Dong Lingjiu smiled and said, "Innocent."
　　Meng Zhaiyue knew that she was in the wrong and was afraid that her mother would punish her. She was flustered and softly leaned against her mother's arms, pillowing her chest and acting coquettishly: "Mother, you will understand me. You don't know that I was catching butterflies in the garden that day, and there was such a beautiful butterfly, which happened to land on Xu Bingbi. Although he is a eunuch, his body is more fragrant than flowers, so he can attract bees and butterflies and attract me."
　　Dong Lingjiu deliberately said: "It seems that it is his fault that he actually bewitched the princess."
　　"No." Meng Zhaiyue hurriedly denied, "It was me who took a fancy to his appearance. Such a person really doesn't look like a eunuch. Mother has Zheng Taiyi as her companion. As a princess of the dynasty, can't I keep a close and intimate person by my side? Besides, he can't be humane, It's just a decoration."
　　Dong Lingjiu glanced at her and said in a slightly heavier tone: "You are so unscrupulous, no wonder the court officials reported you for your impoliteness."
　　"Report me?" The princess was shocked and instantly annoyed, "What did I do again? Let these people talk about it and point fingers at me."
　　She is completely different from Zheng Yuheng. Zheng Yuheng admits his mistakes and is stubborn in his heart, while the princess will not even admit her mistakes. Meng Zhaiyue is a princess of the golden branch and jade leaf, and she is the only legitimate princess. How many people in the world can blame her?
　　Dong Lingjiu reached out and pulled out a memorial from the corner of the case file. He covered the key words with his fingers, obscuring the name of the person who wrote the memorial, and said lightly: "The imperial censor was arrested and taken to the inner prison. Although he was not tortured, he was detained for a whole day. Was this done by the princess?"
　　Meng Zhaiyue said: "That's because they came to our door! These people wanted to be rude to the supervisor of the inner investigation factory!"
　　She had just finished her explanation and met Dong Lingjiu's eyes. She felt that she had acted too much and felt guilty for no reason. She shrank back and muttered: "It was the censor who was wrong first."
　　Dong Lingjiu said: "It seems that Yingying must have him."
　　Meng Zhaiyue was startled when he heard this, and looked at her expectantly and said: "Mother, can you satisfy me?"
　　"What a pity," Dong Lingjiu tapped the memorial, "Even if I don't blame you or break you up, Xu Xiang himself won't agree. He just can't resist and contradict you in person because of your status."
　　Meng Zhaiyue was a little unconvinced and questioned, "How is that possible? Even if it's because of his status as a son, isn't it better to be protected by me and live a carefree life in the princess's mansion than to work hard and be bullied by all parties in the palace? I don't believe it, he just can't talk to his mother."
　　In the princess's heart, following her means a lifetime of wealth and glory, but in the deep palace, Xu Xiang has the emperor and the empress dowager above him, and he has to act under the eyes of his master. He has orthodox civil officials below him, who look down on these spineless flattering eunuchs. He is also a person in charge of punishment with a bad record. There are really many people in this world who wish he would die immediately.
　　As long as Xu Xiang resigns from his post and enters the princess's mansion, he can get rid of this dilemma of making enemies on all sides and walking on thin ice. At most, she would just be scolded a few times. Meng Zhaiyue thought that this was much better than being called "King of Hell".
　　Dong Lingjiu did not intend to persuade her, but prepared to let her ask in person, so he said: "After tomorrow, if there is a case in the inner prison that Xu Xiang personally tried, I can order someone to let you in to watch. He is not a butterfly, he can eat people."
　　The princess did not realize the crisis at this moment, and nodded repeatedly, thinking that her mother was considerate.
　　Dong Lingjiu continued: "After watching, if you still insist, you can ask him in person if he is willing to go to the princess's mansion."
　　Meng Zhaiyue was overjoyed, and felt that there was no one in the world who treated her better than her mother. She hugged her arm for a while to please her, and accompanied the Queen Mother to rest in the Cining Palace.
　　...
　　Seven days later, Cining Palace.
　　Xiao Zheng, the imperial doctor, really did not follow Xu Bingbi's advice and rested in the Imperial Hospital for ten days. In just seven days, he came to see the queen and resumed his post.
　　During the period when he was resting and recuperating, Dong Lingjiu often sent people to look after him. Although some people in the Imperial Hospital were eager to try and hint at him, Dong Lingjiu was too lazy to choose another person to take his place to diagnose pulses. In the past few days, all the pulse-taking and medicine-management work was handed over to the female doctors of the Shang Pharmacy.
　　On the days when officials were on leave, Dong Lingjiu also handed over many simple government affairs to the emperor, so he had a day of free time. He played chess in front of the window in the palace, listening to the autumn wind and the continuous rain.
　　Ruixue handed over an outer coat and put it on the shoulders of the Empress Dowager. She pointed to a place not far away and whispered, "Little Doctor Zheng has peeked at you several times. Why doesn't he come over?"
　　Zheng Yuheng sat not far away, discussing prescriptions with the female doctors.
　　Dong Lingjiu played chess casually, thought about it casually, and thought: "Maybe the emperor scared him... Maybe he thought I didn't care? Didn't protect him? Or... really listened to Cheng'er's words."
　　Ruixue shook her head and said: "If I really had this idea, I wouldn't have suffered the embarrassment of His Majesty."
　　Dong Lingjiu said: "That's right."
　　She is an experienced hunter with rich experience and years of accumulation. She has a broad mind and is very good at self-restraint and self-examination. Even if she likes him, she won't be so worried and show all her emotions - sitting in this position, showing emotions on the face is a deadly taboo.
　　Outside the eaves, the sound of raindrops on banana leaves is fine.
　　Dong Lingjiu wrote a chess score, picked up a pen to mark the score, and lowered his head to look at the chessboard: "Ruixue, bring the "Forget Worry and Pure Joy Collection"."
　　Aunt Ruixue responded, but someone took a step faster than her and took the famous book from the table and put it next to Dong Lingjiu.
　　The Queen Mother still didn't look up, but just reached out to turn the page. As soon as she reached out, she touched a pair of slender and cold fingers.
　　She paused, didn't say anything, and just pulled out the book.
　　Zheng Yuheng knelt on the side of the chessboard, his figure like jade. There was still a little grass smell of ointment on his body, mixed with the light ink and bookish air. At this time, he gathered his sleeves and whispered: "I apologize to the Queen."
　　Dong Lingjiu glanced at him.
　　After not seeing him for a few days, the condition of the young doctor Zheng didn't seem to be very good. He was still so warm, but there was a chill to the touch, and there was something inexplicable in his expression... Dong Lingjiu couldn't understand it.
　　She didn't understand what it meant to be worried and what it meant to be unable to get what you want.
　　Zheng Yuheng was forced to cool off with the Empress for such a long time. He also reflected on it. Although he never thought that he was unruly, he still couldn't help but show his cold and arrogant temper when facing the difficulties of His Majesty the Emperor and the argument that he was not worthy of being a substitute. He was afraid that he would bring trouble to the Empress Dowager.
　　Dong Lingjiu's voice was very gentle: "What crime do you want to plead guilty?"
　　Zheng Yuheng said: "I offended your Majesty."
　　He bowed his head and his long eyelashes were like feather fans, casting a light shadow in the gap of light.
　　Dong Lingjiu stretched out her hand. Her fingertips were very soft and warm. Her fingertips touched the side of Zheng Yuheng's cheek, stroking him like a cat, carefully comforting and patiently taming him.
　　She said: "Is the injury serious?"
　　Zheng Yuheng's heart trembled slightly.
　　He suppressed it for a long time, but the desire still overflowed from his bones. Through her fingertips, it flowed out without any hindrance.
　　Zheng Yuheng sometimes thought that his desire for the Empress might be a dirty and absurd offense, a crime worthy of being cut into pieces, but more often, he was like a wild cat passing by a Buddha statue on a rainy day, wandering without a home. He huddled under an umbrella that sheltered the Buddha statue from the rain, and saw the Bodhisattva lowering his eyebrows in the sound of the dripping rain. At
　　this moment, it seemed like such rain, and the autumn colors were getting stronger.
　　Dong Lingjiu just touched him, and suddenly the hand was held by the young doctor Zheng. He no longer let go as if it was burned, but closed his hand and held it tightly, as if if he let go a little, everything in front of him would become a fleeting dream bubble.
　　Dong Lingjiu said softly, "Come."
　　Zheng Yuheng followed her lead, moved closer little by little, and leaned against the Empress Dowager.
　　Dong Lingjiu opened the "Wangyou Qingle Collection", and her free hand was stroking his palm, following the curves of his skeleton and bones, tracing and drawing bit by bit. This secret exploration almost made Zheng Yuheng's throat tighten.
　　He looked at Dong Lingjiu's profile, his eyes motionless, but he was thinking in his heart, Madam, when did you look at me, and it was just me?
　　But he couldn't say it out loud, some things are unbearable to be pointed out.
　　Dong Lingjiu tilted her head to read a book, changed the chess game, and the jade pendant on her earlobe shook. Her hand stopped, and her knuckles clasped his palm.
　　Zheng Yuheng suddenly asked: "Madam?"
　　"Yeah." Dong Lingjiu's tone was calm, and she was always so gentle to him, "You say."
　　"Do you... like the "Jiangchengzi" of the predecessors?" "
　　Whose "Jiangchengzi"?" Dong Lingjiu said.
　　"Mourning poem." He said, "Ten years of life and death are both vague."
　　Dong Lingjiu didn't know why he suddenly mentioned this. This was a poem written by a poet in the previous dynasty to mourn his deceased wife. It was sincere and heartfelt and widely circulated. She thought Zheng Yuheng wanted to hear her evaluation, so she thought for a moment and said, "I like him quite a bit."
　　Zheng Yuheng lowered his head, and he said slowly, "But this great poet finally married his late wife's cousin."
　　Dong Lingjiu also sighed a little, shook his head and said, "Love in the world cannot stand the test. Not only love, but also human character, if it is tested too much, even the hardest jade will crack... Don't employ those who you doubt, and don't doubt those who you employ. This is how you should choose pillars for the country."
　　Zheng Yuheng was silent for a moment, and then said, "Don't doubt those who you employ... Are you so sure that I will always do this..." Are you willing to be his substitute?
　　He couldn't say the second half of the sentence.
　　Dong Lingjiu smiled, stroked his fingers, tapped Zheng Yuheng's palm, and said, "What happened today? You rested for a few days, not only did you learn to be polite, but you also became more cold and petty."
　　Zheng Yuheng also knew how unruly and unruly she had been before. In this case, her chastity and courtesy at this moment were just superficial, and it looked fake.
　　At this time, the warm wine on the side was hot enough. A little maid named Zhao knelt at the table and served wine to the Queen Mother. She was not in a position to say much, but just quietly poured the wine into the cup, and then Aunt Ruixue gently placed it on the table. Although
　　this Zhao Neiren did not say anything, she heard 80% of the conversation between the two. The person in charge was confused, but the bystander was clear. She was a little confused and wondered why it seemed that the conversation between Lord Zheng and the Queen Mother seemed harmonious, but in fact they were not on the same line. How could they talk about the same topic?
　　Dong Lingjiu picked up the wine glass. Zheng Yuheng, who was standing beside her, couldn't sit still. She looked at her and said, "Your Majesty... don't drink too much."
　　This is a warm wine that can eliminate dampness and cold, so Zheng Yuheng only advised her like this.
　　Dong Lingjiu paused for a moment and pulled his wrist to let him come closer. The two looked at each other and could smell each other's breath. The fragrance of sandalwood mixed with the fragrance of cassia twigs quietly surrounded her breath and sleeves.
　　She handed the wine to Zheng Yuheng and whispered, "Please persuade me in another way."
　　Zheng Yuheng took the wine glass, his heart pounding, his Adam's apple moved slightly, he had just restrained himself for a moment, and lost the rules again, he whispered, "Your Majesty, Aunt... is still here." As
　　he spoke, he looked to the side and suddenly found that not to mention Aunt Ruixue, even the young maid who served the wine just now had already disappeared without a trace.
　　Zheng Yuheng was speechless for a moment, then turned his head and looked back. Seeing that Dong Lingjiu's expression was not surprised, she was still looking at him with a gentle smile.
　　He was not sure if he understood the other party's hint. He took a sip tentatively, then leaned forward under her gaze and touched her lips.
　　Dong Lingjiu did not dodge, and gently pinched his collar with her fingers. After tasting the hot wine, she said, "You think too much."
　　Zheng Yuheng's back stiffened, and his Adam's apple rolled: "Your Majesty..."
　　"I just want Heng'er to accompany me for a drink." Dong Lingjiu couldn't help laughing, "You are so good."
　　Zheng Yuheng felt that his false disguise had been wasted. He said, "...I offended you."
　　Dong Lingjiu said, "Aren't you very skilled at offending?"
　　Zheng Yuheng was half guilty and half ashamed, and bowed his head quietly. The hand holding the wine glass was clenched until the knuckles turned white: "Your Majesty was wrong."
　　Doctor Zheng was a person who was used to admitting his mistakes. It was easy for him to admit his mistakes, but he only knew his mistakes when he admitted it in his heart.
　　Dong Lingjiu asked, "Do you really know you are wrong?"
　　She was like a leisurely and experienced angler, quietly guarding the edge of her pond: "Do you know you are wrong and will correct it?"
　　Zheng Yuheng hesitated for a moment, and was lured to the surface of the water to blow bubbles, and asked in a melancholy whisper: "Can... not change it?"