Chapter 123 Since Xian'er won't refuse, I will begin...
The news that Consort Jin had moved to Lihe Palace spread throughout the palace the day after the investiture ceremony.
The location of Lihe Palace is somewhat remote, but it is where the current Empress Dowager lived for more than a decade and where Emperor Zhaoheng was born and raised, making it of extraordinary significance.
The next morning, during the morning audience, Shui Xian sat to the left of the Empress. Sitting opposite her was Consort De, who had been promoted from Consort De the day before and could now be called a Noble Consort.
The Empress got up a little late today. As she walked into the main hall with the help of Granny Sun, her gaze swept between Narcissus and Consort De.
I originally thought that promoting Consort De would overshadow Narcissus, but I never expected...
The Empress coughed lightly and took her seat at the head of the table.
Led by the two imperial concubines, all the concubines rose and bowed to the Empress.
"Please sit down."
The Empress gently pressed her temples and said calmly, "It's been windy lately. I think I caught a chill yesterday, and I have a bit of a headache, which is why I got up a little late..."
Consort Wan, always eager for a good show, chuckled and continued:
"Her Majesty the Empress is frail and cold-blooded. I heard that since she entered the palace, the Emperor ordered the Imperial Household Department to paint the walls of Kunning Palace with pepper paint. This is a unique favor bestowed upon her in the harem..."
At this point, Consort Wan seemed to remember something and gave an embarrassed laugh.
"Oh no, I misspoke. It's not unique anymore."
She looked at Narcissus with immense envy, "It is still Consort Jin who enjoys the Emperor's favor, which makes us concubines extremely envious."
Shui Xian watched coldly as Consort Wan pinned the blame on her with just a few words. Her expression darkened slightly, and she was about to speak when she heard the Empress, seated at the head of the table, say:
"Now that Consort Jin is pregnant again, the Jiaofang Chamber is warm and conducive to conception, so it is the most suitable place for her."
"If you are envious, you should think about how to bear sons and daughters for the Emperor and give birth to offspring. This is the duty of the concubines in the harem."
Her face still bore the weariness of not having slept well the night before, but her calm and composed demeanor made her appear particularly dignified as the Empress.
Consort Wan never expected that even though Narcissus had been so favored, the Empress still didn't care and even spoke up for Narcissus.
A hint of resentment flashed across her face, but she still stood up along with Consort De and said in unison with the other concubines:
"Your Majesty, we will keep this in mind."
Narcissus was equally surprised. She looked at the Queen, who gave her a gentle smile.
If it weren't for the fact that Narcissus was certain and had evidence in hand...
She probably started to think of the Empress as kind and gentle by now.
Narcissus returned the Queen's grateful smile.
It's just acting, isn't it? Let's keep acting until the day we tear off all pretenses.
After the morning service, the Queen kept Narcissus behind alone.
She led the narcissus slowly into the inner hall of Kunning Palace.
The inner palace was where the empress lived and worked. The furnishings here were not luxurious, but rather simple.
A faint medicinal scent permeated the air, much like the scent of incense that evokes the Cining Palace; the medicinal scent had become the exclusive aroma of the Kunning Palace.
"Ahem... Please sit down."
The empress sat on a round-backed chair covered with fox fur, and a maidservant nearby quickly handed her a hand warmer.
Seeing the Empress's frail state, Shui Xian suddenly remembered what Ruan Huan had told her before she died...
Ruan Huan had been poisoning the Empress. Ruan Huan said that, based on the dosage she used, the Empress should have died long ago.
It's unclear whether Ruan Huan lied to her before she died, or whether the Empress's weakness was due to Ruan Huan's poisoning, but that doesn't explain why the Empress didn't die...
While waiting for the Queen to speak, Narcissus silently pondered in her heart.
Finally, after the Empress drank the pear soup that Granny Sun had handed her to soothe her throat, she said to Narcissus:
"These past few days have been bitterly cold in the depths of winter, and my health is deteriorating day by day... cough cough..."
The Empress coughed lightly, and Granny Sun, standing beside her, stroked her back with a look of concern.
Shui Xian said at the right moment, "Her Majesty the Empress is blessed with great fortune and will surely be healthy and well."
The Empress chuckled softly and said gently, "Now that you have undergone the investiture ceremony, and the Emperor has asked you to assist me in managing the six palaces..."
The Empress paused slightly at this point, as if carefully choosing her words.
"Since you are in charge of managing the six palaces, you should know that it is an ancestral family tradition to distribute your favors equally, and it is also the foundation for harmony in the harem."
The Empress looked at her with comfort, "His Majesty has been worried about state affairs lately, and needs the care and concern of the ladies of the six palaces even more."
"You have always been highly regarded by the Emperor, so you should be the one to advise him on this matter... What do you say?"
Seeing the Empress casually toss the question over to her, Narcissus felt a chill run down her spine, knowing that this was no easy task.
The Emperor is the ruler of the country, the supreme sovereign, how could she be allowed to interfere?
On the surface, Narcissus appeared extremely humble, "Your Majesty's teachings are correct, I will remember them. However..."
She said helplessly, "Your Majesty, I am humble and insignificant. I am afraid I may offend the Emperor. I would be grateful if Your Majesty could put in a good word for me."
Shui Xian feigned a worried expression, as if she feared that her rash remonstrance would displease the emperor and cause him to dislike her.
The Empress smiled slightly, "That's natural."
A few days later, in the evening.
Emperor Zhaoheng arrived at Lihe Palace.
This is where he grew up, and he is extremely familiar with every plant and tree here.
Since his ascension to the throne, Emperor Zhaoheng had never thought of anyone suitable to live here, until Narcissus appeared...
After Shui Xian became pregnant again, Emperor Zhaoheng couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if his son could grow up in Lihe Palace just like he had many years ago.
In that time, he could spend springtime admiring the crabapple blossoms with his son under the trees in the courtyard, summertime escaping the heat with his son in the pavilion, autumn teaching him martial arts amidst the falling leaves, and wintertime building snowmen with his son in the courtyard...
Thinking of these scenes, Emperor Zhaoheng couldn't help but carry Shui Xian to a soft couch when he saw her.
Emperor Zhaoheng raised his hand and gently stroked her slightly protruding belly, and smiled:
"Grow up quickly, my son. Your father and mother are waiting for you."
Narcissus leaned back slightly, her hands supporting her on the soft couch, watching Emperor Zhaoheng speak to the child in her womb with a smile in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, my son is still too young to understand what you are saying."
Emperor Zhaoheng straightened up and looked at her with a smile.
"If my child is a girl, he will be a future princess; if he is a boy, he will be a future emperor. Naturally, he will be different from ordinary people!"
Emperor Zhaoheng looked at Shui Xian's charming smile and couldn't help but lean forward, wanting to steal her soft kiss.
However, the narcissus turned its head to avoid it.
She hesitated before speaking, "Your Majesty, I...I know the depth of Your Majesty's affection for me..."
Narcissus's eyelashes trembled slightly. "But all the ladies in the palace yearn for the Emperor's favor, while I alone receive His grace. My heart is uneasy... Perhaps Your Majesty should choose the other ladies' nameplates tonight..."
Her voice grew softer and softer, as if she were struggling.
The candlelight was bright, clearly illuminating every trace of struggle and barely suppressed reluctance on Narcissus's face.
A smile flickered in Emperor Zhaoheng's eyes. He said quite earnestly, "Xian'er is absolutely right. Indeed, she has become more sensible after the investiture ceremony..."
As he spoke, Emperor Zhaoheng even stood up from the soft couch, making a gesture as if he was about to leave.
Narcissus paused, seemingly surprised that he would leave so abruptly, and a look of disappointment crossed her face.
However, Emperor Zhaoheng stopped abruptly at the door and turned to look at Shuixian, who was leaning against the couch, looking dejected.
A faint smile played on his thin lips as he spoke softly:
"Are you really not going to stop me?"
Shui Xian placed her hand on her lower abdomen, turned her head away from him, and said, "Your Majesty has legs; how can I advise you?"
Emperor Zhaoheng rarely saw her act childish, but now he found it rather amusing.
He chuckled softly, walked to the soft couch, and pinched her chin, forcing her to look up: "Did the Empress send you here as an intermediary?"
Without a doubt, this arrangement, in which he is to receive favors from all sides, must be the Empress's idea.
Narcissus brushed his hand away and turned her face away again: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty just feels that Your Majesty should go and see the other sisters..."
"Truth or dare?"
Narcissus bit her lip and remained silent, but her awkward profile betrayed her attitude.
Clearly, it was something I didn't want to do.
Emperor Zhaoheng was overjoyed; he adored her adoring look, where her heart and eyes were filled with nothing but him.
Forget about sharing everything; at this moment, he only wanted to share his love and passion with her.
Emperor Zhaoheng bent down and picked her up, causing Shui Xian to exclaim in surprise and quickly reach out to put her arm around his shoulder.
"emperor......"
Emperor Zhaoheng strode toward the bed, his laughter low and hoarse.
"Today I have no desire to choose anyone else, only you. If the Empress asks, say it is my will."
Narcissus blushed at his words, and she seemed extremely shy, burying her face in Emperor Zhaoheng's arms.
Where Emperor Zhaoheng could not see, a cold glint flashed in Shui Xian's eyes.
The Empress made her play the villain?
She could, but she didn't want to.
Now that her pregnancy is stable, and she is not unable to serve the emperor, why should Emperor Zhaoheng push her away?
Emperor Zhaoheng had no idea what Shui Xian was thinking. Looking at Shui Xian's flushed face, he couldn't help but savor the jealousy she had just shown.
She must have loved him deeply, and it must have been heartbreaking for her to push him away to someone else.
Emperor Zhaoheng held her hand tightly, and in his deep, husky voice, he kept saying things that made her blush.
He held her hand tightly, their fingers intertwined.
Together with her, we went to Wushan, and made love...
......
"Xian'er, will you still push me away?"
Narcissus didn't know where the man's interest came from, so she closed her eyes to avoid his advances.
"I'm not pushing it anymore, I'm not pushing it anymore..."
She seemed to find the candlelight too bright and raised her hand to shield her eyes.
However, Emperor Zhaoheng held it in his hand, kissing it from his fingertips to his palm, as if it were a feather gently tickling him, the itch spreading through his palm to a deeper part of his body.
Emperor Zhaoheng, seeing the allure in her eyes, chuckled hoarsely, "Since Xian'er won't push anymore, then I'll begin..."
All night long, in a frenzy.
......
The following day, Emperor Zhaoheng issued a special decree to reward several concubines who had not received his favor for a long time, giving each of them several bolts of silk and a few pieces of jewelry.
The imperial edict mentioned Consort Jin's thoughtfulness and her sisters.
This both fulfilled the superficial obligation and genuinely told everyone that he had bestowed the favor because of Narcissus's mention.
Inside Kunning Palace.
When the Empress heard Sun Mama's report about this matter, she was resting and reading in her inner chamber.
Upon hearing this, a crack finally appeared in the gentle demeanor that the Empress had always maintained, like a mask.
"Your Majesty...does he value her so highly?!"
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