Chapter 349: Staying up All Night

I was full of joy when I came back, and I was reluctant to leave.

Ling Jingyan cried so hard that Ling Xiao's eyes were red. The other people in the Ling family also gathered at the door.

Ling Jingshu felt bad, but she had to go back to the palace no matter how reluctant she was. She got on the carriage, waved to everyone, and then made up her mind to let down the curtain.

After coming back this time, she could really rest assured to see that her relatives were doing well.

Before dusk, before the palace gate closed, Ling Jingshu rushed back to the palace.

Today is the last day of the year, and the palace is decorated with lights and colors, which is a bit more lively than usual.

This year's palace banquet was also held in Lingbo Hall.

Although the emperor's dragon body was not good, he also supported himself to attend the palace banquet. However, Empress Xu, who sat beside him in previous years, disappeared, and the phoenix chair was empty. Concubine Li Shu and Concubine Wei Xian each sat in the second seat.

There were string music, graceful singing and dancing, delicious dishes, and everyone's flattering smiles. This palace banquet was as lively as the palace banquets in previous years. It did not lose its luster because of the absence of Empress Xu.

As a female official in Lingbo Palace, Ling Jingshu could not avoid such important occasions, and she could not avoid showing up in front of the emperor.

Fortunately, the emperor is now completely pure and has no thoughts about beauties. He just asked Concubine Wei Xian: "How is Ling Nuguan doing when he is by your side?"

Concubine Wei Xian pursed her lips and smiled: "To be honest with the emperor, Ling Nuguan is careful in her work. Now she manages the accounts of the warehouse and the palace for me. With her around, I can save a lot of worries."

She smiled and said: "I really can't do without her by my side. Please love me for once and give Ling Nuguan to me!"

The emperor nodded casually.

Concubine Wei Xian breathed a sigh of relief and thanked softly: "Thank you for your grace."

Before, she was "borrowed" for use, which was not justified after all. Now that she was brought here, it would also avoid future troubles and stop the gossips of the people.

Ling Jingshu soon learned about everything that Concubine Wei had done for her, and she was really moved.

She was so lucky to meet Wei Yan, and there was such a Concubine Wei who protected her wholeheartedly.

…

The palace has always had the custom of staying up all night. After the palace banquet, the concubines returned to the palace. The people in Lingbo Hall also gathered together.

Some set off firecrackers, some gathered around the charcoal basin to chat, some grabbed some snacks to eat, and talked and laughed in groups of three or two. It was a harmonious and lively scene.

Concubine Wei and Princess Anya sat together to chat, while Ling Jingshu, Xinyun and others served on the side.

Concubine Wei smiled gently and said, "It's the end of the year, you have all worked hard all day, you don't have to stand. Sit down!"

Everyone knew Concubine Wei's temper, and hurriedly thanked her in unison, and then found a stool to sit down.

Soon, an unexpected person also came to Lingbo Hall.

When Concubine Wei Xian saw Wei Yan, a knowing smile flashed across her eyes: "A Yan, why did you come here tonight?"

Wei Yan said calmly: "Today, all the imperial doctors have gone back to celebrate the New Year. I am really bored and depressed staying in the Imperial Hospital alone, so I thought of coming to Lingbo Palace to bother you and celebrate the New Year with you."

The smile in Concubine Wei Xian's eyes deepened: "In previous years, I asked you to come, but you were polite and refused to come. This year, it is rare that you have the heart to accompany me."

It is obvious that you are here to see your sweetheart!

Under Concubine Wei Xian's understanding eyes, Wei Yan blushed slightly, and couldn't help but look at Ling Jingshu.

Ling Jingshu was also looking over.

Under the bright and warm candlelight, her eyes were full of smiles, flashing with a little dazzling light.

His eyes couldn't help but entangle with her tenderly for a moment.

Concubine Wei thought for a moment, then told Xinyun: "Xinyun, just leave Jingshu here to serve. You take them out to watch the firecrackers and fireworks, so that they don't feel constrained here."

Xinyun smiled and said, "Oh," and led the other maids to retreat.

Only Concubine Wei, Princess Anya, Wei Yan and Ling Jingshu were left in the side hall.

Concubine Wei smiled softly and said, "Okay, now there are no outsiders, just the four of us will stay together to celebrate the New Year." Just like a family, they stayed together to celebrate New Year's Eve.

Wei Yan was moved. Concubine Wei really put a lot of thought into him.

Princess Anya was fourteen years old after the New Year. Her lively big eyes looked at Wei Yan curiously, then turned to look at Ling Jingshu, who was blushing, as if she suddenly understood something, and smiled secretly.

The blush on Ling Jingshu's face deepened a little.

But the joy and satisfaction that overflowed from the bottom of her heart was so pleasant and joyful.

……

On the same night, there was a palace that was particularly cold and quiet.

Empress Xu lay on the bed with lifeless eyes, and heard the sound of firecrackers and noise.

However, all this noise and bustle had nothing to do with her.

Her illness had never been cured. She had been lying in bed for more than half a year. She was as thin as a withered wood, with a sallow complexion. She could hardly find the elegance of the former dignified, wealthy, bright and dazzling Empress Xu.

After an unknown amount of time, familiar footsteps sounded at the door.

"All of you go out." A familiar voice sounded in her ears: "The king wants to talk to the mother for a while."

The maids in charge of "taking care" of Empress Xu looked at each other, and one of them said boldly: "Your Highness, we are ordered to serve the Concubine Xu, and we dare not leave without permission."

The eyes of the King of Yan turned cold: "The king has already informed his father that I came here tonight to accompany the mother to stay up all night. If anything happens, the king will take responsibility. You all leave."

In the past six months, the reputation of Prince Yan's filial piety has spread throughout the palace and won the emperor's favor.

The maids did not dare to confront Prince Yan, so they had to retreat.

Prince Yan sat down beside the bed, bowed his head slightly, and called "Mother Concubine".

Empress Xu's tears burst out instantly.

The bedroom was simply furnished, with only one candlestick burning, and the light was a little dim. However, it was enough for Prince Yan to see Empress Xu's frail and miserable appearance.

Prince Yan's eyes darkened, but his voice was very calm: "Mother Concubine, I'm here to see you. Today is New Year's Eve, and I will stay with you to stay up all night. After tonight, it will be a brand new year."

"I know you are having a hard time here. Please bear with it for a while! I will take you out soon."

Empress Xu choked and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you to save me out."

No one knows Prince Yan's temperament better than Empress Xu.

He is unwilling to be inferior to others and unwilling to be a vassal king away from the capital. He is ambitious and wants the position above everyone else. For this reason, he could endure it but would definitely take a risk.

Even if the prince was powerful and he would be crushed to pieces after losing, he would never give up.

She would not stop him.

Success would be the best. If he failed, they would just die!