frightfiction Chapter 647 The house leaks and rains all night (2)
Chapter 647 The house leaks and rains all night (2)
"Just say whatever you want to say."
The emperor picked up the teacup and took a sip of the sweet honey water.
Su Peisheng glanced at his master's face out of the corner of his eye. There was no sign of any emotion on that calm face for the time being.
He took a small step back and reported respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Xiao Xiazi was ordered to look after Princess Longyue in Yonghe Palace. Unexpectedly, he ran into Qingju and his men digging up the osmanthus tree outside Princess Longyue's window. He stepped forward to help, but unexpectedly, they discovered something strange at the roots of the tree."
"I just sent the things that Xiao Xiazi sent to Li the Imperial Physician for examination. He said that the small cloth bag contained musk."
Musk is a sinister substance, and the emperor is extremely sensitive to it.
The emperor frowned slightly.
"Musk? Didn't we find something dirty earlier? We searched everywhere, inside and out. How come there's still something missing?"
"Your Majesty, this small bundle of cloth was buried very deep, deep within the roots of the osmanthus tree. It would have been impossible to find it unless we dug deep."
Su Peisheng continued speaking with gritted teeth.
"Doctor Li also said that the soil inside the small cloth bag smelled like musk, and he guessed that the bag must have been buried many years ago."
"I have the audacity to investigate the origin of this sweet-scented osmanthus tree and discovered that it was given to Suiyuxuan by Consort Li after the first general election after you ascended the throne and after the young ladies entered the palace."
"I have ventured to investigate the origins of this sweet-scented osmanthus tree and discovered that it was given to Suiyuxuan by Consort Li after the first general election following your accession to the throne, when the young ladies entered the palace. Not long after, Consort Zhen fell ill, and Consort Hui and Imperial Noble Consort came to visit her, and the tree was subsequently sent to Yonghe Palace."
"These two lush osmanthus trees were deeply loved by the Imperial Concubine and have been planted in the backyard for many years."
The emperor tightly grasped the teacup in his hand, staring at the yellow honey water, wondering whether he should continue drinking the remaining osmanthus honey water.
He used to go for a walk with Rong'er after having meals at Yonghe Palace.
Every time he passed by the two osmanthus trees, he would take a few deep breaths of the rich fragrance, and Rong'er was as intoxicated by it as he was.
Even when the palace was moved, she would have thought of taking the two osmanthus trees with her if they had not been rooted in the ground and difficult to transplant.
Now there are two osmanthus trees planted in the backyard of Yongshou Palace, so there should be no problem with the osmanthus.
The emperor took a big gulp, trying to use the honey water to suppress the churning in his heart.
Zhen was always smart. She pretended to be sick as soon as she entered the palace. She must have seen the secret under the osmanthus tree and used this to protect herself.
But Rong'er, who lived in Yonghe Palace at that time, had not yet been favored by the emperor, so she moved the two osmanthus trees there early.
Zhen and Rong'er were from the same batch of beautiful ladies who entered the palace. Logically, they should have more mutual admiration than others.
But Zhen acted this way. Was she following the Zhen family's teachings and eliminating her opponents in advance?
The emperor thought further. Just look at how Concubine Hua took more than ten years to give birth to Princess Anle, which is enough to show the damage that musk can cause to women.
If Rong'er accidentally gets caught, then wouldn't Hongzhan, Hongyao, and Zhaohua be...
When the emperor thought about it to the end, he broke out in a cold sweat on his back!
What will be the consequences if I, at the age of fifty, don’t have a prince worth mentioning?
He knows it better than anyone.
Didn’t the Eighth Brother, the Fourteenth Brother and other brothers who opposed him always use the lack of offspring to provoke him?
Furthermore, Concubine Hui clearly conceived her child using the pregnancy elixir, and Li Songling had repeatedly assured her that the child in her womb was extremely strong.
But in fact, this extremely strong child died just a few days after birth.
Why did Concubine Hui, who always loved chrysanthemums, fall in love with that osmanthus tree before her death?
Could it be that she discovered the secret of the child's early death and wanted to cover it up for Zhen?
The emperor asked hurriedly.
"Su Peisheng, I remember there were two osmanthus trees in the backyard of Yonghe Palace. Where is the other one?"
"Your Majesty, the tree was destroyed by a dragon. Coincidentally, the palace was short of firewood, so the kitchen staff sent someone to drag it away."
Su Peisheng thought about it and added another sentence.
"The large hole left behind was filled in by the palace servants of Yonghe Palace themselves."
The emperor went over it in his mind and asked tiredly.
"Su Peisheng, what do you think of Concubine Hui's request before her death that the osmanthus tree accompany her?"
Su Peisheng hesitated for a few breaths and made a tentative guess.
"I heard that Concubine Hui doted on Princess Longyue. The osmanthus tree is right outside the princess's bedroom. I'm sure Concubine Hui couldn't bear to part with the princess."
Concubine Hui did this for Longyue and she would cover up for Zhen until her death!
Did she ever think that her son also died because of this osmanthus tree?
What's worse, she herself died at the hands of Zhen.
Countless thoughts flashed through the emperor's mind. He took a deep breath and reminded himself hatefully.
"Su Peisheng, Zhen Yurao is going to get married within a certain period of time. You must keep this in mind."
"Master, I will never forget this."
Su Peisheng decided to greet Miss Zhen Er in advance and see what she would choose.
Not long after, An Lingrong got up after a short rest, and Baoque came hurriedly to report.
"Master, the matter of the osmanthus tree in Yonghe Palace has been exposed. The Emperor has summoned Li Songling to the Yangxin Palace for a pulse diagnosis. The Seventh and Eighth Princes, who were left there writing calligraphy, have also been examined."
"Okay, I understand. You guys..."
Before An Lingrong finished speaking, she saw Xiao Linzi leading Li Songling inside.
"Your humble servant, Li Songling from the Imperial Hospital, pays his respects to the Imperial Concubine!"
An Lingrong asked pretending to be ignorant.
"Physician Li, please stand. May I ask why you are here at this hour? Does the Emperor have any instructions?"
"Your Majesty, the Emperor said that people are prone to feeling unwell during the transition from spring to summer, so he has specially ordered this humble servant to come and check your pulse."
Li Songling answered truthfully.
"Then I'll have to trouble Imperial Physician Li."
An Lingrong cooperated by extending her hand and covering herself with a handkerchief.
After a moment, Li Songling withdrew his hand with confidence.
"Your Majesty, there's nothing seriously wrong with you. It's just that your pulse indicates you're a bit overheated. I'll prescribe you some medicine to reduce your dryness."
An Lingrong responded gently.
"Okay, thank you for troubling Imperial Physician Li. I'll have Bao'e go with you to get the medicine later."
In the past few days, there have been a few new faces sweeping the streets of the six east and west palaces. It's time to let Bao'e go out for a walk.
The emperor is suspicious and his concubines are all worried!
The Yikun Palace must also be informed to let Songzhi keep an eye on Concubine Hua and not to scold the emperor in private again.
Before dinner, Li Songling checked the pulse of the emperor's princes and princesses.
After hearing the news, An Lingrong once again lamented the emperor's caution.
Musk can cause sterility if used for a long time, but looking at Concubine Hua, you can tell that it can also strengthen the body.
I just don’t know if Li Songling, who has served the emperor for such a long time, has noticed anything abnormal with his body.
The candlelight flickered as the emperor was working on memorials at his desk. Su Peisheng approached him again.
The emperor skillfully put down his red brush and glanced at him.
"Say!"
Su Peisheng lowered his head and reported respectfully.
"Your Majesty, the people below reported that Concubine Zhen secretly burned paper and offered sacrifices in Zhongcui Palace, and faint suppressed crying could be heard."
Empress Zhenfei is really very brave!
When she learned that Wen Shichu's family had suffered a disaster during the day, she couldn't wait to secretly hold a memorial service.
This is simply stepping on the master's face!
Su Peisheng took a quick glance at his master, who was emitting a chill, and thought to himself, Empress Zhenfei is really in a state of double whammy!
But he was happy to hear it.