Chapter 154 Setting a Flag Not long after, all the candlesticks in the room…
Before long, all the candlesticks in the room were lit, and Cheng Qianyue could finally see his face clearly. She had to admit, after so long, he seemed thinner; his jawline was more defined. She reached out and pinched his waist, measuring it, and softly asked, "Did your journey go smoothly, Master? Did you eat well along the way? I feel you've lost a lot of weight since then."
Yinreng smiled and replied, "The sacrificial ceremony went smoothly, but a long journey is never easy. Besides..." He leaned close to her ear and said, "Without you by my side, I always feel empty inside. So this is how I've wasted away for you."
Cheng Qianyue was amused by his words, which made her sound like she was on a diet pill. She touched his clothes again and realized that what she had just felt was indeed true; his clothes were damp. So she said, "Master, take your clothes off quickly. They're all wet. Don't catch a cold."
Yinreng nodded: "I was just planning to come and see you for a moment before going back to Danning Residence to bathe and rest, but I ended up waking you up."
"Did he come to see her as soon as he got back?" Cheng Qianyue's heart melted when she heard him say that. She whispered, "It's so late. Just take a bath here. Don't leave." The rain and dew are heavy tonight, so don't go back and forth.
Yinreng nodded and said "Okay".
After a while, a screen was set up in the room, and water and handkerchiefs were prepared. Cheng Qianyue sat on the bed, listening to the splashing water behind the screen. She couldn't sit still any longer, so she put on an outer robe and went over.
Yinreng had just washed his back and was now sitting in the bathtub with his head tilted back. A bath was indeed very comfortable; the hot water dispelled the chill and fatigue, and he instantly felt less inclined to move. However, while resting with his eyes closed, he heard footsteps. He knew who it was, so he didn't open his eyes. A moment later, he heard the sound of a chair being moved, followed by a hand placed on his shoulder.
Yinreng's lips curled up, and he slightly opened his eyes. "Why are you here? I'll go over after soaking for a while longer."
Cheng Qianyue picked up a towel from the side and wiped his neck, replying gently, "I don't want to sit there and wait."
Yinreng looked at her and smiled gently.
After a while, Yinreng stood up, wiped himself, and sat on the edge of the bed, half-dressed and half-wearing his nightgown. Outside, Jingshun entered with his head bowed, carrying a tray and kowtowing, saying, "Your Majesty, the peach blossom wine you ordered."
Yinreng picked up a wine cup for himself and handed the other one to her. "This was brewed with peach blossoms from before last year's Qingming Festival. I was planning to share it with you when the peach blossoms bloom this year, but I didn't want to delay it."
Cheng Qianyue took the wine glass and said, "It's not too late now." Besides, it seems that the longer wine is sealed, the better it ferments.
Yinreng drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, then poured himself two more cups, and after drinking three cups, he stopped drinking. After a while, the servants in the room gradually withdrew, and the candlesticks in the room were extinguished one by one, leaving only the candlestick on the tall cabinet in the distance, its light dim and flickering.
Cheng Qianyue was about to say that wine could also dispel the cold, and that drinking it might even help her sleep better. But when she looked up, her eyes met Yinreng's. The feelings of a long-awaited reunion quickly spread, unspoken but palpable. Slowly, Yinreng lowered his head and their lips met, and she gently parted her lips to fully accept him.
At first, Cheng Qianyue was somewhat surprised when they kissed. She thought Yinreng would be eager, but he wasn't. Instead, he was incredibly tender and affectionate, like the gentle spring rain outside. But before she knew it, she felt herself gradually losing her breath, each breath carrying the fragrance of peach blossoms.
She felt like she was about to drown in his feelings.
A moment later, their tender and affectionate encounter ended, and Yinreng, holding her close, slowly began to recount their journey south. "I couldn't sleep the first night I left the capital." He didn't usually sleep with her every night, but for some reason, he couldn't sleep alone after leaving the capital. He later thought it might be because he was too far away from her. Even when they weren't sleeping together in the palace, he knew she was in Yongshou Palace behind Yangxin Hall; he could see her with just a few steps or words. But it was different outside the capital. Unless he announced his departure back or sent someone to bring her back, he couldn't expect to see her.
Unfortunately, neither of these two paths was feasible. One was that the decision to offer sacrifices at Mount Tai had already been made and couldn't be changed at the last minute, otherwise it would be disrespectful to Heaven and Earth. But he wasn't comfortable sending someone else to fetch her. He had already set off earlier than her, and if she wanted to come to him, she would have to travel day and night, which would be too exhausting, and he couldn't bear to do that.
"I can only find solace in looking at your portrait and your pearl hairpins," Yinreng said with emotion, stroking her soft hair.
Cheng Qianyue felt a sweet warmth in her heart and whispered, "I'm not used to it after Your Highness left. I only feel at ease when you're here." She was also worried, worried that she, as the Imperial Concubine, was the only one holding things together, and feared something might go wrong. Yinreng had always been very good to her, and after ascending the throne, he treated her even better; she wanted to repay him in kind.
Yinreng chuckled, a subtle vibration emanating from his chest. Cheng Qianyue nestled against his chest, feeling dizzy. Of course, she wasn't getting a concussion from his laughter; she'd just been drinking and doing something physically demanding, so she was sleepy.
Yinreng gently patted her back, enjoying the warmth of their intertwined bodies on the bed. After a while, he whispered, "Did anything happen in the harem when I left?"
Cheng Qianyue looked up groggily, "Hmm?"
Seeing her like this, Yinreng stopped asking and said gently, "Alright, alright, it's late, go to bed."
Cheng Qianyue heard him clearly, slowly got off him, and fell asleep on the side of him in no time.
Yinreng remained lucid; though he lay down, his mind was still racing. Before leaving, he gave Cheng Qianyue the pair of phoenix hairpins not only out of the inexplicable guilt he felt, but also to reassure her. He wanted to show others that this was a highly valued imperial concubine, warning any restless individuals against making the wrong moves.
Finally, he thought he should ask the people left behind in the Xuan Palace another day.
It was quite a coincidence that the rain stopped just two days after Yinreng returned. It was as if the heavens were playing a trick on him. But since Yinreng was already back, he didn't care about the weather anymore.
That day, Cheng Qianyue was ordered to go to Danning Residence. Yinreng had just sent someone to tell her to go see the Taishan stone, saying that the stonemason he brought had already finished decorating it. Cheng Qianyue then remembered what Yinreng had told her before he left. She arrived shortly after and happened to see Chen He coming out of Danning Residence. She lowered her eyes and said, "Eunuch Chen."
Chen He no longer serves Yinreng. He left the Yangxin Hall at the beginning of this year and now works in the Jingshifang (Imperial Household Department). The position of head eunuch of the Yangxin Hall naturally falls to his apprentice, Jingshun. Cheng Qianyue wasn't sure if Chen He had been promoted or demoted. Functionally, the Jingshifang not only handled matters like concubines' nights with the emperor but also managed all the eunuchs in the palace. Although its scope was quite broad, there was more than one head eunuch in the Jingshifang; Chen He was just one of them. Furthermore, eunuchs who served their masters held more prestige in the palace, especially since Chen He's master was Yinreng. Therefore, Cheng Qianyue assumed Chen He had been relegated to a secondary role.
Upon seeing Cheng Qianyue, Chen He hurriedly bowed, saying, "This servant greets the Noble Consort Yi." If Chen He had felt some lingering emotion before, now he bowed his head willingly. After all these years, the green plaque of the Imperial Household Department had gathered dust; how could he not be respectful?
Cheng Qianyue called out, "Is something wrong in the palace?"
Chen He replied with a smile, "Not at the moment. This servant has come to pay his respects to the Emperor."
Cheng Qianyue didn't ask any further questions, and nodded, saying, "That's good."
Chen He bowed and took two steps back: "Your Majesty, please. The Emperor is waiting for you."
Cheng Qianyue smiled and said, "Then you should get busy too." With that, she went into the hall. When she arrived at the study inside the hall, Yinreng was indeed waiting for her. He took her hand and showed her the Taishan stone ornament on the high shelf next to the desk.
Cheng Qianyue: ? ? ?
It's no wonder she was surprised; she had only heard of Taishan stones but had never seen one. She figured the stones from Mount Tai and those from artificial mountains should be similar. So she thought Yinreng might bring her a larger stone. But she hadn't expected the stone to be so small. Well, not exactly small, about the size of a soup bowl, placed on a base made of sandalwood. The stone was generally grayish-black with yellow and white patterns on it.
Yinreng said, "I saw it in a stream in Mount Tai. I felt it was ancient and had a unique charm at first glance. You should like it."
Cheng Qianyue circled the stone, finding it increasingly beautiful with each look. Just as Yinreng had said, the stone, though small, possessed a very ancient and grand appearance, as if it truly possessed a spirit.
Yinreng was still saying, "I'm thinking of putting it on the shelf in your bedroom, and placing a potted dwarf pine tree next to it."
Cheng Qianyue thought about it for a moment and thought that arrangement was good, and said with a smile, "I'll do whatever you say."
Yinreng looked at her gently and asked, "Do you like it?"
Cheng Qianyue nodded, "I like it." After thinking for a moment, she added, "I thought it would be a very, very big rock." But a small one is fine too. Now that I think about it, a big rock wouldn't fit anywhere; it would look out of place.
Yinreng said, "The value of things doesn't lie in their size, and besides, big ones are not good for luck." A stone that is too big will definitely be handed over to local officials to transport to the capital. If something goes wrong along the way, wouldn't that spoil the meaning? The original intention was to put it in the room to ensure peace and safety.
Cheng Qianyue continued, "But I like it too. Especially since Grandpa just said how to arrange it nicely, I want to take it home right now."
Yinreng smiled at her and said, "I'll have someone send it to you later. Don't touch it; it's very sturdy." He took her hand and said, "This is a talisman to protect your home. I think it will keep you safe and sound."
Cheng Qianyue nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling. However, after moving the stone from Danning Residence to her Shufeng Residence and placing it on the shelf in her bedroom, she remembered what Yinreng had just said.
Hmm... why does it feel like I've set a goal for myself?
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