Chapter 135 Intimacy Even Greater Than Before
"Give me some time, and I will definitely be able to give you an explanation."
As if afraid that Narcissus would resist, Emperor Zhaoheng held her hand tightly and said this.
The man's deep gaze held the promise of an emperor. Narcissus blinked lightly, and something in her eyes shattered like glass, no longer able to conceal the tenderness within.
Narcissus shed tears as she felt Emperor Zhaoheng pull her into his arms, his large hand gently stroking her back.
"Xian'er, Xian'er..."
His voice was low and hoarse, and he said nothing else but repeatedly murmured her name.
Shui Xian spoke more; she was finally no longer as indifferent as she had been in the past few days. She sobbed in Emperor Zhaoheng's arms, her tears wetting his bright yellow robe and leaving dark watermarks.
"Yongning is the apple of my eye. I disregard my reputation, but I am worried about Yongning's safety..."
"As long as Your Majesty and the child are safe, I will do anything..."
Emperor Zhaoheng sensed that Shui Xian's attitude had softened. He embraced her slender body and leaned down to kiss her tear-streaked lips.
He felt a deep joy, as if the barriers that had stood between him and Narcissus had finally disappeared.
After many days, Emperor Zhaoheng finally felt at ease.
The air in the Pepper Chamber of the Lihe Palace was filled with fragrance as Emperor Zhaoheng stepped into the inner chamber, carrying a narcissus flower in his arms.
It was an indescribable sense of intimacy and tenderness.
He considered her health and her reputation as someone still under house arrest, and ultimately nothing happened within the confines of the bedchamber.
However, the caresses and intimacy were even more intense than before, eliciting soft moans and low gasps...
...
When Emperor Zhaoheng came out of Lihe Palace, he had changed his clothes. The dark fabric was like the night, and the dark color could not suppress the unbridled joy in his eyes and brows.
Feng Shunxiang, who had just returned from sending Consort Yao to her residence under house arrest, was greeted by Emperor Zhaoheng in this state.
He glanced at the Lihe Palace behind him, then immediately clasped his hands together, lowered his gaze, and remained silent.
It seems we don't need to ask the Emperor whether he'll choose a concubine tonight.
"Return to the Qianqing Palace."
Emperor Zhaoheng's deep voice came from the imperial carriage.
Feng Shunxiang nodded quickly and informed the sedan chair bearers, "Go to the Qianqing Palace."
After the greeting was finished, Feng Shunxiang moved closer to Emperor Zhaoheng, standing in a spot where the emperor could hear his voice clearly.
Feng Shunxiang reminded him, "Your Majesty, Pei Jichuan from the Imperial Hospital is requesting an audience. Should we summon him?"
The night was illuminated by palace lanterns that made it as bright as day. Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes changed slightly, and the decadent darkness within them receded like a tide, leaving only coldness.
"Announce."
Not long after, in the Qianqing Palace.
Pei Jichuan, dressed in the robes of an imperial physician, took out the pair of auspicious unicorns from his medical chest and bowed to report:
"After repeated verification, I found that the pair of Qilin that bring children had been soaked in the juice of the Netherworld Flower for a long time. Because the fragrance of the Netherworld Flower is very faint, there was no change except for a slight change in color."
Emperor Zhaoheng examined the Qilin that grants children on his imperial desk. The back of one of the Qilins had been cleaned with medicine by Pei Jichuan, revealing its original jade color.
Empress.
The image of that sickly face resurfaced in Emperor Zhaoheng's mind.
A hush fell over the hall. Pei Jichuan knelt on the ground, not daring to look directly at the emperor's expression, and could only hold his breath and wait for instructions.
"Go down."
What they received, however, was Emperor Zhaoheng's ambiguous words.
Pei Jichuan did not expect that Emperor Zhaoheng would not make any statement in the face of such irrefutable evidence.
Yinzhu flashed through his lowered head for a moment. When he was still Xiaochuanzi, he and Yinzhu served their master together.
Neither of them were talkative, and they didn't have a deep emotional bond, but since they served the same master and helped each other, Pei Jichuan couldn't bear to see Yinzhu suffer more.
But as the imperial physician, he had already done everything he could.
Helpless, Pei Jichuan could only whisper, "Yes."
He rose with a slight bow, lowered his eyes, and retreated as usual.
Just as he was about to step out of the palace gate, Pei Jichuan couldn't help but quickly glance at Emperor Zhaoheng behind the imperial desk.
In that one glance, his gaze collided with Emperor Zhaoheng's unfathomable depths, startling Pei Jichuan so much that he nearly lost his soul.
Pei Jichuan dared not look any longer and quickly retreated.
Once he had completely descended the steps of the Qianqing Palace and was some distance from the brightly lit palace, Pei Jichuan finally stopped.
His back was already soaked, and the cold wind chilled him to the bone.
He deeply believed that serving a ruler was like serving a tiger.
Inside the Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze fell on the direction of the palace gate. His deep eyes were not clear at all, but rather filled with heavy thoughts and considerations.
Feng Shunxiang could tell from his gaze that today's matter was not yet complete.
"Should we bring the judge from the Xuanyuan Court in?"
Emperor Zhaoheng glanced at him but said nothing. But who was Feng Shunxiang? He was a loyal servant who had served him for many years.
Feng Shunxiang immediately announced, "Summon Zhang, the Imperial Physician, to the palace."
Judge Zhang was quite old, and when he moved in, his arms, exposed outside his official robes, were withered and thin, like old wood.
It was getting late, so he forced himself to stay awake after entering the hall. Just as he was about to kneel down, he heard Feng Shunxiang say, "Judge Zhang is of advanced age. His Majesty has granted you the privilege of not having to perform the full kneeling ceremony. Just stand and answer my questions."
Judge Zhang then stood up straight. He was not surprised to see the Qilin (a mythical creature) on the imperial desk that symbolizes the birth of a child, and he even knew why Emperor Zhaoheng had summoned him.
After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Yuanpan said, "I have been observing Physician Pei's actions for two days. His methods are reasonable, and the methods he uses are all recorded in medical books. He is unlikely to make a mistake."
If Pei Jichuan were here right now, the cold sweat he had finally managed to stop would probably be flowing even more profusely.
Emperor Zhaoheng only gave him the gift of a son and a unicorn, and even had Feng Shunxiang deliver a message telling him to keep quiet.
It seemed like a secret task, but unexpectedly, Emperor Zhaoheng entrusted not only him, but also the head of the Imperial Medical Academy!
Emperor Zhaoheng remained silent for a while, just as Zhang Yuanpan thought he was old and blind, and that the emperor had left sometime earlier.
Suddenly, Emperor Zhaoheng, who was in a superior position, asked in a low voice: "Is there any way to tell when this Qilin statue, which has been soaked in medicinal juice, was made?"
The head of the Imperial Medical Academy was dumbfounded; he was a healer, not a judge.
"...I do not know, but we can investigate it carefully. Your Majesty might as well go to the Ministry of Works, perhaps they are more proficient."
Judge Zhang hesitated, fearing that the Emperor would think he had done a poor job, and also that the Emperor would think he was being sarcastic.
They could only present their words to the emperor after carefully crafting them to ensure there was absolutely nothing in them.
"Step down."
Emperor Zhaoheng spoke in a deep voice, and the candlelight on the table suddenly emitted a soft sound, trembling and jumping.
After Judge Zhang left, Emperor Zhaoheng picked up the two Qilin (mythical creatures) on the table that symbolize children and told Feng Shunxiang to put them away.
"Send it to the Ministry of Works first thing tomorrow morning."
He didn't even need to say much; Feng Shunxiang understood Emperor Zhaoheng's meaning.
It is true that the Qilin that brings children was given by the Empress to Consort Jin, but it has been several months since it was delivered to Consort Jin.
The only people besides the Empress's people who could use the juice of the Netherworld Flower to soak the pair of Qilin that bring children are the people of Lihe Palace.
Emperor Zhaoheng did not want to doubt Shuixian, but now his scales were tipped in two: on one side was the Empress, who was the mother of the nation, and on the other side was Shuixian, who occupied a corner of his heart.
Torn between the greater good and personal feelings, he had to think carefully before making a final decision.
Emperor Zhaoheng stared intently at the candle flame flickering on the table without any wind. Noticing the emperor's gaze, Feng Shunxiang quickly put away the pair of unicorns that symbolize children and then cut the excessively long wick with scissors.
In just a moment, the candle flame stabilized again.
Emperor Zhaoheng took a slow, deep breath, feeling a heavy weight in his heart that was difficult to express.
——
soon.
After the court session, Emperor Zhaoheng went to Kunning Palace.
Upon entering the palace, they were informed by a maidservant that the Empress was not in the palace.
When asked where the Empress had gone, the palace maid gave a surprising answer.
"Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress just had the nanny carry Princess Lihe Palace half an hour ago."
At the same time, in the Reiwa Palace.
Clearly, the Queen's visit surprised Narcissus as well.
However, when Shui Xian saw Yong Ning being held in the arms of the nanny, her surprise vanished instantly.
The child grows extremely fast; she seems to have grown even taller in just a few days. When her big, dark eyes look over, she appears even more adorable.
However, before she could find out the Queen's purpose, Narcissus could only look at the child but could not hold him in her arms.
"May I ask what brings Your Majesty the Empress here?"
The Empress wore a silk cloak with a peony branch pattern, covered by a brocade vest, and lined with fur.
She is naturally sensitive to the cold, so when going out in winter, she dresses primarily to keep warm.
The Empress held a delicate rattle drum in her hand and gently shook it, making a crisp "dong dong" sound, which amused Yongning so much that she reached out her little hand to grab it.
As she played with the child, she spoke gently but with a hint of guilt, saying in a low voice, "I have not yet apologized to Consort Jin."
Shui Xian quickly stood up: "Your Majesty, you flatter me. I dare not accept such praise."
"But I wonder what Her Majesty the Empress has to apologize for?"
A look of guilt flashed across the Empress's face.
“On the day Yongning was suddenly poisoned, I was shocked and angry, and my heart was filled with anxiety. I may have offended you in my words. I am sorry to have wronged you, sister.”
“These past few days, I have calmed down and thought it over carefully. My sister’s maternal love for Yongning is as clear as day. How could she have done such a wicked thing? There must be another reason. I was just anxious and wronged my sister.”
Narcissus listened quietly, her mind filled with doubts.
The Empress's attitude changed so quickly! What exactly happened?
Seeing that Narcissus had lowered her eyes and remained silent, as if she still had concerns, the Empress put down the rattle drum and said with an even more earnest expression, "I have come here today not only to apologize, but also to ask for something else."
"After much thought, I realize that Yongning is growing up and becoming increasingly inseparable from her biological mother. I haven't been feeling well lately and lack energy, so I'm afraid I might not be able to take good care of her."
"In order for Yongning to grow up healthy and safe, I think... it would be more appropriate to let Yongning return to her sister's side to be raised. After all, a child is always closer to his or her biological mother."
As Emperor Zhaoheng stepped across the threshold of the main hall of Lihe Palace, he overheard the Empress's last few words.
The Empress actually intends to send Yongning back to Shuixian's side?!
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