Chapter 56 Intimacy
Perhaps this sachet really has miraculous effects. The moment Chan Zhen took the sachet, he suddenly felt refreshed, and the fatigue accumulated over the days was swept away.
Seeing the surprise on her face, Xuan Yang smiled and said, "It seems that this thing is really useful to you, Your Majesty."
Chan Zhen didn't refuse and carefully put the sachet into his sleeve. "I owe you another favor. If you need anything in the future, please let me know."
Xuan Yang shook his head and said, "This isn't something rare. If the Queen sends someone to pass on a message to Taoist Xuanwei, I think he won't refuse. I'm just offering this as a token of my gratitude."
Chan Zhen just smiled without saying anything, but he silently kept Xuan Yang's affection in his heart. Before leaving, he asked Lu Zhu to prepare some more treasures from the warehouse as a gift.
When His Majesty came to see her in the evening, he immediately noticed the sachet hanging around her waist. He was the one who personally took care of what Chan Zhen wore every day, so when he saw that she had an unfamiliar item on her, he asked her about it out of concern.
"Where did you get the sachet on Chan Zhen's waist?" He took the sachet from Chan Zhen and turned it over and over in his hands. It was embroidered with auspicious clouds and lotus flowers, and the stitching didn't look like Chan Zhen's own work.
He grew up in the palace and naturally knew that personal items like sachets were the easiest targets for attack. Therefore, all the things sent into Fengqi Palace were inspected inside and out, but this sachet had not been reported to anyone.
Chan Zhen understood his concerns and explained, "The Princess of Xuanyang County came to visit me today. She knew I'd been having trouble sleeping due to numerous dreams, so she gave me this item. I heard Princess Yu Zhen personally requested it from Taoist Xuan Wei. It's said to calm the mind and soothe the spirit. I feel much better after wearing it."
"Don't worry, Your Majesty," she placed her palm on his. "I had the imperial physician examine it, and there's nothing wrong with it."
"It turns out that it was made by Taoist Xuanwei," Chen Dingyao thought about it for a moment and understood the purpose of the sachet.
Taoist Xuanwei must have calculated the predicament he is facing today. Chan Zhen has been dreaming about his past life experiences frequently recently. He is also worried that if things continue like this, Chan Zhen will be able to fully recover his memory before Yuan Zhao is born.
He didn't want that day to arrive too soon, not only to enjoy more intimate time with her, but also because he worried that she wouldn't be able to handle the emotional strain of regaining her memory. Pregnancy was already difficult, and if she were to suffer another emotional blow, the next birth would be extremely dangerous. In her previous life, Zen Zhen had suffered immensely during childbirth, and he didn't want to see that scene repeated.
But after knowing the origin of the sachet, he still did not return it immediately. Instead, he ordered Guo Kai to put it away again.
"I'll have the imperial physician examine it again. If there's nothing wrong, I'll return it to you."
He trusted Taoist Xuanwei, but he didn't know how many people this sachet had passed through since it came to Chanzhen. Although Chanzhen said that he had asked the imperial physician to check it, it was not made by him personally, so he couldn't feel at ease.
"Your Majesty, do you think Zenzhen is some fragile porcelain?" Zenzhen said helplessly, tugging at his belt.
His Majesty's protectiveness towards her was always too strong, sometimes so tight that she felt a little breathless. She knew that Fengqi Palace was full of his spies, and even Lu Zhu, who was loyal to him, put his orders first. She understood his Majesty's feelings for her, but occasionally she felt a little uncomfortable.
Chen Dingyao hugged her, put his hand on her forehead and said, "Chanzhen, when it comes to you, I won't tolerate even the slightest mistake."
He had tried his best to restrain himself from restricting her freedom, but he could only ensure that she was under his protection. He could not bear to see Zenzhen suffer any harm again.
Seeing his slightly paranoid look, Zen Zhen finally softened his heart.
"I don't blame Your Majesty," she stood on tiptoe and kissed his chin softly, giving him a soft smile, "I know Your Majesty is doing this for my own good."
Although she sometimes felt uncomfortable under so many eyes, if His Majesty had not kept such close watch on her, she would not have had such a peaceful life as she has today.
Chen Dingyao loved her frankness with him very much. The timidity and fragility on her face when they first met had now faded a lot, and the pain brought to her by her background had almost disappeared.
He gently stroked her face, his eyes gentle and mellow. This was the darling girl he had raised with his own hands, the treasure he held in his hands in past and present lives.
Every time Chan Zhen met his affectionate gaze, he couldn't help but feel shy, "Your Majesty, why do you look at me like this?"
"I see the true Zen, it's very beautiful." He said softly.
Whether it was her moist eyes, delicate lips, or her rosy face, there was nothing about her that displeased him. In his previous life, he had thought he was attracted to her by her beauty when he first met her, but now he thought it was love at first sight.
He had seen many beauties, but none of them had captured his heart at first sight like her, and he fell deeper and deeper in love with her, wanting to follow in her footsteps for all his past and future lives.
Although His Majesty has said many sweet words, he has rarely praised her appearance so directly.
Zen Zhen snorted and turned away: "Your Majesty, do you only like my face?"
Chen Dingyao knew she was deliberately being irritating. Her hand remained on his waist, indicating she wasn't genuinely angry. But he was willing to join in her mischief, so he said slowly, "Of course I like Chan Zhen's face."
He did not deny that he was indeed attracted by her extraordinary beauty at first.
Zen turned around infuriated, but before she could say anything, His Majesty held her cheeks with both hands.
His Majesty looked into her eyes and said, "But other than that, there is nothing about Chan Zhen that I do not like."
That was more like it, Zenzhen mercifully forgave him.
"Well, who made me like your Majesty's face?"
She recalled that when she first learned she was to be presented to His Majesty, she was filled with worry, worried that His Majesty was too old and looked too old, and she would not be able to bring herself to serve him. She had to admit that she was relieved when she first met His Majesty; He was much younger and more handsome than she had imagined, which made her feel less resistant.
Who in the world doesn't admire beautiful faces? She herself is like this, so how can she force His Majesty to do the same? Love begins with the eyes, and gradually enters the heart after spending time together. She loves His Majesty's appearance and also loves his unique affection for her. Even if His Majesty grows old before her in the future, she will still fall in love with his gray hair.
Chen Dingyao knew he had a good appearance, but no one had ever dared to discuss it in front of him. He was the emperor, and that alone spoke louder than a thousand words. But Chan Zhen's confession of liking his own looks filled him with uncontrollable excitement.
He was much older than her, but when he was old and gray, she was still in her prime. When he thought of the scene when he stood with her at that time, his eyes couldn't help but darken.
He wanted to live a long, long time, and die after Zenzhen, so that Zenzhen would not be sad because of his departure, and he could also completely possess Zenzhen's life. As long as he lived in this world, he would never allow anyone to covet his treasure.
"What are you thinking about, Your Majesty?" Zen Zhen asked when he saw him in a trance.
Chen Dingyao came back to his senses, his face expressionless, and he smiled calmly, "I was thinking, since Zen really likes my face, I should cherish it."
Although he will age before Zenzhen, he cannot age too quickly and let Zenzhen get tired of his face.
"I was just kidding," Zen Zhen laughed and punched him lightly. "I'm not a lecher. Your Majesty's demeanor is outstanding even without your appearance."
"Well, Zen is not lustful, it's me who is lustful," he nodded seriously, "Zen is so beautiful, I can't let her go."
"I'm ignoring you. Your Majesty, there's no point in trying to reason with you." Seeing that he insisted on arguing about this, Chan Zhen turned around and was about to leave. The next moment, she was suddenly picked up by Lingkong. She subconsciously reached out and put her arms around his neck, with a hint of resentment in her eyes, "Your Majesty!"
Chen Dingyao hugged her tightly and raised his eyebrows. "Didn't Chanzhen say he liked my face? I've got a good figure too. Chanzhen, why don't you take a closer look?"
Zen's face flushed, "It's not like I haven't seen it before."
Indeed, His Majesty has a very good figure, just the right amount of muscularity, and feels very good to the touch.
"But I haven't touched Zen for a long time, and I'm afraid I've almost forgotten it now." Considering her pregnancy, he just slept with her in her clothes these days.
Zenzhen put his hand over his mouth, "Your Majesty, do you have the nerve to say such things in broad daylight?"
He smiled and said, "Then I won't say anything more. Chan Zhen can see for himself."
"I'm still pregnant." Chanzhen was worried that he would do something stupid. Although the imperial physician said that she could have sex after the first three months, she was too shy to raise her head because she thought about the baby in her belly.
He saw her tangled expression, and felt pity and love in his heart: "Zhen Zhen, there is no need to move. I will serve you today."
Zen Zhen couldn't help laughing: "Your Majesty said it as if you want to sleep with me."
Unexpectedly, His Majesty nodded and said, "Then consider it as me serving the Empress tonight."
Since His Majesty had said so, she had no nerve to refuse and just buried her face shyly in his arms.
"Then your majesty, please be gentle."
In the past, when she was making love with His Majesty, she always couldn't bear it early.
"I know my limits, please rest assured, Your Majesty."
…
The next morning, when Chan Zhen got up early and was dressing up, her face was still red. She lowered her head and was too embarrassed to meet his gaze in the mirror.
Chen Dingyao replaced Luzhu and combed her hair in a very professional manner. Seeing that she avoided his gaze, he chuckled and said deliberately, "It seems that your hair is combed a little crookedly."
Zen Zhen subconsciously looked up at the mirror and happened to meet his gaze.
She touched her hair bun, which was clearly well combed, and her majesty's skill was not much worse than Lu Zhu's. Seeing the smile on his majesty's face, how could she not understand that he was deliberately teasing her?
"Your Majesty bullied me at night, and you didn't stop during the day?" As soon as she finished speaking, she realized the seductive meaning in her words. The blush on her face instantly spread to her earlobes, and even her neck was red.
Chen Dingyao held her shoulders from behind and leaned down to whisper in her ear: "Chen Zhen, why should you be shy? Love between men and women is a common human emotion, and even emperors are no exception."
"How can I be as thick-skinned as Your Majesty?" Chan Zhen snorted, but the blush on his face gradually faded.
Chen Dingyao remained silent.
If he wasn't thick-skinned, how could he have snatched her from Yun Yi in his previous life? As long as he could get her, he would accept any insults he received.
I think after he passed away in his previous life, he would not have left a good reputation in history, but at least future generations would know that Zen Zhen was his beloved. Although he had never won Zen Zhen's heart, no one could separate the two of them in terms of status.
Chanzhen packed up his clothes before going out with His Majesty to visit Princess Yuzhen, who rarely returned to the palace.
Before this, Chan Zhen had only seen Princess Yu Zhen wearing a plain Taoist robe. But today, Princess Yu Zhen was wearing a formal palace dress with a few plain silver hairpins in her hair. Although she was not deliberately decorated, she still showed the noble demeanor of the only princess of the current dynasty.
The eldest princess smiled as soon as she saw her: "It's been a while since we last met. Now I should call you Empress."
She had always had a deep affection for this beautiful woman of her royal brother, and what's more, Chanzhen was now the legitimate queen. She would rely on the queen to take better care of Xuanyang in the future, so her attitude towards Chanzhen was quite gentle.
Chan Zhen said, "I just learned from the county lady yesterday that Your Highness has returned to the palace. Please forgive me for being late."
The eldest princess said, "I have never been fond of such pomp and circumstance. I won't be staying in the palace for many days anyway, so why mobilize so many troops?"
She watched her brother carefully protecting Chan Zhen's belly and helping her sit down, and said with a smile, "I haven't congratulated my brother and the queen yet, but I think it won't be long before I have another nephew."
Although she didn't know whether the queen's baby was a boy or a girl, His Majesty and the queen seemed to want a prince, so she only said auspicious words.
Then she was surprised to see that her brother's face was filled with a gentleness and affection she had never seen before. He looked at the queen and said, "I am also very happy. Zen Zhen will give birth to a prince for me."
Zen Zhen glared at him lightly: "The child hasn't been born yet, how can Your Majesty be sure that it is the prince?"
He looked up and said, "I think Yuan Zhao must be a boy."
Princess Yuzhen asked doubtfully, "Yuan Zhao?"
Zenzhen explained to her: "It was His Majesty who named the child."
"Yuan Zhao," Princess Yuzhen pronounced, but she didn't know which two characters they were. His Majesty's previous sons all had names starting with "Yun," with the Empress being the only exception. It was clear that His Majesty attached great importance to this pregnancy.
She thought silently, and suddenly two words appeared in her mind. Her hands on her knees tightened. Could it be that His Majesty chose those two words? If so, His Majesty's thoughts would be obvious.
The next moment, His Majesty confirmed what she had thought before.
"The origin of the beginning, the brightness of the sun, do you understand Yu Zhen?"
Yu Zhen looked at him in shock: "Royal brother?"
The baby in the imperial concubine's womb was still unknown, so had His Majesty already made a decision? In the past, the court officials had brought the matter of appointing a crown prince to the attention of the emperor many times, but His Majesty had always declined with various excuses. She had thought His Majesty wanted to observe the matter for a while longer and was very optimistic about Yun Yi. However, it turned out that even Yun Yi was not truly in His Majesty's eyes.
Her eyes turned to Chan Zhen with a complicated look. When her father was alive, he once said that her brother was cold-hearted. She also thought so. Even though she grew up with her brother, she was still careful with her words when facing him and did not dare to overstep her bounds. But when she saw how the queen and her brother got along, she found that her brother was so gentle and considerate in every way, which was really unexpected.
If the queen really gave birth to a prince, I am afraid that the position of the crown prince, which had been controversial in the court for a long time, would be lost.
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