Chapter 221 I'm Reluctant
Inside the Qianqing Palace, the once noisy outer room had long since fallen silent.
Shui Xian and Emperor Zhaoheng moved to the warm pavilion for dinner. Emperor Zhaoheng couldn't eat much, only the snow pear soup that Shui Xian had personally cooked in the small kitchen that morning.
The sweet pear soup gradually calmed his restlessness.
Shui Xian stayed by his side the whole time. Feng Shunxiang left the inner room to them while he personally guarded the outer room. Whenever there was an order, Feng Shunxiang kept his presence to a minimum, making sure that the two masters would notice him even after he had done everything properly.
Until Emperor Zhaoheng called Feng Shunxiang's name in a low voice, summoning him over.
"Have they all been dealt with?"
Emperor Zhaoheng did not say it explicitly, but Feng Shunxiang knew what he was talking about.
"The Empress Dowager has been sent back to Cining Palace, and the rest... have been handed over to the Imperial Clan Court for handling."
Feng Shunxiang was referring to the matter of demoting Prince Duan to a commoner.
Emperor Zhaoheng slowly put down the white porcelain spoon; the sweet pear soup was no longer suitable for him.
Even though his birth mother and younger brother deserved their punishment, it was not a pleasant thing for him. Rather, it felt like he had personally cut off a piece of flesh that had long been rotten and smelly, yet was still connected to him.
"Xian'er".
He called out unconsciously, and only after the words had already left his mouth did Emperor Zhaoheng realize that he had called out the name of Narcissus.
"Your Majesty, I am here."
Narcissus responded softly, moving closer to him. She raised her hand and took Emperor Zhaoheng's hand, which was casually placed on the table, her voice gentle as water.
"Your Majesty is tired, please rest early."
Her approach carried a delicate, familiar fragrance that dispelled the chill in his heart and soul.
Emperor Zhaoheng closed his eyes, feeling the warmth and comfort of her soft palms, and after a long while, he slowly spoke.
"Regarding today's events, Prince Duan... his attack was sudden, and I did not expect you to be able to counterattack so promptly."
Shui Xian recalled the chaos before Prince Duan entered the palace. Her voice was calm, as if she were recounting an ordinary little matter: "Perhaps... I foresaw it in advance."
Emperor Zhaoheng suddenly opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her.
Narcissus met his probing gaze and said frankly, "Biluo was indeed sent by me."
She revealed the truth, "After all, it was I who brought Biluo into the manor in the first place. Now that Biluo is in trouble, I will definitely rescue her."
Whether or not Prince Duan managed to stop Zhou Yan and Biluo, Shui Xian was prepared.
Shui Xian had already warned Zhou Yan that he would have no chance of escaping.
If things are beyond our control and we cannot safely rescue Biluo, then we should not force it. We can deliberately reveal some flaws related to Dengdi Inn to Prince Duan.
Although Shui Xian had only met Prince Duan a few times, she knew his pride and underestimation of his enemies. If Prince Duan saw someone bringing Bi Luo into the Dengdi Inn, he would surely rush to the palace to complain, just like a dog smelling meat.
"Your Majesty, I had no intention of harming that person, nor am I a person who enjoys scheming."
“But… Prince Duan publicly humiliated my younger sister Shuixiu. Although he did not defile her, a woman’s reputation is of utmost importance… He was so unscrupulous. As her elder sister, if I cannot seek justice for her, how can I face this world?”
Narcissus lowered her eyes, her voice tinged with a hint of bitterness. She chose to be honest, for now was the time when Emperor Zhaoheng's tolerance for her was at its peak.
When the matter of Shui Xiu's humiliation was mentioned, Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes darkened, and the last trace of subtle feeling in his heart caused by her scheming vanished, replaced by an undisguised pity and understanding.
"I understand."
He said in a deep voice, "It was my oversight that I failed to properly restrain him, causing you and Shuixiu to suffer."
Emperor Zhaoheng reached out and helped her up.
After Shui Xian regained her footing, Emperor Zhaoheng did not immediately withdraw his hand, but instead pulled Shui Xian into his lap.
Emperor Zhaoheng embraced her, and the fragrance of ambergris and the delicate scent of styrax gradually blended together.
After Narcissus's complete honesty, Emperor Zhaoheng's continued intimacy with her was enough to prove his true feelings.
He didn't blame her.
Nestled in his strong, warm embrace, Narcissus weighed and considered her options.
Narcissus was like a dancer walking on a knife's edge. She didn't know if she would fall and be shattered to pieces with the next step. All she could do was try again and again, and then take one step at a time.
She remained silent for a moment, as if she had made up her mind, and then looked up into his deep eyes.
Narcissus seemed uncertain, her words hesitant, but she still said:
"There is one more thing... The news that Biluo risked her life to bring back is not just about Consort Wen being framed."
Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze sharpened. He said nothing, but the way his hands tightened around her waist betrayed his turbulent emotions.
"Biluo said that Prince Duan had boasted to her many times after drinking that he had once made advances toward Consort Wen."
The air became quiet.
Emperor Zhaoheng held his breath at first, as if pondering the meaning behind Shui Xian's words.
A few seconds later, Emperor Zhaoheng's breathing became heavy and disordered, and his chest heaved up and down.
Shui Xian's words not only confirmed Prince Duan's covetousness of Consort Wen, but also exposed his outrageous depravity!
How dare he desecrate the late emperor's concubines and take pride in it, boasting about it to those around him?!
Emperor Zhaoheng's aura instantly turned icy and terrifying. His slender fingers unconsciously tightened around Shui Xian's waist, and his eyes surged with overwhelming killing intent!
The slight reluctance that had arisen earlier due to the brothers' infighting was now completely replaced by anger!
"brute!"
He squeezed out two words, the last syllable carrying a chilling edge.
Narcissus sensed the terrifying aura emanating from him, but she was not afraid.
She nestled quietly against him, and he hugged her back, using his presence to calm his turbulent emotions.
After a long while, Emperor Zhaoheng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, and the violent heaving of his chest gradually subsided.
He looked down at the serene woman in his arms, his gaze complex and indescribable.
She told him this secret without any regard for whether he would despise her, just so he would know the truth of what happened back then.
What Narcissus gave him was unconditional trust.
"Xian'er..."
He called to her, his voice hoarse, carrying an indescribable emotion, "Do you know what it means to tell me this secret?"
Narcissus looked up, and his reflection was seen in her clear eyes.
She did not answer Emperor Zhaoheng's question; instead, she said softly:
"All I know is that Your Majesty is my husband and the father of Yongning, Qingyan, and Qinghe. I will not let anyone who endangers Your Majesty or causes you pain go unpunished."
Narcissus cleverly placed herself in Emperor Zhaoheng's camp.
He hated Prince Duan, and she hated Prince Duan too.
He could share whatever ideas he had with her.
Her words were like the gentlest spring rain, nourishing silently, yet instantly striking the softest spot in Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
He said no more, but tightened his arms, pulling her deeper into his embrace.
The candlelight inside the hall crackled softly, and the atmosphere subtly shifted.
Emperor Zhaoheng lowered his head and kissed her cherry blossom-like lips, kissing away her trust and love.
His kisses grew deeper, as if a silent confirmation of her love and her heart.
Narcissus did not resist; instead, she responded to his kiss, wrapping her slender arms around his neck and pressing her softness and warmth against his burning body.
Tonight, she is willing to soothe his loneliness after being abandoned by everyone in the most intimate way, and reaffirm the unbreakable bond between them.
Warm red silk curtains, quilts billowing like red waves.
The room was enchanting, a harmonious blend of nature and beauty.
Emperor Zhaoheng only demanded, and kept demanding.
But he forgot that in constantly taking from the outside world, he was also destined to lose something.
...
The rain had just stopped, and a languid and warm atmosphere filled the tent.
Emperor Zhaoheng lay on his side, one hand holding Shuixian, the other hand unconsciously and very gently stroking her flat, smooth abdomen.
His fingertips were calloused, and the rubbing of them caused a slight shiver.
Narcissus stiffened slightly, thinking that he was still preoccupied with the matter of having offspring.
Since Ana saved her from the brink of death, her good fortune in getting pregnant has been broken.
Ana told her after she woke up that her constitution was now no different from that of an ordinary person... no, in fact, because of the damage that constitution had done to her, her constitution was even weaker than that of an ordinary person.
Shui Xian couldn't help but ponder: if Emperor Zhaoheng still harbored an obsession with having offspring, what should she do...?
She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath them.
Her subtle changes did not escape Emperor Zhaoheng's keen perception.
Emperor Zhaoheng stopped what he was doing, lifted her chin, and forced her to look at him.
Seeing the sadness in her eyes that she hadn't had time to completely conceal, he instantly understood her misunderstanding.
Emperor Zhaoheng felt as if something had struck his heart hard, and a surge of overwhelming pity welled up within him.
He pulled her closer, holding her tightly to his chest, making them very intimate.
Shui Xian heard Emperor Zhaoheng's deep and firm voice ring in her ears, carrying an undeniable tenderness.
"Don't think nonsense... I have Xian'er, Yongning, Qingyan and Qinghe, which is already a great blessing from heaven. My heart is completely fulfilled."
He paused, his tone softening further.
"When I touch you here, it's because my heart aches."
"I think of the suffering and pain you endured when you gave birth to them... I am filled with fear whenever I think of it. Xian'er, I do not want, and I cannot bear to let you suffer any more childbirth pain. We have these three children, that is enough."
Narcissus looked up in surprise, her eyes meeting his gaze, which was filled with genuine tenderness.
So... he didn't want more children, but was just feeling sorry for her?
She hugged his strong waist tightly, buried her face in his chest, inhaled the comforting scent of ambergris on his body, and responded with a muffled "Mmm".
No more words are needed; this embrace speaks louder than a thousand words...
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