Ling Shumo stayed in Chenyou Palace with Lu Jinshu and Ling Xihe the entire afternoon. At dinner, Lu Jinshu still ate very little, and Ling Shumo watched with deep distress. Unable to persuade Lu Jinshu to eat more, she could only pressure the chefs in the Imperial Kitchen to come up with new dishes, hoping that Lu Jinshu's appetite would improve.
As the night deepened, Jiufu and several other servants carefully extinguished the candles in the room.
Ling Shumo and Lu Jinshu lay on the same bed, neither of them saying a word. After an unknown amount of time, Ling Shumo drifted off to sleep, but her sleep was not restful, and she woke up again soon.
Ling Shumo heard the rustling sound of the person beside her turning over. It was obvious that Lu Jinshu had been suffering from insomnia until now.
Ling Shumo rolled over and got out of bed, asking the attendant to come in and pour her a glass of warm water. "If you keep staying awake like this, your body will soon be ruined. The tranquilizing spice you're using now doesn't seem to be working. Wait until dawn and have the Imperial Hospital give you a new prescription."
Lu Jinshu buried his face between two pillows. His voice sounded faint, as if he was about to die. "It's useless. I've tried many different spices and herbs to soothe my nerves. I can't sleep because there's something wrong with my heart. The imperial doctors can't help me."
Ling Shumo sighed deeply, then lay back down on the bed, but all sleepiness was gone, and she kept her eyes open until dawn.
The first rays of morning light shone through the cracks in the window. The servants came into the room to help Ling Shumo dress and wash before going to the morning court.
Lu Jinshu was still lying on the bed with lifeless eyes, his eyes were bloodshot.
Ling Shumo looked at the delicacies on the table without any appetite. She took a few bites and walked quickly towards the door.
After walking out of the Chenyou Palace, Ling Shumo took a deep breath of fresh air. She felt as if the huge rock pressing on her had finally fallen off, and she felt like she was alive again.
Ever since Ling Xihe's accident, being with Lu Jinshu has become incredibly depressing. Ling Shumo had to deal with difficult illnesses from across the country in the former dynasty, and now that she's finally in the harem, she has to constantly consider Lu Jinshu's feelings, leaving her with no peace of mind.
Arriving at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the court officials were arguing fiercely about the war ahead.
The newly appointed prime minister was a man of unwavering integrity. Her blunt language infuriated Ling Shumo so much that she almost wanted to rip the imperial tassel from her head and smash it against her head. But she finally suppressed her temper and dismissed the morning court. She returned alone to the imperial study, where she reviewed memorials for another day. Toward evening, Ling Shumo summoned two trusted ministers into the palace for a private conversation. After they left, she looked out the window. It was already completely dark outside.
Shi Qi poured out the cold tea on the table and replaced it with a fresh cup. He said softly, "Mei Rongze (Jiang He) said he learned a new piece of music and wants to play it for Your Majesty. I wonder if Your Majesty is free to come over tonight? Also, Shu Rongze (Pei Jiuyan) has sent his personal attendant over, saying that the Fourth Princess misses Your Majesty and asked Your Majesty to go and see her."
After she finished speaking, she didn't hear Ling Shumo's response for a long while, so she tentatively asked, "Or, Your Majesty, will you go to Chenyou Palace to see the Queen and the Crown Princess tonight?"
Ling Shumo felt breathless just thinking about the oppressive atmosphere in Chenyou Palace. She shook her head decisively, "No, I don't want to go anywhere tonight. Please accompany me to the Imperial Garden."
Shi Qi bowed his head respectfully and said, "I obey your command."
On a spring night, in the harem of the Chisha Empire, a gentle breeze blew, and a thin mist rose. Ling Shumo looked up at the moon in the sky. Its light was dimmed in the misty air, like a shy and timid beauty, bringing a faint silver glow to the world.
During the day, the flowers in the Imperial Garden bloomed in profusion, vying for beauty. At night, they swayed gently in the white mist, their forms blurred by the dim light, giving them a distinct brilliance unlike that of the daytime. Surrounded by such a gentle and beautiful environment, Ling Shumo's restless heart was gradually soothed by the moonlight and the flowers.
She wandered aimlessly along the path among the flowers for a long time. She didn't know what time it was, but she could feel the mist around her gradually dissipating, and the temperature around her had dropped significantly compared to when she first came out.
Ling Shumo gathered her outer robe and said, "I've been out long enough. It's time to go back."
The road back was still quiet. In the distance, Ling Shumo could vaguely see a figure moving ahead. "It's so late, who is that in front?"
Shi Qi walked quickly towards the figure. Gao Shen asked, "Who's in front? Seeing His Majesty, why don't you come over and kowtow?"
The person standing in the flowers in front seemed to be frightened by something. He turned around and wanted to run away, but after taking a few steps, he stopped.
Ling Shumo was very close to him at this time. She saw that the man was only wearing one shoe and a cotton sock on the other foot. He was holding a pair of exquisitely embroidered cloth shoes in his hand. For a moment, he even forgot to salute and just looked at Ling Shumo with a helpless look on his face.
Ling Shumo called out his name in surprise, "Pei Jiuyan, why are you here?" Ling Shumo lowered her gaze to stare at his bare feet, becoming even more confused. "What happened?"
Pei Jiuyan subconsciously hid the embroidered shoe in her hand behind her back and said with embarrassment, "I couldn't sleep at night, so I thought of going out for a walk. However, the light was too dim at night, and I stepped into the mud, dirtying my right shoe. I wanted to take it off and wipe it, but I didn't expect to run into Your Majesty."
Ling Shumo couldn't help but ask, "Are you troubled by something that can't sleep?"
Pei Jiuyan found a large, flat rock and sat down. He took out a handkerchief to wipe the dirt off his cloth shoes, his voice revealing a hint of loneliness. "I originally thought that the days in Blackwater City were the most difficult time in my life. But I never thought that after entering the palace, I would feel even more lonely than then. No matter what happened before, at least I had my father by my side and could talk to him. Now that I have entered the palace, I cannot see Your Majesty. My heart is suffering from misery and longing. It is really uneasy. Therefore, I can't sleep every night."
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