Chapter 47 I have been thirsty for too long
Today's emotional outburst was indeed unexpected for Narcissus.
The midday sun is the most intense of the day, shining through the half-open window onto the tatami mat, making the air feel hot and dry.
Having not been summoned by the emperor for a long time, Narcissus, though preoccupied with her pregnancy, also harbored many desires in her heart because of this.
For a moment, Narcissus almost gave up.
She felt that scheming was too exhausting, and since Emperor Zhaoheng had already delivered himself to her doorstep, she might as well give him a try.
Just as his will was weakening and Emperor Zhaoheng was about to get into bed, Yinzhu's voice suddenly came from outside.
"Your Majesty, Consort Jin, Noble Lady Wen requests an audience outside the palace, saying that she wants to bring Your Majesty some homemade pastries."
The previously humid and hot air instantly froze.
The Japanese were somewhat absurd, but after Yinzhu's voice came in, both Shuixian and Emperor Zhaoheng became much more sober.
Shui Xian raised her hand and gently tugged at Emperor Zhaoheng's loosened collar. "Your Majesty, perhaps..."
Emperor Zhaoheng sat up, his fingertips still lingering on Narcissus's waist, but he finally released her, his voice regaining some of its imperial indifference:
"Let her in after an incense stick has burned."
After another incense stick's time, the emperor and empress had tidied their clothes and returned to the outer room.
With a soft rustling of the beaded curtain, Consort Wen, Yi Shuyao, gracefully entered.
Today, she specially wore a soft, light green silk dress, looking as elegant as a new bamboo shoot.
Her gaze swept quickly over the two people standing side by side at the door of the inner room. Emperor Zhaoheng's clothes were slightly disheveled, and the faint, ambiguous red mark on Shuixian's neck indicated what had just happened.
"This humble servant greets Your Majesty and Consort Jin."
Consort Wen quickly lowered her eyes, concealing the surging jealousy and hatred in them.
"I did not mean to disturb Your Majesty. I was just passing by Yongle Palace and saw Your Majesty's imperial carriage outside. I thought that the freshly made pastries tasted best when they were just out of the oven, and I was afraid of missing the appointed time, so I took the liberty of coming in to pay my respects."
She raised her face, with a hint of innocence, "Sister Jinfei...you won't blame me for being so abrupt, will you?"
Narcissus cooperated with her acting, her face gentle and serene:
"Consort Wen's kindness is all I ask for, how could I possibly blame her?"
She looked up at Emperor Zhaoheng, "Your Majesty, since this is Consort Wen's gift, why not give it a try?"
At this moment, Consort Wen seemed to remember something and exclaimed in annoyance, "Oh dear! What a forgetful thing I am! I was so busy rushing over that I forgot the snacks... I completely forgot them at Yichang Palace!"
She raised her watery eyes and looked at Emperor Zhaoheng with a hint of pleading, "These pastries are only crispy and sweet when they're hot. Your Majesty, Consort Jin, could you please move to Yichang Palace? That would save the palace servants from having to run back and forth and ruining the flavor."
Consort Wen glanced at Narcissus, her tone tentative, "Your Majesty is pregnant with the imperial heir and it must be difficult for you to move around. I can have this servant bring it over..."
“It’s alright.” Narcissus interrupted her, her smile gentle, but her eyes were clear.
"I should not refuse Consort Wen's hospitality. However, I have just had some soup and my stomach is full. It is really not appropriate for me to eat anything sweet or greasy."
She stepped forward, raised her hand with remarkable ease, and brushed her fingertips across Emperor Zhaoheng's slightly open collar, gently smoothing out the slight disarray.
As she moved, her soft, boneless fingers brushed lightly against the warm skin on the side of his neck, leaving a smooth and soft touch. Just as he instinctively tried to grasp that softness, she abruptly withdrew her fingers.
She raised her eyes, her shimmering gaze making Emperor Zhaoheng's heart flutter slightly, but he politely declined.
"Your Majesty, why don't you go with Consort Wen to try it? Don't let your sister's kindness go to waste. I'm feeling a bit tired and would like to take a short rest."
Emperor Zhaoheng's heart fluttered slightly at her brief touch, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
However, Consort Wen's pastries reminded him of when he was still a prince, on a spring afternoon, a pair of gentle hands had offered him a sweet pastry...
He looked deeply at Narcissus, suppressing the inexplicable emptiness in his heart, and finally nodded: "Alright. You can rest assured."
Not long after, in the east side hall of Yichang Palace.
The air was filled with the aroma of pastries.
Consort Wen carefully presented a plate of exquisite hibiscus pastries, small in size, with distinct layers of flaky pastry, exuding an enticing sweet aroma.
Her posture was docile, but her eyes keenly captured the subtle expressions on Emperor Zhaoheng's face.
Emperor Zhaoheng picked up a piece and found it melted in his mouth, sweet but not cloying.
Although they weren't the same pastries, seeing Yi Shuyao's resemblance to Consort Wen in his memory instantly transported him back to that sunny afternoon many years ago.
He ate quietly, as if through the delicate pastries he could see once again the gentle, smiling woman from his memory.
Yi Shuyao glanced at his expression and knew that the emperor had been won over by the pastries she had carefully prepared.
She picked up the silver teapot and poured hot tea for Emperor Zhaoheng, her voice gentle: "Does Your Majesty find this dessert palatable?"
Emperor Zhaoheng nodded and offered a word of praise.
Yi Shuyao said a few more words before subtly steer the conversation toward narcissus.
"When I was at home, my mother mentioned that pregnancy is the most difficult time for a woman, and she needs to be the most careful. I pray for Consort Jin day and night, hoping that she will give birth to the prince smoothly and bring blessings to the country."
Emperor Zhaoheng picked up another piece of pastry and said, "You're very thoughtful."
Yi Shuyao smiled gently and continued, "When a woman is pregnant, sometimes it seems stable, but in reality, it is unpredictable. I have an old acquaintance whose mother was pregnant. The doctor also said that the pregnancy was stable, but who knew... just because of a moment of passion and carelessness in having sex, she miscarried and damaged her body, and could no longer have children."
She sighed softly, as if reminiscing, but her gaze slowly swept over Emperor Zhaoheng. "Whenever she mentions it, she is heartbroken, saying that during the ten months of pregnancy, not a single step can be wrong, especially those intimate matters, which must be handled with utmost care."
Consort Wen's words resonated with Emperor Zhaoheng.
The desire that the narcissus had stirred in his heart suddenly cooled down.
Only one thought remained in my mind: to get away from her.
He had to restrain himself until at least she gave birth safely.
Every approach could be a disaster for her and for the unborn child.
"You should rest well." Emperor Zhaoheng looked displeased, casually put the pastries back on the plate, and quickly left Yichang Palace.
For the next two weeks, Emperor Zhaoheng did not set foot in Yongle Palace again.
That afternoon, Consort Tuoba stepped into the main hall of Yongle Palace. She had visited Qianqing Palace to serve the emperor once in the past two weeks, and now seeing that Yongle Palace was deserted, she felt an urge to stand up for Shui Xian.
Seeing Narcissus reading on the soft couch, she couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has hardly visited the inner palace these past few days, let alone Yongle Palace. It must be Consort Wen who's causing trouble!"
Consort Tuoba observed Shuixian's expression and tentatively suggested, "How about... I find an opportunity to mention Your Highness to the Emperor? Perhaps you've been having a poor appetite lately, or perhaps you're missing His Majesty?"
Narcissus helped her gain favor, and Consort Tuoba also wanted to do her part in this matter!
Narcissus closed the book and looked at Tuoba Guiren with a reassuring gaze: "What's the rush?"
Although Shui Xian didn't know what Consort Wen had said to the Emperor that day, it was nothing more than words that would hinder her from gaining favor.
Narcissus smiled slightly, gently stroking her slightly protruding belly.
Little did Yi Shuyao know that the most useless thing between men and women is reason.
Emperor Zhaoheng is now deliberately keeping his distance by suppressing his desires with reason.
The fruits with signs prohibiting touching them are the most tempting to pick and taste.
She's not in a hurry.
She was waiting for the right moment to lure Emperor Zhaoheng into breaking free from the constraints of reason.
The more you suppress your feelings, the more you crave them...
......
A few days later, at the Qianqing Palace.
The mountain of memorials, exuding the scent of ink, could not dispel the unease in Emperor Zhaoheng's heart.
He put down his vermilion brush, wearily pinched the bridge of his nose, and laid out the examination papers in front of him, but he couldn't read a single word of those beautiful essays at this moment.
What flickers before my eyes is always that radiant and serene profile bathed in sunlight... and Consort Wen's unintentional reminder.
Two diametrically opposed thoughts were tearing at his mind, making it difficult for him to concentrate.
“Your Majesty,” Feng Shunxiang entered quietly and bowed as he reported, “Consort Jin from Yongle Palace has sent someone to say that she has been feeling tired and heavy lately and wishes to ask Your Majesty to grant her permission to go to Wenlan Palace to soak in the hot springs to relieve her fatigue.”
Wenlan Palace?
Emperor Zhaoheng suddenly raised his eyes.
The image of her snow-white skin appearing and disappearing in the hot spring, her eyes reddening, and her sweetly pleading with him, floated before my eyes last time there.
"What did the imperial physician say?" he asked instinctively, then realized his voice was too urgent and coughed lightly.
"She's pregnant, is it alright for her to soak in a warm bath?"
Feng Shunxiang bowed his head respectfully and replied, "Your Majesty, I received Her Highness's request and dared not neglect it. I went to the Imperial Hospital to inquire with the on-duty physician, Zhang."
"After carefully examining the Empress's pulse, Imperial Physician Zhang said that the Empress Jin's pregnancy is going very well and the fetal energy is exceptionally stable. As long as the water temperature is suitable and the timing is right, a short soak in warm water to relax muscles and promote blood circulation will be beneficial and harmless, especially in relieving the Empress's fatigue."
Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Zhaoheng had already strode past Feng Shunxiang at the door and hurried out.
Feng Shunxiang only heard the emperor's restrained voice resound: "Prepare the carriage! To Wenlan Palace!"
Inside the Wenlan Hall, warm mist swirls around, and in the huge hot spring pool, warm water gushes out, steaming and enveloping everything.
Narcissus, dressed in a plain-colored soft silk gauze dress as thin as a cicada's wing, stood by the pond, testing the water temperature with her toes.
Some fragrant flower petals were sprinkled on the water's surface. The petals, steamed by the heat, released an even richer and more intense fragrance.
When Emperor Zhaoheng lifted the curtain and entered, he was greeted by this captivating scene.
The mist carried the fragrance of flowers as the beauty gently stirred the emerald waves in the pool. Her gauze dress, half-concealing and half-revealing, only accentuated her alluring curves.
"emperor?"
Hearing his footsteps, Narcissus turned around and looked at him. As if burned by the heat in his eyes, she shrank her shoulders slightly.
Emperor Zhaoheng took off his long robe, bent down and picked her up, then walked step by step down the jade steps to the fragrant hot spring.
The warm pool water rose up, flushing Narcissus's cheeks. Her cheeks were flushed with a peach-blossom pink, and the corners of her eyes were tinged with a captivating crimson, making Emperor Zhaoheng want to bully her even more.
"Xian'er..."
He whispered hoarsely in her ear.
"I have been thirsty for too long."
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