flstandardbreds Chapter 177 The Palace is Sealed Again
Chapter 177 The Palace is Sealed Again
Su Nuannuan curtsied slightly and said to the Empress with a troubled expression, "Your Majesty, I thank you in advance for your trust in me. However, I have two young children in my palace who need my care, and I am truly worried that my energy is limited and I may not be able to take good care of His Highness the Crown Prince." Her words were full of apology and unease.
Upon hearing this, the Empress frowned slightly and slowly said, "I originally intended to send the Crown Prince to the Empress Dowager for foster care, but recently the Empress Dowager has been busy with many affairs and is also unable to take care of herself. After much thought, in this vast harem, only you, my sister, are worthy of my trust and entrustment."
Hearing the Empress value her so highly, Su Nuannuan felt a surge of emotion, but still hesitated. At this moment, the Empress continued, "Sister, there's no need to worry. I will arrange everything properly. I will send Yingchun to serve you personally; she will certainly be of great help. Furthermore, this is my personal token, a pair. One will be entrusted to you, Consort Zhuang, for safekeeping, while the other will remain with me."
Having said that, the Empress took out an exquisite token from her sleeve and carefully held it in her palm. The token was entirely emerald green, with intricate patterns carved on it, and emitted a faint glow.
The Empress gently pushed the token upwards, and in an instant, as if by magic, it split in two. She handed one half to Su Nuannuan and solemnly instructed her, "During this period of palace closure, if anyone comes to take the Crown Prince away, you must carefully check whether the person possesses this token of mine. If they do not have this token, it means they are not sent by me, and you must not easily hand them over."
"The epidemic came about strangely. I'm afraid someone might use it to harm me and the Crown Prince. I can take precautions, but there's always a chance the Crown Prince might be careless," the Empress said, placing another token in Su Nuannuan's hand.
Su Nuannuan looked at the token in her hand, sighed inwardly, and looked up at the Empress, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your trust. However, after I take the Crown Prince back, I will close the palace gates. I would like to ask Your Majesty to inform the Imperial Household Department that nothing should be sent to Cuiwei Palace until the epidemic is over."
The food and ingredients in Cuiwei Palace are enough to last, though the food isn't exactly refined.
"At this time, preserving one's life is of utmost importance. Once the epidemic has subsided, I will certainly convert all the supplies that Cuiwei Palace was unable to receive during this period into silver and give it to my sister. I will never let my sister suffer any loss."
Upon hearing the Empress's words, Su Nuannuan nodded slightly in agreement.
Immediately afterwards, Su Nuannuan asked, "May I take the Crown Prince back to the palace now?" She held the token given to her by the Empress tightly in both hands, slowly stood up, and bowed deeply to the Empress.
"Of course. However, Yingchun is packing her things right now, so please wait a moment. Also, remember one thing: without this token in my possession, the Crown Prince must not step out of Cuiwei Palace, not even once. Even if Yingqiu, who is by my side, comes to greet the Crown Prince, it is absolutely forbidden. Do you understand?" The Empress's tone was unusually serious as she solemnly emphasized the importance of this matter once again.
Su Nuannuan quickly nodded in agreement and replied, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I am already aware of the implications and will certainly protect the Crown Prince."
Not long after, Yingchun, carrying a package, led the Crown Prince in gracefully. Yingchun first came before the Empress and respectfully performed a deep bow, then turned to face Su Nuannuan and gave her a similarly proper bow.
Seeing this, Canglan Jingyun, who was standing to the side, did not dare to be negligent. He straightened his clothes, bowed properly to Su Nuannuan, and said loudly, "Jingyun greets Lady Zhuang."
Upon seeing this, Su Nuannuan immediately smiled gently. She quickly stepped forward, reached out and gently helped the Crown Prince up, saying, "Your Highness, please rise."
"Jingyun, today you will go to Cuiwei Palace with your Consort Zhuang. After this troublesome epidemic is over, you can return to the palace." The Empress looked at her obedient and sensible son with a face full of reluctance and gently instructed him.
Cang Lan Jingyun straightened his small body and looked at his mother with a firm expression, solemnly promising, "Mother, please rest assured, your son will never hold you back! And I will definitely obey Consort Zhuang's orders." His tender yet resolute little face made the Empress feel both gratified and heartbroken.
"Yingchun, the Crown Prince's daily life is entrusted to you. You must take good care of him and not be negligent in the slightest." The Empress turned her gaze to Yingchun, who was standing to the side, and earnestly instructed her.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will take good care of His Highness the Crown Prince with all my heart," Yingchun quickly curtsied and replied respectfully. She carried a large bundle on her back, filled with the Crown Prince's daily necessities.
And so, under the loving and caring gaze of the Empress, the group, dressed in magnificent robes, left Anning Palace in a grand procession and slowly headed toward Cuiwei Palace.
At this moment, Yingqiu hurriedly entered the hall, bowed respectfully before the Empress, and softly reported, "Your Majesty, everything you instructed us to prepare has been ready."
The Empress nodded slightly, and after a moment's thought, she instructed, "Issue my decree to all six palaces. From this day forward, all palaces will be under lockdown, and no palace staff are permitted to leave without authorization. All living supplies will be allocated and distributed by the Imperial Household Department. If any palace staff member exhibits symptoms resembling those of the epidemic, it must be reported immediately without concealment or delay. Furthermore, inform the Imperial Household Department that Cuiwei Palace does not require their care; it is self-sufficient in all matters."
"Yes, Your Highness, this servant will make the arrangements immediately," Ying Qiu replied obediently, then turned and hurriedly left to carry out the order.
"Chen Honghai, go and inform the Imperial Household Department." The Empress issued the order methodically, her voice clear and firm.
"Yes." Chen Honghai quickly accepted the order and left.
Su Nuannuan led her entourage back to Cuiwei Palace in a hurry. As soon as they entered the palace gates, she decisively instructed Xiao Xizi beside her, "Close the palace gates immediately! No matter who knocks, do not open them, not even if the Emperor himself comes!"
Xiao Xizi dared not be negligent in the slightest and quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty! This servant will do as you say!" After saying that, he quickly closed the heavy palace gate tightly with the eunuchs and added several sturdy locks.
Immediately afterwards, Su Nuannuan solemnly emphasized to everyone in the palace: "From now on, no one is allowed to go out without permission. If anyone dares to disobey this order and step out of the palace gates, then they will never come back!" Her gaze swept over everyone's face, and the majesty in her eyes sent chills down people's spines.
Everyone responded in unison, promising to obey the Empress's orders. Thus began a period of strict, impenetrable defense against the plague in Cuiwei Palace. Everyone in the palace was on edge, but under Su Nuannuan's strict management, everything remained orderly.