Shen Lingyun still couldn't figure out to this day why Xiao Tianchi had suddenly had the idea of seizing the throne.
The only thing she could believe and confirm now was that Xiao Jingcheng's accident had nothing to do with Xiao Tianchi. Otherwise, why would he have brought the fake corpse back to the palace for her to identify in person? Wouldn't it be better for him to just let her think that Xiao Jingcheng was dead?
Temporarily suppressing the shock and suspicion in her heart, she looked at Wang Hengyong, clenched her fingers, and asked, "Is Xiao Tianchi's health really okay?"
She had originally thought that Xiao Tianchi's illness over the years had all been a disguise to lower Xiao Tianye's guard. But now, after just getting caught in some rain, he had fallen so ill. This was completely illogical.
Wang Hengyong didn't say much to her. Instead, he smiled and said, "If Mrs. Shen wants to know, it's better to ask him in person. There are some things that I'm not convenient to say."
"The only thing I can tell you, madam, is that his life is temporarily out of danger. But if he keeps exhausting himself like this without a care, it's hard to say."
"Everything should be done in moderation. If you want to get something, you always have to pay a price."
Shen Lingyun opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but finally gave up.
Forget it.
She would ask him herself.
Shen Lingyun picked up the teacup in her hand. "This cup of tea is to thank Lord Wang for taking care of the Shen family and my mother back then."
Wang Hengyong also picked up his teacup, motioned to her, and drank it in one gulp.
The teacup was empty, and Dr. Wang didn't seem to want to refill it. He stood up, adjusted his sleeves, and bowed to Shen Lingyun:
"Thank you for the hospitality, Mrs. Shen. I'll take my leave now. I hope to catch up with you again some other time."
Shen Lingyun didn't get up to see him off. Instead, she still sat there, with her head down, not knowing what she was thinking.
A moment later, the twin sisters Ziyun and Zixi walked to her side. "Madam, it's getting late. Do you want to go to bed?"
Shen Lingyun came back to her senses and said, "Not yet. I want to see Eunuch Wang."
A moment later, Eunuch Wang came to Shen Lingyun with a smiling face. "This servant greets madam. I wonder if madam called this servant here because there's something important to order?"
Shen Lingyun said, "The fact that His Majesty is ill must not be known to the outside world. The flood in Cangzhou is at a critical moment. This news must be kept secret to prevent some people from taking the opportunity to cause chaos."
"Whoever dares to leak even a single word must be caught and beaten to death with a rod as a warning to others."
Eunuch Wang hesitated for a moment and said, "If there are ministers coming to see His Majesty, it's not appropriate to tell them that His Majesty is not feeling well and is not suitable to receive guests, right? Wouldn't that make it impossible to hide the fact that His Majesty is ill?"
Shen Lingyun lowered her head and thought for a while, then said, "Tomorrow, you should send a message that His Majesty is concerned about the safety of the disaster - stricken people in Cangzhou and has decided to retreat into seclusion for seven days. He will chant scriptures and pray for the people every day until the flood in Cangzhou completely recedes. If there are urgent government affairs to be handled, ask them to write memorials and send them to the Zichen Palace."
This plan is feasible!
Eunuch Wang quickly said, "Yes, this servant understands. Thanks to Her Majesty... Mrs. Shen. This servant is relieved now!"
After giving the instructions, Shen Lingyun then said, "Okay, eunuch, go back and take care of His Majesty. I'm going to bed."
After Eunuch Wang left, Shen Lingyun also lay down under the service of the twins.
There was a secret door between the side hall and the main hall. It was originally set up for the emperor's favorite concubines. But ironically, Shen Lingyun, the queen, was lying here for the first time. Usually, it was Concubine Feng or other concubines who could accompany the emperor here.
She didn't feel envious in her heart. She just felt a bit dazed when lying here.
Xiao Tianchi had never been married and didn't even have a concubine to serve him. He only said to the outside world that his health was too poor and he didn't want to delay other girls, so he had always been taken care of by eunuchs and guards.
Now that he had ascended the throne as emperor, the ministers also wanted to send women to him, but he had firmly refused them all.
So far, except for Shen Lingyun, the former "queen", there were really no other women in the harem. Naturally, there was no need to worry about someone gossiping about her behind her back.
That night, Shen Lingyun woke up twice in the middle of the night and went to check on Xiao Tianchi's condition.
The fever on his forehead would subside for a while and then rise again. He kept sweating, and the clothes he had just changed into would be soaked in no time.
If she hadn't trusted Wang Hengyong's medical skills, Shen Lingyun would have suspected that Xiao Tianchi wouldn't be able to make it through the night.
Fortunately, after dawn the next day, Xiao Tianchi's body temperature stabilized. Although he still hadn't completely recovered from the fever, it wouldn't continue to rise.
Eunuch Wang spread the news according to Shen Lingyun's instructions that Xiao Tianchi would retreat into seclusion for seven days to chant scriptures for the people and would not go to court for the time being. After receiving the news, everyone wasn't too surprised and arranged everything according to his instructions from the day before.
The gate of the Zichen Palace was tightly closed, and a faint calming incense was burning in the hall.
Shen Lingyun was sitting at the table, looking through the latest memorials. Not far from her, Xiao Tianchi was wrapped in his clothes and sipping the medicine that Eunuch Wang was feeding him.
From time to time, she would pick up a pen and make comments on the memorials.
Most of these memorials were nonsense. Some were to express loyalty to Xiao Tianchi, some were to inquire about his well - being, and some were to show concern for the people in Cangzhou and express their worries to Xiao Tianchi.
Shen Lingyun naturally wouldn't bother Xiao Tianchi with these memorials. She just picked up her pen and approved them directly.
Until she came across a memorial written by the magistrate of Chuzhou. It mentioned that there had been a drought in Chuzhou this year and they wanted to build a canal to divert water for irrigation. But there was no silver left in the treasury of the Chuzhou government office, so they requested that the capital allocate some funds.
Xiao Tianchi asked rhetorically, "What would you do, Lingji?"
Shen Lingyun replied, "Chuzhou has many mountains and forests and is short of water sources, which is not conducive to the survival of the people. A canal should indeed be built, and the funds can be allocated."
But Xiao Tianchi shook his head. "Although the method is good, the magistrate of Chuzhou comes from a noble family. He is an official who was granted a position due to his ancestors' merits. He has always lived a luxurious life and only cares about himself. Even if he gets the funds, he may not implement the government order."
Shen Lingyun said, "Then replace him."
Xiao Tianchi said, "Chuzhou is very important. If we replace him at this time, I'm afraid he will abandon the people of Chuzhou and lead his people to defect to Xiao Tianye. At this critical moment, we need to try our best to stabilize him."
"But if we let him continue in office, the current situation of drought in Chuzhou will still not change." Shen Lingyun wanted to say more to Xiao Tianchi, but he yawned and asked Eunuch Wang to help him up and walked towards the big bed:
"I'm going to take a nap. You can handle it as you see fit, Lingji."
This man really wanted to run away after just saying a few words!
Shen Lingyun was a bit angry, but when her eyes fell on his tired and pale face, she silently suppressed her anger and continued to look through the memorials.
After a while, Shen Lingyun got tired of looking. She had to put down the things and go back to the side hall to rest.
After she left, Eunuch Wang found the memorial from Chuzhou on the table and handed it to Xiao Tianchi. Xiao Tianchi unfolded it and saw that there were only two words approved on it, "No money". He couldn't help laughing.
His finger traced over the familiar handwriting, and he said with a smile, "Lingji, you're still as cute as ever when you're angry."
Cute?
Thinking of that cold and frosty face, Eunuch Wang shivered violently.
...
Dongli Town.
It was already the fifth day after the sky cleared. After the soldiers and the common people who had gone out to gather information came back, they said excitedly:
"The flood has receded! Only a small part of the houses in Dongli Town are still submerged in water. In two more days, we can go down the mountain and go home!"