OBS Chapter 321 Letting go
Chapter 321 Letting go
"what?"
When Hai Lan heard this, her brows subconsciously twisted tightly together, and her clear eyes were instantly filled with astonishment.
Is it that simple?
"If you can't wait any longer, then don't wait any longer."
Yan Wan raised her eyes slightly, her gaze as cold and sharp as a blade, piercing straight at Hai Lan. She suppressed the impatience in her heart, gritted her teeth and repeated the heartless words again.
Deep in his eyes, ice condensed, making the surrounding air seem to be covered with a layer of frost, and the temperature in the hall seemed to drop sharply.
The entire hall suddenly became quiet, and only the breathing of the two people could be heard.
Hailan lowered her eyes, clutching the corner of her clothes tightly, trying her best to calm the turbulent waves in her heart that were surging like a tsunami.
After a long time, she used up all her strength and opened her lips with difficulty. Her voice was a little trembling, but it also revealed her determination to go all out.
"Then...what should I do?"
The sound echoed faintly in the silent hall.
She was determined to fight to the death even if the road ahead was full of thorns and blood.
"The Emperor's body is now like a candle in the wind, swaying and about to go out. In his youth, he indulged in sensual pleasures, squandering his energy and spirit. He tossed himself too far. Now, this body would collapse at the slightest breeze. Symptoms like stroke and hemiplegia, which are common among the elderly, are not uncommon for him."
Yanwan opened her red lips slightly and spoke at a steady pace, but her tone was as cold and hard as iron, and every word was like a sharp arrow tempered with poison.
After she finished speaking, she moved lightly with lotus steps, her figure graceful but revealing a cold and oppressive aura. She raised her hand and handed a half-new medical book to Hai Lan.
The cover of the medical book was slightly yellowed, the edges were frayed, and the footers were curled and wrinkled, obviously having been repeatedly touched and flipped through.
Now, it’s difficult to end it.
She looked at her with a smile on her face, but the sharpness in her eyes was extremely fierce.
Hailan slowly raised her hand, and her fingertips finally touched the rough cover of the medical book. In an instant, it was as if a raging torrent broke through the gates of her heart. The past forbearance, unwillingness, and resentment, all kinds of emotions surged into her heart like a tide, turning her thoughts upside down and surging.
"The opportunity is right in front of you, please don't let me down..."
Yan Wan's long and cold voice echoed faintly in the hall, lingering in her heart and unable to be shaken off.
Hai Lan seemed to have lost her backbone. Her steps were weak and mechanical. She walked out of the gate of Yongshou Palace step by step in a daze.
The sunlight shone on her body without any warmth, but she felt as if she was in an ice cellar, cold to the bone.
Hailan tightly grasped the medical book, her knuckles turned white from excessive force, and she stared at the medical book.
Thoughts kept churning in my mind one after another.
I have endured all these years, suffering year after year in this deep palace without seeing the sun, suffering humiliation and cold stares. Now, it can finally end.
She thought it was a dream, but the real and tangible medical book in her hand reminded her without a doubt that everything had already begun.
"Master, this matter is of such great importance. It's really unsettling to leave it to her so easily. Just think about it, if she changes her mind midway, or if she feels revengeful later, and reveals this fatal matter in a moment of thought, we'll all be finished!"
Chunchan had been waiting outside the hall, anxious but not daring to enter, until she saw Hailan's figure completely disappear around the corner, and then she hurried into the hall.
She walked quickly to Yan Wan's side, her brows furrowed, her eyes following the direction of Hai Lan's departure with worry, her words full of anxiety.
"That Concubine Yu may look delicate and frail, but she's been through the years in this palace, and her mind is unfathomable. She's always been patient, so who knows if she'll suddenly turn against us at the critical moment? If that really comes to that, wouldn't all our years of hard work be wasted?"
Chunchan knew that Hailan was not simple, so she spoke with some disapproval.
"Will not."
Yan Wan raised her chin slightly, her expression full of confidence, and her tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt.
"She's already very clear-headed, her mind as clear as a mirror, knowing exactly who to hate. Chunchan, think about it. If you were to compare me with that person, how could she not know which was more important? The situation now is a dead end, no matter what. There's no turning back. Chunchan, if you were in Concubine Yu's desperate situation, what would you choose?"
Yanwan's eyes were as deep as a pool, staring at Chunchan tightly.
Chunchan frowned slightly and pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up and her expression suddenly became clear.
"If I were Concubine Yu, I would naturally choose... him. It's a dead end either way. Since there's no way around it, I'll definitely fight to the death and get the biggest piece of meat. At least this trip won't be in vain. At least I can vent my anger and seek satisfaction."
Hearing Chunchan's words, Yanwan curled the corners of her lips and revealed a meaningful smile.
With just a gentle hint, Chunchan completely understood the pros and cons of the matter.
As she spoke, Chunchan's body, which had been as tense as a drawn bowstring, gradually relaxed. Her tense shoulders sank slightly, and the worry on her face faded a little, replaced by a hint of admiration.
"Hai Lan has been forced into a desperate situation, with no way to retreat. Continuing to fight with me will only result in mutual destruction, with little chance of victory. It would be better for her to throw everything she has into a fight to the death with the one who sits firmly on the throne, for a satisfying and satisfying encounter. Using her current meager strength to challenge that immense power, anyone with a bit of determination and a clear mind would know the outcome."
"Besides, this matter was handled personally by Hai Lan from beginning to end. Even if those ministers become suspicious and launch a thorough investigation in the future, no matter how cunning they are, they will never find anything wrong with me. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. After enduring all these years, it's time for me to sit back and enjoy the scenery..."
From the beginning, Yan Wan had no intention of dirtying her hands.
It is not easy to fool those ministers. It is too difficult for a royal concubine like herself who was born as a palace maid to monopolize the government and fight against those ministers who have been immersed in officialdom for decades.
Although she was favored by others, her foundation was weak after all. If she competed with them, not only would she be at a disadvantage, but if she was exposed, all her plans for so many years would be ruined.
It would be better to leave it to Yongyan.
It's not right for the Queen Mother to control the government, but the Crown Prince has the full right to do so.
There were many loyal ministers in the court, but when Yongyan came to power, they did not dare to take any major action.
There was no conflict of interest between them, and even if the emperor fell, the situation would stabilize. She only needed to be a queen or empress dowager in peace.
……
"Greetings to Empress Yu."
A crisp and polite greeting came. Hai Lan subconsciously raised her head and her eyes met a pair of clear and bright eyes. It was Yongyan.
The child stood tall and straight, proudly like a pine tree. Although he was in the palace, he did not show any arrogance or cowardice.
There is no lack of respect and courtesy in every gesture.
Yongyan was in the prime of his life, about sixteen or seventeen years old. He was full of youthful energy and had a gentle and polite personality. People would be delighted at first sight of him and would inexplicably have a better impression of him.
Hai Lan looked at him, and in a trance, she remembered Yong Qi. The appearance in her memory slowly overlapped with the Yong Yan in front of her, and she was stunned for a moment.
"Excuse me, Yongyan. Where did you come from?"
Hailan quickly came back to her senses, a gentle smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and she asked softly, while at the same time handing the scroll she had been holding tightly in her hand to Xiangyun beside her.
However, his eyes still held some kindness and inquiry as they fell on Yongyan, as if he wanted to find more familiar shadows of the past from this child.
"In reply to Empress Yu, I have just returned from the horse ranch. During this year's autumn hunt, the Emperor asked me to accompany him..."
During this year's autumn hunt, the emperor was in high spirits for once and was going back to the hunting grounds to look back to his former glory.
He was not feeling well and planned to ride the horse for a few laps before giving up.
Autumn hunting?
"Good boy, you've worked so hard. Go back quickly. Your mother is waiting inside."
Hailan nodded thoughtfully, and after she finished speaking, she was supported by Xiangyun and went to Yuhua Pavilion.
She finally understood that Imperial Noble Consort Ling had wanted her to wait for several years.
She originally wanted to wait until her son grew up.
Yes, he is not the only adult son of the emperor. If he acts too early, Yongyan is still young and it is likely that he will not get his turn.
At this age, he is neither too old nor too young. Although he is a little immature, it is not a big deal with the support of a group of veteran ministers.
Tucked inside the book were the medicinal foods that the emperor had been using recently.
Hailan went back and looked through it for a long time before she figured out the key.
No wonder the emperor felt that he had felt much better recently. It turned out that many aphrodisiac and qi-invigorating herbs were added to the medicinal food. However, his body had been in poor health for a long time, and these were only temporary solutions and not a cure for the disease.
Hai Lan fumbled with the yellowed paper and finally gave an order: "Xiangyun, go to Yongshou Palace and tell them that I am also going on the autumn hunt. Just tell them that Yongqi has a few old horses raised in Mulan Paddock and I want to go take a look..."
"Yes……"
In the golden autumn of August, the emperor finally set out for the Mulan Autumn Hunt.
That speech successfully convinced the emperor, and Hai Lan successfully sat at the table during the night banquet.
It had been a long time since the party had taken place, and the emperor was a little excited.
Ever since he returned from the southern tour where Ruyi cut her hair, his body has become heavier day by day.
I thought I would be trapped in this frail body for the rest of my life and slowly grow old, but I didn't expect that I would be getting better now.
The banquet was filled with a dazzling array of delicacies, among which the venison was plump and tender, stacked and arranged on a plate, shiny and oily; the deer blood wine was even more eye-catching, its thick color seemed like the hot blood just gurgling from the throat of a fresh deer, and before it had cooled down, it was quickly mixed into the spicy and strong liquor.
The moment it was brought in, a pungent and strong smell hit me in the face. The aroma of wine and the sticky smell of blood intertwined with each other, filling the air wantonly, making people feel their blood boiling when they smelled it.
However, the emperor seemed completely oblivious to the pungent smell.
He kept drinking from the glass in his hand, one cup after another, pouring it into his mouth without restraint. The wine flowed down the corners of his mouth, wetting his lapel, but he didn't care.
Yan Wan sat quietly beside him, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, with a hint of worry in her eyes. Seeing the emperor's unrestrained greed, she couldn't help but opened her red lips.
"Your Majesty, this deer blood wine is strong. A little drinking may lift your spirits, but if you drink too much, it will burn you like a raging fire, which is extremely harmful to your health. Your Majesty's body is precious. How about I immediately order someone to carefully prepare some hangover soup to soothe your Majesty?"
After hearing this, the emperor raised his eyebrows slightly and waved his hand with disdain. The movement was so large that it brought up a gust of wind, causing the candlelight beside him to sway continuously.
“It’s okay…it’s okay!”
He said it twice in a high-pitched voice.
"Royal Concubine, please stop nagging me. I know what's going on. I haven't enjoyed wine and meat so much in a long time. Please allow me to enjoy myself to my heart's content this time, hahahaha..."
After saying this, he burst into laughter, and his laughter echoed in the hall, making people's eardrums hurt.
After laughing, the emperor grabbed the wine glass on the table, raised it high, glanced around with his cloudy eyes, and greeted the ministers with great interest.
"Come, my dear ministers, continue drinking with me. We must have a great time tonight, and no one is allowed to spoil the fun!"
At this time, Hailan was sitting alone in the corner of the banquet. On the table in front of her, the dishes were all light vegetarian dishes with clear soup, without a trace of meat.
From the moment Yongqi passed away, her heart seemed to be hollowed out. She worshipped Buddha day after day, abstained from meat and became a vegetarian, and cut off all thoughts of worldly pleasures.
However, at this moment, she looked up at the emperor who was indulging in eating and drinking and forgetting everything else, and a complex emotion inexplicably arose in her heart, happy and sad.
The corners of her mouth twitched slightly, revealing an imperceptible smile.
Her interest also increased. She usually only ate a little bit of food, but today she ate half a bowl of vegetarian food for the first time.
But after drinking only half of the wine, the emperor felt an unbearable heat all over his body. Then, his mouth became very dry and even swallowing saliva was extremely difficult.
In a moment, his forehead was densely covered with a layer of fine sweat beads, and bean-sized sweat drops rolled down his temples and wet the collar of his clothes.
He frowned and shook his head vigorously several times, trying to dispel the sudden discomfort and clear his chaotic mind.
However, this action seemed to have triggered a certain mechanism, and it felt as if thousands of steel needles were pricking his head. The pain was so severe that his vision went black and he almost fainted.
The emperor raised his eyes with difficulty and looked at the still bustling and prosperous scene around him.
He simply thought that the charcoal fire in the tent was too strong, the crowd was crowded, and the heat was so intense that he was almost suffocating.
He supported himself on the table with both hands, slowly stood up, and extended a hand to Jinzhong who was serving beside him, and said incoherently: "Help me out, I... need to get some fresh air..."
As he spoke, he took weak and slow steps. With the support of the crowd, he staggered and moved out of the tent.
Seeing this, Yan Wan ordered people to follow the emperor closely.
After giving the order, she glanced at Hai Lan, who was hidden among the crowd, and saw that she was staring at the emperor's departing back with a smile on her face.
It turns out that today was chosen.
She sat upright, raised her glass happily and toasted a few more times with the concubines she was friends with.