Chapter 92 You are my Achilles' heel
Fu Shun immediately bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, Empress Yun is in Yongle Palace and has never left."
One sentence made Xiao Shenjing's tightly clenched heart relax.
He raised his hand to cover his eyes.
After a long while, his fluctuating emotions finally calmed down, and he asked, "What time is it now?"
“It’s already past noon,” Fu Shun said from outside the tent.
"Help me up."
Fu Shun stepped forward as ordered, but couldn't help but advise, "Your Majesty, it's still early. Why not rest a little longer?"
Seeing that Xiao Shenjing remained silent, he reminded him, "The imperial physician said that your injury requires bed rest."
"It's alright." Xiao Shenjing remained unmoved and, despite his illness, sat down behind his desk to begin reviewing memorials.
Fu Shun sighed silently and could only order someone to bring him some nourishing soup.
He sat there for a long time.
Until a drop of ink spread across the memorial, the pen tip trembled as it hovered over the words "increase the allocation of gunpowder for warships".
The vermilion brush finally fell forcefully, writing the thunderous "Act immediately" on the memorial, but the last stroke was dragged out as a trembling, faint mark due to the intense pain.
Xiao Shenjing threw down his pen, slumped into his chair, and cold sweat soaked his temples.
"Your Majesty, please rest." Fu Shun quickly took out a handkerchief and bowed to wipe away his cold sweat.
Xiao Shenjing leaned back on the dragon throne and rested for a while.
Looking at the golden autumn colors outside, he suddenly asked, "I remember there is a silver-gilt phoenix hairpin inlaid with kingfisher feathers and pearls in the Imperial Treasury."
Fu Shun thought for a moment and immediately replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. According to the Treasure Shop, this hairpin is not made from a kingfisher feather, but from an ancient and rare species called the ‘Azure Phoenix’. Its color is natural and cannot be dyed by human hands. It comes alive when exposed to light, as if it contains the azure clouds and the essence of the deep sea, and it will never fade.”
Xiao Shenjing nodded. "Send it to Yunxi."
Upon hearing this, Fu Shun was taken aback.
This hairpin is a once-in-a-century find; it's a unique piece that can never be made again.
"What are you standing there for?" Xiao Shenjing glanced at him unhappily.
"This servant will go now." Fu Shun realized what was happening and quickly bowed and withdrew.
Xiao Shenjing picked up the imperial brush again.
This time, however, he couldn't write a single word for quite a while.
Fu Shun naturally had to personally deliver the emperor's reward.
When he arrived at Yongle Palace, Yunxi was sitting on a swing, smiling as she watched Yuanxiao perform her sword dance.
He was still young, and when he chopped, he took too big a step and fell.
"Oh dear!" Fu Shun came in just in time to see this scene and immediately ordered, "Quickly, quickly, go and help the young master up."
Yunxi glanced at him sideways and said, "Don't move, he'll get up by himself."
"Your Majesty, the young master is still so young." Even though Yuanxiao's identity has not yet been made public, Fushun has already guessed the general idea. This is His Majesty's own flesh and blood, the future Crown Prince, and naturally, she feels heartbroken.
Before Yunxi could speak, Yuanxiao said, "A real man gets up by himself."
He spoke with some unclear pronunciation, but people could still guess what he was saying.
Fu Shun was speechless for a moment.
"What is it?" Yunxi glanced at Fushun and asked in a calm voice.
Fu Shun then remembered his business and immediately bowed, saying, "May Your Majesty be blessed! This old servant respectfully wishes Your Majesty the Empress good health!"
I lived in Yongle Palace for a long time.
Yunxi had become too lazy to correct these people's way of addressing them.
"His Majesty was worried that the Empress was bored and restless, so he specially ordered me to bring her a silver-gilt phoenix hairpin inlaid with kingfisher feathers and pearls for her to play with."
After Fu Shun finished speaking, he slightly turned to the side, gesturing for the young eunuch to step forward. Under the yellow brocade cloth, the outline of a long, rectangular treasure box could be vaguely seen.
The young eunuch, following orders, lifted the brocade cover, revealing a long ebony box inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Fu Shun opened the box himself, and inside, on a black velvet background, a kingfisher feather hairpin gleamed softly.
"Take it back." Yunxi didn't even glance at it.
"Your Majesty, you may not know this, but this hairpin is one of a kind in history."
“Eunuch Fu,” Yunxi interrupted him, “tell Xiao Shenjing that I am not his concubine and do not need any reward from him.”
Just as Fu Shun was about to explain, she raised her voice slightly and said in a slightly cold tone, "Please tell him for me, Father-in-law, that my patience is limited."
"Xiao Bei, escort Grandpa Fu." After saying that, she didn't give Fu Shun a chance to speak again and went straight to the point.
This is probably the first person in history to dare refuse a gift from the emperor.
But what could Fu Shun do?
Not daring to say more in defense, he had no choice but to leave.
Although Yuanxiao is still young, he seems to have sensed something.
She came over with her short legs, looked up and hugged Yunxi's legs, saying, "Mommy, hug me."
When Fu Shun turned around, he saw his young master hugging Yun Xi's neck and giving her a big kiss, saying, "Mother, don't be angry."
The frost on Yunxi's face melted away instantly.
I cuddled the sensible Yuanxiao and nuzzled against it.
This scene is so heartwarming.
Fu Shun couldn't help but think of his master, who was all alone in the warm pavilion, reviewing memorials while ill.
If Empress Yun could be more open-minded, how happy the family of three would be?
"That's what she said?" Xiao Shenjing asked, holding the imperial brush and looking up.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Fu Shun dared not conceal anything and relayed Yun Xi's words verbatim.
Xiao Shenjing lowered his thick eyelashes, looked at the ink spreading on the memorial, and after a long while said three words, "I understand."
Patience is limited.
Is she leaving again?
If he disagrees, she's capable of anything, given her personality.
Yunxi saw Xiao Shenjing again the next morning.
The autumn morning light was golden.
At that time, Yunxi was teaching Yuanxiao to read.
It wasn't really teaching; it was just that Yuanxiao insisted on watching, and if she didn't understand something, she would come to ask her.
After Yunxi finished performing a set of boxing moves, Yuanxiao came over with a book and asked, "Mother, I don't understand this."
To relieve the people and punish the guilty, Zhou Fa and Yin Tang.
Yunxi wiped the sweat from his brow, squatted down, and explained, "Zhou Fa and Yin Tang were two rulers. They established the Zhou Dynasty and the Shang Dynasty by overthrowing the tyrannical King Zhou and Jie."
"What is a tyrant?" Yuanxiao asked again.
“A ruler must practice benevolent governance and love his people like his own children; otherwise, he is a tyrant.” Yunxi said, and couldn’t help but flick Yuanxiao’s forehead.
As her mother, she couldn't help but bully Yuanxiao.
As a result, perhaps the blow was too heavy this time, Yuanxiao pouted and burst into tears.
"Hahaha," Yunxi couldn't help but laugh when she saw his pitiful appearance. After laughing, she rushed to hug him and coax him, "Mother was wrong, Yuanxiao, don't cry."
Yunxi stood up, holding Yuanxiao, and spun around halfway.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a tall, slender figure on the steps.
Xiao Shenjing had no idea how long he had been watching.
Watching the mother and son laugh and play, it was like a gentle spring breeze in April, warming and soothing Xiao Shenjing.
He dared not approach, fearing he might disturb the heartwarming scene between the mother and child.
At that moment, he wished time would slow down.
So that he can catch up with them too.
He was unwilling to sit alone on the high platform any longer and return to being a lonely figure.
Their eyes met.
Xiao Shenjing watched helplessly as the smile on Yunxi's face gradually faded away.
It's like the spring breeze encountering the harsh winter.
All the vibrant life withered in an instant.
"Xiao Bei, take Yuanxiao to the side hall to play." She said, handing Yuanxiao over.
"No, I want my mother." But Yuanxiao clung to her neck and refused to let go.
"Baby, be good." Yunxi rubbed his soft little face. "Mommy will come to play with you in a little while."
Until I saw Yuanxiao walk away.
Yunxi slowly turned around and looked at Xiao Shenjing from afar, asking, "When do you plan to let me go?"
"Where do you plan to go?" Xiao Shenjing asked.
“This is my business,” Yunxi said decisively.
Xiao Shenjing's gaze lingered on her impatient expression for a moment, then he remained silent.
Yunxi sneered, "Are you trying to use the Lantern Festival as leverage?"
“Yunxi!” Xiao Shenjing frowned. “Don’t always impose such vicious thoughts on me.”
"Isn't that right?" Yunxi's eyes were filled with sarcasm.
Xiao Shenjing pressed his thick eyelashes down and said, "Giving birth to your child was already difficult enough; it was like walking through the gates of hell. How could I be so despicable as to use him to coerce you?"
Yunxi never expected Xiao Shenjing to say such a thing, and her momentum faltered.
However, she quickly realized what she meant and sneered, arms crossed, "That sounds so high-sounding, but since you don't have to do it, you can of course absolve yourself of all responsibility."
As she spoke, her eyes swept over Dao Yi.
Dao looked up at his nose and down at his heart, like an emotionless stone block, as if he heard nothing.
Xiao Shenjing no longer defended himself against his subordinates' actions.
After a few moments of silence, he lifted his eyelashes and looked at Yunxi again. "Yunxi, I do not wish to argue with you. How about we each take a step back?"
Xiao Shenjing had experienced what losing her meant time and time again over the years.
He doesn't want to repeat the excruciating pain.
Therefore, he could never let go.
He'll always find a way.
He is the emperor; there is nothing he cannot do.
"How do you want me to withdraw?" Yunxi didn't want to argue with him.
She has too many ties now.
Provoking this madman would be a complete waste of time and not worth it.
“You can leave the palace with Yuanxiao, but don’t leave the capital.” Xiao Shenjing looked at her, his brows revealing a profound and calm demeanor honed from years of being at the pinnacle of power, like a deep pool in autumn, its surface undisturbed.
"Isn't it ridiculous for you to say such a thing?" Yunxi laughed, her voice suddenly turning cold. "The capital is right under your feet. What's the difference between this and a prison?"
This time, Xiao Shenjing stared at her for a long time.
She continued walking impatiently into the house.
As they climbed the steps, the emperor's deep voice sounded behind them, "When will you finally understand?"
His voice was as deep as an echo from an abyss, with a hint of hoarseness. Each word struck the silent air clearly. "You are my Achilles' heel," he said through gritted teeth.
Yunxi paused in her steps.
“It is beneath my armor.” His voice was lower and deeper, carrying an almost cruel analysis, directed not only at her but also at himself, “the thinnest, most fragile, and most vulnerable spot.”
"I am the Son of Heaven. The fate of this empire, the livelihood of hundreds of millions of people, all rest on my shoulders! I cannot have a weakness, I should not have a weakness! But you just had to appear."
His tone suddenly became more forceful, with an almost obsessive emphasis: "Yunxi, you must live well."
"You and your child must both live well."
No matter how strong or capable he is, he cannot bear to lose her again.
“If it weren’t for you!” Yun Xi suddenly turned around, her eyebrows and eyes sculpted so sharply by the morning light. “I could have lived openly and honestly in this world, doing what I wanted to do and living the life I wanted to live.”
"And you, you have ruined my life time and time again."
"Whom do you mean by 'life'?" Xiao Shenjing abruptly interrupted her, a storm suddenly raging in his calm eyes. "Xu Yuansi? Ding Xian? Or that Li Chongshan?"
These utterly detestable names made the emperor's tone exceptionally sharp, almost as if he were gritting his teeth as he demanded, "Is it Lu Xiuran, or Fan Zishi?"
The last name was pronounced with extreme emphasis, as if he was trying his best to suppress his overwhelming killing intent.
Yunxi's heart skipped a beat. "What are you saying?"
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