Chapter 48 The Difficulties of the Imperial Heir...

In this life, Fangru was placed in the familiar Yilan Palace.

Pushing open the door, what came into view was still that meek and familiar personal maid, Lingzi, who made her heart tremble.

The palace remains, the people remain, as if the trajectory of reincarnation stubbornly overlaps.

However, Fangru's state of mind had changed drastically.

She clearly remembered that she had not seen the crucial string of purple jade prayer beads on Zhou Ling's wrist or around the dragon bed in the emperor's bedroom!

Where did it go? Was it secretly hidden away by his trusted confidants? Or was it lost in a corner of the bedchamber while everyone was frantically trying to treat Zhou Ling?

Without your prayer beads, it's like losing your boat to cross a river.

Trapped here, right under Zhou Ling's nose, her only way out is to find a way to stay in the palace, find the Buddhist beads, and restart the cycle of reincarnation to reverse this increasingly out-of-control fate.

Fortunately, Zhou Ling kept his promise and let his father go, and his cousin was not implicated either.

What she found even more unbelievable was that he didn't hold her accountable for the interrogation, torture, and near-death she had committed yesterday!

This is completely out of character for his violent nature.

What exactly does he want from her?

That very night, the news of Shen Fangru's move into Yilan Palace spread like wildfire through the inner palace, igniting a raging fire of jealousy and suspicion.

The concubines had already learned through the spies of the previous court that Shen Fangru had been imprisoned as a "rebel who attempted to assassinate the emperor." Upon hearing that she had been placed in Yilan Palace, not far from the emperor's bedroom, they were all shocked and began to discuss the matter.

"This is utterly ridiculous!"

Consort Xian slammed her teacup down on the table with a "bang," her beautiful eyes filled with mockery and anger. "A criminal who was locked up in the imperial prison waiting to die yesterday has actually entered the palace and moved into Yilan Palace today? What kind of bewitching potion has that vixen given His Majesty!"

Consort De held the sachet in her hand, her tone seemingly calm, but her words were sharp as needles: "Sister, please calm down. His Majesty has never given her any rank, not even the lowest-ranking concubine. What is she, living in the palace in such an ambiguous manner? To put it nicely, she is a 'guest,' but to put it bluntly, isn't she a criminal slave who is even worse than a palace maid? I don't know where she gets the audacity to live in Yilan Palace."

A young and spirited concubine immediately chimed in, her tone sharp and sarcastic: "That's right! I heard that she was entangled with that traitor Gu Zhou outside the palace, and that the betrothed couple plotted rebellion together. Such a fickle and vicious woman must be bringing bad luck with her! Moving into Yilan Palace would only defile that beautiful place!"

Another concubine covered her lips with a round fan, lowering her voice to ensure everyone around could hear: "I heard that when His Majesty was abducted by the Baiyang Society, Shen Fangru was in their den of traitors and even tortured him! Just think about it, His Majesty is so noble and dignified, how could he tolerate such disrespect? Yet he keeps her in the palace... In my opinion, His Majesty has probably reached some secret agreement with those traitors, and Shen Fangru is nothing more than a 'hostage' sent by the Baiyang Society to show their sincerity, or... simply a plaything!"

"Sister Zhang is absolutely right!"

Someone immediately chimed in, their tone laced with undisguised contempt, "His Majesty is so wise; keeping her by his side is merely a temporary measure, or perhaps to investigate the remnants of the rebellious party. Could he really possibly be interested in a woman like her, a fallen flower with a heart of stone?"

"Exactly! For a woman without a matchmaker, without betrothal, without rank or status, and even suspected of being a rebel, to live in the palace is already an immense favor. How could she possibly dare to dream of climbing the social ladder?"

"Why should we sisters lower ourselves to argue with her? Let's just treat her like a toy, something to be looked at. His Majesty will see her true colors sooner or later!"

After the concubines utterly vilified Shen Fangru, the surprise and displeasure they felt due to her sudden move into Yilan Palace seemed to have dissipated along with these malicious speculations.

However, a deeper and more enduring sense of worry and resentment soon washed over them like a tide, replacing that fleeting moment of pleasure.

The conversation naturally turned to the emperor, who was still seriously injured and unconscious, and their own desperate situation.

“Speaking of which, Your Majesty’s injuries this time are so severe, your health…” A concubine who had been in the palace for three years spoke timidly, her face showing little concern for her husband’s injuries, but rather a kind of bewildered sorrow, as if she were grieving for her own kind, “…it was already rare for me to see Your Majesty, and now with this injury, I fear it will be even more difficult in the future…”

She didn't dare utter the words "the imperial heir is in grave danger," but everyone present knew the truth.

Liu Baolin, who was more straightforward, couldn't help but sneer, but her laughter was full of bitterness: "Sister, you're still thinking about the future? Since His Majesty ascended the throne, apart from the necessary ceremonies, has he ever given us sisters a second glance? This harem, to put it nicely, is called the Three Palaces and Six Courtyards, but to put it bluntly, what's the difference between it and guarding a magnificent tomb? His Majesty... he's completely uninterested in women!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt, silencing everyone for a moment, yet no one dared to refute them.

Because this is a bloody truth.

Emperor Zhou Ling was young, handsome, and extremely powerful, yet he was indifferent to the beauties in his harem, never staying overnight with them, and even when he did summon them, it was rare and the occasional meetings were strictly governed, devoid of any warmth.

These beautiful young women, spending every night alone in their empty rooms, were no different from widows.

"Sister Liu, watch your words!" Consort Xian frowned and scolded, but her tone also carried an undisguised sense of desolation. "His Majesty is diligent in state affairs and cares deeply for the people. How could you presume to know his thoughts?"

This explanation was weak and unconvincing; she couldn't even convince herself.

Consort De sighed softly, "Now that His Majesty is seriously injured and his life is hanging by a thread, we sisters can't even see him once, let alone attend to him. As for the days to come... alas, I'm afraid that with his body... it's uncertain whether he will have the blessing of having offspring. This long night is truly endless."

Her words stirred up the deepest fears and emptiness in everyone's hearts. Without the love of a husband or the support of children, they were nothing more than rootless duckweed in this deep palace, waiting for their beauty to fade and for them to wither away in loneliness.

This is no palace; it's clearly a nunnery draped in brocade!

Consort Xian was further agitated by the collective despair and resentment. She couldn't help but turn to the Empress, who had remained silent, her voice carrying the last vestiges of unrealistic hope and urgency: "Your Majesty, His Majesty is seriously injured and needs attentive care. We are deeply worried about His Majesty's health and cannot eat or sleep! Could... could Your Majesty lead a group to His Majesty's palace to attend to him? Even just kowtowing outside the palace would be a small token of our concern, letting His Majesty know the worries of his sisters in the harem!"

She practically begged; this might be their only legitimate chance to get close to the emperor.

The empress sat upright, her face as calm as a statue, but her hands clenched tightly beneath her wide sleeves.

Should we lead them to care for the sick?

She herself, the Empress, was only allowed to see His Majesty from afar through a screen at first after His Majesty was brought back to the palace, and was subsequently refused entry on the grounds that he "needed to rest."

Zhou Ling's bedchamber is now heavily guarded by his most trusted eunuchs and imperial physicians, as if it were an iron fortress. Even she cannot get close to it, let alone these concubines whom he has never cared about.

He never needed their "heartfelt wishes." Their "concern" was probably just a burden to him.

"Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance. The imperial physicians have advised that you must rest in complete seclusion and should not be disturbed by anyone."

The Empress's voice carried an unquestionable majesty, completely extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in everyone's hearts. "I know your intentions. Return to your palaces and pray for His Majesty in peace. Do not disturb His Majesty without cause."

When the empress said this, the last bit of fire went out, and the crowd dispersed dejectedly.

That restless anxiety, the desolation of the deep palace, and the utter powerlessness over one's own fate, like heavy dark clouds, shrouded everyone's hearts.

Meanwhile, inside the Yilan Palace.

Fangru was also feeling uneasy.

Zhou Ling's life or death is related to her life or death, and also to whether she can find the Buddhist beads.

She found an excuse to inquire with a middle-aged eunuch in charge of the affairs of Yilan Palace. This eunuch had come from the emperor's bedroom: "Sir, I wonder how His Majesty's injuries are now? Has there been any improvement?"

The eunuch lowered his head and spoke respectfully but with a hint of aloofness: "In reply to the young lady, His Majesty's health is blessed by Heaven, and the imperial physicians have been treating him with great care. We servants dare not make any unfounded speculations."

Fangru thought to herself, Zhou Lingruo is dead now, the court will inevitably be in turmoil, but for her, it may be an opportunity to find the Buddhist beads in the chaos.

Undeterred, she pressed on, "That day... in the imperial bedchamber, did you see a string of purple jade prayer beads beside His Majesty? That was me..."

The eunuch kept his head down, his tone completely flat: "This servant does not know. His Majesty's personal belongings are all managed by his close attendants, and this servant has no way of knowing."

Frustrated by her fruitless inquiries, Fangru strolled into the Imperial Garden to clear her mind.

It was early autumn, and the garden was lush with greenery.

She unconsciously walked to the vicinity of the swing set, and looking at the familiar swing, as well as the deer park and crane park not far away, she felt a moment of disorientation.

During her first and fourth lives, when she was the most favored concubine in the harem, Zhou Ling practically tacitly granted her exclusive access to this area. Other concubines never dared to set foot there easily, let alone compete with her for anything.

Back then, she still received his extraordinary favor, but in this life...

As if guided by some unseen force, she approached the swing, gently sat down, and as the swing swayed slightly, she tried to find a clue or a moment of tranquility in this familiar scene.

However, things are different now.

"Oh, who do we have here? It's Miss Shen."

A voice, clearly mocking, rang out from behind.

Fangru turned around and saw Consort Xian walking gracefully towards her with several palace maids, a fake smile on her face: "I was just thinking of playing on this swing. Miss Chen, would you be so kind as to do me a favor?"

Fangru's heart sank; she knew the visitor meant no good.

She steadied herself on the swing and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Highness, there doesn't seem to be a rule about who can't play on things in the Imperial Garden, right? There's always a first-come, first-served order."

Consort Xian was surprised that she dared to talk back, and her face immediately darkened: "What kind of order is this! Miss Chen seems to have forgotten her own status! A person of no rank and with a criminal record, dares to talk to me about order? I think you've been in the imperial prison for too long and have forgotten the rules of the palace! Get down here now!"

"My identity was left in the palace by His Majesty himself. If Consort Xian feels this is inappropriate, she may ask His Majesty."

Fangru, seething with anger, hardened her voice, "As for the rules, do palace regulations allow concubines to steal things that others are using without cause?"

"you!"

The Consort Xian was speechless for a moment, and other palace servants had stopped to watch. Feeling utterly humiliated, she angrily shouted, "What a sharp-tongued traitor! Today I'll teach you what manners are! Guards!"

"What's all this commotion?" a dignified voice rang out.

Everyone turned around and saw that the Empress had also arrived in the Imperial Garden at some point, looking at them with a serious expression.

Consort Xian immediately stepped forward, saying aggrievedly, "Your Majesty the Empress! You've come at the perfect time! This Shen woman is so ill-mannered, hogging the swing and refusing to let go, and she even spoke rudely to me! Please, Your Majesty, do me justice!"

The Empress's gaze swept over the stubborn Fangru and the furious Consort Xian, and she understood.

She already harbored resentment towards the Emperor for his special treatment of Shen Fangru, and even more so, she secretly felt a jealousy towards this "special" treatment that she herself was unwilling to admit. Even though His Majesty was not interested in women, why did he treat this traitor with special regard?

This is the perfect opportunity to make a fuss.

"Shen," the Empress's voice was icy, "your status is special, you should be even more careful with your words and actions, and strictly abide by palace rules. To contradict a concubine is an act of insubordination; do you know your crime?"

Fangru opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but knew that with the Empress's obvious favoritism, any explanation would be futile.

Before she could answer, the Empress ordered, "It seems you lack discipline. Shen, you are to be confined to Yilan Palace for three days, and copy the 'Admonitions for Women' one hundred times to calm your mind. Take her away!"

The guards stepped forward and, without a word, led Fangru away from the Imperial Garden.

As Consort Xian watched Fangru's departing figure, a smug, cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.

Back in the cold Yilan Palace, Fangru looked at the "Admonitions for Women" on the table and felt a surge of helplessness.

The start of this life was more difficult than any of my previous lives.

The moonlight, like water, quietly spilled onto the window lattices of Yilan Palace.

Fangru sat alone by the window. The difficulties imposed by Consort Xian and the punishments by the Empress during the day were like fine needles, pricking her heart again and again.

In the midst of this unspeakable grievance, a thought uncontrollably popped into her head: what if Zhou Ling knew…

She clenched her fist tightly, her nails digging deep into her palm.

A sense of shame overwhelmed her instantly.

How could she have thought of seeking solace from that tyrant?

The man who imprisoned her in this gilded cage, the emperor whose mind was unfathomable and who almost caused her family's ruin?

Yet, ironically, within this deep palace, he was the only one who had ever shown her an unusual attitude. That almost obsessive possessiveness became, at this moment, the only lifeline she could cling to in her subconscious.

This conflicting feeling tore at her, making her restless and uneasy.

"Someone come here." She finally couldn't help it, her voice carrying a hint of urgency that she herself didn't realize.

A young eunuch entered in response and stood respectfully with his head bowed.

"Your Majesty... how is your health today?"

She tried her best to make her tone sound calm and even.

"In reply to your question, Your Majesty is still recuperating, and we dare not inquire further."

Still recuperating... Fangru's heart sank, and a nameless restlessness welled up inside her.

She has been staying in Yilan Palace for several days. Since he was able to force her to stay, why does he ignore her completely?

He neither summoned her nor allowed her to attend to his sickbed, as if he had forgotten her in this corner.

Was his domineering attitude that day really just a momentary prank?

"Then... has Your Majesty seen anyone these past few days?" she couldn't help but ask, regretting it as soon as the words left her mouth, as it sounded like she was trying to find out the Emperor's whereabouts.

The eunuch lowered his head even further, his tone becoming increasingly cautious: "This servant is unaware. All matters concerning His Majesty are handled by his personal attendants; those in the outer palace have no way of knowing."

Don't know?

Is it that they don't know, or that they dare not say?

Fangru secretly guessed that he must have met with important ministers like Grand Secretary Li and the Minister of Justice.

National affairs are naturally far more important than her being a "criminal woman".

He preferred to discuss state affairs with his senior ministers rather than pay attention to the man who had personally ordered his imprisonment in the palace.

A feeling that was hard to describe—whether it was disappointment or self-mockery—spread through her heart.

On the one hand, she felt a sense of relief from his neglect, at least temporarily spared from facing his intimidating gaze and unfathomable thoughts; on the other hand, the subtle sense of loss that was deliberately ignored quietly crept up on her like vines.

She hated herself for being so disturbed by that man's attitude.

In the stillness of the night, only the sound of the water clock echoed in Yilan Palace.

Fangru tossed and turned, her mind filled with the humiliation of the day and the uncertainty about the future, and she finally managed to fall asleep in the middle of the night.

In her drowsy state, she suddenly felt a weight on her body as a heavy body, cool and filled with the strong smell of medicine, pressed down on her!

Fangru suddenly woke up, and in the darkness, fear instantly seized her!

She opened her mouth to shout, but a large hand tightly covered her mouth!

"Hmm!"

She struggled desperately, using her hands and feet to push against the weight on her.

"Don't move..."

A deep, husky voice, familiar enough to make her heart flutter, sounded close to her ear. It was weak and breathy from being seriously injured, yet it still contained an undeniable power: "It is I."

Zhou Ling?!

He actually dared to sneak into her bedchamber in such a state?!

The hand covering her mouth loosened slightly, allowing Fangru to catch her breath. She hissed in shock and anger, "Why are you here?! Your injury..."

By the faint moonlight filtering through the gauze curtains, she could vaguely see his pale face and even smell the faint stench of blood beneath the strong medicinal scent.

The outline of the white cloth strip on his chest was clearly visible under his nightgown.

"I miss you."

He answered matter-of-factly, his burning lips pressing down on hers without warning, with an irresistible force that almost stole her breath.

The strong medicinal smell mixed with his unique ambergris scent, creating an extremely aggressive aura that enveloped her completely.

"No... let go!"

Fangru was both shocked and angry. She pressed her hands against his bandaged chest, trying to push him away.

As her fingertips touched the thick gauze, she could feel his slightly erratic heartbeat and warm body temperature beneath it, which made her hesitate for a moment, afraid of touching his wound.

However, it was this moment of hesitation that gave Zhou Ling an opportunity.

"Zhou Ling! Let me go! You can't do this!" Her voice trembled with fear and anger. "Your injuries haven't healed yet! And... and I don't want to!"

"It's not up to you." His voice grew lower and hoarse, carrying the weariness of his serious injuries, but also a kind of obsessive madness.

Their eyes met, noses touching, and their warm breaths mingled on each other's lips.

The air seemed to freeze, and the next second, the kisses poured down like rain falling on a mountaintop.

He gave her no chance to resist, restraining her with almost brutal force. His burning kiss landed again, carrying a punitive meaning, swallowing up all her unfinished protests and sobs.

The pain washed over my body like a tide.

In her dizziness, she heard the soft sound of fabric tearing, like spring ice breaking.

In the darkness, his amplified senses caught the bloody smell mixed in with the ambergris, the smell of his wounds seeping out.

"pain……"

The word was cut short by a kiss. His lips, bitter with the taste of medicine, pried open her tightly clenched teeth.

"Bear with it."

My fingertips dug into the muscle beneath the bandage, feeling the warm, moist pulse.

One tap, then two taps, on her palm.

"No... um..."

Broken syllables leaked from between the teeth.

My fingertips sank into the texture of the skin beneath the bandage, feeling the warm, moist pulse.

Her pulse was rapid and heavy, pounding against her palm as if it would shatter her wrist bones.

The initial resistance gradually dissipated, turning into an unconscious grip.

She felt like a dandelion being teased by a gentle breeze, her body becoming lighter and lighter until the breeze suddenly changed, and a strong wind swirled up and swept her away.

Unable to find anything to hold onto, she groped her way back and tightly embraced his shoulders, her slender fingers almost digging into his flesh. Zhou Ling slightly released her lips and looked at her with those fiery eyes. His gaze seemed to have a shape, a shape that could invade the shape in her eyes.

Fangru felt as if her heart was about to burst out of her chest. Through his shoulder, she saw the moon, white clouds, and the magnificent rooftops outside the window.

She was swaying, which made her dizzy. Then she felt as if there were black and white snowflakes in front of her, and her consciousness left her brain.

A mountain-like weight pressed down on her, scalding breath sprayed into her ear, and Zhou Ling's voice, sometimes near, sometimes far, was indistinct.

"Fangru...look at me...don't leave me..."

As dawn broke, Fangru awoke from her light sleep.

The man beside her was still fast asleep, his pale face bearing a weary satisfaction.

She gently shifted her body, looking at the handsome yet domineering sleeping face beside her pillow, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She considered kicking the man off the bed, but the thought immediately made her abandon the audacious idea.