maidservant

Chapter 79 The young prince is devoted to seeking the truth and the emperor lets the mother and son leave the palace

Yunshan was sending her sister off to get married. She was wearing a goose yellow dress, the color of which was like the stamens of a flower just blooming in spring, fresh and soft, which made her skin look whiter than snow, and she looked dignified and lively.

Today she had to look good for her sister, so she carefully combed her hair, inserted a soft jade hairpin, and put on some light makeup. This careful dressing made her look even more bright and charming.

Lin Xiao couldn't take his eyes off Yun Shan from the moment she walked in. He watched Yun Shan's every move, showing her gentleness and generosity, and the more he looked at her, the more radiant she seemed.

During the meal, while everyone was trying to get Li Mao to drink, he raised his glass and gestured to Yunshan to say hello, but Yunshan seemed to be lost in deep thought, her eyes were blank, and she did not react to his actions at all.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao moved through the bustling crowd and stood behind Yun Shan, saying softly, "Watching your sister get married, do you want to be the bride yourself?"

Lin Xiao's words were like a spark falling into a deep pool, instantly shattering the calm surface of the wine in Yunshan's hand.

Yan Yu and Xiao Yue's happy wedding had planted the seeds of anticipation for marriage in Yun Shan's heart. When Lin Xiao mentioned this, those vague aspirations suddenly became clear. Her thoughts slowly drifted away, and she couldn't help but imagine herself in her wedding dress.

In her imagination, it was a sunny spring day, a gentle breeze, and a riot of flowers. She wore a wedding gown embroidered with auspicious patterns and a red silk headband. Beside her, Lin Xiao, dressed in a crimson robe, stood tall and handsome, looking at her with deep affection. All around her were the well wishes of friends and family.

Yunshan came back to her senses and realized that she had been so naively and innocently fantasizing about her wedding with Lin Xiao. Her face suddenly turned red with shame.

She was so angry that she subconsciously hit Lin Xiao with her elbow, but she touched Lin Xiao's firm and strong body. The powerful touch made her even more flustered.

She hurriedly turned around and looked up, only to find that Lin Xiao was very close to her, only a fist's distance between them.

Lin Xiao pursed his lips with a smile in his eyes, as if he was admiring her shy look. He also raised his eyebrows slightly, deliberately teasing her.

---

As soon as he returned to the palace, he heard a shocking new thing: the emperor's younger brother, the little prince who usually had a very low sense of presence, was actually wholeheartedly seeking the truth and was determined to leave the palace.

Speaking of this little prince, his experience in the palace was quite tortuous.

The young prince had a very good relationship with the deposed crown prince since he was young. The young prince's mother and the deposed crown prince's mother, the late emperor's first wife, were cousins. Since the deposed crown prince got into trouble, this relationship made his situation in the palace delicate.

When the old emperor passed away suddenly, he was still young and was invited to a banquet at Concubine Li's palace with his mother. It was not until the funeral ceremony after the death of the late emperor that the young prince was "escorted" by the guards out of Concubine Li's palace and knelt before the coffin.

Since then, he and his mother had been like frightened birds, living cautiously in the palace. Due to their young age and the fact that they had never been allowed to leave the palace, they could only live in a corner of the palace, trying not to attract attention.

After the emperor ascended the throne, the young prince and his mother were well aware of the situation and acted increasingly low-key, as if they were forgotten in a corner of the palace, just hoping to live in peace.

So, on weekdays, this little prince was well-behaved and sensible, but he didn't show any extraordinary abilities. He was not proficient in poetry, books, etiquette, Yi, riding, and archery. In the past two years, when his royal brother occasionally asked about his homework, the teachers just shook their heads and said, "You're not as good as you were in previous years."

Perhaps because of this, the emperor was quite nice to him and did not make things too difficult for him.

But who would have thought that he, who had just turned fifteen, would devote himself to seeking immortality and studying Taoism.

After the emperor learned about this, he tried to persuade him earnestly, hoping that he would give up the idea and continue to live a stable life in the palace.

But the young prince had made up his mind and turned a deaf ear to his brother's words. To demonstrate his resolve, he even openly set up a Taoist temple in the palace. For a time, the air was filled with smoke and the sound of Taoist chanting echoed in the palace, causing everyone in the palace to shake their heads.

The emperor was helpless. Seeing his stubborn brother, he knew that trying to keep him would be futile. After much deliberation, he had no choice but to provide him with a mansion and allow him to move out of the palace with his mother. This bizarre incident caused quite a stir in the harem, becoming a source of laughter and gossip among the people.

The setting sun filtered through the carved window lattices, casting dappled light and shadows, adding a touch of laziness to the Liuhua Palace. Lin Yu sat elegantly in the prince's bedroom, surrounded by Yunshan and the others, chatting softly.

Lin Yu looked tenderly at the two princes sleeping side by side. Although it was only April, it was very warm today. She gently fanned them with a feather fan and spoke slowly:
"The Concubine Dowager is a member of the royal family, and the young prince is His Majesty's only brother. What do you think we can do to help him improve himself?"

"The only sensible way for him to live in this palace is not to be too outstanding, to live a stable life, and not to try to change his fate." Her voice was soft, but it revealed a kind of clarity that came from having experienced many hardships.

After saying this, she paused slightly, the feather fan in her hand still swaying rhythmically, bringing a cool breeze that brushed across the tender faces of the two princes.

The two princes were sleeping soundly, even wearing the same style of pajamas, which made them look particularly cute.

"Think about it," Lin Yu continued, looking away from the princes and looking at the crowd.
"If he does manage to achieve something remarkable outside the palace, those relatives who previously supported the deposed crown prince will be very active and will probably do everything they can to encourage him to achieve something great."

"Yes, if he really does achieve great success, he'll be in a state of no return. In this vortex of power, the slightest mistake can lead to eternal damnation."

But Yunshan only felt that the sound of the feather fan gently swaying and the occasional bird calls made it even more obvious that this day was too perfect.

The preparations for "Bai Re San" are progressing in full swing, and the soldiers are now making the pills in an orderly manner.

As usual, Yunshan was carefully checking the several stone pills that had been shipped back to the pharmacy that day. At this moment, the maidservant beside Concubine Bianliang hurried over.

The maid looked anxious. After bowing, she said anxiously, "Director Song Yao, Your Majesty has suddenly felt very unwell. Please come with me immediately."

When Yunshan heard this, her heart tightened. She did not dare to delay for even a moment and hurriedly followed the maid to Concubine Bianliang's palace.

When I stepped into the hall, I saw that Concubine Bianliang's forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, but she was covered tightly with a thick quilt.

"What happened, Madam? Tell me in detail."

"A couple of days ago, Your Majesty felt a chill in her lower abdomen, but she thought it was her period and didn't take it seriously. This morning, Your Majesty came down with persistent diarrhea and was sweating profusely. I wanted to call the Imperial Physician, but because of the fertility-enhancing decoction, Your Majesty didn't dare let him investigate."

"Your Majesty, are you still using that 'persimmon stalk'?!"

"Yes, Your Majesty is so gracious, and Your Majesty has been enjoying great favor lately."

Yunshan hurried to the bedside and wiped the sweat off Concubine Bianliang's face. "Your Majesty, could you please speak?"

"Song Yao. I have a stomachache, I feel weak, and I'm very cold."

"My lady, my medical skills are not very good, and I can't compare with the imperial doctors, right?——"

"No! I can't. I would rather die than commit the crime of deceiving the emperor." As she said this, Concubine Bianliang groaned in pain.

(End of this chapter)