Chapter 57: Sweet Talk "I knew Your Majesty would come."
Qingzan was following the crowd out, but when she turned back with everyone else, she was caught off guard and made eye contact with the emperor.
Originally, relying on the cover of the heavy fox fur, she was fiddling with the ugly knot tied by the emperor with her hands, but now she forgot how to do it.
What was the emperor looking at her for? Could she be so ignorant as to ask and snatch the person from Yang Concubine, who had just been through such a dangerous situation?
Qingzan's expression soon became calm.
Everyone present knew that the emperor had rushed here from Chengluan Palace today. To be honest, Concubine Yang had intercepted Ying Ronghua's favor.
Especially the Queen, if she wasn't worried that Concubine Yang would really have a miscarriage, she would have wanted to praise Concubine Yang for choosing the right day for the accident.
But before they could enjoy the show, Ying Ronghua turned around and walked out.
Qingzan walked all the way to the outside of Fangxin Palace.
When Concubine Wu saw her come out, she stood up and wanted to call her back. But then she remembered that according to her current status, she still had to bow to her, and she quickly swallowed her words.
The maidservant beside her looked at Ying Ronghua's back and said with emotion: "Ying Ronghua looks a little lonely."
Concubine Wu subconsciously said that this was a foxy girl pretending to be weak.
But she also glanced at the figure wearing the Nine Dragon Black Fox cloak, but she didn't see any loneliness on him. Why would he look lonely when he was wearing a dragon robe!
He couldn't help but snort through his nose and said, "She's lonely? She has everything she wants now, she must have burned incense for several lifetimes. Look at what she's wearing, I wish I could trade clothes with her! You don't care about your master, but you care about an outsider!"
She always thought that her background was what limited her, but why was her background not an obstacle at all for Ying Ronghua?
In the side hall, Concubine Yang did not dare to use force on the emperor, so the emperor only pulled his hand back slightly. Even if he stopped in time, Concubine Yang's fingertips still fell on the edge of his sleeve.
He still has to leave.
Concubine Yang was the first person in the palace to understand the emperor's meaning.
The Emperor: "I will come to see you someday when you return to Huying Pavilion."
Yangpin then remembered that they were currently in Concubine Zhen's Fangxin Palace. If the Emperor stayed here with her, how would Concubine Zhen cope?
The situation with three people is rather awkward.
It must be for this reason that Your Majesty is leaving!
Yangpin's pale face had dimples again, and she said coquettishly, "Then stay a little longer, stay with me for a little longer, okay?"
No one wanted to stay and watch this romantic drama.
When the hall was almost empty, a palace maid happened to bring in some pregnancy-maintaining medicine.
The emperor said, "I will wait until you finish drinking before leaving."
Yang Concubine was stunned. What was the difference between that and leaving now? He seemed to agree, but it was clearly an excuse.
Since there was no candied fruit to take with the medicine, Yang Pin was going to pinch her nose and drink the medicine in one gulp.
But after hearing what the emperor said, he immediately changed his mind and started to sip the medicine soup in small sips, his face wrinkled.
The emperor said nothing about this little trick and did not try to stop it, but there was a subtle but unnoticeable trace of annoyance between his brows.
Considering that she was pregnant, he stood by the bed, looking down at the person on the couch from above, but his attitude was not harsh at all, and was even gentle: "Please take good care of yourself. Even when I am not here, I will always think about you and your unborn child. But I don't want to hear about dangers like today's."
Yangpin immediately smiled and said, "I will."
But Xu Delu saw clearly that His Majesty's face was completely emotionless. He said these words only to reassure Concubine Yang so that she could give birth with peace of mind.
Xu Delu sighed silently.
If Concubine Yang had made good use of today's disaster and behaved more sensibly, His Majesty would have remembered her kindness in his heart, even if he didn't say it. But if she behaved like this now, I'm afraid that not only would Her Majesty not feel sorry for her, but she would also be annoying.
Yang Concubine deliberately drank the medicine slowly, frowning and drooping her eyes in bitterness, and she still couldn't finish it for a long time. Although the emperor remained here to fulfill his promise, he walked to the window and stopped looking at her.
The autumn wind was cold and bleak. The emperor did not open the window, but just looked at the vague scene of the courtyard through the hazy curtains, as if thinking about something.
He stood there calmly for a while, then turned to Concubine Yang and said, "Take good care of yourself. If you and the unborn baby are safe and sound, the Yang family will have another imperial concubine."
Concubine Jieyu? A concubine who gave birth to a child would definitely be promoted, but Concubine Yang had never expected that the title His Majesty would propose for her would be Concubine Jieyu.
She felt so encouraged that she almost dragged her sick body out of bed to express her gratitude.
The emperor stopped him and said, "Have you forgotten what I said?"
His Majesty said... His Majesty said let her take care of herself!
Yang Bin drank the medicine with a smile, then quickly lay down again steadily, pulling the quilt over her body, as if she was taking good care of herself.
But in the blink of an eye, the emperor who was standing tall and graceful just now had disappeared.
Fortunately, before Concubine Yang could feel disappointed, Concubine Xue arrived upon hearing the news.
As soon as she saw Concubine Xue, Concubine Yang treated her as if she had met her own sister. She pulled Concubine Xue to sit next to her and told her what had happened today.
Finally, Yangpin said, "But today's danger was not in vain. Before His Majesty left, he promised me a great reward. Sister, can you guess what it is?"
Concubine Xue showed no curiosity, but just smiled and said to her: "This matter is done in secrecy, no need to tell me, when you really taste the sweetness of this, I will naturally know."
Now, it was Concubine Yang who insisted on telling Concubine Xue. She sat up and said, "Sister, you always spoil my fun! It's a Concubine's concubine! His Majesty wants me to be a Concubine's concubine!"
My mother said that all the women in the palace were her rivals, so none of them could be trusted. It wasn't that she hoped she would succeed, but she was afraid that she would give her true heart to the wrong person and end up being schemed against.
But Yangpin always felt that her mother was wrong. Isn’t her sister Xuepin an opposite example?
Concubine Xue was genuinely happy for her. After she had her lie down, she smiled gently and said, "Yang Jieyu, please speak a little louder. I'm afraid everyone outside will hear you. If you can give birth to a son, your future will be bright. I'll just wait for him to come and serve tea to Jieyu."
Yangpin only felt that the lights in the side hall seemed to warm up after Xuepin arrived, and she smiled with her eyes curved: "How can I bear to let my sister serve me tea and water? Then my sister will be the godmother of my unborn child!"
At this moment, in the main hall, there is still the figure of Shui'er with fragrant clothes and hair, who refuses to leave.
The empress waited until the emperor came out and Concubine Xue entered the room, and then saw the emperor being called away by Concubine Zhen. Then she reluctantly took the hand of a palace maid and walked away.
Before leaving, she looked at the statue of Guanyin in the Zhen Jieyu Palace several times.
Fu Cui looked back and asked, "Why didn't Concubine Xue come out after she went in?"
The Queen regained consciousness, raised the corner of her mouth, and sneered: "Yangpin told me that Xuepin and her are very close. I guess they have endless things to say."
It's more than good.
During the autumn hunt, only the Empress and Concubine Yang remained in the palace. When the weather turned cooler, the Empress Dowager moved back to Ziquan Palace, and Concubine Yang returned to her own Huying Pavilion. From then on, the Empress visited her daily.
During this period, she heard Yangpin say more than once that because Xuepin had shown kindness to her when she first entered the palace, Yangpin had always loved Xuepin as her sister.
There are no sisters in this palace. It's ridiculous.
What a fool that paid money to others even after being sold.
Fu Cui always felt that the Empress's expression was a little gloomy. Suddenly, she saw two shrewd young eunuchs "inviting" Concubine Wu to walk towards the palace. As they passed by them, they bowed to the Empress.
I think they want to escort Concubine Wu back to her own palace and put her under house arrest.
Although Concubine Wu was not the culprit in this incident, it was not unfair for her to be confined for ten days.
Concubine Wu didn't think so. She felt very aggrieved.
When he saw the Queen, he was about to ask for help, but then he thought that ten days was not too long, so it would be better not to cause trouble for the Queen.
Only then did he grit his teeth and endure it.
But in her heart, she had already determined that it was Concubine Zhen who had gossiped about His Majesty, causing her to suffer for these ten days.
Little did she know that the queen had no intention of paying any attention to her.
Along the way, the queen always had an idea in her mind.
Her mother had once told her to pay more attention to Yangpin's pregnancy, saying it was the most important thing right now. But the Queen naturally hated Qingzan the most, and that had never changed. Back in the hunting palace, she had practically drowned herself. If she didn't act quickly, that lowly maid might have gotten the better of her and pulled some other nasty trick.
And that cape...!
The queen couldn't help but think of the statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Fertility, in Fangxin Hall. She heard that Concubine Zhen had been quite superstitious about it recently and felt that one statue was not enough.
Concubine Zhen's desire for offspring is no less than her own.
The Queen asked Fu Cui beside her, "Tell me, is there no woman in this palace who doesn't hope to get pregnant?"
Fu Cui's heart skipped a beat: "I don't understand either, but I think it should be so."
The queen immediately smiled complacently.
That's easy. The more anxious you are, the easier it is to fall into the trap.
*
Qingzan stood in the courtyard of Fangxin Palace for a while.
The owner is quite sentimental and designed a small bridge and flowing water in this courtyard. Although it is autumn and the vegetation is sparse, the flowing water never stops, the rocks are ancient, and the unknown small flowers are mixed in, giving it a unique charm under the moonlight.
I heard there is a peach blossom forest behind it, which is in full bloom in spring and looks like clouds.
It is not seen nowadays.
Xiao Fangxian thought that the person had left until he recognized the maid named Doukou. He saw her standing in the corridor, looking in a certain direction, so he immediately followed her.
Sure enough, I saw a figure standing in a secluded corner.
The black all over her body made her extremely concealed, except for the dragon pattern embroidered on her body, which, under the moonlight, shone with a hint of golden light, serving as a guide in the cool night.
The emperor wanted more than ever to dress up the woman in front of him with pearls, jade, gold and silver, to make her bright and beautiful, so that he could always find her at the first sight and she would have nowhere to hide.
He approached slowly, deliberately taking light steps, and only spoke after he reached behind her: "Why haven't you left yet?"
In the eerie silence, Qingzan suddenly heard voices and turned pale with fright.
The emperor thought she would complain to him angrily, but she calmed down quickly.
Qing Zan bowed calmly and said, "Your Majesty looked at me like that just now. I thought you had something to say to me."
Xiao Fang was a little angry and laughed. Did he think this was what she meant?
He even wanted to knock open this wooden head to see what was going on.
No, sometimes you have a sweet heart, and sometimes you have a stupid head.
He suppressed his frustration and pretended to be calm: "I have nothing to say."
Qing Zan hesitated: "Then...I'll leave?"
The emperor did not answer, but just looked at her, and unexpectedly detected a hint of stubbornness in her.
That feeling of helplessness came back again.
He sighed, took her hand in his palm, and led her out of Fangxin Palace: "Not now, but there will be after we go back."
Qing Zan: "Why is it there after I go back?"
"Outside, I'm afraid you'd be embarrassed to listen."
Before Qingzan could even feel embarrassed by these words, he led her for a long distance, and she was a little confused as she moved: "Your Majesty, are you not staying?"
Xiao Fang: "It's inconvenient."
Thinking that if the emperor stayed in Fangxin Palace, he would have to accompany another concubine under the nose of Concubine Zhen, which was indeed not very moral, Qingzan nodded in understanding.
The moonlight shrouded her face like a soft and thin glow.
Xiao Fang felt more and more displeased with the man's calm and indifferent look.
He came to see her specially before he left, but she wasn't touched at all and didn't have any expectations?
Among the women in the harem, who would treat him with such a nonchalant attitude?
After getting on the dragon chariot, his face darkened and his tone was sharp: "You are wearing my cloak, but why are your hands still so cold?"
Qingzan didn't know why he was suddenly unhappy. He couldn't be unreasonably angry with her just because her hands were cold.
But the emperor is the emperor after all, and he has to be flattered and obeyed.
She coaxed him perfunctorily, "Your Majesty is holding my hand, so I'm not cold anymore."
Although it was perfunctory, Xiao Fang still curled his lips.
Just didn't give any verbal response.
We can't spoil her.
The holy carriage set off, and a brilliant light array rippled in the long night.
Neither of them spoke, their brows and eyes were equally cold, but one was lonely and gentle, while the other was deep and profound. Only when their fingers were tightly clasped together could they feel a completely different, lingering warmth.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Fang suddenly pulled the person next to him a little closer. Qing Zan was in a daze and almost sat on him without warning. His heart skipped a beat.
Then the emperor lowered his voice and said, "You are obviously waiting for me."
Thinking that the other person was in a bad mood, Qingzan did not refute.
When they got outside Chengluan Palace, Xiao Fang got out of the car first and extended his hand to greet the person in a very gentlemanly manner.
Just as Qingzan was about to put her hand on him, the emperor made a trick. Qingzan stepped on empty air and fell heavily into the emperor's arms.
Even though she knew he wouldn't let her fall, Qingzan still took a breath.
The emperor hugged the soft and fluffy thing. The cloak was too thick, so there was actually no skin contact. But in his arms, the fragrance that was always emanating mysteriously could still tease his soul without any hindrance.
Xiao Fang laughed and let the man put his hand on his collar to help him steady himself, and he was no longer unhappy.
It's like letting out the stubbornness of youth on people.
Qing Zan, however, stepped back a little, still apprehensive, and said half-seriously and half-falsely, "Has your Majesty's mood improved after teasing me?"
Xiao Fang still had one hand around her waist, preventing her from moving too far away.
Originally, some things were better said between the mandarin duck pillows and lotus tents, but seeing her turn away with grievance, the emperor just wanted to explain it to her right then and there:
"I remember my promise to you. If you feel reluctant, you can tell me directly. Today, from Chengluan Palace to Fangxin Palace, and then until the matter is settled, you have many chances."
The implication was that this was the reason why he looked at her that way.
Qingzan of course knew.
She asked softly, "But if I tell you, wouldn't that embarrass Your Majesty? In a situation like today, the heir to the throne must be prioritized."
Besides... there was nothing she was reluctant to give up.
Xiao Fang said, "It's not a problem, but it will affect my considerations."
"After careful consideration, I will balance public and private interests and handle the matter appropriately. Don't you think you don't have this much confidence in me?"
Just like today, he had promised Concubine Yang the title of Concubine of the Imperial Concubine, and he had done his utmost for her, and would not spend any more time on her. Whether she could protect her offspring and successfully advance to the next level in the future depended solely on Concubine Yang herself.
Qing Zan spoke the truth in a rather unnatural voice: "But I'm not reluctant to leave."
Xiao Fang didn't believe it: "Then why are you waiting for me?"
Qingzan lowered her eyes, said nothing, turned around and was about to go inside. However, Xiao Fang was not willing to let her leave. He suddenly pulled her back into his arms and actually carried her back onto the imperial chariot.
Seeing the curtain of the carriage fall, Qingzan was shocked.
The emperor had already grabbed the back of her head, his palm pressing down on her fine and dense hair, and pushed her closer.
He lowered his head and kissed the small and plump cherry blossom.
From the beads of lips to the more delicate red inside, he kissed and bit them tirelessly, as if to absorb all the moisture stored in the soft and beautiful petals.
This will quench your thirst.
Beneath the black fox cloak, the ugly, sloppy knot had been undone by the hand of the person who had tied it. The garment slipped and fell, and was quickly and feebly grasped by a soft, jade-like hand.
Beneath the single garment lies a crystal clear world of snow and moon, a spring scene of the Jade Terrace that only the emperor can admire alone.
The emperor couldn't see it, but his fingers with thin calluses were as nimble as swimming fish, and he enjoyed it calmly.
It was a long time before Qingzan's eyes regained clarity. Her lips were stained with spring air, like prematurely ripened fruit, becoming increasingly red and swollen, and a thin breath like a thread still escaped from within.
Perhaps it was the rare desire to win that was at work. She tilted her head back, bit her lip, and let out a soft laugh that tickled the king's ear, with a hint of playfulness and a touch of pride:
"Then I will also tell Your Majesty... The reason I waited is because I knew Your Majesty would definitely come."
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