Chapter 149 Spring Night
The narcissus closed its eyes, feeling the night breeze and smelling the fresh scent of spring water and flowers.
Below the knees, a warm spring flowed over her skin, relieving the soreness in her calves from the day's outing, as if the gentlest hand in the world was massaging and caressing her.
Low footsteps came from behind.
Shuixian had just opened her lips, wanting to call out Shuer's name, but the footsteps sounded a bit off.
How could the soft-soled embroidered shoes worn by palace maids make the sound that only men's boots make?
Several days in advance, preparations were being made for the royal procession at Wanfang Garden. The guards had already surrounded the villa, making it impossible to pass through, not to mention that she was a pregnant concubine...
She guessed who it was, but her lips barely touched the paper as she called out, "Shu'er, why are you here... Your Majesty!"
Narcissus's voice was languid and charming. As she spoke, she turned her head and opened her eyes. The moment she saw the bright yellow casual clothes, she let out a soft cry of surprise.
She braced herself on the ground beside her, as if trying to stand up. Emperor Zhaoheng, fearing she might slip on the bank, quickly stepped forward to support her.
"Xian'er, be careful."
Narcissus is wearing a bathing robe, which is easy to put on and take off, and has a loose and flowing style.
He reached out and touched her delicate arm.
Emperor Zhaoheng was taken aback for a moment, then grabbed her wrist with his other hand and placed it on her waist, pulling her towards him.
"Stand firm, don't fall."
He looked down at her, his dark eyes swirling with a desire that could be seen even in the dead of night.
The last time we met was when Narcissus pretended to be sick. After a few days apart, the man seemed to have lost some weight, but his demeanor became even more sharp and resolute.
Hmm.
They were very close, and Narcissus noticed his arousal.
Far from the palace, and also far from the constraints of rules, for a fleeting moment, Narcissus felt an impulse welling up from the bottom of her heart.
On this ambiguous spring night, she no longer wanted to consider a man's thoughts, nor did she want to flatter or pretend in front of him anymore.
She only wanted to be equal to him, not only to give, but also to ask for, even if only for a moment.
"emperor……"
Narcissus leaned against him, her watery eyes as bright and captivating as if reflecting a sky full of stars.
"If Your Majesty can catch me every time I lose my balance, then I don't want to stand up straight."
She had just soaked in the warm spring for a while, her cheeks flushed as if she were drunk, but the brightness in her eyes showed that she was sober.
"You're talking nonsense."
Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes were deep, but he used some force in his hands, as if he wanted to pull her deeper into his embrace.
His long, slender hands had prominent veins, and the rough fingertips and thick calluses on his palms were indelible marks from his martial arts training.
"Xian'er".
Emperor Zhaoheng called her name, picked her up and carried her to the inner room of the Orchid Fragrance Pavilion, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and said in a tone of refusal:
"Yinzhu and the others haven't finished setting up in the inner chamber yet. If we go now, it will definitely disturb them. I won't allow it..."
Emperor Zhaoheng paused, somewhat caught off guard by her question, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Then what should I do for you?"
Narcissus blinked gently, then leaned close to Emperor Zhaoheng's ear and whispered a few words.
Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes flashed with surprise, and his brows furrowed, as if he disapproved. "How dare you!"
His reaction was expected.
After all, he was an emperor raised on the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues; it would be strange if he agreed.
The impulse that had just surged in Shui Xian's heart dissipated in an instant, and her rationality returned. Just as she was calculating what to say in her mind, Emperor Zhaoheng suddenly gently put her down.
The next moment, he began to take off his bright yellow casual clothes.
The man's eyes were as dark as ink. Meeting her puzzled gaze, he spoke in a cold, hard voice, "You're pregnant now, do you think I'd let you catch a cold?"
The bright yellow carpet spread across the ground, bending several clumps of fragrant grass under its weight.
He pulled her up and covered her again, and Narcissus felt that his hot chest was even hotter than the warm spring next to her.
Under the open sky and on the vast, flat expanse of land.
It bent the orchids and shattered the starlight.
The warm spring water flows not far away, steam rises and the sound of flowing water is incessant, which is the prelude to the night.
Narcissus wasn't cold; her whole body was warm.
At this moment, there are only natural flowers and plants, the moonlit night, and him here.
The dense grass blocked the view of the distant palace, as if a leaf had obscured her vision. With this, she no longer needed to consider the intrigues of the inner palace and could only focus on indulging in the sensory pleasures of this night.
Perhaps it was because she had been working day and night since taking charge of the six palaces that her nerves were stretched to their limit, like a taut string, and only tonight did they relax a little.
Perhaps it was her turbulent pregnancy and unpredictable thoughts that led to her indulgence today.
Narcissus couldn't explain her sudden whim; all she knew was that someone was there to join her in her fooling around.
She suddenly rolled over, and by the moonlight, she could see the man's chest heaving with his low breathing.
"Bold."
He scolded her, but still protected her waist with his hand.
She pressed the bright yellow garment to the ground, her everyday clothes soaked with the juice of the grass, while the man bore the brunt of the chill.
Narcissus was unrestrained at this moment; indeed, as he said, she was very bold.
But only at this moment did Narcissus seem to transcend her rebirth, earnestly enjoying this spring night far from the palace.
Although deep down she knew she could never truly leave the capital.
In her recklessness, she forgot everything, seemingly carefree and without a worry in the world...
......
After Emperor Zhaoheng arrived at Wanfang Garden, he stayed at Consort Jin's residence for the first night. This news spread throughout the entire harem almost the instant Emperor Zhaoheng stepped into Lanxiang Pavilion.
Even the news, along with the fact that Consort Jin was so popular with the people, reached the Kunning Palace in the Imperial City.
When the informant arrived, the Empress was preparing to retire for the night.
She closed her eyes to rest, leaning against the couch as her informant reported on the day's events one by one.
Upon hearing that Emperor Zhaoheng had spent his first night in Lanxiang Pavilion upon entering Wanfang Garden, the Empress knew that most of the misunderstandings she had caused between the Emperor and his concubines had been resolved.
First, the Emperor severely punished Consort Wan and others for the sake of Narcissus, and then he spent the first night at Lanxiang Pavilion...
"I understand."
The empress wearily raised her hand to gather her long hair, and a maidservant beside her, with keen insight, stepped forward and handed a gold ingot to the spy.
After everyone had left, Jin Gui, the maid who had replaced Granny Sun as one of the Empress's trusted attendants, stepped forward to massage the Empress's head, gently pressing her fingers on the Empress's slightly sore temples.
Jin Gui observed the Empress's expression. Granny Sun was the Empress's wet nurse, while Jin Gui was someone she had grown up with.
When Granny Sun was still alive, she always said that she was too young to handle important matters.
Now that Granny Sun is gone, even though Jin Gui is on the top of the mountain, whenever she wants to say or do something, Granny Sun's scolding always flashes through her mind, so she becomes very careful with the words she asks.
"...Your Majesty, Consort Jin is far too arrogant. Holding the power to assist in managing the six palaces, she doesn't allow the other concubines to share the Emperor's favor and even monopolizes the Emperor's attention."
Jin Gui tried to belittle Consort Jin, but the Empress remained indifferent and did not respond, leaving only silence in the room.
So she didn't know what to say.
Although they grew up together, she always felt that she didn't understand the Queen.
Because of her frail health since childhood, the Empress never talked or played with these maids.
If they talked too much, Granny Sun would come over and scold them, saying they were disregarding their master's health.
Thinking of Granny Sun, Jin Gui's eyes showed a hint of helplessness, which then turned into anger.
Why did Granny Sun have to do anything wrong but poison Princess Yongning and frame Consort Jin?
Even such a kind and benevolent empress was affected by her, and even fell ill, unable to manage the inner palace...
Thinking of all this, Jin Gui couldn't help but feel resentment towards Granny Sun.
But as she complained, she also missed that strict woman. With her there, Jin Gui still felt like a child, someone to shelter her from the wind and rain.
Now that Granny Sun is gone, she can only become the Empress's head maid.
Everyone else thought Jin Gui was incredibly noble, but only Jin Gui knew that she actually didn't know much.
"Golden Osmanthus".
The Empress suddenly called out, interrupting Jin Gui's thoughts.
"This servant is here."
The Empress tilted her head, preventing Jin Gui from pressing down further. With her eyes closed, she instructed, "Go to Cining Palace tomorrow morning."
Cining Palace?
Jin Gui didn't understand why.
The Empress and the Empress Dowager usually don't interact much except for some necessary festivals, so why was she suddenly sent to Cining Palace?
"Your Majesty, I will go tomorrow, but what is it for?"
Jin Gui knew this would make her seem incompetent, but she genuinely didn't know what to do, and the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace always intimidated her, so Jin Gui couldn't help but ask.
The Empress finally slowly raised her eyes and looked at the golden osmanthus in front of her.
Jin Gui grew up with her since childhood and was the most innocent and kind person among those who served her.
The Empress knew this best.
"Don't be afraid, Jin Gui, you'll know tomorrow."
She gave Jin Gui a gentle smile, and Jin Gui felt instantly less afraid when she saw her smile.
"Yes, I understand!"
Looking at the Empress's weak and pale face, Jin Gui did not want to leave her side easily.
The Empress said, "You may leave now. I am about to retire for the night. Go and keep watch outside."
Jin Gui then helped the Empress to bed. She carefully turned off the light in the inner room and then lifted the curtain to go to the outer room.
Tonight, she is the one keeping watch.
After Jin Gui left, the Empress, who was lying on the couch, slowly opened her eyes.
She pondered the news she had just heard in the darkness.
Consort Jin is truly cunning...
Her scheme to sow discord allowed Consort Jin to regain the Emperor's favor in just a few days. She even managed to garner even more favor by leveraging the Emperor's guilt.
Those who climb high are bound to fall hard.
The Empress silently recited this in her heart.
She was prepared, even if... she had to pay the price of golden osmanthus.
The Empress turned her head to the side, and in the light from the outer room, she could vaguely see the silhouette of Jin Gui.
The image of Jin Gui's innocent smile flashed through the Empress's mind, and she closed her eyes without hesitation.
......
What she needs least is kindness...
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