Chapter 248 It was all just his delusion.
When Chen Yanqing led the palace servants to serve the meal, his face was so gloomy it was almost as if water could drip from it.
As soon as the door to the side hall was pushed open, a mess of bedding and clothes, and a blond man still lying shirtless on the bed, came into view.
At that moment, how could he not know what had happened?
Although there have been more and more people around His Highness since Lin Xue'an, and he has seen this scene many times before, the dense, stabbing pain in his heart still lingers.
He kept reassuring himself: It's okay, these people are just concubines, they can never replace him.
Only then could he suppress the bitterness in his heart and instruct the palace servants to place the dishes on the table one by one.
Li Yuanzhao was already dressed and was sitting lazily in a chair by the pearwood table.
Chen Yanqing stepped forward, picked up a silver spoon, and ladled a bowl of milky white perch soup for Li Yuanzhao.
Jue La Yun Dan was lying in bed when he could smell the fragrance from afar, which made him unconsciously swallow.
His stomach growled again at an inopportune moment, and he could no longer contain himself, asking loudly, "What is it? It smells so good!"
Li Yuanzhao took the fish soup from Chen Yanqing and said casually, "Why don't you come and see for yourself?"
Jue La Yun Dan was so tempted by the aroma that she couldn't stand the awkwardness anymore. She grabbed her coat from the side, put it on haphazardly, jumped off the bed barefoot, and quickly walked to the table.
When he saw the dishes on the table, his eyes widened instantly.
Milky white sea bass soup, glistening crystal pork knuckle, thinly sliced sashimi, rich and fragrant camel hoof soup... and many other dishes he had never seen before.
He pointed to one of the dishes and asked curiously, "What is this? I've never seen it before."
"Wonton," Li Yuanzhao replied casually, scooping a spoonful of fish soup into his mouth.
Upon hearing this, Jue La Yun Dan retorted somewhat stubbornly, "It's definitely not as delicious as our Tibetan roasted mutton."
Li Yuanzhao didn't even look up. "Then don't eat it."
Jue La Yun Dan instantly panicked and reached for the spoon, "No, why should I listen to you? I want to eat!"
After taking the first wonton, his eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "So delicious!!"
Li Yuanzhao looked into his bright eyes and smiled indulgently. "Then eat more."
Jue La Yun Dan nodded vigorously and began to eat attentively, holding her bowl.
Chen Yanqing stood aside watching this scene, his face darkening beyond measure, his nails digging fiercely into his palms.
After finishing one bowl, Jue La Yun Dan said enthusiastically, "I want more!"
Li Yuanzhao glanced at Chen Yanqing.
Chen Yanqing took a deep breath, loosened his clenched fist, gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and picked up a spoon to add wontons for Jue Layundan.
Jue La Yun Dan then took a closer look at him. Seeing that this "guard" had a handsome face and a refined demeanor, she couldn't help but ask, "Who is he?"
Perhaps because he was used to being a prince high above others, he was completely unaware of how presumptuous his words were.
Chen Yanqing paused, subconsciously waiting for Li Yuanzhao's reply.
He also wanted to know what place he held in her heart.
"My servant," Li Yuanzhao's voice drifted over, without a trace of emotion.
The bowl in Chen Yanqing's hand shook violently, and the scalding soup splashed out, burning the back of his hand without him even noticing.
So, he was just a servant...
There was a hint of jealousy in Jue La Yun Dan's words that he hadn't even noticed: "So handsome, and you're just a servant?"
"Jealous?" Li Yuanzhao raised an eyebrow, looking at him with interest.
"How could that be!" Jue La Yun Dan immediately became embarrassed and awkwardly changed the subject, "Aren't you going to eat?"
Li Yuanzhao: "I'm full."
Jue La Yun Dan looked delighted, "Those are all mine..."
Li Yuanzhao rested his chin on his hand, watching Jue Layundan eat with great interest.
Like a little hamster, it wants to stuff everything into its mouth at once.
The tenderness and doting in her eyes were something Chen Yanqing had never seen before.
Chen Yanqing couldn't bear to watch any longer.
He couldn't tolerate Li Yuanzhao looking at others with such affectionate eyes.
She could no longer deceive herself that Li Yuanzhao liked her.
Because from beginning to end, Li Yuanzhao had never looked at him with that kind of gaze.
Now that he has seen how she looks when she likes someone, how can he continue to deceive himself?
He couldn't stay any longer and just wanted to escape this suffocating scene.
"Your Highness, I shall take my leave now."
Li Yuanzhao was looking at Jue Layundan with his cheeks puffed out when he heard this. He waved his hand indifferently and didn't even look at him.
When Chen Yanqing staggered out of the side hall, it was already pitch black outside.
The palace lanterns on both sides of the palace road swayed in the wind, their light flickering, making his face appear even paler.
He walked towards his residence in a daze, constantly trying to comfort himself.
It's okay, it's okay, it doesn't matter if she doesn't love him, as long as... as long as they get married, he can still stand by her side.
Halfway there, a murmur of conversation suddenly drifted over on the wind.
He vaguely heard the words "royal consort" and "wedding".
Chen Yanqing stopped abruptly, then eagerly followed the sound.
At the corner of the corridor, two young palace maids on night duty were chatting idly.
Upon seeing him, the two froze in fright and immediately shut their mouths.
Chen Yanqing strode forward and asked, "What were you talking about just now?"
The two palace maids looked at each other, neither daring to utter a sound.
One of the bolder ones, steeling himself, replied, "No, we didn't say anything, just some casual conversation about palace matters."
Chen Yanqing stared intently at them, "I clearly heard you talking about the Emperor's Consort and the grand wedding! Has it already been arranged?"
His voice was full of urgency, and a hint of barely perceptible fear.
The young palace maid was so frightened by his imposing manner that she took a step back and nodded hesitantly.
"It's been circulating in the palace for a while now... that His Highness has chosen Lord Pei Huaijin as his consort, and the wedding ceremony will be held as soon as the enthronement ceremony is over... I heard that the Imperial Clothing Bureau has already started making the wedding attire based on Lord Pei's measurements..."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yanqing felt dizzy, his legs went weak, and he stumbled twice before falling heavily onto the cold bluestone slab.
"Guard Chen, are you alright?"
Upon seeing this, one of the palace maids hurriedly tried to help him up, but as soon as she reached out her hand, she was pulled back by another maid.
"Have you forgotten? His Highness has already given orders not to let us palace servants have too much contact with Guard Chen."
Another palace maid lowered her voice to remind her, her eyes showing a hint of apprehension.
"Let's hurry up and leave, it'll be troublesome if someone sees us."
Upon hearing this, the palace maid hesitated for a moment, but ultimately withdrew her hand.
The two bowed hastily and left the corridor quickly, leaving Chen Yanqing alone sitting on the ground.
The night wind blew by, carrying a biting chill, but Chen Yanqing was completely unaware.
He stared at the swaying palace lanterns above him, his mind blank.
It turned out that it was all just his delusion.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com