readsfreenovel Chapter 117 Stay
Chapter 117 Stay
Li Xiang hesitated, "There are some matters that His Majesty needs to deal with... Your Majesty, His Majesty has personally instructed that you must leave Miaoling Palace on time tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will personally escort the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty back to the Imperial City."
Lan Qingwu knew that she couldn't get any more out of him, so she nodded gently: "Okay, I understand. Thank you for troubling Eunuch Li."
After Li Xiang left Jingyou Pavilion, Lan Qingwu felt something was wrong. She gently covered her chest and frowned slightly: "Ruping, go outside and see if you can get any information."
Ruping also had a hunch that something big was about to happen, so she hurriedly took the order and left.
What Lan Qingwu didn't know was that shortly after Li Xiang reported to him, Emperor Shenwu quietly left Miaoling Palace, followed by several generals. After the assembled army met up with the emperor outside, they rushed towards Ningzhou City.
Li Xiang was left in Qingliang Palace to deal with everyone in the palace. He acted as a shield with a numb face, imagining the look the Empress Dowager and the concubines would give him tomorrow.
The next day, around noon, the convoy was ready to set off, and Li Xiang was kneeling in the Quanhe Pavilion, answering Empress Dowager Li.
At this time, in Quanhe Pavilion, the three concubines, Yang Guipin, Liang Guipin, Lan Qingwu, Wenpin, and Li Guiren were all in the main hall. Li Xiang's scalp was numb from being stared at by everyone.
Empress Dowager Li was puzzled. "Are you saying that His Majesty will not return to the Imperial City with me and the six concubines? Aren't you saying that someone is causing trouble in the city? Wouldn't it be enough to send a military officer? Does the Emperor wish to stay here to handle government affairs?"
Li Xiang resisted the urge to wipe away the cold sweat. "Empress Dowager, His Majesty has personally gone to Ningzhou City to quell the rebellion. It was... the Deer King who was slaughtering the people in Ningzhou City."
Empress Dowager Li jumped up in shock: "What? It's Zhou Qizheng? The Emperor actually went there in person?"
Lan Qingwu's heart sank, and the other concubines looked at each other in confusion.
Li Xiang hurriedly tried to appease her, "Empress Dowager, please be at ease. His Majesty is worried about your health, so he has asked me and General Wei to escort you and the six concubines back to the imperial city. You are the backbone at this time, and the six concubines are all watching over you!"
Empress Dowager Li forced herself to calm down slowly. "Yes, the Emperor has definitely made all the arrangements. Now, if you don't cause him any more trouble, you're already doing him a favor. The Deer King can't do anything to my son. Pass on my imperial decree. All six palaces will follow me and depart immediately. Also, no further news about His Majesty can be spread!"
The last sentence was specifically said to the concubines in Quanhe Pavilion. Lan Qingwu stood up and saluted with the concubines: "Your Highness obeys your command."
Lan Qingwu withdrew from Quanhe Pavilion. Ruping said cautiously, "Master, no wonder I couldn't find out anything yesterday. His Majesty left Miaoling Palace long ago and has already arranged everything. Ruhan and I have also packed up. Master, prepare to leave!"
Lan Qingwu nodded absentmindedly: "Yeah, has Master Buyu been notified?"
"Master, don't worry, I've already notified you."
Lan Qingwu's heart was not at peace. She got into her carriage, listened to the slightly messy sounds outside the carriage, and her fingers couldn't help but gently stroke the Buddhist beads.
Outside the carriage, Li Xiang's voice rang out: "My Lady, are you ready?"
Ruhan gently lifted the curtain: "Eunuch Li, the queen is ready."
Li Xiang wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Your Majesty, I have to go and look after the Empress Dowager. If you have anything to say, please have my disciple Jincai pass on the message to me!"
"Eunuch Li is very thoughtful. You can go and look after the Empress Dowager. Jincai will stay here."
Li Xiang left in a hurry. Jincai, who was only fourteen or fifteen years old, was left with Lan Qingwu by Li Xiang.
The carriage moved slowly, and Lan Qingwu was sitting there feeling uneasy.
After a moment, Lan Qingwu suddenly opened the car curtain and called out, "Jincai, come here."
Jincai jumped down from the carriage at the back and hurried forward to salute.
Ru Ping looked at Lan Qingwu's expression and quickly started a conversation with Jin Cai: "Master, I pity you because you are young, but are you thirsty? Here are some cakes, you can take them and eat them."
Jincai's cheeks flushed as he quickly accepted the message to express his gratitude. Ruping exchanged a few pleasantries with Jincai before Lan Qingwu took over, "Eunuch Li has already told me that His Majesty left Miaoling Palace for Ningzhou City last night. What happened in the city was truly..."
Lan Qingwu paused.
Jincai nodded and continued in a low voice, "Yes, who would have thought that the Deer King would be so cruel, not only slaughtering the people in the city, but also threatening their lives and insisting that Your Majesty go to Ningzhou City in person. Alas, I don't know what the situation is like there!"
Lan Qingwu's heart was in a knot, and her hands clenched unconsciously. Ruping and Ruhan were also stunned for a moment. Ruping reacted immediately, said a few words to Jincai, and asked Jincai to go back to the carriage at the back.
Lan Qingwu stared blankly at the Buddhist beads in his hand. Ruping and Ruhan sat quietly in the carriage, not daring to disturb Lan Qingwu's meditation.
After a moment, Lan Qingwu's eyes gradually became clear and firm, "Ruping, Ruhan, let's go back to Miaoling Palace!"
Ru Ping and Ru Han looked up in surprise. Lan Qingwu continued, "After Your Majesty suppresses the rebellion, he will definitely pass by the Miaoling Palace on his way back to the Imperial City. We will be waiting here for Your Majesty's return!"
Lan Qingwu brought Ruping and Ruhan back to Miaoling Palace. The team hurried back to the imperial city and did not find anything wrong. This time they hurried back to the imperial city, and some concubines, palace maids, eunuchs, family members, slaves, etc. in the harem did not have time to return to the imperial city in the first batch and were left in Miaoling Palace.
Lan Qingwu asked Ruyan and Ruyue to follow the convoy back to the imperial city in order to deal with Li Xiang, as Li Xiang would definitely ask about it after returning to the palace.
Lan Qingwu returned to Jingyou Pavilion and waited for Ruping to report. Only then did she realize that there were still many people left in Miaoling Palace.
"Master, let's go back to Miaoling Palace. Imperial Physician Nie has also stayed with us, as has Master Buyu. This servant just found out that Master Buyu has been staying in Yinling Temple and has not made any plans to return to the Imperial City."
Lan Qingwu was surprised and asked, "Master Buyu didn't return to the Imperial City? Imperial Doctor Nie also stayed?"
Lan Qingwu slowly stood up: "Let's go and take a look."
In Yinling Temple, Master Buyu stood quietly at the temple gate, as if waiting for someone.
When Lan Qingwu entered the Yinling Temple, Master Buyu sighed inwardly. As expected, he clasped his hands together and bowed, saying, "Amitabha!"
Lan Qingwu sat down on the stone bench under the tree again. She no longer asked Master Buyu why he hadn't left Yinling Temple. People outside the world have their own ability to divine and consult spirits.
Lan Qingwu hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "Master Buyu, Your Majesty will surely return safely from suppressing the rebellion this time, right?"
"Amitabha! Your Majesty is destined by heaven, so you don't have to worry."
Lan Qingwu suddenly understood and nodded. He was worried and confused. That was also true. When he met Master Zhiyan that night, he only said that he was destined to die, and he did not give any advice to Emperor Shenwu.