Chapter 69 My feelings for you are my own business
As dawn broke, soft light spilled into the inner chambers of Yongle Palace, and the faint scent of ambergris mingled with the unique fragrance of a woman's boudoir.
Emperor Zhaoheng was already fully dressed, and his bright yellow dragon robe made him look even more upright, displaying his imperial majesty.
At this moment, he stood behind the narcissus, holding a stick of indigo in his hand, his movements more focused than ever before.
He bent down to draw Narcissus's eyebrows, and the bronze mirror reflected the two figures leaning on each other. The man was handsome, and the woman, pregnant, was even more beautiful. The atmosphere was exceptionally peaceful and warm.
"alright."
Emperor Zhaoheng put down his qingdai (a type of cosmetic) and gazed at the beauty.
Her willow-leaf eyebrows were drawn perfectly, which made her eyes look even clearer and brighter.
Narcissus smiled slightly at herself in the mirror, her eyes sparkling with delicate beauty.
"Your Majesty's painting is truly excellent."
Emperor Zhaoheng smiled slightly and leaned down to place a kiss on her smooth forehead.
"Xian'er, I'm leaving now. Remember, no matter what happens, don't ask questions, don't worry."
"Trust me."
This is not only a man's promise, but also an emperor's vow.
Narcissus nodded obediently and nestled into his arms: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty can endure these hardships."
"But Ogawako's side... that disciplinary office is really torturous..."
She raised her eyes, her gaze brimming with tears, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Emperor Zhaoheng looked at the pleading in her eyes, his heart softened, and he finally relented:
"Fine. I will have the Imperial Medical Academy send a suitable person to the Department of Penal Caution to examine him and ensure his life is not in danger."
Narcissus's eyes instantly shone with gratitude: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"
Emperor Zhaoheng reached out and pinched her chin, as if he wanted to etch her into his heart at this moment.
Outside Yongle Palace, Feng Shunxiang had been waiting for a long time. On the deserted palace road, the bright yellow sedan chair was quietly waiting.
Upon seeing Emperor Zhaoheng emerge, he immediately stepped forward, took Emperor Zhaoheng's hand, and helped him into the sedan chair.
At the same time, he lowered his voice and reminded her in a very low voice, "Your Majesty, Consort Jin is still under house arrest."
"What if something gets leaked..."
I used to come here occasionally, how come I stayed overnight yesterday?
Unlike a nighttime visit to Yongle Palace, this is in broad daylight; what if someone sees us...?
Emperor Zhaoheng did not stop walking, but only glanced at him indifferently: "Feng Shunxiang, I trust you to handle things."
"This servant understands."
Feng Shunxiang understood immediately and bowed in agreement.
After Emperor Zhaoheng went to court, Feng Shunxiang hurried back to Qianqing Palace. He summoned the eunuchs who had been on duty the previous night and ordered the palace gates to be closed.
Feng Shunxiang strode to the front of the crowd, his stern gaze sweeping over the young boys.
His voice was low, but carried a chilling coldness:
"You are all veterans who have served the Emperor for a long time. You should all know what you should and shouldn't say!"
With just a few words, Feng Shunxiang thoroughly explained the situation to the group of eunuchs.
Those who were assigned to serve the emperor were all very cautious people, and their mouths were tighter than anything else.
Soon, the eunuchs all knelt down and kowtowed to thank Feng Shunxiang for his advice.
"Your servants will remember Eunuch Feng's teachings!"
Feng Shunxiang's expression softened slightly, and he waved his hand.
"Get out of here! Go do what you were doing!"
The eunuchs breathed a sigh of relief and scrambled out of the room.
One of the youngest eunuchs, named Xiao Chengzi, had been serving in the Qianqing Palace for two years.
He was reprimanded by Feng Shunxiang and completed his daytime sweeping duties with a troubled mind. It wasn't until the afternoon shift ended that he walked unsteadily out of the Qianqing Palace.
The palace path winds and turns, and sunlight shines through the tall palace walls, casting straight shadows.
Xiao Chengzi lowered his head, his mind filled with Feng Shunxiang's cold warning.
Just then, a sweet voice, tinged with surprise, rang out in front of him:
"Brother Cheng!"
Xiao Chengzi suddenly looked up and saw a pretty little palace maid dressed in a light blue palace dress with her hair in two buns standing under a crabapple tree not far away, smiling at him. She was also holding several big, golden oranges in her hands.
Seeing her bright smile, Xiao Chengzi couldn't help but smile gently back: "Nanxing, little sister..."
Nanxing jogged over a few steps, placed the orange in his arms, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Here, I brought these for you! They're newly distributed by the Imperial Household Department, and they're so sweet! When I saw these bright yellow oranges, I... I thought of you."
Her voice trailed off, tinged with the shyness typical of a young girl.
Xiao Chengzi held the heavy orange and felt a warm current flow through her whole body.
He scratched his head and said sheepishly:
"Thank you, Sister Nanxing. But... don't wait for me on this road next time. This palace road is crowded with people. If someone sees you... as an innocent young lady, always hanging out with a... eunuch like me, it won't be good for your reputation."
His tone was sincere, showing concern for the other person's well-being.
Upon hearing this, Nanxing gave him a reproachful look: "I don't care what others say! Brother Cheng, you are such a good person, so thoughtful and considerate."
She looked at him boldly, her voice tentative: "If...if people find out, so be it...so we'll just become a couple! I won't mind!"
"A couple?!"
Xiao Chengzi was so frightened that she almost threw the orange in her arms away, waving her hands repeatedly, her face turning bright red.
"No, no, no! How can this be! Sister Nanxing, you...you mustn't be talking nonsense! I am a crippled person, this is how my life will be, I am destined to grow old and die in the palace!"
"But you're different. You're still young. When you're old enough, you should be released from the palace and find a good family to marry into. That's the proper thing to do! I... how can I hold you back!"
His tone was urgent, yet tinged with humility.
"I... I like you, that's my own business. I only hope that in the future I can earn some respect in the palace, recognize you as my sworn sister, and then I can protect you a bit and make your life better outside the palace..."
These heartfelt words would surely move anyone who heard them.
However, a barely perceptible hint of mockery flashed across Nanxing's eyes, while her face remained smiling sweetly: "Brother Cheng, you're so good to me."
She changed the subject, her tone a mix of coquettishness and complaint: "By the way, didn't we agree to meet under the old locust tree in the Imperial Garden last night when we were off work? I... I've been waiting for you for so long, why didn't you come?"
last night? !
Xiao Chengzi instinctively hugged the orange in her arms tighter, her eyes darting away, and her voice becoming stammering:
"Last night... I was on duty, I couldn't leave... I really couldn't leave..."
The warning from Eunuch Feng flashed through his mind, and he kept his mouth tightly shut.
Nanxing tilted her head, feigning innocence as she analyzed, "On duty? That doesn't make sense. I remember you told me you weren't the eunuch in charge of the emperor's bedchamber. If the emperor were staying at the Qianqing Palace, why would you need to stand guard all night? Could it be..."
She raised an eyebrow slightly. "His Majesty didn't stay at Qianqing Palace last night? Instead, he went to Yongle Palace?"
Upon hearing the words "Yongle Palace," Xiao Chengzi's face turned deathly pale.
"Don't say it! Nanxing! Ancestor! Please stop guessing!"
Xiao Chengzi practically lunged forward, and in her haste, she covered Nanxing's mouth with her hand!
Even in his extreme fear, he instinctively softened the pressure when covering her mouth, afraid of hurting her.
Xiao Chengzi was trembling all over, and stammered, "I really can't say it... I can't mention a single word!"
"Nanxing, this matter... this matter is of utmost importance! If we keep guessing, our heads... will both be gone!"
Nanxing forcefully pried his hands off, but her face showed little panic.
She patted her chest lightly and said reproachfully, "You scared me to death! Look at you! Was it really that serious?"
She bent down to pick up a fallen orange, weighed it in her hand, and her smile remained sweet.
"Okay, okay, look how scared you are! I won't guess anymore, alright?"
"Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know. Don't you know what kind of person I, Nanxing, am? My mouth is always sealed tight! Would I ever harm you?"
......
A quarter of an hour later, in the side hall of Yichang Palace.
Consort Wen, Yi Shuyao, sat at the table, her fingertips holding a silver needle, embroidering while listening to Nanxing's report.
The innocence and naivety that Nanxing had shown when facing Xiaochengzi was gone from her face; in its place was utter indifference.
"Master, there's definitely something wrong with Xiao Chengzi's reaction!"
Nanxing's voice was calm, "This servant only tentatively mentioned Yongle Palace, and he acted as if he'd seen a ghost, even dropping the oranges in fright..."
"This servant is certain that His Majesty went to Yongle Palace last night!"
Yi Shuyao paused in her embroidery and looked at Nanxing:
"I'm sorry to trouble you, Nanxing. You have to go and win over those eunuchs in order to gather information."
Nanxing's face immediately revealed undisguised disgust:
"Your Majesty is too kind. There's no such thing as feeling wronged. That fool, I only used a little trick and a few sweet words to make him dizzy and confused. He really thought I was interested in him!"
"Someone who isn't even a man dares to talk about liking someone? I feel disgusted just looking at him!"
Her tone was harsh, a stark contrast to how she spoke to Xiaochengzi.
Yi Shuyao nodded in satisfaction: "I knew you were clever. You did a great job. Don't worry, once my wish is fulfilled, I will definitely not treat you unfairly."
Nanxing curtsied obsequiously: "Master, then...should we leak this information to that person in Changxin Palace?"
She was referring to Yi Guichun, who had recently ascended the throne.
"Yi Guichun?" Yi Shuyao scoffed and put down the embroidery frame in her hand.
She recalled the farcical scene of catching her husband cheating on the royal boat that night, and how she ended up in such a sorry state.
Besides Emperor Zhaoheng, Shui Xian had no other men by her side.
But why is it that none of the women in the harem can conceive a child with the emperor, while only Shui Xian can?
Yi Guichun must have known something, but he kept the secret about the narcissus all along.
Yi Shuyao's eyes turned cold. "No need."
Let Yi Guichun do his stupid thing!
Her father sent her to the palace to rescue Yi Guichun from the cold palace, and she has already done so.
Yi Guichun's subsequent foolish actions were no longer her concern.
Yi Shuyao knew perfectly well that only if she became the only person with the surname Yi in the harem could the entire Yi family help her ascend to the throne!
Only then can his mother surpass Madam Yi and become the rightful first wife!
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