Reborn as a Sickly Child: The Emperor's Beloved

As night fell, the study in the prime minister's residence was dark.

Gao Xiang and Guo Liang sat opposite each other, their figures flickering in the dim candlelight.

Gao Xiang's face looked serious and deep in the shadows. He frowned and said in a serious tone: "It seems that the Shen family has turned against the emperor."

There was a hint of worry in Guo Liang's eyes. He nodded slightly, agreeing with Gao Xiang's opinion.

There was a tense atmosphere in the room, as if a huge storm was about to approach.

Prime Minister Gao continued, "The Shen family should not be underestimated. Shen Hongwen is in charge of the Ministry of Justice, Shen Yiwen is in the Censorate, and several sons of the Shen family are serving in government positions. Now that Shen Yanyan is favored by the emperor, it seems that our Majesty has no longer been hiding anything and is no longer trying to put on a show." His voice was low and firm, revealing a determination.

Guo Liang frowned, thinking about the countermeasures. He said slowly: "Jinling is ready and can act at any time. Xiliang will take at least a month at the earliest."

The two fell into silence, seemingly thinking about their next move. The silence in the study made people feel a kind of oppressive pressure.

Suddenly, Gao Xiang raised his head, his eyes flashing with determination. He said, "We can't just sit there and wait for death. The emperor's birthday banquet is coming soon, and the four countries will send people to celebrate his birthday. Beidi and Xiliang have always been on good terms, so why not give it a try?"

Guo Liang pondered for a moment and hesitated: "Beilin and Beidi have always been enemies. If Xiliang and Beidi join forces, will Beilin attack Beidi?"

"I'm afraid they are unable to take care of themselves. Prince Beilin is critically ill, and the eldest and second princes are busy fighting for the throne. They don't have time to care about other people's affairs at this critical juncture." A hint of cunning flashed in Prime Minister Gao's narrow eyes.

Immediately

"Send it to Xiliang." Gao Xiang hurriedly wrote a letter and handed it to Guo Liang.

"Yes, Prime Minister." Guo Liang took the letter, put it in his arms, and continued.

"The Imperial Concubine in the palace sent a message, but there is no information about the Imperial Concubine at all." Guo Liang felt that something was fishy.

Gao Xiang frowned. How could they not find anything? It was very unusual. "Let our people go to Yangzhou to investigate carefully. Look into the matter of Tudou and the Shen family together."

"Yes, Prime Minister."

Gao Xiang sat in the dim study, his eyes full of ambition. The arrow was on the string and had to be shot. Since Xiao Jingzhan would not give him a chance to live, he had to fight for himself. This kingdom was not just for his Xiao family.

The Shen family in Beijing.

"Mother, Yanyan has been named Imperial Noble Consort. It seems that His Majesty is going to take action against Prime Minister Gao's party. I'm afraid our Shen family has no way out. We can only fight together with His Majesty." Shen Hongwen looked solemn.

"Brother is right. From the day Yanyan entered the palace, we had no choice." Shen Yiwen also nodded.

"Well, write a letter to each of the children, asking them to come back, and then write a letter to Yangzhou. I'm afraid we won't have a good New Year this year." Old Madam Shen nodded. The capital city had finally been peaceful for three years, but now there was going to be turmoil again.

"Yes, mother." The two stood up and bowed to leave.

In the Cuichen Palace, the concubines sat together, their faces gloomy, their eyes revealing dissatisfaction and jealousy. They whispered to each other, their voices mixed with indignation.

"It's really unfair that a newcomer to the palace can be named Imperial Consort."

"That's right. The Imperial Concubine has been in the palace for many years and has never received such an honor."

"It's really hard to accept that your majesty dotes on her so much."

Concubine Gao looked at everyone without saying a word.

As the night deepened, the palace was brightly lit. Shen Yanyan sat in front of the bronze mirror, wearing gorgeous imperial concubine clothing, with sparkling pearls and jade on her head and delicate makeup.

Her beauty looked even more elegant against the backdrop of this gorgeous dress, but her eyes revealed a hint of anxiety.

The maids told her that this was the rule and she could not take off her attire before His Majesty arrived. Shen Yanyan nodded slightly, knowing that this was court etiquette, but she was becoming more and more irritated.

Why hasn't Xiao Jingzhan come yet? The headdress on her head is almost breaking her neck. If she waits a little longer and he still doesn't come, she will take it off herself.

As time went by, she became more and more irritated. Finally, footsteps were heard outside the door, and Shen Yanyan's irritable heart calmed down instantly. She stood up, adjusted her skirt, and prepared to welcome Xiao Jingzhan's arrival.

The palace door slowly opened, and Xiao Jingzhan walked in. His eyes fell on Shen Yanyan, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. Shen Yanyan smiled slightly and saluted him.

Xiao Jingzhan walked forward and gently helped her up. Their eyes met, and each other's eyes were full of tenderness and love.

Seeing this, everyone quickly closed the door.

Seeing the door was closed, Shen Yanyan shook off Xiao Jingzhan's hand and complained as she walked away, "Why did you come just now? My neck is almost broken." Shen Yanyan sat in front of the dressing table and stretched out her hand to take off the red hairpin and other accessories on her head one by one.

"I had some urgent matters today, so I was delayed for a while." Xiao Jingzhan explained.

Shen Yanyan felt that the maids must have given her a whole box of hair accessories. After unpacking them for a long time, she felt there were still too many and her hands were sore.

Seeing this, Xiao Jingzhan walked behind her and skillfully took off her hair bun and pearl hairpins.

Shen Yanyan saw from the bronze mirror that the man was carefully removing her hair and hair accessories. She felt her heart beating faster.

"So skilled, did you do this kind of thing often in the past?" Shen Yanyan raised the corner of her mouth and teased as she looked at his skillful technique.

Xiao Jingzhan raised his hand and knocked on her head twice, with two loud bangs that sounded like a punishment.

"I have never demolished it for anyone else. Who dares to ask me to do these things? It's you. You don't treat me as an emperor and order me around all day long."

Shen Yanyan raised her hand and touched her head, retorting: "How did I order you around? You came here on your own, okay?"

Xiao Jingzhan's mouth twitched. During the time she was in the palace, she asked him to wipe her hair and comb her hair every day. These were her maids' duties, but he did it all by himself. Now it was good, it had become a habit. When she sat in front of the dressing table, he could not help but walk over.

"Yes, I volunteered." Xiao Jingzhan did not refute. Looking at her smirking expression, his eyes full of doting, he resigned himself to taking off her hair.

Xiao Jingzhan gently took off the last hairpin, and her hair cascaded down like a waterfall, covering her entire back.

Shen Yanyan stood up and opened the door, signaling the palace servants outside to carry the water for washing into the inner room.

The palace maid was tactful and brought a few more buckets of water.

After the servants leave,

"Your Majesty, do you want to take a shower together?" Shen Yanyan looked at Xiao Jingzhan with a sly smile on her face.

When Xiao Jingzhan heard her words, he instantly felt his throat dry, and his eyes were full of sparks as he looked at her.

Shen Yanyan looked at the bloodshot in his eyes and shrugged. "Hahaha, just kidding." Then she walked towards the side hall.

She entered the side hall and stepped into the bathtub, which was covered with flower petals. The warm water wrapped around her body and washed away all her fatigue.

After taking a shower, Shen Yanyan washed her hair carefully, and water drops slid down the ends of her hair, as crystal clear as pearls. Her skin was moisturized by the water vapor, and it looked more delicate and tender.

At this moment, Xiao Jingzhan suddenly entered the side hall. He was stunned when he saw Shen Yanyan's beautiful appearance while bathing.

Shen Yanyan raised her head, met his eyes, and a shy blush appeared on her face.

She quickly moved towards the edge of the tub to prevent him from seeing her naked body.

"You're not coming, you hooligan." Shen Yanyan threw the bath towel in her hand at him. She was joking, but who would have thought that he would really come in.

Xiao Jingzhan looked at her like this and felt his throat dry and tight. "It's not like you haven't seen it before, why are you shy?"

"Xiao Jingzhan, you...ah!" Xiao Jingzhan did not give her a chance to speak. He bent down to cover her mouth and swallowed the rest of the words into his throat.

Shen Yanyan looked at him with eyes wide open, she was still taking a shower.

Then he pushed him with his hand.

Xiao Jingzhan immediately grabbed her hands forcefully, not giving her a chance to struggle.

In this quiet moment, their lips were pressed tightly together, as if the whole world had stopped for them.

Xiao Jingzhan gently held her cherry-like delicate little mouth, gently rolling around and trying, exploring every delicate corner. Her lips were as soft as petals, exuding a charming fragrance.

His tongue gently outlined the shape of her lips, as if awakening the desire deep in her heart.

As the kiss deepened, their breathing became faster.

Xiao Jingzhan's hand unconsciously touched her face, feeling the delicateness and warmth of her skin. Her body gradually softened, and she fell into the water involuntarily. Xiao Jingzhan lifted her up by the waist, quickly pulled the bath towel next to her to wrap around her, and carried her out of the side hall.

He used his inner strength to dry her hair, threw her onto the bed, covered her with a quilt, and walked to the side hall.

Shen Yanyan: “?”

I have to say, he really has something, he can tolerate this!

Thinking about the buckets of cold water used for mixing with water in the side hall, Shen Yanyan felt that this person was most likely going to take a cold bath.

Shen Yanyan lifted the quilt from her body, got out of bed and walked towards the closet, took out a set of pajamas, put them on, lay on the bed and began to yawn. She was too tired today and was very sleepy.

After a while, when Xiao Jingzhan came out with a cold body, he saw Shen Yanyan sleeping soundly wrapped in a thin quilt.

Looking at her sweet sleeping face, Xiao Jingzhan's eyes were full of urgency.

It won't be long before Prime Minister Gao's party will be destroyed. If he is still alive and well by then, he will marry her openly and let her enter Changchun Palace in a grand manner.

Although he had made all the necessary preparations, Gao Xiang was not an ordinary person. He was a powerful official who had served in two dynasties and had many disciples. He was not so easy to deal with. If he was in trouble during the palace coup, she could escape unscathed with her ability. Not touching her was also for her own good.

Xiao Jingzhan hugged her in his arms. If she handed over the potatoes, she would tie her fate to his. The Shen family has always been united and would not abandon her. From the moment she accepted him, she put the fate of herself and the entire family in his hands.

In this war, he can only win, not lose. Behind him is not only the Shen family, but also tens of millions of people, court officials and friends who support him. If he loses, tens of millions of people and countless families will die.