Chapter 50 Catching Adultery
Yichang Palace.
Yi Shuyao was about to go to bed when she heard her maid report, so she immediately sat up.
Years of living a subservient life under the eldest daughter made her exceptionally cautious.
"Go to the Imperial Household Department and discreetly inquire where the Emperor is staying tonight."
Yi Shuyao gave an order to her personal maid, who obeyed and left. Not long after, the maid returned with the message.
The maid bowed her head respectfully and said, "The Emperor did not choose a concubine tonight; as is customary, he will stay at the Qianqing Palace."
Upon receiving this news, Yi Shuyao chuckled softly.
“As expected,” she said, gently stroking the strands of hair that fell over her shoulder, “that Consort Jin’s womb is indeed filled with a bastard child conceived through adultery!”
She drank health-preserving medicine for three years and was favored by the emperor several times, but she still did not conceive. Emperor Zhaoheng was bound to have no heir!
And that vile maid, Narcissus, actually dared to have an affair in the harem!
In the darkness, the candlelight flickered like a bean, and an occasional gust of wind stretched her shadow on the wall into an almost ghostly shape.
The trusted maid lowered her voice, "My lady, shall we go and report to the Emperor?"
Yi Shuyao glanced at her, pondered for a moment, and then slowly shook her head.
"By now, the adulterous couple must have finished their business long ago... I need to think carefully about how to catch them in the act and make the Emperor execute that vile servant in his rage!"
Meanwhile, inside Yongle Palace.
The two still have some time before they finish...
Narcissus was initially blindfolded; darkness enveloped her, but it also amplified her senses.
She could feel the man pulling her from behind, asking in a hoarse voice whether "Your Majesty" or "Your Majesty" was more powerful.
This answer is wrong no matter how you look at it.
Both the emperor's anger and the "guards'" anger resulted in a severe punishment for Narcissus.
After an unknown amount of time, he finally removed the strip of cloth and held the narcissus in his arms.
Suddenly being seen made Narcissus feel a little uncomfortable. She turned her face away from him, but he grabbed her chin and turned her back.
"Xian'er, look at me."
Emperor Zhaoheng grabbed her wrist, insisting that she wrap her arms around his neck.
He leaned down for leverage, gently brushing his high, straight nose against her delicate nose—an indescribable intimacy and tenderness.
However, she could clearly sense the ruthlessness in the man's bones.
The two senses mingled together, making her feel as if she were simultaneously immersed in water and fire, unable to rise or fall, and could only lean on him, believing that he would bring her to a safe landing.
Finally, everything calmed down.
Throughout the entire process, Emperor Zhaoheng gently soothed her lower abdomen with his warm palms.
He always considered Shui Xian's health, and even his punishments were gentle. There were even moments when Emperor Zhaoheng began to hate this child he had longed for.
It's getting in the way.
Now, holding the soft, warm narcissus in his arms, Emperor Zhaoheng's heart is filled with contentment.
He didn't remember the delusions he had just had in his excitement; he simply stroked Shui Xian's slightly protruding belly again and again.
Narcissus lazily reached out and lightly touched the guard's uniform that had been discarded beside the couch.
"Your Majesty... is really going too far."
If she hadn't said anything, who would have believed that this was something Emperor Zhaoheng, who was always self-disciplined and respectful of etiquette, would have done?
Emperor Zhaoheng leaned down to kiss her. Now, by her side, he felt as if he had returned to the carefree days of his youth, able to discard all those rigid and restrictive things.
Looking at all the concubines in the palace, only with her could he disregard discipline, morality, and social norms.
"Doesn't Xian'er like it?"
Before Shui Xian could answer, Emperor Zhaoheng whispered with a chuckle in her ear, "How could Xian'er not like it? Xian'er clearly likes it; I am covered in it..."
"emperor!"
Narcissus covered her ears and looked at him with a blush.
She tossed the crumpled guard's uniform into Emperor Zhaoheng's arms. "It's late, Your Majesty, you should go now. I need to sleep!"
Emperor Zhaoheng chuckled, but he also knew that he hadn't made any notes tonight, and if he came out of Yongle Palace gates early tomorrow morning, it would be difficult to explain.
At this moment, he seemed to have completely forgotten that he was the supreme master of this palace, and was willing to succumb to this atmosphere of incense.
Without a word, Emperor Zhaoheng pulled her into his arms and sought her addictive lips once more.
After a long while, under the cover of night, he left Yongle Palace through a side door like a shadow.
Narcissus couldn't sleep; she called for water to wash her.
In the middle of the night, Yinzhu opened the side door to let Emperor Zhaoheng in. She naturally knew what had happened in the main hall. After warming the water, she waited for Shuixian to summon her.
If any other palace servants asked, Yinzhu would only say that Consort Jin was unwell during her pregnancy and sometimes needed to be washed with water.
In Yongle Palace, only Yinzhu knew about Emperor Zhaoheng's late-night visit.
After a quick wash, Shui Xian, supported by Yin Zhu, stepped out of the bathtub and went to the dressing table, where she applied a specially prepared perfumed balm all over her body.
The perfume balm was handled by Ogawako, who carefully examined its ingredients before placing it on Narcissus's dressing table.
Narcissus has experience from her previous life and knows that applying balm around the lower abdomen daily can prevent the skin from cracking and developing stretch marks.
As she applied the ointment, she asked Yinzhu in a low voice.
"No movement from Yichang Palace tonight?"
“This servant paid special attention. The little palace maid went and came back, and there has been no movement from Yichang Palace for the time being.”
Shui Xian never expected that Emperor Zhaoheng would come today dressed as a guard.
Sometimes, the more restrained a man is, the more unexpected his hidden passion can be.
Thinking that the little palace maid saw the "guards" entering and leaving Yongle Palace, she must have misunderstood something.
As for Narcissus... she's happy to see this misunderstanding.
She applied the last bit of ointment to her hands. After a period of pampering, her hands no longer had the calluses from her previous work; they were now smooth and delicate like jade.
Narcissus closed the lid of the perfume balm. "Continue the investigation. Make sure they know the information they need to know without alerting Yongchang Palace."
"yes."
A few days later, after Xiao Chuanzi had his pulse checked as usual, Shui Xian carefully inquired about the baby's condition.
Xiao Chuanzi cautiously inquired about Shui Xian's diet and daily life before respectfully reporting, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, her pulse is steady and strong, her fetal breathing is stable, and the offspring is healthy; there is nothing amiss."
Narcissus nodded slightly, her fingertips gently tracing her lower abdomen. After a moment's hesitation, she asked in a low voice:
"Would my occasional affairs with the Emperor... potentially harm the imperial heir?"
She asked the question cryptically, but Ogawa understood instantly.
Xiao Chuanzi showed no unusual expression; having read so many medical books, what hadn't he seen? Shui Xian's question was nothing out of the ordinary.
He carefully chose his words, saying, "Your Majesty, as long as it's not excessive and done gently, it won't harm the imperial heir. Besides..."
Xiao Chuanzi paused for a moment before continuing, "A happy mood during pregnancy is most beneficial for a healthy pregnancy and restorative spirit. As long as Your Majesty does not feel tired or uncomfortable, there is nothing to worry about."
Only then did Narcissus feel relieved.
Pleasure? Of course she was pleased; Emperor Zhaoheng was exceptionally useful.
However, Shui Xian had never heard of such an absurd thing as someone being able to have sex while pregnant, and she couldn't help but worry. She always asked Xiao Chuanzi to carefully examine her pulse so that there would be no oversight.
At this moment, Yinzhu entered from outside the hall, as if she had something to report.
Seeing this, Xiaochuanzi put away his tools and quickly left.
Now that he has a private room in Yongle Palace and the opportunity to read books at the Imperial Medical Academy, he is increasingly immersed in medicine every day.
Otherwise, if Narcissus didn't call him over, Xiao Chuanzi would be so focused that he would be oblivious to everything else.
According to Yinzhu's usual jokes, if he had this kind of drive, passing the imperial examination would be a piece of cake.
Xiao Chuanzi blushed and shook his head repeatedly, saying that he couldn't concentrate on reading, and the only books he could read were medical books and ancient texts.
Yinzhu was already used to Xiaochuanzi's behavior. Whether it was her or Shuixian, they would avoid bothering him if possible.
Yinzhu admired Xiaochuanzi's focus, knowing that she herself did not have such perseverance.
After Xiaochuanzi left the main hall, she whispered in Shuixian's ear:
"Today, Consort Wen went to Zhaoyang Palace."
"Zhaoyang Palace?"
Shui Xian raised an eyebrow, recalling the rather peculiar attitude of Consort Li recently.
The Yi family actually went to see Consort Li?
She felt surprised, yet also felt that it wasn't surprising at all.
Now that Consort Li has the power to assist in managing the six palaces, it is only natural that Yi Shuyao would go to her.
"I see."
Shui Xian's eyes flickered slightly, and she felt an idea coming to mind. "Yin Zhu, I've been feeling very tired lately... spread the word that I'm on sick leave and won't be able to see the Emperor for the time being."
The news that Consort Jin was on sick leave quickly spread throughout the six palaces.
Consort Li also received the news and sneered upon hearing it.
"Sick leave? I don't believe it."
Recently, Emperor Zhaoheng has not visited the inner palace often. Consort Li has not seen Emperor Zhaoheng for several days and is feeling bored. Then, the illegitimate daughter of the Yi family came to Zhaoyang Palace with important information.
Consort Li was initially shocked, but then found it reasonable.
Yes, Emperor Zhaoheng has countless beauties, and so many of them have not conceived over the years. How come she is the only one who is pregnant?
If that bastard's father is unlucky, then it's possible...
Yi Shuyao sat below Consort Li and smiled faintly upon hearing this.
"Don't want to see the Emperor? The one you want to see... is clearly someone else."
Consort Li recalled the guards mentioned by the illegitimate daughter of the Yi family, and a look of disgust inevitably appeared on her face.
For a lowly servant to be paired with a bodyguard is already considered a high social status for her!
"I must report this matter to the Emperor and let him know the true face of that lowly servant!"
If Narcissus were to give birth to a child of low birth, Consort Li would feel that all her forbearance over the past few months had been in vain!
She tolerated Narcissus, not to leave behind a bastard child!
Consort Li was very impatient and was about to report to the Emperor so that he could execute that lowly maid!
Yi Shuyao quickly stopped the person. She noticed that Fangfei, who was next to Consort Li, also tried to stop them at the same time.
Yi Shuyao whispered, "Your Highness, only by catching her in the act of adultery can we leave that vile servant with no room for excuses!"
Consort Li thought about it again and realized that it made sense.
But she was impatient and couldn't help but say coldly, "How much longer must I tolerate that lowly servant!"
Fortunately, the opportunity came soon.
A few days later, news that Consort Jin went boating on the Imperial Lake at midnight reached both Zhaoyang Palace and Yichang Palace.
Consort Li gave a cold laugh.
Boating at midnight?
Perfect!
The boat is narrow; where can that adulterer hide?
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