Chapter 63 She was held in Xiao Shenjing's arms again.

Yunxi has always been an indomitable person.

Even now.

After it was over, she gritted her teeth and endured the discomfort, got dressed, and went to find the food that the people from Hongxiuzhao had brought her.

Perhaps confident that he had blocked the Red Sleeve Pavilion, Xiao Shenjing did not have anyone carefully inspect the food.

She smelled the scent of safflower in a bamboo tube filled with water.

She let out a long breath, afraid that Xiao Shenjing would find out, and drank it all without hesitation, fearing that the dosage was not enough and she would get pregnant with Xiao Shenjing's child.

After this incident, Yunxi refused to ride in Xiao Shenjing's carriage no matter what, and even on rainy days she preferred to ride with the guards.

Xiao Shenjing called her once with a stern face, but she refused without hesitation.

Seeing her stubborn look, Xiao Shenjing sat upright in the carriage and coldly said, "Since you are so ungrateful, if you fall ill and delay the journey, I will definitely punish you."

Yunxi sneered, flicked his whip, and charged ahead onto the road.

The following day, Xiao Shenjing also abandoned the carriage and sped on his way.

He used the chieftain's secret passage, with two hundred light cavalry leading the way, greatly shortening the time to return to the capital by traveling day and night.

As a woman, Yunxi did not hinder the journey at all, just like the men who practiced martial arts.

It wasn't until a month and a half later that she returned to the capital.

We walked into the imposing city walls and stood outside the Forbidden City, holding the reins.

Light shines through the high wall.

It landed on Yunxi outside the palace walls.

Xiao Shenjing stood in the shadows inside the door, watching her.

Light and darkness are clearly distinct.

He didn't urge her, as if he were mercifully giving her time to say her final goodbye.

Throughout the journey, Yunxi did not allow herself to stop.

I kept rushing around like my life depended on it, and when I was exhausted, I would just collapse and sleep, trying not to think about anything.

She didn't want to think about returning to the cage; she was afraid she wouldn't be able to control herself and would want to escape.

Now, she finally has nowhere to run.

Bathed in the vast sunlight, Yunxi looked up and closed her eyes.

Let the light shine all over your body.

A few breaths later, she slowly opened her eyes, took the reins, and walked towards the deep palace gates.

She walked slowly but firmly, because she knew that one day she would escape again.

No one can defy her will unless she so chooses to.

The concubines in the palace had already heard about Xiao Shenjing's return to the palace.

They were all dressed in their finest attire and waiting in the Qianqing Palace.

As they approached the Qianqing Palace, Xiao Shenjing suddenly stopped and glanced at Yunxi behind him.

She was looking down, her eyelashes lowered, lost in thought.

Thinking of the scene that would unfold in a moment, Xiao Shenjing called out "Fu Shun" almost without hesitation.

“This servant is here.” Eunuch Fu immediately bowed.

"Take Yunxi to the Qionglin Garden in the west side hall of Taiji Palace."

Having stayed in places like the laundry department, Yunxi had no objection to where she lived.

Just stay away from Xiao Shenjing's women.

Seeing her nonchalant attitude, Xiao Shenjing hesitated for a moment but still called out to her, "Yunxi."

Yunxi stopped and lowered her head.

He listened attentively.

Once she returned to the palace, she was like this; all her vitality was drained away, leaving only an empty shell to get by.

Xiao Shenjing frowned almost imperceptibly, but still patiently comforted her, saying, "According to ancestral rules, a beauty of this rank can only live in Qionglin Garden. I will reward you after you become pregnant."

She has just returned to the palace. If she were to be granted a palace in a grand manner, it would surely cause a great uproar and could easily bring disaster upon her.

If a concubine or palace maid could receive a single guarantee from the emperor, that would be enough to give her hope for the rest of her life.

Instead of Yunxi.

She just smiled to herself.

Offspring?

Absolutely not.

Seeing that he had finished speaking, Yunxi took a step and left, without even bothering to bow.

The elderly people in Fushun were already used to her audacious attitude.

To be able to escape from the palace without permission, prompting His Majesty to set aside important national affairs to personally arrest him, and then being brought back without any punishment, is truly astonishing.

If the concubines in the harem found out, who knows what kind of uproar it would cause.

Fortunately, His Majesty only said he was going on an incognito visit to Yunnan this time, and suppressed all the matters concerning Miss Yunxi.

Even so, Fu Shun was still somewhat worried. It was easy to deceive the other concubines, but it was not so easy for the Empress, who was the head of the six palaces.

Yunxi didn't care about these events at all.

She was always just a passerby in the Forbidden City.

Therefore, they were assigned to Qionglin Garden, which was not far from the Imperial Palace, and they did not complain at all about such a simple place.

Although Yunxi has not yet been officially rewarded, Fushun is aware of her status and has taken it upon himself to keep two palace maids and two eunuchs to serve her.

After a long and arduous journey, Yunxi took a bath and fell into a deep sleep on the bed.

It took Xiao Shenjing three months from leaving the capital to returning.

Countless memorials have piled up and need to be processed.

After dismissing the concubines in the harem, he became busy with state affairs and didn't remember Yunxi until the afternoon of the next day.

"Fu Shun, draft the imperial edict."

When the imperial edict bestowing the title of Beauty upon Yunxi arrived, she was still fast asleep on her bed.

The palace maids mustered their courage to call her to get up and receive the imperial decree, but she impatiently dismissed them all.

She was dizzy and disoriented, feeling like the world was spinning, so how could she possibly get up?

She didn't get up, and even the head steward, Fu Shun, couldn't do anything about it.

He had no choice but to go back and report the matter to Xiao Shenjing.

Xiao Shenjing thought Yunxi would recover quickly, given her health.

Since he didn't have time to go see a doctor, he asked Fu Shun to summon the imperial physician.

Whether it was due to overwork or emotional distress, Yunxi showed no improvement the next day.

Upon hearing of this matter immediately after court, Xiao Shenjing condescended to go to Qionglin Garden.

A seventh-rank beauty could only live in a separate room in the side hall. If Yunxi were not around, Emperor Xiao Shenjing would probably never have set foot in this simple and remote place in his entire life.

Looking at the bare, dilapidated courtyard, he frowned and pushed open a carved wooden door with faded paint.

The room was dimly lit, with a few wisps of moss emerging from the cracks in the blue brick floor. The plain gauze covering the window frame had turned yellow and rustled in the wind.

A plain elm screen stood in the corner, the ink-painted orchids on it blurred by the dampness, resembling clusters of dissolving sorrow.

A faded crimson curtain hung from the beams, and fine dust floated in the leaking sunlight, like a snow that never ends.

Against the west wall stood a pine wood couch with mortise and tenon joints, covered with a worn indigo quilt, beneath which a pale face was visible.

Xiao Shenjing was extremely tall, and the moment he stepped inside, the room felt cramped.

He glanced at the cramped and shabby place, his eyes filled with disdain.

But Yunxi was lying on the bed in a daze, oblivious to everything.

Seeing her lifeless face, Xiao Shenjing, who had originally planned to leave, simply ordered someone to take the memorial to Qionglin Garden.

On the way, the eunuch carrying the memorials encountered Empress Cen Yuwei, who was delivering sweet soup to Xiao Shenjing.

She frowned and asked, "Where are we going? Is His Majesty not in the Qianqing Palace?"

In response to the Empress's question, Fu Shun naturally had no choice but to reply, "Your Majesty, this servant is on his way to Qionglin Garden."

Cen Yuwei stared at Fu Shun and slowly asked, "Is Yunxi living in Qionglin Garden?"

Fu Shun smiled and nodded, explaining, "Miss Yunxi has been unwell recently."

Upon hearing the words "feeling unwell," Cen Yuwei suddenly revealed a strange smile.

She was unwell, so when did Brother Yin'an ever come to Chengqian Palace to keep her company for even a single day?

Watching the eunuch carrying the memorial leave, Cen Yuwei seemed lost in thought.

Aunt Xueyu had no choice but to advise, "Your Majesty, the weather is getting warmer, so you should return to the palace first."

After Cen Yuwei boarded the palanquin and returned to Chengqian Palace, she suddenly turned her head and asked Aunt Xueyu, "It seems that Consort Xue is still unaware of this matter."

"What does Your Highness mean?" Aunt Xueyu asked.

Cen Yuwei coughed lightly, "Aunt, you know that I don't have much time left."

"This servant doesn't understand, why don't you let the Emperor know?" Xueyu asked.

Cen Yuwei clenched her fists and said, "So what if you know? You'll only get a little pity. Go and tell Consort Xue about Yunxi's affairs. I'll just sit back and watch the two tigers fight."

As dusk fell, Fu Shun reminded Xiao Shenjing from outside the door that it was time to return to the palace.

Xiao Shenjing put down his pen and glanced at Yunxi on the bed.

She slept peacefully, her lips slightly chapped.

Without much hesitation, Xiao Shenjing said, "We'll stay here tonight."

One sentence left Fu Shun speechless with astonishment.

After Xiao Shenjing ascended the throne, he never summoned any of his concubines for his own pleasure, nor did he ever spend the night in any of their palaces.

"Your Majesty, this Qionglin Garden is small and simple."

Even the mosquito net was a faded crimson curtain, and the mattress was made of coarse linen, a thin layer that must have been uncomfortable to sleep on.

Fu Shun didn't say the rest.

"It's alright, go fetch some water." Xiao Shenjing finished writing the last character and put down his imperial brush.

"Your Majesty is going to rest now? This old servant will make arrangements immediately." His words pleased Fu Shun. His Majesty had not slept a wink for the past two days, as he had been reviewing the accumulated memorials.

It's no use whatever he says.

I thought the night would be the same, but I didn't expect His Majesty to decide to go to bed early.

Just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM), Xiao Shenjing went to bed.

Yunxi had been taking medicine for several days, and there was a faint medicinal smell on her body.

Xiao Shenjing didn't care at all. He ran his hand through her neck and forcefully turned her in front of him, making her lie obediently in his arms.

Seeing her pale and listless face, after a while, he couldn't help but poke her cheek. "How come your bones are so hard?"

"If you were as sensible and gentle as the other concubines, you wouldn't be living in this cramped place now."

Yunxi was feeling groggy and couldn't hear what Xiao Shenjing was saying at all. She just frowned at the noise.

Seeing this, Xiao Shenjing couldn't help but poke her cheek again. He only stopped when he saw that her cheek was slightly deformed from his poking, and the flesh bounced back the moment he let go.

Looking at the soft flesh under her chin, Xiao Shenjing recalled what the person from Hongxiuzhao had said.

They said they'd gone to great lengths to fatten her up, and now she's leaving again, as if there's nothing good to eat in the palace.

I need to fatten her up a bit more in the future.

Just thinking about Yunxi's chubby face, which would look like a steamed bun when she was angry, made Xiao Shenjing suppress a smile that still crept onto his lips.

He pulled the thin blanket over Yunxi and covered her with it before ordering the lights to be turned off.

Yunxi's illness lasted for several days, like a persistent, drizzling rain.

After discussing political affairs each day, Xiao Shenjing would rush to Qionglin Garden, and sometimes he would even feed Yunxi medicine with great interest during his free time.

Yunxi couldn't win against him, so she could only let him have his way.

Although she disliked it very much, she was never the kind of person to risk her health for a fight. After all, how could she beat Xiao Shenjing if she wasn't in good health?

When Yunxi regained some consciousness, she discovered that Xiao Shenjing was actually holding her while they slept.

She threatened through gritted teeth, "Xiao Shenjing, aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Xiao Shenjing looked down and saw that although her face was pale, it was no longer as vibrant as before. So he was not angry at her rebellious words. Instead, he propped his head up with one hand, picked up a strand of her hair, and said while playing with it, "You will die with me."

Yunxi pursed her lips, her tone disdainful, "You're not worthy."

Xiao Shenjing laughed instead and asked, "If I am not worthy to rule this world, then who is?"

Yunxi said in an even more disdainful tone, "Killing you would dirty my hands."

"Then why did you repeatedly commit regicide?" Xiao Shenjing raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.

Yunxi choked up.

Her embarrassed expression made Xiao Shenjing laugh.

Yunxi, who was forcibly pressed down next to him, felt the trembling of his chest with a smile. She took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and rolled away from him to the edge of the bed, enduring the discomfort.

A wide distance suddenly appeared between the two people.

Yunxi was still recovering from her illness and had no energy to waste words with Xiao Shenjing, so she quickly fell asleep again.

When she woke up the next day, she found herself being held in Xiao Shenjing's arms again for some reason.

By this time, it was already broad daylight.

Seeing Yunxi staring at him with her almond-shaped eyes, Xiao Shenjing said, "Awake? I'll have someone prepare your washing and meals."

"Why are you still here?" Yunxi asked, puzzled. It was so early in the morning; the emperor should be attending court.

"You know you sleep a long time?" Xiao Shenjing didn't answer her question, and sat up straight.

Thinking of this man's strange behavior over the past few days, Yunxi couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Shenjing, are you perhaps possessed?"

Xiao Shenjing paused in putting on his boots, but in the end, he ignored her.

Yunxi was still recovering from her illness and naturally could not get out of bed.

While lying listlessly on the couch, Xiao Shenjing would sit by the window and review memorials.

The early summer sun streamed into the room, slowly setting in the west. The room was so quiet you could hear the passage of time.

Living under the same roof, this was a rare moment of harmony for the two of them.

Although it was because Yunxi was feeling weak and didn't want to pay attention to Xiao Shenjing.

Seeing that she was really too boring, Xiao Shenjing ordered someone to bring him a few books.

Yunxi had no interest in obscure articles, but she became addicted to reading a book of unofficial history.

When she encountered something she was really curious about, she couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Shenjing, does your father really often set up gambling games, making officials play polo, and the losers have to kick shuttlecock?"

"You actually believe in unofficial historical accounts?" Xiao Shenjing glanced at her amidst his busy schedule.

Yun Xi pursed her lips, and just as she looked away, Xiao Shenjing coughed lightly and said, "Yes."

"Hahahaha," Yunxi couldn't help but laugh out loud. "They call this unofficial history, but I think this is the real history."

Seeing the joyful smile in her eyes, Xiao Shenjing also smiled.

Time is peaceful and serene in Qionglin Garden.

She was laughing, and he was watching.

Sunlight streamed into the room through the diamond-shaped windows.

Even the sunlight seemed to tremble in her smile.

Meanwhile, the rest of the palace was in turmoil.

"It's that Yunxi again?" Consort Xue slammed her hand on the table. "His Majesty has been spending day and night with that lowly servant?"

"Your Majesty's mood is..." The maid who brought the news quickly knelt down.

Consort Xue frowned. "I knew it. Why would His Majesty suddenly go to the Yunnan border for no reason? I never expected it was for her."

As she spoke, she stood up, took a few steps around the room, and said, "Father must know about this." She looked at the palace maid beside her and said, "Go and invite Father here."

Just as the palace maid was about to get up, she suddenly asked, "What is the attitude of that person in Chengqian Palace?"

"There doesn't seem to be any movement," the palace maid replied after a moment's thought.

Aunt Anqing, who was by Consort Xue's side, said, "Your Highness, why don't we wait and see how the Empress responds? Otherwise, we might become the ones who stick their necks out."

Undercurrents were stirring within the palace.

Yunxi was completely unaware of what was happening. After resting for a few days, she finally recovered and felt refreshed.

That day, after Xiao Shenjing finished his court session, he came to Qionglin Garden and found her practicing martial arts with a withered branch in her hand.

Seeing that she was practicing seriously, Xiao Shenjing did not disturb her, but stood under the eaves watching.

Yunxi's sword strikes were fierce and swift, showing a determination to finish the job in one fell swoop.

It looks exceptionally graceful, its posture like a dragon entering the sea, full of resilience.

At first, Xiao Shenjing genuinely admired her. Looking at her casually bent waist, he couldn't help but think of the two nights at Hongxiuzhao, and gradually his mind began to wander.

But he also knew that Yunxi was just recovered and not ready for sexual activity.

To avoid further trouble, he turned around and returned to the Qianqing Palace with his entourage.

In the afternoon, Xiao Shenjing ordered Fu Shun to go to Qionglin Garden again with the imperial edict and rewards.

When Fu Shun saw Yun Xi, he was all smiles and congratulated her, saying, "Miss Yun Xi, please accept the imperial decree."

Yunxi is making a swing.

Upon hearing the imperial edict, the palace maids and eunuchs serving Yunxi immediately knelt down in fear.

Yunxi didn't even get up, but slowly looked at Fushun and asked, "Eunuch Fu, what brings this joy?"

Fu Shun replied, "This is an imperial edict of promotion, so naturally we should congratulate you, Miss." Seeing that Yun Xi didn't understand, Fu Shun reminded her, "Miss, kneel down to receive the edict."

Without even thinking, Yunxi said, "I won't take it. Take it back."

These words terrified the palace maids and eunuchs serving Yunxi. They crawled over on their knees, trembling, and said, "Miss, disobeying an imperial decree is a capital offense."

No matter what rank or title a concubine may have, she is still just a concubine.

concubine?

Oh.

She was expected to spend her entire life subservient to others, living a life of meekness and subservience. In order to survive, she could only try to please Xiao Shenjing, who could kill her or banish her to the cold palace if he was unhappy.

What's the difference between that and being dead?

Yunxi rubbed the hemp rope in her hand and said calmly, "Then let Xiao Shenjing chop off my head."

One sentence from her nearly made the palace maids and eunuchs behind her faint.

Before coming here, I thought I was following an easy master, but I didn't expect to encounter such a reckless and ignorant person. I felt like I was about to be dragged out and beheaded.

They were all so frightened that they couldn't help but sob.

Seeing Yunxi's stubbornness, Fu Shun felt a headache coming on.

If he were to take the imperial edict back, he would certainly be in deep trouble.

Regardless of whether Yunxi would accept the edict or not, the emperor read it aloud: "By the grace of Heaven, the emperor decrees: Palace maid Yunxi, for her diligent and conscientious service, is stripped of her lowly status and promoted to the rank of a seventh-grade beauty. She is bestowed with four bolts of plain brocade, a pair of gilded silver hairpins, and two celadon powder boxes. You should be even more diligent and respectful, and not neglect your duties in receiving this favor. This is the imperial decree."

Should we not be negligent in our gratitude?

Yunxi gave a cold laugh.

Fu Shun felt a twitch in his eyelids, fearing that Yun Xi was about to do something outrageous again. He gave a wink to the eunuch beside him and gestured with his lips to the palace maids and eunuchs kneeling behind Yun Xi.

The eunuch understood and immediately went to grab the palace maid behind Yunxi.

The palace maid, entrusted with a perilous mission, received the imperial decree with trembling hands.

On such joyous occasions, people would usually give the imperial messenger some benefits.

But Fu Shun led his men away from the place as quickly as possible, as if afraid of being even a second too late.

The palace maids and eunuchs breathed a sigh of relief when they realized they had not been punished.

They knelt for a long time, trembling with fear, before finally regaining some strength. They exchanged a glance, stood up, and asked, "Lady Yun, what about this imperial edict?"

"Burn it." Yunxi didn't even bother to look at it.

The four of them knelt down again with a thud.

Her face was still wet with tears, and she pleaded repeatedly in fear, "Absolutely not, Lady Yun! This is an imperial edict! If it's destroyed, we'll all lose our heads!"

Yunxi paused for a moment while twisting the rope.

Following her means sharing both glory and ruin. These people have no future if they follow her, so she needs to find a way to let them all go.

Yunxi did not consider herself Xiao Shenjing's woman, nor did she acknowledge the title of "beauty".

But the other concubines in the palace did not think so.

While Yunxi was still asleep, the concubines in the Forbidden City had already dressed up and were paying their respects to the Empress.

The chirping of cicadas, carrying the summer heat, drifted over the gilded eaves of Chengqian Palace. The Empress's fingertips barely touched the third round of the agarwood beads as her phoenix eyes swept over the empty blue mirror below.

"Why hasn't the newly crowned beauty arrived?" Consort De's crimson-gold armor grazed the crackled ice-patterned teacup, startling the lotus-heart tea within into ripples.

Consort Xue suddenly covered her lips with a silk fan, the pearl in the gold phoenix hairpin at her temple trembling: "Sister, please speak carefully, she is not a beauty at all." Her voice under the fan suddenly turned icy, "She probably thinks she is the mistress of this harem and has even exempted herself from morning and evening greetings."

Cen Yuwei smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes, revealing a hint of coldness.

The virtuous concubine slowly traced the gold thread embroidery of intertwined branches on the moon-flower skirt with her slender fingers: "He's just a bandit from the martial world. He becomes arrogant and domineering as soon as he gains a little power, making him so despicable."

“Sister, you can’t say that.” Consort De suddenly laughed, her fingernails, stained with balsam juice, lightly touching the gilded lotus-patterned basin held by the palace maid. “Although she is only a seventh-rank beauty now, His Majesty traveled thousands of miles for her, which shows how much he cherishes her. If she doesn’t come, it’s because she’s relying on His Majesty’s favor. Unlike you and me.” As she spoke, she covered her mouth as if to cry, but her eyes swept over the Empress in the upper palace.

Cen Yuwei raised her hand and stroked the pearl hanging from the nine-tailed phoenix hairpin in her hair, without saying a word.

Consort Xue suggested with a smile, "Since the beauty isn't coming, why don't we go and see her? That way, His Majesty won't think we don't know how to cherish a beauty."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Cen Yuwei innocently and asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"

"What do you ladies think?" Cen Yuwei asked.

"Then of course we'll go and see her." Which woman in the harem hasn't heard of Yunxi's name? They've long wanted to meet her, but before, she was either demoted or on her way to be punished, and in the end, she even ended up in the laundry department. No one thought she could ever rise again.

Unexpectedly, she managed to escape the palace and even had the Emperor personally bring her back to be named a Beauty.

Each palace official wanted to see just what kind of person this femme fatale was.

Cen Yuwei stood up and said with a smile, "Since all the sisters think so, let's go and take a look."