The palace banquet hadn't started long before, why did King Qin disappear inexplicably?
Xie Hengwu still remembered that when she first entered the table, King Qin was still there and looked at her for a long time.
If Cui Luyi's eyes were hidden, King Qin's eyes were nakedly sizing up and coveting him.
The identity of the palace concubine did not seem to deter him.
Xie Hengwu knew very well what such a look meant, and when they first met, King Qin deliberately made things difficult for her, so she was not happy to see King Qin.
But if you don't like it, you won't like it. Maybe it's not a good thing that the person suddenly disappeared.
Queen Mother Cui on the other side was still busy socializing, talking to many ladies, and seemed to have no time to pay attention to Xie Hengwu.
The maid on the side saw that the glass in front of her was empty, so she came to refill it.
Xie Hengwu was thinking about something and subconsciously picked up the wine bottle. When he put it to his lips, he suddenly smelled a familiar sweet fragrance.
It was the sweet wine that Empress Dowager Cui handed me when she was in Changning Palace that day.
She paused and glanced quietly in the direction of Queen Mother Cui.
The latter was still talking to the ladies who came forward one after another, his eyes flickering as he laughed, seeming to look towards her.
Xie Hengwu understood that this was the person arranged by Empress Dowager Cui again.
Being so blatant was just because Xiao Yanzhou hadn't returned to the palace yet.
The sweet fragrance lingers on the tip of the nose and lingers for a long time. Xie Hengwu was not familiar with pharmacology and could not smell anything strange about the smell.
She lowered her eyes and thought for a while, then looked up to her side.
The place where the palace maid stood was originally Li Luo.
"Where is Li Luo?" She looked at the palace maid with a cold look in her eyes.
"Reporting to my young master, Sister Liluo has something to do and has to leave. Please ask my maid to take care of you for a while." The palace maid bowed her head and replied respectfully.
Xie Hengwu didn't quite believe it.
Li Luo was not the kind of person who would leave without authorization, let alone on such an important occasion, he would most likely be sent away.
"When will she come back?"
"My maid doesn't know." The palace maid finished speaking softly, and then added, "The Queen Mother said that she knows that the young master likes this sweet wine, so she ordered the maid to pour a cup for the young master."
Xie Hengwu narrowed his eyes and smiled: "Then I would like to thank the Queen Mother for her kindness."
The palace maid had a smile on her face: "My maid will definitely convey the message to the Queen Mother on behalf of my mistress."
"Little Master, if you don't drink, the wine will get cold."
There was a hint of urging in her words, and Xie Hengwu picked up the wine cup again. Under the expectant eyes of the palace maid, he just shook the wine cup gently.
"I will drink, you go down."
Xie Hengwu lowered his eyes and watched the nectar swaying in the cup, and the sweet aroma became more intense.
The palace maid said without changing her expression: "Sister Liluo has not returned yet. If the servant leaves, the young master will have no one to serve him."
Xie Hengwu raised his eyebrows without commenting.
Although she had a sweet tooth, the aroma of this sweet wine made her dizzy. What's more, it was given to her by Empress Dowager Cui and she didn't want to drink it.
After drinking last time, she called Dr. Jiang to take a look. Dr. Jiang said that it was fine for the time being and nothing could be seen, but she still had to be more careful.
One cup is fine, two cups is fine, what if there was a little more.
As Queen Mother Cui, it is not difficult to have some strange and incurable poisons on her hands.
The eyes next to her were staring closely, as if she would never leave until she drank.
It is still unknown where the pear went. Xie Hengwu weighed it again and drank half the cup.
If something happened, she would definitely settle the score with Xiao Yanzhou.
Seeing that Xie Hengwu finally drank, the palace maid raised the corners of her lips and said softly and respectfully: "My lord, I will give you some food."
"Go down."
Xie Hengwu said quietly, this time, the palace maid did not use the excuse of being unavailable and retreated very obediently.
As expected, Li Luo came back after a while.
Xie Hengwu was drinking tea to dilute the sweet taste in her mouth. When she noticed Li Luo coming back, she motioned Li Luo to lean over.
"Where have you been?"
"The nun next to the Queen Mother asked the maid to fetch something." Li Luo whispered, "But after arriving at the place, the maid searched around but couldn't find what the nun said, so she came back first."
"Little Master, did something happen?"
Seeing Li Luo's nervous expression, Xie Hengwu paused and shook his head.
"It's okay, don't worry."
The palace banquet went on as usual, and everyone became drunk amidst the singing and dancing.
Probably because of Xiao Yanzhou's absence, the palace was much more lively than before. Cui Lujin has been called to the side by Empress Dowager Cui, and she is accompanying Empress Dowager Cui to socialize with the ladies.
They looked at Cui Lujin with eager eyes, and Cui Lujin also followed their words, and they both flattered each other so much that they were happy.
Cui Lujin still maintained a calm expression, but the slightly raised corners of her lips revealed her thoughts.
Although he didn't drink much, Xie Hengwu was not a good drinker. At this time, he felt a faint warmth rising in his belly. The earth dragon was burning in the palace. For a moment, the heat surged up and even his cheeks turned red.
Li Luo looked at Xie Hengwu's cheeks that were still red even though they were covered with makeup, and whispered: "My lord, will my maid take you out to wake up to the bar?"
Xie Hengwu felt a little dizzy. He thought it was probably too warm and stuffy in the palace, so he took the pear drop.
No one noticed her leaving the table, but Queen Mother Cui, who was sitting in the main seat, glanced at her without leaving a trace. The nanny on the side noticed it and retreated quietly.
It's windy and cold outside, and the breeze wakes you up a lot.
The symptoms of dizziness were slightly relieved, and Xie Hengwu never thought about the alcohol problem.
The sky was dark, without any stars or moonlight, and it seemed like it was going to snow. The dark sky pressed down on the palace city decorated in red, making it feel a little gloomy for a while.
Fortunately, the voices in the hall could be heard from time to time, which diluted the spooky feeling.
Xie Hengwu paused for a while and then planned to go back.
But I saw my grandma coming up to me: "My lord, the Queen Mother please go to the Chengde Hall to wait for her."
"Chengde Hall?" Xie Hengwu frowned. She still remembered that it was the place where Wang Ying'er went last time after her accident. "What's wrong with the Queen Mother?"
"My dear, please forgive me. The Queen Mother did not explain. I cannot tell my young master."
Xie Hengwu's eyes flashed: "But Mammy, the palace banquet is not over yet, I can't just leave like this..."
"Don't worry, young master. The Queen Mother will explain it for you. Besides, your majesty has not returned to the palace today, so no one will blame you." Mammy almost said bluntly, "No one cares about you." In the end, she still gave it to Xie Hengwu Save some face.
Then I saw the beauty in front of me lowered her head slightly and said hello softly.
Grandma sighed in her heart.
She couldn't understand why His Majesty would favor such a cowardly person. Is it just because of his beauty?
But if you think about it carefully, your Majesty probably likes this kind of temperament.
Mammy has followed the Queen Mother for many years, and Queen Mother Cui also had a bright and flamboyant style when she was young. Therefore, she despises such a petty family spirit who is always crying and crying.
Mammy thought, the person standing next to His Majesty should be a noble and proud daughter of a family like Lady Cui.
She didn't understand that Cui Lujin had such a close relationship with His Majesty, and even if they didn't love each other, there was no harm in marrying her, yet Your Majesty was avoiding her. She also didn't understand why there was such a deep gap between His Majesty and the Queen Mother.
They are clearly mother and son, but they are like enemies.
While thinking about it, Chengde Palace has arrived.
Grandma stepped aside, opened the door and asked Xie Hengwu to come in.
Li Luo was about to follow, but was stopped by Mammy.
"Young lady, stay here. Your Majesty has decreed that only the young master can enter."
With the name of the Queen Mother suppressed, Li Luo had to stop and looked at Xie Hengwu hesitantly.
Xie Hengwu thought for a moment and said softly: "Go back, you can just cover up for me."
Li Luo was helpless and left behind Fu.
Grandma opened the door.
The candles in Chengde Hall were brightly lit, as if they were half lit in advance. The incense burner that was supposed to be just a decoration was now lit, and milky white fragrant mist was rising.
Xie Hengwu sat down on the couch and looked at the incense burner in trance.
...where does the fragrance come from?
Suspicion swept through her mind. The biggest master in the palace did not like spices. In order to avoid violating the taboo, there should be no incense in the palace at all.
Even if the Queen Mother wants to see her, she has never lit incense before...
The fragrance is rising, and the strange aroma lingers in the nose, which seems familiar.
Xie Hengwu's eyelids drooped, and after a while, his heart suddenly shook.
This aroma...this aroma is the same as the smell in that glass of wine!
She was so startled that she got up and ran towards the palace door. However, as soon as he stood up, Xie Hengwu felt that the world was spinning, and an unspeakable heat surged into his heart, making his mouth dry and dry.
She would be a fool if she didn't understand what was going on.
Queen Mother Cui didn't want to see her, she clearly wanted to harm her!
It was her fault that she was too careless and underestimated Queen Mother Cui's courage.
How dare she do it in public.
Xie Hengwu bit the tip of his tongue, and the sting brought him a moment of clarity. She stumbled towards the palace door, but before she could take a few steps, someone grabbed her hand from behind.
The hand holding her was rough and wide, it must have belonged to a man.
Thinking of the King of Qin who had not seen him for a long time, there was nothing he didn't understand.
King Qin was very strong, and after grabbing her, he pulled her into his arms.
The medicine began to take effect, and Xie Hengwu's eyes were blurred like a tide, rising and receding. He pinched his leg with his other hand, trying to maintain his final consciousness.
It was a struggle just to stay awake, let alone talk. But Xie Hengwu didn't know if King Qin was as passive as she was. If King Qin was sober, there might be room for change.
She had probably guessed that Empress Dowager Cui wanted to completely control her, so she came up with such a damaging move.
There is evidence of adultery, and Queen Mother Cui can make her do anything.
"...My lord, if you dare to touch me, Your Majesty will definitely kill you."
Under the influence of the medicine, Xie Hengwu's voice became ambiguously hoarse, soft, and without any deterrent.
She heard King Qin chuckle, seemingly mocking her naivety.
"If my king's crazy brother knew about it, he would kill you first. In order to take revenge on me, would you not even take your own life?"
Xie Hengwu's heart sank. She naturally knew this.
Probably because he knew that no one could control him in this matter, and because he was pressed too hard by Xiao Yanzhou on weekdays, King Qin couldn't hold back his words for a moment, and pinched her so hard that it almost caused bruises.
"He is just a lunatic. He doesn't know how to care about women. What's the good of being by his side? It's better to stay with me. A beauty like you should be cherished by someone who understands."
King Qin's breath sprayed on her face when he spoke, and Xie Hengwu felt nauseated. The body became heavier and heavier, as if wrapped in a thick cocoon.
She bit her lip and her mouth was filled with fishy sweetness.
Snapped.
Xie Hengwu didn't know where he got the strength to slap King Qin. The latter was stunned, and his grip on her relaxed a little.
Xie Hengwu took this opportunity to struggle.
But King Qin immediately became angry and pulled her back again, almost crushing her arm.
He chuckled a few times, as if he was holding back his hatred: "Okay... great. I originally wanted to treat you well, but now it seems I don't need to."
He lowered his head as he spoke, intending to rip off Xie Hengwu's clothes.
King Qin was obviously sober. He was a man and had not been affected. There was a huge disparity in power between the two sides.
Suddenly there was a banging sound outside the palace, it must be the time, and fireworks started to be set off in the palace.
It became lively outside, as if people at a palace banquet were coming out to watch the fireworks.
Such noise just covered up the movement in Chengde Hall.
King Qin smiled and said: "There are so many people outside. Even if the beauty goes out, don't you want thousands of people to witness you undressing?"
"When the time comes, my brother will also kill you."
"If you don't want to die, you'd better cooperate with me."
For the first time, Xie Hengwu felt a sense of despair.
In the face of absolute strength and power suppression, all her abilities are nothing more than cleverness.
Is this the case...?
She is not someone who accepts her fate easily.
Queen Mother Cui wanted to completely control her, but it was impossible.
King Qin did not restrain her hands, so Xie Hengwu bit the tip of his tongue again, and the blood in his mouth was already so thick that it was nauseating. She didn't care about this, and with her clear vision briefly restored, she grabbed the Pixiu paperweight on the table beside her and hit King Qin hard on the head.
This move almost exhausted her strength, and it was enough to cause King Qin pain.
King Qin's eyes darkened and he let go of Xie Hengwu involuntarily.
The latter rushed towards the palace door, pushed it open and stumbled out.
King Qin took a moment to recover from the pain. When he touched the back of his head, it was bleeding.
He was furious, and couldn't help but sneer when he saw the figure staggering away.
That medicine is so overbearing that it is useless even if it leaves Chengde Hall. If no one comforts her, she will show her ugly face.
Now that there were people watching the fireworks outside, running out would be tantamount to asking for death.
King Qin simply followed slowly, waiting to see her make a fool of herself.
The cold wind could only slightly relieve the heat in the body. Xie Hengwu was still pinching his legs with one hand. You could tell without looking that his thighs must have been red and swollen from the pinching.
She had never wanted to kill someone so much.
The King of Qin, the Queen Mother...anyone who regarded her as an ant.
The pain gradually failed to keep her awake. Xie Hengwu bit her lip, and a tree of fireworks suddenly burst into bloom. She suddenly looked sideways and caught a glimpse of a dark sedan chair illuminated by fireworks.
"His Majesty……"
She opened her mouth and her voice was as soft as a whisper, so soft that she blushed.
Xie Hengwu was really disgusted and couldn't control his feelings.
The sedan chair was about to leave, and if she couldn't call him, she would really be doomed.
She closed her eyes, her lips were bitten until they were blood red.
"Xiao Yanzhou!"
Xie Hengwu shouted loudly, as if shouting, with anger. Everyone was stunned, looking around to find who was so bold.
How dare you call the emperor by his first name.
Queen Mother Cui's brows jumped, and on one side of her phoenix eyes, she caught a glimpse of the shaky figure in the shadow.
And the dark sedan chair also attracted people's attention.
Everyone saluted.
As Xie Hengwu wished, the sedan chair stopped.
Xiao Yanzhou, dressed in black clothes, slowly stepped out of the sedan chair. The thick black fox fur was draped around him, making him even taller.
He walked towards Xie Hengwu step by step.
