Chapter 40 This man... he clearly just wants to get her attention.
Early spring marks the beginning of the farming season, and according to ancestral custom, Emperor Zhaoheng was required to go to the outskirts of the capital to perform the ceremony of personally plowing the fields.
This trip lasted for three full days.
On the night before his departure, Emperor Zhaoheng stayed at Yongle Palace.
Inside the warm pavilion, Shui Xian was flipping through a book, a collection of miscellaneous notes, which introduced the local customs and culture around the Great Qi.
The exotic customs depicted in the book, especially the life of women from the Tuoba tribe in the north who could also ride horses, captivated her.
Just as she was engrossed in watching, Emperor Zhaoheng came over and hugged her.
Narcissus gave a soft "hmm," but her gaze remained fixed on the book.
"The candlelight is dim and strains the eyes."
Emperor Zhaoheng took the book from her hand and placed it aside with the pages facing down.
This man... he clearly just wants to get her attention.
Narcissus chuckled inwardly and obediently snuggled into his arms.
Emperor Zhaoheng held her in his arms, his large hand unconsciously resting on her lower abdomen, a habit he had developed recently.
Narcissus placed her hand on the back of his hand, her fingertips gently tracing the veins on it; the man's body temperature was hotter than hers.
Emperor Zhaoheng bent down and kissed her hair, then took out a small but heavy token from his bosom.
The token is made of jade, warm to the touch, and is decorated with a coiled dragon pattern. A ruby is inlaid in the dragon's eye, exuding an awe-inspiring and inviolable aura.
"Xian'er," he solemnly placed the token in Shui Xian's palm and held her hand tightly, "I will be away from the palace for three days. Keep this token safe. If there is any emergency, no matter how small, immediately send a trusted person with this token to leave the palace and find me. I will return immediately!"
Narcissus felt a warmth in her heart as she felt the hardness of the token and the heat of his palm.
She looked up and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I am staying in Yongle Palace. I will not leave the palace. What urgent matter could there be? I will be fine and wait for your return."
Emperor Zhaoheng gazed into her clear eyes, knowing full well that the open and hidden attacks within the deep palace were difficult to guard against.
Especially around the Cining Palace...
He couldn't say it out loud, but he held her even tighter, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones to feel at ease.
Secretly, Emperor Zhaoheng dispatched more trusted men to keep a close watch on any movement around Cining Palace.
"Xian'er... I really want to take you with me."
He murmured, and a kiss followed, filled with intense reluctance.
The temperature inside the warm pavilion rose quietly. Narcissus obediently raised her face, feeling how unrestrained Emperor Zhaoheng's kiss was.
Yongle Palace is currently enjoying great favor, but emperors are ultimately fickle. How long can this intense affection last?
Narcissus closed her eyes, trying not to think, only to feel the man's affection and devotion in this moment.
......
The next morning, the sun hid behind a thin layer of clouds, casting its misty sunlight onto this side of the palace wall.
The palace gates were wide open, and the imperial procession of the emperor and empress was majestic and imposing.
The imperial concubines, dressed in their finest attire according to their rank, respectfully saw off the emperor.
Emperor Zhaoheng was dressed in a bright yellow robe, looking majestic and solemn.
His gaze swept across the crowd, finally settling on Narcissus. He looked at her intently before leading the Empress onto the imperial carriage.
Empress Liu, pale-faced, stood beside the emperor, as quiet as a figure in a painting.
The imperial carriage, escorted by the Imperial Guards, slowly drove away from the palace gates and disappeared at the end of the long street.
As the concubines who had come to see them off were about to disperse, Consort Li, dressed in a crimson palace gown and adorned with dazzling jewels, suddenly raised her voice:
"Your Majesty and the Empress work hard for the country, and we sisters should enjoy ourselves in the palace! The flowers in my Zhaoyang Palace are in full bloom, and it's rare to have so many people gathered here. Why don't you all come to my palace to admire the flowers and have some fun?"
She now assists in managing the six palaces; with the Empress absent, she is the highest-ranking person in power within the harem.
After she said that, who would dare to offend her?
The concubines quickly agreed and all said they would go.
In a corner where no one was watching, Consort Wan, dressed in a dark green palace gown, had a slight glint in her eyes.
She casually glanced at Narcissus's still flat stomach and slightly curled the corners of her lips.
Consort Li's flower-viewing banquet? That's a good opportunity to make a move.
Narcissus had no desire to join in the fun; she only wanted to return to Yongle Palace to recuperate.
But Consort Li's gaze had already landed precisely on her: "Consort Jin, you are carrying the emperor's child, so you should share in the joy of this spring's blooming flowers. You must come along!"
Narcissus raised her eyebrows slightly.
Consort Li's recent unusually kind attitude towards her... Something's definitely up!
When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it. Shui Xian touched the token in her sleeve and replied with a smile, "Your Highness is so kind, I will certainly follow you."
Just in case, Shui Xian specially brought Xiao Chuanzi along.
Now that she is six months pregnant, Xiao Chuanzi, who is well-versed in pharmacology, is a safeguard for her when she moves through the harem.
Soon after, the concubines arrived at Zhaoyang Palace.
Inside Zhaoyang Palace, flowers were indeed in full bloom. Countless rare varieties cultivated in the flower rooms and warm pavilions were being sent to Consort Li's palace in a continuous stream, because Consort Li loved flowers.
Although these priceless flowers would only survive a few days away from the greenhouse, it is enough to show that Consort Li spent an immeasurable amount of energy and money to keep the flowers blooming all year round.
A banquet had been prepared in the courtyard, and Shui Xian sat down next to Consort Wan.
Narcissus is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor and is pregnant with the Emperor's child, so she is naturally the focus of everyone's attention.
Many concubines of lower rank flocked around, doing their utmost to flatter them. Some even subtly suggested moving into a side hall of Yongle Palace, hoping to gain access to the emperor's favor and blessings.
Narcissus was annoyed, but she maintained a polite smile on her face, calmly dealing with these hypocritical gestures.
As her gaze wandered, she noticed a figure standing out as particularly lonely beside a flowerbed not far away.
The woman was tall and slender, dressed in a palace dress made from narrow-sleeved riding clothes for ease of movement. Her features were deep and three-dimensional, with an exotic flair. She was none other than Tuoba Changzai from the Tuoba tribe in the north.
She stood there alone, toying with a flower in her hand, her expression somewhat indifferent, seemingly uninterested in the hypocritical social niceties around her.
Shuixian recalled a book she had read some time ago, which described the straightforward and cheerful nature of the women of the Tuoba tribe.
Hearing that this Consort Tuoba always resorted to physical force rather than verbal arguments when she encountered quarrels in Chuxiu Palace, he felt a sense of curiosity about this unconventional consort.
Just then, a delicate fragrance approached.
Consort Wan approached, carrying a delicate jade bowl, her face bearing her usual gentle smile.
"Sister Jinfei, you look a little tired, probably from spring fatigue. This is a Jade Beauty Soup that I specially had made, it's very nourishing and gentle, please eat some while it's hot."
The soup in the bowl was white and translucent, emitting a faint fragrance that was refreshing and delightful.
Consort Wan took the initiative to show goodwill by sending soup.
Shui Xian remained expressionless and was about to politely decline when Xiao Chuanzi, who was standing half a step behind her, suddenly sniffed and his expression changed slightly.
"Your Majesty, wait! This soup is not to be drunk!"
The eyes of all the concubines were instantly drawn to it.
Xiao Chuanzi pointed to the Jade Face Soup in Consort Wan's hand, his tone resolute:
"Your Highness, if I am not mistaken, did you add Mist Fragrance Flower Powder to this Jade Face Soup?"
Consort Wan's eyes flickered slightly as she thought to herself, "How could such a lowly eunuch have seen through the formula in an extremely obscure medical book?"
Her expression calmed down slightly, and she nodded. "Yes, to enhance the floral aroma of this soup."
Ogawa pointed to a cluster of purple flowers in full bloom not far away, their petals edged with strange golden lines, and whispered:
"This pot of Golden Thread Purple Cloud is non-toxic and can even calm the nerves. However, when used together with Mist Fragrance, it has the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis! It is harmless to ordinary people, but it is a great taboo for Consort Jin's unborn child!"
His words shocked the entire garden!
Consort Wan's gentle smile froze instantly, and a look of disbelief flashed across her eyes.
She had read extensively and accidentally learned about this extremely obscure combination of medicinal properties from a niche medical book. She thought she was sure of success, but unexpectedly, an inconspicuous eunuch by Consort Jin's side exposed her mistake on the spot!
"What...what nonsense are you spouting!"
Consort Wan forced herself to remain calm: "I had only good intentions, how could I possibly plot against the imperial heir? It must be that you, my unworthy servant, are incompetent and spouting nonsense!"
"Oh? Really? What a coincidence!"
A loud voice broke in; it was Consort Li who had come over after hearing the noise.
She walked closer, her gaze sweeping over Consort Wan's pale face before finally settling on the pot of golden-threaded purple clouds.
"I was just wondering about it too. This pot of Golden Thread Purple Cloud is a rare item; there are only a few in the entire palace. I remember that just two days ago, it was Consort Wan who, upon hearing that I was going to hold a flower appreciation banquet, specially sent someone to deliver it."
Consort Li added insult to injury, saying, "Sister Wanfei is well-read and knowledgeable. Could it be... that putting these flowers with your soup might cause an accident?"
"I...I didn't! Your Highness, how can you make such a false accusation!"
Consort Wan was completely flustered when Consort Li exposed her flower-giving affair in public.
Shui Xian coldly watched Wan Fei's discomfiture, a sneer in her heart.
She slowly took out the dragon-patterned token that Emperor Zhaoheng had bestowed upon her before his departure from her sleeve. Her voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears:
"Whether Consort Wan was negligent or intentional, I dare not presume to judge. However, His Majesty bestowed this decree before leaving the palace, stating that in case of emergency, one could use this decree to immediately summon him back to the palace to uphold justice. Perhaps..."
Shui Xian sneered, "Your Majesty, I will immediately send someone with the order to leave the palace and report to the Emperor on horseback. I request Your Majesty's judgment. The truth will be decided by Your Majesty."
The moment the token was presented, all the concubines were astonished.
Consort Wan's face turned deathly pale instantly. If the Emperor were truly alarmed... Consort Wan knew all too well how much Consort Jin held in the Emperor's heart.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger!" Consort Wan bit her lip and apologized softly.
No damage has been caused yet, and Consort Wan insisted that it was her own oversight: "It was my negligence! I almost made a terrible mistake! I had absolutely no intention of harming the imperial heir! Please, Your Majesty, do not alarm His Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, I am willing to give everything I have to make amends for the shock you suffered!"
Although Consort Wan apologized, she still harbored ulterior motives.
She thought that no matter how humble Consort Jin's background was, she was now a consort, and she would never stoop to demand compensation in front of so many noble ladies and consorts; that would be extremely vulgar.
All she needs to do is verbally admit her mistake and lower her stance. Consort Jin, for the sake of her reputation, will most likely back down gracefully, and she can then extricate herself unscathed.
However, what Narcissus said next shocked her and made her look up.
"Compensation?" Narcissus toyed with the token in her hand, her tone calm and indifferent.
"Since Consort Wan has shown such kindness, it would be unreasonable for me to refuse. I am still shaken and unsettled from this ordeal, which may harm the imperial fetus. I need to recuperate and calm my nerves..."
She curled her lips slightly and said without any politeness, "Then I'll trouble Consort Wan to compensate me with one thousand taels of gold."
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