Yuqiongyin

After Eunuch Zhao left, Kunning Palace fell silent.

In the bedroom, Xie Chenning, who had drunk the contraceptive soup, looked as pale as paper. She leaned weakly on the bed, her beautiful eyes closed and her brows furrowed.

Seeing this, Nanny Lu hurried forward, carefully stretched out her finger, and accurately pressed the acupuncture points on Xie Chenning's body.

As the acupoint was pressed, Xie Chenning felt his stomach churning, and the contraceptive soup he had just forced himself to drink instantly surged up his throat.

She lowered her head and spit everything into the spittoon.

Nanny Lu closed the lid of the spittoon and walked out carrying the spittoon.

Xie Chenning was rinsing his mouth with a teacup when his eyes fell on the enamel spittoon with melon petals and flowers. The whole piece was light yellow in color, and was painted with fine brushwork and heavy colors to depict a variety of flowers, fruits, butterflies, etc. Because "butterfly" is homophonic with "de", which means "continuous generations", the pattern means "prosperity of descendants".

It looks really ridiculous.

The bright moonlight shone through the carved window lattices, illuminating Xie Chenning's pale yet beautiful face.

She sat there quietly, like an orchid blooming in the dark night, exuding a mysterious and cold temperament.

Wei Ke half-knelt in front of her, holding a handkerchief in his hand, gently wiping the corners of her mouth.

His movements were extremely gentle, and his eyes were full of heartache.

"Your Majesty, you don't have to drink it." Wei Ke's voice was low and gentle, filled with deep concern.

Xie Chenning shook her head slightly, her hair swaying slightly. Her inky long hair set off her pale face, making her look even more poignant and beautiful.

"If I don't drink it, how can I reassure the Queen Mother and the others?"

Her voice was soft but it was firm and unquestionable.

Wei Ke was silent. He knew that Xie Chenning was cruel to him in order to help him ascend the throne and also out of loyalty to him.

She is always like this, willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good.

"Don't worry, tell me how your outing was today?" Xie Chenning broke the silence.

Wei Ke came back to his senses, "Don't worry, your Majesty, everything is going well. Although the situation outside is complicated, our people are acting in secret and planning for your Majesty."

Xie Chenning nodded slightly, she was well aware of the seriousness of the situation.

The situation in the DPRK is now complicated, and various forces are competing secretly.

What she did was extremely outrageous, so she had to be very careful and not make any mistakes.

"But the situation in the court is complicated now, and various forces are competing secretly. Your Majesty must be careful and cautious, and cannot make the slightest mistake."

"Is there any other news that is useful to us?" Xie Chenning nodded slightly and asked.

Wei Ke thought for a moment and said, "Some ministers are dissatisfied with the Queen Mother's monopoly. They may become our allies. Also, there are some rumors among the people that the Queen is kind and benevolent, and is the hope of the people."

"It seems that they are also very dissatisfied."

"Don't worry, your majesty. Everything is going according to plan. I have passed the news to our people before leaving the palace today. They are all preparing in secret and will act as soon as the time comes."

Xie Chenning raised his eyebrows slightly. Wei Ke was quite honest with him.

She admired his honesty, which was particularly precious in this palace full of conspiracies and calculations.

At this moment, a quiet atmosphere permeated the palace, with only their breathing echoing softly.

The green smoke rising from the incense burner seems to be telling some unspeakable emotions.

Wei Ke's eyes were fixed on Xie Chenning's face, his eyes full of affection. He gently held Xie Chenning's hands, which were slender and cold.

Xie Chenning noticed Wei Lu's movements and the warmth of his palms, and his heart moved slightly, as if a stone fell into a calm lake, causing ripples.

"You don't mind?" Xie Chenning asked with a teasing intention.

There was a hint of cunning in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised. She looked at Wei Ke with a smile.

Wei Ke only knew that last night's wedding consummation was a fake, but she didn't know that Wei Ming had never touched her before.

But in his heart, Xie Chenning was like the bright moon hanging high in the night sky, pure and beautiful, and could not be tarnished by anyone.

Wei Ke was slightly startled when he heard this, and then he showed a gentle smile.

"I just want to be with you." His voice was firm and persistent, as if he was making an eternal vow.

"Now I am your sister-in-law."

Xie Chenning tried to use this sentence to remind Wei Lu, and also to remind himself of the gap in status between them.

However, Wei Ke did not back down at all. He held Xie Chenning's hand tightly and said, "I don't care."

Wei Ke's eyes were filled with determination. "In my heart, you are just you. Your identity and status have nothing to do with you."

Hearing this, Xie Chenning couldn't help but sigh softly.

She lowered her eyes, and her thick eyelashes like butterfly wings trembled slightly, hiding the complicated look in her eyes.

After a moment, when she raised her head again, a hint of determination flashed in her eyes: "Maybe..."

"Wei Ke, do you know how difficult this road is to walk on now?" Xie Chenning asked softly, slightly opening her red lips.

Although her tone was calm, the worry in it was obvious.

"Are you worried?" Wei Ke keenly caught the worry in Xie Chenning's words.

Xie Chenning nodded slightly and said with a wry smile, "It's impossible to say that we are not worried. The Xie family has already boarded this boat and there is no turning back. In this case, the only way is to go all out."

"I understand."

Of course he understood the intention of Xie Chenning's words. What Xie Chenning cared about now was whether Wei Lu could ascend to the throne and whether he could save the Xie family. He had no interest in love affairs.

Xie Chenning nodded, looked at the large stain of contraceptive soup on the eunuch's clothes, and said softly: "Go down and clean up first, and have a good rest."

"it is good."

*

Ever since Wei Ming called in Imperial Physician Zhang to diagnose Xie Chenning, news spread from Kunning Palace that the Empress was not feeling well and needed to rest for a while, so she would not have to pay respects on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month.

The imperial concubine was neglected, the empress was in poor health, and for a moment, no one knew which way the wind in the harem was blowing.

The days have been leisurely lately, passing by slowly like flowing water.

Xie Chenning was not idle either. She found out and cleared out those people who were planted in other palaces one by one.

In this way, Kunning Palace regained its former tranquility, free from the prying and scheming of those with ulterior motives.

In his spare time, Xie Chenning would grow flowers, watch fish, recite poems and paint to cultivate his sentiments.

Occasionally, she would flip through military records and immerse herself in the wars and heroic legends of the past, adding a bit of interest to her life.

All the people in Kunning Palace were replaced by members of the Xie family. Seeing their master feeling contented in the harem, they felt relieved.

Nanny Lu smiled with relief. This was the real eldest daughter of the Xie family—Xie Chenning.