Chapter 55: Expel the Empress Dowager! Your body can only remember me!
Faced with this sudden framing, Fangru's heart pounded in her chest, but she quickly suppressed her instinctive urge to refute it.
Just when everyone thought she would panic, she slowly bent her knees and performed a perfect palace curtsy.
"Your Majesty is wise," Fangru's clear voice rang out in the quiet banquet, "Your Highness the Consort's love for her son is something I deeply sympathize with."
Instead of directly denying the accusations, she first affirmed the Consort's maternal love. This move, a strategic retreat, stunned those who were expecting her to defend herself.
After Fangru stood up, she calmly took out a plain handkerchief from her sleeve, walked slowly to the emperor's side, stopped five steps away from the throne, and bowed again.
"Your Majesty, I dare to ask you to examine this handkerchief closely." She unfolded the handkerchief, which was embroidered with an exquisite orchid pattern. "This is what I used to wipe the Prince's sweat just now. If I truly intended to harm the Prince, why would I leave such obvious evidence?"
Zhou Ling nodded slightly, signaling the eunuch to present the handkerchief.
Fangru continued, "I also saw the red mark on the back of Prince Cheng's neck. But please think carefully, Your Majesty, if it were truly my doing, why would I have chosen such a conspicuous place?"
Before she finished speaking, several senior officials at the table had already nodded slightly.
At this moment, Fangru did something that surprised everyone.
She turned to Consort Zhi and said softly, "Your Majesty, the prince is crying so hard; he must be extremely uncomfortable. Before entering the palace, I learned some massage techniques for soothing infants from an old doctor in my hometown. May I try them?"
This request was reasonable and showed that she genuinely cared about the prince.
Consort Zhi was speechless for a moment; if she refused, it would make her seem disregard for the prince's safety.
Zhou Ling finally spoke: "Granted."
Fangru stepped forward steadily and took the still sobbing Prince Cheng from Consort Zhi's arms.
She deliberately adjusted her posture to ensure that her every move was within everyone's sight.
She gently supported the prince's back with her left hand, and with three fingers of her right hand together, she slowly massaged several acupoints on the prince's back with extremely gentle force.
As she performed the massage, she explained softly, "This is a calming acupoint; gently massaging it can relieve infantile convulsions."
Surprisingly, after a short while, Prince Cheng's crying gradually subsided and turned into soft sobs.
Fangru seized the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, when I was massaging the prince just now, I noticed that a certain acupoint on the prince's back was unusually sensitive. Even a light touch would trigger a violent reaction. This may be the reason why the prince suddenly cried out."
She skillfully steered the Consort's accusations toward a medical explanation, neither directly criticizing the Consort nor implying another possibility.
A hint of appreciation flashed in Zhou Ling's deep eyes. He turned to the eunuch beside him and instructed, "Summon the imperial physician to examine the prince carefully."
Fangru handed the now-calm prince back to his wet nurse and bowed to the emperor again: "Your Majesty, although today's events were a misunderstanding, I do bear responsibility for not taking proper care of him. Please allow me to reflect on my actions in seclusion for three days as punishment."
This move, a strategic retreat, demonstrated her sense of responsibility while avoiding the risks of continuing the conflict.
Zhou Ling gazed at her for a moment, then slowly said, "What's wrong with Consort Shen being so considerate of the prince? I should reward you for your merit in calming the prince just now."
The atmosphere at the banquet suddenly reversed.
The way everyone looked at Fangru had changed from suspicion to admiration.
Fangru humbly lowered her head: "Your Majesty, I dare not ask for any reward, I only wish for your well-being."
She knew that although she had won a narrow victory today, the power struggle within the palace had only just begun.
The banquet ended, and although the surface disturbances had temporarily subsided, Fangru knew in her heart...
After this incident, Consort Zhi's resentment will likely deepen even further.
She had no intention of getting involved in this endless struggle; she only wanted to find an excuse to return to Yilan Palace as soon as possible and continue her undisturbed days of searching for Buddhist beads.
As long as Consort Zhi doesn't cause any more trouble, she's willing to put an end to everything that happened today and let both sides live in peace.
However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease.
Just as everyone was about to leave, a well-dignified old nanny from the Empress Dowager's side stepped forward with a smile. She first bowed to the Emperor and Consort, and then, in a soft but clear voice, conveyed the Empress Dowager's message: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager was very concerned when she heard that the young prince was unwell during the banquet. Now that the young prince is well, and knowing that the Noble Consort has been taking good care of him, she specially sent me to convey that she would like to invite the Noble Consort to stay at Qingyi Garden for a few days. The garden is quiet, and it will allow the prince to recuperate properly."
Upon hearing this, Consort Zhi immediately displayed just the right amount of gratitude and obedience on her face: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your consideration."
Being able to stay in the Empress Dowager's presence for as long as possible was something she naturally longed for.
The old woman changed the subject, her gaze falling on Fangru, who was trying to quietly slip away. Her smile softened: "The Empress Dowager also said that she saw Consort Shen's massage technique was exquisite and quite effective, and the prince seemed to enjoy it very much. Therefore, she would like to ask Consort Shen to stay as well, so that she can massage the prince morning and evening to calm his nerves, just in case."
Fangru's heart sank suddenly.
Staying in Qingyi Garden meant continuing to be under the watchful eyes of the Empress Dowager, the Imperial Concubine, and many others, which was by no means what she wanted.
What made her heart clench even more was that this meant her plan to find the Buddhist beads would be forced to be interrupted, and she would have to spend her days and nights in the same corner with the unpredictable imperial concubine.
Just as she was about to find a safe excuse to decline, Zhou Ling, who had been silent all along, spoke first. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable decisiveness: "Your Majesty is kind and considerate of her grandson. The Consort and the Prince will stay at Qingyi Garden for a few days, as Your Majesty wishes." He paused slightly, then turned his gaze to Fangru. His eyes were deep and carried an indescribable pressure. "Chen Cainu need not stay. She will return to the palace with me."
The emperor personally offered to take her back to the palace, which, in the eyes of others, was perhaps an immense favor and protection, enough to turn those who had questioned and despised her into envy and fear.
However, when Fangru heard this, she only felt a chill creep up her spine.
The burning gaze of Zhou Ling in the side hall just now seemed to be branded on my skin again.
She was all too familiar with the undercurrent surging in his eyes; it was the unwavering determination of a hunter locking onto his prey.
Return to the palace? How could the thin palace gate of Yilan Palace possibly stop the emperor's visit?
She could almost foresee the scene when she returned to the palace, where the candlelight flickered in the lavish tent, and his burning palms pressed against her without any refusal, his knuckles grinding against her trembling skin inch by inch.
That promise, "I will never set foot in Yilan Palace again," is as thin as a cicada's wing in the face of the emperor's surging lust.
Staying in Qingyi Garden meant facing Consort Zhi's open and covert attacks, but at least the Empress Dowager could serve as a temporary shield.
But if she went back to the palace with him... she, a fish that had finally escaped the net, would probably be torn apart and eaten immediately.
Almost instinctively, the instant Zhou Ling finished speaking, Fangru took a half step forward, curtsied, and bowed her head, her voice clear and firm: "Your Majesty's grace is deeply appreciated. However... the Empress Dowager has ordered me to stay and care for the prince, and I dare not neglect my duty. Moreover, the prince was just frightened, and since my massage skills have been recognized by the Empress Dowager, staying in the garden might allow me to do my best to ensure the prince's well-being. I humbly request Your Majesty to allow me to stay, so that I may fulfill my duty to serve and not fail the Empress Dowager's entrustment."
She invoked the Empress Dowager and the princes, and her reasoning was impeccable.
Zhou Ling's eyes instantly darkened.
He looked at her lowered eyes; beneath her submissive demeanor lay obvious aloofness and resistance. She was avoiding him.
She preferred to stay in this troublesome place and face the possible difficulties from Consort Zhi rather than return to the palace with him.
A nameless fire suddenly rose in his chest.
Is she really that unwilling to get close to him?
A cold, sharp smile curved his lips as he spoke, his tone becoming more forceful: "The Empress Dowager only instructed you to give massages occasionally, not to be by her side day and night. Return to the palace with me."
At this moment, the Empress Dowager's old nanny interjected with a smile, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable force: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager indeed meant it. She thought that since Consort Shen's skills were excellent, it would be safer for her to stay in the garden. It also reflects the Empress Dowager's loving heart."
Since the Empress Dowager's people insisted, even though Zhou Ling was the emperor, he could not openly defy the Empress Dowager, especially since it concerned the well-being of the princes.
His aura instantly turned icy cold.
His gaze was fixed on Fangru as if it were a physical object, carrying the anger of being disobeyed and a hint of... defeat that was barely perceptible.
She succeeded; by taking advantage of the Empress Dowager's decree, she successfully avoided him.
"Very well." He practically spat out the word through clenched teeth, his voice chilling to the bone. "Since the Empress Dowager insists, and Consort Shen is so 'loyal,' I grant your request!"
He stopped looking at anyone, abruptly turned around, and strode away.
His back was tense, and anyone could see that His Majesty's mood was extremely bad at the moment.
Fangru knelt on the spot until the oppressive figure completely disappeared from sight, then she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but her back was already covered in a layer of cold sweat.
She knew she had completely angered him, and the days ahead would likely be difficult.
But at least for now, the Empress Dowager's Qingyi Garden has become her temporary haven, isolating her from the most unsettling demands from the depths of the palace.
The next morning, as dawn broke, a thin mist enveloped the pavilions and towers of Qingyi Garden like a veil.
Fangru got up early, as instructed yesterday, and went to the main hall to give Prince Cheng a morning massage.
As we walked to the outer corridor of the main hall, we could faintly hear voices coming from a half-open lattice window.
Fangru didn't want to stop, but the deep and dignified voice clearly belonged to the Empress Dowager, and the tone carried an unquestionable solemnity, which made her involuntarily slow down.
"...This matter concerns the foundation of the nation, so we must be extremely careful." The Empress Dowager's voice was very low, but every word was clear. "That Zheng Yu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, has been missing ever since he left the garden to claim illness at the birthday banquet. I demand to see him alive or dead. I must find out his whereabouts thoroughly."
Fangru's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
Zheng Yu? In this life, she clearly avoided Zheng Yu, so how could she still hear news about him?
Then, the Empress Dowager's next words exploded in her ears like a thunderclap:
"The prince's lineage must be kept strictly confidential. Whatever you discover, report it to me immediately and secretly; it must not be leaked!"
Is he related to the prince's lineage?
Fangru felt a chill instantly rise from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, and her limbs became stiff.
That absurd and terrifying thought surged uncontrollably into his mind: Could it be... could it be that Prince Cheng is not His Majesty's biological son?
But how is that possible?
How dare Consort Zhi commit such a heinous crime that would implicate nine generations of her family?
If the prince's bloodline is in doubt, why would His Majesty raise him as the eldest prince and bestow upon him unparalleled favor? What earth-shattering secret lies behind this?
For a moment, she was in a state of utter confusion, and all sorts of speculations came rushing in, making her almost unable to stand.
She instinctively reached out and touched the cold pillar, the chill from her fingertips bringing her back to her senses.
Just as she was trying to sort out her chaotic thoughts, she heard steady footsteps behind her.
Fangru immediately composed herself, quickly adjusted her facial expression, and turned around. She saw a stern-faced, sharp-eyed old woman walking over. Judging from her attire, she was of high rank, but she was not one of the few who usually served the Empress Dowager closely.
The old woman approached, her gaze sweeping subtly over Fangru's face with a hint of scrutiny. She then curtsied, her tone respectful yet carrying an undeniable distance: "Greetings, Consort Shen. The Empress Dowager has given new instructions, saying that the West Warm Pavilion is quieter and more pleasant, conducive to the prince's care. She has specially ordered me to come and entrust His Highness to you, to take him to the West Warm Pavilion immediately for care. All necessities have been prepared."
Fangru's doubts deepened.
The location was suddenly changed? And the message was delivered by an unfamiliar old woman?
She showed no sign of it on her face, remaining as docile and humble as ever, bowing her head slightly and softly replying, "Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."
She reached out her hands and carefully took the babbling prince from the nanny's hands.
The little prince, oblivious to the undercurrents around him, waved his delicate white hands and gazed at her with curious, dark eyes.
Holding the soft yet heavy little body in her arms, Fangru felt the shock and doubt that she had just suppressed surge back like a tide, weighing heavily on her heart.
This "safe haven" of Qingyi Garden now seems more like the center of a whirlpool.
Every step must be taken with extreme caution.
Holding the prince, she walked seemingly steadily away from the main hall and headed towards the West Warm Pavilion.
After Fangru's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, the messenger turned and entered the inner hall. She dismissed her attendants and approached the Empress Dowager, who was standing with her eyes closed, fiddling with prayer beads. Her expression was even more solemn than before, even carrying a hint of awkwardness she couldn't bring herself to say:
“Your Majesty,” she said in a very low voice, “the head eunuch beside His Majesty just…not discussed it, but conveyed it. His Majesty’s decree: ‘Tonight I will be visiting Lady Shen at Qingyi Garden. Please, Empress Dowager, take the Imperial Concubine and the princes and temporarily avoid the area.’”
"Snap!" The Empress Dowager's thumb, which was twisting the prayer beads, suddenly stopped, the force almost snapping the silk thread.
She suddenly opened her eyes, her phoenix eyes initially filled with disbelief, then surged with anger at being offended, and finally settled into a deep sense of powerlessness and resentment.
"Temporarily relocate?" The Empress Dowager repeated these two words, her voice as cold as ice. "He's trying to drive his mother and concubines out of their own garden, just to..."
She paused, unable to utter the word "lustful," but her taut jawline betrayed her fury. "The Emperor has completely abandoned all decorum and dignity! He's gone to such lengths for a woman!"
The old woman lowered her head, not daring to reply.
The hall was deathly silent, with only the Empress Dowager's slightly rapid breathing being heard.
After a long while, the anger dissipated like a punctured balloon, leaving only a deep sense of exhaustion and resignation.
She knew Zhou Ling's personality well. Although he respected her in daily life, once he really wanted something, there was no room for negotiation.
This is not a request, but a notification, an order.
"Enough..." The Empress Dowager's voice was desolate as she slammed her prayer beads heavily onto the table. "Now that he has made this offer, should I, as his mother, really tear him apart for the sake of a woman and become a laughingstock in front of outsiders? Prepare the carriage."
This was no longer a relocation; it was almost as if she had been driven away by her son, just to make room for him. Fine… The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, unwilling to think any further.
Fangru had no way of knowing about this conversation that determined her fate and even humiliated the Empress Dowager.
She only sensed with unease that the atmosphere in Qingyi Garden had suddenly become tense and eerie in the afternoon.
The faces of the Empress Dowager's trusted palace servants were not good, and the sounds of them packing their belongings were filled with a suppressed haste.
Soon after, clear news arrived: the Empress Dowager "must immediately" go to the Guanyin Pavilion outside the city to pray for blessings and quiet meditation, and to pray for the princes, and "ordered" Consort Zhi and Prince Cheng to accompany her immediately.
The word "immediately" conveys an unusual urgency.
Consort Zhi had obviously also heard the news. Her face showed suppressed grievance and resentment. Before boarding the carriage, she even turned back and glared fiercely in the direction where Fangru was, her eyes as cold as poison.
The imperial procession left Qingyi Garden in a rather hasty manner, taking with it not only people, but also a sense of order and protection.
The garden, which had been filled with voices, seemed to have been instantly ripped out of its soul, falling into a chilling silence, and within this silence, a storm was brewing.
This desolation becomes especially eerie as dusk settles and the city lights begin to twinkle.
Fangru waited anxiously in her room at Qingyi Garden.
She pushed open the window, trying to get some fresh air, but was surprised to find that the palace servants on duty outside the courtyard had all been replaced by unfamiliar, strong eunuchs.
They stood rooted to the spot, their sharp eyes scanning their surroundings with an air of not just respect, but also a clear sense of surveillance and containment.
She tentatively stepped out of the room, and immediately a eunuch stepped forward, bowing but asking firmly, "What are your orders, Lady Consort? This servant can serve you."
That gesture clearly indicated that she was being forbidden from moving around freely.
The entire Qingyi Garden was illuminated by countless palace lanterns, making it as bright as day, like a fairy palace that never sleeps.
However, beneath this dazzling light, not a trace of the usual laughter and chatter could be heard; even the footsteps had become sparse and deliberately soft.
The air seemed to freeze, so heavy it was hard to breathe.
Only the autumn insects, hidden somewhere, continued their inconsiderate chirping. Their sounds, far from conveying any vitality, were like sharp awls, piercing the suffocating silence, as if beating the war drums for a meticulously planned hunt.
Fangru's hands, gripping the window frame, were icy cold, her knuckles white from the force she exerted.
She knew he had come.
Moreover, it was done in such a forceful, unyielding manner that it even went so far as to expel the Empress Dowager.
This is not a favor, but an unresistable possession, a trap set in the ground.
She was his only target tonight, and this carefully cleared and heavily guarded garden was his hunting ground.
Sure enough, just after 7 p.m., the nanny who had delivered the message to the Empress Dowager that morning arrived.
She stepped into the courtyard, her face even more stiff than in the morning. She didn't even dare to meet Fangru's gaze, but instead lowered her eyes and spoke quickly in a flat, monotone voice:
“Lady Shen, His Majesty is waiting in the study. Please come with me immediately, and do not keep His Majesty waiting.”
A study?!
Fangru's heart felt as if it had been suddenly clenched by an icy hand, almost stopping its beating.
Why a study? It is by no means an ordinary bedroom, much less a place to receive favors.
That's usually where politics are discussed, secrets are handled, and absolute power is demonstrated.
His choice to meet her there... instilled a deep-seated fear in her.
This is more like an interrogation, a verdict, than a romantic relationship.
Her fingertips instantly turned icy cold and trembled violently inside her sleeve.
She wanted to ask, to struggle, even if it was just to delay for a moment...
However, the words "Do not keep His Majesty waiting" were like an ultimatum, carrying immense pressure that crushed all her faint thoughts of resistance.
She had no doubt that if she dared to say "no," those burly eunuchs outside would immediately "invite" her over.
She dared not not go.
"Yes," she heard her own voice reply, dry and hoarse, as if her soul had been detached from her body.
Following behind the old woman, we walked along the brightly lit yet deathly silent corridor, each step feeling like stepping on a knife's edge.
The eunuchs standing solemnly on both sides, like lifeless statues, created a solemn ceremonial atmosphere, more like escorting prisoners.
The heavy, carved wooden door of the study finally came into view, like the open mouth of a giant beast.
The old woman stepped forward and, without even knocking, gently pushed the door open. The door opened silently, revealing a deep silence with flickering candlelight, and a tall, imposing man standing against the light, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.
Fangru took a deep breath of the cold air and used all her strength to barely step forward with her weak legs and cross the high threshold.
Behind her, the door closed silently and heavily.
"Click".
That soft sound was like a lock of fate, completely locking her in this world filled with the scent of ambergris and an aura of danger.
Zhou Ling stood in the center of the study, with his back to her.
A dark-colored casual robe with subtle patterns outlined his tall and slender figure with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, adding a touch of casual yet imposing presence compared to his usual dragon robe.
He didn't turn around, leaving Fangru with only a cold, hard back view, and the air was filled with a deathly stillness as if a storm was brewing.
Fangru's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.
She suppressed the urge to turn and run away, and knelt according to custom, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects..."
Before the word "see" could be uttered, the dark figure turned around suddenly like a lurking cheetah!
He didn't even give her a chance to finish speaking. He stepped forward, with an unyielding air, grabbed her tightly with one hand, and pressed her against his hot, hard chest.
The other hand was burning hot.
"Ah!" Fangru was caught off guard, and her short scream was silenced by his lips.
That wasn't a kiss, it was devouring, it was punishment.
His burning tongue forcefully pried open her pearly teeth, seizing all her breath and sobs.
Her body stiffened, held firmly in his arms like a butterfly caught in a spider's web; all her struggles seemed futile and laughable in the face of his absolute power.
He slightly withdrew his lips from hers, his hot breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe. His voice was deep and husky, filled with a suppressed madness and an air of certainty: "Hide? Let's see where you can hide to."
Before she could finish speaking, she was pulled by this powerful force and suddenly slammed down onto the cold rosewood desk behind her.
"Splash!"
The books, pens, ink, and paperweights on the desk were all swept to the ground, making a jarring and chaotic sound.
He gripped her chin tightly, forcing her to lift her face and meet his eyes, burning with lust and rage.
“Look at me!” he commanded, his voice low and dangerous.
"If you dare to close your eyes, I have plenty of ways to make you regret it."
He wouldn't allow her to look away even an inch, nor would he allow her thoughts to wander for even a moment.
He wanted her to see clearly who was controlling her, invading her, and crushing her at this moment; he wanted to brand his face, which was both mad and demonic, yet made even more sharp and handsome by desire, into the depths of her soul, so that she would never forget it.
His hot breath sprayed onto her earlobe, accompanied by an irresistible force, and his repeated, almost incantatory declaration:
"Speak! Whose side are you on?"
“…Zhou Ling…” she sobbed brokenly.
"Speak louder! Call my name!"
“…Zhou Ling…”
"Can you feel it?" His voice was extremely hoarse, carrying a cruel satisfaction. "From now on, you are only allowed to think of me here. Your body, your soul, can only remember me!"
Every word carried a burning heat and an obsessive possessiveness, attempting to cover up and destroy all her conscious awareness, forcibly imprinting his mark on her.
His palm was burning hot, like a branding iron, and he slowly scanned with a clear purpose, leaving no room for evasion.
The temperature carried a meticulously calculated torment, sometimes sinking down like a brush tip dipped in thick ink, grinding heavily and leaving a touch that seemed to burn the soul; at other times it flickered like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, lightly sweeping across and stirring up ripples of shivering.
Wherever it passes, the nerve endings are like lit fuses, exploding one after another under the skin with invisible but powerful sparks that can burn away reason.
This was by no means a caress, but a deeper form of confinement and confirmation, a brutal exploration and declaration of sovereignty against her.
It was as if he wanted to use this method to brand every inch of her skin and every part of her bone marrow with the name "Zhou Ling," so that she could never detach herself from his presence, both physically and psychologically.
Fangru's struggle was like an ant trying to shake a tree, ridiculously insignificant.
Her resistance was easily subdued by him with one hand. Her slender wrist was firmly fixed above her head by an irresistible force, unable to move, and a glaring red mark instantly appeared on her fair skin.
The kicking of his legs seemed so weak, more like an unconscious movement, which only fueled the deep storm and desire for conquest in his eyes.
Faced with an absolute power imbalance and the emperor's unquestionable and unyielding will, all her resistance, all her pleas, and all her dignity were easily and thoroughly crushed, leaving only boundless, suffocating humiliation and despair.
She could clearly feel the sharp, dull pain of the hard, cold edge of the desk beneath her digging into her back, intertwined with the sharp pain he brought her. This dual extreme experience of ice and fire completely overwhelmed and destroyed her.
This is not lovemaking; it is a one-sided conquest and punishment carried out on cold symbols of power, one that cannot be refused.
When everything finally stopped, Zhou Ling withdrew, slowly and deliberately tidying her slightly disheveled robes, tightening her jade belt, and smoothing out the wrinkles on her cuffs. Her movements regained the elegance and composure of an emperor, as if the man who had just been wreaking havoc on her like a wild beast was merely a fleeting illusion that had escaped her control.
He lowered his eyes and looked at Tan Ruan on the messy desk, her clothes torn, her body disheveled, and her eyes empty and unfocused, like Fang Ru, a petal fallen after being ravaged by a storm.
His handsome face regained its usual calm and aloofness, only his unfathomable eyes still retained a trace of lingering satisfaction and darkness.
He bent down, picked up a plain-colored outer garment that had slipped to the ground and belonged to her, and gently covered her trembling body with it.
This action formed a bizarre and twisted contrast with his previous atrocities, as if he were bestowing a tiny bit of pity, but it only highlighted the cruelty and desire for control in his behavior.
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