The Splendid Medical Concubine: The Journey of a Concubine

Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Vitality

Upon hearing that Taoist Priest Xuanjing had arrived, the emperor's expression softened slightly and he changed his words: "Please invite Taoist Priest in quickly."

Eunuch Ni breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went to welcome Xuan Jing in person.

Xuanjing was still wearing a simple black Taoist robe, his hair was **** with a bamboo hairpin, and the wide hem of his clothes swayed gently with his steps, giving him an air of immortality.

Xuanjing held a mahogany carved box in his hand. He bowed to the emperor first, and then presented the box to the emperor. "Your Majesty, the first furnace of Nine Layers Pill has been prepared. I am here to present it to the Emperor."

The emperor's eyes lit up and he quickly presented it.

Eunuch Ni took the box and presented it to the emperor. As soon as the box was opened, a smell like sandalwood and bamboo immediately filled the room.

The emperor just smelled it and felt refreshed.

Xuanjing flicked the fly whisk and suggested with a smile: "Your Majesty, why don't you take the medicine now and let Pindao protect you?"

This proposal was in line with the emperor's wishes, and he hurriedly asked people to give Taoist Master Xuanjing a seat.

Eunuch Ni asked someone to bring a glass of warm water to the emperor, and gave him a bright red Nine-layer Pill. The emperor swallowed it with water, and then sat by the window with his eyes closed.

Xuanjing sat cross-legged on a futon, with a silver whisk hanging on one side. He also closed his eyes, looking at the solemnity and sanctity.

Eunuch Ni held his breath, not even daring to take a breath for fear of disturbing the emperor.

After a while, the emperor felt his body getting hotter and hotter, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Eunuch Ni looked at the emperor without blinking, and did not dare to wipe the emperor's sweat.

Finally, after half a cup of tea, the emperor opened his eyes, his eyes glowing with energy, as if he suddenly looked a few years younger.

"Taoist Priest is really an immortal!" The emperor was in a good mood and praised repeatedly, "Since taking the Nine Returns Golden Pill, my health has gotten better and better, and my energy has become more and more vigorous, as if I have returned to the age of twenty."

"This Nine-layer Pill is even more extraordinary. Only now do I know what it means to cleanse the marrow and change the tendons, and to be reborn!"

The emperor felt relaxed all over, and all the fatigue and depression just now were gone.

Xuan Jing also opened his eyes, still sitting cross-legged on the futon, neither arrogant nor impetuous, and quite a bit like an outsider.

"Your Majesty is so ridiculous." Xuanjing said with a smile, "Tao is natural. Your Majesty is destined to be immortal."

The emperor only felt that Xuanjing's words were appropriate, which made him feel more comfortable.

Eunuch Ni then wiped the sweat from the emperor's forehead with confidence, and served tea to both the emperor and Xuanjing.

The emperor took a sip of tea, and the topic turned to Gu Jue, "Taoist Priest, how is Gu Jue's illness?"

Xuanjing took out a simple turtle shell and six copper coins from his sleeve, and said in a low voice, neither humble nor arrogant: "Your Majesty, please allow me to do some divination for you."

He put the six copper coins into the brown turtle shell, then sealed it with his right hand, closed his eyes and raised the turtle shell high, shaking it gently.

The sound of copper coins hitting the turtle shell echoed clearly in the imperial study.

Xuanjing shook the turtle shell four or five times, then gently poured out the coins inside...

There was silence in the imperial study room. Both the emperor and Eunuch Ni stared at Xuanjing's every move.

I just heard a few birds flapping their wings and flying past outside the window, playing with each other.

Xuanjing looked at the few copper coins and murmured to himself: "Need hexagram, Tianshui hexagram, there will be bumps in the road... The sixty-fourth line is also called the blood line, the disaster of blood and light... to wait for a turn."

After a moment, Xuanjing raised his head and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, King Chen is seriously ill and narrowly escaped death. This is a sign of 'survival from desperate situations'."

He stroked his beard inscrutably, and a glimmer of light flashed under his eyes.

He also accidentally knew that people from Prince Chen's palace were looking for famous doctors in the south of the Yangtze River. In order to win the emperor's trust, he told the story under the guise of a hexagram. For this reason, the emperor had more trust in him, repeatedly invited him into the palace, and even asked him to make elixirs.

The emperor's expression condensed, and he felt that Xuanjing's calculation was too accurate.

Gu Jue was seriously ill, and the miracle doctor in Jishi Hall was just a charlatan. Logically speaking, she should not be able to cure Gu Jue, but what if, as the hexagram said, Gu Jue had a "narrow escape from death".

The emperor placed the teacup heavily on the coffee table. The impact made Eunuch Ni's heart skip a beat, and he almost dropped the whisk in his hand.

The emperor was very unhappy: How could this Gu Jue have such a good life? He couldn't survive such a **** disaster like Xue Yao, but he still continued to hinder his eyes and block his way!

The surrounding air also cooled down.

Xuanjing twirled his beard, lowered his head to look at the hexagrams, and said hesitantly: "But..."

"But what?" The emperor asked anxiously.

"According to this hexagram, King Chen is in a moment of life and death. As long as he makes a wrong step, his chance of survival will be extinguished..." Xuan Jing finished the sentence ambiguously.

The emperor narrowed his sharp eyes and pondered the meaning of Xuan Jing's words, thinking silently in his heart: If you make one wrong step, your chance of survival will be wiped out...

Seeing the emperor's silence, Taoist Priest Xuanjing said again enigmatically: "Everyone's fate is destined by God, everything has its own destiny..."

The emperor's eyes narrowed.

Destined? ! He is the Son of Heaven, and he can go against the will of Heaven!

Destined? ! He had to weaken Gu Jue's destiny...

Wait, weaken your destiny!

The emperor thought of something and was about to ask Xuan Jing again. At this moment, the curtain of Concubine Xiang was opened, and a young **** in green came in, looking like he was hesitant to speak.

The emperor immediately guessed what was going on, and his face became even more ugly, as if a storm was coming.

Xuan Jing knew how to look at his face and resigned sensibly: "The emperor still has government affairs, so I won't disturb the emperor."

The young chamberlain in green clothes then reported: "Your Majesty, His Highness King Chen refuses to come."

He swallowed and hung his head. He didn't see King Chen at all, and the people from King Chen's Mansion dismissed him with "I won't come."

The emperor became even more annoyed. He clenched his fists tightly and felt as if an angry dragon was roaring and rolling in his chest.

In the past two months, he had informed Gu Jue again and again, but Gu Jue ignored him and did not take him as the Emperor of Qi seriously.

He wants to go in person!

"Show me Prince Chen's Mansion!" the emperor said angrily, striding out of the imperial study room.

But before he reached Qianqingmen, the emperor changed his mind again and suppressed his unhappiness.

"Go to Zhongcui Palace!" The emperor changed his direction temporarily and went to Zhongcui Palace of Concubine Chu.

The emperor had not been to Zhongcui Palace for a long time. Concubine Chu was overjoyed and hurriedly inserted an extra five-phoenix and sun-facing pearl hairpin into her hair. She looked at the mirror and felt sorry for herself before going to greet the emperor.

The arrival of the emperor made the entire Zhongcui Palace burst with joy. The maids and chamberlains were all busy. Some served tea, water, fruits and snacks, some added ice basins to the east side hall, and some fanned them...

After the emperor took a sip of tea, he couldn't wait to get to the point: "A few days ago, I saw Nan Zhao and your two nieces in the imperial garden..."

Concubine Chu's thoughts moved and her eyelashes trembled, "That day, my concubine's younger siblings brought their two nieces to the palace to visit me. I asked the second prince to take them to the imperial garden to enjoy the flowers."

While Concubine Chu was speaking, a flash of thought flashed across her eyes: Could it be that the emperor suddenly mentioned this matter because of Chu Qianchen...

Just as Concubine Chu guessed, the emperor did come for Chu Qianchen.

"What do you think of your second niece?" the emperor asked casually while brushing the foam on the tea soup with the tea lid.

Concubine Chu's heart skipped a beat. Her son had mentioned to her that he wanted to ask his father to grant him a marriage with Chu Qianchen. At that time, she coaxed her son not to go to his father first. Could it be that her son still begged his father behind her back? There? !

It must have been that vixen Chu Qianchen who coaxed his son!

Concubine Chu secretly thought to herself, hiding the strange color in her eyes, and sighed awkwardly, as if she was about to speak but hesitated: "My second niece is the concubine of my younger brother..."

Her intention was to remind the emperor that as a concubine, she was definitely not qualified to be the prince's concubine.

"I heard from my younger siblings that she has always been taciturn and has a soft-tempered temperament. She only works as a female celebrity at home and does not leave the house on weekdays."

"This child is a filial child. Because Sister Huang went to the palace to be the companion of the third princess, she often went to my sister-in-law to keep her company. My sister-in-law liked her so much that they even took her with them to the palace this time. , I looked at even Sister Huang and had to step aside."

Concubine Chu spoke euphemistically and implicitly, with a hint of joking.

She didn't say a word bad about Chu Qianchen. At first glance, it seemed like she was trying to protect him. In fact, every word she said had a profound meaning, saying that Chu Qianchen took advantage of Chu Qianhuang's absence and took advantage of it. My mother-in-law pretends to be filial and wants to steal the limelight from my eldest sister.

However, the more Concubine Chu said, the more satisfied the emperor became, and the corners of his lips curled up. This is good!

The emperor put down the tea cup, opened the folding fan at random, and fanned slowly. The words Xuanjing said that day rang in his ears again: "Some people become strong when they are strong, and weak when they are weak. If she encounters someone who is not kind, It will also weaken the opponent’s fate.”

interesting! This Chu Qianchen is really "not bad".

Concubine Chu had been observing the changes in the emperor's expression. She was a little unsure of the emperor's attitude and asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, did she do anything rude that day?"

The emperor casually said "no" with a cold expression. At this moment, he remembered the gilt sachet in Chu Qianhuang's hand that day, and he praised casually: "Your eldest niece is quite good."

Concubine Chu heard that the emperor praised Chu Qianhuang, but had no good words for Chu Qianchen. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief and followed the emperor's words and praised: "Yes, Sister Huang is a concubine whom I have watched since she was a child." Big ones are good ones.”

It seemed that the imperial concubine had indeed taken a fancy to her eldest niece as a concubine for the second prince. The emperor thought he understood what Concubine Chu meant and said "hmm".

The topic about the Chu family ended here. Concubine Chu turned the topic to Gu Nanzhao's homework and said a lot of good things for her son without leaving any trace.

The emperor's left ear went in and his right ear came out, and he looked out the window again, looking in the direction of Prince Chen's Mansion.

The Longevity Festival was not far away, and he couldn't wait to give Gu Jue a big gift.

Within two days, the news that Prince Chen's palace was closing its doors to thank guests spread to everyone in the capital.

Reminiscent of the previous rumors that King Chen was seriously ill, many people were initially skeptical, but now they feel that there is a high probability that King Chen is really dying.

King Chen controlled the Northern Army and completely expelled Chi Di from the territory of Da Qi. In recent years, his prestige among the people and the army of Da Qi has been close to that of the emperor. His survival is bound to have a huge impact on the changes in the political situation.

Many courtiers saw the opportunity and were eager to try, including Yongding Hou Chu Lingxiao.

However, no matter how ambitious Chu Lingxiao was, he was powerless and could only pin his hopes on his son.

"Brother Yi, you have to give your father credit!"

Chu Lingxiao patted Chu Yunyi's shoulder and warned him. He felt very aggrieved and felt that he was simply born at the wrong time.

This would have been an excellent opportunity.

Once King Chen fell, the tree fell and the hozens scattered, and King Chen's lineage would no longer be relevant. It is conceivable that there will definitely be many vacancies in the army by then. If he tries to maneuver around the court, he might be able to rise to the next level. building.

But now, he was trapped on the couch and could only miss this great opportunity!

Chu Lingxiao looked at his injured leg that was tightly bandaged, and his heart surged with anger, and his injured leg began to hurt again.

During these days, he never gave up and invited doctors from many surrounding places who were good at orthopedics to come to the Hou Mansion, but none of the so-called famous doctors said it was not possible.

The repeated setbacks and disappointments poured bucket after bucket of cold water on Chu Lingxiao, making his temper more and more irritable. He scolded and angered his servants at every turn, and the servants lived in fear every day. The two maids in the room all shrank their necks and did not dare to say a word. They only glanced at Chu Yunyi quietly and thought to themselves: Fortunately, the eldest young master is here. The marquis seems to be in a good mood today.

"Father, don't worry, I will do my best." Chu Yunyi, who was sitting beside the couch, said confidently.

Looking at his eldest son who looked similar to himself, Chu Lingxiao's expression softened slightly.

His eldest son is like him in everything. He is capable of both literary and military skills. He is proud of him. He will definitely be able to make a name for the Hou Mansion!

"This Wanshou Festival martial arts test is your best opportunity. As long as you enter the finals, you will soar to the sky and become famous in the capital." Chu Lingxiao taught earnestly, looking like a loving father, "Brother Yi, yesterday's You performed well in the preliminary round, and you can’t slack off in the subsequent sword competition and shooting test.”

"When it comes to sword duels, you can use the set of sword techniques Master Xu taught you, and you'll be sure of it."

"Your cavalry shooting has always been excellent. There are few rivals among people of your age in Beijing. During the shooting test, as long as you don't underestimate the enemy and don't panic, you will definitely stand out."

On the day of Wanshou Festival, there will be a martial arts test in the palace, which is a great opportunity for military generals and nobles to show their prestige.

There are two martial arts trials, one is a duel between military generals, and the other is for teenagers under the age of fifteen. As long as you pass the first three preliminary trials and reach the finals on the Longevity Festival, you can compete with the emperor and Barbarians from all over the place who came for pilgrimage showed their faces.

During the Wanshou Festival in previous years, military generals or noble disciples have gained a good future because of it.

Hearing Chu Lingxiao mention riding and shooting, Chu Yunyi's brows moved slightly, and he thought of Chu Qianchen and Yunting Pavilion that day.

Chu Qianchen's four arrows were each more exciting than the last. He couldn't help but think about how she would shoot the fifth arrow...

Both his father and Master Wu praised him for his good riding and archery, and he had always thought so. He had never lost in riding and archery competitions with other nobles in Beijing before, but he was not as good as Chu Qianchen.

He lost, no doubt about it.

Chu Yunyi's lips pursed into a straight line, showing a bit of stubbornness and unwillingness to admit defeat.

"Father, did you also teach my second sister the art of archery?" Chu Yunyi clenched his fists and couldn't help but ask.

Whether he and Chu Qianhuang were studying or riding and shooting, they were all initiated by Chu Lingxiao himself.

"..." Chu Lingxiao frowned, not understanding why Chu Yunyi suddenly asked this, and replied impatiently, "I never taught her."

Chu Lingxiao got angry when she thought of Chu Qianchen: This girl is just an ignorant white-eyed wolf, unfilial and disrespectful, and has no aunt and her father in her heart.

Chu Yunyi raised his eyebrows in surprise and said: "Father, the second sister's archery skills are superb. Last time I competed with her in Yunting Pavilion, I lost..."

Chu Yunyi was about to elaborate on what happened that day, but Chu Lingxiao couldn't bear to listen at all and interrupted him with a sneer: "Your second sister is just a showman." Chu Qianchen knew how to please Shen every day, so he just Knowing how to take those sideways, how good can her riding and shooting be?

"..." Chu Yunyi hesitated, feeling that what his father said was not quite right.

The arrows Chu Qianchen made in Yunting Pavilion were so exquisite that even the second prince, Prince Shun and Prince Nanhao Wuhejialou were full of praise. This shouldn't be a show-off, right?

If this is called showing off, what does it mean to lose to her? !

Chu Yunyi pursed her lips and thought: It was obvious that Chu Qianchen worked hard to practice archery, but no one in the house knew, not even his father.

So, does aunt know? !

The answer naturally emerged in his mind. Chu Yunyi was almost sure that Aunt Jiang probably didn't know anything either.

Chu Yunyi became more and more curious about Chu Qianchen, thinking about how she had easily overturned him, and thinking about what she had heard from the maid talking about her saving her fourth brother a few days ago.

Chu Lingxiao said something else later, and Chu Yunyi just responded to every word he said.

Half an hour later, because Chu Lingxiao needed to change his dressing, Chu Yunyi came out from him.

When I was leaving the yard, there was a sudden "bang, bang, bang, bang" sound coming from the house behind me.

Chu Yunyi's servant heard the sound and looked back with a complicated expression.

There are no secrets in the Hou Mansion. The young man has heard about it a long time ago. The Marquis has become more and more irritable because of his leg injury. Even Aunt Jiang has expressed his anger several times. Just now, the young man was worried that his young master would also be angered by the Marquis...

"Master..." The young man withdrew his gaze and found that Chu Yunyi had already walked forward by himself. He seemed to have something on his mind and was absent-minded.

Chu Yunyi was still thinking about Chu Qianchen, but before he knew it, he went to the martial arts field.

At this time, the sun was setting in the west, and the surrounding flowers, trees, pavilions, etc. were filled with bright rays of light.

"Chu Qianchen, demonstrate it to me again!" Chu Yunmu's excited voice came from the martial arts field.

Chu Yunyi couldn't help but quicken his pace. The oncoming breeze was warm and made people feel a little stuffy.

After walking into the martial arts arena, he immediately saw Chu Qianchen in a lilac-colored undershirt standing in front, picking up arrows and drawing a bow...

While demonstrating, she spoke patiently to Chu Yunmu: "Brother Mu, look carefully, like this..."

"The mind must be calm, the eyes must be steady, and the hands must be steady."

"Then let go of the arrow..."

As the last word fell, her hand on the string loosened, and the arrow shot out...

Chu Yunyi didn't look to see if the feathered arrow hit the target. Even if he didn't look, he knew that her arrow must hit the target.

His eyes still fell on Chu Qianchen, on the confident smile on her lips.

That subtle feeling arose in his heart again, as if he had never known this sister in the past ten years.

The girl in front of her is familiar yet unfamiliar, so outstanding and dazzling.

"Bah bang bang!"

Chu Yunmu clapped his hands excitedly and praised without hesitation: "Chu Qianchen, you hit the target again! You are so amazing. A famous teacher makes a great disciple, so I will be as powerful as you, right?!"

Chu Qianchen took another arrow and gently touched the top of his hair with the end with the tail feathers. "If you want to be as 'powerful' as me, you have to practice hard!"

"No matter what you study, you must remember one sentence..."

"I know! Nothing but familiarity." Chu Yunmu said tacitly, "You've said it a hundred times."

He raised his chin arrogantly and confidently, and said, "You can do it, and so can I!"

Chu Yunyi looked at Chu Qianchen and Chu Yunmu with mixed feelings in his heart, including admiration, surprise, admiration, some unwillingness to admit defeat... and some sourness, with a sour breath rising up.

He is her brother, why doesn't she practice with him? !

Chu Yunyi clenched his fists and walked awkwardly towards Chu Qianchen and Chu Yunmu.

Chu Qianchen had actually noticed him coming, and ignored him. He handed the feather arrow in his hand to Chu Yunmu, "Come on, shoot!"

Only then did Chu Yunmu see Chu Yunyi, and he waved the hand holding the arrow, "Brother."

Chu Yunyi also greeted him firmly: "Fourth brother."

He was still awkward in his heart, deliberately not looking at Chu Qianchen or saying hello to her.

Chu Yunmu didn't notice that they were silent at all, and went to shoot arrows by himself.

As he nocked arrows and drew his bow, he muttered and repeated Chu Qianchen's instructions just now: "The mind must be calm, the eyes must be steady, and the hands must be steady."

Chu Yunmu has been practicing archery with Chu Qianchen for more than a month, basically rain or shine, that is, he only stopped for a few days after his face was broken by a broken string. Now his archery level has improved greatly, and every arrow is shot. Can hit the target.

Chu Yunyi was also practicing archery beside him.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

He shot very fast, with the effort of Chu Yunmu shooting one arrow, he could shoot almost two arrows, and he shot faster and faster, with a kind of venting impatience in his movements.

Each of the first few arrows hit the target, but when it came to the fifth arrow, this arrow suddenly deflected and hit Chu Yunmu's target next to him, hitting the target again.

"Brother, you missed the target!" Chu Yunmu pointed at his target and chuckled, imitating Chu Qianchen's tone of voice and scolding him, "Your heart is not calm!"

"..." Chu Yunyi glanced at Chu Qianchen, who was standing next to Chu Yunmu, from the corner of his eye, waiting for Chu Qianchen to "laugh" at him.

However, Chu Qianchen still didn't look at him, and gently rubbed the top of Chu Yunmu's head, "You still have time to care about others, practice your own!"

The face of "others" froze. Seeing Chu Qianchen "gently" rubbing the top of Chu Yunmu's hair, his heart became even more sad. He remembered the scene where he was thrown to the ground by her, and his back and **** started to move again. Pain.

She...she...she is treated too differently!

Chu Yunyi held a breath in her heart and said to herself, hum, she ignored him, and he ignored her!

He doesn't care about her!

Chu Yunyi turned his head and wanted to talk to Chu Yunmu, but found that the place beside him was empty at some point. Chu Yunmu and Chu Qianchen were gone.

Where are people? !

He looked around half a circle and saw the two of them walking towards the entrance of the martial arts arena, talking as they walked.

"Chu Qianchen, I heard from some cousins ​​in the clan school today that there will be a sword competition tomorrow, and I want to go see it too." Chu Yunmu pulled Chu Qianchen's sleeve and looked up at her, obviously thinking She takes him there.

"No, you have a lot of homework." Chu Qianchen refused without saying a word.

"Second sister~" Chu Yunmu shook Chu Qianchen's sleeves and trailed off in a coquettish tone.

"If you are good, I will take you to the third show." Chu Qianchen negotiated terms with him.

"Be good! I'm the best!"

"oh."

"What do you mean by 'oh'? Am I not good?"

“…”

The two siblings talked and laughed and drifted away.

Chu Yunyi's servant also looked at the two of them leaving, feeling a little surprised in his heart.

Not long after he returned to Beijing, he also heard that the second girl and the fourth young master were getting along well, but what he heard was false. It was only now that he saw it with his own eyes that the young man felt that seeing was believing.

"Master..."

The boy wanted to ask him if he wanted to continue practicing archery, but he saw his young master casually threw the bow aside and said: "No more practice!"

The boy scratched his head, feeling that his young master seemed a little weird today.

Chu Yunyi left angrily, holding a breath in his heart.

He will definitely not lose, and he must let Chu Qianchen see what he can do.

(End of chapter)