Chapter 5 Days of restraint... ultimately ended in utter defeat!
Since leaving Changxin Palace that night, Emperor Zhaoheng seemed to have returned to his restrained and self-disciplined self as an emperor.
For several days in a row, he did not set foot in the inner palace, burying himself in the mountains of memorials and the lengthy court meetings.
However, only he knew that the flutter in his heart that he had forcibly suppressed had not truly subsided.
Whenever the night was quiet, during breaks from reviewing memorials, or when he was reading alone, that beautiful figure would always flash before his eyes.
He constantly reminded himself to remember the unbearable years of his father's later years, and that he must not repeat the same mistakes.
But the more he tried to suppress it, the deeper the imprint of that beautiful figure seemed to become in his heart.
The emperor felt a sense of loss of control he had never experienced before, which made him extremely irritable.
Emperor Zhaoheng began to actively choose concubines, visiting the inner palace every two or three days.
Consort Li, Consort Wan, Consort Yi, Consort Rong...
He seemed to be searching for something, but it was unclear what he was looking for.
Beneath the surface of the emperor's supposed impartiality lies an emptiness that even he himself is unaware of.
Narcissus was not in a hurry; she waited patiently for the moment when the long-held desire in his heart would erupt.
The days passed gradually as the winter wind howled.
Just when it seemed that Shui Xian had been completely forgotten by Emperor Zhaoheng, a new batch of young women were selected and officially entered the harem.
During a break from her regular duties, Shui Xian overheard the other palace servants whispering about the recent power struggles and infighting at Chuxiu Palace.
These things seem to have nothing to do with Shui Xian. Ever since Consort Yi personally blocked Shui Xian's path to the Emperor's bedchamber that night at Changxin Palace, her attitude towards Shui Xian has undergone a subtle change.
After Camellia was executed, Consort Yi no longer had any accomplices to help her torment Narcissus.
She could only put on a gentle expression and then order Narcissus around to do the rough work.
Clearly, Consort Yi had not forgotten the special care the Emperor had shown to Narcissus.
She grew increasingly disgusted with Narcissus, disgusted by Narcissus's use of her stunning beauty to seduce the emperor's heart, and even more disgusted by Narcissus's pregnant belly, which she herself did not possess.
These feelings of disgust all manifested as overt and covert retaliation.
On this day, Consort Yi, using the excuse that the light outside was good, ordered Shui Xian to quickly make her a brocade cloak embroidered with intricate patterns for the New Year's banquet in the drafty corridor outside the side hall of Changxin Palace.
The biting cold of deep winter was so intense that in the frigid wind, Narcissus's slender fingers were already red and stiff from the cold, and she could barely hold the tiny embroidery needle.
She lowered her head slightly, seemingly unaware of the pitying or mocking glances directed at her from around her, her fingertips moving laboriously across the embroidery frame.
Just then, Song Changzai, who had just entered the palace, appeared at the gate of Changxin Palace.
Dressed in a moon-white palace gown, carrying gifts, and accompanied by her trusted palace maid, she visited the high-ranking concubines at Changxin Palace.
Consort Song spotted the slender figure in the corridor at a glance. Even though she was dressed in the most ordinary palace maid's clothes, Shui Xian's stunning beauty still shone brightly, instantly attracting Consort Song's attention.
Song Changzai paused for a moment unconsciously, a look of amazement flashing in his eyes, which was then replaced by even stronger disdain.
This maid is so beautiful; she looks like she has a wicked heart.
She snorted coldly, her disdain for the narcissus evident on her face.
Upon hearing Song Changzai's cold snort, Shui Xian subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound and then saw Song Changzai, this... old friend.
This is her first meeting with Song Changzai after her rebirth.
In her previous life, she was extremely familiar with this Consort Song.
She still remembered that in her previous life, she became pregnant on her first time being favored by the emperor, and Consort Yi gave her the West Side Palace to take care of her pregnancy.
Although Consort Song had only entered the palace this year, she quickly became acquainted with Consort Yi. Although she did not live in Changxin Palace, she always went there.
Narcissus inevitably ran into Consort Song.
Every encounter was accompanied by Song Changzai's humiliation.
Consort Song always mocked her condescendingly: "You are a lowly servant girl born into a family, who can't even read a few words. You only managed to climb onto the emperor's bed by luck. How could you possibly bear an imperial heir? Heaven is truly blind!"
Consort Yi did not stop her, but privately asked Shui Xian to be tolerant, saying that Consort Song was new to the palace, young and ignorant.
Now it seems that it was Consort Yi who indulged and allowed Consort Song to humiliate her.
A cold sarcasm flashed across Narcissus's eyes, but when she looked up again, all that remained was obedience.
She put down the embroidery hoop, stood up slowly, her legs stiff from the cold.
Shui Xian bowed respectfully in the direction of Consort Song, saying, "This servant greets Your Highness."
"Um."
Consort Song coldly agreed, straightened her back, and walked into the warm main hall of Changxin Palace with the arrogance of a noble lady.
Narcissus sat back down on the cold veranda, picked up the embroidery hoop, her fingertips icy cold.
She listened intently, and could faintly hear the two people talking inside the hall.
Consort Song said with a hint of flattery, "...My father has always been grateful for Lord Yi's guidance and care in court...This is just a small token of my appreciation, and I hope Your Highness will not find it offensive..."
Then came Consort Yi's soft laughter: "Sister Song, you're too kind... Your father, Lord Song, is in charge of royal etiquette; he is refined and dignified, and I have long admired him..."
Narcissus wanted to listen more, but the heavy palace doors had already been closed by the maids, cutting off the sounds from inside.
As she embroidered the embroidery frame in her hands, she recalled the gifts that Song Changzai had brought in earlier.
If she remembered correctly, in her previous life, after Consort Song entered the palace and became attached to Consort Yi, Consort Yi had a lot more money in her hands.
And then there's the fact that she knew about the next few years because of her rebirth...
Narcissus raised her eyebrows slightly, vaguely guessing some of the Song family's secrets.
After an unknown amount of time, the doors of the main hall opened again.
Song Changzai walked out with a smile on his face.
As she passed under the corridor, she caught a glimpse of Narcissus putting down her embroidery frame, seemingly preparing to rise again to bow to her.
Song Changzai's eyes darted around, and she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Wait a minute!" Song Changzai deliberately made things difficult: "Narcissus, is it? Your greeting... is far too perfunctory!"
"Your knees are bent so shallowly, and your head is held so high. Don't you have any sense of hierarchy? I think you haven't learned a single rule!"
Narcissus paused, remaining in a half-bow posture: "This servant..."
"Still dare to argue?" Consort Song coldly rebuked, "You are clearly arrogant because you are favored! Just because you once showed your face before the Emperor, you don't take me seriously?"
Just now, Consort Yi told her in the palace about how Narcissus had been rejected after serving the emperor.
Song Changzai was even more convinced that Shuixian was a lowly maid who failed to please her master.
Her contempt grew stronger. "Consort Yi is kind and generous, but I, this humble lady, cannot tolerate any dissent! If I don't teach you a lesson today, wouldn't the rules of this palace be nothing but a decoration?"
The commotion quickly caught Yi Fei's attention.
Consort Yi, supported by a palace maid, slowly walked out.
She asked, feigning surprise, "What's wrong, Sister Song? Why are you upset in this cold weather?"
Consort Song curtsied to Consort Yi: "Consort Yi, you've come at the perfect time! Look at this maid in your palace! As I was leaving, she stood up to pay her respects, but her back was bent as if it weren't, and her head was held higher than mine. She clearly doesn't respect the palace rules!"
"Such arrogance, if not punished, could corrupt the atmosphere of the palace! I am only thinking of Your Highness's reputation and the rules of the palace!"
Consort Yi feigned surprise as she looked at Narcissus, then revealed a helpless expression:
“Narcissus, I have always been kind to you because of your honesty, but the rules of this palace cannot be disregarded.”
She paused, her tone suddenly turning cold, "Considering this is your first offense, I will not punish you severely. Kneel here in the courtyard for an hour to reflect on what it means to respect the difference between superiors and inferiors! Let everyone in Changxin Palace see the consequences of breaking the rules!"
The two men, working together, convicted her.
After entering the palace from the Yi family, Shui Xian studied palace etiquette at the Imperial Household Department.
Even the strictest nannies said that her manners were excellent.
How did she become an impolite servant in Song Changzai's mouth?
Narcissus did not resist; she had other plans in mind.
If she remembered correctly, Emperor Zhaoheng would be coming to Changxin Palace later today.
This is her chance.
"This servant... obeys."
As if resigned to her fate, Narcissus slowly put down the embroidery hoop and needle and thread in her hands, and walked step by step to the center of the courtyard, where she knelt down on the cold stone brick ground.
Song Changzai looked smug, feeling that she had dampened Shui Xian's spirits.
"Your Highness Consort Yi handled the situation well; I admire you."
Consort Yi held Song Changzai's hand affectionately, "It's cold outside, sister, come in and talk to me."
The two left the narcissus in the cold courtyard and turned back to the main hall.
In the courtyard, only Narcissus remained, kneeling alone in the cold, empty snow.
The fine snow fell silently, quickly covering her hair and delicate shoulders with a thin layer of white snow.
She lowered her head slightly, tiny ice crystals condensed on her long eyelashes, her lips were pale from the cold, and her body trembled slightly uncontrollably.
Only its straight back, revealing an unyielding stubbornness, stands like an enduring sculpture amidst the boundless white snow.
This was the scene that Emperor Zhaoheng saw when he stepped into Changxin Palace.
Looking at that slender figure in the snow, Emperor Zhaoheng suddenly recalled that many years ago, he knelt for a long time in front of his father's bedchamber late at night, begging to lead troops on a northern expedition.
That night, it snowed just as heavily.
The bone-chilling cold is something he will never forget!
In an instant, the scene before him overlapped with his memories of himself, and Emperor Zhaoheng felt a pang of tenderness in his heart.
The urge to protect arises in a man's heart.
Days of restraint... ultimately led to utter defeat!
Without even glancing at Consort Yi and Consort Song who came out of the main hall, he took off his bright yellow cloak and strode forward to drape it over Shui Xian's shoulders.
In the wind and snow, Narcissus looked up and met the man's tender gaze, "Your Majesty..."
She swayed weakly, and her body went limp, falling right into the arms of Emperor Zhaoheng, who was leaning down.
Emperor Zhaoheng felt that the woman was weak and boneless, and her body was trembling uncontrollably even in her unconscious state due to the severe cold. He tightened his arms, picked her up, and strode out.
He wanted to protect the narcissus in this deep palace.
He wants Narcissus to be his woman!
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