Chapter 312 He wanted to grow old with her.
In the Qianqing Palace, late at night, Emperor Zhaoheng was still awake.
He had stopped reviewing memorials long ago, and now, resting his head on his hand on the dragon throne, the words of Narcissus kept echoing in his mind:
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that the grand selection be restarted to choose virtuous ladies to enrich the harem."
Emperor Zhaoheng closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the cold night air.
There's a tight, sharp pain in a certain spot in my chest.
He remembered that Ana had recently helped him take care of his health and mentioned that he might experience something like tightness in his chest.
He was taking care of his health because Pei Jichuan said that if he did not take good care of the old wounds he had sustained in his early years of war, it might affect his lifespan.
He wanted to live longer.
I want to spend more time with her.
They want to watch their children grow up and grow old together.
That's all.
As for offspring...
With Qingyan, Qinghe, and Yongning as his residences, he was already content.
He never intended for her to have many children.
But she didn't believe it.
Or rather, she simply didn't want to believe it.
In her mind, he was probably just like all the men in the palace, only caring about the number of offspring.
Emperor Zhaoheng suddenly chuckled softly.
The laughter echoed through the night, carrying with it endless self-mockery.
Feng Shunxiang quietly entered, carrying a cup of hot tea: "Your Majesty, it's late. Have some tea to warm yourself up."
Emperor Zhaoheng did not turn around, but asked only, "Has the Empress finished resting?"
Feng Shunxiang said in a low voice, "I just heard a report from the Qianqing Palace that Physician Pei took my pulse and prescribed a calming medicine."
He waved his hand: "Step down."
Feng Shunxiang bowed and withdrew, gently closing the door behind him.
He was alone again in the imperial study.
He slowly closed his eyes, only the night keeping him company as he sat in silence...
——
During the three days following Shui Xian's proposal to select candidates, Emperor Zhaoheng did not set foot in the Qianqing Palace again.
But the lamp in the Imperial Study was lit until the third watch every night.
Inside the uterus, Narcissus's morning sickness became increasingly pronounced.
In the sweltering heat of midsummer, she experienced alternating sensations of heat and cold, as the fetus in her womb was causing her the most discomfort.
The night was hot and humid with no wind, and she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. So she put on a light silk outer garment and got up.
"Your Highness, would you like some water?"
Shu'er, who was on night watch, immediately woke up.
Narcissus waved her hand and walked to the window.
The night outside the window was deep, and the outline of the palace in the distance stood majestically in the darkness.
She looked for a while, then suddenly turned around and said, "Go and fetch the guqin from the West Warm Pavilion."
Shu'er was taken aback: "Your Majesty, it's late, your health is important..."
"It's alright."
Narcissus's voice was very soft, "Can't sleep? Play a piece to calm your mind."
Tinglu had no choice but to agree, and quietly instructed the palace maids to fetch the zither.
Before long, the rosewood seven-stringed zither was placed on the zither table by the window.
Shui Xian washed her hands, burned incense, and sat down in front of the zither.
She gently pressed the strings with her delicate hands and tried a few notes.
Then, flick your fingertips.
The mournful sound of the zither, like weeping and lamenting, flowed through the quiet summer night.
She was playing "Autumn Wind Song," originally composed for autumn, but now, played on a summer night, it added a touch of desolation.
The melodious sound of the zither traveled far through the deep night, passing through the many palace walls.
It should not have reached Emperor Zhaoheng's ears.
Outside the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Zhaoheng stood alone under the corridor.
The summer night was slightly cool. He was dressed in a dark-colored casual suit with a thin cloak draped over his shoulders.
No lights were lit under the eaves; only the moonlight cast its soft glow on the ground.
He just stood there, listening intently with his eyes closed.
The guard appeared silently three steps behind him, knelt on one knee, and whispered, "The lamp in the warm chamber of Qianqing Palace is still on. Her Highness... has been playing for half an hour."
Emperor Zhaoheng did not open his eyes, but asked only, "Is her hand cold?"
The guard paused for a moment: "The doors and windows of the warm chamber are open, and the night breeze is a bit chilly."
The moment the words left his mouth, Emperor Zhaoheng opened his eyes.
His eyes were a deep red, as if he hadn't slept in a long time.
He was silent for a moment, then suddenly took off the thin cloak from his shoulders.
It was made of brocade, a tribute item, cool and breathable to wear in the summer, yet able to block the night wind.
He handed it to the guard, his voice low and hoarse:
"Place it in a prominent place in the Qianqing Palace storeroom... Don't say it was a gift from me."
The guard took the cloak with both hands.
Emperor Zhaoheng paused again, then added, "Have Pei Jichuan take your pulse tomorrow and prescribe some calming and soothing remedies."
"yes."
The guards accepted the order and disappeared into the night.
Emperor Zhaoheng looked back in the direction of the Qianqing Palace.
The music continued, plaintive and sorrowful, like a thin thread wrapping around his heart, tightening ever more.
He stood there for a long time until the music finally stopped.
The lights in the Qianqing Palace were extinguished.
He then turned around and walked towards the Imperial Study.
The next morning, it rained lightly.
The air was much fresher after the rain, and the summer heat subsided slightly.
As usual, Narcissus walked towards the Imperial Garden.
She slowed her pace as she passed the lotus pond in full bloom during the summer.
The lotus flowers in the pond are in full bloom, their pink and white petals intermingling, and the dewdrops roll into glistening beads on the lotus leaves.
She stood at the head of the white jade bridge and watched quietly for a while.
"Your Majesty, the morning dew is heavy, please watch your step."
Silver Pearl reminded her softly.
Narcissus nodded and was about to turn around when she suddenly stopped.
A person was standing in the pavilion on the opposite bank of the lotus pond.
The man had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a tall, upright figure; he was none other than Emperor Zhaoheng, whom I hadn't seen for three days.
He stood with his hands behind his back in the pavilion, his gaze fixed on the lotus flowers in the pond, his profile appearing particularly stern in the morning light.
Narcissus felt a slight tightness in her chest.
She could have left quietly, but after thinking about it, she slowly walked onto the bridge and headed towards the pavilion.
When they were ten steps apart, Emperor Zhaoheng turned his head.
Their eyes met.
His gaze first fell on her slightly protruding belly.
In the light summer clothes, the outline of her pregnancy was already visible.
His gaze lingered for a moment, very lightly, before quickly returning to her face.
His Adam's apple moved almost imperceptibly.
"The roads are slippery after the rain, Your Majesty, please be careful."
He spoke, his voice calm and devoid of emotion.
Narcissus lowered her eyes and gave a half-bow: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
Today she wore a light blue palace dress, her hair adorned only with simple pearl and jade hairpins, and she wore no makeup.
Standing in the morning light and lotus shadows, I am like a green lotus covered with dew.
Emperor Zhaoheng looked at her lowered eyelashes and at her respectful yet aloof demeanor as she bowed. The pent-up frustration that had been building up in his chest for three days surged up again.
He should have turned around and left.
But my feet felt like they were nailed to the ground.
After bowing, Narcissus turned to leave.
"etc."
Emperor Zhaoheng suddenly spoke.
Narcissus paused and looked up at him.
Emperor Zhaoheng took two steps closer, descended the steps of the pavilion, and stood before her.
As they drew closer, she could smell the faint scent of ambergris on him, mixed with the fresh scent of the lotus pond after the rain.
He took something out of his sleeve.
It is a small, gilded hand warmer.
It's not the heavy copper hand warmer used in winter, but a specially made summer model covered with velvet, which can be used to treat the problem of cold hands in summer.
Some method was used, and the touch was only warm, without any agitation.
The hand warmer still carried his body heat.
Emperor Zhaoheng placed it in her hand, his fingertips unintentionally brushing against the skin of her palm.
Both of them trembled.
"Take it."
His voice was low and hoarse, “The one in your palace is old, this one is newly made, it won’t be too hot to use in the summer.”
Narcissus looked down at the hand warmer in her hand.
It is gilded and openwork, with exquisite workmanship, and is engraved with intricate daffodil flowers and lotus patterns reaching to the sky.
At the bottom of the hand warmer, there is a small, almost invisible seal script character:
Immortal.
Narcissus's fingertips tightened slightly.
Before she could react, Emperor Zhaoheng had already turned and left.
The hem of his robe swept across the damp cobblestone path, seemingly resolute, yet also as if afraid of being called back and uttering even more hurtful words.
He walked hurriedly and soon disappeared outside the moon gate on the opposite bank of the lotus pond.
Yinzhu stepped forward and whispered, "Your Highness, this hand warmer..."
Narcissus held the hand warmer, and the residual warmth from her body wafted through her palm.
She paused for a moment, then said softly, "Keep it."
She turned around and continued walking forward.
The fingers holding the hand warmer tightened slightly.
Lunchtime.
Zhang De, the head of the imperial kitchen, knelt tremblingly outside the Qianqing Palace.
Narcissus was eating a bowl of chilled lotus seed soup when she heard this and looked up: "What is it?"
Hearing Lu go out to ask, she returned with a somewhat subtle expression: "Your Majesty, Chief Steward Zhang said... His Majesty personally drafted your menu early this morning."
Narcissus paused, holding the silver spoon.
She put down her soup bowl and said calmly, "Bring him in."
Zhang De practically hunched over as he entered, his head bowed low, holding a bright yellow menu high above his head: "Your Majesty, this is the lunch menu personally drafted by the Emperor. This servant... dares not disobey."
Narcissus took the order.
Unfold it, and familiar handwriting comes into view.
It is indeed Emperor Zhaoheng's own handwriting.
The menu listed eight dishes: steamed sea bass, jade shrimp, stir-fried lotus root slices, osmanthus glutinous rice lotus root, preserved vegetable shortbread, white fungus and lotus seed soup... all of which were the light flavors she preferred during her pregnancy.
But two of them made her gaze slightly narrow.
Osmanthus-scented glutinous rice lotus root, preserved vegetable shortbread...
This was a Jiangnan snack that she occasionally got to taste when she was a maidservant in her youth.
Back then at the Yi family mansion, Granny Sun, who worked in the kitchen, was from Jiangnan and would occasionally secretly slip these things to her.
She loved to eat, but never dared to let anyone know.
How could a maidservant have things she liked? In the Yi household, this was a rule that had to be followed.
After entering the palace, she never mentioned these things again.
The imperial kitchen naturally wouldn't make it either.
Shui Xian raised her eyes and looked at Steward Zhang kneeling on the ground: "How does His Majesty know these things?"
Zhang De bowed even lower, "Your Majesty, His Majesty summoned... summoned several former servants of the Yi family early this morning. Some were from the kitchen, some were in charge of purchasing, and he questioned them all morning..."
He heard it from Feng Shunxiang.
Why did the Grand Eunuch suddenly tell him about the Emperor's actions?
The head chef of the imperial kitchen quickly realized that these words were not meant for him, but rather to be conveyed to the master before him through his clumsy tongue.
Narcissus was silent for a moment, then handed the menu back: "Do as instructed."
Zhang Deru, having been granted a general amnesty, kowtowed and withdrew.
At lunchtime, a dish of osmanthus-scented glutinous rice lotus root was placed in front of her.
The lotus root slices are cut into even slices, filled with plump glutinous rice, drizzled with glistening osmanthus honey, and sprinkled with finely chopped dried osmanthus flowers.
She picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.
The sweet and glutinous taste melts on the tongue, the fragrance of osmanthus is elegant, and the lotus root slices are soft and glutinous.
It's the most authentic way to make it in Jiangnan, even more exquisite than the way Granny Sun made it in my memory.
She chewed slowly and swallowed.
I picked up another piece.
Yinzhu watched from the side and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Emperor..."
"Let's have a meal."
Narcissus interrupted her, her voice calm.
But she ate most of that dish of glutinous rice lotus root.
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