"The emperor would never truly punish her. Her family is powerful, and she is the legitimate eldest daughter with a noble status. Besides, the Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion has made great contributions. In the end, Yan Qingshu is just a concubine-born daughter of the Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion. The emperor won't punish her because of this incident."
"It's just a warning to the Virtuous Concubine. After the one - month period, she will surely regain the emperor's favor, won't she?"
The queen lowered her eyes and smiled, then reached up to smooth the few strands of hair in front of her.
"Then Lady Yan has suffered an unwarranted disaster," said Qingzhu as she removed the queen's headdress and gently placed it on the table.
"Who can say for sure?" The queen chuckled.
"Since the emperor has ordered her to be under house arrest for a month, block the gates of Fengzao Palace tightly. Let the Virtuous Concubine calm her mind and copy the precepts for women."
"Remember to find out tomorrow what's wrong with Lady Yan. We should also prepare some rewards." The queen turned her head and gave instructions.
"Yes." Qingzhu nodded and then opened her mouth.
The queen gave her a sidelong glance and said, "What do you want to say?"
"Your Highness, the Virtuous Concubine has always been eager to have a son and even recommended Lady Yan to enter the palace. You have no children under your knees. Aren't you anxious?" Qingzhu asked cautiously.
"What do you mean?" The queen paused in her movements and fixed a scrutinizing look on Qingzhu.
"Your Highness, although the emperor has no heirs for now, you should plan ahead. Lady Yan is in favor now and is from the Virtuous Concubine's family. Should we put in some effort regarding Lady Yan?"
"Do you mean to win her over?" The queen fell into deep thought.
"Lady Yan has had a hard time under the Virtuous Concubine. If you offer her an olive branch, she will surely reach out and grab it."
The queen lowered her eyes and said, "Maybe it's a good idea."
The Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion and her father have always been in fierce competition in the court, showing no mercy. If they could start with Yan Qingshu, it might be easier.
"It's getting late, Your Highness. Please retire."
Looking at the moonlight shining outside, the queen lay on the couch. Qingzhu blew out all the candles except one, which flickered with a faint light in the palace.
---
In the Qianyuan Hall, it was completely silent.
Di Yunjian was reviewing memorials while occasionally looking at the couch. The person on the bed still showed no sign of waking up.
The nourishing tonic for the stomach stewed in the small kitchen had been reheated three or four times.
Li Dahai came in at this moment with the investigated matters.
"Your Majesty, it's been investigated clearly," Li Dahai reported, bending at the waist.
"Speak," Di Yunjian put down his pen.
"Lady Yan's aunt was forcibly taken into the Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion. When she was taken back, she lost her memory and didn't know her own name. So the Marquis of Zhenyuan brought her back to the mansion."
"At that time, the Marquis's wife had been married for a year and only had a daughter. She had always wanted a son but didn't expect the Marquis to bring back a woman to be his concubine."
"Two months after entering the mansion, the aunt was pregnant and gave birth to Lady Yan. Then she was pregnant with a young master again. But she had a difficult labor and almost died with the baby. The young master was also slow - witted."
"The Marquis of Zhenyuan thought it was inauspicious and neglected them. The Marquis's wife was jealous and always took pleasure in torturing Lady Yan's relatives until Lady Yan entered the palace."
"Lady Yan used to be in the mansion. Nicely speaking, she was a concubine - born miss. But more bluntly, she was just a rough - working maid in the legitimate daughter's courtyard. Any maid could bully her..."
"The root cause of her illness from falling into the water in winter and the stomach disease were all left from her days in the mansion."
After Li Dahai finished speaking, he wiped the cold sweat off his forehead.
Lady Yan's experience was not completely the same as the emperor's, but at least seven - tenths similar. The biggest difference was probably that Lady Yan's aunt was still alive, while the emperor's mother...
Di Yunjian's face darkened.
No wonder she always looked strange every time she mentioned the Virtuous Concubine. Although she had been bullied like this, she still forced a smile to speak for the Virtuous Concubine.
It was all for the relatives whose lives were in the hands of others in the mansion. Even if she entered the palace and faced the risk of having her child taken away while she was left alive, she had no choice but to bear it...
What a despicable Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion! What a despicable Marquis of Zhenyuan!
Di Yunjian's pitying eyes fell on the figure on the couch.
At this moment, Yan Qingshu was chatting with the system in her dream.
[Host, the healing pill can cure all your chronic illnesses.]
[You will wake up in a while.]
[When the emperor of Dajun sent you back, the system detected that your favored - concubine value increased by ten points.]
Hearing this, Yan Qingshu raised her lips. This stratagem of feigning weakness had worked really well.
After accompanying the emperor in the imperial study and returning to Guanghan Palace, she had taken the healing pill. She looked pale, but in fact, it was for internal conditioning.
By chance, Zhuyao overheard Li Dahai instructing the head of the Internal Affairs Office to take good care of Guanghan Palace. She knew that the head of the Internal Affairs Office would surely come to Guanghan Palace to curry favor.
In addition, she had accompanied the emperor in the imperial study in the afternoon. With so many spies in the palace, the Virtuous Concubine must have known about it.
The Virtuous Concubine must have sent spies to keep an eye on the imperial study all the time. Just as Yan Qingshu had expected according to the Virtuous Concubine's character, soon after she returned to Guanghan Palace, the Virtuous Concubine sent someone.
Such a good opportunity, of course, the stratagem of feigning weakness should be used.
Sure enough, the effect was remarkable.
Although it only got the Virtuous Concubine a one - month house arrest, there would be more opportunities in the future.
[Host, your body has some root diseases. The healing pill has only cured half of them. Please redeem it next time and completely cure your body so that you can conceive later.]
Yan Qingshu nodded.
"I understand."
[Host, the effect of the healing pill has passed. You are about to wake up.]
Before she could react, Yan Qingshu opened her eyes.
What came into view was the dark - patterned gilded bed curtain with the pattern of nine dragons playing with a pearl. She moved slightly, and Di Yunjian immediately noticed.
He put down his pen and walked over. He saw Yan Qingshu sitting up, clutching the brocade quilt, and looking at him helplessly with red eyes.
She moved her lips as if she wanted to say something, but finally only uttered two words.
"Your Majesty..."
"I know everything," Di Yunjian rubbed her head.
Hearing this, Yan Qingshu could no longer hold back. Crystal tears fell one by one on the gorgeous brocade quilt.
Seeing her like this, Di Yunjian pulled her into his arms.
Yan Qingshu buried her head in his arms and cried bitterly. She had suffered great grievances and was filled with bitterness. She felt extremely sad.
Di Yunjian could clearly feel his chest clothes getting wet.
"Your Majesty, this concubine has never wanted to fight for anything..."
"This concubine just wants to live... and let my aunt and younger brother live..."
"I also want to read and write, and learn female handicrafts and dances. But I've never had the chance..." Yan Qingshu cried sadly.
Di Yunjian paused. He recalled his childhood when he was bullied by those princes. He nestled in his mother's arms and cried loudly.
"Mother! Why do they always bully me!"
At that time, his mother said that they wanted him dead.
But he just didn't die. Instead, those who wanted him dead were the ones who ended up in bad situations.
At that time, like Yan Qingshu, he just wanted to live.
"If others want you dead, you must live, and live well," Di Yunjian sighed with a heavy tone.
"This concubine has never asked for much. I just want my aunt and younger brother to live a good life. It doesn't matter even if I myself am not well."
"Your Majesty, this concubine has always been thinking that if I hadn't entered the palace, would I really have married a butcher and lived a mediocre life as the lady said?"
"Just thinking about it makes this concubine feel sad. This concubine is selfish... I don't want to leave Your Majesty..."
"Your Majesty is so kind. You want to teach this concubine to read and write. How can this concubine not want to get closer..."
Di Yunjian was softened by her words.
Seeing the tear - streaks on her beautiful face and the tears still glistening in her eyes, he reached out to wipe her tears.
"Your Majesty, this concubine spoke out of turn just now," Yan Qingshu bit her lip remorsefully and didn't dare to look at him.
"Does your stomach still hurt?" Di Yunjian pinched her face and asked gently.
Yan Qingshu shook her head slightly.