Chapter 25 Undercurrents "Can't you sacrifice yourself a little?!"...
The emperor glanced at Ning Xian, who had suddenly become obedient. The young man knelt respectfully in the center of the hall, his black python-patterned robe trailing on the blood-stained ground of Chonghua Palace.
Ning Xian looked into his eyes, which were bright and tearful, like a little puppy apologizing to its owner, so pure and innocent.
He knelt before the palace attendants and court officials, clutching his still-bleeding shoulder, and choked out, "Father..."
This wound was inflicted by Ji's soldiers when I was rescuing the emperor.
The emperor snorted inwardly. If he hadn't known about the shady dealings between Ning Xian and Dingguo Palace, that one call of "Father Emperor" would have already softened anyone's heart.
Those unaware of the situation might think that the Crown Prince had suffered a terrible injustice in front of his father, as if the vicious young man who once plotted to kill his father and seize the throne had never existed.
The emperor smiled dismissively. He knew perfectly well what kind of person his only son, whom he had raised himself, was. Once Ning Xian made up his mind, he would never change it.
For example, some people believe that he is the one who separated the mother and son for two days, and that he will eventually ruin him and make him die in the same humiliation as his mother.
He was convinced that one day he would kill his biological father with his own hands.
When they were lucid, they presented a picture of filial piety to everyone. When he was unconscious, only the Crown Prince diligently attended to him every day. Now, the Crown Prince was putting on such a touching show in front of everyone, leaving the Crown Prince without a sufficient reason to punish his dutiful son immediately.
But things are different now. With his backing gone, as long as the Crown Prince remains in the Eastern Palace, it's only a matter of time before he finds out the Crown Prince's oversights.
Seeing that the emperor remained silent, Ning Xian knelt and took a few steps forward: "Your Majesty, it was my negligence that led me to fall into the rebels' trap, which is why I withdrew the imperial guards and allowed the rebels to break in."
"I know my sins are grave, and I do not ask Your Majesty for leniency. I am willing to relinquish my power as Crown Prince and volunteer to go to the harsh northern frontier to guard the border with the soldiers and protect our country."
The emperor raised an eyebrow: "Has the crown prince thought this through? Going to the northern frontier is extremely dangerous. If something goes wrong on the way, he may never come back."
Ning Xian clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves, and stared intently into the emperor's eyes: "Your subject will gladly die for this cause."
...
After the rebellion was quelled, most of the guards at Fengqi Palace were withdrawn, and Ruan Zhuoyin took the opportunity to replace the people around her with those she had brought from her maternal family.
In the afternoon, the lotus buds in the pond, which were about to bloom, wilted under the scorching sun overhead, and even the usually lively thrushes stood quietly in their cages, not chirping at all.
Inside the bedroom, the maids closed the windows to prevent the outside heat from rushing in. Seeing that their mistress was about to rest, they lowered the curtains, window drapes, and beaded curtains.
With ice cubes placed beside the tatami mat to cool you down, the entire room became so quiet and cool that it didn't feel like summer at all.
Zisu arrived in front of Ruan Zhuoyin amidst the cicadas' chirping. Before she could speak, Ruan Zhuoyin interrupted her, saying, "Is the medicine ready? Go and get the one from the drawer. I haven't looked at it in a long time."
"yes."
Zisu handed the young prince's belongings to the Empress. The Empress lay on her side, her fingertips constantly stroking the gold-inlaid mutton-fat jade necklace in her palm, a trace of sadness flashing in her bright eyes.
She sighed, “Your Majesty, those medicinal herbs are very precious. They were only delivered by the Imperial Hospital this morning. When asked why, they said that Consort Li gave birth to a son at dawn this morning, which is why they neglected this place.”
Before the emperor fell into a coma due to poisoning, Consort Li was diagnosed with pregnancy. Now that the pregnancy has come to fruition, Ruan Zhuoyin glanced at Zisu, but quickly turned her attention back to the necklace.
"Congratulations to her."
Zisu said, "But there is also good news. The eunuch from Chonghua Palace just came and said that His Majesty will be having dinner at Fengqi Palace tomorrow evening, and he told us to prepare well."
Lying on the jade mat, Ruan Zhuoyin tucked the necklace under her pillow. Staring at the dome, she slowly said, "Then let's put everything away and light some camphor incense to cover up the smell of medicine."
"yes."
Ruan Zhuoyin said with her eyes closed, "Where is Yangyang? When is she coming back? Tell the people over there to hurry up."
Zisu said, "The second young lady is on her way and should arrive in Kyoto tomorrow."
"Okay, you can go now."
......
Ruan Yang had traveled a long way and arrived at Fengqi Palace to meet the Empress in the evening. After exchanging pleasantries, the Empress asked Zisu to take her down to bathe and change clothes so that she could wash away the dust she had picked up along the way.
As dusk fell, the emperor arrived as promised. Ruan Zhuoyin, along with Ruan Yang, who had already bathed and burned incense, stood waiting in the corridor.
Ruan Yang rubbed her tired eyes, almost falling asleep. She pinched herself to help her drowsiness dissipate.
She was naturally unhappy to have returned here after going around in circles, but she couldn't dissuade her parents from doing so.
Seeing the Empress swaying and seemingly about to faint, Ruan Yang suddenly recalled the Empress's pale face when she first saw her: "Your Majesty... are you alright?"
Since giving birth to the prince, Ruan Zhuoyin had been severely depleted of qi and blood. Now that her illness had flared up, even her voice had become weak and feeble. She shook her head and said, "I'm fine."
As they were talking, the emperor walked up to them and saw Ruan Zhuoyin with her delicate brows furrowed and coughing, covering her mouth with a handkerchief.
He asked with long-absent concern, "Is the Empress's cold any better?"
"Your Majesty, I am much better now."
When Ruan Yang first saw the "Grandpa Rat" who had deliberately smashed her bracelet in the secret room in broad daylight, she felt somewhat uncomfortable. It took her a while to bow to the emperor and say, "Your Majesty, may you enjoy a long and peaceful life."
The emperor seemed to only then notice Ruan Yang's presence, and said with a smile, "Oh, little girl, you're here too."
Seeing the Emperor holding the Empress's hand so sweetly, Ruan Yang felt incredibly awkward standing between them as an outsider.
Just as she was trying to figure out a way to retreat, she heard the emperor smile and say to her, "Let's treat this as a family banquet. Why don't you join us for a meal?"
Ruan Yang met the emperor's eyes and saw a different meaning in them than before.
She paused for a moment, then said, "...Yes."
......
When she sat down, the square table was already laden with delicacies, a feast for the eyes. Ruan Yang sat obediently to one side, listening quietly as the Empress and His Majesty talked about interesting things in the palace that she couldn't understand.
She couldn't get a word in edgewise, nor did she want to, so she could only silently eat the braised pork knuckle on the plate with her chopsticks.
After the emperor finished his drink, he realized that the little girl was not as lively and cheerful as the other girls. Just as he was about to speak to her, he noticed that the little girl was entertaining herself by dealing with pig's trotters, her cheeks puffed out, and even her bright red lips were covered with grease.
He smiled, picked up the handkerchief on the table, and wiped the grease off Ruan Yang's lips.
Ruan Yang was startled by this sudden concern. She froze for a moment, then immediately slapped the emperor's hand away and leaned back.
“…”
The emperor's hand hovered in the air for a long time before he awkwardly put it back.
Seeing this, Ruan Zhuoyin frowned and secretly glared at Ruan Yang, feeling disappointed in him.
She tried to ease the tension: "This time, we have to thank Yangyang for her idea, which provoked the Duke of Dingguo to lead his troops in rebellion."
Seeing that there was a way out, the emperor readily accepted it. He joked with Ruan Yang, "Yes, once a fortune teller makes a prediction and rumors spread, even I would be frightened."
Ruan Yang clutched her handkerchief, not daring to look the emperor in the eye. She stood there stunned for a moment, without replying.
Is she really going to become a pawn of the Ruan family, inexplicably becoming the emperor's woman and sharing a husband with her aunt?
Seeing that the atmosphere was still awkward, Ruan Zhuoyin had no choice but to change her plan. In any case, it seemed that the emperor liked Ruan Yang.
She waved to Zisu by the door: "Zisu, Yangyang isn't feeling well. Take her downstairs to rest, and brew her some tea to help cut through the greasiness."
Ruan Yang felt relieved and slowly bowed to take her leave, saying, "Then this humble woman will take her leave now."
After Ruan Yang left, there was a long silence in the air before Ruan Zhuoyin finally spoke first: "Your Majesty, I congratulate you on the birth of your son."
"If the Empress gives me another legitimate son, then both will be perfect."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Zhuoyin forced a smile: "I am getting old and my health is not good. It would be difficult for me to conceive, especially since Your Majesty rarely comes to Fengqi Palace."
The emperor pinched Ruan Zhuoyin's nose and laughed, "You are only twenty-two years old this year. It's too early to call you old. I was indeed cold to you before, but don't worry, it won't be like that in the future."
"This time, I will consider the merits of the Nguyen family and let their past transgressions cancel each other out. However, you are my wife, and you are different from the other members of the Nguyen family. What reward do you want?"
Ruan Zhuoyin curved her lips into a weary smile and said, "If we're talking about rewards, I'm very greedy."
"Oh? Tell me about it?" The emperor raised an eyebrow.
She said, "Your Majesty desires that some of your children be of the Ruan family bloodline."
"Your Majesty, Yangyang is a clever and lovely child, and I have seen that you dote on her. In my opinion, why not take advantage of the joy of Consort Li giving birth to the imperial heir and have a double celebration?"
The emperor smiled and sighed, "You and I are truly in sync. Although I have a good impression of Ruan Yang, I do not wish to force him to do something against his will."
"Yangyang is a young child and doesn't understand things yet. His Majesty is the chosen one of heaven, the supreme ruler. There is no woman in the world who wouldn't be moved by him."
Ruan Zhuoyin picked up her wine cup and toasted the emperor, saying, "It's only a matter of time, just like I did for Your Majesty back then."
Upon hearing this, the emperor took the wine from her hand and chuckled, "Then I will ask the Empress to speak well of me to Ruan Yang in the future."
Phoenix Palace was filled with singing and dancing, and the sounds of sheng and xiao filled the air. The peach blossom wine was thick, fragrant and sweet, and after a few cups, the two of them were quite drunk.
Seeing that it was about time, Ruan Zhuoyin gave Zisu a wink and then helped the half-drunk emperor to the couch.
...
Ruan Yang was led by Zisu to a small pavilion. She looked up at the inscription above the pavilion: "Virtue and Gentleness".
Zisu said, "Miss, the Empress is waiting inside."
After hearing this, Ruan Yang paused for a moment to calm his unease before pushing open the door and entering.
The hall was silent, all the candles by the window were extinguished, and Ruan Yang frowned.
Could it be that I'm too late, and the Emperor and Empress have already retired for the night?
She dared not speak loudly, and walked lightly a few steps on the velvet carpet until she reached the gray curtains. Suddenly, she heard a woman calling her softly from the bedside.
The wind howled through the night, and the woman's eerie voice sounded like a ghost, sending chills down Ruan Yang's spine.
She stood still, and saw a slender, fair hand slowly emerge from behind the curtain. The crimson nail polish on the fingernails made Ruan Yang quickly recognize that this charming woman was none other than the Empress, Ruan Zhuoyin.
She leaned forward, but suddenly caught sight of a bright yellow handkerchief peeking through the curtain.
Ruan Yang was secretly startled and was about to turn around and run away when that cold, slender hand forcefully pulled her into the bed curtains.
Just as Ruan Yang was about to cry for help, her lips were immediately covered by Ruan Zhuoyin.
By the moonlight, one could see that her aunt was dressed very charmingly tonight. Ruan Zhuoyin was not wearing an outer garment at the moment, and her full, fair skin was covered only by a lotus-colored bodice. Her brows were furrowed, and her forehead was slightly damp with sweat.
He looked somewhat disheveled.
Seeing the Empress hunched over, her hand covering her lower abdomen, with deep red bloodstains constantly seeping from between her trouser legs, Ruan Yang was startled.
Having read some medical books, she roughly guessed that this was a case of hemorrhage.
Ruan Zhuoyin grabbed Ruan Yang and pleaded weakly, "Good Yangyang, please help me."
Ruan Yang glanced subconsciously at the unidentified incense pill that had fallen on the bed and the man on the couch who was barely conscious. She shook her head violently, refusing to agree to serve the Empress in bed no matter what.
Ruan Zhuoyin said anxiously, "Don't be afraid, His Majesty likes you very much. After tonight, you will be the Emperor's woman. If you give birth to a prince, you will have great fortune in the future!"
Seeing that Ruan Yang was still struggling desperately, Ruan Zhuoyin grabbed her wrist tightly: "Listen to me, there are so many new concubines in the palace. If His Majesty knew that I could not serve him in bed, he would despise me!"
"Can't you sacrifice yourself a little? Pave the way for the Ruan family? I advise you not to be so selfish!"
At this moment, the man on the bed stirred. Ruan Yang felt a sense of despair. She couldn't call for help, but she also couldn't give in!
Ruan Yang slowly retreated to the corner and looked at the jade ruyi lying on the pillow. In the empress's frenzy, the hand behind her back finally grasped the cold jade ruyi.
She said, "Good aunt, I promise you, but please let me go first, okay?"
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Author's Note: My darlings, could you please give me some nutrient solution? *beggar* [please]
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