soldier, and we must not slack off for a single day. Please rest assured, Concubine, I will take good care of your brother."

Shen Wei was filled with reluctance.

Shen Wei held Sun Qingmei's hand. Sun Qingmei's hands were no longer as white and soft as they used to be. Her palms and knuckles had calluses from holding knives and guns. There were also large and small knife wounds on the back of her hands.

Who could have imagined that the graceful and gentle mistress of the marquisate had transformed into a female general in the wind and sand of Liangzhou City.

Shen Wei admired him in her heart. She told Sun Qingmei with concern: "My elder brother is a rough man. He can eat, run and fight. Why does he need you to take care of him? You take care of yourself, that's the most important thing."

Sun Qingmei nodded gently.

Shen Wei asked Cai Lian to take out some expensive wound medicine and a box full of silver bills from the warehouse and solemnly handed them to Sun Qingmei.

Sun Qingmei couldn't refuse and had to accept Shen Wei's gift.

Shen Wei personally escorted Sun Qingmei out of the palace gate. The imperial city was majestic, the vermilion gate was open, and the armored guards on both sides had serious expressions.

Sun Qingmei jumped on her horse and rode away, heading towards the distant desert.

Shen Wei was very envious.

She counted silently on her fingers, thinking that if she could hold on for another ten years or so, she would be able to live a free life like this after retirement.

As Shen Wei was sighing, Cai Ping came over to report: "Master, there is news from the Ministry of Justice that the Nanchu spy Tan Tairou has been captured."

Shen Wei was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Minister Yan will be sad."

...

...

The streets of Yanjing City are as prosperous and lively as ever, the streets are crowded with people, and the people live and work in peace and contentment.

On the busy notice board, there were bounties for criminals. Among the portraits of hideous male criminals, a portrait of a pretty female criminal stood out.

The neighbors gathered around to watch the fun, chattering:

"Whose lady is this? What crime did she commit? Oh, the reward is still three hundred taels!"

"Madam Tan Tai of the Yan Mansion in Dongmen is said to be a spy from Nanchu."

"It's bad luck for the Yan family. The Minister of Rites married a spy."

"She's still hiding in Yanjing City. Let's keep an eye on her. If we're lucky, we might be able to catch her and send her to the government for a reward."

Passersby were talking a lot.

In the dark corner of the street, a woman wearing a black veil and coarse cloth clothes, pulled the brim of her hat down low, and the corners of her mouth were pale and bloodless.

She was none other than Tan Tai Rou who was hiding everywhere.

The emperor was assassinated during the plowing ceremony, and the government soon traced the case to Tan Tai Rou. Tan Tai Rou's identity as a spy was exposed, and she had to hide everywhere.

In fact, Tan Tairou was very skilled and could have easily escaped from the city. But for some reason, her internal energy suddenly dissipated, her martial arts skills were completely lost, and she became weak and fragile. She was unable to escape from Yanjing and could only hide like a rat crossing the street.

"Why? My martial arts are gone and my hands have no strength..." Tan Tairou avoided the noisy crowd and took a rest in a deserted alley where few people went.

Not long after she sat down, she heard the sound of dense footsteps not far away.

Tan Tairou looked up in surprise.

The willful Princess Donglin came towards her with a smile. Princess Donglin tilted her head and pretended to be surprised: "Sister, I didn't expect to meet you here, what a coincidence. Your husband is worried about you day and night."

Tan Tairou's face turned cold. She didn't expect that she escaped the search of the officers and soldiers but failed to escape Princess Donglin.

Princess Donglin, who looks lively and innocent, definitely has more than a simple mind!

"It was you who caused me to lose all my martial arts?" Tan Tairou's beautiful face was full of fear.

Princess Donglin smiled and said, "I really don't understand what you are saying, sister. Someone, send sister to the Ministry of Justice."

The servants of the Yan Mansion swarmed forward and quickly subdued Tan Tai Rou.

Tan Tairou let out a long sigh. She looked up at the bright spring light and seemed to see the mountain flowers blooming in Nanchu.

She surrendered and said to Princess Donglin: "You and I are both strangers. We came to Yanjing out of necessity. After I die, can you bury my body in the southern suburbs outside the city?"