Chapter 35 Gift
Zen Zhen put down the clothes in his hands, turned his head and asked her in confusion: "What's wrong?"
Lu Zhu hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "Your Majesty, do you remember that Yun Yue taught you embroidery during this period, and how many times did you happen to run into His Majesty when you came?"
Zen Zhen looked at her in confusion and motioned her to continue.
Lu Zhu's face was filled with indignation: "I was watching from the side, and the way she looked at Your Majesty was not right."
At the first few times, she kept her head down and didn't dare to look up. But later she became more alert. When His Majesty and the Empress were chatting and laughing, she would always peek at His Majesty with a look of envy and expectation, thinking that no one would notice. She caught her red-handed yesterday.
Luzhu was so angry that her face turned red. The Queen had kindly asked her for advice and given her so many rewards. How dare she have any thoughts about the Emperor?
Chan was really worried that Luzhu would get angry and hurt herself, so he fanned her with his hands, saying to her, "Don't be angry, Luzhu."
"Your Majesty..." Lu Zhu saw that there was no anger on her face and asked anxiously, "Why aren't you worried at all?"
Zen Zhen smiled and said, "I think she's quite well behaved. Every time His Majesty comes, she doesn't deliberately delay or use any tricks to attract His Majesty's attention."
As for Lu Zhu's claim that she had developed feelings for His Majesty, that was perfectly normal. There were several women in the palace who didn't admire His Majesty. If she were to dwell on such matters every day, she wouldn't even be alive. From the beginning to the end, all she cared about was His Majesty's feelings. As long as His Majesty's heart was with her, no matter how many tricks others used, they couldn't seduce her away. If His Majesty's heart wasn't with her, then there was no point in her fussing with others.
"People's hearts are hidden, who knows what she is planning?" Lu Zhu advised earnestly, hoping to make the queen feel a sense of crisis and send Yun Yue away early.
"Hmm..." Chan Zhen held his face with one hand, his eyes slowly scanning the tangled silk thread on the table. "Lüzhu, she didn't do anything and has always been respectful to me. I can't convict her based on these unfounded things."
Yunyue taught her embroidery seriously and behaved well in front of His Majesty without attracting any attention. Moreover...
"Your Majesty has never cared about her, has he?" She smiled at Luzhu.
Even though they met several times, His Majesty did not notice Yunyue's existence. With His Majesty's attitude, what else did she need to worry about?
Luzhu was speechless. She was not a cruel person. If Yunyue had really behaved improperly, she would not just think of sending her back to the Clothing Bureau and be done with it.
In the end, she took a step back and said, "I can't argue with Your Majesty, but next time Your Majesty comes, I'll have to send someone to keep an eye on her."
Zen really understood that she was thinking about him, and since she was worried, he just let her do as she wished.
When Yunyue came to Fengqi Palace again today, Chanzhen studied beside her as usual, and Luzhu also did what she said and watched her actions carefully from the side.
Yunyue could naturally sense Luzhu's hostile attitude towards her. She lowered her eyes, knowing full well that she had indeed been noticed yesterday. Just as she was distracted, she felt a sudden sharp pain in her fingertips, causing her to gasp.
"What's wrong?" Zen Zhen looked over worriedly. A drop of red blood flowed out from her fingertips, and her face changed color due to the pain.
The fingers are connected to the heart. When Chan Zhen first started learning embroidery, she had also experienced being pricked by a needle, and now she could empathize with Yun Yue. She wrapped Yun Yue's hand with the silk handkerchief she carried with her, and then hurriedly said to Lu Zhu, "Quickly, go get the ointment prescribed by the imperial physician."
After all, Luzhu was not a cruel person. She nodded and went downstairs to find medicine.
It was only a momentary sting, and Yun Yue quickly recovered. She was a little flattered and stopped her: "Your Majesty, there is no need. The pain is no longer felt by this servant."
Chan Zhen held her fingers and frowned as he said, "You are an embroiderer. These hands are the most important to you."
Yun Yue felt warm in her heart and smiled: "As an embroiderer, it is common for me to be pricked by a needle. I'm used to it."
If she hadn't been pricked by needles countless times as a child, she wouldn't have mastered her current skills. She just didn't expect the high-ranking Imperial Concubine to care about her so much. During their time together, she could also feel that the Imperial Concubine was actually a gentle and kind person, never putting on airs in front of the palace people. No wonder His Majesty loved her so much.
"Getting used to it doesn't mean you won't feel pain." Zen Zhen ignored her and nodded to Luzhu.
Luzhu agreed and walked out despite her dissuasion.
Yunyue looked deeply at the imperial concubine, "Your Majesty, you are so kind."
Although she held a high position in the Clothing Bureau, she was just a servant in the eyes of the nobles. When the virtuous concubine was in charge of palace affairs, she had caused her a lot of trouble because the embroidery on her clothes was not as exquisite as that of the virtuous concubine. It was only because the palace lady intervened for her that she was able to keep her hands.
She didn't want to live in fear as a slave anymore, so after seeing His Majesty's favor towards the Empress, she had some thoughts. However, with the case of the Virtuous Concubine before her, she didn't dare to cause any trouble. The Imperial Concubine treated her kindly and sincerely, and gave her many rewards. She couldn't do anything that would displease the Imperial Concubine.
Zen Zhen was stunned for a moment, then gave her a smile, "I'm not that good either."
Otherwise, she would not have failed to plead for Concubine Xian, causing her to be demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in Fanghua Palace till now.
Luzhu quickly brought the ointment over, and Chanzhen stepped aside to let Luzhu apply the ointment to her.
After applying the medicine, it was already late, and Chan Zhen had almost finished her embroidery, so she didn't keep her any longer, but asked Lu Zhu to give her the reward she had prepared long ago. She had no shortage of these gold and silver treasures, and considering Yun Yue's dedicated guidance during this period, she was very generous in giving them.
Yunyue's eyes lit up instantly when she saw the golden reward in front of her, and she kowtowed respectfully to express her gratitude.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
With these rewards from the Queen, she and her family will live much better. The Queen is such a good person, and she will definitely repay her in the future.
Zen Zhen woke her up and said, "Thank you for your hard work during this period. I may have to trouble you again later."
Yun Yue's eyes sparkled, "If your Majesty needs anything, I will do my best to help you."
After Yunyue left, Luzhu walked over to Chanzhen and helped her put away the needlework on the table. She sighed and said, "It turns out that I misunderstood. This Yunyue is actually a good person."
Chan Zhen took a sip of the tea on the table and said with a narrowed eyelid, "Lu Zhu is doing this for my own good."
"It's good that Your Majesty knows," Lu Zhu now understood why His Majesty wanted to place her beside Your Majesty to serve. "It's good that Your Majesty is kind, but you must be on guard against others. Yun Yue was good this time, but next time it might be someone else."
Chan Zhen lowered his eyes, stared quietly at the tea leaves floating slowly in the cup, and smiled.
"I believe in your majesty."
If even His Majesty cannot protect her, then no matter how vigilant and cautious she is, it will be of no use.
…
The day of Tianshou Festival finally arrived. Early in the morning, when Chen Dingyao was about to get up, dress and go to court, he was gently pulled by the corner of his clothes.
He turned around and saw Chan Zhen sober so early the next day after a night of passion. She emerged from under the covers, revealing only her small head. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at him, a piece of his clothes clutched in her hand.
His heart softened and he leaned over and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"Did I disturb you? Why don't you continue sleeping?"
Chanzhen was originally a little tired, but today was his birthday. She had been preparing for this day for a long time and wanted to be the first to give him the gift.
She struggled to stand up from the bed, and the quilt slipped off her shoulders, revealing the red marks on her snow-white collarbone, which was very tempting.
"I have been preparing for a long time." She traced the hem of his clothes and felt his slender right hand, interlocking their fingers. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke, "I respectfully pray that Your Majesty will have a long and happy life, a long life of happiness and health."
Hearing this, Chen Dingyao's heart suddenly shook, as if struck by an invisible force, causing all his emotions to disintegrate in an instant. He stared at her, and his reflection was reflected in her clear eyes, so familiar, yet so strange.
That was the person he had been longing for in his previous life, and also the person he embraced in this life and was in love with. After two lifetimes of searching, he finally got what he wanted at this moment.
The corners of his mouth rose unconsciously, and a hint of tenderness and relief flashed in his eyes. He held her hand tightly, and his voice was softer than ever before.
"I am very happy. It is my great fortune to have the truth of Zen accompany me in this life."
Zen Zhen bit her lip, an inexplicable warmth welling up in her heart, "I have another gift for Your Majesty."
She released her grip on His Majesty's hand, picked up the coat beside the bed and put it on to cover up the leaking scenery, got off the bed, opened the drawer by the window, gently stroked the neatly folded clothes she had made, then carefully took it out and held it in front of His Majesty with both hands full of anticipation.
When Chen Dingyao saw this piece of clothing, he finally understood why she had suddenly become interested in embroidery a few days ago.
"Did you, Chan Zhen, make this for me yourself?" He reached out and stroked the embroidery on the clothes inch by inch. It was a pair of vivid mandarin ducks playing in the water, with smooth and fine stitches. Chan Zhen must have put a lot of effort into it.
Chan Zhen's eyes curved with laughter: "Your Majesty, please try it and let me see if it looks good!"
Chen Dingyao looked at her with a smile, "Shouldn't Chan Zhen personally wear the clothes he made for me?"
The smile on Chan Zhen's face froze. Thinking about it carefully, although she had been close to His Majesty for a long time, she seemed to have never dressed him personally. His Majesty got up so early every day to attend court, and moved very quietly for fear of disturbing her. Every time she woke up, it was already bright outside and his warmth was gone by her bedside.
She suddenly felt a little guilty, as if she had not done enough as a concubine.
Since today is His Majesty's birthday, she must satisfy him more.
His Majesty had already put on his own underwear, and if she wanted to change into the underwear she had sewn herself, she had to take it off first.
Chen Dingyao raised his arms, lowered his eyes and looked at her gently, but Chan Zhen was too embarrassed to meet his eyes, so she just reached out to untie his belt with a blushing face. She was a little hesitant about the next step, but finally gritted her teeth, closed her eyes and reached out to take off his clothes.
They were too close, and the heat from his body seemed to be transmitted to his face. Chan Zhen didn't dare to look closely at his strong and well-trained body. He closed his eyes and reluctantly put on the clothes he had sewn himself. However, when it came to tying the belt, his hands were like a knot and he couldn't tie it properly. He was anxious and sweating.
"I'll teach you."
At this moment, she suddenly heard His Majesty sigh above her head, then he wrapped his arms around her and taught her how to tie her belt step by step.
Finally it was done, but before Zenzhen could breathe a sigh of relief, His Majesty suddenly hugged her tightly.
"What should I do, Zen Zhen? I don't want to go to court anymore."
It turns out that this is what the ancients meant when they said, "The nights are short and the sun rises high, from now on the king will never hold court early." Looking at such a pitiful and lovely Zen Zhen, he really didn't want to leave her for a moment.
"That won't do." Zen Zhen raised his eyes in his arms, "Your Majesty must be a wise ruler."
Chen Dingyao couldn't help but chuckle, and lowered his head to kiss her eyes lightly.
"I know."
Chan Zhen hated his brutality and cruelty in her previous life, so in this life he tried his best to be the gentle and kind ruler in her heart.
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