Chapter 132 I... am Yongning's father.
In the main hall of Lihe Palace, Shui Xian heard Ting Lu report that the Emperor's imperial carriage had just stopped in front of Lihe Palace.
These days, I've been bored and have nothing to do but take care of my health, so I go to bed early every day.
Today was no different. She had already changed into her nightgown. The light blue satin shimmered softly under the candlelight, reminiscent of the rippling waves on a lake in Jiangnan in June.
"Didn't I tell you to rest properly? You're limping around doing your job right in front of me; it looks so tiring."
After Tinglu's physical injuries healed, she couldn't lie down anymore, even before her leg had fully recovered. She spent her days using crutches to go in and out of the main hall to serve others.
No matter what Shui Xian said, Ting Lu seemed not to hear her and continued to serve her from her side.
Shui Xian could tell that Ting Lu was still feeling guilty for failing to investigate Kun Ning Palace and being captured instead, so she was making up for it by working even harder.
"Your Majesty," Tinglu said anxiously, "The Emperor is coming soon. Aren't you going to wash and dress?"
Narcissus gently gathered the hair that was loose on her shoulders and glanced at Tinglu with a faint smile.
"What do you know?"
She's just a little girl, she doesn't understand anything.
Hearing the faint sound of Emperor Zhaoheng's footsteps approaching from afar, Shui Xian slowly suppressed her smile.
Tinglu watched anxiously from the side; she truly didn't understand anything.
Isn't serving the Emperor the most important thing in the harem? Every concubine wants to be all smiles at the Emperor every day, so why is it that now even a smile isn't being given to my own concubine?
In such a short time, Tinglu could not say anything more.
She quickly lowered her head and curtsied to Emperor Zhaoheng.
When Emperor Zhaoheng entered, he saw the smile that had just faded from Shui Xian's lips.
Tinglu: "May Your Majesty be well."
Emperor Zhaoheng nodded in response to the sound. It was originally just a subconscious action, but he noticed that Tinglu had placed her cane horizontally on the gold brick ground at her feet for the sake of convenience when she bowed.
His gaze lingered on the cane, and he then remembered that Tinglu had apparently been scouting outside Kunning Palace, and then been taken to the Shenxing Division by the people of Kunning Palace.
Emperor Zhaoheng's expression was somewhat displeased. "Step down."
She hasn't fully recovered yet, and spends her days wandering around Xian'er with a cane. Kind-hearted Xian'er must have thought of Tinglu's time in the Shenxing Division many times, and naturally, she would think of Yinzhu, who is still in the Shenxing Division.
No wonder Xian'er has been in a bad mood lately.
After everyone left, only Shui Xian and Emperor Zhaoheng remained in the hall. Emperor Zhaoheng then sat down next to Shui Xian.
His gaze fell on her unadorned face; the simpler she was, the more it accentuated her delicate beauty and vibrant charm.
The light blue fabric resembled a thin nightgown. Although it was not as exquisite as a fine dress, it draped lightly over her skin, and one could vaguely see the contours of her body beneath.
After Emperor Zhaoheng sat down, before he could speak, his eager gaze swept over her.
Narcissus felt like a piece of meat being eyed by a hungry wolf. His gaze seemed tangible, making her think of how his slightly rough fingertips had traced every inch of her body.
......
In the silence, Narcissus spoke first.
"Your Majesty, it's very late. Why have you come so late? Is there something you need?"
Shui Xian had been neglecting Emperor Zhao Heng recently, but it was only to achieve her own goals, not because she was truly angry with him. So she calmly asked.
Emperor Zhaoheng carefully considered her tone and felt that Narcissus seemed gentler towards him tonight than usual.
Coming to his senses, Emperor Zhaoheng felt annoyed again.
He is the ruler of a country; why should he need to guess what other people's emotions are?
Emperor Zhaoheng lowered his eyes and poured himself a cup of tea. "What, can't you come to Lihe Palace if there's nothing wrong?"
These words were spoken with a hint of hostility.
Shui Xian was not surprised by Emperor Zhaoheng's slightly cold attitude.
Regardless of how long they had been sleeping together and how he had given birth to a child, Shui Xian still had some understanding of his temperament.
"This harem belongs to the Emperor. He can go wherever he wants."
Narcissus spoke gently, but Emperor Zhaoheng felt that was not the case.
He was puzzled. She had always been gentle and sensible before, and even when she was a little jealous, she was always so lively, unlike her calm demeanor today.
Emperor Zhaoheng didn't understand, and that's exactly what Shui Xian wanted—for him not to understand.
She noticed the man unconsciously furrowing his brows, his eyes filled with a deep, dark light, and a slight ripple of emotion.
Shui Xian then stood up and curtsied to Emperor Zhaoheng, saying, "Your Majesty, I have been feeling unwell lately and need to go to bed early every day. If Your Majesty has nothing else to do, I will prepare to retire for the night."
Her words did have a hint of driving them away.
And it was exactly the same as what she had just said—it sounded smooth and gentle, but left the listener feeling uneasy.
Inside the warm palace, she wore a satin nightgown, which made her skin appear even more like jade. As she curtsied, her slender neck shone with a lustrous glow in the candlelight.
After watching her get up, Emperor Zhaoheng turned around and went into the inner room with her delicate hand lifting the curtain, leaving him with only a hazy and gentle back view as she gradually disappeared behind the pearl curtain.
Emperor Zhaoheng picked up the teacup beside him and drank the rest of the tea.
The tea had cooled down; it was so cold that it went from the tip of my tongue all the way to my stomach.
Emperor Zhaoheng slammed the teacup down on the rosewood table, then suddenly stood up and went into the inner room.
The pearl curtain rattled behind him, scattering the lustrous glimmer of light on it.
......
Inside the room, Narcissus had just sat down on the couch when she heard the man's footsteps approaching.
She wasn't surprised, but she did show an expression of astonishment.
"emperor……"
The bedroom was small and designed to concentrate one's energy and nourish one's spirit. Her sweet fragrance in the air grew even more intense, lingering around his nose.
Since becoming pregnant again, she has been very cautious and has never used perfume...
Thinking of this, Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze deepened.
"Xian'er".
He paused, his gaze sweeping over her. "The evidence that Yinzhu hid medicine residue under her bed is irrefutable. Don't be angry with me."
Emperor Zhaoheng's reaction was still within Shui Xian's calculations.
As an emperor, he would never silently suffer injustice.
Narcissus, sitting on the edge of the couch, gently turned her face away upon hearing this.
"How could I dare to be angry?"
That's a lot...
Emperor Zhaoheng pursed his thin lips, but before he could get angry, he heard Shui Xian add another sentence in a very low voice.
"I am just heartbroken."
She turned to face him, her voice very soft, and her thin shoulders and back looked even thinner.
For some reason, Emperor Zhaoheng should have been angry.
The duties of imperial concubines were to serve the emperor, and they should not show their sadness to him, regardless of whether they were heartbroken or not.
However, Emperor Zhaoheng, smelling her fragrance in the air and with her in sight, felt no anger at all.
He thought, as an emperor, she was just a little woman who bore him children, how could he not be tolerant of her?
Emperor Zhaoheng walked to her side and turned her face towards him with his hand.
He sighed softly, looking at her slightly lowered eyelids, and said helplessly, "Why are you so sad?"
“Your Majesty is not unaware that Yinzhu was once my personal maid.”
Narcissus's eyelids trembled slightly as she slowly raised her eyes to meet his gaze.
"Now that His Majesty has sent Yinzhu to the Censorate, isn't that because he suspects me of poisoning her?"
Emperor Zhaoheng parted his thin lips slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but Shui Xian continued, "Your Majesty, I naturally understand that it is difficult for you, but only Your Majesty knows whether you have any doubts in your heart."
Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze was deep, the candlelight in the distance reflected in his eyes, the flickering light and shadow making his eyes appear even more profound.
Seeing that he remained silent, Shui Xian said calmly, "I almost lost half my life to give birth to Yongning. If it weren't for Ruan Huan's relentless pressure, how could I have been willing to send her to the Empress's palace?"
"Since being separated from my flesh and blood, I have been thinking about her every day. Yinzhu is my only guarantee in staying by Yongning's side. I believe she would never do such a vicious thing."
Shui Xian raised her eyes and looked directly at Emperor Zhaoheng. "Your Majesty has had the silver pearl thrown into the Censorate for quite some time now. Is it because the investigation has failed, or... does Your Majesty refuse to believe it?!"
As she spoke, her eyes reddened and filled with tears.
The glistening tears seemed about to fall, but one fell as she lowered her head, landing on her azure nightgown and leaving a dark, damp stain.
Did Emperor Zhaoheng have no doubts at all after the incident?
Emperors have always been suspicious, and he was no exception.
In the Department of Penalties, Yinzhu's confession would be presented to the Emperor every few days. No matter how much interrogation was used, Yinzhu's testimony never changed.
All of Yinzhu's testimonies pointed to the Empress, but there was no evidence whatsoever.
Emperor Zhaoheng did not want to suspect her, but he still secretly ordered people to protect Yongning.
Trust and suspicion can coexist; they are simply two sides of a scale.
As Emperor Zhaoheng looked down at her, so fragile as glass, one side of the scales grew heavier.
He lifted his robe and sat down beside her, raising his hand to embrace her slender body. "I have already given the order that Yinzhu's life will not be harmed."
"I have also sent a nanny to Yongning's side to help her recuperate."
Upon hearing Yongning's name, Shuixian's tears seemed to break, and she sobbed softly, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Emperor Zhaoheng felt even more sorry for her. He used some force in his hands, and Shui Xian did not resist, letting him pull her into his arms.
Emperor Zhaoheng raised his hand and tucked a strand of hair from her snowy cheek behind her ear.
He said in a hoarse voice, "No need to thank me, I... am Yongning's father."
Shui Xian clutched his clothes and wept. Emperor Zhaoheng felt her trembling body and gently patted her back to comfort her.
As night deepened, Emperor Zhaoheng looked at Narcissus, who had cried herself to sleep and was curled up in his arms.
Inside the curtain, there were only the two of them.
Only then did his expression reveal his emotions as he stared intently at her sleeping face.
Before leaving, Emperor Zhaoheng tucked her in and stood up from the bedside.
As he turned to leave the inner room, he noticed the antique display shelf inside.
The shelves were filled with the things he had bestowed upon the emperor, and Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze swept over each of the ornaments.
He seemed to be looking at those things, but what appeared before his eyes were the bits and pieces of his time with Narcissus.
Besides the gifts bestowed by the emperor, there were two other items on the display shelf that were not given by him.
One was a jewel-encrusted dagger given to her by the Tuoba clan; the other was a unicorn given to her by the Empress when she was first pregnant.
Emperor Zhaoheng picked up the dagger and examined it for a long time by candlelight.
Later, he focused his attention on the Qilin that brings children.
That night, Pei Jichuan happened to be on duty at the Imperial Hospital.
Just after the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), the pair of jade Qilin statues symbolizing the delivery of a child were personally delivered to his desk by his bodyguards.
"The Emperor has decreed that you carefully investigate whether this item contains any Ephemeral Flower."
Pei Jichuan nodded respectfully, "Your subject obeys."
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