Chapter 206 In my heart, you will always be the best.
The imperial carriage stopped in front of the Lihe Palace. Just as Feng Shunxiang was about to order someone to stop the carriage, he caught a glimpse of Emperor Zhaoheng's complicated expression out of the corner of his eye.
He looked at the plaque at Lihe Palace that he had personally inscribed, and his index finger unconsciously tapped his knee.
Clearly, Emperor Zhaoheng was caught in a dilemma.
After an unknown amount of time, Emperor Zhaoheng sighed softly and ordered the palace servants to lower the palanquin.
When he stepped into the Lihe Palace, he was filled with unspoken anticipation and trepidation.
In the courtyard of Lihe Palace, the autumn sun was shining brightly. Princess Yongning was kicking a colorful shuttlecock and laughing. Her wet nurse and Yinzhu were serving her closely.
Not far behind Yongning, several wet nurses and nannies were sunbathing under the eaves, each holding a babbling twin.
Seeing this scene, Emperor Zhaoheng felt a warmth in his heart. Looking at the warm and harmonious scene before him, he felt that the tension in his heart, which had been taut for days, had been relieved.
"Father!"
Yongning, with her sharp eyes, saw him and immediately dropped the shuttlecock, rushing into his arms like a joyful little bird.
Emperor Zhaoheng bent down and picked up his daughter, feeling her soft, cuddly body. He then reached out and pinched her soft, rice-dumpling cheeks, which made Yongning giggle.
He glanced around casually, but did not see the familiar figure. He then asked the wet nurse, "Where is the Imperial Noble Consort?"
Before the words were finished, they saw Narcissus's Little Kitchen slowly approaching.
Today, she was not wearing the magnificent robes of an imperial concubine, but only a simple and elegant everyday dress with a royal blue cloud pattern. Silver lotus earrings adorned her cheeks, making her skin appear even more fair and delicate, and exuding a very elegant and aloof air.
Narcissus is in her palace, and today she has not applied any makeup to her face.
Perhaps because she was recovering after giving birth, there was a hint of weariness in her eyes, which only made her skin appear even whiter, like a white lotus blooming after the rain, making her look pitiful.
At this moment, Shui Xian seemed to notice Emperor Zhaoheng standing in the courtyard.
She looked up and met Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze. Her steps faltered slightly, and a fleeting, perfectly timed look of surprise flashed across Shui Xian's eyes.
As if she hadn't expected him to come, her eyes were filled with a tender light.
But the light vanished in an instant, turning into a calm distance. The two were not far apart, and Emperor Zhaoheng clearly noticed the change in her expression, and couldn't help but frown.
Narcissus stepped forward respectfully and curtsied.
"Your Majesty, I was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival. I had just gone to the small kitchen to check on the soft food prepared for Yongning and had not been able to greet you properly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Looking at her deliberately keeping her distance, Emperor Zhaoheng felt a surge of resentment from her lack of concern for him these past few days, mixed with an inexplicable sense of loss.
He reached out to help her up, but when he touched her fingertips, he felt they were icy cold, and he couldn't help but furrow his brow.
"Why are your hands so cold? Are you still recovering?"
Emperor Zhaoheng himself was unaware that his words of concern for Narcissus came out quite naturally.
Narcissus gently withdrew her hand, tucking it into her sleeve, and lowered her eyes.
"Your Majesty, I am fine. It's just that I've been taking care of several children these days, and I've inevitably neglected my own appearance. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Emperor Zhaoheng was taken aback by her lukewarm attitude, and felt even more uncomfortable.
Just as he was about to ask Shui Xian again, he heard Shui Xian ask in a calm voice, "I heard that His Majesty stayed at Consort Lin's residence in Chuxiu Palace some time ago?"
Shui Xian looked directly at Emperor Zhaoheng, her gaze as gentle as ever, but for some reason, Emperor Zhaoheng dared not look at her.
"......yes."
"Your Majesty did not ask to inquire, but Qingyan and Qinghe are in need of people right now, and I inevitably neglected to check the records of the Imperial Household Department... If Your Majesty has any favorites, it would be best to let me know in advance, so that if there is a grand conferment of titles on the six palaces next time, she will not be left out."
Shui Xian is now not only an Imperial Noble Consort, but also an Imperial Noble Consort who assists in managing the six palaces.
Even though it was all her duty, Emperor Zhaoheng felt inexplicably uneasy, as if he couldn't help but feel guilty when he was looked at by her watery eyes.
He cleared his throat. If Narcissus hadn't mentioned it, he would have long forgotten who he had slept with a few days ago.
Emperor Zhaoheng, holding Yongning in his arms, hastily replied, "I know," and before he finished speaking, he carried Yongning inside.
Upon entering the main hall, one sees that the furnishings remain the same, but the hall seems to have lost some of its former vibrancy.
After taking his seat, Yongning struggled out of his father's arms and went to the soft couch to play with his tiger-head toy.
Emperor Zhaoheng felt awkward resting his hands on his knees, as they were empty.
The dignified ruler of the world, in the palace of a woman, inexplicably felt somewhat guilty.
Narcissus lowered her eyes, as if unaware.
She personally poured him tea, the finest Lushan Yunwu tea, which was his favorite flavor.
However, unlike usual, the snacks on the small table next to it were no longer the exquisite and unique styles that showed a lot of thought and effort had been put into them; they were just a few plates of light pastries.
Emperor Zhaoheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and the familiar aroma of tea could not dispel the stagnation in his heart.
He put down his teacup, his gaze falling on Narcissus's serene profile, and suddenly spoke, with a hint of probing.
"The day before yesterday, I... went to Consort Jing's residence for dinner."
Shui Xian's hand holding the teapot paused almost imperceptibly, and the water pouring from the spout seemed to freeze for a moment.
She then steadily put the teapot down and looked up at Emperor Zhaoheng.
"Consort Jing is gentle and indifferent to fame and fortune. Talking to her will surely make the Emperor feel more at ease. This is a good thing."
Her tone was calm, and her eyes were clear, without a trace of jealousy or resentment. She seemed genuinely happy that he had found someone who made him feel at ease.
But the more magnanimous she was, the more suffocated Emperor Zhaoheng felt in his chest.
He would rather see her unhappy or aggrieved than see her so calm and indifferent.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Shui Xian glanced at the window frame and said softly, seemingly casually, "Speaking of which, I've heard someone mention that Consort Jing's features... do resemble the late Emperor's Consort Wen."
She paused, her tone carrying just the right amount of reminiscence—neither overly inquisitive nor overly sentimental—and then murmured:
"It is said that Consort Wen is of noble character and pure heart... If only I had the chance to see the late Emperor's Consort Wen in person..."
Emperor Zhaoheng did not expect that Shui Xian would bring up the late Emperor Wen Pin without warning. He picked up his teacup to drink tea, but the gentle profile of that person from his memory seemed to flash before his eyes.
He unconsciously compared the narcissus to the person in his memory.
How can a living person compare to a embellished memory?
When Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes turned slightly cold, Yongning on the soft couch suddenly moved.
She seemed to suddenly lose interest in the toy in her hand and casually tossed it onto the soft couch.
"Mother! Hug me!"
Princess Yongning, tired from playing, ran in and threw herself into Shuixian's arms, acting coquettishly in her childish voice.
At this moment, the wet nurses who were serving the twins also came in carrying the babies.
The Emperor has not come for a long time. Now that he has finally arrived, let the Emperor see the twins more often so that we can help our Empress maintain her favor.
Upon seeing the children, the calm on Narcissus's face was instantly replaced by tenderness.
She held Yongning, who was wriggling around in her arms like a little worm, and then gently stroked her sons' little faces.
At this moment, the narcissus's profile exudes an indescribable gentleness, and the sunlight streaming in from the window seems to serve as her backdrop, gilding her with a soft glow.
Emperor Zhaoheng watched this heartwarming scene, seemingly stunned by the beauty of the narcissus at this moment.
He watched her tenderness and patience with the child, something he had never seen in his own mother. At that moment, Narcissus was extremely beautiful in his eyes.
That beauty surpassed everything in the world. Emperor Zhaoheng's mind was shocked and filled with it, and the gentle figure in his memory gradually faded under her influence.
He stepped forward, reaching out to tease his daughter and son, his voice unconsciously softening.
"It's my fault... I've been too busy with affairs these past few days to come and see you and the children."
Narcissus looked up at him, her eyes instantly filling with tears.
But when Emperor Zhaoheng looked closely, he could only see shimmering light. She did not shed tears, but the sight of her eyes filled with tears had already melted Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
Narcissus: "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, with the world in your heart, and you are busy with countless affairs every day. Your humble servant... dares not complain."
Shui Xian did not press him for an answer as to why he said he "didn't have time" but had the opportunity to go to Chuxiu Palace.
In fact, this question hadn't even crossed her mind.
From the very beginning, Shui Xian never regarded Emperor Zhaoheng as her husband.
He was the emperor, the Son of Heaven, the embodiment of supreme power.
The moment Narcissus was brought to his bed, she had no choice but to struggle for survival in the deep palace.
She didn't care how many women he had; she only cared about one thing.
What benefits and power can I gain from him...?
However, a man, especially a noble man, absolutely cannot accept that his woman does not love him.
She took a deep breath, as if gathering immense courage, before continuing softly, "But... sometimes, in the quiet of the night, I am afraid. I am afraid that I am not good enough, unworthy of the Emperor's favor. I am afraid that in the palace, with its open and hidden dangers, I cannot protect the children."
“What I fear most is… I fear that His Majesty will think that I have changed, that I am no longer… no longer the Narcissus that His Majesty used to know, the one who was still quite innocent…”
She used a strategy of retreat to advance, laying bare her vulnerability and insecurity before him.
It's not an explanation, but a show of weakness, a confession.
Emperor Zhaoheng was deeply shaken. Seeing her struggling to hold back her tears, and hearing the unease hidden in her words and the overflowing affection, all his doubts and comparisons vanished at that moment, leaving only a deep sense of heartache.
He could no longer restrain himself, and reached out to pull her and Yongning, who was in her arms, tightly into his embrace.
Now, embracing her and the child, Emperor Zhaoheng felt that the long-empty corner of his heart had finally been filled with warmth.
Emperor Zhaoheng sighed softly and said to himself, "I misunderstood... It was my fault."
He lowered his head, meeting Narcissus's captivating eyes, and whispered a promise to her: "In this deep palace, if we have no power to protect ourselves, how can we protect ourselves and our child?"
"I have never thought you were bad, not before, and certainly not now."
He cupped her face in his hands, gently wiping away the tears that finally streamed down her face with his fingertips, his gaze focused and affectionate.
"Xian'er, in my heart, you will always be the best."
If someone else had said this, Emperor Zhaoheng certainly wouldn't have believed it.
But at this moment, when he spoke these words himself, the simple words were like the most useful key, unlocking the door to his long-closed heart.
Narcissus cried and threw herself into his arms, but where he couldn't see, she slightly curled the corners of her lips.
Just as she expected...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com