Chapter 229 True Feelings Catalyze a Blazing Fire
Shui Xian stared blankly at Emperor Zhaoheng, seeing the resolute determination in his deep eyes after careful consideration.
"emperor!"
She snapped out of her daze and hurriedly tried to dissuade her, her voice trembling with an urgency she herself didn't realize, "Absolutely not! You are of noble birth, the foundation of the nation, how can you lightly venture into such a dangerous place? If it were just a common cold, that would be one thing, but the Empress Dowager's illness... what if..."
Her words came to an abrupt halt, and her clear, beautiful eyes were filled with genuine worry.
She couldn't bring herself to say the word "epidemic," and could only express it in this anxious, hesitant way.
Seeing her worried about him, Emperor Zhaoheng's slight anger caused by Consort De's words completely dissipated, leaving only the warmth of being with her.
He reached out and gently smoothed her slightly furrowed brow, his gesture more tender than ever before.
"Don't worry, Xian'er. I am the Emperor, and I am protected by a true dragon. I am immune to all evil."
His tone was calm and steady, as if he were providing her with a stable and unshakable shelter at that moment.
"Besides, I will only be serving you for one day. With the imperial physician by my side and taking good care of you, there will be no problem."
"But……"
Narcissus wanted to persuade her again.
Emperor Zhaoheng shook his head, his gaze gentle as he looked into her eyes in the candlelight.
"I have pondered this matter for a long time in the Qianqing Palace, and this method is the most appropriate one."
"Don't those court officials always talk about 'filial piety'? The Empress Dowager is my birth mother. As a son, it is only natural for me to serve her medicine and medicine!"
"Why must you, a woman weak after childbirth who needs to rest according to the doctor's orders, risk your life for me to fulfill your filial duty? There is no such logic in the world!"
He slightly curved his thin lips, as if laughing at the absurd courtiers.
Narcissus was deeply shocked and stared at him blankly.
Let alone the emperor, even men in ordinary families often push the responsibility of being filial to their parents onto their wives, believing that it is the duty of women in the inner quarters.
Yet he, the supreme ruler, could utter such words, willing to personally bear this risk, just to protect her…
A complex and indescribable emotion surged in her chest, a mixture of bitterness and warmth, which made even the usually calm Narcissus feel a complex and overwhelming emotional wave.
She quickly lowered her eyes, concealing the turmoil within them.
Seeing that he had made up his mind, she knew that once the emperor made up his mind, it was not something she could change with a few words. Saying more might only arouse his suspicion about the source of the information.
She could only suppress her worries and speculations about the epidemic deep in her heart, turning them into a soft sigh.
"Your Majesty...you must be careful in everything you do."
She raised her eyes, her gaze shimmering with undisguised worry, "Your Majesty and the children are waiting for your safe return at Lihe Palace."
Emperor Zhaoheng smiled gently and reached out to embrace her.
That evening.
Emperor Zhaoheng stayed at the Lihe Palace.
Perhaps because they were going to Cining Palace, a place that might be fraught with danger, the atmosphere in the sleeping quarters was somewhat different from usual.
The candlelight crackled, and the curtains hung low.
After her bath, Narcissus wore only a plain-colored soft silk nightgown, her dark hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, making her face appear even more fair, delicate, and flawless.
She sat in front of her dressing table, looking at her reflection in the mirror with a touch of rouge on her lips, the words Emperor Zhaoheng had spoken during the day echoing in her mind.
Since her rebirth, she has been scheming and calculating, using the emperor's favor as a tool for revenge and advancement, and reminding herself to sever all emotional ties.
But tonight, feeling his protection that transcended his imperial status, her cold and hard heart uncontrollably cracked open.
She only allowed herself to indulge in debauchery for one night.
When Emperor Zhaoheng entered the inner palace, he saw this painting of a beautiful woman lost in thought.
The candlelight cast a soft glow around her, making her appear less alluring and more serene and gentle.
He walked over and gently embraced her from behind.
"Still worried?"
He asked in a low voice, looking at her in the bronze mirror, their eyes meeting.
Feeling the warmth coming from behind her, Narcissus's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment before relaxing and gently leaning against his broad, warm chest.
"Um."
She responded softly, not hiding her emotions, "Your Majesty... I'm afraid."
The last word, light and airy, yet like a feather, scratched at Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
"Silly fairy, I said it's alright."
He turned her around so she faced him, lifted her chin with his fingertips, and forced her, who was sitting on the embroidered stool, to look into his eyes.
"I am the Son of Heaven, and my life is very strong."
"For you, for Yongning, for Qinghe and Qingyan, I will never allow anything to happen to me."
His gaze was as deep as the sea, and the emotions surging within it made Narcissus's heart skip a beat.
She gazed at the handsome face so close to hers, and in those eyes that always held the majesty of an emperor, her reflection was now clearly visible.
It was as if she was his whole world.
Narcissus couldn't help but reach out her slightly cool fingers and gently stroke his angular face.
Unlike her usual charming and skillful demeanor, this movement, driven by genuine emotion, carried a hint of awkwardness.
"Then Your Majesty... you must remember what you promised me."
Her voice was as gentle as spring water in April, and the genuine emotions that flowed from her eyes made Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze gradually deepen.
He was so perceptive that he immediately noticed the difference in her that night.
Is it because of his dedication?
This realization thrilled him, and an indescribable sense of satisfaction instantly overwhelmed him.
"Xian'er..."
His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice grew hoarse, yet still carried a burning heat.
Emperor Zhaoheng leaned down and captured her slightly parted lips.
This kiss, unlike previous ones that were about plunder and possession, carried an indescribable sense of cherishing.
It was tender and poignant, penetrating to the very core of my being.
Narcissus closed her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering gently like butterfly wings. She did not passively accept the situation, but tentatively gave a gentle response.
This response was like a spark falling into boiling oil, instantly igniting the repression in Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
The curtains were silently lowered, concealing the enchanting atmosphere of the room.
His burning fingertips lingered on her slightly cool skin, sending shivers down her spine.
Narcissus clung to his strong arm, her consciousness gradually blurring amidst the turmoil, only occasionally letting out soft, suppressed sobs in the intervals between her rise and fall.
Emperor Zhaoheng looked at her flushed cheeks and her dreamy, watery eyes, and listened to her soft moans, which were different from usual and filled with complete dependence. He felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
He leaned down and planted a series of delicate kisses on her ear, his deep voice carrying a bewitching magic:
"Xian'er, call my name..."
In her dazed state, Narcissus unconsciously murmured, "Yiheng..."
These two words caused Emperor Zhaoheng to completely lose control.
He held the warm, soft woman in his arms tightly, with such force that it seemed he wanted to crush her and embed her into his very bones.
That night, the bedchamber of Lihe Palace was filled with the warmth of spring, and the intimacy was even more intense than on any other day.
Those unintentional expressions of genuine emotion can ignite a raging fire.
at the same time.
Inside the Imperial Medical Academy's duty room, however, the lights were on and the atmosphere was solemn.
Pei Jichuan was engrossed in writing at his desk, surrounded by thick stacks of medical books and ancient texts. Based on the narcissus's subtle hints, he focused his research on seasonal illnesses.
Combining the details of the Empress Dowager's medical records that I had painstakingly gathered over the past few days, as well as the scattered records in ancient books, I repeatedly examined and verified the medicinal properties.
Pei Jichuan did not forget his past predicament, so he took in a young eunuch who loved medicine and had him learn from him.
The young eunuch, named Xiao Luzi, was diligently grinding medicinal herbs and recording data.
"You've been up for two nights already, take a break."
Xiao Luzi looked at the dark circles under Pei Jichuan's eyes and couldn't help but offer some advice.
Pei Jichuan didn't even raise his head, his voice slightly hoarse from exhaustion: "It's alright, time is of the essence."
He then flipped through a rare medical case book from the previous dynasty, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly wrote down a string of medicine names on the paper, and then carefully adjusted the dosage of several medicines.
"It's done!"
He let out a long sigh and handed the paper covered with writing to Xiaoluzi. “Look at this prescription… In theory, it should be effective in preventing and treating similar epidemic diseases.”
Xiao Luzi took the prescription, examined it carefully, and his eyes revealed admiration: "Sir, you are truly talented! This prescription is ingeniously formulated and meticulously considered!"
However, Pei Jichuan's brows did not relax. He pointed to two places on the prescription and said in a deep voice:
"Don't be too quick to praise it. There are still two major problems with this prescription. First, this 'purple-backed' herb needs to be at least five years old to be effective. Most of the herbs in the hospital's stock are only one or two years old, and their potency is insufficient, so it may not be effective."
He paused, his fingertips landing heavily on the name of another medicine, his expression becoming even more solemn: "The second is this century-old stone marrow, which serves as a key ingredient. This substance is the essence of stone, born from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and is extremely rare, something you can only hope to encounter once in a lifetime."
"It is unknown whether the Imperial Medical Academy has any stock, and even if they do, the quantity must be extremely small. Without these two items, the effectiveness of this prescription will likely be greatly reduced, and it may even be difficult to control severe cases."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Luzi's expression also turned serious: "What should we do then? Should we report this to the Dean immediately?"
Pei Jichuan pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"This matter is of great importance, so it must be reported to the Dean!"
At that moment, he had no idea how much trouble his report would ultimately cause...
...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com