Chapter 268 Only you can make me so deeply attached.
Shui Xian did not have a fit that day. She simply expressed her understanding in a gentle voice under Emperor Zhaoheng's tense gaze, and then bowed and took her leave.
The following morning, inside the Reiwa Palace.
The warm sunlight streamed through the exquisitely carved window lattice, casting dappled, dancing light spots on the carpet, like scattered gold.
Narcissus leaned against the soft couch by the window, her face made even more beautiful and radiant without any makeup.
Her expression was gentle, her eyes smiling, as she intently watched the two children playing on the carpet.
Qingyan, dressed in a small emerald-green brocade robe, was trying to stuff a finely crafted cloth tiger into Qinghe's arms with her chubby little hands, while babbling like an adult: "Tiger..."
Qinghe, however, did not appreciate Qingyan's kindness. Dressed in a light pink brocade robe, his big, dark eyes were drawn to a brightly colored, exquisite ball not far away. He whimpered and twisted his body, crawling towards it on all fours.
Upon seeing this, a soft smile unconsciously spread across Narcissus's lips.
She leaned slightly forward, stretched out her arm, and with a gentle flick of her fingertips, pushed the exquisite ball back to within Qinghe's reach.
Then, she pulled Qingyan, who looked a little aggrieved after being rejected by Qinghe and had her lips pouting, into her arms and coaxed her softly.
"Yan-ge'er, be good. He-ge'er is still young and doesn't understand yet. Let's give in to him, okay?"
Qingyan nestled in her mother's fragrant and soft embrace, tilting her little face up to look into her mother's gentle eyes.
That little bit of grievance quickly dissipated. She grinned, revealing a toothless smile, and nodded emphatically: "Mmm!"
The wet nurses, maids, and palace servants standing by watched this warm and peaceful scene with genuine smiles on their faces, filling the hall with a warm and cozy atmosphere.
Just then, a figure in bright yellow silently entered the inner hall.
After Emperor Zhaoheng left the court, he came directly without having any palace servants announce his arrival.
What met his eyes was a scene of mother and child playing together, a peaceful and idyllic moment.
He paused at the palace gate, his brows, which had been hard all morning, softening instantly.
Emperor Zhaoheng raised his hand, silently stopping the palace servants who were about to bow, and slowly approached with light steps.
He didn't disturb Narcissus first, but squatted down and looked at the one who had first discovered him, who was now staring at him with her big, dark eyes.
Then, Qingyan, who was opening his chubby little hands and making "ah ah" sounds, stretched out his arms.
"My beloved Yan'er."
Emperor Zhaoheng’s deep voice carried a rare, undisguised tenderness as he scooped up his chubby son and lifted him high into the air with ease.
When Qingyan was lifted up, she was not afraid at all. Instead, she excitedly waved her little hands and feet and let out a clear and cheerful laugh.
The laughter caught Qinghe's attention, and he curiously turned his head to look at his tall father.
Emperor Zhaoheng's heart softened, and he carefully scooped his other son into his arms with his other arm.
His arms, which were used to reviewing memorials, were now holding his children, one on each side, and his majestic imperial face was filled with the satisfaction of being a father.
Emperor Zhaoheng, holding the child, walked to the soft couch, looked at Shui Xian, and his tone was clearly one of pleasure.
“I could hear the children’s laughter from afar. It is Xian’er’s place that is most comforting.”
When Narcissus saw him arrive, she showed just the right amount of surprise on her face and was about to get up to pay her respects, but Emperor Zhaoheng stopped her with a gentle look.
She sat back down, her smile still gentle. She picked up the teapot that was warming on the small table, poured a cup of fragrant tea at the perfect temperature, and handed it to him in a soft voice.
"Your Majesty works hard and is burdened with state affairs."
Her tone was natural and intimate, as if the letters that had been accidentally exposed in the Qianqing Palace the previous night had not left any resentment in her heart.
However, Emperor Zhaoheng was an extremely astute person.
He almost instantly caught the fleeting, faint aloofness in her eyes.
This discovery stirred up a subtle, almost imperceptible sense of unease in the corner of his heart that had just been filled with the joy of family life.
Emperor Zhaoheng would rather she question him or even throw a little tantrum than remain calmly indifferent, which was actually subtly widening the distance between them.
Emperor Zhaoheng sat down beside Shuixian with the child in his arms, placed Qinghe on the couch, and let him play with the exquisite ball.
She held Qingyan in her arms, teasing her son and casually asking about the children's recent diet, daily life, and interesting events.
Narcissus's words are clever and her tone is gentle, vividly and interestingly depicting the small details of how Qingyan learns to speak and how Qinghe tries to turn over.
The atmosphere inside the hall seemed harmonious and warm.
But Emperor Zhaoheng could feel that the invisible layer of thin ice still separated the two of them.
After a moment, he felt the time was right, so he said gently to the wet nurse who was waiting beside him, "Take the prince to rest. I will have a word with the Empress."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The wet nurse respectfully stepped forward and carefully took Qingyan from Emperor Zhaoheng's arms, then picked up Qinghe from the bed.
Qingyan seemed reluctant to leave her father's warm embrace, twisting her little body and looking back longingly at Emperor Zhaoheng and Shuixian.
Emperor Zhaoheng showed unusual patience, gently stroking his son's soft hair and promising softly, "My dear son, I will come to see you again later."
After the children were taken away by their wet nurses, the palace servants standing inside the hall understood and silently and quickly retreated outside, gently closing the heavy palace doors behind them.
The noisy chatter and laughter of children that had just filled the inner hall was instantly replaced by a subtle tranquility.
Emperor Zhaoheng moved closer, stretched out his long arm, and pulled Narcissus into his arms without giving him a chance to refuse.
He lowered his head, buried his face in her delicate and fragrant neck, took a deep breath, and gently brushed his nose against her smooth skin, his breath filled with her elegant and subtle fragrance.
"Xian'er, last night... it was my fault."
He wanted to use familiar intimacy to melt away that invisible barrier and dispel the unsettling distance in her eyes.
Shui Xian did not resist his embrace, but Emperor Zhaoheng clearly felt that her body stiffened slightly for a moment when he approached. Although she quickly softened in his arms, she did not snuggle up to him as she usually did, or respond to him with a more charming demeanor.
She simply let him hold her, and said softly, "Your Majesty is too kind. State affairs are of utmost importance. I understand."
The more sensible and understanding she was, the more Emperor Zhaoheng felt guilty and uneasy.
He finally couldn't resist, and with an undeniable force, he lifted her face, forcing her to look him in the eye.
"Look at me, Xian'er."
His tone was solemn, his gaze intense, leaving her no room to look away.
He saw his own clear reflection in her clear pupils, and finally saw clearly the subtle grievances hidden beneath her gentle appearance, which she never spoke of.
The grievance was faint, yet it was like an extremely fine needle that precisely pierced the softest spot in his heart, bringing a sudden, sharp pain.
All the roundabout attempts and probes were abandoned at this moment.
He decided to be honest with her!
"That letter was delivered to the Qianqing Palace by Lady Liu yesterday. She said that someone mentioned there might be hidden dangers in the inner palace, concerning... safety."
He carefully chose his words, not wanting to frighten her, yet he had to explain clearly: "I know this woman is cunning and wicked, and is mostly exaggerating to attract my attention in order to escape or gain profit."
Emperor Zhaoheng paused, then gently stroked her smooth cheek with his fingertips, a gesture of tenderness in his eyes.
“But Xian’er, I am the emperor. I cannot... ignore any potential risks simply because of personal likes or dislikes. I kept it to see what tricks she was up to, and perhaps I could follow the clues and uncover some hidden troubles. But it is absolutely not... absolutely not because I have any lingering feelings for her.”
He gazed into her eyes, his tone unusually self-reflective.
"I never imagined that you... It was my oversight and improper handling that caused you distress; it is my fault."
This explanation reflects both the ruler's calm consideration of the big picture and the husband's clumsy apology and honesty towards his beloved.
However, Narcissus merely trembled her long eyelashes slightly and remained silent as she looked at him.
Her gaze seemed to be assessing the truthfulness of his words, or perhaps digesting this sudden information.
Seeing her like this, the panic that Emperor Zhaoheng had just suppressed rose up again.
Without further hesitation, he took the unopened letter directly from the wide sleeve of the dragon robe and placed it into Narcissus's cool palm.
“Look at this sealing wax.”
He pointed to the intact vermilion sealing wax mark on the envelope, "I have not opened or read it, and everything I have said is true."
He gazed deeply into her eyes. "Now, it is up to you. Whether you burn it to ashes to end this pointless trouble, or read its contents... I will grant your request."
This move not only demonstrated unwavering trust in Shui Xian, but also represented a complete rejection of the deposed Empress Liu Simin.
Narcissus lowered her eyes, looking at the letter lying quietly in her palm.
After a moment of silence, when she looked up again, the thin layer of ice in her eyes seemed to melt away quietly as if it had met the warm spring sun.
She didn't immediately open the letter to explore its contents, but instead gently placed it on the table beside her, as if it were something insignificant.
Then, she turned around and took his warm hand in hers. Her slender fingertips gently traced his broad palm, causing a slight tickle, and her voice softened.
"Your Majesty's heart, I now... fully understand. It was I who misunderstood for a moment, and actually got angry with a useless person in the cold palace, and had wild thoughts, which put Your Majesty in a difficult position."
She used a strategic retreat to advance, taking the blame upon herself, which made her appear more magnanimous and also gave Emperor Zhaoheng a perfect way out.
Emperor Zhaoheng felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders; the huge stone that had been hanging over his heart for half a day finally fell to the ground, and a surge of immense joy welled up within him.
He tightened his arms, pulling her closer into his embrace, and sighed contentedly in a low voice.
"Silly fairy, I have said that I will only have you from now on. Whether now or in the future, the only one who can make me miss you is you."
That night, Emperor Zhaoheng naturally stayed at Lihe Palace.
The slight misunderstanding between the Emperor and Empress vanished. Emperor Zhaoheng felt a mixture of guilt and love, showering her with tenderness and care. Shui Xian responded obediently, whispering sweet nothings within the tent, their love lingering and enchanting…
...
In the stillness of the night, only a dim palace lantern remained in the sleeping quarters, casting a hazy glow.
Emperor Zhaoheng was fast asleep, his breathing steady and long.
Narcissus quietly got up, put on an outer robe, picked up the letter that had been placed on the table, and walked to the lamp.
With a calm expression, she unwrapped the sealing wax and took out the letter inside.
After quickly skimming through Liu Simin's recollections of the past, her lamentations of the bitterness of the cold palace, and those vague so-called "warnings," I realized that...
Without hesitation, she lit a corner of the letter in the flickering candlelight.
Orange-red flames leaped up rapidly, greedily devouring the paper. The meticulously crafted words on it twisted in the flames and eventually turned into a small pile of ashes.
Narcissus's eyes appeared exceptionally clear and calm in the flickering firelight.
She knew that Liu Simin would never give up so easily.
It's time to personally visit the Cold Palace and see this deposed empress who can't bear loneliness and is even trying to stir up trouble between her and Emperor Zhaoheng again...
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