Chapter 44: Concubine Xian: This matter is of great importance... Could you please allow me...
Shu Yao picked up the teapot and slowly poured Shen Jingshu a cup of tea that was seven-tenths full.
In the mist, he glanced at the other person's eyebrows without leaving a trace: "A Shu, is there something important that brought you here today?"
Chen Jingshu lowered her eyes to gaze at the tea on the table, her fingers slightly tightening in her sleeves. "My family sees that I'm not favored and have no hope of having children, so now... they've set their sights on my sister's pregnancy..." She paused, finally looking up into Shu Yao's eyes, a wry smile forming on her lips. "They're hoping for a royal heir to be born, and for me... to raise him."
Shu Yao's hand holding the pot paused almost imperceptibly, and her eyes were filled with turmoil for a moment, but then returned to calm in an instant.
She didn't reveal her feelings, only gently placing her hand on her belly and saying calmly, "Ah Shu, tell me these important matters..." Was she suddenly naive? Or was there something deeper behind this?
A glint of light flashed in Chen Jingshu's eyes, and her nails dug deep into her palms. "If I had even the slightest desire to compete, I wouldn't be sitting here today..." She took a deep breath and said bitterly, "I'm telling you this because I consider you a close friend, and also because... I've had enough of being a pawn." She slowly stood up, took a half step back, and knelt solemnly in front of Shu Yao.
She raised her hand and gently pressed it against her heart, her fingertips trembling slightly. "Although the decision-making power has never been yours, nor mine, but rather lies with Your Majesty, at least I can let you know the truth in advance so you can be prepared. I am powerless to stop my family's activities in the court, but I..." She slowly raised her right hand, pointing to the sky as a witness, "I, Shen Jingshu, swear hereby that if the future heir is truly entrusted to me for upbringing, I will treat him as my own and protect him with my life." She closed her eyes, and a tear finally fell. "Your Majesty has never truly... been close to me. This child may be the only one I have in this life."
This straight ball made Shu Yao's carefully prepared maneuvers and tests have nowhere to go.
She looked deeply at Concubine Xian, trying to find any pretense in her, but she only saw a bitter clarity.
My heart is overwhelmed by a more distant sadness.
It turns out that Shen Jingshu has always known that she is in a cage...
Thinking carefully, Shu Yao suddenly realized that Shen Jingshu was fighting in a gentler but more painful way.
Shu Yao sighed deeply, her voice filled with indescribable complexity. "Ah Shu, do you know how much weight your words today carry?" She stood up, gently lifted Shen Jingshu's elbow, and led Shen Jingshu back to sit at the table. "It's obvious that in this deep palace, sincerity is more deadly than conspiracy, but you..."
Shen Jingshu slowly stroked the edge of the teacup.
After a while, she raised her eyes, and her eyes were as clear as if washed by autumn water.
"Those methods Ah Yao mentioned... how could I not know them?" The corners of her lips curled up slightly. "But I always feel that if there is still a glimmer of hope, who would be willing to dirty their hands with those shady tricks?" She lowered her eyes to watch the tea in the cup ripple slightly. "Don't you think so?"
Shen Jingshu's suggestion was like a pillow for Shu Yao.
Knowing that this was a good opportunity to break the deadlock, she was inexplicably hesitant to speak.
After a moment of silence, she met Shen Jingshu's gaze and spoke in a steady voice, "Ashu, I received your honesty. I once said that as long as you ask me, I will do whatever I can to help you... and that statement still stands." She paused, sitting up straighter, "But this matter is of great importance... Can you give me... a few days to think about it..."
When Shen Jingshu heard this, her shoulders relaxed slightly, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off her shoulders.
"Okay." Her voice was very soft. "Ayao is willing to consider it. For me... that's enough..." Her eyes were full of guilt. "I... dare not have any more extravagant requests." After saying that, she slowly stood up and bowed very solemnly.
The departing figure looked unusually thin in the empty hall, but his steps were much lighter than when he came.
Not long after Shen Jingshu left, Xiao Chengjing returned from court.
Just as he stepped through the palace gate, he stopped at the bead curtain.
Through the swaying jade beads, he gazed at the hazy figure in the hall, feeling a sense of unease, akin to homesickness. It was as if beneath this meticulously woven perfection lay some unspeakable crack.
Clearly, everything was as she had wished: her beloved was by her side, and she was pregnant with their child. The final obstacle to the court had been removed. Once she gave birth safely, she would be legitimately made empress.
He knew better than anyone what kind of storm would be set off if a woman of a foreign race sat in the most honorable position in Daliang.
But he not only wanted to give the throne to the queen, but also let everyone in the world know it - his will was God's will.
After spending so much time together, Shu Yao developed an almost instinctive awareness of Xiao Chengjing's existence.
A faint sense of self-loathing quietly rose in my heart.
She stood up and walked towards him, her steps slow and gentle, reaching out her hand. Her fingertips touched the edge of his sleeve with a slight hesitation, and then she tugged very lightly, the force as weak as the tip of a feather brushing against the palm of her hand.
She silently told herself: He was the one who took everything away from her first, and she was just fighting for what should belong to her.
"Your Majesty..." Her voice softened, the last syllable slightly drawn out. "The scenery in the court is very beautiful today. Your Majesty, would you like to walk with me?"
Xiao Chengjing's body froze almost imperceptibly.
This kind of warm closeness was so unfamiliar to him that it was almost a luxury.
Even though he knew deep down that this initiative was too abrupt, he kept telling himself over and over again: Maybe she's pregnant, and her mood has changed...
After a moment of silence, he lowered his eyes to look at her, his gaze deep: "Okay." His voice was gentler than he expected, "I will accompany you."
She threw off her sleeves, turned around and walked out of the hall, her pace slightly faster than usual.
Xiao Chengjing's heart suddenly tightened, and without thinking, he reached out and grabbed her arm. His movements were so fast that they were almost instinctive, and the strength of his fingertips was full of urgency.
"Be careful." His voice was a little tense.
Jiang Shuyao stood firm under his force and surprisingly did not pull her hand away.
She raised her eyes, her eyes like ripples in a deep pool, interwoven with a heartbreaking stubbornness, but the moment she met his gaze, they turned into silence.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she finally lowered her head silently, allowing the warmth of his palm to penetrate her sleeves.
A silent undercurrent is created between them.
That glance made Xiao Chengjing's heart move slightly. His hand subconsciously slid forward along her forearm, gently held her hand, wrapped her slightly cold fingers in his palm, and led her out of the hall.
The spring day is peaceful.
The two walked side by side on the stone-paved path in the imperial garden.
He said nothing, but subtly accommodated her pace, his sleeves barely touching hers.
It was Shu Yao who spoke first: "Speaking of which..." She hesitated, as if not wanting to disturb the tranquility. "The crab and orange wine that Your Majesty ordered was truly delicious." Her eyelashes drooped slightly, revealing a hint of embarrassment just right. "At that time, I... seemed to be angry with Your Majesty, but after tasting it, I felt... it was so delicious that it made me lose my temper." She raised her sleeve to hide a smile on her lips, but her tone was inexplicably filled with regret. "It's a pity that I'm pregnant now, and the imperial physician has advised me to avoid cold foods. I'm afraid I won't be able to taste something like this for a long time..."
Xiao Chengjing knew that she never did anything meaningless.
But her tenderness, her praise, and her aftertaste seemed too much like she was accepting his kindness bit by bit.
He willingly indulged in this illusion.
Looking down at her, a ripple of tenderness appeared in his eyes: "It's rare that you still remember it so clearly." He raised his hand, and the back of his fingertips lightly brushed the scattered hair on her cheek, "It's just a mere appetite, what's so difficult about it?" His tone was understated, but every word was firm, "There are so many fresh foods in the world. Crabs are cold in nature, so there is no need to use crabs. I ordered the Shangshi Bureau to prepare a new flavor, which will definitely not be inferior to the crab and orange wine." His eyes fell on her still flat belly, and his voice became softer: "After you give birth and you are in good health, I will take you to Jiangnan. Let you taste the most authentic seasonal flavors." After that, he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
Noticing his little movement, she pinched him back immediately without showing any weakness.
This slight protest not only did not make Xiao Chengjing unhappy, but instead made him feel relieved.
She wasn't entirely submissive...
The corners of his lips lifted up imperceptibly, and he actually felt a hint of joy from this little confrontation.
Maybe she really is trying to let down her guard...
His eyes grew softer, his voice filled with unwavering fondness. "Speaking of the past, it reminds me of the time I caught you eating mung bean cakes in the palace." He chuckled softly, his fingertips gently scratching her palm. "Like a greedy cat, my Yaoyao is still adorable, even when she's being a little naughty."
Hearing this, Shu Yao raised her head and glared at him, her eyes seemed to be complaining: "Your Majesty, don't you know why I have to eat in secret?" As she spoke, she pinched his hand hard, just enough to bring out a corner of the grievances that had been imprisoned in the past.
"I know." He wrapped her hand tightly in his palm. "That's why I come to see you every day, hoping that one day..." Staring at her, his eyes sparkled, "you will stop hiding from me."
A hint of sneer flashed across her eyes, and Shu Yao snorted lightly: "Then Your Majesty will have to come every day in the future?" She shook their clasped hands, "If Your Majesty hadn't accompanied me, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to walk such a long distance." Her voice was still gentle, but like a gentle knife, every word she said hinted that he was restraining her.
Xiao Chengjing's brows relaxed, as if the spring breeze was melting snow.
Laughing heartily, he answered without hesitation, "Okay! I agree." He then walked slowly along the stone path for a few more steps before casually mentioning, "I heard... Xianfei was here." He paused briefly, his voice devoid of concern. "Did she say anything to you?"
Shu Yao did not stop, her mind was clear, and after a moment of silence, she said slowly, "It is normal for Sister Xianfei to be sad about her grandfather. Your Majesty also knows that she is the most strict in abiding by the palace rules. Even though she is sad in her heart, she also abides by her duties in the harem and has never said a single inappropriate word to me." She turned her head and looked at him, her clear eyes reflecting the skylight, and she seemed a little aggrieved. "Your Majesty just agreed to accompany me for a walk every day, and now you ask me this question... Do you not trust me, or do you not trust Sister Xianfei?" After she finished speaking, her fingertips scratched the back of his hand lightly.
Xiao Chengjing knew he had spoken out of turn, and immediately closed his palm, firmly grasping her rebellious fingers, and stroking them gently with his thumb as if soothing: "Of course I believe you."
Shu Yao turned away and sneered in her heart.
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The author has something to say: A dog man can’t change his habit of testing others [狗头]
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