Late summer.
People in the palace noticed that Queen Shen was quietly sent out of the palace by the emperor.
Father Shen and Mother Shen saw Xiao Langyan bringing Shen Dingzhu back with his two children. They were stunned. Father Shen asked uneasily: "Your Majesty, what bad words did Zhu'er say to make you angry? "
Under Xiao Langyan's dark sword-shaped eyebrows, there was a bright chuckle.
"The father-in-law is overthinking it. The ghost doctor said that sending her home will be more conducive to her recovery. I asked the queen and she was also willing, so I let her go home for a while."
Shen Dingzhu was beside him, wearing a wisteria-colored dress, her slender waist tied behind a treasure belt, her head full of green silk tied into a fallen fairy bun, her skin delicate and white, and her face beautiful.
She doesn't look like a mother who has given birth to two children, but like a young girl who is still coquettishly hidden in the pavilion.
Xiao Langyan turned to wipe the fine sweat on her white forehead with his hands: "I will let you stay for a while, but you should come back to the palace with me during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Don't be disrespectful."
Shen Dingzhu's long eyelashes were thick and slender, and she blinked her eyes lightly: "I will never cheat."
After that, she took Xiao Xincheng and asked the wet nurse to follow Xiao Xingche to her yard.
Xiao Langyan was in the front yard, explaining matters.
As the Shen family's parents watched, the emperor had almost moved half of the palace here.
The Xuanjia Army served as bodyguards to guard their safety; two imperial doctors and six medical maidens were left; there were also countless palace maids as bodyguards.
Also delivered was the snow silk brocade quilt that Shen Dingzhu spread when she slept. Her skin was delicate, and Xiao Langyan only wanted her to use the best.
The maids held trays in their hands and followed Shen Bi and Xiucui inside. A dazzling array of pearl jewelry and gorgeous clothes were continuously sent into Shen's mansion.
Xu Shou was coordinating everything: "Everyone, slow down and pay attention to your steps. Don't fall or touch them. The emperor said that these are the empress's favorite things!"
Father Shen was a little frightened: "Your Majesty, is this... inappropriate?"
Their daughter is already a queen. If she doesn't sit in the middle palace, wouldn't she be breaking the rules of her ancestors?
Xiao Langyan glanced sideways and smiled, his stern face also appeared to be full of patience, and his thin black eyes showed a faint smile: "What's wrong? I dote on my wife, who dares to say it's wrong? Besides, there is no one in the harem, I I don’t want to hold her captive either, my current plan is to get her better as soon as possible, everything else is secondary.”
Shen Dingzhu took her children and settled down in Shen's mansion with peace of mind.
She lived a leisurely life, and Xiao Langyan would arrange for someone to come to Shen's Mansion every day, occasionally bringing some royal meals, and sometimes some newly delivered fabrics and satins from Nanzhou.
When Su Wenhua came to Shen's house to see Shen Dingzhu again, he was surprised to find that she seemed a little different from before.
When Shen Dingzhu saw her in the flower hall, she was dressed in a moon-colored orchid dress. Her figure was slim and exquisite, as plump as a peach, and her skin was light pink. Although she was dressed gorgeously and elegantly, there was a faint trace of light in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows. The lightness is an expression that Su Wenhua has rarely seen before.
In her memory, Shen Dingzhu always looked like a fairy with a sad cloud around her head. Although she was gorgeous and beautiful, there seemed to be lingering worries in her dark eyes.
But now that we see each other again, Su Wenhua is quite surprised. The things that embarrassed him in Shen Dingzhu's heart are gone.
"Cousin, have you really forgotten everything?" Su Wenhua was even more surprised after hearing about Shen Dingzhu's condition.
What surprised her was not that she had lost her memory, but that she remembered almost everything, but there were still some memories about Xiao Langyan that she couldn't recall.
Shen Dingzhu nodded slightly towards her. Wearing a sapphire ring on his jade finger, his whole body looked as clear and clean as the moon god.
"The ghost doctor said that there is still some blood stasis in my brain, so there are some things that I need to wait for a while before I can remember them."
Su Wenhua took a breath: "This... this is too bizarre. It's normal for cousin to forget everyone. How could he forget the emperor... Cousin, don't you remember that the emperor killed the former prince for you? What happened?"
Sitting next to her, Mother Shen gently scolded her to stop her: "Ask about the painting!"
Su Wenhua paused for a moment, then persisted: "Cousin, you can't even forget such an important thing. Has the emperor ever risked his life for her? Why is aunt afraid that she will know?"
Shen's mother was helpless: "I'm not afraid, but your cousin remembers that the emperor has ascended the throne now. If you keep talking about this matter, I'm afraid it will be detrimental to the emperor."
Su Wenhua looked at Shen Dingzhu, who nodded, staring at the haze outside the window, making the rouge on his cheeks particularly attractive.
"I not only remember this, I also remember that the emperor and I were locked up in separate courtyards separated by a wall."
"Then cousin also remembers that the late emperor beat the emperor twenty times to force him to admit that the former prince was killed by his cousin?"
Shen Dingzhu was startled when he heard this.
How did she ever know this?
Recalling it carefully, there was a slight pain in my mind, but along with the pictures, they flew into my mind like snowflakes.
She remembered that although she and Xiao Langyan were kept separately, in order to ensure her safety and fear that the late emperor would secretly force her to confess, he dug a hole in the wall and paid attention to her movements.
Once he was taken away, and the hole was blocked when he came back. Shen Dingzhu only thought that he had a bad temper, but now that he thinks about it... he should have been slapped, but he didn't want Shen Dingzhu to know that he was doing it for her. .
So as not to make her feel uncomfortable.
So, as the lost memories were picked up again, Shen Dingzhu thought of more details.
She remembered that Xiao Langyan did not hesitate when he killed the former prince for her and confessed for her. Shen Dingzhu remembered that he wanted to be the emperor since he was a child.
But the moment he confessed to the late emperor, did he plan to give up everything?
Throw away the future that you have been preparing for many years, and put down all your efforts, just to keep her alive.
Su Wenhua left unknown when, but Shen Dingzhu sat in a daze for half an hour. Later, he felt a splitting headache and was helped into the house to take a nap.
When she woke up again, it was already late at night, and there was a crashing sound outside. The late summer rain was blowing in the night wind, crackling against the dark green banana leaves outside.
Xiucui's voice came from outside the door: "The Emperor is here. Are you going to see if the Queen is awake?"
Just as they were about to push the door open, Shen Dingzhu had already sat up and took the initiative to speak: "I'm awake, let the emperor come in."
Shen Bi came in and put on Shen Dingzhu's clothes. When the door opened, Shen Dingzhu smelled the water vapor rising outside.
The beauty sitting beside the couch just raised her eyes and saw Xiao Langyan, tall and tall, wearing a purple robe and golden uniform. His golden crown was soaked, and his hair was stuck to his forehead, covering the end of his sword-shaped eyebrows.
The cold aura in his whole body was slightly reduced, and he became a little more calm and gentle.
"Why did the emperor come in the rain?" Shen Dingzhu stood up immediately, took out a handkerchief and wiped the rain off his chin.
Xiao Langyan smiled when he saw her: "I went to inspect the Sixth Ministry today and stayed at the Ministry of Works for a while. Your second brother is a wizard in water control. He said that the flood season is about to pass and it is time to repair and repair the dams. These I have already left the matter to him, and it happened to be dark at night. I passed by Shen's Mansion and wanted to come and see you."
They haven't seen each other for seven or eight days since they sent her back.
Xiao Langyan lowered his eyes and looked at the delicate beauty in front of him. Her skin was white and beautiful, as if she was surrounded by a halo.
He originally wanted to hug her, but thinking that he was wet, he simply gave up.
"I also brought something for you," he smiled and took out an oil paper bag from his arms, "Take a look."
Shen Dingzhu's slender fingertips opened up the layers: "What is worthy of being sent by the emperor himself...ah, is it a red mud cake?"
Her beautiful eyes froze, looking at the dots of red pastries in the oil paper bag, with crispy golden skin and a hint of warmth.
Shen Dingzhu raised his eyes to look at Xiao Langyan. He was soaked all over. It seemed that the rain came suddenly, and the guards following him had no time to get their umbrellas. He came all the way, and the oil paper bag in his arms was still dry.
"When I was chatting with your second brother just now, I heard him say that you liked to eat the red clay cakes from Manxianglou when you were a child. I just happened to pass by and bought some, so I brought them to you."
Shen Dingzhu's heart was filled with indescribable bitterness and emotion.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." She raised her trembling black eyelashes.
At this moment, no matter how much she thought of it, she only knew that Xiao Langyan's love had never been deceptive.
In these details, she deeply felt his patience and indulgence.
Seeing that it was getting late, Xiao Langyan wanted to say something more, but had no choice but to give up.
"I'm going back. Tomorrow morning, I will take your second brother with me to the two counties of Jizhou to see how the previous flood control situation is. If it is not handled well, it will still be a hidden danger. It will take half a month for me to go there. Only then can I come back.”
Shen Dingzhu listened to the rain outside and wanted to keep him, but when he heard these words, he hesitated.
She nodded lightly and sent Xiao Langyan to the door: "Your Majesty, you should pay attention to your health when traveling far away. Shen Bi, go get the umbrella from the mansion."
Xiao Langyan asked her to go back to the house: "The rain and wind are harsh. You have only recovered a little while ago. Don't come out to have a shower with me. I will come to see you another day when I am free."
Shen Dingzhu held on to the door frame, standing in the halo and brightness, watching Xiao Langyan lead the secret guards away along the corridor until they reached the corner, when he turned back.
Seeing her still standing at the door, Xiao Langyan felt hot in his heart.
He took a slow breath and resisted the urge to go back and hug her. Shen Dingzhu waved to him, and Xiao Langyan turned and strode away.
The door was closed, and Xiucui saw the pastry: "My dear lady, do you want to put it away and eat it tomorrow?"
Shen Dingzhu shook his head, picked up a piece of red clay cake with his slender fingertips, and took a small bite. The crispy and sweet feeling bloomed in his mouth, and it was indeed warm.
Shen Bi came back just in time: "Manxianglou? Yeah, it's far away from our house. The emperor took a long way to buy it, right?"
Shen Dingzhu's long eyelashes twitched, and her red lips murmured: "He sent it specially, I should have a taste in front of him."
Unspeakable emotions welled up in her heart.
Suddenly, Shen Dingzhu put down the cakes, picked up her skirt and ran out quickly.
"Empress! Where are you going?" Xiucui and Shen Bi were surprised.
However, Shen Dingzhu's figure ran away along the corridor. Looking at the direction, he was chasing Xiao Langyan.
