Chapter 309 They're all here... waiting for you...
Narcissus felt a slight prick in her heart.
She lowered her eyes and watched as Emperor Zhaoheng poured the brewed tea into a celadon-glazed conical cup. The tea was clear and green, and its aroma was as delicate as orchids.
"Try it."
He pushed the teacup in front of her, his eyes filled with expectation.
Narcissus picked up her teacup and took small sips.
The tea soup has a slightly bitter taste at first, but a long-lasting sweet aftertaste. It is indeed a good tea, and the brewing temperature is just right.
"It tastes good."
She said softly.
Emperor Zhaoheng smiled, a smile that shone brightly in the warm afternoon light.
He poured himself a cup, took a sip, and then, as if remembering something amusing, a hint of mockery appeared in his eyes.
"Today in court, that stubborn old man, Duke of Zheng, in order to obstruct the implementation of the female official system, actually brought out the 'Biographies of Exemplary Women' and talked on and on about 'women's virtues and words' for a quarter of an hour."
Emperor Zhaoheng shook his head and chuckled. "I patiently listened to him finish, and only asked one question: 'Did your granddaughter, Zheng Yu'e, submit her examination paper for the position of female official three days ago? Did she also ask someone to pull strings to try and get into the Ministry of Rites' Documents Department?'"
Narcissus raised her eyes.
Guess what?
Emperor Zhaoheng's smile deepened. "His old face turned bright red, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time. I then circulated Zheng Yu'e's examination paper in court... Her policy essays were indeed excellent, especially her suggestions on the management of household registration in prefectures and counties, which were quite insightful. I approved her inclusion in the review list on the spot."
He reached out and took Narcissus's hand, which was resting on her lap: "Narcissus, the new policies you've implemented are gradually changing the world."
"I feel very pleased to see those old ministers suffer setbacks."
Narcissus's fingers curled slightly in his palm.
She looked at Emperor Zhaoheng's spirited profile, at the few pure white jasmine plants outside the window, and at the rising tea smoke that dispersed into a hazy mist in the warm light.
This moment is so heartwarming and beautiful.
It was as beautiful as a meticulously crafted dream.
And she should wake up.
"Yiheng".
Narcissus suddenly spoke, her voice very soft.
Emperor Zhaoheng turned his head: "Hmm?"
Shui Xian didn't look at him; her gaze was fixed on the tea leaves floating in the teacup.
Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the warm cup, again and again.
"Are you... very concerned about having children?"
The moment the question left his mouth, the warm pavilion seemed to fall silent for a moment.
The sound of the wind outside the window, and even the simmering of the tea, could be clearly heard.
Emperor Zhaoheng paused for a moment, then chuckled and pulled her into his arms: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"
Narcissus leaned obediently against his chest, her cheek pressed against the delicate texture of his clothes.
She could hear his steady heartbeat, one beat after another.
"It just suddenly occurred to me."
She lowered her voice even further, as if afraid of disturbing something, "After I give birth to this child, do you still want me to have more children?"
After asking that question, she closed her eyes.
These few breaths of waiting for the answer felt as long as a cycle.
Emperor Zhaoheng was completely unaware of the tightness in the person's arms.
He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his tone both frank and gentle: "The child we have will surely be a precious one."
He tightened his embrace, holding her closer, his voice filled with longing: "I yearn to be surrounded by your children, to see them, brothers in harmony, enjoying each other's company. Qingyan is steady and composed, Qinghe is clever and quick-witted, Yongning is kind and gentle..."
"I can never get enough of these three children. If we have a few more younger brothers and sisters, our Qianqing Palace will probably be so lively that the roof will be blown off."
He chuckled softly, the vibrations of his chest coming through his clothes.
"At that time, Yongning will be the eldest sister, leading her younger brothers and sisters in reading and writing. Qingyan can teach them horseback riding and archery... That boy was pestering me yesterday, saying he wants to go horseback riding in the West Garden in the spring. As for Qinghe, he'll be in charge of making everyone happy; that little guy has the most mischievous ideas."
He paused, then his voice softened.
"This empire should be inherited by our children."
"I will teach them the way of governing a country, and you will teach them benevolence. Xian'er, we will have many, many years to watch our children grow up, to see them get married, and to see our grandchildren around us..."
The future he depicted was so beautiful, so breathtakingly beautiful, that it made one's heart tremble.
To Narcissus, every word and phrase sounded like a dull knife slowly cutting into her heart.
So he really did care.
They care about her belly, and whether she can give birth to more children to "inherit the throne".
All that meticulous care, all those vows with no secrets left, that heavy seal of the private treasury... it was all for this future.
"However..." Emperor Zhaoheng was still enjoying the future. He wanted to say that it was enough now. If he had another child, given Shuixian's health, she would need to rest.
However, before he could speak, he noticed that Narcissus, in his arms, was gradually stiffening.
"Xian'er?" Emperor Zhaoheng noticed something was wrong, released his embrace, and looked down at her. "What's wrong? Are you tired?"
He reached out to touch her forehead, his brows furrowing slightly: "Xian'er's face is a little pale... Shall I summon Pei Jichuan to take a look?"
"No need."
Narcissus shook her head, forcing a smile, "It's just... the tea is a bit hot."
She picked up the cup of tea, which had already cooled down, brought it to her lips, and drank it all in one gulp.
The tea soup had long lost its initial temperature, and it tasted bitter as it went down my throat.
"Drink slowly."
Emperor Zhaoheng chuckled, taking the empty cup. "If it's so hot, why are you drinking it so fast?"
Narcissus lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Just then, a respectful report came from outside the warm pavilion: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War has sent an urgent report that a military dispatch from the northern border has arrived. The officials are already waiting in the Imperial Study."
Emperor Zhaoheng frowned, clearly displeased at being disturbed, but still got up: "I'll be right back. You can rest here, or go back to your inner palace and lie down for a while. I'll have dinner with you after I finish dealing with military affairs."
He placed a kiss on Narcissus's forehead and left in a hurry.
Inside the warm pavilion, only Narcissus remained.
She sat there, motionless for a long time.
——
Emperor Zhaoheng had not returned by the end of the Shen hour (3-5 PM).
Narcissus dismissed all the palace servants, saying she wanted to wander around as she pleased and didn't need to be followed.
She walked very slowly, thinking she was just strolling around, but as she took a walk and looked up, she realized she had somehow ended up in the Cold Palace.
The palace path was deserted and desolate in the depths of winter, with withered branches rustling in the wind. Even the warmest summer could not keep out the coldness of the cold palace.
Ruins and broken walls, overgrown with weeds.
This place was once the prison for the concubines of the previous emperor and even earlier emperors.
Withered yellow weeds sprouted from the cracks in the blue brick floor, the window frames were rotten, and the doors were half collapsed.
Narcissus stopped in front of an abandoned courtyard.
The old locust tree in the courtyard had long since died, its branches twisted and gnarled like ghostly claws, stretching towards the gray sky.
A person was sitting on the stone steps under the tree.
At that time, there was an old woman with tattered clothes and disheveled white hair.
This old woman, Shui Xian knew her when she was in the Cold Palace. She was a concubine from the previous dynasty who went mad shortly after giving birth to several children.
At the time, she didn't think much of it, after all, there were quite a few madmen in this cold palace. But now, Narcissus unconsciously stopped in front of the old woman.
The old woman, her back to Narcissus, was hunched over and humming a tune, which Narcissus watched quietly.
She knew the guards were silently protecting her from the shadows just three steps away.
But she neither called for anyone nor left.
The old woman suddenly stopped humming.
She looked at Narcissus, and through her disheveled white hair, a wrinkled face was revealed.
Her cloudy eyes stared intently at the narcissus.
To be precise, his eyes were fixed on her bright yellow empress's dress.
"Empress..."
The old woman grinned, "Hehe, the Empress... another Empress... here we come..."
Her voice, hoarse like a broken bellows, echoed in the empty courtyard.
Narcissus frowned, about to turn and leave.
"Don't go!"
The old woman suddenly stood up from the stone steps and staggered over.
The withered, bony hand reached for the narcissus's sleeve, but was restrained by an invisible force just before it touched her.
The bodyguard appeared like a ghost and grabbed her wrist.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
The old woman struggled, her cloudy eyes fixed on the narcissus's slightly protruding belly, and she screamed.
"Give birth! Give birth! Once you're done, you're useless! Just a tool! Just like me... just like me!"
Narcissus was deeply shaken.
She raised her hand, stopping the guards from taking any further action.
The old woman, now catching her breath, stopped lunging at him and instead began to dance and spin among the withered grass.
Her tattered coat, whose original color was indistinguishable, opened with her movements, revealing her bony collarbones.
"He said he loved me... and that if I gave birth to a prince... he would make me his empress..."
The old woman looked up at the sky and laughed foolishly, "I believe it... I really believe it..."
She abruptly turned her head and stared at the narcissus again, her eyes both crazed and lucid, like a demon crawling out of hell.
"I gave birth! I gave birth to two! Two princes! And then? And that's where I am! Hahaha!"
She burst into wild laughter, her laughter as shrill as an owl's:
"He said I was unworthy to be empress...and gave my child to another concubine to raise! He left me here to die! To die!"
The old woman suddenly stopped laughing and walked closer step by step.
The guards were about to make their move when Narcissus raised her hand again.
The two stood three steps apart, gazing into each other's eyes.
"Your clothes are so beautiful..."
The old woman stretched out her withered finger, pointing vaguely at Narcissus's queen's gown. A hint of infatuation flashed in her eyes, then turned into deeper pity. "How long can you wear it? A year? Two years? When you can no longer have children... when you're old... then come and keep me company..."
She looked around at the dilapidated courtyard and chuckled softly:
"There are so many sisters here...they're all here...waiting for you..."
The cold wind whipped up the withered grass and swept past the dilapidated house.
The old woman's voice drifted in the wind, but lingered in Narcissus's ears like a curse.
To give birth.
Waiting to die.
Memories of being used to death by Yi Guichun in her past life surged up like a tidal wave.
That snowy night, she had just given birth and lay weakly on the delivery bed.
Yi Guichun held her child, smiling gently: "Good sister, you have done a great service. I will not treat you unfairly."
Then what?
Then came the days of living hell in the brothel, and finally, the suffocation of having one's neck snapped alive.
Memories from two lifetimes overlap.
Emperor Zhaoheng's doting smile intertwined with the gentle smile of Yi Guichun in his memory.
They said different things.
But what was deep in those eyes was exactly the same...
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