Eagle-eyed and wolf-watching

Chapter 1641: Sharing the same bed but having different dreams!

After finishing his official business, Ye Cheng brought Ye Mingsheng the news that the birthday banquet at Furen Palace was about to begin, so Ye Mingsheng hurried to Furen Palace again!

Today is Ye Cui’s 63rd birthday, and Furen Palace is also a gift to her. All the big guys gathered in Furen Palace.

Seeing Ye Mingsheng coming, the birthday banquet officially began. As a son, Ye Mingsheng also stood up and said some polite and auspicious words, wishing his mother a long life!

After Ye Mingsheng finished speaking, An Miaoyi said a few more words, and then it was the gifts from other concubines. The first were the four imperial concubines, namely Bai Yuanyuan, Shen Yutong, Murong Qingwu, and Pei Zhixiu!
Bai Yuanyuan and Shen Yutong gave each other jade articles as gifts. Among them, the one given by Bai Yuanyuan was the most valuable, a large ornament with a carved longevity character on it. The one given by Shen Yutong was a jade bracelet. However, no matter whether it was the longevity ornament or the jade bracelet, Ye Cui's expression was very calm!

Murong Qingwu and Pei Zhixiu gave each other Buddhist scriptures that they had copied themselves.

Murong Qingwu copied the Heart Sutra, while Pei Zhixiu copied the Lotus Sutra.
Everyone was used to Pei Zhixiu giving away Buddhist scriptures. After all, although Pei Zhixiu was a noble concubine and her status was second only to An Miaoyi among all the concubines, and she was also favored by Ye Mingsheng alone, everyone also knew that Noble Concubine Pei had no interest in gold, silver and jade, and did not try to make money like other concubines in the palace.

So despite Ye Mingsheng's favor, Pei Zhixiu's property was the least in the palace. Many concubines and talented people in the palace were richer than this noble concubine. In the past, when facing Ye Cui's birthday, Pei Zhixiu also copied Buddhist scriptures by hand, and this time was no different from usual...

But Murong Qingwu is different!

Although Murong Qingwu is not as high-profile as An Miaoyi, everyone knows that Murong Qingwu is also a wealthy woman. In the entire palace, no one has more property than her except An Miaoyi!

In the past, on Ye Cui's birthday, the birthday gifts that Murong Qingwu sent were all very valuable gold, silver, jade, or famous paintings and calligraphy.

In other words, this was the first time that Murong Qingwu gave a hand-copied Buddhist scripture like Pei Zhixiu!
Although everyone was surprised that Murong Qingwu would send such a birthday gift, Ye Cui herself seemed to like Murong Qingwu's birthday gift very much. She changed her previous calmness and smiled to Murong Qingwu and said:
"Qingwu, you are thoughtful!"

"This is what I should do!"

"good very good!"

Seeing a Buddhist scripture made Ye Cui smile with joy, while others were all very confused, but the process continued. Other concubines also began to present gifts, and their gifts were all the same, either gold, silver, jade, or famous paintings and calligraphy, and Ye Cui was too lazy to even raise her eyelids.

However, at this moment, Chen Rouer stood up and said loudly:
"I offer you a hundred-year-old Lingzhi. I wish the Empress Dowager a long and blessed life!"

Hearing the words "hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum", everyone in the palace focused their attention on the wooden box in Chen Rouer's hand. Chen Rouer seemed to be showing off intentionally and opened the wooden box directly. She saw that there was a Ganoderma lucidum in the wooden box!
This Ganoderma lucidum is about one foot high, one foot wide at its widest point, and nearly three inches thick. It is considered very large among Ganoderma lucidums, and can be said to be the best among them. Seeing this, everyone present was amazed. Pei Zhixiu, who has always been interested in medicinal materials, also stared at the Ganoderma lucidum.

At this time, Chen Rouer will continue to say

"My father got this Ganoderma Lucidum by chance last year. When he heard that the Empress Dowager was going to celebrate your birthday, he sent someone to deliver it here. It can be regarded as a small token of our Chen family's respect to the Empress Dowager!"

"Not bad! Very good! You Chen family are thoughtful!"

Ye Mingsheng also praised Chen Rouer and the Chen family. After Chen Rouer, it was the concubines' turn to present gifts. The concubines presented mainly gold, silver and jade items. They all said the same auspicious words. Now it was the turn of Concubine Yun Murong Xinyun!

"Your servant Murong Xinyun presents three fifty-year-old ginsengs to the Queen Mother. I wish the Queen Mother good health, happiness and freedom from worries!"

Compared to Chen Rouer who opened the box ostentatiously to let everyone see the beauty of the hundred-year-old Ganoderma lucidum, Murong Xinyun was much more low-key and had no intention of opening the box at all. Ye Cui also seemed quite satisfied and nodded to Murong Xinyun.

After the concubines had presented their offerings, it was the turn of the children and grandchildren. Compared to the concubines who presented gold, silver, jade, and famous paintings and calligraphy, Ye Mingsheng's eight children presented auspicious words and blessings they had written themselves.

Although the things were all similar, Ye Cui showed obvious differences in closeness to her eight grandchildren. She was closer to Jingren and Jingyan, while she just nodded and smiled at the other six.

After the tribute, there was a singing and dancing performance, and some people began to urge him to drink. Although Ye Mingsheng didn't want to drink, he couldn't resist the urging. And considering that this was his mother's birthday party, it would be inappropriate for him not to drink a little. After all, Ye Cui had already drunk a glass.

But Ye Mingsheng originally wanted to stop at just two drinks. He didn't like drinking at all. But for some reason, perhaps because he thought of the troubles in the court, Ye Mingsheng wanted to drink to relieve his sorrow. Ye Mingsheng, who originally wanted to drink one glass, actually drank a whole jar.

Ye Mingsheng wanted to continue drinking, but when he found Pei Zhixiu looking at him, he calmed down and stopped.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, it was already getting late, and the birthday banquet was officially over. Ye Mingsheng wanted to go find Pei Zhixiu, but his mother Ye Cui stopped him and said that An Miaoyi was his first wife, and the two of you should love each other, and asked Ye Mingsheng to be considerate to An Miaoyi...
Faced with his mother's instructions, Ye Mingsheng had no choice but to come to An Miaoyi.

It might be that Ye Mingsheng hadn't drunk for a long time, so his alcohol tolerance had become worse. After drinking only one jar of wine, Ye Mingsheng was a little drunk at this time. After coming to An Miaoyi's room, he lay down on the bed. His consciousness became a little fuzzy. He only remembered Qiqige taking a wet towel and wiping himself.

I don’t know how long it took, but Ye Mingsheng suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. He subconsciously sat up from the bed and started coughing.

"Cough cough! Cough cough!"

Ye Mingsheng's cough was so violent that it actually woke up An Miaoyi who was standing beside him. An Miaoyi was originally annoyed when she was woken up, but when she saw that it was Ye Mingsheng who was coughing, her expression changed, and at this time Ye Mingsheng stopped coughing.

Although the coughing stopped, Ye Mingsheng still felt very uncomfortable, and his chest was stuffy. Seeing Ye Mingsheng's uncomfortable look, An Miaoyi couldn't help but ask with concern:
"Your Majesty, are you okay?"

Ye Mingsheng, who had not realized that An Miaoyi was beside him, realized something when he heard An Miaoyi's voice. He immediately forced a smile and said:
"Miaoyi! I'm fine! Maybe it's because I haven't drunk alcohol for a long time. I drank a lot of alcohol suddenly and I'm a little drunk. Miaoyi, go to sleep!"

Although Ye Mingsheng spoke very casually, An Miaoyi could sense Ye Mingsheng's true thoughts from his expression, and immediately began to speak:
"Your Majesty, please don't hold on! Do you want me to call the imperial physician?"

"No need! I'll be fine in a while, Miaoyi, go to sleep!"

Hearing Ye Mingsheng say this, An Miaoyi was still a little skeptical, but could only nod. After An Miaoyi lay down again, Ye Mingsheng sat on the bed for a while, and then lay down again, but Ye Mingsheng subconsciously turned around, with his back to Ye Mingsheng. Feeling something, An Miaoyi looked back, but only saw Ye Mingsheng's back.

Looking at Ye Mingsheng's back, a name emerged in An Miaoyi's mind - body language!

This word was taught to her by Ye Mingsheng. When Ye Mingsheng taught her, he told her that people's mouths are good at lying, but people's bodies are more honest in comparison. Body language can reveal a lot of information!

Although Ye Mingsheng did not tell An Miaoyi what it meant to turn her back to someone, deep in her heart An Miaoyi could feel Ye Mingsheng's caution and alertness towards her. Her eyes immediately became resentful, and her cherry lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something.

However, at the same time, Ye Mingsheng began to cough softly again, and his body trembled slightly...
Seeing Ye Mingsheng like this, An Miaoyi felt a little distressed in her heart. After hesitating for a moment, An Miaoyi gave up the words that were about to come out of her mouth.

After a few hours, the sky gradually brightened, and Ye Mingsheng said goodbye to An Miaoyi with a smile. Although Ye Mingsheng pretended to be relaxed, as if nothing had happened, An Miaoyi, as his wife, could still keenly feel the fatigue behind Ye Mingsheng's relaxation!
But An Miaoyi didn't say much. She said goodbye to Ye Mingsheng as usual and watched Ye Mingsheng go to work in the Imperial Study.

However, after Ye Mingsheng left, An Miaoyi seemed a little absent-minded, and at this time Qiqige reported to her:
"Your Majesty, I noticed something. Your Majesty's tea has changed!"

An Miaoyi, who was absent-minded, immediately asked after hearing this:

"Did you change the tea?"

"Well! Your Majesty used to like to drink Tieguanyin, but recently I heard that Concubine Pei prepared a tea for Your Majesty. It seems to contain chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, wolfberry and other things. Although Your Majesty dislikes the bitterness, he still insists on drinking it!"

Hearing this, An Miaoyi immediately recalled how Ye Mingsheng coughed incessantly last night.

Although An Miaoyi was unwilling to think in this direction, her reason made a possibility emerge in her mind!
Thinking of this, An Miaoyi looked a little heavy. Seeing her master like this, Qiqige asked curiously:

"My queen, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

An Miaoyi waved her hand and said:

"I'm fine!"

"Then what happened to you, Madam? Madam, I noticed that you were a little absent-minded early in the morning. If there is anything, please let me handle it!"

Although An Miaoyi didn't want to say anything rationally, she wanted to talk emotionally. At this moment, facing Qiqige, who had grown up with her, An Miaoyi's emotions still overcame her rationality. She lowered her head and said softly:
"I thought I would be happy, I would be happy! But now I am not as happy as I thought!"

"What are you talking about, Madam? What are you talking about happy or unhappy?"

Looking at Qiqige who looked puzzled, An Miaoyi said in a deep voice:
"There's something wrong with His Majesty's health! He had a violent cough last night!"

"what?"

Looking at Qiqige who was shocked, An Miaoyi also emphasized:

"You can't tell anyone about this!"

"Don't worry, madam! I understand the seriousness of the matter!"

An Miaoyi nodded slightly after hearing this, and then said with some self-mockery:

"I've always been talking about him, and I even thought that if he left, Jingren would be able to take over, and I wouldn't have to feel so depressed like I do now. But when I saw how miserable he was, I felt uncomfortable!"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty! His Majesty has always been in good health. This time it's just some minor problems. Nothing will happen. Don't scare yourself..."

An Miaoyi smiled bitterly and shook her head, then asked Qiqige:
"Qiqige, do you think he has any feelings for me?"

"Don't think too much, Your Majesty. His Majesty definitely loves you!"

Hearing this answer, An Miaoyi couldn't help but continue;
'He has never loved me. He has no feelings for me at all. He was so upset last night, but he pretended to be calm in front of me and tried to deceive me!'
"Your Majesty, this is because His Majesty doesn't want you to worry!"

"That's a lie! The court is in such a state right now, and he is just holding on. Once the news of his poor health gets out, the situation will become even more unpredictable. So he must not admit that he has a health problem. He must continue to put on that strong appearance!"

"It's ok for him to pretend in front of others, but he actually pretends in front of me!"

"In his heart, I am not his wife at all. Pei Zhixiu is his wife and the one he can truly trust. I am no different from those ministers. I am also the one he is wary of!"

"He was just afraid that I would notice that he had a health problem and start stirring up trouble. He was worried that I would usurp power like Empress Lu did and then kill Pei Zhixiu, whom he loved so much. This was his true thought!"

By the end, the expression on An Miaoyi's face became more and more sarcastic, and two lines of tears slid down her face!

Seeing An Miaoyi like this, Qiqige felt a little distressed. She wanted to persuade An Miaoyi but didn't know how to persuade her. She could only say:
"Your Majesty, I think you are overthinking it. His Majesty may have some health problems, but it is not that serious yet. His Majesty will definitely get better..."