Chapter 303 A Private Visit
As dawn broke, a faint, calming fragrance filled the inner halls of the Qianqing Palace.
After becoming pregnant, Shui Xian was physically fine, but she couldn't muster any energy.
Seeing that she looked exhausted, Emperor Zhaoheng insisted that Pei Jichuan come and take a look at her.
Narcissus sat upright at the table, the morning light casting a pale golden glow on her pale face. Her eyelashes drooped, concealing all emotions in her eyes.
Pei Jichuan stood quietly to the side with his head down. Only after Shui Xian extended her wrist did he step forward, gently place a plain white silk handkerchief on her wrist, and carefully take her pulse.
The hall was so quiet that one could hear the dripping of the water clock.
Emperor Zhaoheng did not go to the front hall to handle state affairs as usual. Instead, he sat on a round-backed chair not far away, holding a scroll in his hand, but his gaze would occasionally fall on the narcissus.
Pei Jichuan concentrated on taking the pulse, pondered for a moment, then looked up at Emperor Zhaoheng beside him, hesitating to speak.
"how?"
Emperor Zhaoheng put down his book and asked, "Is the Empress still well? Is the pregnancy stable?"
Pei Jichuan withdrew his hand, took a step back, and bowed respectfully, reporting, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty. Your Majesty's pulse is generally stable, and the pregnancy is secure; there is no major problem. However..."
He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "However... in the pulse, there is a slight sign of stagnation and discomfort in the liver qi, and the heart pulse is somewhat sluggish and hesitant."
“Pregnant women’s blood circulation and emotional fluctuations are different from normal. If they are in a bad mood for a long time, their liver qi will be stagnant, which may not be beneficial to the fetus and may also deplete the empress’s own vital energy.”
Shui Xian slowly withdrew her hand, her fingertips unconsciously curling slightly, but her face remained expressionless. She simply said, "Thank you for your trouble, Physician Pei... I understand."
Her voice was calm, as if Pei Jichuan's words about "overthinking" had nothing to do with her.
Emperor Zhaoheng waved for Pei Jichuan to leave, leaving only the Emperor and Empress in the hall.
He got up, walked to the table and sat down, and naturally reached out to take the slightly cool hand that Narcissus was holding on her lap.
Her hands were always slightly cool, but at this moment, that coolness seemed to seep into his palm.
"Xian'er, tell me, is there anything else in the palace that's bothering you?"
Emperor Zhaoheng treated her with great care and tenderness.
"Or... has some foolish servant offended you? Or... has I done something wrong to upset you?"
Narcissus's fingers stiffened almost imperceptibly in his palm for a moment, then slowly withdrew.
She raised her hand and straightened her sleeves, which were not disheveled at all, in a slow and deliberate manner.
"I am fine."
She finally raised her eyes and looked at Emperor Zhaoheng.
"It's probably as Physician Pei said; it's inevitable to overthink and have fluctuating emotions during pregnancy. Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state; there's no need to worry about such trivial matters concerning me."
That smile was dignified and gentle, yet like a delicate ice shell, freezing all true emotions inside.
His heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, a dull ache and aching sensation.
He looked at her silently for a long time, without asking any further questions.
He knew that there were some things she didn't want to say, and he couldn't get them out of her by asking.
Emperor Zhaoheng reached out and gently brushed away a stray hair from her cheek, his fingertips touching her smooth, soft skin with the utmost tenderness.
"In that case...it's not good to always stay cooped up in the palace. I've noticed you've been looking tired lately, so how about...I accompany you out for a stroll to clear your head? Just the two of us, with the children, would that be alright?"
His tone was deliberate, but his eyes held a barely perceptible expectation.
At this moment, the emperor, high above all others, seemed like a young man experiencing his first love, wanting to please his beloved.
Narcissus looked at her, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded.
——
Inside the Imperial Study.
Emperor Zhaoheng stood with his hands behind his back in front of the huge window, gazing at the leaves outside that were somewhat wilted by the scorching sun, his back view revealing a rare hint of worry.
The commander of the secret guards appeared silently behind him like a shadow and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty."
"Rise." Emperor Zhaoheng did not turn around, his voice low, "The Empress has been...unhappy lately...I can sense it."
The leader of the secret guards lowered his head, not daring to speak.
How could he possibly have the right to comment on matters concerning the emperor and empress?
Emperor Zhaoheng slowly turned around, the candlelight flickering in his deep eyes.
"Within three days, I will take the Empress and the three princes and princesses out of the palace incognito to relax in the suburbs of the capital. There will be no procession, no disturbance to the local area, just safety."
He walked to the huge rosewood desk, unfolded a detailed topographical map of the outskirts of Beijing, and traced his finger over several locations circled in vermilion ink. "Here, Cuiwei Mountain, the mountain stream is cool and refreshing now, and the waterfall is a sight to behold. Here, Qinglan Villa, the lotus pond behind the mountain should already be in bloom..."
Emperor Zhaoheng detailed the route he had personally planned and continued, "You shall personally arrange the guards along the way and the places where we will rest. Select the most elite and reliable people to accompany us, and make sure that everything goes perfectly without any mistakes!"
"Yes! Your Majesty, I obey! I will certainly not fail in your trust!"
The leader of the secret guards responded in a deep voice, bowed, and withdrew.
The study returned to silence.
Emperor Zhaoheng stood alone in front of the desk for a long time, his gaze falling on a Duan inkstone, a type of inkstone often used by narcissists.
She hadn't used this inkstone for a long time since Shuixian became pregnant.
He reached out, his fingertips gently stroking the cool, smooth surface of the inkstone, and the image of her practicing calligraphy here flashed through his mind.
"Xian'er..."
He muttered to himself, his voice unusually clear in the empty study, yet filled with endless confusion.
"What... should I do to truly make you happy?"
He wasn't unaware of her recent unusual behavior.
She was still beautiful, but those eyes that used to smile at their children's funny antics and gaze at him dreamily when moved by emotions now seemed veiled by a thin mist, so calm that it made his heart race.
He gave her rare treasures, and she thanked him with a smile.
He recounted amusing anecdotes from the imperial court, and she listened quietly.
He took meticulous care of her, and she accepted it all.
But he just felt that something was different...
Emperor Zhaoheng thought that he had been too protective of her and had made her feel stifled.
So he decided to take her out, away from these palaces, to see the world outside and hear the hustle and bustle of the city.
Perhaps, the warmth and comfort of everyday life can rekindle the light in her eyes.
On the eve of leaving the palace, the Qianqing Palace was brightly lit.
Emperor Zhaoheng personally carried in a large bundle containing clothes that he had ordered the Imperial Wardrobe to make overnight.
The fabric is made of the finest soft gauze and fine cotton, in understated indigo and light lotus root colors. It looks no different from the fabrics of ordinary wealthy families, but it feels delicate and soft to the touch.
"Xian'er, take a look, do you like it?"
Emperor Zhaoheng picked up a moon-white long dress and held it up against Narcissus, his eyes filled with a hint of expectant anticipation. "I had them made it according to the latest styles among the common people, but the fabric and lining have been replaced with the best ones, so it will not chafe the skin."
Narcissus sat quietly under the lamp, watching him work.
Yongning fluttered around him like a little butterfly, picked up a pale yellow jacket and held it up: "Father, does Yongning look good in this?"
Qingyan and Qinghe also wobbled over, tugging at Emperor Zhaoheng's robes, their little faces tilted up, expressing their excitement in their childish voices: "Father, outside the palace... sugar figurines..."
Emperor Zhaoheng patiently squatted down, putting his arm around one of his sons, and coaxed them gently, "There are so many different kinds of sugar figurines outside the palace. Tomorrow, your father will take you to buy the biggest one."
The children giggled at his antics, and the hall was filled with childlike joy.
Emperor Zhaoheng looked up at the silent Narcissus and asked again, "Xian'er, is there anything else we need? I'll have them prepare it."
Narcissus's gaze swept over the fine clothes and finally settled on the fine beads of sweat on his forehead from being busy and soothing the child.
Under the lamplight, the beads of sweat reflected light slightly, causing a subtle, almost imperceptible pang in her heart, like being gently tickled by a feather.
However, she quickly suppressed the strange feeling and looked away.
"Your Majesty's arrangements are already very thorough, and I... have no objections."
At night, the curtains were drawn low.
Emperor Zhaoheng embraced Shuixian and whispered in her ear about the route they would take the next day and the scenery they might see.
Narcissus closed her eyes and leaned against him. Just as he was talking about the lotus flowers in Qinglan Villa, she suddenly interrupted him softly: "Why...why did Your Majesty suddenly decide to leave the palace incognito?"
Emperor Zhaoheng tightened his grip on her arm slightly. "I just... wanted to make you happy."
"Xian'er, please trust me just this once, okay?"
"Just this once, don't think about anything else, just go out for a walk, see the sights, and clear your mind."
The narcissus did not answer.
She felt the scorching heat of his embrace, the warmth seeping through her thin nightgown and soothing her skin, yet inexplicably making her heart race, as if something was stirring restlessly beneath those layers of ice.
She could only close her eyes even tighter, suppressing all her emotions deep within her heart...
The next morning, before the dawn had fully illuminated the world, two inconspicuous green-canopied carriages quietly stopped at the entrance of the East Market.
Emperor Zhaoheng was the first to alight from the carriage. He was dressed in an indigo brocade robe, and his jade crown had been replaced with an ordinary sandalwood hairpin. His brows showed less of his usual imperial majesty and more of a rare ease.
He turned around, and very naturally reached out to firmly support Narcissus's arm, helping her out of the car.
The thin veil on the narcissus hat swayed gently with his movements. Through that hazy veil, she saw him turn around and carry the impatient Qingyan and Qinghe off the carriage one by one. When he turned back, his eyes met hers.
As the sun rose, its rays fell upon his smiling eyes, revealing a youthful brightness and vitality that made her pause slightly.
The East Market has awakened, filled with the clamor of voices and a cacophony of smells.
As soon as Yongning got off the car, he was completely attracted by a crystal-clear sugar figurine stall not far away, and he tugged at Emperor Zhaoheng's sleeve, refusing to leave.
Emperor Zhaoheng actually squatted down, pointed at the dazzling array of sugar figurines on the stall, and began to haggle with the honest stall owner in a very serious manner.
"Boss, how about three coins for this little pig?"
"Sir, this...this sweet syrup is precious and requires a lot of skill to make, it costs at least five coins."
"Four coins, how about that? I'll buy two more."
After some "intense" negotiations, Emperor Zhaoheng successfully bid three coins.
However, after haggling, he still had his palace attendants pay a price far higher than that of ordinary sugar figurines.
Yongning didn't notice at all; he was completely absorbed in the adorable little pig sugar figurine, which he loved.
Emperor Zhaoheng bought sugar figurines for Qinghe and Qingyan, who were being held by their wet nurses.
He handed the sugar figurine to the cheering children, stood up, dusted off his hands (which weren't actually dust), raised an eyebrow, and looked at Narcissus.
Narcissus gazed at him through the thin veil.
Seeing the natural demeanor of him as he chatted with the street vendors, seeing the vibrant energy on his handsome face, the high wall of suspicion that had been built in my heart seemed to have been cracked by the bustling, vibrant atmosphere of everyday life...
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