For several days in a row, the Crown Prince opened a window in the same place in Chonghua Palace and looked at the slender figure in the window opposite from afar.
Perhaps what we can't have is always the best. At least that's what the current crown prince thinks.
Zheng Chunhua's cough gradually improved after taking the medicine prescribed by Physician Zhang, and she coughed less each day. It turned out that her illness could have been cured with just a few doses of medicine, but why did it keep fluctuating, lingering in her sickbed for months, ultimately causing Emperor Kangxi to gradually become indifferent to her?
If it weren't for that person, I probably would have been delayed and misdiagnosed until I was too sick to ever see the Emperor again.
Thinking of this, Zheng Chunhua felt a chill creeping down her spine. Spring was just beginning to arrive outside; she shouldn't let such a beautiful spring day go to waste.
"My lord, let me help you go for a walk. Your cough has just subsided, you should get some sunshine. You're really feeling much better after taking Physician Zhang's medicine." Mo Yun was also pleased to see that Zheng Chunhua's face had regained its former stunning beauty.
"Alright, where should we go? I don't want to go to the Imperial Garden anymore." Zheng Chunhua subconsciously wanted to avoid that person. Although she was grateful to him, his status was what it was, and the gap between them was an abyss. If she was not careful, she would fall in and be shattered to pieces.
Mo Yun glanced at Zheng Chunhua and casually said, "If we go to Cuiyun Pavilion, we can walk up to the row of buildings and see the view outside. I heard it's very beautiful. It's not far, we can just walk there."
Zheng Chunhua was taken aback. Wasn't Cuiyun Pavilion right in front of Chonghua Palace, connected to the watchtowers of the city wall? Going there would allow one to walk around the watchtowers and see the scene outside the palace.
“Alright, you can help this esteemed person along,” Zheng Chunhua said.
Mo Yun immediately grabbed a thin cloak and helped Zheng Chunhua out of Shufangzhai, heading straight for Cuiyun Pavilion.
Along the way, she encountered hardly anyone, as this was the very back of the harem, and hardly anyone came here. Zheng Chunhua walked on, feeling much more relaxed and refreshed. Her illness had subsided, and she was only eighteen years old; naturally, she enjoyed going out for a stroll.
Seeing that the wind was getting a bit strong, Mo Yun draped a moon-white cloak over Zheng Chunhua's shoulders. She had only styled her hair in a simple double bun, the back of which was tied into a small swallowtail, adorned with delicate silver beaded tassels. A large, pale pink palace flower was pinned to the center of her headdress, flanked by several small gold beaded flowers inlaid with gemstones. A dark blue tassel hung down beside her temples, making Zheng Chunhua appear even more charming and delicate.
“My lord, why don’t I help you up to the city tower? The guards are all taking their midday break at this hour, so there won’t be anyone around. It would be perfect for you to go up and enjoy the view,” Mo Yun suggested.
“Alright, let’s go up and take a look. It’s a good opportunity to see what’s outside the palace; it’s been a long time since I’ve been outside,” Zheng Chunhua said thoughtfully.
The mistress and servant walked to the stairs leading inward from the gatehouse and climbed the steps. Women from the inner palace generally didn't come here, as there were many guards to prevent them from encountering unsuitable people and being gossiped about. Therefore, they rarely came.
With Mo Yun's help, Zheng Chunhua climbed the gate tower. Sure enough, there wasn't a single guard in sight; the entire tower was empty.
"Mo Yun, how do you know there's no one here at this hour?" Zheng Chunhua asked casually.
Mo Yun was startled and immediately lowered her head, saying, "One of my fellow villagers works as a guard here. Sometimes I run into him. He told me about it."
Zheng Chunhua walked to an observation post on the gate tower, raised her delicate hands, and placed them on the rough bluestone, creating a striking contrast of beauty.
She stood there, gazing into the distance, as if looking at the everyday life and atmosphere of the world.
"Mo Yun, what do you think ordinary women do every day? After getting up and preparing breakfast for their parents-in-law, husbands, and children, they can take a basket to the street, and maybe even ask the woman next door to go grocery shopping with them. After haggling with the vendors, they carry a basket of carefully selected vegetables and meats home to prepare the next meal for their family. Mo Yun, do you think that kind of life is better, or is it better to live like me, deep in the palace, with no worries about food or clothing, but still feeling empty?" Zheng Chunhua said softly.
After a long while, silence answered her. Zheng Chunhua turned around, but Mo Yun was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a figure in moon white appeared. It was indeed the Crown Prince, standing a meter behind her, silently watching her.
Just then, a gust of wind blew by, causing the dark blue tassels at Zheng Chunhua's temples to flutter, making the Crown Prince stare at them, somewhat mesmerized.
"This concubine greets Your Highness. Where has Mo Yun gone?" Zheng Chunhua asked, forcing herself to appear shocked.
Oh no, did he just hear my nonsense?
"So you also feel empty inside," the prince said.
Zheng Chunhua was speechless for a moment, but she didn't know what to do next. Mo Yun had disappeared without a trace, or was he simply...?
Thinking about this, Zheng Chunhua suddenly realized that her being able to stand here today was probably a scheme orchestrated by Mo Yun and the person in front of her.
"This concubine takes her leave." Zheng Chunhua's eyes flickered slightly as she bowed to the Crown Prince and then walked towards the stairs.
However, some things cannot be prevented from happening simply because she wants them to. Just like her encounter with the Crown Prince that day, it seemed as if it were destined.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her frail arm, and then she was embraced. The Crown Prince suddenly exerted force, pulling Zheng Chunhua into his arms. Then, the Crown Prince captured her lips with his.
All of this happened so fast that Zheng Chunhua didn't even have time to resist.
The prince initially touched her lips lightly, but seeing that she didn't react, he increased the pressure and eventually pried open her mouth, kissing her deeper and deeper until she could barely breathe.
The person in his arms began to struggle, but she was as weak as a delicate bird. Although the prince did not often go hunting or fighting, he practiced archery every day, and the strength in his hands was not something a small woman could easily break free from.
"Hua'er, I... I really haven't gone a single day without thinking of you," the Crown Prince said in a hoarse voice, a far cry from the stern and unsmiling Crown Prince who stood before Emperor Kangxi.
Zheng Chunhua blushed, feeling as if her heart was about to leap out of her chest. Just as the man in front of her kissed her, a sweet feeling suddenly welled up in the empty space in her heart.
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