"This Imperial Concubine is the same. It's rare to hear her have a headache or fever, yet she sent someone here at this very moment!"
Jingning complained as he cleaned up the table.
"Don't you think the young lady is upset enough?" Jing An rolled up the ink-stained white paper. "It's not our place to criticize the Madam's affairs."
Wei Shuyi drank the nourishing soup and said, "Leave that piece of paper here. I want to paint later."
"It's...it's getting late. Isn't it better for you to go to bed early, young master?"
She didn't say anything and took another piece of vinegar fish with chopsticks: "Jing'an, is this dish sent by the imperial kitchen? It's a bit sour and the taste is not very good. Don't order it next time."
"yes."
After dinner, the lights in the courtyard were lit, but Xie Yanci still hadn't returned.
Wen Yu looked out the window more than once: "Miss, go to sleep after you finish painting. Jing Ning said that it is rare for the imperial concubine to be in this state. Perhaps the emperor will be delayed in Chengqian Palace."
"Do you think I'm waiting for him?"
"girl?"
"When I entered the palace, I was older than the concubines who entered properly. Plus, the years have passed, and I've already passed the time of young love." Wei Shuyi followed the drops of ink and drew lotus flowers. "The emperor went to the imperial concubine, so why would he turn back? It's even more impossible for me to lose my temper or lose my mind over something that is understandable."
Wen Yu continued grinding ink, not understanding. "This servant has always felt that the Imperial Concubine did this on purpose. The Emperor only stayed at Sang Yuxuan for a few more days, and she's so impatient?"
"Have you forgotten that the Imperial Concubine was once the exclusive favorite of the Imperial Concubine? To us, it was only a few days, but to her, it was no less than half a lifetime. How could she not be anxious?" Wei Shuyi stamped his seal in the lower right corner. "I still bear a deep blood feud, and I cannot waste my energy on romantic affairs. From now on, don't mention such things again."
"I understand."
She is trying to control her heart. She should be calm when she needs to be. Worrying and thinking too much will only affect the baby in her belly.
"For some reason, everyone expects the first heir to be a son, but I'm hoping for a princess." She stroked the paper, lingering on the lotus petals. "Could this... be God's will?"
"The princess is good! Compared to the prince, her chances of survival are much greater! Otherwise, those man-eating monsters in the palace would be staring at the eldest son all day long, and he would be in great trouble!"
Wen Yu didn't understand her deeper meaning, and just said auspicious words to make her happy as usual.
She slept quite soundly that night.
After the morning court session the next day, Xie Yanci went straight to Lin'an Palace without having time to change into court clothes.
He had already prepared a long speech to explain why he did not fulfill his promise last night, and he also thought of some way to appease the still angry little girl, but he saw -
"Minmin! Look, is it flying high?!"
"Be careful, it's time to pull it back. It'll get caught on the treetops again soon, and it'll be a nuisance to the palace maids!"
Liangcai chose an open space and flew a kite. A goose-yellow long gown flew freely in front, while Jingning controlled the other end of the string.
Everyone at Sangyuxuan gathered together, gazing out at the world beyond, their happiness overflowing. There was no master-servant distinction; they felt more like ordinary sisters.
He paused, his gaze shifting from the kite to Wei Shuyi. She had changed into a loose, floor-length dress, the hem still embroidered with lotus patterns. A light silk gauze draped over her arm, a smile etched across her cheeks.
"The Emperor is coming?!"
A sharp-eyed little girl saw him and immediately warned him.
Wei Shuyi looked at him from afar, pulled up her clothes and bowed, touching her rings and pendants together: "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you. May the Emperor live long and well."
"No need to be polite."
Xie Yanci was a little annoyed with the palace maid. He wanted to stay and watch for a while longer, but now his hopes were dashed, and the original warmth was broken.
"It's still early. Doesn't Your Majesty need to return to the Hall of Eternal Life first?" She glanced at the dragon robe. "Or does Your Majesty have something urgent to tell me?"
"It's not an urgent matter, but it's quite urgent. The imperial physician came to see the imperial concubine yesterday and confirmed that her old illness had indeed relapsed. Seeing her in so much pain, I stayed overnight in Chengqian Palace and didn't come back. You..."
"How is the Imperial Concubine now? Has the medicine relieved her symptoms?"
Wei Shuyi hurriedly asked about the patient's condition, without showing any displeasure on his face.
This blocked his next words. The situation was reversed, and he couldn't understand the current situation.
"I'm feeling better now, that's why I rushed to see you."
"I'm glad that the Imperial Concubine is alright. I'm not one to get jealous. Your Majesty, there's no need to be so anxious. Otherwise, we should return to the Hall of Eternal Life and finish our government affairs before..."
"Yao'er, tell me the truth, do you really not mind that I didn't come home last night?"
Then what?
Should she shed tears and describe how she tossed and turned last night and suffered from unbearable abdominal pain?
Upon hearing this, Wei Shuyi smoothed her hair and smiled, "Of course I don't mind. If the Emperor ignored me and just sent the imperial physician to see me, I would blame him for being so heartless and worry that I would face the same dilemma in the future!"
Her tone sounded like she was joking.
Xie Yanci sighed inwardly and helped her back to the room to sit down. "Yao'er, according to etiquette, after a concubine becomes pregnant, she can allow her relatives to visit her in order to ease her longing for her. Your situation is special. Just tell me what you want."
"I have never seen the streets of the capital. I only heard about it from Madam, and I longed for it."
I wanted to pass by that alley again and see if the old man selling candied haws was still there. I wanted to go to Wanbaozhai to find some ancient books, pester my mother to read them to her, analyze them word by word, and then share them with the other sisters. I also wanted to take another look at the dilapidated Duke's Mansion to see if the old site had been cleared...
Wei Shuyi lowered his head and played with the tassel in his hand, trying very well to conceal his surging emotions.
"Want to go to the capital for a stroll?" Xie Yanci had no doubts and planned his schedule. "In a few days, it will be the Shangsi Festival, and people will gather in the streets and alleys to celebrate. Then, I will take you to see it."
"The Emperor agreed?!"
"Why? Am I so difficult to talk to, Yao'er?" He was surprised by her fleeting surprise, and then continued to comfort her, "You are leaving the palace, and I have to order people to prepare in advance, just in case. Therefore, there will be many people following you. If Yao'er wants a world of her own for you and me, I'm afraid it won't be possible."
Wei Shuyi leaned against his chest, her tone filled with joy: "As long as you can let me see what the capital looks like and how the people celebrate, that's enough."
"Don't you want something else?"
She tilted her head slightly, brushed her index finger across his chin, and replied softly, "Having Your Majesty accompany me is already better than a thousand things. If I continue to ask for more, I would simply be greedy!"
Xie Yanci grabbed her restless hand and smiled without saying a word.
He stared at the completely filled blank space on the table. The ink lotus was lifelike, swaying in the ocean. When he looked at the person in his arms again, his eyes darkened.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
