Chapter 62 When the time comes, Xian'er, please try not to beg for mercy.
After returning from the place where Yi Guichun was imprisoned, Shui Xian went straight to the Qianqing Palace to pay her respects.
Outside the Qianqing Palace, the Grand Eunuch Feng Shunxiang stood guard at the palace gate as usual. When he saw Shuixian arrive, he stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Consort Jin."
Good afternoon, Eunuch Feng.
Narcissus curtsied slightly in return, then looked up at the tightly closed palace doors.
"I was passing by the Qianqing Palace and missed His Majesty a little. Eunuch Feng, may I go in and inform him?"
Feng Shunxiang's smile remained unchanged, quite shrewd:
"Your Majesty's timing is unfortunate... Consort Li is currently inside, having lunch with the Emperor."
Is Consort Li inside?
Narcissus's eyes flickered slightly.
She did not often take the initiative to visit Emperor Zhaoheng at the Qianqing Palace.
As far as I can remember, Emperor Zhaoheng disliked being disturbed when handling state affairs, and even she rarely came unless summoned.
It now seems that Consort Li did indeed hold a significant place in Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
"I see."
Narcissus gave a gentle smile. "It was my abrupt arrival."
"In that case, we will not disturb His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine's enjoyment of their meal."
She said gently to Feng Shunxiang, "Please wait a moment, Eunuch Feng. After Consort Li leaves, please inform her that I have just been here."
Feng Shunxiang quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will certainly convey your message."
Narcissus nodded, said no more, and turned to leave with the silver beads.
On her way back to Yongle Palace, the warm spring sun shone on her, but she felt a little chilly.
Shui Xian re-examined in her heart the status of Consort Li in Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
In her past life, Consort Li plotted to harm her unborn child several times, using ruthless methods with irrefutable evidence.
But what happened in the end? Yi Guichun presented physical evidence and witnesses to the emperor, who was furious. In the end, he only stripped Consort Li of her title, revoked her power to assist in managing the six palaces, and demoted her to the rank of Consort.
He wasn't banished to the cold palace, nor was he sentenced to death!
In her previous life, Shui Xian was pregnant alone in Changxin Palace, and Yi Guichun reported the situation of the imperial heir on her behalf.
Now, she personally felt how much Emperor Zhaoheng cherished this only child; his careful care was as if he were the apple of his eye.
Even so, Emperor Zhaoheng ultimately chose to give Consort Li a lenient sentence for her heinous crime of plotting against the imperial heir.
Consort Li's significance in Emperor Zhaoheng's heart far exceeded that of an ordinary concubine...
Back at Yongle Palace, Shui Xian dismissed everyone except Yin Zhu and Xiao Chuanzi.
"Your Majesty?" Yinzhu looked at Shuixian's solemn expression and felt uneasy.
"I always feel... that a storm is brewing."
Narcissus invited them to sit down beside her, while she herself sat on a soft couch, leaning against brocade pillows, gently stroking her slightly protruding belly.
"Although Yi Guichun has gone mad, her madness is strange and worrying..."
She looked at Xiao Chuanzi and lowered her voice, "Xiao Chuanzi, I need you to be extremely careful. My food, medicine, clothes... everything you can touch must be checked repeatedly. You must not entrust it to anyone else, and there must be no oversight!"
"Yinzhu, keep a close eye on news from inside and outside the palace, especially the movements at Zhaoyang Palace and the Yi residence."
"Yes! This servant understands!"
Yinzhu and Xiaochuanzi solemnly responded.
"Regardless of whether there's a conspiracy..."
Narcissus gently stroked her slightly protruding belly, her eyes darkening inch by inch. "It's always better to prepare early than to sit and wait for death."
——
The following day at lunchtime, Emperor Zhaoheng arrived at Yongle Palace.
Narcissus glanced at the sun high in the sky and understood.
Feng Shunxiang was cautious in his actions. He promised her that he would report to Emperor Zhaoheng after Consort Li left, and he was certain that there would be no mistakes.
Given Emperor Zhaoheng's current regard for the child in her womb and his attachment to her, Shui Xian was certain that Emperor Zhaoheng would come immediately.
The fact that he only came after court has left suggests only one possibility...
Last night, Consort Li should have stayed at the Qianqing Palace.
A gentle smile played on her lips as she gracefully approached him: "Your Majesty, the court session ended early today. Have you had lunch yet?"
Not yet.
Emperor Zhaoheng naturally took her hand and led her into the main hall to sit down at the dining table.
"I came here because I thought the food here was light and delicious."
He paused, as if just remembering something, "Oh right, Feng Shunxiang told me that you went to the Qianqing Palace to look for me yesterday afternoon?"
Emperor Zhaoheng raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with reproach: "I only heard about it from him after court. Alas, this old man is getting older and his memory is failing; he didn't even report it in time."
Narcissus listened to the man's lies, her smile unwavering, but she knew perfectly well in her heart:
Feng Shunxiang has a bad memory? He's seriously underestimating this favorite of the emperor.
Emperor Zhaoheng shifted all the blame onto Feng Shunxiang, simply because he didn't want to tell her personally about Consort Li's nighttime service to him.
She saw through his words but didn't say anything. She went along with his words considerately and said, "Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state. Eunuch Feng has been by Your Majesty's side for many years. It is only natural that he would forget things for a moment."
"Your Majesty, I was just bored this afternoon and missed you, so I went to visit you. It was nothing important."
She walked behind Emperor Zhaoheng, who was sitting on a round stool, and gently massaged his tense shoulders and neck.
Emperor Zhaoheng closed his eyes lightly, seemingly enjoying her massage.
Narcissus's touch was gentle, as if she were casually bringing up yesterday's events.
"Speaking of which, I visited Lady Yi, a commoner, yesterday..."
After she uttered the words "Commoner Yi Shi," the muscles under her palm tensed slightly.
Emperor Zhaoheng turned his head, his brow furrowed: "Why are you looking at her? That poisonous woman..."
Narcissus sat down opposite him, gently placing her hand on his slightly protruding belly. Her eyes held a complex expression, and she whispered:
“Your Majesty, she… after all, was my former mistress. Even though she has harmed me in every way, I was taught from childhood to respect my mistress and that her orders are law.”
"Now, seeing her end up so insane, I feel a mix of emotions that are hard to describe... It's truly a cruel twist of fate."
Narcissus lowered her eyes slightly, her gaze revealing a sense of melancholy about the world and a hint of vulnerability that she could not suppress.
Seeing her sorrowful appearance, Emperor Zhaoheng felt some of his displeasure at her rash visit to Yi Guichun lessen.
He reached out and took her hand, gently comforting her: "Xian'er, you are just too kind-hearted. That wicked woman deserved it, you don't need to be sad for her."
To comfort her, Emperor Zhaoheng said softly, "The Yi family... has indeed found several renowned doctors to come to the palace to treat her."
Originally, he didn't intend to tell Shui Xian, after all, Yi was a commoner and had tried to harm Shui Xian with a knife.
The sentiments expressed by Shui Xian softened Emperor Zhaoheng's heart, and he whispered to Shui Xian about Yi Guichun's recent situation.
Emperor Zhaoheng continued, "Yi Ming submitted a memorial, bitterly denouncing his daughter's immorality, but ultimately could not bear to see her bloodline living such a crazy life, and begged me to allow a renowned physician to try."
"I think, after all, Yi Guichun has served me for three years, and has also..."
His voice grew cold, and the warmth that had just welled up instantly turned cold.
"It's better to let her spend the rest of her life in the cold palace, in her madness, than to let her come to her senses. Only by being soberly punished and soberly reflecting on her mistakes can she truly understand the sins she has committed!"
The Yi family? A renowned doctor?
Narcissus's unease grew stronger; she could almost see a net slowly closing around her.
She asked tentatively, "I wonder if that famous doctor can cure Yi Guichun's epilepsy?"
Emperor Zhaoheng's tone was slightly impatient, "Whether or not it can be cured, this is an opportunity I am giving because of the Yi family's many years of merit and Yi Guichun's service."
"If she can't be cured, and she really goes insane, then she'll only be able to spend the rest of her life in the cold palace in a madness."
When Yi Guichun was mentioned, Emperor Zhaoheng couldn't help but think of Yi Guichun's gentle and obedient nature in the past.
He and Yi Guichun also had good times together.
Those favors were not solely due to the family behind Yi Guichun. He was the emperor, not a male prostitute. Why would he favor women based on their family background?
Yi Guichun's gentle and virtuous nature captivated him.
However......
Emperor Zhaoheng's mind flashed back to the image of Yi Guichun, who, in his final moments, held a dinner knife, intending to rush into the warm pavilion of the Imperial Garden and stab the narcissus...
He pulled Narcissus into his arms and stroked her soft cheek.
"Xian'er... stay by my side and be well."
Narcissus lowered her eyes and nodded gently in his arms. She held Emperor Zhaoheng's hand and placed it on the slightly protruding curve of her lower abdomen.
“Narcissus will surely stay with the Emperor and accompany him for the rest of his life.”
Emperor Zhaoheng saw that she was gentle and lovely, and that her delicate profile had both the charm of a young girl and the warmth of a new mother. His heart stirred and he reached out to pull her into his arms and cherish her.
Narcissus subtly turned her body slightly to avoid his arm: "Your Majesty, I feel a bit heavy today, and my back is very sore..."
Emperor Zhaoheng was naturally considerate of her.
Just then, Feng Shunxiang reported through the door, seemingly about an important matter from the previous dynasty.
Emperor Zhaoheng then withdrew from this gentle embrace. He stood up and let Shui Xian straighten the slightly wrinkled collar of his dragon robe.
"I... will come to see you when I have free time."
Emperor Zhaoheng looked at her beautiful face so close to his own, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
Narcissus took his hand and escorted him to the palace gate.
Just before the palace doors were about to open and the palace servants' eyes were about to fall upon them.
She tiptoed close to Emperor Zhaoheng's ear and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, said in a tone that was both reproachful and teasing:
"Wasn't last night enough enjoyable with the Imperial Concubine? Why bother provoking me..."
The woman's breath was as sweet as orchids, and the way she glanced at him seemed to contain an indescribable deep affection.
Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes darkened slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but the palace doors had already opened, and the palace servants in the courtyard all looked over.
His thin lips were pressed tightly together, revealing a hint of restraint.
He pulled Narcissus to his side, lowered his voice, and threatened, "When I'm done with my work, I'll come to see you... By then, you'd better not beg for mercy."
After speaking, Emperor Zhaoheng left Yongle Palace in high spirits, while Shuixian, her cheeks flushed, watched him leave with affection.
Until his figure disappeared at the palace gate, Narcissus turned around and returned to the main hall.
As the palace doors closed, the deep affection in her eyes gradually turned cold.
What exactly is the Yi family up to?
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