Chapter 223 Love is possible... and not loving is also possible.
The lingering warmth within the gauze curtains had not yet completely dissipated. Shui Xian was held in Emperor Zhaoheng's arms. Emperor Zhaoheng had already fallen asleep, but his grip on Shui Xian remained tight, his arms around her waist so strong that it seemed he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
As Narcissus listened to his gradually steady breathing, the clarity in her heart dispelled all the lethargy that had arisen afterward.
Disturbed from her sleep, Narcissus now lies here, her thoughts drifting to the important day that is about to arrive—
Soon after, the palace will hold a first birthday banquet for the twins Qingyan and Qinghe.
Time really flies. It feels like only yesterday that Narcissus was feeling weak and in pain from the postpartum hemorrhage. How did she suddenly find herself celebrating her twins' first birthday?
Yongning's first birthday banquet was already quite grand, but the sudden joy of having a son, and the scale of celebrating twins together, led Emperor Zhaoheng to disregard Shuixian's advice and issue an edict to hold a grand celebration.
The emperor's attention and favor certainly represent the ultimate glory, but they also mean a significant increase in risk.
Narcissus knew all too well that in this seemingly lush and beautiful palace, countless eyes were secretly watching her and her children.
Especially... that Prince Duan, who, though deposed, lurked in the shadows like a venomous snake... no, Xiao Yirui, who was now a commoner.
——
A few days later, inside the Lihe Palace.
The crackling charcoal fire was warm and inviting, but it couldn't melt the frost between Narcissus's brows.
Today, she summoned her trusted confidantes to the palace to discuss a series of important matters concerning the twins' first birthday celebration.
Shui Xian attaches great importance to this first birthday celebration. Now that she is in charge of the Phoenix Seal, she has the means and ability to protect her child.
After Yinzhu and the others arrived, Shuixian dismissed the ordinary palace servants and closed the doors and windows to ensure that nothing would leak out.
The atmosphere inside the hall was calm and serious, even somewhat solemn.
Narcissus sat in the main seat, her gaze sweeping over the group, both to inform them and to discuss countermeasures with them.
"A peaceful and harmonious first birthday banquet must be held, and it must be held without any mistakes."
"Now that I am in charge of the Phoenix Seal, I cannot give any opportunity to villains."
As expected of those trusted by Narcissus, everyone present showed serious expressions, treating the matter as their own responsibility.
She first looked at Yinzhu, and now that the door was closed, her voice was unmistakably cold.
"Yinzhu, although Xiao Yirui is under house arrest, his remaining forces, built up over many years, may not be willing to give up. A cornered dog might do something rash, so we must be on guard. Send more men to keep a close watch on that side..."
“Every day he meets someone, what message he conveys, even a glance or a seemingly unintentional word must be recorded for me!”
"I will thoroughly investigate all the residences, former subordinates, and even those from all walks of life who may have been bribed by him outside the palace!"
The person Shui Xian was most wary of was Xiao Yirui, who was now completely down on his luck.
"Be extremely cautious; it's better to be wrong than to miss something!"
"This servant understands!"
Yinzhu solemnly agreed, knowing full well the weight of this responsibility.
“Physician Pei,” Shui Xian turned to Pei Jichuan and instructed him in detail, “At the banquet, all the food, utensils, and even the gifts that guests may give must be inspected by you or your absolutely reliable apprentice.”
"Not only must we test for poison, but we must also guard against any strange and underhanded methods. I will inform the Emperor and grant you the authority to make decisions on the spot. The staff of the Imperial Medical Academy will be at your disposal. If there is any suspicion, it is better to kill the innocent than to let the guilty go free!"
Narcissus had almost never been so serious, which showed how much she cared about her twins.
She knew that the safety of the twins was related to the stability of the Great Qi Dynasty, and that someone would definitely want to harm the two innocent children, whether for the sake of turmoil or for the throne... She had to protect the children.
"Your humble servant obeys the decree!"
Pei Jichuan bowed, his expression solemn. Recently, he had often discussed and exchanged medical skills with Ana.
Ana's knowledge was not like ordinary medical skills; instead, it included many strange and unusual poisons or Gu.
Pei Jichuan felt as if he had opened the door to a new world, and he was also holding back a lot of energy, fearing that some kind of poison he did not understand might harm the two princes!
Everyone at the Lihe Palace was busy preparing for the twins' first birthday celebration, and everyone was dedicated to protecting the twins.
——
A few days later, Yinzhu returned and reported:
"Your Majesty, our spies outside the palace have reported that Xiao Yirui's syphilis has worsened, and he has hardly left his residence recently. His actions seem to be more secretive and discreet, but after carefully investigating the people he has been in contact with and the flow of supplies, we have not found any signs that he has any unusual forces infiltrating the palace."
“Our men have been on duty around the perimeter of his residence for twelve hours straight, without even blinking... so there should be nothing to worry about.”
Upon hearing this, Narcissus's tense nerves eased slightly, but the doubt between her brows did not completely dissipate.
Xiao Yirui is a ruthless and cunning man who is adept at disguise.
The calmer things seem, the more likely they are to conceal turbulent undercurrents.
Now that he is disgraced and afflicted with a serious illness, he is at his wit's end and it's hard to guarantee that he won't resort to some crazy, self-destructive means.
"We must not be careless in the slightest."
Narcissus said in a deep voice, "He has nothing now, so he will only become more unscrupulous."
"Yes, I will pass on the message and inform Zhou Yan."
Yinzhu accepted the order and firmly remembered Shuixian's instructions.
With the important matters settled, the tense atmosphere in the hall eased slightly.
And then Zhou Yan was mentioned... Shui Xian's gaze fell on Yin Zhu, and seeing the faint dark circles under her eyes caused by days of hard work, she felt a pang of pity and even a little guilt.
Yinzhu followed her from when she was still a concubine to when she became an Imperial Noble Consort. She went through thick and thin with her and never complained. On the contrary, she always planned for her and shared countless pressures.
Shui Xian softened her tone, adding with concern: "Official business is important, but you also need to take care of your own affairs. I see that Zhou Yan treats you with great sincerity."
Yinzhu did not expect that Shuixian would suddenly ask this question when discussing such an important matter.
She paused slightly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. She lowered her eyelashes and instinctively reached up to touch the marks left on her body from her time in the Imperial Prison.
Yinzhu whispered, "He...he's a quiet type, he doesn't know how to say sweet words."
“He always goes to help with the house that Her Majesty bestowed upon him a few months ago. He repairs the loose tiles, fixes the broken doors and windows, and keeps the weeds in the yard clean. But he never boasts about it to me. It was the neighbor lady who couldn’t stand it and secretly told me.”
Seeing the rare display of girlishness in her, Narcissus smiled slightly, but understood her concerns.
She took Yinzhu's hand, which was slightly calloused from years of work, and gently patted it, her tone more earnest and insightful than ever before:
"I know what you're thinking."
She sighed softly, "You've seen too much of the treacherous nature of people and the fickleness of men in the palace, so it's normal for you to be afraid of marriage."
"There are indeed many injustices to women in this world. Etiquette and rules are like shackles. Whether the future is good or bad seems to depend entirely on the husband's decision. I understand your fear."
Yinzhu raised her head, her eyes filled with a bewildered bitterness at having her secret thoughts exposed.
"Your Majesty, please understand... This servant is not heartless. I remember all the kindness he has shown me. It's just... but the thought of the future always makes me uneasy."
Narcissus gripped her hand tightly, her gaze unwavering, as if she could transmit strength to her through their intertwined hands.
"Silly girl, it is precisely because the world is unfair that you must remember that you have me!"
"I will bestow upon you a manor, estates, and money, which will give you confidence! This will allow you to live with dignity and comfort even without relying on any man!"
"Marriage should be based on your own heart. If you feel that Zhou Yan is trustworthy and worthy of your trust, then be brave and give it a try. If you still feel uneasy, or if he is not a good match, then you don't need to force yourself because of worldly opinions or other people's urging."
The generous rewards that Shui Xian has given her over the years are not only because of Yin Zhu's loyalty, but also because she can live a good life without relying on anyone, even if Yin Zhu leaves the palace one day.
Love is possible.
It's okay if you don't love them.
"Whatever choice you make, if anything changes in the future and he dares to betray you, I will stand up for you! Even if the sky falls, I will hold it up for you! This is the confidence I give you!"
This was not just empty words of comfort, but a real promise based on her current status and power, one that Yinzhu could rely on with peace of mind.
Hearing Shui Xian's unequivocal and assertive words of defense, and seeing the undisguised determination in her eyes, Yin Zhu's eyes instantly reddened.
She came from a poor family and, although she was not a slave, she became a servant after entering the palace. She was used to watching people's expressions and living cautiously. No one had ever said to her, "I'll hold up the sky for you if it falls down."
Even when her parents were alive, they never gave her such unconditional support because she was a girl.
She blinked hard, forcing back the surging tears, broke free from Narcissus's hand, and knelt down heavily.
"Your Majesty's kindness to this servant is as heavy as a mountain; in this lifetime, this servant can never repay it! This servant... this servant understands!"
She raised her head, the confusion in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by a resolute clarity.
“This servant will think it over carefully and follow my heart. However… the prince and princess’s first birthday banquet is the most important thing right now, and this servant’s matter is not urgent.”
Shui Xian bent down to help her up, and seeing her red eyes, her heart also softened.
Meeting Yinzhu's moist eyes, Narcissus said softly:
"Remember, no matter when or what happens, I will always be behind you!"
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