Chapter 120 It's okay to feel uncomfortable (I almost laughed when I wrote this chapter).
The appointed time to depart for the palace is fast approaching.
Lu Zhaoxue gripped Chu Siheng's sleeve tightly, the brocade pattern warmed by her hands.
Her eyes were slightly red, but she forced a smile: "Siheng, you must take good care of yourself while you're away, and never act impulsively."
Then, after a pause, her voice, as soft as a breeze, carried an unwavering certainty:
"I will wait for you in the palace, waiting for you to come and get me, and then we will never be apart again."
Chu Siheng gazed at Lu Zhaoxue, his eyes surging with deep affection, as if he wanted to etch her image into his very bones.
He raised his hand and gently stroked Lu Zhaoxue's reddened eyes, his voice low and gentle as he said, "Okay, don't worry, A-Xue."
As soon as he finished speaking, he added another sentence, his tone full of tenderness.
"And Ah Xue, you face many difficulties in this deep palace, so you must take good care of yourself and not make me worry."
"I know." Lu Zhaoxue looked up at him, and finally couldn't hold back the tears in her eyes, which slid down her cheeks.
Chu Siheng gently raised his hand to wipe away her tears.
"Then I'll be going." Lu Zhaoxue sniffed, pulled her hand away from his, and turned to leave.
Then her wrist was suddenly grabbed by a large hand, and before she could react, Chu Siheng had already pulled her into his arms.
His broad chest, radiating a reassuring warmth, enveloped Lu Zhaoxue tightly.
Chu Siheng held her extremely tightly, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones, before slowly letting go after a moment.
He placed his hands on Lu Zhaoxue's shoulders, their noses touching, their breaths mingling.
Chu Siheng's eyes held an obvious hint of unease as he explained in a low voice, "Ah Xue, Qianyun and I are not what you saw before."
She's merely a tool I use to deceive Chu Huaiyu. If I don't feign marriage to a princess, given Chu Huaiyu's suspicious nature, he won't lower his guard against me.
"So... I hope you don't think I..." Chu Siheng said, staring intently into Lu Zhaoxue's eyes, afraid of seeing even the slightest doubt or distance in them.
Looking at his nervous expression, like a child who had done something wrong, Lu Zhaoxue couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The sadness that had been building up on him due to the separation vanished instantly.
Lu Zhaoxue raised her hand and gently smoothed Chu Siheng's furrowed brows, then stood on tiptoe and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
She said in a gentle yet firm voice, "I understand, don't worry."
Just then, the slightly hurried voice of the personal maid Haitang came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, it's getting late, we should set off back to the palace."
Lu Zhaoxue and Chu Siheng looked at each other, their eyes filled with reluctance, but in the end they could only let go of each other's hands.
"Goodbye, Xue." Chu Siheng's voice was slightly hoarse.
Lu Zhaoxue nodded, turned around and walked away quickly, not daring to look back. She was afraid that if she looked back, she would never be able to leave.
——
After returning to Chengqian Palace, Lu Zhaoxue shed her travel-worn appearance and immediately summoned Amber, a palace maid from Chengqian Palace.
"How is His Majesty's condition today?" Lu Zhaoxue sat upright at the table, her voice calm and composed.
Amber bowed her head respectfully and reported, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has been unconscious for the past two days. The imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital have been taking turns caring for him, but His Majesty has not yet woken up."
Lu Zhaoxue nodded slightly upon hearing this, then waved her hand and said, "I understand, you may leave now."
After Amber left, Lu Zhaoxue instructed Haitang: "Prepare a hot spring bath and have a sedan chair ready. I need to bathe and change first."
Haitang withdrew in response, and soon everything was prepared.
The warm spring water washed away the fatigue of the journey, and Lu Zhaoxue changed into a bright red empress's palace dress.
A phoenix embroidered with gold thread spread its wings on the hem of her dress, making Lu Zhaoxue's skin appear even whiter and her demeanor dignified and graceful.
Lu Zhaoxue sat in the sedan chair, closing her eyes to rest, but Chu Siheng's face kept appearing in her mind.
At this moment, inside the Ganqing Palace.
Chu Huaiyu slowly opened his heavy eyelids, the glaring light causing him to squint instinctively.
He raised his eyes and surveyed the empty palace, but did not see that familiar figure.
Chu Huaiyu felt as if his heart had been hollowed out, and even his breathing became heavy.
Just then, Eunuch Wei walked in carrying a bowl of dark, medicinal soup. When he saw that Chu Huaiyu had woken up, he was first stunned, then burst into tears of joy.
Eunuch Wei was so moved that tears streamed down his face. His voice trembled with emotion as he exclaimed, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you’ve finally woken up! These past two days you’ve been unconscious, and I’ve felt like each day was an eternity, filled with fear… fear…”
He was so emotional that he couldn't speak, and kept wiping away tears from his old face.
Chu Huaiyu smiled weakly, his voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible: "Alright, Eunuch Wei, I'm fine now."
He paused, then asked anxiously, "Where is the Empress? Has she returned?"
Eunuch Wei quickly wiped away his tears and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the Empress has already returned to the palace. I heard that you are still unconscious, so she is probably on her way to Ganqing Palace right now."
Upon hearing this, Chu Huaiyu's eyes lit up instantly, and his originally pale face regained some color.
Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Dezi's loud announcement suddenly came from outside the hall: "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived—"
"Zhaoxue!" Chu Huaiyu was overjoyed.
His previously gloomy mood instantly brightened, and he struggled to sit up, his eyes filled with anticipation and joy.
Lu Zhaoxue walked into the hall with steady steps. Her red dress accentuated her slender figure, making her look dignified and noble.
When Lu Zhaoxue saw Chu Huaiyu awake on the bed, she was taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, which she quickly concealed.
She bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
"Your Majesty, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise!" Chu Huaiyu said urgently, his voice filled with barely concealed excitement.
He reached out his hand to Lu Zhaoxue, his voice tinged with a pleading tone, "Zhaoxue, come here to me."
Lu Zhaoxue hesitated for a moment, but eventually walked slowly forward and sat down beside his bed.
As soon as Lu Zhaoxue sat down, she was caught off guard and pulled into Chu Huaiyu's arms.
Chu Huaiyu buried his head in the crook of her neck, greedily inhaling her faint fragrance and feeling her real warmth.
His voice choked with emotion as he said, "Zhaoxue, I missed you so much, I really missed you so much, you've finally come to see me."
Lu Zhaoxue was a little breathless from his embrace. She lowered her eyes to hide the aloofness and rejection in them.
She slowly said, "Yes, I've come to see you, Your Majesty."
Chu Huaiyu was immersed in the joy of reunion and completely ignored the coldness in her tone.
Even though it had only been two days since Chu Huaiyu last saw Lu Zhaoxue, it felt like an eternity.
He comforted himself: Zhaoxue's willingness to come see me and talk to me like this means she still cares about me.
Don't rush, take your time. One day, she will treat me the same way she used to.
Just as Chu Huaiyu was immersed in his beautiful fantasy, he suddenly heard Lu Zhaoxue ask, "Your Majesty, you suddenly fell into a coma. Has the imperial physician said what caused it?"
Chu Huaiyu thought Lu Zhaoxue was concerned about him, and he was overjoyed. He replied excitedly, "The imperial physician said I'm fine, just that I was overworked the other day."
"However, Zhaoxue, I'm still not feeling well. Could you make me a bowl of the ginseng soup you usually make for me?"
Lu Zhaoxue smiled gently and replied softly, "Your Majesty, of course you can. I will go now."
After Lu Zhaoxue stood up and turned her head, the gentle expression on her face instantly turned gloomy.
Her perfectly measured gentleness seemed to have vanished, leaving only a chilling indifference.
Chu Huaiyu, are you feeling unwell?
It's good to feel uncomfortable, because comfort is for the dead!
But don't worry, you'll soon be able to stay "comfortable" all the time...
Lu Zhaoxue smiled and strode towards the inner imperial kitchen of Ganqing Palace to prepare Chu Huaiyu's favorite "ginseng soup".
(This ginseng soup was what caused Chu Huaiyu to become sterile, as mentioned in previous chapters. I'm just noting this to prevent readers from skipping chapters and missing it.)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com