Chapter 209: Bi’an Token

Chapter 209: Bi’an Token

Chapter 209: Bi'an Token (I)

The first ray of morning sun passed through the window and fell on the woman's cheek, bringing with it the quiet fragrance of flowers and plants...

That year, the family had not yet suffered a disaster. She and her elder sister went to Yongzuo Temple to steal peonies in front of the mountain gate. In order to avoid the inspection of the monks in the temple, they hid among the flowers.

Finally, when the big monk who walked silently left, she had already fallen asleep in her sister's arms.

"I haven't slept so peacefully for a long time."

When I opened my eyes, what came into view was not the peonies in front of Yongzuo Temple that year, the deserted and lonely Sihuang Pavilion, or the dull and old-fashioned smoke curtains.

And also, this dreamlike splendor and wealth.

"Zizi..."

On the bronze tree lamp stand, the whale fat candle was almost burned out, and the wick lay limply in the fat, emitting only a faint light that flickered and seemed like it would go out at any time.

Wan Zhen'er sat up and couldn't help stretching her waist. Her back made a crisp sound like popping beans, which scared her. However, she felt light all over afterwards, and many obstacles that had been blocked for a long time were instantly unblocked.

"Ok?"

Just when Concubine Wan was enjoying a rare moment of comfort, she discovered something was wrong with herself.

"I actually..."

"Li Yu?"

Wan Zhen'er thought of what happened last night, feeling extremely ashamed and her cheeks flushed.

Ever since Emperor Yousheng fell ill, his ability in that area has become like the soft wick of a candle on a bronze tree, gradually becoming weak and powerless, often neither going up nor down, which is very uncomfortable.

She was proud and arrogant, and was unwilling to humble herself, while the emperor also felt it was embarrassing. The two had not had any skin contact for three years. She was at the age of vigor and vitality, and had not been a virgin for a long time, so the feeling was quite difficult for both of them.

"Is there such a powerful massage method in the world?"

Wan Zhen'er endured the discomfort between her thighs, lifted the pearl curtain, and walked out.

The female official was leaning against the doorpost, dozing off like a chick pecking at rice, when she suddenly saw Concubine Wan standing in front of her.

"Miss?"

She has always had sharp ears and eyes, but this time she did not hear the imperial concubine's footsteps and opened the bead curtain in advance.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me..."

Cuizhu woke up as if from a dream, knelt down and kowtowed quickly: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty, please forgive me."

"You are innocent, get up."

Wan Zhen'er was in a good mood. She glanced at the female officials who were leaning against each other on the embroidered cushions, holding their musical instruments, and staggering in various postures.

They played all night and fell asleep at dawn. Because they were too tired, they did not notice the imperial concubine coming out from the inner room.

"Let them all leave."

She chuckled and walked to the window. The two men were still kneeling in the courtyard.

The maids on duty around the imperial concubine were arranged by Eunuch Zhang and Miss Mei. The two were punished to kneel in the courtyard last night, and it seemed that everything was in chaos.

"Wake up quickly..."

"Wake up, the Queen asked you to rest..."

Cuizhu bowed and walked to the side of the music band, gently waking everyone up and asking them to leave the pavilion.

Zhaode Palace has its own bathing hall with a spacious pool and ceramic pipes to draw water. It is extremely convenient, but it needs to be prepared in advance, and the imperial concubine will not use it easily unless she is particularly interested.

Inner room of Sihuang Pavilion.

"Crash..."

Four young eunuchs carried wooden buckets and poured hot water into the pot.

The lotus-shaped bathtub is about ten feet long and has a natural wood fragrance. It was a tribute from the envoys of Java in Southeast Asia in the early years of Emperor Yousheng's accession to the throne. It is a half-cut sandalwood tree with three hundred growth rings. The skilled craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry made it into this "lotus bathtub." "It's done."

Mei Xin reached out to test the temperature and sprinkled rose petals into the water.

The heat rises and the fragrance is everywhere.

Concubine Wan took off her skirt and stepped into the bathtub. Rose petals gathered in the deep ravines of the snow-capped mountains. Mei Xin took a soft towel and wiped her back. Although she was a woman in her thirties, her skin was as delicate as that of a girl.

It is true that the most nourishing things for women in the world are wealth and honor.

"Meixin, you haven't slept all night, how about getting someone else to serve you?"

"Thank you, my lady. I'm fine."

"The spring night was cold and the wind was blowing. Zhang Wei collapsed. Why don't you go to the Imperial Hospital to have a look?"

"Your Majesty, don't worry. I am a warrior and my body is not that fragile. When I was training at the Japanese assassin's hall, I was fine even in the summer by the fire and in the winter in the ice cave. What's more, this is just a small matter."

There was indeed no trace of fatigue on Mei Xin's face. Her voice was very soft and she did not have the brightness and beauty of a young girl. Instead, she looked lifeless. Perhaps it was related to her past experiences. She often followed behind the imperial concubine, but was as dull as a wooden man.

"That's it, okay then."

Wan Zhen'er hesitated to speak, so she had to give up...

After bathing and changing clothes, the gate of Zhaode Palace was reopened.

Just like the crescent moon over the imperial city, rising as usual.

The undercurrents in the harem were surging, and the rumors disappeared beneath the surface in an instant, almost silently. The rumors about the rift between the emperor and the empress caused by the assassination in Yeyouting were also self-defeating.

Concubine Wan changed into a gold-embroidered flying phoenix robe, wore a nine-dragon and four-phoenix crown on her head, and sat in the Fengning Palace to deal with the palace affairs that had been piled up for several days.

After ten years of operation, the power of Zhaode Palace initially depended on the imperial power and fought against the big turban. After the throne of Emperor Yousheng was consolidated, the climbing vines grew into big trees, and the roots have extended like the tentacles of an octopus, inside and outside the Forbidden City.

As noon approached, she postponed her lunch time, as if she was waiting for someone.

Someone reported, "Eunuch Huang is here."

Concubine Wan said, "Please come in."

The middle-aged eunuch was wearing casual clothes, but he had a rare scholarly air. He walked with a limp, which was quite inconvenient for him when he crossed the palace gate, but it did not affect his demeanor.

Concubine Wan glanced at him and said, "Huang Jin, you are here."

The lame eunuch knelt down with difficulty and saluted: "Your servant greets the queen."

"No need to be so polite. You are the most promising person among all the people I have ever taught."

He was a eunuch in the Imperial Household Department, had the power to participate in the red robe ceremony, had held a high position for a long time, and often dealt with the most elite group of big-turbaned people in the Ming Dynasty. His knowledge and means were far beyond the reach of ordinary eunuchs.

Huang Jin bowed and said, "I have never forgotten your kindness."

Wan Zhen'er chuckled and asked, "What is your majesty doing now?"

Huang Jin was slightly surprised.

Wan Zhen'er sneered, "What's wrong? You just said 'I never dare to forget the queen's kindness', but you have already revealed your true colors before the magic mirror is even put up? The eunuch of the Imperial Household Department is really a very high position."

Huang Jin thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty should know that His Majesty is tracking down Miss Su's whereabouts."

Wan Zhen'er stopped writing and looked at Huang Jin: "What's the news from the Imperial Household Department?"

Huang Jin bowed his head and said, "A local official reported that Miss Su was found in Anyang. She was protected by a group of righteous men. At the same time, a group of unidentified masters were hunting them down."

Wan Zhen'er put down the red brush fiercely, thought for a moment, and sneered: "What a good trick! I really want to know, who is behind this game of chess that is so closely linked?"

This situation is equivalent to confirming the plot that Su Huanzhen was pregnant with a dragon fetus and was hunted down by the jealous evil concubine. Although Wan Zhen'er had this intention, she really didn't have time to do anything before she was put on the stage by an invisible hand.

(End of this chapter)