Meng Cheng personally sent Dong Lingjiu back to Cining Palace.
　　The wind and snow were falling, and the sky was clear during the day. There were snowflakes floating in the sky, and the
　　cold wind was blowing. There were people taking care of Cining Palace, and the palace was warm as spring. The palace servants saluted in front of the palace, and after welcoming the Empress Dowager into the palace, they helped her take off her snow-white plush cloak and shook off the snowflakes and remaining ice crystals.
　　Emperor Meng Cheng sent her into the palace, looked around, asked Aunt Ruixue about his mother's health, and then felt relieved, and said goodbye to Dong Lingjiu.
　　The ice crystals on his hair melted, slightly dampening his black hair. Although he was still in a bad mood, he did not look listless.
　　Dong Lingjiu looked at him and thought: I am afraid that it will not be possible to learn the cold-bloodedness of the emperor, the harshness of the ruler and the mercy of the ruler in a moment. But Yao Cheng'er has learned to hide his emotions and bury the pain of losing people close to him under the surface. This may be the reason why he is calm at the moment.
　　Dong Lingjiu has also experienced this process of "learning".
　　After all, Meng Cheng is her and Emperor Mingde's child. Although he has been spoiled since childhood and has some temper and dependence, his learning ability is not weak. Moreover, he is different from Zheng Yuheng in one aspect, that is, he is not as stubborn and obstinate as the young doctor. So he has to do this. He can turn around after hitting a wall, which is the case with Li Zhuo's military pay case and Shang Kai's corruption case.
　　Meng Cheng bowed to his mother and said goodbye. Before leaving, he paused and suddenly turned back to ask her: "Mother, if my father had not died young, I would be the crown prince for life. If that were the case, would you stay with him for life and have no one else?"
　　When Meng Cheng came to the palace, Zheng Yuheng, who had just returned from the inner factory with Du Yuewan, had changed his clothes and stayed in the palace waiting for her.
　　He did not show up to avoid meeting Meng Cheng. But at this time, the palace was quiet and peaceful. Even if Zheng Yuheng did not show up, he could naturally hear his words through a mere screen and a beaded curtain.
　　Just like Dong Lingjiu's moment of silence, his steps and mood also solidified in this short silence. Zheng Yuheng was already full of thoughts and emotions. When he heard this sentence, the blood in his body began to flow backwards.
　　He was stunned for a long time, then lowered his head to tidy up his sleeves, and his fingers had already made his clothes very neat. But his anxiety, fear, and an inexplicable expectation all forced Zheng Yuheng to find something to do over and over again, forcing himself to listen quietly to her answer.
　　Perhaps this could not even be considered listening. He was just a pet who secretly tested his own weight, a villain without bottom line. A year ago, such fear and fear for another person should not have appeared in him, and he would even be despised by Zheng Yuheng.
　　But today, everything is different.
　　He envied a dead person who had long been buried in the ground, a wise ruler of this dynasty, his nominal monarch.
　　When Zheng Yuheng realized this, his palms were already sweating. It was clear that Dong Lingjiu only thought for a short while, but he felt that he could not wait even for the gap between each breath. He kept getting up and sitting down, facing the half-collected books for Dong Lingjiu.
　　Meng Cheng was also holding his breath and waiting for an answer.
　　During this period of thinking and silence, the cold winter north wind knocked on the window lattice, and the rustling sound came from the dim and cold night, rolling up the snow that was scattered like flying dust.
　　The candlelight crackled, and the light and shadow trembled slightly.
　　Dong Lingjiu stretched out her hand and put her palm next to the fire, and layers of warm heat spread to her fingertips. She said: "Is your father still alive? Today, dust returns to dust, and earth returns to earth. Your assumption should be meaningless."
　　"Yes." Meng Cheng insisted, "This is very important to me."
　　Dong Lingjiu raised her head and thought about it. Looking out the window where there was no moonlight, she slowly said: "Then there should be no one else."
　　Because Meng Zhen would not allow it.
　　It's not that Meng Zhen didn't allow it, but she didn't do it. The fundamental reason is that once the two of them have a strong dispute and collision, it will turn into turmoil in the entire court. Even when the contradiction cannot be resolved, it will turn into a party struggle and an excuse for the ministers to divide camps when attacking each other... There will be countless contradictions arising from this.
　　Considering the stability of the country, she and Meng Zhen would not offend each other's bottom line. However, the bottom line of most men is the requirement for women's chastity, which is really annoying.
　　Meng Cheng breathed a sigh of relief.
　　Just when he thought he had won back a city for his father, Dong Lingjiu took the medicine bowl handed by Ruixue, and while touching the temperature on the bowl wall, he added: "But whether to do so and whether to be tempted are two different things. Even if he is alive, it does not affect the queen mother's feeling that Zheng Taiyi is very satisfactory. It's just... We are inseparable husband and wife. As long as he is here, he and I are tied to the same chariot, adding fuel to the fire for the huge wheel of this chariot, and we can't have any other thoughts for a moment."
　　Meng Cheng was stunned, as if he couldn't understand this description and this situation all at once. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Dong Lingjiu stretched out her hand and pressed her eyebrows, and he knew that she was tired. The little emperor subconsciously suppressed the words on his lips and said: "Queen mother, go to bed, your son will leave now."
　　Dong Lingjiu nodded gently.
　　The little emperor left.
　　She ordered someone to look after the doors and windows. After taking the medicine, she placed the medicine bowl on the lacquered wooden table and asked, "Has Yue Wan come back?"
　　Li Ruixue said, "She has come back."
　　Dong Lingjiu took the warm towel and wiped her hands, "Why is there no one?"
　　Ruixue looked at her and said, "The person the queen is talking about, is it Du Shangyi or Doctor Zheng?"
　　This is asking even though she knows the answer.
　　Dong Lingjiu glanced at her, did not answer, and walked towards the inner hall. Before Zheng Yuheng left today, she casually asked him to tidy up the small desk inside the screen of the bedroom, on which were placed some books on statecraft. Most of them are written on paper, but there are also some interesting contents.
　　If Zheng Yuheng comes back, he should continue to complete this matter.
　　Dong Lingjiu stepped into the hall and saw his figure, but he seemed a little absent-minded. He didn't know what he was thinking in his mind. He didn't even respond to Dong Lingjiu's approaching footsteps.
　　She was light, and although her clothes were thick, they only made a slight rustling sound when they fell to the ground. Dong Lingjiu's footsteps were very slow and quiet, and she stopped behind the chair.
　　The window gap was closed tightly, and a layer of gauze that shone through the snow was pasted on the checkerboard window. The candle next to him had burned out and would soon be extinguished.
　　Dong Lingjiu leaned down, put one hand around his shoulder, and pressed his wrist.
　　Zheng Yuheng suddenly came back to his senses, and moved his body slightly. He felt a fragrant and warm breath passing by his ears, and the heat surprisingly brushed the skin of his cheeks and neck. Under the added psychological effect, he almost felt like he was burned.
　　Dong Lingjiu stood behind him, half-circling the seated Doctor Zheng. Her fingertips followed the lines of bones and muscles, and enveloped the back of Zheng Yuheng's hand pressing the paper. She clearly couldn't wrap his hand, but she still made people feel a warm power.
　　She asked in his ear, "What are you thinking about?"
　　Her voice was soft and gentle, like the most tolerant living Bodhisattva in the world.
　　Zheng Yuheng asked, "Is this a command that must be answered?"
　　Dong Lingjiu smiled and said, "No, I don't want to say it?"
　　Zheng Yuheng nodded hesitantly.
　　"Is it something that is difficult to talk about?" She leaned her head closer and raised her finger to turn his chin. The two of them were facing each other. "What is difficult to talk about that you can't tell me?"
　　Zheng Yuheng hesitated for a while and said, "It is precisely because it is you that I can't tell you."
　　"Oh... It seems that my identity is wrong." Dong Lingjiu pressed his chin, and her plain and slightly sharp teeth rubbed against the soft lips in front of her, leaving a deep arc. His lips were red and congested, and his whole face was so beautiful that it made people's hearts flutter.
　　"Hiss..."
　　Zheng Yuheng took a breath. He was very sensitive to pain and instinctively hid back a little.
　　Dong Lingjiu pressed his shoulders, and the pearl tassels of gold and jade ornaments hung beside his ears, trembling gently and finely back and forth. Her wrist came around and cushioned behind Zheng Yuheng's neck, leaning against the back of the chair.
　　She said, "Don't hide."
　　Zheng Yuheng's eyes were moist, he licked the wound, and said softly, "Yes."
　　"Really not?" Dong Lingjiu was still a little concerned about the conversation just now, "You have a secret from me."
　　Zheng Yuheng hesitated, and then said, "I dare not. I just feel ashamed and troubled, and I regret not being born twenty years earlier."
　　"Why does the tone of this sound so aggrieved?"
　　Zheng Yuheng said sullenly, "Not aggrieved."
　　"Lie."
　　"Really. You can appreciate me... I am lucky, I shouldn't dare to expect anything else."
　　Dong Lingjiu was a little confused about what these young people were thinking.
　　Zheng Yuheng seemed to have persuaded himself when he said this, and said in a very discouraged and resigned tone: "One day you will not want me, you will throw me away, and choose other young men, find those who are better looking and younger than me."
　　Dong Lingjiu was stunned and said, "That's a good suggestion."
　　Zheng Yuheng raised his head suddenly, his eyes widened, and his expression was very shocked.
　　"Or I'll do as you say." Dong Lingjiu said lightly, "Every few years, I'll select a group of young men for me, all of whom are 18 or 19 years old, with a clean family background and handsome appearance. Then I'll..."
　　"No." He said immediately.
　　Dong Lingjiu raised his eyebrows.
　　Zheng Yuheng reacted and quickly patched it up: "This is for the sake of the queen's health. You can't bear it. And extravagance and waste are not good for you."
　　"What about you?"
　　"How are I the same as those outside?" He said without thinking, "I am young and obedient, I am also knowledgeable in poetry and books, understand government affairs, and know medical skills. No one can interfere with my relationship with you..."
　　When he said this, he saw Dong Lingjiu's smiling eyes, suddenly woke up, and stopped talking silently.
　　"You are different from those outside?" Dong Lingjiu said with a smile, "Does this classify you as a family member?"
　　Zheng Yuheng was extremely embarrassed, and he wished that a crack would immediately appear in the ground for him to drill into.
　　Dong Lingjiu stopped talking and then stood up. Zheng Yuheng stood up and helped the Empress Dowager change her clothes. Her
　　clothes were covered with pearls and jades, and her steps were slightly bumped. He reached out to take off her heavy waist ornaments, and suddenly his arms tightened, holding her firmly in his arms.
　　"Empress Dowager..."
　　He lowered his voice and asked carefully.
　　"Can you forget the late emperor and only love me?"
　　Dong Lingjiu didn't know how nervous he was.
　　While Zheng Yuheng was sitting there, he had already made many associations in the conversation between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. When Dong Lingjiu said "there will be no one else", he even felt that he was sentenced to a crime and punishment that he could never turn over... But fortunately, she said something else, and it was this room for maneuver that made him keep thinking about this sentence in his mind.
　　Before asking, Zheng Yuheng had simulated it in his mind several times. He seemed to challenge the authority of the real thing as a fake, like a person who didn't know how to be serious and didn't know how to live or die, challenging a towering mountain that has never changed since ancient times. In fact, he was very scared and anxious. He was afraid that Dong Lingjiu would immediately turn cold... This was not a bullying of his power by a superior. This would make a person who was loved by him regard his love as a substitute and discard it.
　　He once admired the cold moonlight so much, hoping that her light could cover him. But after truly feeling it, he realized that light alone was not enough. He had to do everything he could to keep her and hold the bright moon in his arms.
　　Dong Lingjiu felt his violent heartbeat.
　　Compared to the important affairs of the court, her sense of "love" would often be a little slower and a little duller.
　　She said, "Haven't I always... liked you alone?"
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