Chapter 285 The Empress
Inside the Kunning Palace, it was so quiet that the soft crackling of the candlelight could be heard.
Pei Huaijin had just finished bathing and was wearing a loose-fitting dark green cloud-patterned nightgown.
Her neckline was slightly open, revealing a section of her fair and jade-like neck.
Her long, dark hair was unbound and draped loosely over her shoulders, damp and loose.
She looked as serene and refined as jade under the moonlight, yet carried a hint of lingering melancholy.
Even though it was late at night, he remained seated at his desk, flipping through the list of candidates for the talent show.
The attendant, Ting Xia, stood to the side, noticing the faint bluish shadows under his master's eyes, and finally couldn't help but whisper a reminder, "Your Highness, it's already past midnight. I heard that His Majesty stayed in Ningxiang Palace yesterday, and today... I'm afraid he won't be going to the inner palace again. You've been working hard on the selection of concubines these past few days, so you should rest early and be careful not to harm your health."
He felt a pang of heartache seeing his young master waiting late into the night every day, even though he knew the emperor wouldn't come.
Young Master Ming is handsome, gentle and upright, and handles people and things with impeccable manners.
In terms of talent, character, and appearance, she was in no way inferior to the Tibetan prince, so why was she not as favored by the emperor as he was?
After finishing reading the booklet in his hand, Pei Huaijin looked up and gazed out the window.
There is no moon tonight, and the courtyard is pitch black. Only a few palace lanterns hanging under the eaves cast a hazy glow, adding to the desolation.
He remained silent for a moment, then suddenly said softly, "Listen to Xia, bring me my 'Clear Sound'."
Xia hurriedly advised, "It's so late, Your Highness, do you still want to play the zither? The night is deep and the dew is heavy, be careful not to catch a cold."
Pei Huaijin's gaze fell on the brightly burning candle on the table. "It's alright. Playing the zither can cultivate one's character."
It can better soothe that inexplicable emptiness and melancholy in one's heart.
Seeing that he had made up his mind, Xia stopped trying to persuade him and simply sighed softly before turning around and quickly going to the inner room to fetch the zither.
The xylophone was placed on the table, and Pei Huaijin's fingertips hovered over the strings for a moment before producing a clear and melodious overtone.
His fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles. When they touched the strings, the music flowed out like water.
At first, the melody was peaceful and soothing, carrying his deliberate composure.
But gradually, a sense of indescribable melancholy crept into the music.
The high notes are clear and crisp like the mournful cry of a lone goose, while the low notes are deep and resonant like echoes in a deep valley, lingering and persistent.
Xia Li stood to the side, watching his master lower his eyes and play the zither.
Her dark hair fell down, obscuring half of her face, with only her long eyelashes casting faint shadows in the candlelight.
He was sitting upright, his back straight as a pine tree, but the loneliness in the music made Tingxia's nose sting with tears.
Xia couldn't bear to listen any longer and turned to leave the palace.
Inside the room, the last note of the zither faded away, but Pei Huaijin's hands were still gently caressing the strings.
Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind and covered the back of his hand.
Pei Huaijin trembled slightly and suddenly turned around.
He then realized that Li Yuanzhao was standing behind him at some point.
She was dressed in a black casual outfit, her eyes cold as she looked at him.
Seeing his stunned expression, she asked, "What's wrong? Did I scare you?"
“No…” Pei Huaijin responded subconsciously, then came to his senses and quickly got up from the piano bench, intending to kneel down and pay his respects.
But Li Yuanzhao gently pressed his wrist, saying, "No need for formalities."
Li Yuanzhao then sat down on the piano stool next to him.
Their shoulders touched, their sleeves overlapping, so close that he could smell the faint scent of ink on her body and feel her almost imperceptible body temperature.
Li Yuanzhao's gaze fell on his face. "I never knew that my Empress was so skilled in playing the zither."
Pei Huaijin's ears turned slightly red. "It's just a trick to kill time when you're bored. It's not worth mentioning."
Li Yuanzhao said softly, "Continue."
Pei Huaijin then raised his hand again and touched the strings of the zither.
This time, however, the music lacked the smooth and effortless flow it had before.
His fingertips trembled slightly, and the melody was intermittent. Even Li Yuanzhao, who was not good at music, could tell that he had played several wrong notes.
"What's wrong?"
Pei Huaijin paused, his throat bobbing slightly, before finally admitting, "Your Majesty is too close, disturbing my peace of mind."
Li Yuanzhao said, "Since that's the case, I won't play it."
Pei Huaijin hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't suppress the doubt in his heart and asked softly, "Why has Your Majesty come today?"
Today is neither the first day of the month, nor the fifteenth or twentieth; under normal circumstances, Li Yuanzhao would never have set foot in Kunning Palace.
Li Yuanzhao stood up. "It seems I haven't seen the Empress for quite some time. After finishing my business at court, I came to visit her."
Pei Huaijin's heart skipped a beat, and a secret joy quietly spread through him, but he suppressed it in his eyes and maintained his considerate demeanor on the surface.
"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, so there is no need for you to pay special attention to me. I am doing well."
“I’m tired,” Li Yuanzhao interrupted him directly, “Let’s change your clothes.”
Pei Huaijin quickly composed himself, stepped forward, and reached out to help her undress.
He gently reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, removing her jade belt.
The dark outer robe slowly fell away, revealing a plain white inner garment.
He gently took the clothes he had taken off and hung them on the coat rack in the corner.
Then, seemingly casually, he said, "The imperial concubine selection ceremony is the day after tomorrow. There are over two hundred candidates, including young masters from noble families, eligible sons of officials, and concubines presented by various vassal states. If Your Majesty has the time, would you like to come and take a look?"
Li Yuanzhao had already sat down beside the couch.
She raised her hand to rub her temples, her brows showing signs of weariness from days of toil. Upon hearing this, she merely raised her eyes lazily and said in a flat tone, "No need. The Empress can handle it."
Pei Huaijin hung up his robes, walked slowly back to the bedside, and reached out to massage her temples. "But I am foolish and do not quite understand what Your Majesty likes. I am afraid that the person I choose will not suit Your Majesty's taste."
His words were partly true and partly a test.
People are never satisfied. In the past, he felt that being able to stay by the emperor's side was already a blessing.
Now that he has become her empress, he longs for her favor and hopes that she will give him a little of her heart.
However, in the days since their marriage, she has always treated him with respect but remained very cold.
So he couldn't help but wonder what kind of person could catch her eye.
Before he could finish speaking, Li Yuanzhao suddenly opened his eyes and looked at him.
"Is the Empress testing me?"
Pei Huaijin's heart tightened, and he quickly knelt down to admit his mistake, "Your subject dares not."
The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the faint crackling of the candlelight.
Li Yuanzhao gazed at him thoughtfully, and seeing his bewildered and helpless appearance, his doubts faded.
She reached out and helped him up. "Get up, the ground is cold."
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