She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

The woman wore a white silk dress; she was slender and delicate, like a lotus emerging from the water.

A thought flashed through Shen Qingtan's mind: someone was stirring up trouble again.

Zhao Jue's position in the Duke's mansion is precarious, and Shen Mingzhu's actions have already spread, making her a laughing stock.

If, at this critical juncture, a refined, brilliant, aloof, and proud young master from a noble family, who has been frail and sickly since childhood and has never been close to women, were to suddenly have a woman hidden away, one can imagine the sensation it would cause.

In the eyes of the world, Zhao Yi was untouched by worldly affairs and elegant beyond reach, but he suddenly fell from his pedestal.

Who cares about Zhao Jue and Shen Mingzhu's clichéd stories?

The conflict was instantly shifted.

Shen Qingtan flung down the carriage curtain and calmly ordered, "Return to the manor."

The coachman was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and drove back to the Duke's mansion.

The woman seemed surprised that Shen Qingtan didn't take the bait and instead told the driver to drive off.

She didn't believe the driver would really hit her, and she forced herself to stand still, suppressing the fear welling up inside her.

But when she saw that the carriage really didn't move aside or stop, she was terrified and quickly moved aside.

The carriage brushed past her arm and drove away, her face deathly pale, her heart pounding wildly.

Is this second grandmother really not afraid of getting into trouble?

Inside the carriage, Qin Yao asked the same question: "Sister Shen, aren't you afraid of running into her and getting into trouble?"

"She's greedy for wealth and status. If she loses her life, what will she have left to enjoy it with?" Shen Qingtan said with a forced smile, "She doesn't dare to gamble with her life."

Qin Yao puffed out her cheeks and asked unhappily, "What if...she really is my brother-in-law's mistress?"

"If she is a woman Zhao Yi is keeping outside, and she specifically came to stop my carriage, it means that Zhao Yi does not intend to give her a formal status. If I rush to deal with her, not only will it be too undignified for me, but it might also backfire and raise her status in Zhao Yi's heart."

Shen Qingtan was very rational: "If she's not Zhao Yi's woman, there's no need to pay her any attention. If she has other motives, wouldn't it be falling into her trap if I accepted her move?"

Qin Yao seemed to understand, but not quite. Her mother was constantly battling with her concubine, wishing she could crush her so she could never rise again.

I just hope that her brother-in-law, whom she's never met, isn't a hypocrite.

-

Zhao Yi, a secretary in the Imperial Edict Office, prepared to leave the palace and return to his residence after finishing processing the imperial edicts.

"Lord Zhao, please wait." The emperor's personal eunuch, the Grand Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial, said with a gentle smile, "His Majesty requests your presence in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, as he has important matters to discuss with you."

Zhao Yi nodded slightly and coughed a few times: "Thank you for making this trip in person, Eunuch Cao."

Eunuch Cao smiled warmly and said, "This is our duty."

Zhao Yi strolled to the Taiji Hall and stood outside waiting for Eunuch Cao to announce his arrival.

Eunuch Cao said respectfully, "His Majesty said that you have arrived. Please come in directly."

Zhao Yi stepped into the Taiji Hall and stood in the center of the hall to pay his respects: "Your humble servant respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health."

"Yi'er, there are no outsiders here, so there's no need to follow the formalities between ruler and subject. You can call me Uncle." Emperor Jing'an put down the memorial in his hand, offered Zhao Yi a seat, and asked with concern, "How have you been lately?"

Zhao Yi replied, "It should get better in the next few days."

"I have summoned the head of the Imperial Medical Academy to take your pulse." Emperor Jing'an beckoned to the head of the academy, Chen, who had been waiting nearby, and said, "I see that Yi'er's complexion is a little worse than it was a few days ago. Please take her pulse carefully."

"Wei Chen obeys your orders."

Chen, the Imperial Physician, had long been accustomed to this routine, and would come to the Taiji Hall every month on this day to take Zhao Yi's pulse.

Zhao Yi looked at Emperor Jing'an, who was wearing a yellow robe. He was tall and imposing, and although his expression was calm, he did not lose his majestic presence.

She stood up and walked towards him, her gaze loving as if she were looking at a younger member of her family.

It seems that he is the only one in the entire Duke Zhao's mansion to receive Emperor Jing'an's favor, which is why he is even more feared by the second branch of the family.

Everyone said that his aunt loved him dearly, and Emperor Jing'an, who loved his aunt so deeply, extended that love to her as well.

Indeed, this was the case. From the time he could remember, Emperor Jing'an treated him extremely well. Whenever there were any rare or unusual tributes in the palace, he would send someone to deliver a portion to him.

When I was a child, my health condition was more serious, and I was bedridden almost every day, constantly taking medicine.

Emperor Jing'an took it very seriously and issued a proclamation to find famous doctors for him. He carefully selected two highly skilled imperial physicians and had them stay at the Duke's mansion to recuperate.

When he got older and his health improved considerably, if he was in the capital, he would regularly go to the palace every month to have Dr. Chen examine his pulse.

Imperial Physician Chen reminded him, "Lord Zhao, place your left hand on the pulse pillow."

Eunuch Cao immediately took out Zhao Yi's special pulse pillow and placed it on a small sandalwood table to the side.

This was prepared by the Imperial Household Department on special orders from Emperor Jing'an after he learned that Zhao Yi had a cleanliness disorder.

This is a favor that even princes and princesses do not receive.

Zhao Yi said gently, "Thank you for your trouble."

As he focused intently on taking Zhao Yi's pulse, Chen frowned, his expression grave. He then had Zhao Yi extend his other hand, carefully taking his pulse before withdrawing his own.

Emperor Jing'an observed the changing expression on Imperial Physician Chen's face and asked in a deep voice, "How is it?"

Imperial Physician Chen reported, "Your Majesty, Lord Zhao's condition is not optimistic. We must find the Medical Sage Zhongyuan as soon as possible to have any hope of survival."

Emperor Jing'an's expression darkened: "Do you have any other methods to nourish his body?"

Imperial Physician Chen shook his head: "I and my colleagues have studied it, and the original prescription is still better."

Emperor Jing'an waved his hand, signaling him to step back.

Dean Chen took his leave.

A palace maid brought over a basin of hot water.

Zhao Yi remained calm, unaffected by Chen's words, and slowly washed her hands.

On the contrary, Emperor Jing'an was greatly affected. He looked at Zhao Yi and said solemnly, "Yi'er, I will send more people to find Zhongyuan. Don't be afraid, I will definitely cure you."

At this point, he seemed to remember something and said with a smile, "When you were little, those quack doctors said you wouldn't live past ten. Look how you've grown up in the blink of an eye, and you're already married and have a career."

These words seemed to be both a way of comforting Zhao Yi and a way of reassuring himself.

Zhao Yi noticed that he was staring intently at his face, as if he were looking through his face at someone else.

Perhaps he was visiting his aunt?

He said indifferently, "You don't need to worry about me, everything is preordained."

Emperor Jing'an looked somber, seemingly unwilling to discuss this heavy topic further. He brought up another matter: "I heard that during your wedding, you and Zhao Jue switched brides? Was it really true that the bride got into the wrong sedan chair?"

Zhao Yi smiled and said, "Although it was a twist of fate, it is the perfect match I have been hoping for."

When Emperor Jing'an heard Zhao Yi say this, he knew that Zhao Yi was very satisfied with his new wife.

He thought to himself with dissatisfaction, "The second daughter of the Marquis of Chengen is not good enough for you. I intended to arrange a marriage for you before, but you said you were unwilling to get married. However, after the Duke of Zhao persuaded you, you agreed."

Towards the end, his tone became somewhat resentful.

He added, "Now, this eldest daughter is barely a match for you."

Zhao Yi chuckled, saying with a hint of helplessness, "One has no choice but to obey one's parents' orders."

Emperor Jing'an snorted: "I am your uncle, and I treat you better than my own son. Just because I am not your parent, you disobey me? You have truly broken my heart. All my love for you has been for nothing."

Zhao Yi readily agreed, saying, "You only understand now?"

Emperor Jing'an glared at him: "Go, go, go! I don't want to see you today."

Zhao Yi did indeed get up and take his leave.

Emperor Jing'an was both angry and helpless, and said in a low voice, "Bring her to see me tomorrow."