thefictionvixens Chapter 146 Play hard to get
Chapter 146 Play hard to get
"Brother, when the birds are gone, the good bows are put away; when the cunning rabbit dies, the running dogs are cooked. There is only one imperial decree left. Before all this happens and before it reaches the point where it has to happen, let this all end in the best possible way. This is the only solution I can think of. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable."
After she finished speaking, Nian Shilan continued to cry and she held her brother's sleeve tightly.
No one can understand.
It is precisely because she had lost something before that she cherishes everything so much now.
That's why she was so eager that she was willing to sacrifice her own body to see her brother.
But is Nian Gengyao really so easy to persuade?
Nian Gengyao held her hand and let her loosen it little by little, and finally held her delicate hand in his warm palm.
The general who was fighting on the battlefield was now whispering to his sister.
"Well, the water in the court is too muddy. I don't want to muddy your hands. Be good. I will never let that day come, and I will never let you, my sister, live those days in fear. Although the emperor is not sincere to you, he still has feelings for you."
He took a deep breath and said the rest of the words with difficulty.
"If, if that day really comes, if I am dead, I will definitely keep you safe. Listen to me, don't think about it anymore. The most urgent thing is to recover from the illness. I want my sister to be healthy and to be the stunning Nian Shilan she used to be."
Nian Shilan felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife. As she listened to these words, scenes from the past came back to her mind.
Her brother used to teach her how to ride a horse, and he was afraid that she would bump into something.
After they learned it, they galloped across the grassland together and sang to their heart's content.
He always spoiled her like this, played with her on horseback, and helped her catch crickets and butterflies.
Nian Shilan has never liked to do things that other girls like to do.
Her father was worried about her, her mother was annoyed with her, but her brother loved her.
He said, "If Shilan doesn't like it, then don't do it. As long as my sister Nian Gengyao is happy and at ease, that's all."
But now, she is in the deep palace, holding a high position, and possesses all the wealth and glory in the world.
But he became the most unhappy and uncomfortable one.
After he finished speaking, Nian Gengyao stood up and said, "It's getting late. I have to leave the palace. I'll come back to see you early tomorrow. Remember, you must take good care of yourself."
After saying this, he pushed the door open and went out.
Seeing Songzhi standing outside, he said a few more words.
It was nothing more than instructing the servants to serve well and asking the imperial physician to pay more attention and care.
Nian Shilan's tears were like pearls that had broken off the string.
I miss my family too much.
She had never been so vulnerable until she experienced the loss of her brother.
The feeling of having a cold knife against your neck is so terrifying that you wish you could die in exchange for the safety of your family.
Songzhi rushed in and saw her queen crying. She was immediately panicked and rushed forward.
"My queen, my queen, what happened to you? Don't cry, my queen. The imperial physician said that you will be well in a few days."
Seeing that the empress was sad, she also shed tears.
Trying hard to comfort her.
Nian Shilan closed her eyes and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
My brother is a civil servant. It has been extremely difficult for him to get to his current position step by step.
He had never told her how many people had looked down upon him and how much trouble he had suffered.
He passed the imperial examination at the age of only 20 and was a truly outstanding talent among the Han army.
Although he came from a poor family, he managed to carve out a bright future for the Nian family on his own.
So asking him to give up is definitely not an easy thing.
……
"Your Majesty, Xiao Xiazi who came to reply said that when she was in Yikun Palace, the Imperial Concubine talked about the Emperor's affection and love for her in front of the General, and she seemed to be very intoxicated by it."
Su Peisheng stood beside Yinzhen and replied.
Yinzhen was looking at the memorial, his eyes fixed intently and seriously.
He replied casually, "Oh? Where is the general now?"
"Your Majesty, the palace gates are about to be locked. I guess the general has already left the palace."
Su Peisheng said.
Yinzhen didn't reply.
After a while, Su Peisheng looked at the night.
She reminded him carefully, "Your Majesty, the time has come. You sent a message tonight that you are going to visit the Imperial Concubine."
After saying this, it took a long time for Yinzhen to raise his face from the pile of memorials.
He stretched lazily and took a deep breath.
"Prepare the sedan."
Su Peisheng quickly followed, "Yeah."
He ran out and shouted outside, "The Emperor is coming."
-
Yikun Palace.
After drinking the medicine sent by Doctor Xie, Nian Shilan's health has improved a lot.
But she still had to pretend to be sick.
However, in order to show her respect to the emperor, she still walked to the front of the hall and waited for the emperor to arrive.
When Yinzhen arrived, he saw her standing in front of the hall, wearing her favorite purple dress and with an ethereal temperament like a banished fairy, and she bowed to him and greeted him.
"I, my concubine, see you, Your Majesty."
Yinzhen hurried down and helped her up personally.
"You are not feeling well, why do you have to be exposed to the wind outside? Just wait for me inside from now on."
Yinzhen spoke with concern, but his eyes lacked the usual affection.
With Nian Gengyao entering the palace, the situation was difficult to break, so Yinzhen was naturally worried.
The love that we used to have has long since disappeared.
This emperor has always been a master at concealing his emotions.
But now she can see everything.
Nian Shilan pretended not to see the difference and just smiled and snuggled in Yinzhen's arms.
"I have already eaten the American ginseng that the emperor sent to me. I feel much better now. To thank the emperor for his kindness to me, I must express my gratitude."
Yinzhen smiled heartily and took her hand, "Why are you so cold? Come on, follow me in."
The two entered the room and it was the season of clear and crisp autumn air.
Nian Shilan wore twice as much as others, which showed that she was not in good health.
Yinzhen sat on her left and right.
She was not in good health, so there was no room for flirting or being ambiguous.
The two were just chatting.
"Your brother is coming to the capital today. Although it is late, he is the first to come to the palace to see you. This shows the deep love between you two siblings."
Nian Shilan's face immediately lit up with happiness, "The emperor also said that my brother would come to pay his respects to the emperor first. Even when I sent people to the palace gate to welcome my brother, I didn't bring him here. I guess my brother cares about me more. I, a sister who is terminally ill, is far less important than the emperor."
She pretended to be ignorant and said these words deliberately.
Yinzhen smiled again, but not as cheerfully as before.
At that time, Nian Shilan acted as if she realized that she had said something wrong.
She stood up and bowed, "I said the wrong thing. My brother is the emperor's loyal minister, assisting the emperor and respecting the emperor. He must put the emperor first in everything. I overstepped my authority."
She spoke in lower and lower voices, her expression changing from worry to fear.
She is so beautiful that people are reluctant to blame her.
What's more, this is the kind of Nian Shilan that the emperor wants.
Arrogant and arrogant, presumptuous and rude.
Because only in this way can we find her faults and give her brother something to talk about.
He raised his hand, motioning her to stand up, and simply said, "There is no need for such formalities between you and me. Your brother still loves you after all. I heard that he has summoned many imperial doctors to wait outside the palace to treat you."
Songzhi helped Nian Shilan up and put her in her seat.
Nian Shilan shook her head and frowned, "Brother, you are worrying too much. The imperial doctors in this palace are all leaders in their fields. I don't know where you found this doctor from in the countryside. How can you just invite him into the palace to treat me? I am unwilling to do so."
Nian Shilan said this on purpose.
Obviously, Yinzhen was also very satisfied with her answer.
Subconsciously raised eyebrows.
If the imperial physician outside the palace is invited into the palace.
Then she has a lot of musk hidden in her body, and the matter of Huan Yi Xiang will definitely be brought up again.
Nian Shilan took the initiative to isolate herself from the crisis, so Yinzhen didn't have to bother making any arrangements.
So Yinzhen was naturally satisfied with what she said.
"Your Majesty, I have been feeling unwell these days and I have been extremely scared." Seeing that the atmosphere was right, Nian Shilan acted coquettishly.
Yinzhen turned his head away, "Afraid?"
"I'm afraid I'll never see the emperor again, and I'll never be able to serve him again."
It turned out to be a girl's confession of love, and Yinzhen enjoyed it with satisfaction.
He didn't know that he was setting a trap for the Nian family, and Nian Shilan was also setting a love trap for him.
"As long as I am here, you don't have to be afraid of anything. Your illness will be cured in a few days. You will stay by my side safely."
To some extent.
Yinzhen did have feelings for Nian Shilan.
He himself knew that if Nian Shilan didn't cause any big trouble.
He would keep her safe and sound by his side, pampering her and spoiling her.
He would never vent his anger on her because of what happened to Nian Gengyao.
After all, he owed her something.
It was because Nian Shilan knew about this debt that she had the opportunity to make trouble again.
Nian Shilan coaxed the emperor with sweet words and tried her best to please him.
In the end, she used the excuse of being unwell, so the emperor could only think about it but not eat it.
He returned to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity in low spirits.
Tonight is the night of the first day of winter.
After seeing the emperor leave, he asked in confusion while helping Nian Shilan change clothes.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has finally come here. Why do you want him to return to the Yangxin Palace?"
Although she is naive and does not understand the ambiguity between lovers.
But it can be seen that the emperor wants to stay.
But my own queen still didn't keep it.
"Remember, you will miss the food only when you can smell it but cannot eat it."
Nian Shilan looked at Fudong in the mirror, her lips moving.
Fu Dong seemed to be thinking about something, but he didn't quite understand.
She took off her earrings and continued, "As long as the emperor is thinking about Yikun Palace, he can come anytime. Why bother?"
It's time to use the old trick of playing hard to get.
The next day.
Nian Shilan was seriously ill, so naturally the concubines would go to visit her.
Concubine Wan and Noble Lady Li were pregnant, and Concubine Hui was busy serving the Empress Dowager.
The three of them only sent gifts but did not come.
Only Concubine Duan, Concubine Jing, and Noble Lady Xin came to visit.
After paying respects, Nian Shilan arranged for Songzhi to take charge of the seating.
Concubine Xin said first, "Although the Imperial Concubine is haggard due to her illness, she still looks good and has maintained her elegance."
Nian Shilan smiled and said, "I was in a rough state during my illness, but I've gotten better recently. That's why I've recovered like this."
"The Imperial Concubine is extremely beautiful. She is always pretty."
The reason why Concubine Xin flatters Nian Shilan so much.
It's not just because of her status as a royal concubine, nor is it just to help her get promoted.
Instead, he cared for Concubine Xin's daughter and treated her equally as he did Wen Yi.
As a princess, Concubine Xin did not take sides, so her own children naturally became the same as hers, becoming an unknown nobody that no one cared about.
It was Nian Shilan who saw them.
The best way to control a child's mother is to use the child's future as an issue.
Concubine Duan continued, "If the Imperial Concubine is bored during her illness, we can come and keep her company often."
Nian Shilan smiled faintly, "Of course I am looking forward to your coming, but unfortunately today, my brother has already entered the palace and is now answering questions in front of the emperor. It won't be long before he comes here. I am afraid that it will be a while. Even if I want to stay longer, I can't."
"Your Maternal Family is still powerful and enviable. It is a comfort for your brother to enter the palace and meet your sister. It also shows the Emperor's friendship and care for you."
Concubine Xin continued with a smile.
Nian Shilan didn't say anything, just smiled.
Concubine Jing finally found an opportunity to speak, "Looking at the Imperial Concubine's complexion getting better and better, I think she will be well again in a few days. I saw the Fourth Prince these days, and he seemed to be very worried about the Imperial Concubine."
"The Fourth Prince is a filial child." Concubine Duan nodded, expressing her praise, "He has set a good example for Wen Yi."
When mentioning Wen Yi, Nian Shilan looked at Concubine Duan again.
Remembering her past life, Zhen Huan left the palace and gave her daughter Longyue to Concubine Jing to raise.
Concubine Jing was considerate, and although she was in contact with her at this moment, she was not close to her.
It would be great if I could become a chess piece in my hands.
But there are no extra children to give her at the moment.
Nian Shilan gradually gave up this idea.
"I have never been out, so I can't see these things. But this child comes to me every day, and I can see his intentions." Nian Shilan replied indifferently.
She then asked, "How is Concubine Wan's pregnancy?"
Concubine Jing was the most familiar with her. She replied, "Concubine Wan came in and was very excited. I guess the baby in her belly was a little naughty and didn't sleep well. There was nothing else wrong."
Nian Shilan nodded, "That's good. I'm sure it won't be long before there will be good news from the palace again."
"Yes, it's a good thing to have more children to make things more lively. Otherwise, the children will have no playmates." Concubine Duan said softly.
Among these concubines, only Concubine Jing did not have any children.
When she talked about this topic, a trace of loneliness flashed across her face and she stopped talking.
Nian Shilan noticed something and naturally didn't intend to continue this topic.
"My brother brought some nice jewelry from outside the palace. I will have someone send them to your palaces later." Nian Shilan said.
Concubine Xin immediately responded, "Look at how considerate the general is to the queen. How can we ask for a brother like him?"
"Lady Xin has been talking sweetly lately. I like to hear what she says, but it's getting late. I think my brother will be here soon, so I won't keep you any longer."
After saying this, several people understood what he meant, bowed and left.