Baozhu leaned against the bed weakly. After Qi Junce and his party had left, Yue Nu hurriedly took out a pill from his arms.
After swallowing the pill, Bao Zhu felt that the burning sensation in his internal organs disappeared.
Yue Nu's eyes were full of distressed tears, and she couldn't help but ask: "Girl, if you don't take the antidote in time, your body will really be harmed."
Baozhu panted, shook his head and said weakly: "If I weren't cruel, we would be trapped and die in Weiyang Palace."
Baozhu then called Haitang, "Now everyone's attention is attracted by my poisoning. You go and find out about Ayan."
Haitang got Baozhu's order and immediately went out.
Baozhu exhausted his last bit of strength and finally fell asleep.
When Baozhu woke up again, Qi Junce was sitting by the bed.
"Are you awake?" Qi Junce's gentle voice sounded, and he immediately sat down holding the orb.
"I have found out about those rumors." Qi Junce said while blowing the cooling liquid on Baozhu.
Baozhu's eyes widened in surprise. Is this the end? He hadn't had time to clear Ayan's name.
"Has your Majesty found out who wants to destroy my concubine's good reputation?" Bao Zhu asked in a low voice, his voice still hoarse.
"Yes." Qi Junce responded dully, scooped up the soup and fed it to Baozhu's mouth.
Bao Zhu took a sip and wrinkled his face in pain.
"It's just a lie fabricated by a few palace maids in the lower chamber who are jealous of your advancement." Qi Junce said calmly.
Baozhu sat up straight with some disbelief, and said with some excitement: "Palace maid? I don't believe that several palace maids dare to arrange the imperial concubine so boldly, let alone that it will spread so much."
Baozhu held Qi Junce's hand and continued: "Your Majesty, can't you see that someone wants to harm my concubine?"
But Qi Junce was not as gentle as before, and directly dropped the spoon in his hand, hitting the edge of the bowl with a crisp sound.
"Baozhu, no one wants to harm you. It's just a few palace maids who are gossiping, and I have beaten them to death with sticks. Do you understand?"
Qi Junce raised his dark eyes and spoke to Baozhu with a hint of impatience.
Baozhu's expression was a little stiff, and he didn't pull away the hand he was holding, nor did he leave it alone.
Based on her understanding of Qi Junce, he didn't want to mention it at this moment.
But it doesn't matter whether the rumors spread by those palace maids are actually not important at all. What is important is that if Qi Junce says it is, then that is.
As long as the harem remains peaceful, there won't be such trouble for Qi Junce.
Even if he knew that it was Queen Gu Linqing who was responsible, as long as there was a scapegoat and the honor of the royal family could be maintained, why not do it.
Baozhu laughed unnaturally and silently withdrew his hand.
"Your Majesty... Shengming." Baozhu said hoarsely.
"Baozhu," Qi Junce stroked Baozhu's cheek with his hand and said in a cold tone.
"There is no shortage of obedient women in this palace, but you are the only woman who gives me another feeling." Qi Junce said, but Baozhu felt a little creepy for some reason.
"There are many things that may not be good for everyone if we look into them. Your safe delivery of the child is the most important thing, isn't it?" Qi Junce asked.
Baozhu nodded numbly and replied bitterly: "Yes..."
The two of them tacitly agreed that one was giving the medicine and the other was drinking it. Even the medicine that was difficult to swallow could not match the sadness in Baozhu's heart at this moment.
Every time Baozhu took a sip, he slightly raised his eyes to look at this unfathomable man.
Qi Junce may like her as well as other women.
But what he likes more is someone who won't cause him any trouble.
But thinking of Ayan, whose life or death was uncertain, Baozhu mustered up the courage to ask: "Now that the truth has been found out, can my concubine Ayan..."
Before Baozhu finished speaking, Qi Junce coughed twice, interrupting Baozhu's words.
"Concubine Chen is sick, you should be more attentive to her." Qi Junce turned to Yue Nu Azi and said.
Yue Slave Azi all responded yes, and Qi Junce walked away with a wave of his sleeves.
"Has Haitang come back?" Baozhu asked anxiously after Qi Junce walked away.
"Not yet." Azi shook her head and said, uneasiness on her face.
"Empress, you have been poisoned. Is Your Majesty just not going to investigate?" Azi asked.
Bao Zhu let out a long sigh, "It doesn't matter who poisoned me. What's important is that it didn't poison me."
Finally, in the afternoon, Haitang hurried back, but her eyes were red and her shoulders could not stop shaking.
Bao Zhu was originally drinking medicine, but when he saw this, he pushed Yue Slave away who was about to give medicine. He forgot to put on his shoes and rushed in front of Haitang.
"What's wrong, what did you encounter?" Baozhu said, looking behind Haitang. "Where's Ayan?"
"Empress..." Haitang's voice was trembling, "You have to hold on, I don't dare to tell you directly."
The uneasiness almost broke through Baozhu's heavenly spirit cover. Baozhu staggered back and Yue Nu quickly supported her.
Baozhu took several deep breaths, and countless possibilities flashed through his mind.
"Speak, I'll listen." Baozhu said strong and calmly.
"Ayan, he...he..." Haitang choked and finally burst into tears uncontrollably, "Ayan is gone!"
Baozhu grabbed Haitang's shoulders in disbelief, and asked with his chest heaving violently: "What does it mean to be gone? What does it mean to be gone?!"
"It was His Majesty who requested Ayan's death. The reason was that he had affected the stability of the harem." Haitang choked with sobs.
Baozhu's face turned pale and he fell down on the stool, feeling cramps in his stomach.
Baozhu endured it and asked through gritted teeth: "Where is Ayan's body?"
Haitang hesitated, but he hesitated for a long time and couldn't say a word.
"Say." Baozhu's eyes became wet, and his hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Ayan was burned to death, his bones were smashed and his ashes were thrown away. Nothing was left behind, empress!" As soon as Haitang said this, the whole hall was shocked.
The youngest Ah Zi burst into tears.
Yue Nu looked at the agitated Baozhu and quickly tried to persuade her: "My queen, my queen. You have to take care of yourself and don't get angry."
"Okay, very good." Baozhu gritted his teeth and spit out two words, his heart filled with anger.
At night, Baozhuyue Nu and his wife went to Jiang Heng's Hengwu Palace in disguise.
Baozhu lightly clicked the palace door, feeling a little nervous. Xiaoman stuck his head out and was not surprised when he saw the orb.
As if he had been waiting for Baozhu for a long time, he immediately let Baozhu and the others in.
After entering the inner room, Jiang Heng was sitting here with a serious look on his face.
"Sister Aheng..." The moment Baozhu saw Jiang Heng, he couldn't help but choked up. His knees went weak and he almost fell to his knees.
Jiang Heng quickly lifted up Baozhu and pulled her to sit down. But he also let out a long sigh and looked helpless.
"I knew you might come, so I kept waiting." Jiang Heng said softly, and then held Baozhu's cold hand.
"But Baozhu, everything is a foregone conclusion. You have to show your condolences..." Jiang Heng said unbearably.
Baozhu's heart seemed to have been hit hard by something, and she took a breath of cold air. Jiang Heng's words proved that Ayan's death was indeed true.
"I have met the young chamberlain in your palace several times. He seems to be a kind and honest person. I definitely don't believe him if he does such a thing." Jiang Heng said.
Baozhu nodded vigorously when he heard this, his eyes blurred by tears.
"When we were in the palace, we were dependent on each other. If Ayan hadn't tried every means to find ways to make money, there would be no Concubine Chen today." Baozhu shouted with tears in his eyes.
"But Baozhu, if your Majesty decides that he has disturbed the peace of the harem, he will have to die, even if it is for you." Jiang Heng said.
Baozhu looked at Jiang Heng with some confusion, and murmured: "For...me?"
Xiaoman on the side also wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, took out something wrapped in a handkerchief from his arms, and handed it to Baozhu.
The orb came out, and the veil was slowly lifted layer by layer, revealing a corner of bright red blood.
He carefully pulled out the orb, shook it, and found that it turned out to be a blood book.
Baozhu trembled and saw clearly the words above, which turned out to be Ayan's last words before his death.
[The slave is unlucky and can no longer serve the noble. But please, noble man, look forward and don't look back. Li Yan. 】
Baozhu's heart was like a knife, and he held Ayan's last words close to his heart, feeling so sad that he couldn't help himself.
"Baozhu, Baozhu. You have to take care of yourself." Jiang Heng looked at the sad Baozhu and shed tears.
"This is the blood letter Ayan gave to the jailer before he died. He didn't want you to be so sad because of him." Jiang Heng comforted.
Baozhu's mind went blank, and tears rolled down from his eyes like broken beads.
"I didn't know until now that his surname was Li, and his name was Li Yan." Baozhu choked and said, "But he lost his name in vain because of me."
Baozhu cried loudly, and his mind was full of Ayan's shy smile.
Change the look of fresh flowers for yourself every day.
Running for yourself.
Baozhu's hatred for Gu Linqing had sprouted violently at this moment, breaking through the soil in her heart.
After a long time, Baozhu finally calmed down and blankly clutched Ayan's blood book.
"Sister Ah Heng, I need you to do something for me. I'm not from the Li country, and I have no one to trust outside. Maybe you are the only one who can help me," Baozhu said.
Jiang Heng's eyes were full of unbearability, "Okay, you can tell me."
Baozhu wiped away her tears and looked at Jiang Heng with empty eyes. "I once heard Ayan say that he has a younger brother."
Baozhu signaled Yue Slave to bring a tray, and when he opened the cover, it was filled with gold ingots.
"Help me find Ayan's brother and find a reliable person to entrust him to. Find him a famous teacher, study, and take the imperial examination. Fulfill Ayan's wish for a good life for his family."
Baozhu held Jiang Heng's hand and said sincerely.
Jiang Heng held Baozhu's hand instead, and the ring shone dimly under the candlelight.
"Okay, I promise you." Jiang Heng replied solemnly.
Before leaving, Jiang Heng held the treasure.
"What happened to you being poisoned? Please be more careful in the future." Jiang Heng asked worriedly.
Baozhu smiled slightly, leaned close to Jiang Heng's ear and told her the whole story. Jiang Heng's expression was full of shock.
"Your Majesty did not punish anyone at all." Jiang Heng said.
Baozhu looked at Jiang Heng in confusion, and Jiang Heng chuckled a few times and continued: "I heard that Gu Linqing was reprimanded so much that His Majesty became very angry."
Baozhu was a little surprised, "But His Majesty will not let us interfere in this matter anymore."
Jiang Heng sighed, "That's just to maintain the shaky relationship and dignity between the emperor and the empress."
Baozhu sneered, "Gu Linqing, you owe me more than just Ayan's life. Just wait, I will get them all back!"
