Chapter 51 The Imperial Concubine Arrives, I Will Never Set Foot in Yilan Palace Again
The candlelight in Yilan Palace was dim and yellow in the dead of night.
Intermittent sobs could be heard coming from inside the tent.
Fangru was pressed down on the dragon-patterned brocade quilt, her black hair disheveled and scattered.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she suddenly tilted her head back and grabbed Zhou Ling's loose black hair with her wet fingers.
"Your Majesty..." she gasped for breath, "It's too stuffy in the palace... Su Wanqing from Zuixianlou plays the pipa exceptionally well... Could you please invite her to the palace to relieve my boredom?"
Zhou Ling slowed his movements slightly, his voice low and husky with desire: "You're mentioning other people to me at this time?"
Fangru seized the opportunity to cling to him, her warm breath brushing against his ear: "If His Majesty allows her to enter the palace... I will learn her new song... and play it for His Majesty..."
"Nonsense." Zhou Ling held her hand tightly, but chuckled softly, "Have the Imperial Household Department handle it tomorrow."
The next day, Su Wanqing entered the palace, causing an uproar in the six palaces.
The Empress was so angry that she smashed a teacup: "How dare a courtesan step into the palace?" But thinking of what the Emperor had done in the Phoenix Palace a few days ago, everyone dared not speak out.
Inside the Yilan Palace, after Su Wanqing finished her song, Fangru immediately dismissed everyone around her.
She grabbed the other's sleeve urgently, her voice filled with unspeakable weariness: "Good sister, you have seen a lot outside the palace, is there any way... to make me, with my physical condition, avoid serving the emperor?"
Su Wanqing looked at her in surprise: "His Majesty is so kind, yet you refuse? The Imperial Hospital's contraceptive soup isn't..."
“The contraceptive soup can only prevent miscarriage, not prevent people from getting pregnant.” A bitter smile appeared on Fangru’s lips. “What I want is a method that doesn’t require me to be favored at all.”
Su Wanqing seemed to be deep in thought: "Could it be... that you still have feelings for Young Master Gu?"
“It has nothing to do with him.” Fangru shook her head gently, her fingertips unconsciously twisting her sleeve. “I stayed in the palace for two reasons: first, His Majesty threatened me with my father, and second…” She paused, ultimately not mentioning the Buddhist beads, “There are some unresolved matters that need to be investigated. But now His Majesty visits me every night, and I am constantly suffering from backache and leg weakness. I don’t even have the energy to think things through.”
She looked out the window, her voice filled with deep weariness: "If this continues, let alone finding out where that item is, I'm afraid I'll even forget who I am."
Su Wanqing stared at her for a moment, then took out a yellowed prescription from her sleeve: "This is a prescription personally prepared by the chief physician of the previous dynasty. After taking it, the menstrual period can be extended by three to five days, which can be used as an excuse to refuse to serve the emperor."
Fangru asked anxiously, "Will it harm my health?"
"Don't worry, I've personally tried this prescription for three months. Aside from causing slight fatigue, it has absolutely no other harmful effects." Su Wanqing squeezed her hand. "But I must remind you, His Majesty treats you differently now. This morning when I came, I saw the Imperial Household Department sending tributes like pearls from the East Sea and snow lotuses from the Tianshan Mountains to Yilan Palace..."
Fangru looked down at the prescription, recalling the various special treatments Zhou Ling had given her these past few days.
He stayed overnight every night, showered her with gifts, and even tacitly approved of her many transgressions in the palace.
"I know what I'm doing." She carefully put the prescription into the bottom of her dressing case, her voice as soft as a sigh.
Shortly after Su Wanqing took her leave, Zhou Ling returned from court ahead of schedule.
He strode into the bedchamber and embraced Fangru, who was doing her hair and makeup, from behind:
"The warm jade presented as tribute by the foreign lands today seems to suit you well."
Fang instinctively pressed down on her dressing case, forcing a smile, "Why has Your Majesty arrived at this hour?"
"I missed you." He naturally picked up a comb to brush her long hair, but caught a glimpse of her flustered expression in the mirror. "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing." Fangru hurriedly closed her dressing case, her heart pounding.
Zhou Ling's gaze darkened slightly, but he simply leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Tonight I will take you to the painted boat on Taiye Pond to admire the moon."
Watching his departing figure, Fangru clutched the prescription in her sleeve.
These tender and affectionate feelings are so similar to those of my previous lives.
She must guard her mind and never lose herself.
That night, the painted boats on Taiye Pond swayed gently, and the glass lamps shimmered with a warm glow under the moonlight.
Zhou Ling dismissed everyone around him, embraced Fangru in his arms, and gently stroked the silk sash around her waist with his fingertips.
"My beloved concubine seems rather restless lately." His breath brushed against her ear, carrying an unmistakable desire.
Fangru was secretly anxious when she suddenly felt a familiar lower abdominal pain; it turned out her period had come early!
Overjoyed, she feigned shyness and pushed him away, saying, "Your Majesty... I... I'm not feeling well..."
Zhou Ling paused, the burning passion in his eyes gradually cooling: "When did you arrive?"
"Just... just now..." Fangru lowered her eyes, concealing the relief in them.
This unexpected menstrual period was like a godsend, allowing her to avoid even using any medicine.
"Summon the imperial physician." Zhou Ling's voice suddenly turned cold.
Before long, the imperial physician, after taking her pulse with trepidation, reported: "Your Majesty, Consort Shen is indeed menstruating. She will be able to cleanse herself in about five to seven days."
After the imperial physician left, Zhou Ling pulled Fangru into his arms, his burning hand pressed against her waist: "I remember my beloved consort's due date was five days from now." He gently massaged her lower abdomen with his fingertips, "Why is it so early?"
Fangru's heart tightened. She hadn't expected this man to remember even the date of her period so clearly. She could only weakly explain, "Perhaps I caught a chill while accompanying His Majesty on the lake the other day..."
"It's alright." Zhou Ling suddenly lowered his head and used the tip of his teeth to loosen the sash around her waist. "I've already consulted the imperial physician..." His warm breath brushed against her ear. "He said that as long as the movements are gentle, it'll be fine..."
Fangru hurriedly pressed down on his hand, which was reaching into her skirt, her voice trembling, "Your Majesty! I am truly unwell today..."
"I'll be gentle," he said, pressing her down onto the bed in that position. "Let me see... if it's really here..."
"Zhou Ling!" she cried out in desperation, kicking her legs frantically. "Are you crazy?!"
"Mad?" he chuckled. "Could I be even mader..."
Fangru suddenly grabbed his restless hand, her voice trembling: "Your Majesty! I am truly unwell..."
Zhou Ling paused, and the surging desire in his eyes gradually subsided.
He took a deep breath and pulled the person closer to his arms: "Then I'll hold you like this while I sleep."
"No!" Fangru hurriedly pressed against his chest. "Your Majesty, I... Your Majesty, it is truly inconvenient for me to share a bed with you during my menstrual period..."
Zhou Ling's eyes turned cold, and he tightened his grip on her chin: "Can't I even hold you while we sleep?"
"I'm afraid I might offend Your Majesty..." Fangru lowered her eyes to avoid his scrutinizing gaze, her voice barely audible.
"Good, very good." Zhou Ling suddenly released her. "Since it's inconvenient today, I'll come to see you another day."
Fangru watched his retreating figure as he turned away, gently stroking the prescription hidden in her sleeve. Since fate had intervened, this prescription would be used in five days.
The moonlight was perfect outside the painted boat, and she finally showed her first happy smile in a long time.
Five days later, Zhou Ling returned from court and remembered that he had not yet bestowed the East China Sea Pearl presented by the Imperial Household Department on Fangru. So he did not have the palace servants announce his arrival and went straight to Yilan Palace.
Just as they reached the outside of the sleeping quarters, they saw Lingzi sneaking out of the hall, clutching something in her hand.
Upon seeing the emperor, she was so frightened that she immediately knelt down, and a yellowed piece of paper fluttered out from her sleeve.
"What is this?" Zhou Ling bent down to pick it up, his eyes scanning the writing on the paper, his expression suddenly changed.
He recognized several of the medicinal herbs; they were all cold-natured substances that were explicitly prohibited by the Imperial Medical Academy.
Lingzi trembled like a leaf: "It was...it was Lady Cai who told me to get the medicine from the Imperial Hospital..."
Fangru sat in front of the dressing table, looking at her pale face in the mirror.
She pressed her hand against her stomach, wondering whether the prescription Su Wanqing had given her would actually work.
Her eyelids looked a little swollen in the mirror, and she looked rather listless. Just as she was about to ask a maid to bring some rouge to cover it up, she suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside, getting closer and closer.
Zhou Ling strode in, clutching the yellowed prescription in his hand, his face so gloomy it could drip water.
"My beloved concubine, could you please explain what this is?" He slammed the prescription heavily onto the dressing table.
Fangru's heart trembled violently, but she forced herself to remain calm: "It's just a prescription for regulating qi and blood..."
"Regulate Qi and blood?" Zhou Ling sneered. "I have already had the Imperial Hospital examine it. This medicine can interfere with menstruation, making a person's pulse resemble that of menstruation!"
He suddenly grabbed her wrist: "No wonder it was such a coincidence that night! You completely fooled me!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me!" Fangru hurriedly knelt down, "I only..."
"Just what?" Zhou Ling leaned down and pinched her chin. "Just that you hate me to this extent? So much so that you'd harm your body with drugs just to avoid serving me in bed?"
Fangru was taken aback. Su Wanqing had clearly said that the medicine was harmless, so why did the Imperial Hospital say that it would damage the body? If that were true, she would never use such a harmful method.
She hurriedly raised her head: "Your Majesty, you are wise. If I had known this medicine would be harmful, I would never have dared to..."
"Dare not?" Zhou Ling pulled her up from the ground. "Today I will show you what true fear is!"
He pulled open her clothes, but stopped when he touched her trembling body.
Their eyes met, and she saw the complex emotions surging within him: anger, disappointment, and a hurt she had never seen before.
"Fine, very well." He released her hand, his voice suddenly becoming weary. "Since my beloved consort is so unwilling, I will grant your wish."
Before he turned to leave, he glanced at her one last time: "From this day forward, I will never set foot in Yilan Palace again."
The palace doors slammed shut with a bang, sending dust flying from the beams and pillars.
Fangru slowly straightened her disheveled clothes, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
Never again will he set foot in Yilan Palace? If this were said by another emperor, it might be taken seriously.
But he is Zhou Ling.
It was Zhou Ling, who had never visited the imperial harem in six consecutive lifetimes, yet relentlessly pursued her alone.
She bent down to pick up the crumpled prescription from the ground and gently smoothed out the creases.
In less than three days, no, perhaps tomorrow, that familiar figure will reappear in the Yilan Palace.
After all, this kind of drama had already played out far too many times in previous lives.
"Your Majesty is always so hypocritical."
She murmured to herself in the empty bedchamber, a hint of expectation that she herself didn't even notice flashed in her eyes.
...
That night, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was filled with the aroma of wine, and Zhou Ling drank alone by candlelight.
He suddenly smashed a wine cup and roared towards the outside of the hall, "Li Zuo! Bring that woman here!"
Upon hearing this, Li Zuo, the commander of the Imperial Guards, immediately bowed and said, "Your subject will go to Yilan Palace to request that Chen be expelled..."
"It's not her!" Zhou Ling slammed the wine jug to the ground. "The one with the child!"
Li Zuo's pupils contracted slightly, and he immediately changed his words: "Your subject obeys the decree."
Before long, a woman in brightly colored clothes led a two- or three-year-old boy into the hall with a smile.
"Your Majesty..." The woman was about to bow when Zhou Ling pulled her in front of him.
He stared at her with bloodshot eyes: "Tell me... am I not a terrible person?"
The woman turned pale with fright: "His Majesty is the chosen one of Heaven..."
"Then why..." Zhou Ling shoved her away abruptly, staggering as he grabbed the table for support, "why wouldn't she even let me touch her?"
A calculating glint flashed in the woman's eyes.
She hurriedly handed the child to the palace attendants, and after the palace doors closed, she took the initiative to get close to the drunken king.
“Your Majesty…” She knelt at his feet, raising her carefully made-up face, “I cannot bear to see Your Majesty drinking alone.”
Zhou Ling did not respond, so she boldly placed her soft hand gently on his knee.
Seeing that he did not push her away, her fingertips slowly traced the dragon pattern upwards, lingering on his lapel.
"She doesn't want His Majesty..." The woman's voice was soft and seductive, tinged with deliberate pity, "It's her loss. There are plenty of people in this palace hoping for His Majesty's mercy..."
She seized the opportunity to rise, almost pressing herself against his chest, her breath sweet as orchids: "Let me... comfort Your Majesty properly..."
Zhou Ling suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed her restless hand.
Those peach blossom eyes, still tinged with intoxication, were chillingly clear: "You think you're worthy of climbing into the emperor's bed?"
The woman's face turned pale, and she tried to explain, but he shoved her away forcefully.
"Get out."
The woman was so frightened that she knelt down and begged for mercy.
"Starting tomorrow, you will be good imperial concubines." His voice carried an unquestionable authority. "If you behave yourselves in the palace, I will guarantee your safety for life."
The following morning, the concubines of the six palaces were paying their respects to the Empress in the Phoenix Palace, as was customary.
Inside the golden palace, jewels and jade ornaments adorned the walls, and a subtle fragrance wafted through the air. The concubines sat upright according to their rank, their faces bearing perfectly gentle smiles, yet their eyes concealed a silent struggle.
Fangru sat alone on the last embroidered stool, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the handkerchief.
The air inside the palace was filled with the fragrance of incense, and the laughter and chatter of the concubines seemed to be muffled by a veil.
For five whole days, Yilan Palace was so quiet that one could hear the dripping of the water clock.
This isn't right.
In her previous lives, that person would only be angry for two days at most, and on the third day, he would definitely find an excuse to barge in. But this time... As she looked at the darkening sky outside the window, she suddenly felt a tightness in her chest.
This should have been the peace and quiet she longed for, but for some reason, an indescribable emptiness always lingered in her heart.
Just as the Empress was about to begin her address, an unusual commotion suddenly broke out outside the palace.
The gatekeeper eunuch scrambled in, his voice trembling:
"His Majesty has arrived!"
All the concubines in the hall were stunned.
At this hour, His Majesty never interferes in matters of paying respects to the emperor in the inner palace!
The beaded curtain rustled as Zhou Ling, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, strode into the hall.
What astonished everyone even more was that behind him followed a woman dressed in a magnificent robe covered in gold brocade, her dress embroidered with a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix even more dazzling than the empress's court dress.
The boy she was holding was also dressed in the same expensive silk robe, and the mother and son were so adorned with jewels that it almost hurt the eyes of everyone.
The woman haughtily raised her exquisitely drawn eyebrows, surveying the concubines in the hall without any attempt to conceal her presence, a faint, mocking smile playing on her lips.
Her movements as she held the child's hand were slightly rough, and the gold bell on the child's wrist jingled with her movements.
"Hurry up!" she said impatiently, tugging at the child. "Can't you see your father is up ahead?"
The Empress hurriedly rose to greet him, her voice filled with disbelief: "Your Majesty, this...this is..."
Zhou Ling walked straight to the phoenix throne and personally placed the two birds, one large and one small, beside him.
His gaze slowly swept over the concubines below, whose expressions had suddenly changed, and finally lingered for a moment on Fangru's pale face.
"This is Azhi." His voice was eerily calm. "We met three years ago when I traveled incognito to the south."
He reached out and gently stroked the child's head, saying each word clearly, "This child is named Cheng'er, and he is my bloodline."
Clang!
The jade teacup in Consort Xian's hand shattered with a crack.
The sandalwood prayer beads between Consort De's fingers scattered, and the sandalwood beads rolled all over the ground.
The empress staggered backward, the pearl on her phoenix crown swaying violently, her lips trembling but unable to utter a sound.
Fangru felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
Reborn six times, she was completely unaware that this man already had a child with another man!
What alarmed her even more was that the child's eyebrows, eyes, and nose did indeed seem somewhat familiar...
"From this day forward," Zhou Ling's voice boomed like thunder in the deathly silent hall, "Azhi is hereby conferred the title of Noble Consort Zhi and granted residence in Xianglan Palace."
"Your Majesty!" The Empress finally found her voice, her nails digging deeply into her palms. "The position of Imperial Concubine is no small matter! This woman's origins are unknown, and this child..."
"My mind is made up," Zhou Ling interrupted coldly, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Fang Ru's distraught face.
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Author's Note: The child is not the male protagonist's.
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