Meng Zhaiyue sat in the carriage, holding a small fan embroidered with white cranes in her hand, looking at him with a little caution.
　　Princess Zhaoyang has been loved and spoiled by so many people since she was a child. Naturally, it is not out of caution due to her status and position, but because she is not sure about his temperament. She is afraid that her behavior is too abrupt and presumptuous, which will cause Xu Bingbi to stay away from her.
　　When facing the person she wants, no matter how humble his status, how disabled his body, or how despicable his reputation, she can't help but feel guilty, but soon, another kind of boldness of the girl when facing the advent of love covers her.
　　The princess said, "Bingbi's clothes are so thin. I didn't expect the autumn rain to be cold. Aren't you afraid of hurting yourself?"
　　Xu Xiang's eyebrows did not move, and he was solemn. He said in a low voice, "I am humble and unworthy of your concern."
　　The carriage started, and the wheels on both sides pressed on the road. The yellow leaves in early autumn were watered by raindrops, shaking out a rustling sound.
　　Meng Zhaiyue listened to such sounds, and then faced Xu Xiang's cold and handsome face. She felt that the atmosphere was extremely subtle. Her heart was like a tide. She gathered her skirt and said to him, "What if I want to worry about you? I... cough, I have divorced, Xu Bingbi has known it for a long time, right?" The
　　Internal Investigation Bureau is the eyes and ears of the empress dowager. Xu Xiang can know everything about the slightest movement in the capital. He naturally understood, but pretended to be confused and replied with a cold face, "I don't know."
　　"How could you not know?" Meng Zhaiyue was anxious and moved forward. Because he was a servant and a eunuch, the saying "several rules for men and women" was not true for him at all. The princess kept her habit with eunuchs and stretched out her hand to hold his arm, telling him carefully, "That so-called champion, what kind of son-in-law, I think he is also a half-hearted bastard, not to mention that he, he is handsome, but not half as good as you."
　　Xu Xiang glanced at her lightly, and his arm that was touched was completely frozen, like a cold stone.
　　He lowered his eyes and did not move, saying, "Your Highness is kind, I can't compare with the son-in-law."
　　Meng Zhaiyue frowned, wrinkled her nose slightly, and said dissatisfiedly, "He is no longer the son-in-law!"
　　Xu Xiang bowed his head and said yes, and sat there silently.
　　Meng Zhaiyue sat back in frustration.
　　She waved the fan in her hand more and more urgently. It was obviously not hot, but she was annoyed that sweat broke out on her forehead, and the heat was rising. The rain outside was also annoying.
　　The carriage of the princess's mansion was naturally very fast, and it stopped after a while. The maid outside lifted the curtain and whispered, "Your Highness, we have delivered it."
　　"I know." Meng Zhaiyue said.
　　She looked at Xu Xiang and bowed to say goodbye, turning the small fan in her hand helplessly, and the fan pendant swayed in her hand. When Xu Bingbi got off the car, Meng Zhaiyue suddenly leaned over and grabbed him, and couldn't help saying, "Don't tell my mother... I sent you back." The
　　queen mother would not believe her high-sounding lies, and she would definitely see through her reasons at a glance.
　　Xu Xiang paused and said, "I obey your orders."
　　"It's not obedience." The princess said, "It's because I don't want to be scolded, so I can't tell it. I don't want you to obey Princess Zhaoyang's orders, I want you... well, to be obedient so that Yingying won't be scolded."
　　Xu Xiang's eyes showed a trace of confusion.
　　Although he didn't understand, she didn't hinder Meng Zhaiyue's unbridled enthusiasm. She pulled the pendant off the small fan, took Xu Xiang's hand, and forced it into his palm. She raised her chin, looked dignified and said, "From now on, you will call me Sister Yingying."
　　Xu Xiang said, "This is against the rules and it is a crime of usurpation."
　　"Oh, why do you have so many rules? Just listen to me."
　　Xu Xiang didn't look at her, and there was a usual coldness between his brows: "I obey your command."
　　"You--" Meng Zhaiyue opened her eyes wide and stomped her feet in annoyance. She was about to scold him to vent her anger, but he was humble in his posture, but handsome and stern between his brows, with a frosty figure. She swallowed her words and murmured, "I don't blame you. Butterflies always fly around."
　　Xu Xiang hesitated, not knowing how to respond.
　　At this time, someone from the palace came out with a lantern. It was the person waiting for Xu Bingbi. He called out twice from afar and asked, "Whose carriage is this? Is there an imperial decree for you to enter the palace at this time?"
　　It was dim and drizzling, so it was hard to see the mark of the Princess's Mansion on the carriage. Meng Zhaiyue's heart skipped a beat, fearing that the person who came to greet her was someone from her mother's palace. She pushed him in a panic and said, "Go back. I'll pick you up next time." Xu
　　Xiang didn't understand the connection between these words at all. He just felt that the princess was unpredictable and difficult to understand. He got off the carriage, and the eunuch raised the green umbrella again. In the distance, the light of the lantern was approaching.
　　Meng Zhaiyue urged the driver to turn around and avoid him. At the same time, she lifted the curtain and leaned over the door of the carriage. Her eyes were as bright as water and as bright as the moon. She said to him, "I'm leaving now."
　　Xu Xiang bowed his head and put on a gesture of seeing him off.
　　Meng Zhaiyue said aggrievedly: "I'm really leaving..."
　　"Farewell, Your Highness..."
　　He didn't finish his words, and the lights on the other side reflected on his face. The daring Princess Zhaoyang could no longer stay, and a chill of fear jumped up from her back, and she fled in a panic.
　　At this time, the eunuch from the inner prison had already greeted her.
　　"Good night, Xu Bingbi." The eunuch asked, "It's such a rainy day, I can't pick you up, eh, that carriage is..."
　　Xu Xiang turned and walked towards the palace, saying lightly: "We met on the way, and I just helped you."
　　...
　　Regarding the fact that the object of admiration is not romantic, the princess and the imperial physician Xiao Zheng must have something to talk about.
　　July 7, the second year of Huining, Cining Palace.
　　Qixi Festival.
　　Dong Lingjiu's Qixi Festival was disturbed by government affairs. Even though Xiao Zheng, the imperial physician, persuaded him last night and held him for a long time, but when the matter came, he could not escape or ignore it.
　　The Empress Dowager read the clues that Qilin Guard had obtained from the Supervisory Censor Zhou Yao overnight. There was also a record of the original interrogation of Zhang Kui on the case. She picked up the imperial pen and wrote an imperial decree, asking the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Dali Temple to hold a joint trial, and allowed the eunuch Xu Xiang, the writing eunuch of the Internal Investigation Bureau, and the commander of Qilin Guard Jiang Yunhe to sit in on the trial.
　　Among these five parties, three were the confidants and eyes of Empress Dowager Dong. Even the Censor of the Censorate had relied on the favor of the Empress Dowager for many years. This kind of joint trial by the three departments was almost impossible to be interfered with by someone with ulterior motives.
　　After writing the imperial decree by hand, Dong Lingjiu put down the imperial pen and said, "Heng'er, make a copy and send it to the Emperor's Guiyuan Palace."
　　The second half of the sentence was for Ruixue.
　　Aunt Ruixue bowed her head and said yes, then stepped forward to take over the work of grinding ink in Zheng Yuheng's hand, and supervised him with lowered eyes as he copied the decree.
　　Zheng Yuheng had been with her until noon. While rolling up his sleeves and writing, he glanced at the words in the imperial edict and asked softly, "Has this matter made any progress?"
　　Dong Lingjiu turned the armor on her little finger with one hand, and her eyes were still thoughtful. She said, "Zhou Yao's confession is full of flaws. I'm afraid he didn't tell the truth. We have to wait for the result of the joint trial of the three courts. As for the officials Zhang Kui had revealed... I will personally weigh and investigate the court and the people. Who was missed in such a big move..."
　　Zheng Yuheng said, "How could he not cry until he sees the coffin..."
　　"Zhou Yao is your fellow Jinshi," Dong Lingjiu glanced at him, "The Ministry of Personnel transferred him to the position of Supervisory Censor less than a month ago. He was born in a poor family, but unfortunately his family has fallen into decline. He has no other branches in his family, only a beloved wife and a daughter."
　　Zheng Yuheng was deeply touched by these words, and murmured, "No extra money in the family, a beloved wife and a young daughter..."
　　Dong Lingjiu nodded.
　　"My queen," he suddenly said, "even if the three courts were to hold a joint trial, he would not tell."
　　"Why?" Dong Lingjiu asked him.
　　"Such a family background is too easy to control." Zheng Yuheng said calmly, "He is related to the case of embezzlement of military pay and has been sentenced to death. If the corrupt behind him threatens his wife and daughter, even if he is cut into pieces, this person will never say a word."
　　Dong Lingjiu paused and said softly: "Countless tortures, death is a luxury, can you bear it?"
　　"Of course." Zheng Yuheng looked back at her, his eyes no longer fearful and awe-inspiring, and he was very focused. "If it's for a wife... for a daughter, I can do it too."
　　He almost dropped the second half of the sentence "for a daughter". Don't think it's just two words. If you forget to say it, it would be too disrespectful and too ignorant.
　　Who can call her his wife? The only one who can call her his wife is the ancient saint buried in the imperial mausoleum. In the eyes of everyone, he is not even half as noble as Emperor Mingde.
　　Zheng Yuheng quickly lowered his head and continued to transcribe the imperial edict, gathering all his thoughts, but he could
　　n't help but touch his face. Dong Lingjiu didn't pay much attention to the pause in his words, but was a little inspired, tapping the side of the table with his fingertips slowly.
　　After a while, Zheng Yuheng transcribed the imperial edict clearly and handed it to Aunt Ruixue. Ruixue personally led people to deliver it to Guiyuan Palace. In
　　such a short time, the eunuchs in the small kitchen at the other end had quietly come to ask three times, and they were as anxious as ants on a hot pot. Now that they saw Aunt Ruixue go out, they didn't know what to do.
　　The eunuchs knew that Madam Jiang had a good relationship with Doctor Zheng, and that Doctor Zheng had always had a say in front of the empress, so they quietly entrusted Madam Jiang, who was serving incense.
　　The young eunuch said, "Sister Jiang Yu'an, please save my life. If the queen doesn't eat, the emperor and the queen will ask about it and punish us for not serving her well." Mrs.
　　Jiang was adding incense and put down the lid of the golden beast incense holder. She looked into the pearl curtain of the main hall and said, "What else can I do? I am just an eighth-rank eunuch. I am already relying on the favor of my aunt to serve in the main hall."
　　The young eunuch wiped the sweat from his forehead and said hoarsely, " Don't you have a say with Young Master Zheng? Good sister, just show some mercy and remember your kindness for the rest of my life."
　　Jiang Neiren looked at him, thinking of how Young Master Zheng helped her last time, and also thinking that Doctor Zheng had a very good temper, maybe she could plead with him, so she hesitated and said, "I'll try, and if it doesn't work, you can't blame me."
　　The young eunuch nodded and bowed, "No way, whether it works or not depends on your kindness."
　　Jiang Neiren put down the incense burner, first washed her hands to eliminate the strong fragrance and light gray smell between her fingers. Then she took a cup of tea from the tea maid and brought it to Zheng Yuheng's desk.
　　She didn't dare to face the Empress. Fortunately, Zheng Yuheng had finished writing the imperial edict and was not near Dong Lingjiu. She came boldly and whispered when serving tea: "The Empress hasn't eaten yet."
　　Zheng Yuheng raised his head from the medical books and said, "... She was busy just now, and I didn't know how to start."
　　Jiang Neiren said, "As long as you mention the suffering of us slaves, the Empress will naturally not make things difficult for us."
　　Zheng Yuheng said, "Okay."
　　After Jiang Neiren left, Zheng Yuheng stood up from the table and quietly walked to the side of Dong Lingjiu. Seeing that she was absorbed in the interrogation record, he couldn't help but pull her wide sleeves slightly.
　　On the sleeve was a phoenix with its wings spread out, shining with golden light.
　　Dong Lingjiu didn't look back, but naturally grabbed his wrist with his backhand, pulled him to his side, and placed Heng'er's cold jade hand on his knees.
　　Zheng Yuheng said, "Your Majesty... we haven't had lunch yet."
　　Dong Lingjiu was not actually listening. She was still thinking about what Zheng Yuheng had said before, wondering how to pry words out of a man who knew he was going to die.
　　The Queen Mother unconsciously stroked his fingertips and palms, and said, "You say, if I also use his wife and daughter as bargaining chips, wouldn't it be too cold and inhumane..."
　　Zheng Yuheng knew that she was not listening to him, so he bent down and put his other hand on her. Just as he was about to remind her again, he saw Dong Lingjiu turn her head. The golden hairpins in her hair trembled like butterflies, and a fragrance mixed with the scent of sandalwood flew across his cheek like a shadow.
　　Zheng Yuheng's words were stuck in his throat, and a bright red spread to his ears. His heart was beating like a drum, and he looked into a pair of calm and gentle eyes.
　　Dong Lingjiu looked at him and said, "Heng'er?"
　　Zheng Yuheng blinked and steadied his voice, "I'm here."
　　"Are you listening?"
　　Zheng Yuheng hesitated for a moment and shook his head gently. Not only did he not feel guilty about it, but he suddenly asked back, "Is your Majesty listening to me?"
　　Dong Lingjiu was stunned, "What did you say?"
　　Zheng Yuheng said, "It's time for your Majesty to have dinner."
　　Dong Lingjiu: "Is this important? I'm talking about military and national affairs..."
　　"Very important." Doctor Zheng said seriously.
　　Dong Lingjiu was afraid that he would bring out the old tricks again and come up with some tricks to bully him, so he told Du Yuewan, "Serve the meal."
　　Aunt Yuewan glanced at Zheng Yuheng and left.
　　Not long after, the eunuchs and a dozen maids filed in and set up the meal behind the pearl curtain. The table, seats, and washing utensils were all set. They also served a cup of fragrant tea for rinsing the mouth and a jade basin for washing hands.
　　Dong Lingjiu usually eats alone, but this time, Aunt Yuewan specifically instructed that Doctor Zheng should have a seat.
　　The dishes in front of him were light and good for the stomach, and they were all good for conditioning. Some of them were health-preserving medicinal meals that Zheng Yuheng discussed with the cooks.
　　Dong Lingjiu wiped his hands and suddenly thought, "Is today the Chinese Valentine's Day?"
　　Zheng Yuheng said, "Yes."
　　He paused, carefully looked at the other person's expression, and added in a low voice with a little ill intention and a little bit of solicitation, "It's also my birthday."
　　He was born on the seventh day of the seventh month, and today is his nineteenth birthday.