The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

"...Please rest assured, Your Majesty, there is no serious injury. You just need to change the bandages frequently, don't let the wound get wet, don't lift heavy objects, and abstain from alcohol or irritating foods."

The wound on the emperor's arm was not big, so he sprinkled some medicine powder on it and wrapped it with clean gauze. Imperial Physician Lin handled it quickly with his swift and skillful hands.

Seeing that it was still a young doctor like him who rushed to the scene when the emperor was assassinated and injured so seriously, Xie Yuzhen remembered what Concubine Song Shu had told him before her death, that Imperial Physician Lin was the emperor's confidant and held a high position. An idea gradually formed in his mind.

"The medicine Lord Lin used worked very quickly. His Majesty's bleeding stopped immediately. I didn't expect that Lord Lin, who looks young, has such superb medical skills." Xie Yuzhen's tone smoothly changed from heavy worry to the lightness of finally being relieved. She showed the image of a gentle woman who was worried about her husband to the fullest, and gave enough face to the emperor who tried to show his love in various ways but was repeatedly frustrated.

Imperial Physician Lin did not dare to look up at her, but answered more respectfully: "This medicine was prepared by Master after many years of research. I am not well educated, and I am just reading from the book."

She waved her round fan and said, "Lord Lin is too modest. Since His Majesty's injuries are no longer serious, I will return to the palace first. I have been out for so long, I am afraid that Yuanjun will come to look for me."

"Your Majesty, please remember to thank Lord Lin on my behalf. Thank him for curing my...husband's illness." She spoke softly and a little shyly, which was completely different from her previous attitude which was always filled with a hint of alienation, playfulness, and even some malicious coldness.

The speed of this change of attitude was so fast and natural that even though the emperor already knew what a hateful and heartless person this woman was, he could not help but continue to indulge himself in dizziness: "Don't worry, when I finish my work here, I will go to Shouning Palace to accompany you and the child."

They are like a pair of affectionate mandarin ducks, close friends who are reluctant to part.

After leaving the Lizheng Hall, Xie Yuzhen did not forget to bring the young eunuch Luan Chong who he had just asked for from the emperor. After returning to Shouning Palace, he asked Chunfen to take Luan Chong downstairs to find a place to settle him. Then he turned around and asked Xiazhi to pass the news to the Yongjia Marquisate.

"Let brother go and ask about Imperial Physician Lin's family and friends, and all his past events. Find out as much as you can. There is no need to hide this from outsiders. It would be best if brother could make friends with Imperial Physician Lin."

As for the fact that my brother has been single for an old age and has gradually gained a reputation as a homosexual... never mind, let it spread. Anyway, he lives like a monk with hair still uncut. He has no plans to get married and his mind is very calm. I think he is more or less accustomed to similar rumors.

Without hesitation, Xia Zhi hurried to deliver the message.

Xie Yuzhen sat on the chaise longue and called Xiaoxi to her side: "Is there any news coming out of Changrui Palace?"

Xiaoxi answered clearly and fluently, "Your Majesty, in Changrui Palace, Consort Xian hasn't woken up yet, and Consort Li hasn't left yet. Not long after you went to the Imperial Palace, the three young ladies from the Duke of Ying's Mansion came in. But I heard that Miss Deng Wu somehow angered Consort Li, and she wanted her to kneel outside the door for half an hour."

"But then Miss Fourth Deng pleaded for her, and Concubine Li gave up."

Xie Yu was really interested: "Empress Li and Empress Xian have always been on good terms. Is it because of your concern that they have messed things up?"

Xiaoxi nodded and said, "Miss Deng Wu is wearing a crescent-shaped white dress today. She is also very pretty. People say that such a girl should be pretty. She is in mourning clothes. Perhaps Concubine Li has been too tired in the past two days, so she mistook the crescent-shaped white dress for..."

The little girl blinked.

Xie Yuzhen burst out laughing, patted her head, and casually grabbed a handful of dried fruits for her: "You are also tired today, go out and play, find some sisters to talk to, or play shuttlecock."

"Hey!" Little Xixi ran out quickly.

Just as she passed by Xia Zhi who was returning, Xia Zhi frowned and told her to walk carefully, then took out a letter from her sleeve and walked towards Xie Yuzhen: "Madam, there is also a letter from home."

Xie Yuzhen stood up and took it: "This is also a coincidence..."

She opened the envelope, read a few lines, and suddenly her eyes widened.

Changrui Palace.

Fifth Miss Deng Qinglan, who had just been accused by Concubine Li of being restless, huddled in a corner with a look of resentment on her face. The air was full of the smell of herbs. She had just gone to see Concubine Xian with her other two sisters, and she had a vague premonition in her heart - no matter how strong the herbs were and how long they were boiled, she was afraid that her beloved elder sister would not wake up.

Whenever he thought of this, Deng Qinglan couldn't help but feel excited.

She is just a daughter. She is always the last to know about anything that happens at home, and can only follow the arrangements made by her elders.

Only Deng Qingsui, who was neither good at literature nor martial arts, and was sickly, and only talked about family harmony all day long, how could she win the favor of the elders? They would even ask for her opinion on all matters big and small in the family, and even for matters that even the wives could not interfere with, sometimes Deng Qingsui could change the minds of the men in the mansion with just a few words...

In complete contrast, Deng Qinglan and Deng Qingjin, the two daughters who were treated “equally”, never suffered less, but never received any preferential treatment from Deng Qingsui...

Although she had been suppressed since childhood and not allowed to surpass Deng Qingsui in studies and other subjects, Deng Qinglan could now more or less guess that if Concubine Xian passed away, the Duke of Ying would definitely send another daughter into the palace, even if not for favor, but to take care of the second prince who had lost his mother, right?

Deng Qinglan wants to enter the palace.

She didn't want to be like Deng Qingsui anymore, who shared the hardships but not the happiness.

She couldn't help but tightly grasp the jade pendant hidden in her sleeve - she got it from Empress Dowager Hu when she was in the Cining Palace and was annoyed by Deng Qingsui's criticism. She couldn't help but leave the house on the pretext of going to the toilet to cool off.

Deng Qinglan couldn't help but raise her hand to touch her face: this face was the most beautiful among all the girls in the Duke of Yingguo's mansion, and it was also the place where she was most proud. It was the place where she was not controlled by the inexplicable favoritism of her elders and could legitimately surpass Deng Qingsui.

Thinking of the words of appreciation that Empress Dowager Hu said to him, Deng Qinglan felt that although they sounded like just polite words, who could say that there were no hints in them?

How could the emperor's concubines not be good-looking?

Even if the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion was determined to send the sick and hypocritical Deng Qingsui into the palace, she was not completely without a chance!

Thinking of this, Deng Qinglan finally forgot the shame and anger she had felt when Concubine Li had exposed her little thoughts. Just as she was straightening her dress and preparing to walk out of this corner.

Suddenly.

"What did you say? Liu Shuyi assassinated His Majesty!?"