Harem Daily Life

Eunuch Zhang quickly prepared the carriage and hurried over to ask Concubine Xian: "Your Majesty, it is getting late. For the safety of His Majesty and Your Majesty, you must return to the palace early."

Concubine Xian and Concubine Li looked at each other, and Concubine Li said weakly: "Concubine Xian, you should go back first. I am afraid that this is the end of my body. Cough, cough, cough..."

Concubine Li started coughing after she had said less than two sentences.

"Aunt, don't worry, I will definitely ask His Majesty to take you back to the palace as soon as possible. This nunnery is damp and cold, especially in winter. There is not even a floor heating, how can we keep out the cold! Aunt, you have been wronged in the past few years!" After the virtuous concubine finished speaking, she began to wipe her tears again.

Eunuch Zhang rolled his eyes and immediately said, "The carriage is ready. His Majesty is waiting in the carriage. Your Majesty, why don't you come to Jingci Temple next time to chat with Your Majesty the Dowager?"

Eunuch Zhang is so anxious, let's go quickly, don't dawdle!

The two exchanged a few more words before Concubine Xian reluctantly stood up and walked out with Jing'er and Qing'er, looking back every few steps.

"Is Concubine Li's illness serious?" He Linzhang asked Imperial Physician Liu while waiting for someone.

"Your Majesty, the weather is getting cooler and it is common to catch a cold occasionally. Jingci Temple is remote and cold. Concubine Li just needs to keep warm, drive away the cold, and take a few medicines. There will be nothing serious." Imperial Doctor Liu told the truth.

He Linzhang knocked on the carriage window irritably: "Are you not finished yet?"

"Alright, alright, Your Majesty, the virtuous concubine has come out." Eunuch Zhang replied quickly. Judging from the emperor's tone, he had reached the limit of his patience!

The virtuous concubine was helped onto the carriage, and the group hurried back. He Linzhang closed his eyes and rested in the carriage without saying a word.

"Your Majesty, the late emperor had so many concubines, but my aunt was sent to this nunnery to practice. The empress dowager is really biased to the extreme! Just now, when I saw my aunt was sick and weak, I really couldn't bear it. I wonder if you can bring the concubine back to the palace to live for a while during the few months when the empress dowager is in the temporary palace?"

Whenever Concubine Xian spoke in the past, He Linzhang would respond almost immediately, but this time...

After waiting for a while and seeing no movement, Concubine Xian couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty?"

He Linzhang then slightly opened his eyes and looked at her. The emperor's direct gaze was indeed quite oppressive at times: "Jingyi, it was the Queen Mother's order to send Concubine Li to Jingci Temple to pray for the late emperor. Do you want me to go against the Queen Mother and be an unfilial emperor?"

If anyone openly disobeys the empress dowager's orders, the censor will impeach the emperor.

He Linzhang also knew a little about the grudge between the Empress Dowager and Concubine Li.

The Empress Dowager treated the late emperor's concubines very well, except for Concubine Li. Those who had children were asked whether they wanted to live with their children, and those who did not have children were raised alone in the palace.

On weekdays, the Empress Dowager and the concubines would often get together and take good care of each other, and never skimp on any expenses.

Concubine Li had been fighting with the Queen Mother for half her life, and the grudge was long-standing, so she didn't want to get involved in this mess.

When the word "filial piety" was brought up, Concubine Xian didn't dare to say anything more, but she didn't give up. She had finally invited the Emperor to come here, and after seeing the plight of Concubine Li and the self-torture plan, how could there be no gain?

"Your Majesty, Jingci Nunnery is too cold. I'm afraid it will be hard to survive this winter. Please restore Concubine Li's expenses so that she doesn't have to suffer in the nunnery."

He Linzhang thought about everything he had just seen in the nunnery. Whether it was the layout or the servants, they were all arranged according to the regulations of the concubine dowager, and there was no shortage.

The biggest problem may be that the nunnery is too cold.

"Jingyi, the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Household Department did not cut any of Concubine Li's food, clothing and other expenses. You should have seen it just now." He Linzhang's tone was quite cold, and Concubine Xian felt a little guilty.

She did see it.

"However, I will ask the Ministry of Works to build a brick bed for the concubine. The drawings of the brick bed given by Lady Tao just came in handy."

The virtuous concubine was stunned. When the emperor mentioned Concubine Tao, she saw a hint of admiration in his eyes.

Heartbroken, Concubine Xian said angrily, "Your Majesty's heart is now filled with Concubine Tao, and there is no place for me at all!"

After saying that, she turned around and started throwing a tantrum, wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

He Linzhang frowned: "Jingyi, I am the emperor. I left the government affairs alone and took half a day to accompany you to see the concubine. Do you still want to be angry with me?"

After He Linzhang finished speaking, he was too lazy to say anything else. He was anxious to return to the palace because Yan Yan was still waiting!

Suddenly, he listened carefully, and in a moment he heard the sound of weapons clashing and fighting outside.

"Protect the emperor, protect the emperor!" Eunuch Zhang shouted.

He Linzhang grabbed Concubine Xian's hand and said, "Sit in the carriage and don't come out!"

Having said that, he had already stepped out of the carriage and personally accepted the challenge.

There were many assassins, all wearing night clothes, rushing towards the carriage. Fortunately, the emperor was surrounded by not only the Imperial Guards but also the Dragon Shadow Guards.

The Dragon Shadow Guard attacked and soon gained the upper hand. Seeing that the assassin could not succeed, he retreated while fighting. Suddenly, the Concubine Xian lifted the curtain of the carriage and said, "Your Majesty!"

Seeing the powerless woman, the assassin immediately turned his spear and attacked the virtuous concubine.

He Linzhang's eyes narrowed and he was so angry. He clearly told her to stay in the car and not come out!

The emperor's carriage was specially customized and was invulnerable to swords and spears. It could withstand anything inside, but it was hard to say if people came out.

He Linzhang had to deal with the assassin around him while also rushing to the virtuous concubine. He was anxious and tired.

"Your Majesty, be careful!" The virtuous concubine does not know martial arts. In fact, the wisest thing for her to do is to find a place to hide and not come out to disrupt the battle.

But she was too smart for her own good and even gave reminders, which ended up being a hindrance.

Suddenly, two sharp arrows shot out from somewhere, heading towards He Linzhang and Concubine Xian respectively. Concubine Xian's eyes were filled with fear and she was so scared that she couldn't speak.

The shadow guard stepped forward and blocked the arrow shot at the emperor with a sword. Although the guards beside Concubine Xian blocked it, they were not as fast as the shadow guard, and the arrow pierced Concubine Xian's arm.

"Ah!" With a scream, Concubine Xian was in excruciating pain.

He Linzhang killed several assassins and quickly ran to Concubine Xian. Before Concubine Xian fainted, He Linzhang supported her and she fell into his arms.

"Xianfei! Jingyi!"

The assassination happened suddenly, and it was drizzling. Looking at the virtuous concubine falling into his arms, He Linzhang felt regretful for leaving the city!

"Your Majesty, this place is far from the capital. It may not be appropriate to return to the palace for treatment. Fortunately, it is close to Jingci Temple. It is better to return to the nunnery!" Doctor Liu was hiding in the carriage. Seeing that the assassin was forced to retreat and the virtuous concubine was injured again, he risked his life to get out of the car to check.

He Linzhang sighed and said, "Let's go back to the nunnery."

I have to go back, the treatment of Concubine Xian is urgent.

Everyone got on the carriage, and Doctor Liu followed the emperor directly to check whether the wound was poisonous.