bookcurios Chapter 186 Sensible
Chapter 186 Sensible
"How is Concubine Hua?" Yongzheng suddenly asked.
Su Peisheng stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Hua has been ill for many days. The imperial physician has seen her, but she hasn't gotten better!"
"Let's go to Qingliang Palace."
The imperial carriage slowly arrived at the Qingliang Palace. The entire courtyard was silent, with only the breeze blowing gently, stirring the leaves and making a subtle and crisp rustling sound.
Yongzheng couldn't help but feel a little puzzled. In his impression, Qingliang Palace was always bustling with activity, but now it was so quiet. It really didn't seem like the place where Concubine Hua usually lived.
He frowned slightly and glanced around.
A moment later, Nian Shilan walked out of the palace gate with a slightly stumbling step, lowered her head, and bowed gracefully, saying, "Greetings to the Emperor!"
The voice sounded a bit hoarse and tired.
Seeing this, Yongzheng took a few steps forward to her side, reached out his hand and gently helped her up.
After a closer look, he realized that Nian Shilan looked extremely haggard. Her originally round and plump cheeks had become extremely thin, and her cheeks were slightly sunken, making her cheekbones look particularly prominent.
Yongzheng's heart tightened, and he asked with concern, "Why have you lost so much weight? Are you feeling better?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I feel much better!" Nian Shilan lowered her head and let Yongzheng hold her hand and walk into the hall.
In the main hall, Yongzheng was keenly aware that the familiar scent of Huanyi incense was no longer in the air. He turned to look at Nian Shilan beside him and asked, "Have you used up the Huanyi incense I gave you?"
Nian Shilan gave a bitter laugh, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician said that the palace is filled with pathogenic qi, and asked me to open the windows more often for ventilation. I can't keep the fragrance of the Huan Yi Xiang, and I'm afraid of wasting it, so I simply told them not to order it anymore!"
Yongzheng smiled and said, "Although being frugal is a good thing, the situation is different now than when I first ascended the throne. I don't care about these expenses. Go ahead and order some!"
"Yes!" There was no trace of emotion on Nian Shilan's face.
Songzhi took the spices with trembling hands and put them into the incense burner and lit them.
After a while, wisps of smoke rose up, and soon the hall was filled with a strong fragrance.
"Cough, cough, cough." Nian Shilan couldn't help coughing.
Yongzheng quickly stroked her slightly trembling back, his eyes full of concern, and said in a gentle voice, "Alas, I didn't know you were so seriously ill, otherwise I would have come to see you a long time ago!"
Such affectionate eyes and such sweet words were once what she longed to see and what she was most willing to hear, but why did they seem so disgusting now?
She did her best to suppress the discomfort rising from her stomach, forced a smile, and said slowly, "Your Majesty is very busy with state affairs, so he must prioritize national affairs. I am fine, and the imperial physician has advised me to get more rest."
Looking at the woman who seemed to have become much more sensible, Yongzheng couldn't help but feel a little relieved. He nodded and said, "I know that you blame yourself and feel sad about the matter of Xia's child. Don't worry about it anymore. Xia has done many evil things, and the retribution has come to the child. It has nothing to do with others."
He thought his words could comfort the person in front of him, but he didn't know that just these simple words made Nian Shilan stunned in place as if struck by lightning, muttering unconsciously to herself: "A mother's evil deeds will bring retribution to her own children?"
Did she lose her child because of her evil deeds? But at that time, she hadn't done anything evil yet!
"Hmm!" Yongzheng nodded casually, picked up the teacup and took a sip. "Even if the child is born, I will not like him."
Nian Shilan's eyes were red: "Isn't the emperor's favorite?"
Even if her child is born safely, she will not be favored by the emperor, right?
Seeing her expression, Yongzheng felt a little distressed. He took her hand and continued to comfort her, "Okay, that child is gone, and I will have other children. Don't blame yourself!"
Yes, there are many women in the harem who are willing to help him bear children. What does his own child matter? He probably has already forgotten the child who died at the hands of his biological father, right?
Seeing that she was still a little dazed, Yongzheng changed the subject: "I just met your brother."
Nian Shilan came back to her senses in an instant and looked at Yongzheng nervously, waiting for him to continue.
"Your brother requested that I keep Nian Xing by his side as a royal guard and send his eldest grandson to the palace to accompany the prince in his studies. I have already approved it. Once they enter the palace, it will be convenient for you to see them!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Nian Shilan's tears rolled down. The emperor was willing to keep them, which meant that there was room for a turnaround.
Yongzheng said with a smile: "Your brother will stay in Beijing from now on, and you can meet him often."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. However, my brother and I belong to the front court and the back court respectively. It would be inconvenient for us to interact frequently. I dare not violate the palace rules and etiquette."
"Well, you are much more sensible now than before, which makes me very happy!" Yongzheng was very satisfied. "It will be time for dinner soon. I will ask the imperial kitchen to prepare some of your favorite dishes. Let's eat together!"
"The minister and concubine follow the order."
There was a table full of delicious dishes, each of which exuded a mouth-watering aroma. Nian Shilan smiled and urged everyone to drink and serve the dishes, and she also ate a lot. It was a harmonious scene.
After the meal, Yongzheng smiled and gently patted Nian Shilan's hand. He said in a gentle tone, "You are not feeling well, so I will not keep you overnight. I will come to see you when I am free. Please listen to the doctor's advice."
Nian Shilan smiled sweetly and bowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Don't be so polite, Songzhi, just help your master."
"Congratulations to your Majesty!"
Until the imperial carriage completely disappeared from sight, Nian Shilan's face, which had been forcing a smile, instantly turned as pale as paper. She could no longer hold back and vomited all the food she had just eaten into the spittoon.
When she looked up again, her face was covered with tears. She fell to the ground, her hands tightly covering her mouth to stop herself from crying out loud. However, the suppressed sobs continued to come from the depths of her throat, echoing in the silent palace, heartbreaking.
As soon as it got dark, Nian Shilan arrived at the Xinghuachun Pavilion.
After learning that the emperor had gone to Qingliang Palace today, Qi Yuebin's heart instantly rose to his throat. He paced back and forth in the palace, looking towards the door from time to time, eagerly hoping that the day would get dark quickly.
Finally, when she saw that familiar figure, she quickly rushed over, her face full of anxiety, her voice trembling a little: "How are you? Are you okay?"
Nian Shilan forced a smile and said softly, "It's okay, don't worry, sister."
After saying that, the two of them walked into the hall together.
As soon as she entered the door, Nian Shilan seemed to have all her strength drained away, her body softened and she leaned on Qi Yuebin.
Her eyes were hollow, and she spoke quietly, "Sister, do you know? I always thought that if I saw him again, I would lose control of my emotions and angrily question him, asking why he was so cruel and ruthless. But when we actually met face to face, I found that all the anger in my heart disappeared, replaced by only deep disgust. My child... maybe it's a good thing he wasn't born..."
Hot tears flowed down her face and dripped onto Qi Yuebin's body.
Qi Yuebin looked at her dejected expression and could no longer say any words of comfort.