She fell out after crying at the wrong grave

"No one saw it?"

A head popped out from behind the bed curtain, with the gauze covering half of the face, making it look somewhat humorous.

Ying'en closed the palace door, turned around and saw it, and couldn't help but smile, "Don't worry, Your Highness, no one saw it."

It's about secretly pouring out the medicine.

Although the new emperor had sent people to surround Changsheng Hall in order to let Ah-yi suffer the pain of imprisonment, he was unwilling to send extra palace servants to make her feel even a little more comfortable, so except for the servants who were sweeping outside the hall, they would not enter the hall, leaving only Ah-yi and Ying-en.

But as the saying goes, "Misfortune may turn out to be a blessing in disguise." Isn't the benefit reflected in the fact that the medicine was secretly poured out?

Ah-yi stretched out her arms and simply pulled open the bed curtains. "I haven't taken the medicine for only two days, and I feel that the pain that prevented me from getting up has improved a lot." With her hands on the edge of the bed, Ah-yi thought seriously, "I'm still very strong. If it weren't for this, I would have recovered from the cold in at least three days."

Once you are sick, you will inevitably feel tired and confused, which really delays your work.

Ying'en scooped out hot soup from the pot, held a bowl and handed it to her, sighing, "If there wasn't enough charcoal in the house, the bedding wasn't thick enough, and the food wasn't so watery, I'm afraid you would have recovered sooner."

Ah'ao listened to her resentful words and was drinking water without paying attention. She choked and coughed a few times, but she still couldn't help laughing.

"Oh, please slow down!" Ying'en patted her back, "Your Highness, please slow down. Give me some time to clean the room and change your clothes."

Ah-yi looked up, "Why is this?"

Ying'en took the cup and placed it on the small table, and helped the still red-faced princess back to the couch. "I just went out to ask the guards to help fetch water. They said that the imperial physician would come to check the princess' pulse in the afternoon."

This is really strange. A'ao stared at the floral pattern on the quilt thoughtfully.

The last time she saw the imperial physician was before the New Year, when she suddenly had a high fever and was unable to hand in the Buddhist scripture that the new emperor had asked her to copy, so he immediately assigned someone to take her pulse.

Since I took the medicine, I haven't seen him since.

What's going on today?

"I heard that it was Lord Li from the Shanggong Bureau who suggested this." Ying'en explained with interest, "Anyway, it was the guard brother who said that it was time to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, so Shanggong Li suggested that the imperial doctors take the pulses of the masters in the palace and pray for their safety, which can be regarded as a precaution."

So that's how it is. Ah'e nodded and soon figured it out. "At the end of every year, we always have to take inventory of the warehouse. Many things are piled up, such as cloth and jewelry. They can be refurbished and sent to the palaces and courtyards as New Year gifts, but the medicinal materials piled up in the Shang Pharmacy can't be sent away, right? This method can not only discover the potential minor ailments of the masters and cure them as soon as possible to avoid future troubles, but also take the opportunity to deal with the old medicines. Isn't it a good thing?"

Turning to look at Ying'en, she had already picked up the feather duster and started cleaning the few remaining bottles and jars on the cabinet.

Ah-yi walked over helplessly and stretched out her hand to stop her, "My dear Ying-en, can't you just lower the bedroom curtains and go outside to check the patient's pulse, so that you don't have to go back and forth to clean up all this. You should be careful that the disease will recur."

After being locked in this cold brick cage, it seemed that Ying'en and she were the only two people left in the world.

From being a stranger rescued on the way back to the city to sharing the same bed, eating and drinking together, and living and dying together, it has only been a few months.

When Ah-yi couldn't sleep at night, she often leaned against the window and looked at the moon in the sky.

Everything in Kezhou seemed like the past. Whether it was Yunli, Mrs. Zhou or Ruzui, they all seemed to remember them at this moment.

Ying'en said slowly, Your Highness is just homesick.

Ah-yi never looked back, but her tone was lonelier than the late night covered with autumn frost, "Why do I miss my hometown? This is my hometown. Every inch of land, every tree, every street, I can clearly follow them even with my eyes closed."

She shook her head. "Your Highness is wrong. Only when you have attachment can you have a homeland. Homeland is not a city or a village, but the person you want to see but cannot see."

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and its light pours down.

"Just like how His Highness treats Madam Cui, when he greets her, he wants to see her but also wants to hide from her." Ying'en sighed with envy, "Madam Cui is also His Highness's hometown."

A'ao was silent for a moment, then put her arm around Ying'en's shoulders and let her lean on them.

"One day, Your Highness will also become my homeland."

Finally, when she was drowsy, Ying'en said this softly.

Two people who rely on each other will involuntarily take care of each other.

Ah'ao still remembered the promise she made when she took Ying'en away. She was afraid of loneliness and had already brought her into this cage, so she could not let her suffer any more.

The hairstyle popular among women in the capital was difficult and complicated to comb. The two of them stared at the mirror for a long time but could not figure out where to start.

The last time I saw her was at the New Year banquet, when there were female officials from the Shangshi Bureau helping me with my makeup, but this time there were none.

"Forget it." Ah-yi put down the comb and looked at herself in the mirror. "I'll just comb my hair into the same style I used to wear. It's not a formal occasion anyway."

This thought was wrong.

By the time she changed into old clothes with bright colors and combed her hair into an ordinary style, she had been waiting for the entire afternoon, but the imperial physician who was supposed to take her pulse did not come.

No matter how bored you are or how good your temper is, you will be annoyed by the endless waiting.

"Maybe." Ying'en looked at the sky that was gradually getting darker outside, feeling very worried. "Maybe it's because he can't come to Changsheng Palace until he has examined the entire harem? You know, there are so many people in the harem..."

Ah-yi was fully dressed and could only sit on a stool or on the threshold of the palace door. If she wanted to lie down on the couch, her clothes would get wrinkled and she would not be able to show herself to others.

After waiting for a long time, even though she wrapped herself in a quilt and took a short nap against Ying'en, A'an's fatigue after her long illness was not relieved.

She yawned and sat on the doorstep impolitely, her vision blurred by the overflowing tears.

The sun sank, and the edge of the western sky turned orange-red, like red persimmons crushed into sauce, dazzlingly red.

It is said that if you see morning glow, you won't go out, but if you see evening glow, you can travel a thousand miles. Judging from this, tomorrow will be another good day.

Ah'ao lowered her head and casually wiped the dried tears on her cheeks with her knuckles.

Ying'en was still looking at that place. "Your Highness, Your Highness, look!" Ying'en suddenly grabbed Ah's sleeve and said hurriedly, "It seems like there is a fire in the west, and the flames are rising to the sky!"

Burn?
Ah'ao was startled and stood up quickly, looking up at the place she had just been. She saw thick smoke billowing everywhere and the hip roof below had been completely engulfed by flames.

But from a distance, only some roofs could be seen, and the palace was not the only thing that had been burned.

How could the fire suddenly break out, Ah-yi murmured. But fortunately it was far away, and it would not burn the Changsheng Hall for a while.

No wonder she saw the magnificent sunset just now and thought to herself that she had not seen such beautiful weather for a long time. It turned out that she dozed off and her eyes were blurred with tears, so she mistook the fire for the sunset.

It’s really Amitabha, she said without any guilt.

Why don't you burn Shen Zhuo to death first?

After thinking about this for a few times, Ah-yi turned around happily and said, "Let's go, take a shower and go to bed. I'm afraid the imperial physician won't be able to come today."

Just as I was about to pull the person back, there was a sudden noise in the yard, and someone really came.

"Your Highness, please stay! Your Highness, please stay!"

The two shouts were so powerful that Ah'ao turned around to look, only to find that they were the leaders of the two groups of Jinwu Guards guarding the Changsheng Palace.

She clasped her hands and stood in front of the palace door, "What's the matter?"

From a distance, the light-colored clothes were reflected by the fire in the distance, making them look bright. Standing on a high place, they looked even more noble and cold.

The head of the Jinwu Guards bowed politely before replying, "The West Palace caught fire. Because the beams and pillars in the palace had just been painted with tung oil, they burned all over in an instant. We were ordered to help put out the fire, and we are reporting this to Your Highness."

A'ao smiled.

"You were sent here by His Majesty. Even if you need instructions, you should ask His Majesty. What right do I have to decide?" He tilted his head slightly, as if he was a little confused. "If you all leave, aren't you afraid that I will run away?"

The man choked and couldn't utter a word for a long time.

"Go ahead." Ah-yi seemed extremely generous. "Saving lives is the most important thing. Just don't report it. It's not hard to earn some life-saving money."

According to the palace rules, guards in every palace, including the Jinwu Guards, will be rewarded after they provide additional assistance to the emperor or put out fires and other critical events that threaten life and death.

What's more, the salaries of these Jinwu Guards have been decreasing for two consecutive years. They are also human beings and need to support their families.

Ah'an was looking forward to spending a few hours freely and unattended.

So the imprisoned princess smiled as she sent off the guards and stretched lazily, "It would be such a great thing if the West Palace caught fire every day-ah!"

Before she had finished stealing, with her neck still tilted back, she suddenly felt a tightening around her waist, and then her body became lighter. When she could see her surroundings clearly again, she was already in darkness.

She then realized that someone had grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up. She had just crossed the threshold and was now back in the dark hall.

The palace door creaked shut, and no lights were on in the room. One could only see the outlines of people and objects with the little light coming in from outside.

A tall figure stood in front of Ah'an. Her vision, which had not yet been adapted to night vision, became blurry again. She could only see a dark mass reflected on the bright window paper, which did not move for a long time.

The reason why I said he didn't move was because the man turned her around with his right hand still on her waist, and there was only a distance of two fists between them.

A faint scent of pine resin came over, seeming a little familiar.

Ah'ao stretched out her hand, slowly groped for the hand around her waist, and touched the base of her palm.

She laughed in silence, then rushed forward, forcing the other party to slowly take a few steps back and press against the door.

Her hand casually rested on the back of his neck, her chin raised, and the hairpins on her hair jingled.

Ah'ao felt that he was hugging her tighter. He stayed in front of her for a moment, as if he wanted to get closer, but he held back. Finally, he bent his neck and leaned lightly against her neck.

They could even feel the beating of each other's pulses in their necks.

This is the moment closest to life and death.

Below are beasts necking each other, and looking up you can see a pair of birds perching together.

What about people?

Outside the door and windows, there were sounds of anxious footsteps running back and forth.

Amid the noise, Ah'ao was quietly embraced by the person in front of her, as if she was gradually regaining life after a long drought.

After a long while, Ah-yi pushed Heng-chi's shoulder and opened her mouth to say something, but Heng-chi suddenly held her face and blocked her lips with his thumb.

There was silence between the two again.

Ying En came back from sending someone, but found the palace door closed. Curiously, he reached out and knocked, "Your Highness, are you there? Why is the door closed?"

Through the door, A'an heard her voice and her heart beat faster.

What on earth is this kind of awkward and nervous feeling of being caught cheating?
After all, they are a married couple who have been married in a formal ceremony.

After calming herself down, Ah-yi replied, "It's nothing, it was just the wind that blew it..."

Before he could finish his words, Hengzhi suddenly rushed forward and swallowed up the next few syllables.

It was a windless night, the fire was unextinguishable, and Ying'en was standing outside the door, not knowing the situation.

(End of this chapter)