Chapter 179 Jasmine
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has arrived." Qingyi walked quickly into the hall, her face full of joy.
Chun Zhaoyi was also a little surprised. She quickly put down her chopsticks, rinsed her mouth, ordered people to take the food away, and reapplied lip balm before going out to welcome the emperor.
"Your Majesty, may you be well." Concubine Chun bowed.
"Stand up." Xiao Jingfan's expression softened. "I suddenly want to eat the radish cake made in your palace."
Qingyi, who was standing by, smiled and said, "Your Majesty and the Master are truly in tune with each other. That's why the Master asked the kitchen to make radish cake for a midnight snack."
"Then I've arrived at the right time." Xiao Jingfan reached out to pull Concubine Chun, but suddenly saw her earrings and frowned. "Jasmine?"
Confused, Chun Zhaoyi looked up and asked, "What jasmine?"
"Your earrings." Xiao Jingfan stared at the small and delicate earrings. "They look like jasmine buds."
Consort Chun raised her hand and touched it. "Your Majesty has a keen eye, but is there anything wrong?"
Xiao Jingfan shook his head.
"Your Majesty, it's windy at night, let's go inside and talk." Concubine Chun smiled and tried to hold his arm, but unexpectedly Xiao Jingfan put his hand behind his back and dodged.
Chun Zhaoyi glanced at her empty hand and asked in confusion, "What happened?"
"Nothing." Xiao Jingfan said, "I suddenly remembered that I still have some unfinished business to attend to, so I won't go in. You should have a good rest."
Consort Chun: ???
She looked in astonishment at the dark figure walking further and further away.
Qingyi cautiously stepped forward to help her up: "Master, the imperial carriage has left, please go in."
"Yes." Chun Zhaoyi nodded.
Sitting down on the soft couch in the hall, Consort Chun took a sip of the fragrant tea and looked at Qingyi: "Have you heard any news about Qiu Shui Zhai?"
Qingyi nodded. "It was said that His Majesty left in the middle of his meal. He didn't seem angry. He left Funing Palace and went straight to Maohua Palace."
Consort Chun frowned, "But has Lady Zhu displeased His Majesty?"
"I haven't found out." Qingyi shook her head. "With the Empress looking after us, Qiushuizhai is no longer what it used to be."
"What could it be?" Consort Chun raised her hand and touched the pair of jasmine bud-shaped earrings, speculating, "Could it be that His Majesty doesn't like jasmine?"
Qingyi didn't think so. "This pair of earrings was given to you by His Majesty. The last time I saw you wearing them, you praised them for being beautiful."
"What's that for?" Consort Chun sighed, her hand resting on her cheek. "Your Majesty's thoughts are becoming increasingly difficult to understand."
Qingyi squatted down and massaged her legs, whispering, "Madam sent a message saying she heard there's a doctor in Jiangnan who's very good at treating women's unspeakable illnesses and is known as a fertility expert. Madam has already sent someone to Jiangnan to invite him."
"Really?" Chun Zhaoyi's brows lit up immediately, and she stopped sighing and hurriedly asked Qingyi about the details.
In the harem, no matter how favored you are, you can only gain a firm foothold if you have children.
On the other side, the emperor was escorted to Changchun Palace.
Xiao Jingfan waved his hand to signal Zhou Yuande not to inform him. He turned to look at the door of Changchun Palace, his eyes changing, and it was unknown what he was thinking.
In the bedroom of Changchun Palace, Empress Zhong leaned against the head of the bed, reading a book by candlelight.
Qiu Sui pushed aside the pearl curtain and came in, saying softly, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is at the palace gate, but he hasn't gotten off the imperial sedan."
Empress Zhong was startled and looked up at her: "Your Majesty has turned over Lady Zhu's card. She should be in Qiushuizhai now."
"Perhaps something has happened," Qiu Sui said, "Your Majesty, would you like to go out and greet His Majesty?"
Empress Zhong looked at the candlelight and thought for a moment, then put down the book and stood up: "Please change my clothes."
Unexpectedly, just as she was putting on her clothes, Gao Yongfu came to the door and reported: "Your Majesty, the imperial sedan chair has left."
Queen Zhong took off the phoenix hairpin she had just inserted in front of the mirror and asked, "Did you leave any message?"
Gao Yongfu said, "Your Majesty, His Majesty did not leave any message."
Empress Zhong stood up and asked Qiu Sui to change her nightgown while she asked Gao Yongfu outside the door, "Did Your Majesty come from Qiu Shui Zhai?"
"To answer your Majesty, His Majesty first went to Qiushuizhai, where he stayed for about two quarters of an hour before leaving. He then went to Maohua Palace to see Consort Chun, but left without even entering." Gao Yongfu recounted the information he had gathered. "From what I've seen, the direction the imperial carriage was heading suggests it was heading back to the Yangxin Palace."
"I understand." Queen Zhong said, "Please leave."
"Yes." Gao Yongfu bowed and left.
Qiu Sui helped Empress Zhong lie down on the bed. Seeing that she had picked up the book covering her pillow again, she gently advised: "Your Majesty, be careful not to hurt your eyes. Please wait until tomorrow to read it."
"That's all right. Just read a couple more pages." Empress Zhong rested her arms on the soft pillow, a faint smile on her lips. "This book is getting more and more interesting the more I read it. Tomorrow, take someone to find the second volume and put it in the study."
Qiu Sui glanced at the book cover and hesitated for a while before speaking: "My Lady, this book..."
Queen Zhong glanced up at her and asked, "What's wrong with this book?"
"No, nothing." Qiu Sui pursed her lips and swallowed the words of persuasion.
Empress Zhong turned a page, her eyes never leaving the book, but she said, "Tomorrow morning, Miss Zhu will come to pay her respects. You should bring her to the inner chamber first. I have something to ask her."
Qiu Sui asked, "What if Miss Zhu comes late?"
"No," Empress Zhong said firmly, "Your Majesty has gone and gone again. Given her personality, I'm afraid she won't be able to sleep well tonight. Tomorrow morning, she will only come earlier than usual. If I'm still asleep, don't disturb me. Just give her a cup of refreshing tea and wait until I wake up."
Qiu Sui nodded and wrote them down one by one.
*
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The imperial kitchen sent over a bowl of silver noodles in chicken soup, accompanied by four refreshing side dishes.
"Your Majesty, please use some." Zhou Yuande held the bowl of noodles to persuade his master who was willful, troublesome and did not take his health seriously.
"I have no appetite." Xiao Jingfan rubbed his temples with both hands and glanced at the small incense burner on the table. "What kind of incense is burning?"
The maidservant in the hall bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this incense is called Xueqixiang. It is mainly made of agarwood, sandalwood, and jasmine oil. It was delivered by the imperial pharmacy yesterday."
It's Jasmine again.
Xiao Jingfan frowned and said coldly, "Throw it out."
His expression suddenly changed, and the palace maid turned pale with fright. She hurried forward and took the incense burner out.
Zhou Yuande followed them for the whole night and finally understood that the problem lies with this "Jasmine".
He wondered, when did His Majesty become so displeased with Jasmine? And no one loved...
Wait! An idea suddenly flashed through his mind. If there was anyone who was related to Jasmine and could cause His Majesty to be so out of control, there must be someone.
He was secretly shocked, and before he could express his countless sighs, he suddenly heard Xiao Jingfan calling him, "Bring me some wine."
Zhou Yuande's face suddenly turned bitter, and he advised: "Your Majesty, drinking on an empty stomach hurts your stomach. Please eat something first."
Xiao Jingfan glared at him coldly: "Give it to me!"
Zhou Yuande knelt down and said, "I dare not."
Xiao Jingfan, who was already inexplicably unhappy, kicked him. Zhou Yuande knelt down and let him be kicked. He was determined not to let his majesty drink on an empty stomach.
If something bad happens after drinking, he would have ten heads left to chop off.
Xiao Jingfan kicked twice but was too lazy to continue. He said coldly, "Drag him away and punish him with a stick..."
Before he could finish his words, Xiao Anzi ran in in a panic, "Your Majesty, there's a fire in Nongyun Garden!"
Xiao Jingfan was shocked and didn't bother to punish his eunuch. He walked out quickly.
"Your Majesty!" Zhou Yuande hurriedly got up and trotted to catch up.
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