Su Yushan tossed and turned, unable to sleep, sighing softly. Chang Yue, hearing the commotion, knew her mistress was waiting for the Emperor, and immediately suggested...
"How about I send Xiao Luzi to the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"
Su Yushan flatly refused, "I don't care about him, he can come or not, otherwise he'll think I miss him too much!"
Chang Yue covered her mouth and laughed, "But Your Highness, your appearance clearly shows that you miss the Emperor!"
"No way!" Su Yushan's eyes flickered as she made an excuse: "I just slept too long in the afternoon and wasn't sleepy at night."
Remembering something, Chang Yue reminded her, "Since the Emperor isn't coming, won't anyone drink the chicken soup that's been simmering for him? Shall I serve Your Highness a bowl?"
This soup was prepared for Hongli, how could she drink it? It's so late, and Hongli still hasn't come over. I don't know if he's busy or has already gone to bed.
But she didn't want to send someone to invite him. After much hesitation, Su Yushan came up with a plan: she had Chang Yue serve the chicken soup in a food box and give it to Xiao Luzi.
With his token, Xiao Luzi walked unimpeded under the thin starlight. He delivered the food box to the Hall of Mental Cultivation as ordered. Li Yu saw that he was from the Jingren Palace and let him in.
At that time, Hongli was reviewing memorials. There were three more to be reviewed that night.
Xiao Luzi entered and bowed, "Your Majesty, Consort Chun has ordered me to bring you a bowl of chicken soup, saying that Your Majesty is too busy with state affairs and needs to drink some soup to nourish your body."
Tonics? Tsk! Does he even need them?
As they were talking, Xiao Luzi opened the food box, took out a bowl of chicken soup, and placed it on the table next to him.
Seeing this, Hongli put down his brush, tapping his knuckles on the table thoughtfully. "What else did she say?"
After thinking it over carefully, Xiao Luzi honestly shook his head, "The Empress didn't say anything else."
This was the first time she had sent anything since she entered the palace, yet she only sent a bowl of soup without saying anything, clearly implying something.
Hongli, understanding the meaning, smiled slightly, scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup and sipped it leisurely, finding it fresh, fragrant and light, just right.
Having completed his mission, Xiao Lu silently took his leave. When he returned to Jingren Palace, Chang Yue was waiting there and asked him if the Emperor had said anything.
Xiao Luzi shook his head again, "His Majesty has already drunk the chicken soup, but he did not send this servant to deliver a message."
They didn't send a message? So, is the Emperor coming or not?
Chang Yue asked a few more questions, but couldn't get any information out of her, so she went back to her room.
"Little Lu said that the Emperor is still reading memorials, which means he is still busy. He is not angry with Your Majesty. If Your Majesty is sleepy, please go to sleep first."
As long as he wasn't just being stubborn, Su Yushan stopped overthinking after confirming that he wasn't arguing. She put down her book, lay down, and went to sleep without waiting for him.
Half-asleep, she vaguely heard rustling sounds, and then someone lifted the corner of her blanket and lay down behind her.
Su Yushan was too tired to open her eyes and didn't make a sound. The person behind her was clearly dissatisfied, "I thought my beloved concubine was waiting for me, but I didn't expect you to have fallen asleep first."
"Who said I was going to wait for you?" she mumbled a dazed denial, but Hongli bluntly called her out.
"Then what do you mean by having Xiao Luzi deliver the soup? Isn't that just a roundabout way of urging me to come over?"
So he's already figured it out! Su Yushan slowly opened her eyes, but didn't turn around, letting out a soft hum.
"I didn't mean that at all. I just had leftover chicken soup, so I brought you a bowl to avoid wasting it."
"..." Dissatisfied, Hongli reached up with his large hand, covered the snowfield, and gave it a hard squeeze.
"I thought you were concerned about me, but it turns out you were just afraid of wasting money."
Remembering the message she had sent through Xiao Luzi, Hongli grew even more indignant. "What do you mean by telling me to nourish my body? Does my body even need nourishment? Are you doubting my abilities?"
Was that what she said? Su Yushan had completely forgotten; she hadn't even considered that possibility! "I didn't say that. I said to take care of my health."
"Little Lu is talking about supplements, I don't care. I'll take it as you questioning my abilities. Tonight I must prove to you that I'm strong and healthy, I don't need supplements, and I can still satisfy you."
"..." Su Yushan was scared of him and quickly admitted defeat, "No need for proof, I believe you!"
Now you're saying you believe me? Too late! Hongli's pride wouldn't allow him to let her off easily; he had to make her experience the consequences before she would truly be convinced!
Knowing that Hongli was just like that, he could find an excuse even if there wasn't one, and no matter how Su Yushan explained, it would be in vain, so she simply gave up and let him do whatever he wanted.
Tonight there is no moon, only pitch blackness, yet Hongli's eyes gleam with a bright light. At this moment, he is like a leopard, nimbly and fiercely darting through the forest, startling birds into chirping and even drawing the attention of the stars...
Ever since Lan Rong was confined to her quarters, she has become the laughing stock in the harem. The Empress Dowager knew that Lan Rong had gone to Jingren Palace, and she was waiting to see how Lan Rong would annoy Su Yushan!
Unexpectedly, Lan Rong was dismissed by Hongli. The Empress Dowager secretly scoffed at this woman for being useless and stubborn, and even dared to use her as a pretext. As a result, Hongli thought that she had instructed Lan Rong, and came to confront her the next day.
The Empress Dowager was unable to explain herself and was unjustly blamed, which made her even more resentful of Lan Rong. Why would she plead for him?
When Dongling mentioned this matter to her mistress, Yuying thought about it briefly and already understood.
"Consort Xian must have been anxious because Consort Rong had adopted Yongcheng. She wanted to make a good impression on the Empress Dowager, but she accidentally messed things up. Not only was she confined to her quarters, but she also caused a conflict between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. She really lost everything!"
Gao Xiuwen had also heard about this matter and laughed, scoffing at Lan Rong for being clueless.
"She regarded the Empress Dowager as her backer, but little did she know that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were at odds because of Su Yushan's matter. By getting close to the Empress Dowager and making things difficult for Su Yushan, she was clearly just adding to the Emperor's troubles."
"It's not that the Empress Dowager ignores her; even if the Empress Dowager truly trusts her, wouldn't her actions push the Emperor further away?"
Cui Ning secretly praised her mistress for her insightful understanding. Even with the Empress Dowager's support, her mistress always remembered that the Emperor was her only support. She would never oppose the Emperor, much less be foolish enough to make things difficult for Consort Chun.
"Consort Xian is desperate and has dug her own grave!"
"She's under house arrest now and can't jump around anymore," Gao Xiuwen sighed with a smile, then continued to have Cui Ning trim her nails, saying no more.
For a period of time afterward, Su Yushan lived a very comfortable life, neither having to worry about the Empress Dowager's mood nor having anyone dare to cause her trouble.
Before she knew it, the end of the year was approaching, and Su Yushan was troubled again. She discussed it with Hongli at night.
"I heard from Xilan that the Empress Dowager's birthday is on the 25th of the twelfth lunar month. What should I do? Should I go to Cining Palace to deliver a congratulatory gift?"
Hongli pondered for a moment and said, "According to the rules, I must go."
It seems she can't escape it!
Just as she was worrying, she heard Hongli say again, "I will also go to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday that day. With me there, I will definitely protect you."
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