♂?，，

  The southern suburbs are peaceful, away from the hustle and bustle of the world. Quiet time always passes especially quickly. In a flash, Ming Xuan and Pei Jingchen have been living in the villa for over a month. During this time, Zhang Hai has been constantly traveling between the Town Country Public House and the villa, passing on news from the Imperial City and the Inner Palace.

  Yu Huifei gave birth to a son and was rewarded with the title of Duchess of Dingguo, and her mother, Mrs. Liao, also benefited from the glory of the Crown Prince and was exceptionally granted the title of Third-Rank Lady by imperial decree. With this title, even though she came from a humble background, no one dared to show disrespect to her in person.

  Then Yang Youcheng was stripped of his official rank and title on the charge of mistaken killing. Yu Keqin, the Duke of Dingguo, who was in high spirits, insisted that "the prince who breaks the law should be punished like a commoner" and had the officials of the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court sentence him to death. However, as an old minister who had rendered meritorious service to the country over the years, his merits outweighed his demerits, and the emperor showed mercy and spared his life, only confining him at home for quiet reflection on his mistakes.

  Although the edict left room for maneuver, the winds of change on the imperial court were treacherous, and once the power in one's grasp was taken away, it would not be easy to retrieve. The path to restoration is by no means an easy one. The Yang family had been subjected to continuous political suppression, but Pei Xiang did not lend a helping hand; isolated and unsupported, the decline of the Yang family was evident, and there were no talented younger generation in the family to turn things around, the downfall of the Yang family was sealed.

  It turned out that the Empress had an unexpected premature birth, and after going through countless difficulties, she gave birth to a prince. However, the child was stillborn due to poisoning in the womb. The Emperor was furious and punished all the palace maids who served the Empress. The Empress Dowager, being close to the Empress, also received the wrath and an edict was issued stating "The Empress is unwell and must rest in the central palace. All internal palace affairs will be handled by the Noble Consort and the Kind Consort", thus easily stripping her of the imperial seal.

  But in just one month, the situation in the inner court had completely changed.

  Empress Pei closed her doors and reflected on her mistakes, no longer managing the imperial harem.

  The Empress's previous silence and low-key demeanor had earned her a thread of trust and entrustment from the Emperor.

  The Empress gave birth to the Emperor's eldest son, establishing her position in the palace, and the Emperor's favor towards her was even more pronounced. She was indeed the undisputed first lady of the imperial harem.

  Shu Fei, although once favored and prosperous for a time, was like yesterday's fireworks, disappearing after a brief splendor. The child she gave birth to at the cost of her life was harmed in the womb by someone's scheme, and she herself died soon after childbirth due to uncontrolled bleeding. The emperor was grief-stricken. However, imperial favor is fleeting, quickly dispersing like clouds and smoke in the wind.

  When she heard the news of Shu Fei's passing, Ming Xuan was sewing tiger-head shoes for Snow Su's unborn child with Dan Hong. Her body trembled slightly. The needle inserted into her index finger without bias, and instantly a blood bead emerged. She hastily put her injured finger in her mouth, feeling that her mouth was full of the pungent and salty taste, just like her mood at this moment.

  After a long time, with the same mind, Dan Hong understood Ming Xuan's concerns and sighed softly before comforting her. "Everyone has their own fate, this is the fate of the Empress, why should you blame yourself?"

  Ming Xuan shook her head, "I don't blame myself. The reason why Shu Fei is like this today is the result of past causes. Whether or not I indulged her in learning my sister's way of speaking and dressing, whether or not I reminded her what she should and shouldn't do, she would still end up taking this step today."

  Her eyes were slightly dim, her neck as white as jade drooped lightly, "I just suddenly feel a little sad."

  No diamond, no porcelain business.

  The deep palace is treacherous, outsiders only see the wealth and honor, but can't see the sinister plots under the glory. Women who enter the palace are like entering an arena, to survive and live well, they must constantly fight. If they win, they can stand among the clouds, looking down on the world, benefiting their family, and extending their descendants. If they lose, they can only become a lonely and desolate ghost.

  The Empress's temperament is arrogant and proud, neither steady nor wise. Such a person, entering that place where people are eaten without spitting out bones, originally had no chance of winning. The only thing she could rely on was the emperor's favor, but the emperor's favor has always been the most unreliable thing.

  So, the sorrowful Emperor's original wish to give Shu Fei a grand burial was changed to a simple one because of the Crown Prince's thorough crying and Yu Gui Fei's single sentence "avoiding taboos". The coffin was carried into the side hall of the imperial mausoleum without even letting the people from Yongning Hou Fu's family send her off, as if nothing had happened.

  Ming Xuan was feeling a bit melancholic, when Xiao Su came in with a smile on her face and reported, "Miss, there's a guest at home, your brother-in-law is asking you to go to the main hall!"

  Tan Hong hastily asked, "What kind of guest has arrived?"

  Xiao Su covered her mouth and smiled, "Young Master doesn't allow me to say, you'll know once you come out and see."

  Ming Xuan's face was filled with a hint of confusion, but she still obediently put down the array in her hand, tidied up her appearance, and went to the main hall. Before entering the door, she heard a loud and clear laughter coming from inside, and her heart skipped a beat as she excitedly lifted the thick curtain and shouted, "Brother!"

  In the hall, a man in a dark golden brocade robe stood upright, like a towering pine tree standing proudly in the wind. He heard the sound and turned his face around, his stern expression suddenly filled with gentle charm. He got up and took two steps forward, saying excitedly, "Xuan sister, it's me!"

  Gu Yuanjing completed the task entrusted by the Emperor, and rushed back to Shengjing from afar. After entering the palace to report back, he heard that Ming Xuan and Pei Jingchen were temporarily residing in a villa in the southern suburbs, so he came here first.

  Many things have happened in the past six months, and rumors that Pei Jingchen broke his leg had already reached Lin Nan. He was naturally anxious, but the emperor's secret order was urgent, so he didn't dare to delay it. He only sent a few trusted men back to Shengjing City to investigate the news. Later, he learned that although his brother-in-law's legs were disabled, they were not life-threatening. Ming Xuan, his only sister, also looked very calm and positive, so he was slightly relieved.

  But as he approached Shengjing, he heard about the changes in the imperial palace and his uneasy heart was filled with worries again. After reporting back, he didn't even return to Yongning Hou Mansion, but came straight here. He wanted to see what was going on with Pei Jingchen's leg and also had something to ask of her.

  Ming Xuan invited Gu Yuanjing to take a seat, and ordered Xiao Su to serve fresh tea. Then she carefully sized him up, "It's been half a year since we last met, brother looks darker and thinner."

  Gu Yuanjing smiled and said, "Linsouth is located in a remote area, the products are not as rich as Jiangnan, the sun is shining brightly, and the sea breeze is blowing, so the skin of the people there is mostly dark. I stayed there for half a year, and it's no wonder that I'm darker and thinner."

  He paused, looking at Pei Jingchen and said, "Brother-in-law's leg is due to the remaining poison, don't worry too much. This little brother of mine is from the Miao ethnic group in Lin Nan, he has some knowledge about poison. I'll ask him to take a look, maybe it's not necessarily that Western Xia poisonous grass." Yellow clothes, what do you say?

  Ming Xuan followed Gu Yuanjing's line of sight and looked over, noticing a slender youth standing behind him. Although the youth's skin was slightly dark, it was very delicate and smooth, with small joints and no Adam's apple, looking like a girl.

  She felt a slight stir in her heart, but suppressed the doubt and asked the man sincerely, "Would you please take a look at my husband? Is there any other way to cure this poison?"

  The girl in yellow clothes looked very innocent and naive. She took out a red rope from her bosom and tied it around Pei Jingchen's pulse, then said after a while, "This poison is quite strange, if we can get the poisonous grass of Western Xia to detoxify it naturally, that would be best. If not, we'll have to think of other ways. In fact, this poison is rare, but it won't defeat me. However, my method of detoxification might be unacceptable to you!"

  She casually pulled out a small earthenware jar from her bosom, opened it and poured out a heap of snakes, scorpions and ants. Smiling, she said, "Our Miao family has always treated poison in this way. If we can't find the right medicine to counteract the poison, we use the method of fighting poison with poison. Others may not be able to solve their poison, but our poison is controllable."

  Ming Xuan's face changed color, and in her heart, she roughly guessed that this girl called Huang Yi should be the Miao girl from the rumors.

  In the far south, there is a vast jungle. Due to the hot weather, it is prone to toxic humidity and has many poisonous insects and snakes. Ordinary people do not dare to approach those forests, but only the Miao family is fearless of these poisons. They have the ability to detoxify poisons, which is rare in the world. However, because they are far away from the central plains, they rarely interact with others, so their personalities are relatively introverted. Their customs and habits are also different from those of the central plains, and they have their own set of standards.

  Rumor has it that Miao women are mostly born with extraordinary beauty, a lively and cheerful personality, straightforward and frank, but they hate evil like an enemy, can't tolerate even a speck of dust in their eyes, have a fiery temper, and if someone provokes them, they won't reason with you, they will definitely take drastic measures. The etiquette and rules of the Zhou Dynasty's folk customs are useless on them.

  Ming Xuan thought about it and felt a little apprehensive.

  It was just that, compared to Pei Jingzhen's legs, even the biggest taboo had to step aside. She hastily asked, "I don't know what method you're referring to?"

  The woman in yellow smiled and said, "It's very simple. I'll have these little critters go into the young master's legs, suck out the accumulated toxic blood. Although it's unavoidable that they'll leave some of their own deadly poison in his bloodstream, I can control this poison with a single pellet each time an attack occurs, ensuring his safety forever."

  She glanced at Pei Jingchen's legs and said with some disdain, "It's still better than being a useless person like this."

  Gu Yuanjing hastily interrupted her, "Huang Yi, how dare you speak like that? He is my brother-in-law, don't talk to him in such an unseemly manner."

  Huang Yi wanted to speak but stopped, wanting to refute, but after receiving Gu Yuanjing's icy gaze, she could only bite her lip and reluctantly endured it, the rich expression on her face was breathtaking.

  Ming Xuan didn't have the leisure to investigate the relationship between the Miao girl and her own brother, but in her heart, she was weighing the effectiveness of Huang Yi's treatment method. She thought that if they really used this "poison fighting poison" approach, wouldn't they be subject to the Miao girl's control in the future? If the poison broke out at a time when there was no antidote nearby, what would they do then? Originally, all they needed to do was wait for the Western Xia country's poisonous grass to clear away the poison once and for all, but now it had become a lifelong burden.

  But then she thought again, at this time, the date of Han Xiuyuan's promise had already passed for a month or two, and there was no news from that side. Should she really continue to wait?

  Complete works txt download, full text free, e-book, remember 77 reading books