atypical prostitute

Chapter 207
A peacock feather fan attracted Lin Shu's attention.

She turned her eyes to the owner of the fan, she was a dignified and noble young woman, in her twenties, the age when the peonies first bloomed, her appearance inherited from the eldest princess was only thin, Shi Fen Dai has been taught the harem makeup, most of it was eclipsed, and she was overwhelmed by worry. The pervasive eyes are lovely, she is so beautiful and gentle, if not for her attire, Lin Shu would not have believed that she is the only female friend of the mighty empress, the notorious Mrs. Shaohou among the concubines. .

The person lying on the bed groaned softly, Lin Shu quickly put away his flying thoughts, and brought out a basin of water mixed with precious medicinal juice. Dip in the lotion and gently wipe her pale lips.

This woman has been acting like this for three days. Although the aristocrat's modesty and make-up make her face always radiant, after walking in, Lin Shu still saw her haggardness: her bright eyes are slightly reddish brown, and even more so now. It was covered with a layer of gray, and the complexion was not as rosy and natural as when we first met.Lin Shu felt that it was necessary for him to persuade the noble lady to take a break, but she did not say anything in the end.

His Majesty has been in a coma intermittently for five days this time. When he woke up three days ago, he summoned this woman into the palace and never woke up again.

Even if it is just an ordinary female official, a woman who can serve and survive in His Majesty's bedroom has a keen sense of crisis and ominous premonition.

The harem is already covered with dark clouds, and the front court is full of people's voices. Anyone who can enter and leave the palace of His Majesty, even the most inconspicuous flower and plant eunuch, may have received countless bribes, just to get the latest situation of the imperial body.

For a female official like Lin Shu who can serve His Majesty to dress, even bribes trickle into her cuffs like water. Seed jade handles, gem beads, carved agarwood... which ones are not priceless, but Lin Shu is a man with his own ideas. A woman, she will not ruin the peace of the rest of her life for a moment of greed.

Mrs. Shaohou... is likely to become her next person to rely on.

……

……

"These days, you are tired."

A pale hand lifted feebly and landed on Li Ci's shoulder. She lowered her head and looked at Xiao Zhiqian.

No one would believe that this dying man had almost wiped out the Turks. His eyes were deeply sunken due to the high fever for several days, his face was covered with death, his forehead was dripping with sweat, and there was cold sweat from time to time. Beads dripped into the depths of his long gray hair, and he was so haggard that he might die at any moment.

"Go and take a break... You are my cousin after all, you shouldn't be doing these slave jobs..."

When he mentioned the word "cousin", he obviously hesitated for a moment. Because of His Majesty's subtle movements, a large group of servants and female officials surrounded him attentively, but none of them dared to cross the threshold. They stood quietly. Outside the veil, he bowed his body, waiting for Mrs. Shaohou to get up.

Li Ci didn't leave, she didn't say a word, she just grabbed Xiao Zhiqian's wrinkled palm with a sad face, her eyes were even more sad, as if obeying that order would instantly deprive her of her life.

Perhaps it was because of her infection, Xiao Zhiqian sighed, withdrew his hand, shook his fingers, and said, "Forget it, treat what I said just now as if I didn't say it. If you want to stay, you can stay. But... you'd better Go get some rest, you look haggard...I've lost many, many precious things...don't want to lose you again."

"Follow the Holy Order."

The woman lowered her head and said softly, holding the peacock feather fan with her slender fingers.

When standing up, due to the long-term toil, Li Ci's eyes were darkened, and he was about to fall, and his hands instinctively wanted to rest on the red sandalwood table next to the bed to support his body.But when she found that her small movements might bump into an inconspicuous statue on the case, Li Ci chose to fall.

Anyway...you won't be hurt if you fall, there are thick blankets on the ground, and ten steps away, there are a large group of servants and imperial doctors waiting in line.

The decision made in a split second brought a slight joy on the face on the pillow. The moment he fell down, he suddenly said: "...you all go down, I... have something to say to you..."

Li Ci was stunned, and he grasped the peacock feather fan tightly with his fingers.

The servants remained motionless.

Xiao Zhiqian repeated it softly and solemnly, and the servants knew how to be negligent, and hurriedly claimed that the death penalty came out in a file, and even the people in the darkest corners also left the bedroom without a word because they heard His Majesty's withered fingers knocking on the bed board continuously .

So, in the blink of an eye, only she and him were left in the huge dormitory.

He looked at her, the torment of the unknown disease made him thin and haggard, but his eyes became more and more clear, sharp enough to reach the heart.

Realizing that he was being watched by these eyes, Li Ci couldn't help being startled, and blurted out: "He doesn't know anything, you know."

"I know, he doesn't know anything, but you know everything."

Xiao Zhiqian coughed and stretched out his hand, "Help me up, I want to... take a walk..."

"Yes."

Without rejection or delay, Li Ci carefully took a soft robe and put it on for him.

When he was about to put on shoes for him, Xiao Zhiqian said: "No need, the blanket is very thick... I... almost forgot the feeling of being down-to-earth..."

The sad words that were almost helpless, the pain made him so thin that only a bone remained, even if most of the weight of his body was pressed on her, it would not make her feel strenuous.

She suppressed her apprehension, supported him, and walked slowly in the bedroom.

"...I never knew...my bedroom...it's so big...so vast..."

He commented casually.

In the sleeping hall, there are statues of Ye Wurong like an altar.Statues came from all over the Empire, sent by mourners and flatterers, to appease His Majesty's sorrows.Each statue is the work of a famous craftsman, there is a fairy in white jade, wearing feathers and feet on auspicious clouds; there is a female warrior in gold armor with a face carved from ivory; A young girl; a bodhisattva with flawless celadon and compassionate eyes... All officials who contributed statues were rewarded. Although it was just a few words, it was enough to make them overjoyed.

Even the Turkic people north of the Great Wall, under the guidance of the national teacher, took the initiative to add a clause to the contract. They regarded Ye Wurong as the daughter of Changshengtian, and interpreted Xiao Zhiqian's frenzied burning of the city as carrying the most pious heart. It is a glorious move for Faith Wangcheng and Changshengtian's daughter to return to Changshengtian's embrace.The flattery was exchanged for a reward of ten thousand taels of gold, which was used to create a golden body for Changshengtian's daughter.

It is no exaggeration to say that Xiao Zhiqian used his imperial power to spread his love to every corner of the empire.

However, looking at these exquisite and unusual statues, Xiao Zhiqian's eyes were full of nostalgia and loathing. He stroked the sculptures with his eyes, lingering endlessly, and finally said: "You didn't have to deliberately let yourself fall down just now... These statues are not her after all. ...burn them all, I shall see her soon, I shall not need them."

"But……"

"I know you are very curious, why I know you are a restless seed, but I still keep you, and let you serve me at this most embarrassing time. Because you have been trembling like walking on thin ice for ten years. ? I am the emperor, even if there is no reason, I can kill you."

Xiao Zhiqian spoke in a soft voice, every word passing by his ears was like thunder.

Li Ci carefully stabilized his body and mind, and said: "Your Majesty has deep meanings, and my wife is ignorant, so I dare not speculate."

"It's not that you don't dare to speculate, you are afraid that what I think will hit my mind and cause endless troubles."

There were beads of cold sweat on Li Ci's forehead.

"My wife—"

"Don't call yourself a minister's wife anymore. If I didn't have a heart for you, how could I suppress Liang Wang and suppress many wealthy families, but let you hold so many powers and still be safe until today, and even continue to grow?"

The undisguised words made Li Ci's mind flash a little bit of understanding. She raised her head and said, "It turns out that I have always been an axe."

"Wrong, what I have for you is—expectation."

Because of the excitement, a few traces of blood appeared on his pale and haggard face, Xiao Zhiqian grabbed Li Ci's chin, and dug his nails into the skin.

"The so-called bloodline inheritance will always give birth to dirty and rotten monsters after a short period of clarity. You were born from the most filthy, and you were destined to become a part of the mud. But when I saw you for the first time in Yueyang Tower, I was shocked Yes. You who appeared in front of me are so clean and pure! Although as time goes by, your purity is gradually tarnished by sophistication, and your cleanliness is stained with the stench of power, but you have never rotted from your body. The taste of... You have a vision and insight beyond most people, and you let my dead heart have expectations..."

Li Ci listened quietly, she half understood Xiao Zhiqian's words.

"The real Baihe on Yuelu Mountain was dismissed because of you, the monster Jun Fengxi is always around you, dry mountains and rivers, low-rent housing... How many secrets are hidden in you?"

Having said that, he paused, and under the pressure of his cold eyes, Li Ci trembled slightly.

"……I……"

"If you don't want to tell it, don't tell it. No matter how many secrets you know, you can't let me, a dying person, live another day."

Xiao Zhiqian let go, and before Lici could breathe freely, he asked another question.

"Tell me, what is the world?"

"The world..."

Li Ci was at a loss for words, but Xiao Zhiqian let out a leisurely breath.

"The world is a woman, a capricious woman who only depends on the strongest. If you are strong enough, the world will take it. If you are a little weaker, she will fall into the arms of others. If you follow the old rules, I should make an order now Let Concubine Pei Xian be buried, the mother is strong and the son is weak, and the powerful ministers rule the country, which is a harbinger of rebellion... But I am a selfish person. I...Compared to the generations of the Xiao family, I want to see brother and you in peace ...You are the person I love the most and the relatives of the person I love the most...the crown prince? It's just a tool to continue the bloodline!"

"His Majesty--"

Li Ci's heart trembled, and her suspicions all along were confirmed at this moment, which left her stunned as if struck by lightning.

Xiao Zhiqian smiled softly, and wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye with his fingers.

"After I die, if Jiangshan loses you, I can take my place!"

……

……

As night fell, Li Ci lit a longevity lantern.

With the help of the dim light, she took off the statues and portraits of the queen one by one, and placed them beside the sleeping Xiao Zhiqian.

After all this was done, she straightened her clothes, placed the longevity lamp one foot in front of her, sat cross-legged, straightened her waist, and stared into the darkest shadow with her dark eyes.

Soon, the entire empire will know the news of His Majesty's death, and the edict in her sleeve will become the beginning of a new struggle.

(End of this chapter)