Chapter 234 With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for?
The sedan chair moved swiftly yet steadily, the deep winter wind carrying fine snowflakes that pattered against the heavy curtains with a dull thud.
Narcissus sat upright, her fingertips, tucked into her sleeves, digging deeply into her palms, causing a sharp pain that helped her maintain absolute clarity of mind.
Memories of my past life surged in my mind, as if they were right before my eyes.
When the epidemic spread, everyone, from the high and mighty imperial palace to ordinary people, felt insecure.
At first, there were only a few patients, but later, the streets of the capital were covered with white cloths, and cries could be heard from every household... The scene was as tragic as a nightmare.
But then, the contents of Pei Jichuan's secret report from the previous day came to mind.
Although the prescription is not complete, we are already 70-80% confident, only lacking the key medicinal ingredients.
Although this trip is risky, it is also the perfect opportunity to completely seize the Emperor's heart!
and……
Before Shui Xian's eyes flashed the tragic scene she had witnessed in her past life in the Red Night Pavilion, a scene she would never see in this imperial city.
Only by reaching the highest point can she have the opportunity to change the fate of all living beings!
In this world, risks and opportunities always coexist; she had to go!
Inside the sleeping quarters of the Qianqing Palace.
The medicinal aroma mingled with an indescribable sense of oppression.
Emperor Zhaoheng lay on the bright yellow dragon bed, his face flushed an unnatural red, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed, and a damp cloth covering his forehead to cool him down.
His usually deep and sharp eyes now seemed somewhat unfocused, and his breathing was slightly heavy, with faint sounds of lungs.
The sound of the palace doors being pushed open startled him.
Because he took precautions when he went to Cining Palace to attend to the ailing Emperor Zhaoheng, Emperor Zhaoheng's symptoms were not extremely severe, but he still suffered quite a bit.
He struggled to open his eyelids, and when he saw the slender and graceful figure in the backlight, a bright light suddenly burst forth in his dark eyes, like a drowning man seeing a piece of driftwood.
But that glint was fleeting, quickly replaced by raging fury and the fear hidden deep within his dark eyes.
Fear arises from concern.
"Nonsense!"
His gaze toward Narcissus was weary yet dignified.
He reprimanded in a low voice with a stern face, his voice hoarse from the high fever.
"Who sent you? Get out...get out of here right now!"
He tried to sit up, but felt dizzy and had to hold his forehead for a while before he could steady himself.
Narcissus ignored his rebukes and instead of retreating, she strode straight to the dragon bed and knelt down on the footstool without hesitation. Her skirt spread out like a blooming flower, and she in the center resembled a delicate and slender stamen.
Despite the emperor's icy gaze, which was as cold as a deep pool, Narcissus was not afraid at all and reached out to feel the temperature of his forehead.
As her fingertips touched that frighteningly hot skin, her eyes instantly reddened, and tears welled up in her vision.
"If Your Majesty is in danger, what good will it do for me to live on alone?"
Tears, seemingly forced back but unable to be held back, rolled down her fair cheeks.
Her experiences in two lifetimes have made her easily moved to tears, and every time she is moved, it is with genuine emotion.
Narcissus is also adept at finding ways to bring her heart back at any time.
Emperor Zhaoheng was unaware of any of this.
His heart softened at the sight of Narcissus's tears. Seeing her on the verge of tears and the genuine worry in her eyes, he felt a pang of sympathy and a vulnerability within her.
Emperor Zhaoheng suppressed his lingering affection and raised his hand to push her away, but she beat him to it and grabbed his large hand tightly.
Because he has a persistent high fever, the narcissus's tender hands appear exceptionally cool and soft.
The cool touch strangely soothed his body's heat and the discomfort of his illness.
"The epidemic is dangerous... Xian'er, listen to me... go outside... if you get sick..."
Although it was a rule established by the ancestors that concubines should attend to the sick, Emperor Zhaoheng still couldn't bear to see her suffer.
He knew the pain of this illness, and he would rather suffer ten times the pain himself than let her be in any danger.
"Then we'll share the same illness and suffering."
Ignoring Emperor Zhaoheng's advice, Shui Xian bent down and gently pressed her forehead against his sweaty forehead.
Narcissus knew that people who are sick are the most vulnerable.
Whether in body or mind, even the highest emperor is no exception.
Although he said this, Emperor Zhaoheng's rationality and restraint were evident in his words.
No patient is not lonely, and no patient does not long for companionship.
She deliberately said willful things, knowing full well that Emperor Zhaoheng would understand that she would say anything to stay with him.
"I am not afraid of death, but I am afraid... I am afraid that Your Majesty will not want me to stay by your side."
As expected, Emperor Zhaoheng was moved.
She rushed to his side the moment he fell ill, and now, fearing he would continue to drive her away, she said such things.
He knew that Narcissus was not such a willful person; she was only saying these seemingly outrageous things to stay by his side.
Emperor Zhaoheng had never been loved like this before. Everyone weighed the pros and cons, trying to gain something from him... power, status, glory...
Only her... only her...
Emperor Zhaoheng finally closed his eyes in defeat, his Adam's apple bobbing violently as he gripped her hand tightly, as if it were his only salvation.
"Silly Fairy..."
His thin lips pursed slightly, the rough texture of which eventually landed on the delicate back of Narcissus's hand.
The following day, Shui Xian stayed by Emperor Zhaoheng's bedside day and night, never taking off her clothes to serve him medicine.
She carefully blew on the decocted medicine to cool it down, and then patiently fed it to Emperor Zhaoheng spoonful by spoonful. Even when he subconsciously resisted in his drowsy state, she gently coaxed him until he swallowed.
There were concubines outside who wanted to attend to the ailing Emperor Zhaoheng, but he refused to see any of them.
As the illness progressed, his mind became increasingly clouded and occasionally unclear.
Noisy sounds could be heard from outside the palace from time to time, coming from either the concubines of the harem or important officials from the former dynasty.
The implication was that Narcissus was "bewitching the emperor" and "arrogant because of the emperor's favor."
Now that Shui Xian is in charge of the Phoenix Seal, she doesn't need to listen to their nagging. She directly orders the guards to drag away those who are too loud, so as not to disturb Emperor Zhaoheng's peace.
Whether Emperor Zhaoheng was sober or not, he tacitly approved of the treatment of Narcissus.
Narcissus was not in a hurry to revel in her temporary power and position. She played her part completely, which was her weapon based on her memories of two lifetimes.
Shui Xian cared deeply for Emperor Zhao Heng. When he was sweating profusely from a high fever, Shui Xian dismissed the palace servants and personally used a warm, damp cloth to gently wipe his body. Her movements were careful, as if she were handling a precious treasure, without the slightest hint of disgust.
When he was haunted by nightmares and muttering incoherently, she would hold his hand and softly hum a tune from his hazy memories in his ear. The gentle, melodious tune strangely soothed his brow.
The eunuchs and palace servants standing outside peeked through the cracks at the scene inside and were all deeply moved by the Imperial Noble Consort's profound affection and selfless act.
The next day.
Emperor Zhaoheng's high fever finally subsided temporarily, and he slowly woke up, his consciousness returning to normal.
At first glance, he saw Narcissus curled up on a small couch to the side, covered only by his outer robe, fast asleep.
Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze lingered for a moment on her outer robe, which she was still clutching tightly in her sleep, and he felt incredibly comforted.
She... really cared about him terribly!
Emperor Zhaoheng gazed silently at her sleeping face, his heart burning with desire.
The day's hard work had exhausted Narcissus, and even the keen observation of the awakened emperor by the young eunuchs serving outside, who slowly lifted the curtain and walked in, did not disturb her.
Emperor Zhaoheng gestured to the palace attendants not to disturb Narcissus, and with their help, he quietly changed into a dry and soft nightgown.
Afterwards, he regained some strength after drinking a tonic soup, and then waved for the palace servants to leave.
Only he and Shui Xian remained in the bedchamber. Emperor Zhaoheng came to Shui Xian's bedside and gently stroked her cheek with the outside of his slender index finger.
What was brewing in the man's eyes was an unyielding affection.
"With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for?"
Narcissus was a light sleeper and was startled awake by his slight movements. She opened her eyes abruptly and, disregarding etiquette, immediately reached out to touch his forehead.
Realizing that the terrifying heat had indeed subsided, her eyes instantly lit up with undisguised joy, and her whole being brightened.
"Your Majesty...your fever has subsided!"
Her voice was filled with joy, and at that moment it even had a touch of innocence.
Emperor Zhaoheng's heart melted when he saw how happy she was about his slight improvement.
He smiled slightly, though his face was still pale, his eyes were very dark, reflecting the narcissus like the surface of a winter lake.
"Once I recover... Xian'er, I will never let you down."
It seemed that only then did Narcissus realize her disheveled state after just waking up, and she smiled apologetically. However, in Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes, her smile was more healing than any other sight.
However, at this very moment...
Under Emperor Zhaoheng's warm gaze, Shui Xian suddenly frowned, covered her mouth with her hand, turned her head to the side and coughed lightly.
"Your Majesty, I simply..."
Before Shui Xian could finish speaking, Emperor Zhao Heng ignored her attempts to cover up and reached out to touch Shui Xian's forehead.
Emperor Zhaoheng, whose fever had subsided, felt a sharp scalding sensation on his hand.
"Xian'er..."
Emperor Zhaoheng's thin lips were tightly pressed together, and his eyes were deep and unfathomable.
He no longer cared about the distance between them and reached out to pull Narcissus into his arms.
She has a fever!
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