Chapter 113 When Mu Hanshi saw him holding hands, his eyes were as gentle as a spring breeze. ...
*
The red tent is warm and fragrant, and the clouds and rain seem to rise and fall.
After the clouds disperse and the rain stops, I wonder what year it is tonight.
After cleaning up, Shen Qinglu turned to the side and closed her eyes. The discomfort of her body after her first sexual experience made her afraid to move again, fearing that Mu Hanshi would do it again.
Although she couldn't see, she could still sense the movements of the person beside her. The warm breath was so close, she knew someone was right behind her. After a while, the man stretched out his arms and encircled her.
As a result, her breathing became heavier, and even though she felt awkward in this position, she didn't move an inch. To help herself fall asleep faster, she silently counted sheep in her mind, and before she knew it, she began to drift off to sleep.
In her hazy dream, she returned to her home from her previous life. Standing in front of the clump of bamboo by the door, she looked at the tightly closed door. She seemed to know that she was dreaming, but she was still afraid and dared not push the door open.
Reincarnated as a human, with a completely different appearance, will her relatives still recognize her?
Suddenly the door opened from the inside, and her adoptive parents were not surprised to see her, but rather delighted.
"A-Zhu, is that you?"
"Azhu, you're back."
She looked down and saw that she was still wearing elaborate ancient costumes, not the same as in her previous life, but they not only recognized her, but also did not question her at all.
Her adoptive mother hugged her and asked how she was doing. She leaned against her adoptive mother and said that she was doing well, not only had she recovered, but she had also gotten married.
When her adoptive mother asked her who she had married, she opened her mouth, about to say Mu Hanshi's name, when she saw him walk out from inside the door.
What's going on with this person here!
Mu Hanshi stood behind his adoptive mother, his calm eyes seemingly carrying an inexplicable sense of madness. His gaze towards her gradually changed, becoming dangerous and aggressive.
"You silly child, how come you don't even recognize your own brother?" Her foster mother reminded her with a smile when she saw her in a daze.
She was horrified and woke up abruptly.
The embroidered red gauze curtains and the festive atmosphere left her momentarily speechless.
Once his mind cleared, he looked around from inside the tent to outside, but couldn't see Mu Hanshi. He reached into the outer quilt and touched it, but there was no warmth.
Hearing the commotion, Xia Chan quickly came in to serve him. Without her having to ask, she told Mu Hanshi that he had been up for more than an hour.
"His Highness instructed us not to wake the Princess Consort, but to wait for her to wake up on her own."
If things continue like this, and she can sleep as late as she wants, then this marriage isn't so bad.
But according to the rules, she should enter the palace today.
First, as the eldest brother, she was expected to serve tea to her brother-in-law, as his father. Second, as a woman whose marriage was bestowed by the emperor, she was also obliged to express her gratitude to him as a subject's wife.
"What time is it?" she wondered to herself, and casually asked Xia Chan.
Xia Chan helped her get up, and suddenly noticed the suggestive marks under her slightly open clothes. She immediately blushed and dared not meet her gaze, replying softly, "It's three-quarters past Chen Shi (7:45 AM)."
She didn't say anything, thinking to herself that it was indeed a bit late.
As she sat before the mirror, she stared at the beautiful woman in it, momentarily stunned.
They clearly have the same eyebrows and facial features, but only one night has passed, yet they have gained a touch of magnificent charm, their beauty exuding a captivating allure.
Her thoughts instantly spiraled out of control as she recalled everything that had happened the night before—that deep connection with someone, both strange and novel, an experience she had never imagined in either of her lives.
She could clearly sense the other person's initial eagerness, and their subsequent restraint.
The pressure of the comb on her scalp changed, and her eyes, which had been unfocused due to her immersion in memories, cleared. Unsurprisingly, she saw a handsome face in the mirror.
This face was different from its usual aloofness in public and its madness in private; it was like the sun shining on a snow-capped mountain, giving it a red glow.
His long, slender hands held a sandalwood comb inlaid with gemstones, combing her hair stroke by stroke.
She tried her best to keep her expression normal, her beautiful face expressionless. "Aren't we supposed to go to the palace today? Isn't it too late at this hour?"
“It’s not too late.” Mu Hanshi slightly raised his eyelids and looked at the beauty in the mirror. “My brother is not too particular about formalities and will understand that we were too tired yesterday.”
The word "tired" almost made Shen Qinglu lose her composure.
She thought to herself, not without a hint of unease, that the night was long and she had only come once; could that really be considered tiring?
Mu Hanshi had been keeping an eye on her, so he naturally wouldn't miss any subtle expressions in her eyes.
She seemed to have pursed her lips just now; was she dissatisfied with something?
"Aren't you tired?"
A warm breath brushed against her ear, causing her to instinctively become more aware.
Men, whether modern or ancient, more or less dislike having their abilities questioned in a certain area.
I thought this madman was different from everyone else, but it turns out he's no exception.
She smiled shyly and said, "I'm so tired, so very tired."
*
After getting ready, the couple went out together.
Just as she was about to board the carriage, Xia Chan saw Mei Wu not far away. After quietly asking Shen Qinglu for permission, she went past him, avoiding everyone. She returned a short while later and whispered something in Shen Qinglu's ear.
Shen Qinglu's expression grew increasingly indifferent as she listened, eventually turning cold. She then gave some instructions, which she asked Xia Chan to relay to Mei Wu.
After getting into the carriage and sitting opposite Mu Hanshi, he said, "Yu Qingxue is dead."
"He should have died long ago." Mu Hanshi said casually, offering no further comment.
If A'Zhu hadn't stopped her from interfering, some people wouldn't be alive today.
Seeing his expression, Shen Qinglu said nothing more.
The carriage continued without stopping until it reached the outside of Changming Palace.
This forbidden court is surrounded by towering walls and heavily guarded, making it inaccessible to the world, only to be looked up to.
Upon entering the palace gates, they saw Eunuch Qin waiting respectfully. After bowing, he reported, "Your Highness, Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting for you at Xiushui Palace."
Xiushui Palace is the palace where Consort Yue lived.
During the five days leading up to their wedding, Gu Ruxu and Shen Linlang talked to Shen Qinglu a lot about the people and events in the palace, as well as the intricacies of the relationships. Therefore, she wasn't surprised when she heard that the Phoenix Emperor was waiting for them at Xiushui Palace.
Surprisingly, besides the Phoenix Emperor and Feng Chengying, Mu Miaohua was also there.
On second thought, Mu Miaohua, as the deputy commander of the Changming Guard in the palace, was only there to protect the safety of her masters, so there was nothing unreasonable about it.
Having met Eunuch Qin before, Shen Qinglu knew that the Phoenix Emperor was the person she had chatted with on the street that day, so she naturally didn't show any surprise.
The Emperor looked at them, suppressing his imperial majesty, and acted like an ordinary elder brother. He gave them a long speech, instructing them to treat each other with respect in the future, and then asked them to offer incense to Consort Yue's memorial tablet.
The ceremony is considered complete only after the incense is offered.
Shen Qinglu thought that Mu Hanshi would say a few words to the memorial tablet to comfort his biological mother, but he didn't say a single word from beginning to end.
Even after the ceremony was over, he turned and left almost without any hesitation or lingering attachment.
Perhaps it was because he was only three years old when Consort Yue passed away and his memory was unclear?
Shen Qinglu thought this way, without delving into the reasons behind it.
When the couple returned to the front hall, there was an additional female official present, who was a servant of Consort Dou.
Consort Dou came from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, which was founded by founding fathers and was the cornerstone of Daye's rule. It was through the sacrifices of several generations that the Feng family's empire was secured.
Because so many descendants had perished over the past century, the Shansi Nunnery was built to house the widows and grieving women of the Dou family, providing them with a place to rest and recuperate. What truly led to the decline of the Dou family was the chaos caused by the Demon King.
At that time, Dou Yan, the heir apparent of the Duke of Zhenguo, was the commander of the Changming Guard. He fought desperately against the rebels to defend the Forbidden City. The Demon King, eager to seize the throne, went so far as to order the arrest of members of the Dou clan in order to threaten him into surrendering.
He refused to surrender and could only watch helplessly as his loved ones fell one by one until reinforcements arrived. In the end, the Dou family was almost wiped out, with only two people surviving.
One was his wife, Lady Liu, and the other was Consort Dou. The two sisters-in-law escaped the calamity because they stayed at the Shansi Nunnery for a while.
After the rebellion was quelled, the late emperor issued two imperial edicts before his death: one to establish an heir apparent, and the other to appoint the head of the harem for the new emperor.
After Emperor Feng ascended the throne, he followed the late emperor's decree and brought the Dou family's daughter into the palace. Although she was not promised the position of empress, he made it clear to the world that he would not establish an empress in this life, and the head of the harem would be the Dou family's concubine.
Since Consort Dou is the head of the harem, Shen Qinglu should go to see her even if she doesn't send someone to invite her.
“It’s my first time visiting the palace, so you should take a good look around. I happen to have some free time, so I’ll accompany you and take a look around as well.” As Feng Chengying stood up, he gave Shen Qinglu a wink.
Shen Qinglu was more than happy to oblige and nodded her thanks.
They enjoyed the scenery along the way, passing through almost half of the inner palace, before finally arriving at Consort Dou's palace.
Consort Dou did not have a striking or imposing appearance. Her face was slightly round with delicate features, more like a girl from a humble family. She had a beautiful figure and was well-maintained, though there was a hint of melancholy between her brows.
Her first words to Shen Qinglu were, "Your Highness is so beautiful. With such a lovely appearance, it's no wonder you caught Prince Chen's eye."
This sounds like a compliment, but it also seems to have a hidden meaning.
Shen Qinglu smiled shyly, which made her even more stunning.
She lowered her eyelids and sighed softly, "I heard that the princess's surname is now Shen. Your Shen family has been enjoying unparalleled prestige in the capital all these years, which is truly enviable."
During the reign of the late emperor, he relied heavily on the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. At that time, the Dou family was the most prominent family in Donglin City.
Shen Qinglu sensed resentment, not envy, in her tone.
"Your Majesty flatters me. All the glory and honor we have received is due to the Emperor's grace. My Shen family only knows how to be loyal to the Emperor and has no intention of attracting attention."
Upon hearing this, her gaze suddenly sharpened as she stared intently at Shen Qinglu.
Shen Qinglu was neither a concubine nor a junior, so she was neither afraid of her aura nor avoided her gaze.
After a long pause, she chuckled softly, "I heard that the Princess Consort's mental illness had only recently been cured, and that she had been mentally impaired for more than ten years. But seeing her today, I can't tell at all."
"There are all sorts of strange things in the world, but I don't find this strange at all," Feng Chengying said casually, as if it were nothing unusual. "It's better than some people who seem shrewd their whole lives but are actually fools. Don't you think so, Mother?"
“Luanhe has been outside the palace for many years, and her speech and behavior are different from ordinary women. No wonder she can get along with the princess.”
The phrase "different from ordinary women" can be both a compliment and a criticism.
Shen Qinglu had already discerned the situation and knew that this Imperial Concubine probably disliked Feng Chengying and didn't have much affection for her either.
Since that's the case, it's enough to just show the proper etiquette on the surface.
She took her leave at the appropriate time and departed with Feng Chengying.
Feng Chengying said to her, "She has resentment, but it's not her fault."
"She still harbors resentment." She looked back at the palace with its glazed tiles and the two characters "Xi Zhao" on the plaque, her dark eyes growing even darker.
Within this deep palace, it wasn't just Consort Dou who felt resentful; perhaps for all the concubines, years of childlessness and lack of favor had all turned into bitterness and resentment.
She looked at the people who were clearly waiting for them in the distance and thought to herself, "Thank goodness."
Fortunately, some people have no interest in the throne; otherwise, she might one day become like Consort Dou.
Feng Chengying also saw the person in the distance, stopped and said, "Your royal uncle has come to pick you up, so I won't see you off."
She nodded and walked towards Mu Hanshi.
After they met, they did not return to Xiushui Palace, but left the palace directly.
"Won't His Majesty be angry that I didn't go to say goodbye?"
"No." Mu Hanshi took her hand naturally.
On the contrary, she suddenly felt a sense of unease, thinking to herself, who is this person trying to show off his affection to with the resentment and unwillingness of the whole palace?
She felt the dryness and warmth of the man's palm, but she didn't pull away. She was too embarrassed to stand tall and proud, so she could only lower her head slightly and look at the road beneath her feet.
When Mu Han saw him, his eyes were like a spring breeze.
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