Chapter 161 Is it merely appreciation?
When Shen Yiqiu awoke from her daze, she was greeted by a group of worried faces surrounding her bed.
She struggled to get up, but Bai Mei held her down tightly.
Bai Mei's eyes were red:
"Miss! Please tell us honestly, is there...is there something you're hiding from us?"
Her intuition was always sharp; the black blood that the young lady coughed up when she fainted was definitely not just a simple aftereffect.
Shen Yiqiu was startled and quickly scanned her surroundings. After confirming that there was no imperial physician present and that this was just her guess, she calmed down a little.
She forced a relaxed smile and reassured them:
"Silly girl, you're overthinking it. I'm just still recovering from my injuries, and I rushed to get up, so my blood and energy are a bit sluggish."
"Don't worry, I, Shen Yiqiu, am very resilient. I survived seven years on the frontier, so why would I give up so easily?"
Qingzhu's eyes were red and swollen like peaches.
“Miss, please take my advice and rest well! Aunt Yun and the two young ladies have been properly settled in the Shen residence by His Highness the Crown Prince. They are being taken care of by dedicated staff and are very safe. You don’t need to worry.”
How can Chen Yiqiu rest in peace?
She could clearly feel life slipping away bit by bit, and time had become the most precious thing.
She shook her head, her tone leaving no room for argument:
"Help me change my clothes."
His gaze swept over Xiao Yongjing, who had been standing silently in the corner.
His face was ashen, his lips were clenched, and he exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay, clearly indicating that he was in an extremely foul mood.
Bai Mei and Qing Zhu wanted to persuade her again, but seeing that their young lady was determined, they had no choice but to turn to the Crown Prince for help.
Upon receiving the signal, Xiao Yongjing strode to the bedside and grabbed Shen Yiqiu's wrist as she tried to dress herself. His forceful action made her frown slightly.
He leaned down, staring at her fiercely, a mixture of anger and worry in his eyes:
"Look at yourself! You can't even stand up straight, and you want to go out? At this rate, you'll probably faint before you even climb out of the East Palace gate!"
"Shen Yiqiu, can't you take better care of your body?! It's not just yours anymore, it's mine too! Because you're my Crown Princess!"
If it were anyone else acting so rudely, Shen Yiqiu would have already retaliated.
But when she looked into Xiao Yongjing's bloodshot eyes, which were churning with heartache that was almost overflowing, she felt a pang of tenderness in her heart.
She didn't break free or get angry; instead, she gently placed her other hand on the back of his tightly clenched hand to soothe him.
She looked up, meeting his anxious gaze, her voice soft yet firm:
"Your Highness...please let me go."
She had to go, while she could still move and think, to do what she had to do.
Their eyes met, and the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; only low sobs remained.
Just then, a servant's voice came from outside the hall:
"Her Imperial Noble Consort has arrived!"
Everyone was taken aback.
The next second, Zhao Ke'er walked in slowly.
Today she wore a simple and elegant casual outfit, without heavy makeup, and her hairstyle was also simple. Compared to her usual dignified and luxurious appearance at banquets, she looked more elegant and refined.
She doesn't seem like a high and mighty imperial concubine, but rather like the mistress of a scholarly family.
As soon as she entered, her gaze landed precisely on Xiao Yongjing and Shen Yiqiu's still clasped hands. A gentle smile spread across her face, and she teased them in a friendly tone:
"Oh dear, it seems I've arrived at an inopportune time? It appears that Jing'er and her future daughter-in-law have an even better relationship than rumored. It's truly enviable."
Everyone in the hall quickly bowed to her.
Xiao Yongjing also released his grip and respectfully called out:
"Mother."
Zhao Ke'er walked lightly to the bedside, her gaze falling on Shen Yiqiu's pale face.
She gently removed the nail guards from her fingers, extending her fair fingertips, and just as before, tenderly stroked Shen Yiqiu's cheek, her eyes revealing a kind of infatuation:
“No matter how many times I look at it, this face… is just so similar. It really… looks just like your grandmother. For a moment just now, I was in a daze and thought I had returned to many years ago, and that Sister Zhaohua was standing in front of me…”
As she spoke, she actually touched the corner of her eye gently with a handkerchief, as if trying to hide something.
Shen Yiqiu watched her actions in silence, her heart turning cold.
As Zhao Ke'er moved away from her cheek, she suddenly spoke:
"There are other hidden reasons behind the death of my grandmother, Shen Zhaohua."
Zhao Ke'er paused in stroking her handkerchief, a fleeting look of surprise crossing her face. Though it vanished in an instant, it was keenly caught by Shen Yiqiu.
She quickly composed herself, her worried gaze shifting to Xiao Yongjing. She reached out with concern, wanting to touch Shen Yiqiu's forehead.
"Your Highness, are you... perhaps too badly injured and talking nonsense? Marquis Yongjia clearly encountered bandits and tragically died for his country..."
Xiao Yongjing immediately stepped forward, blocking Shen Yiqiu's path half a step in front of him to protect her:
"Mother, Yiqiu's injuries have not yet healed, and she is not in good spirits. Sometimes her thoughts are confused. Please don't be offended."
However, Shen Yiqiu persisted.
Through Xiao Yongjing, her gaze was fixed on Zhao Ke'er, repeating clearly once more:
"There's more to my grandmother's death than meets the eye!"
Overcome with emotion, she felt a sweet taste in her throat, and dark red blood slowly trickled down the corner of her lips.
Seeing this, Zhao Ke'er was not angry. She gently took out her silk handkerchief from her bosom and softly wiped the blood from the corner of Shen Yiqiu's mouth.
"Look at you, you've become so ill, your blood and qi are flowing backwards, and you're even starting to talk nonsense. Take my advice, the most important thing right now is to get better. As for other things, we can discuss them after you're better, okay?"
Shen Yiqiu stared intently at her, saying nothing more.
Zhao Ke'er straightened up, glanced at everyone in the hall, and casually said:
"You may all leave now. I wish to have a private conversation with my future daughter-in-law."
Xiao Yongjing frowned and looked at Shen Yiqiu, his eyes full of worry.
He ultimately could not disobey and could only reply in a deep voice:
"...Yes, Mother."
He gave Shen Yiqiu a deep look, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and finally led everyone out of the bedchamber in silence.
Incense wafted through the bedchamber. Chen Yiqiu leaned against her pillow, her face pale.
The Imperial Noble Consort did not speak, but looked at her with loving eyes. The focus of her gaze was not on her, but rather as if she was looking through her at someone else.
Shen Yiqiu was the first to break the silence:
"Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort was a close friend of my maternal grandmother, and you must know a great deal about what happened back then. I have many questions in my heart, and I hope Your Highness can answer them for me."
Zhao Ke'er sat on the embroidered stool brought by the palace servants, her posture elegant.
Her gentle smile only made Shen Yiqiu seem like a disobedient child:
"Yiqiu, your injuries are not yet healed, and you need to rest more. The past is like dust; why hold onto it and stir up more sadness?"
Shen Yiqiu ignored that conversation and went straight to the first question:
"I've heard that His Majesty had a very close relationship with my maternal grandmother back then?"
Zhao Ke'er's smile remained unchanged, her tone nonchalant:
"Yes. Sister Zhaohua and His Majesty have a bond forged on the battlefield, sharing life and death together."
"The Great Zhou Dynasty was established. His Majesty... truly admires my sister's talent and courage."
She skillfully steered the conversation from a topic that might involve romantic love to one of mutual respect and understanding between the ruler and his subjects.
Shen Yiqiu pressed further: "Is it merely appreciation?"
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