"It's nothing, just an old ailment. As people get older, it's inevitable that some health problems will arise. It's a miracle that my old bones have lasted this long." The Empress Dowager stopped coughing and looked at Song Tangxue, beckoning her: "Tangxue is here. Come here quickly and let your grandmother take a good look at you."
Song Tangxue obediently walked over, and as she got closer, the scent that wafted up to her nose made her frown.
"Tang Xue has lost some weight. Has she had breakfast yet?" The Empress Dowager pulled her hand and sat her down, not making her perform the proper etiquette.
"I used it." Song Tangxue just wanted to deal with the Empress Dowager and leave the palace; she felt uncomfortable staying in the palace.
He glanced discreetly at the incense burner with its wisps of smoke rising from it: "What kind of incense is in this burner?"
The Empress Dowager glanced at it: "This is sandalwood. If Tang Xue likes it, I'll have someone bring some back for you, cough cough cough..."
Before the Empress Dowager could finish her sentence, she coughed again, and the old woman got up to call the imperial physician.
"Your Majesty, if I may speak frankly, there is something wrong with these spices." Song Tangxue lowered her head and carefully examined the ingredients in the spices.
"Someone added a Chinese herbal medicine to this spice. If it accumulates over time, it may cause shortness of breath. When combined with spring pollen, it could easily kill a person."
The palace servants inside the hall immediately knelt down, their heads trembling on the ground.
"Remove the spices!" the Empress Dowager said coldly in a deep voice.
The nanny silently removed the spices and opened the window to let in fresh air. The palace servants watched silently as the spices were taken out of the shop without saying a word.
The Empress Dowager actually felt that her cough had gotten much better.
"The Empress Dowager should be careful about the source of these spices," Song Tangxue reminded her. With the Empress in power, she would certainly not escape the blame for the procurement.
Song Tangxue secretly set a trap for the Empress.
"I must thank Tangxue. Tangxue is truly my lucky star. When you become my granddaughter-in-law in the future, we will truly be family." The Empress Dowager smiled, feeling no more tightness in her chest and a sense of peace and well-being.
There really was something wrong with those spices.
Song Tangxue felt a pang in her heart; there was no need to become family.
"I heard you became a disciple of Physician Xie?" The Empress Dowager admired her more and more. She was beautiful and capable, far superior to a woman like Song Tangli.
I don't know what went wrong with Li Zhao.
"Yes," Song Tangxue admitted.
"Very well, very well." The Empress Dowager automatically attributed Song Tangxue's knowledge of spices to Physician Xie.
"If you have nothing to do in the future, come to Kunning Palace more often and chat with me." The Empress Dowager took Song Tangxue's hand kindly and instructed her with a smile in her eyes: "This old body of mine doesn't have much time left."
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is blessed with good fortune; naturally, her lifespan will be as long as the heavens," Song Tangxue complimented.
The Empress Dowager was overjoyed to hear this: "I have some hairpins and jewelry here, with novel designs that would suit you perfectly. Take them with you when you leave."
"And the Shu brocade that was presented as tribute, it's perfect for making a new outfit now that summer is here."
The Empress Dowager was so pleased that she bestowed many gifts upon Song Tangxue, which Song Tangxue accepted calmly.
"I am so happy to have such a virtuous wife by Xian'er's side." The Empress Dowager placed great hopes on Song Tangxue.
Song Tangxue responded with a forced smile.
As Song Tangxue left Kunning Palace, her steps were somewhat heavy. The Empress Dowager had high hopes for her and Li Zhaoxian, and had hinted at her intentions both openly and subtly, even offering to host the banquet a few days later.
Song Tangxue let out a heavy sigh. The red walls of the palace had trapped many women for their entire lives, and she neither wanted nor wished to get involved.
The Empress Dowager seemed kind to her, but the Empress Dowager came from among the women of the palace and had experienced many ups and downs in her life. How could she open her heart to a young woman?
It would be truly foolish of me to believe those words.
Upon arriving outside the palace, Haitang helped Song Tangxue into the carriage, but Song Tangxue gave up, saying, "Let's walk, it's too stuffy in the palace."
Haitang then had the carriage leave first, and walked alongside Song Tangxue.
Song Tangxue didn't know what she was expecting, but when she got into the carriage, she saw several court officials at the palace gate.
Xie Qianzhong was not among them.
Having not seen each other for many days, Song Tangxue felt empty inside. She knew that parting like this was for the best.
He can be his lord, and she can be her free spirit.
They are unrelated.
Haitang held up an umbrella to shield her from the sun: "Miss, why don't we go back to the manor today? The sun is a bit strong."
Song Tangxue took the umbrella from her hand: "You go back to the manor first, I'll walk around a bit more, you don't need to come with me."
After sending Haitang away, Song Tangxue walked into the bustling city. Only when she heard the noise did she feel like she had come back to life.
Seeing the hairpin next to him, he became interested and walked over to the vendor.
"Oh my, Miss is so beautiful, wearing this hairpin will surely be the icing on the cake." The stall owner was all talk, praising the hairpin and Song Tangxue as if they were the most unique in the world.
How have you been lately?
Song Tangxue's eyes trembled as she stared at the hairpin; it was as if she was hallucinating from excessive longing.
The figure who had been observing her for a long time walked helplessly to her side and tossed a silver ingot to the vendor: "Keep the change."
The vendor smiled obsequiously as she wrapped the hairpin and handed it to him. Xie Qianzhong took the hairpin in one hand and pulled her away from the stall with the other.
"May you two have a long and happy marriage, and grow old together in harmony!" The vendor congratulated them with a wide smile, holding the silver ingot.
Song Tangxue let someone pull her to the side of the street, where she could still see the bustling city. Xie Qianzhong stood in front of her, separating her from the city.
Upon seeing Song Tangxue, the ice in Xie Qianzhong's eyes melted away, and he opened his mouth as the longing in his heart surged forth.
Xie Qianzhong led her to the shade of a tree, and Song Tangxue calmly put away her umbrella without looking at Xie Qianzhong.
"Have you been bullied in the palace?" Xie Qianzhong asked himself, then answered, "You've lost some weight. Has the Crown Prince made things difficult for you?"
Xie Qianzhong forcefully pinched her chin, and Yingying's gaze suddenly struck his heart, rippling outwards in waves.
Song Tangxue slapped his hand away, glared at him fiercely, pushed aside his figure blocking her way, and turned to leave without saying a word.
If I don't leave her soon, she'll lose control. I should leave while I can still control myself.
Cut your losses while you can still resist the urge to act impulsively.
Xie Qianzhong's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly pushed the person behind the tree, pressing down on him and kissing him.
Song Tangxue tentatively pushed him away, and then the kiss rained down on her lips like a storm.
It's not that he doesn't miss her, but he's restrained himself. Now that he's seen her, he can't help himself.
Unable to bear seeing that pair of moist, bright eyes without him in them, Xie Qianzhong's arms tightened around the person.
Steam rose in the air, and hot breaths mingled together.
Xie Qianzhong kissed her forcefully, but his eyes were misty and half-closed, hiding a raging storm, as if he wanted to drag the person in front of him down into the tide of desire.
Longing is unavoidable.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
