Of course—I was pretending. If I were to feel uncomfortable because of choking on water today, perhaps I could still avoid it this time.
I coughed more violently than before, and my body began to tremble. It felt like I was about to cough out all five lobes of my lungs.
Because of my body trembling, I broke away from his hand, stood in the warm pool, covered my chest, bent over and coughed uncontrollably, as if I had drunk a piece of the Pacific Ocean.
Thinking that I might as well go too far or too late, I slowed down a little and began to breathe heavily.
I didn't hear any movement from Song Heng for a long time. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye while bending down to breathe, and happened to see a crystal drop of water sliding down his slender knuckles.
"Mu Zhaoyi looks like she's choked on water badly." Just as I was about to look up at his expression, his cold voice floated over from above.
Hearing the sound, I immediately looked away and continued coughing, frantically telling him with my actions - yes, that's right, you are absolutely right.
"Thank you very much, Your Majesty... ahem." I realized that the power of the drama spirit in my body was so strong: "Concern... ahem, concern."
He suddenly walked towards me on the water. I was inexplicably panicked, but still continued to remain as delicate as "Lin Daiyu".
"That day when Concubine Wang fell into the water—" He spoke slowly, "I remember you used your mouth to breathe, and it was quite effective..."
! ?
My cough seemed to have been stopped, and my half-bent body seemed to be petrified in an instant.
I immediately coughed when I realized something was wrong. He had already walked in front of me: "Mu Zhaoyi, what's wrong with you this time——"
I straightened up quickly and forced a smile: "Well, I feel much better now..."
"Besides, that 'breathing through the mouth' method only works when the person is unconscious—" I hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry."
He looked at me, the corners of his mouth raised slightly, his eyes deep but without a trace of smile: "Is Mu Zhaoyi choking on the water now?"
I smiled sheepishly, looked away guiltily, and coughed a few times. "Well, I'm fine now. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
The drama failed.
I caught a glimpse of his Adam's apple moving slightly, and then he turned around and walked quickly towards the pool with my back on him.
The rising mist was swirling between us. He walked up to the intricately patterned carpet beside the pool, and I noticed there was a wooden frame there.
Robes were neatly placed on the wooden rack. He took one off and put it on, then walked out of the curtain. Without even turning his head, he said, "Take one and put it on."
"Yes." I had been feeling guilty after being exposed. I tiptoed to the moon-white robe closest to me on the wooden rack and put it on. The faint scent of ambergris wafted in my face.
Song Heng had already left. I stood on the blanket, unsure of what to do next, when the maid who had bathed me earlier walked in: "Mu Zhaoyi, His Majesty has ordered this maid to take you to change clothes."
I looked down and saw that my clothes were wet and dripping with water. I nodded at her and walked towards her carefully.
She took me to another room on the corridor. A charcoal fire was still burning in the room. Two maids appeared with new inner garments and outer garments. They also held a piece of cloth in their hands and said to me respectfully, "This maid will dry Consort Mu's hair."
The main hall of Lanqingchi.
Song Heng closed his eyes and soaked in the pool which had been filled with new water. He had not been soaking for long when Mu Chenshuang came.
At this moment, he just wanted to use this opportunity to calm himself down.
My emotions are a little out of control today.
The air was filled with steam, and Ah Fu walked in cautiously: "Your Majesty, Consort Mu has been dressed again, so now——"
"Send it back to Chenxiang Pavilion."
Song Heng really didn't dare to look at her anymore because of her avoidance and uneasiness today. Just one look would feel like being cut by a knife.
Moreover, his emotions today were not completely under his control as usual, and this uncontrolled state was very dangerous.
"Yes," Ah Fu looked at the person looming behind the curtain, hesitant in his heart: "Your Majesty, the dishes in Chengqing Palace have been cleared away. On the table is the embroidery that Concubine Mu gave you. You——"
The person behind the curtain seemed to be asleep and did not respond for a long time.
Just as Ah Fu was wondering whether he should leave first, Song Heng's words came over, seemingly with a smile on his face -
"Afu, she never thought of giving me a gift."
Song Heng was wrapped in the hot mist, and her every move, every frown and smile just now flashed through his mind. Then he simply let himself sink, and his whole body was buried in the water for a while.
Ah Fu was stunned for a moment, then he realized that he was the most knowledgeable bystander about the relationship between His Majesty and Concubine Mu...
"Your Majesty." Ah Fu called out subconsciously. He was indeed worried.
Song Heng had already emerged from the water. He took a deep breath and said calmly, "Put it away. Go down and prepare the sedan chair. I will return to Chengqing Palace immediately."
Song Heng had already said this, and Ah Fu knew that he couldn't say much, so he agreed and took small steps back to leave. When he was about to turn around and leave, Song Heng suddenly called him.
"Wait," Song Heng felt himself sober up a little, "Send Consort Mu to Chengqing Palace first."
After bathing, she was sent back directly by the emperor. If this news were to get out, she would probably become a laughing stock in the palace.
Ah Fu agreed and went downstairs.
I was carried steadily on a comfortable sedan chair, and the maid who followed me was very happy and smiling.
Soon we arrived at the familiar Chengqing Palace. After the servant carefully leveled the sedan chair, the maid came forward enthusiastically to help me down. When we reached the door, Ah Fu called the maid back and led me in alone.
Ah Fu's face didn't look very good. I thought he already knew something, so I lowered my head and followed him.
But he didn't take me to the main hall. This was the first time I saw the side hall. It was not as luxurious as the main hall, but also exquisite.
The unfamiliar maid brought me to the inner room and said to me respectfully, "Whenever Concubine Mu needs us, just call us. I am Xiaoqin."
"My maidservant is Xiaoqi," another equally capable-looking maid chimed in. Seeing me nod, they bowed and left.
The inner room of the side hall is very small, with a bed, a table and two chairs, but there is also a long bookshelf filled with bamboo slips and books.
Then there were footsteps, and at the door, Xiaoqin and Xiaoqi said in unison, "Long live Your Majesty."
I was staring at the bookshelf in a trance, and turned around immediately when I heard the voice. Song Heng was wearing a black cloak with gold threads flying freely, and the edges were embroidered with a majestic dragon pattern.
The long dragon bared its fangs and claws, looking imposing and powerful; Song Heng remained calm and composed.
Contradictory, yet unexpectedly harmonious.
"You can rest in the side hall tonight. I will send someone to take you back to Chenxiang Pavilion tomorrow." Song Heng just stood at the door and didn't go any closer.
"Yes." I answered respectfully. Just as I was thinking about the word "rest", he had already turned and left, accompanied by Xiaoqin and Xiaoqi's crisp "Farewell, Your Majesty".
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