Chapter 317 Even the wildest nature gets used to being locked up for too long.
Since becoming pregnant, Emperor Zhaoheng has taken on all the tasks related to holding important celebrations.
Narcissus was in charge of making decisions, while the emperor became the one who carried them out.
Just after the New Year celebrations in the palace, on the morning of the fifth day of the first lunar month, Emperor Zhaoheng announced an unexpected decision.
"I want to take the Empress to the hot spring palace in the suburbs of Beijing for a short stay."
The palace servants inside the hall were all taken aback.
Narcissus also looked up at him, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
She is now nearly six months pregnant. Although the pregnancy is stable, it is still inconvenient to travel in winter.
Emperor Zhaoheng met her gaze and smiled slightly: "The imperial physician said that your condition is now stable and that it is beneficial for you to move around a bit."
"The climate around the hot spring palace is warm, which is good for you and the baby."
Three days later, the carriage set off.
Instead of heading directly to the hot spring palace, they first went to the Nishiyama Royal Hunting Grounds.
The carriage was lined with thick mink wool cushions, and heaters hung in the four corners, making it warm and cozy.
Narcissus leaned back on the cushions, watching the snow scene flash by outside the window, and suddenly asked, "Aren't we going to the hot spring palace?"
Emperor Zhaoheng sat beside her, looking down at a map of the hunting grounds. Hearing this, he looked up at her, a smile flashing in his eyes: "Let's go to the hunting grounds first. This year's winter hunt was delayed due to the New Year, so I thought I'd take you to see it."
"But I am like this..."
Narcissus looked down at her swollen belly.
"It's alright."
Emperor Zhaoheng put down the scroll and picked up a neatly folded cloak from the side. "I have arranged everything."
He shook out his cloak.
It was a silver fox fur cloak, its fur pure white as snow, with only a border of dark purple mink fur trim around the collar and edges.
The silver fox fur gleamed softly in the light inside the car, each hair neatly combed and smooth, clearly a carefully selected top-quality leather.
Emperor Zhaoheng personally draped the cloak over her shoulders. His long, slender fingers brushed against her chin as he tied the collar.
"Your fur color suits you."
He said softly, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, “White is clean, purple is noble.”
Narcissus lowered her eyes, her fingertips stroking the soft fur of the cloak.
It's definitely good material.
It feels warm to the touch, heavy yet not bulky; when draped over your body, even the car's heater seems superfluous.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
She said softly.
Emperor Zhaoheng smiled, said nothing more, and picked up the hunting ground map again to look at it.
The carriage continued on its way.
About an hour later, they arrived at the royal hunting grounds.
The car door opened, and a cold wind mixed with snowflakes rushed in.
Emperor Zhaoheng got out of the carriage first, turned around, and Shui Xian helped him down the carriage.
My legs went weak.
It wasn't snow, but wooden steps covered with a thick carpet.
She looked up and was slightly taken aback by the sight before her.
At the entrance to the hunting grounds, a large viewing platform has been set up.
The platform is three feet high and is surrounded by brocade screens to block the wind, with only the side facing the hunting grounds open.
A soft couch was set up on the platform, and a charcoal brazier was burning brightly.
The soft couch was covered with a thick bearskin cushion, and a low table was set with hot tea and snacks, everything was provided.
This was definitely not a temporary setup.
It was prepared in advance.
Shui Xian turned her gaze to Emperor Zhao Heng.
He was bending down to adjust the ties of her cloak, as if this hunting platform was meant to be there.
After tying the straps, he reached out and gently touched her cheek with the back of his fingers.
"Are you cold?" he asked gently.
The narcissus shook its head.
It's definitely not cold.
The relatives and noblewomen who had arrived earlier were all standing with their heads bowed, not daring to look directly at each other, but they all caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of their eyes:
The emperor personally straightened the empress's clothes, showing no imperial majesty, but rather acting like an ordinary husband.
Emperor Zhaoheng personally helped her up to the hunting platform, let her sit on the soft couch, and then took a hand warmer from the side and put it in her hand: "Take it, it will warm your hands."
After doing all this, he turned around and looked at the crowd below the stage.
His expression had regained its usual dignified air.
"Let's begin."
He said calmly.
The winter hunt has begun.
From deep within the hunting grounds came the sound of horns, the clatter of horses' hooves, and faint cheers.
Shui Xian sat back on the soft couch, covered with a brocade quilt specially prepared by Emperor Zhaoheng, quietly looking in the direction of the hunting grounds.
Emperor Zhaoheng originally wanted to participate personally, but she persuaded him to stop.
"Your Majesty, please sit with me for a while."
She said.
He actually stayed, sitting beside her, occasionally refilling her tea, and sometimes pointing in a certain direction in the distance, telling her which clan member was hunting there.
The atmosphere was peaceful and warm, until a faint murmur of discussion came from behind the screen...
The hunting grounds were large, with screens dividing them into several areas.
Shui Xian and Emperor Zhaoheng were seated in the main seats, with several smaller rooms on either side for the accompanying female relatives to rest.
The murmurs were coming from the small room on the right.
The voices were kept very low, but a few words could still be faintly heard on the quiet hunting platform.
"...Her Majesty the Empress is truly blessed, being able to accompany the Emperor on a winter hunt while pregnant."
"If you ask me, this kind of monopolization of the emperor's favor is a bit too much... There are seven grounds for divorce in common folk, and jealousy is the first one."
This last sentence was stated with exceptional clarity.
The smile on Emperor Zhaoheng's face froze instantly.
He put down his teacup very gently, then slowly stood up.
Narcissus reached out and gently tugged at his sleeve.
Emperor Zhaoheng looked down at her, his eyes still cold, but he softened his voice: "I'll go get you a new hand warmer, this one's cold."
As he spoke, he turned and walked down from the observation platform.
Feng Shunxiang followed behind him, bowing deeply and not daring to breathe.
Emperor Zhaoheng did not stop walking down the steps, but went straight to the small room on the right.
Feng Shunxiang was startled and quickly followed.
The ladies inside the small room were still chatting and laughing in hushed tones, completely unaware of what was happening outside.
Emperor Zhaoheng stopped outside the screen. He neither went in nor made a scene, but listened for a moment.
Then, he turned to Feng Shunxiang and whispered, "Go and find out which family's young lady she is."
Feng Shunxiang felt a chill run down his spine and bowed in agreement.
Emperor Zhaoheng returned to the hunting platform, and sure enough, he was holding a new hand warmer.
He walked over to Narcissus and placed the hand warmer in her hands.
"Keep it warm."
He said in a low voice, his expression having returned to normal.
Narcissus took the hand warmer, her fingertips touching the cold back of his hand.
She looked up at him.
Emperor Zhaoheng smiled at her, a gentle smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
About fifteen minutes later, Feng Shunxiang returned.
Behind him followed a middle-aged official, his face pale and his forehead covered in cold sweat; it was none other than Qian, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Further behind was a young woman in a peach-colored cloak, her head bowed and her shoulders trembling slightly; she was the noblewoman who had been the subject of gossip earlier.
Emperor Zhaoheng put down his teacup and looked up at the two of them.
His gaze was calm, yet it made Minister Qian's legs go weak, and he immediately knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, I have failed to properly educate my daughter, please forgive me!"
The noblewoman also knelt down, "This humble woman...this humble woman misspoke, please forgive me, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress!"
Emperor Zhaoheng remained silent.
He simply stood up slowly and walked to the edge of the observation platform.
The cold wind whipped up the hem of his cloak, making it flutter loudly.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Minister Qian has done an excellent job of educating his daughter."
Minister Qian trembled.
“Your daughter can recite the ‘Rules for Women’ by heart, which must be due to your daily teachings.”
Emperor Zhaoheng continued, "Since you are so well-versed in the virtues of womanhood, go home and study them diligently. There is no need to arrange a marriage within the next three years."
The noblewoman suddenly looked up, her face drained of color. She was about to explain herself when the vice minister interrupted her sharply.
"Shut up! This is the Emperor's decree; how dare you interfere!"
Emperor Zhaoheng didn't even glance at the noblewoman; his gaze fell on Minister Qian.
"By the way, I remember that Minister Qian's performance evaluation... is currently under review?"
Minister Qian froze.
"With such a family tradition," Emperor Zhaoheng said calmly, "I'm afraid they're not up to the task."
In short.
He ruined his daughter's marriage prospects and destroyed his father's future.
Minister Qian lay prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold snow, but dared not utter another word.
The noblewoman's tears flowed freely, but she dared not utter a sound.
Emperor Zhaoheng turned around and walked back to Shui Xian's side.
"Step back."
Minister Qian felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and kowtowed repeatedly before scrambling away.
Silence returned to the hunting platform.
But the atmosphere was completely different.
All the relatives and noblewomen lowered their heads, keeping their eyes down and not daring to utter a single word.
Emperor Zhaoheng, however, seemed oblivious.
He looked down at the narcissus in his arms, his voice softening: "Were you frightened?"
The narcissus shook its head.
She was just... a little lost.
His swift and decisive actions, and his unwavering protection of her, truly shocked everyone and warmed her heart.
But beneath that warmth, there was a chill that was hard to describe.
Like the winter sun, it looks bright and shines on you, but it still can't dispel the cold in your bones.
In the afternoon, while the hunt was still in progress deep within the hunting grounds, Emperor Zhaoheng accompanied Shuixian on a stroll to the Deer Park.
The deer park is located on the west side of the hunting grounds. It is a wooded area enclosed by a wooden fence, where dozens of deer, mostly females and fawns, are kept. They have smooth fur and are docile in nature. They are kept specifically for nobles to admire.
The steward eagerly followed beside them, introducing the animals: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, these are all carefully selected superior breeds. Look at that doe; it was only captured from the mountains last year, and it's already extremely docile. It doesn't even hide from people."
Narcissus looked in the direction he pointed.
It was a brown female deer, well-proportioned, with fur that shimmered softly in the snow.
It stood quietly by the fence, its head slightly tilted back, its gaze fixed on the distance, towards the direction of the mountains and forests.
Narcissus suddenly asked, "Were they all caught from the mountains?"
The steward smiled and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"The hunters set a trap and captured him alive. When he first arrived, he was wild and untamed, even after being injured and bleeding, he still tried to escape. But after being raised for a while, given food and shelter, he became quite comfortable. It shows that even the wildest creature can be tamed if kept in captivity for a long time."
He spoke casually, with a hint of smug satisfaction at having tamed a wild beast.
Narcissus felt a pang of sadness as she looked at the doe and its eyes gazing into the mountains and forests.
There was no gentleness in those eyes, only a bottomless silence.
It's like a stagnant pool.
"Xian'er?"
Emperor Zhaoheng noticed that something was wrong with her expression and subconsciously raised his hand to put his arm around her shoulder.
For a fleeting moment, he felt he was about to lose her...
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