A-cha A-cha
"Your Majesty, you have a really good grasp of the scale. I am ashamed of myself. Since Your Majesty is so accurate in judging people, why don't you wake up tomorrow morning and judge whether my work is good and whether I have lost to anyone..."
As he spoke, Qi Heng pressed down.
It can be described as a passage of “a warm spring night in the hibiscus tent… the music is gently plucked and picked… the iron cavalry rushes out with swords and guns ringing… the deep meditation is put on the plectrum and the strings are inserted…”
The next day, the east was gleaming with the faintest dew. A thick mist, now thick and now thin, formed a veil, lingering gracefully in the air. Ah Jin fell into a deep sleep, and Yuan Li carefully climbed off the couch, exhausted.
Open the window, and you will see swaying bamboos, swaying flowers, and the scent of grass mixed with the fragrance of flowers blowing in your face, making you feel very comfortable.
Looking back at Qi Heng sleeping soundly on the couch, Yuanli sighed helplessly. She thought forcing him to leave this path on his own would be impossible.
He casually took out an outer garment and put it on. As soon as he opened the door of the hall, he saw the head steward already waiting outside.
"Is Axun awake?"
The head waiter looked at the eunuch beside him and shook his head slightly before replying, "Your Majesty, not yet. Do you need me to pass it on?"
"No need, let him rest well. Wash and change my clothes for me, and be quiet."
After changing clothes and washing up, Yuanli drank a cup of tea to refresh herself, and then took one or two maids with her as she strolled aimlessly in the Emperor's and Empress's Palace.
Passing by a side hall, Yuanli glimpsed through a crack in the doorway as Wangyue, dressed in a plain robe, imitated the movements from the previous day's play. Yuanli couldn't help but stop to watch. He opened his mouth to sing, but dared not utter a sound, lost in the music that only he could hear. When the song ended, he slowly withdrew his hand, his expression forlorn. His snow-blue robe was a little too big, making him look even thinner underneath.
I guess Wangyue is just an actor, and she hasn't been favored by the palace since entering yesterday. Those who curry favor with her will naturally treat her with disdain. I sighed silently in my heart, after all, there are consequences for this.
Yuanli turned and walked forward. The door opened quickly and silently, startling Wangyue, who had been distracted. He quickly straightened his clothes and walked quickly to her, respectfully performing the unfamiliar etiquette.
"Were you practicing just now?"
"Yes, my master taught me that I should practice every day to keep my skills sharp. I never thought that Your Majesty would come at this time..."
Yuanli interrupted Wangyue's anxious explanation and said, "Your master has taught you well, so you should practice diligently. However, it would be even better if you practiced your singing as well. Behind the small garden in the Empress' Palace, there's a quiet pavilion that's perfect for you."
Although Wangyue looked just as dejected as before, a hint of smile and gratitude crossed his eyes when he heard her words. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
After asking him if he had finished his training for the day, Yuanli ordered him to accompany her to relax. To help him relax his tense nerves, Yuanli also ordered the one or two maids who were with him to leave.
While strolling in the small garden, Wangyue asked, "Your Majesty, you didn't even bring a maid or eunuch with you. Aren't you afraid that I might have ulterior motives?"
Yuanli tilted her head to look into his eyes, met his gaze, and asked, "Do you have any?"
"I do not wish to deceive Your Majesty. I had ulterior motives, but they are slowly dissipating because of You." After saying this, Wangyue suddenly spoke sincerely, "It is true that I am wary and afraid of you, but I have always respected and relied on Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful for all your silent considerations for me. My ulterior motives stem from the impotent anger of having all my life's learning locked away in this palace with me, unable to fight back. It has nothing to do with you. You are like my voice. I and everything I care about are dependent on you, so I would never dare to act rashly."
"You are quite honest. But Wangyue, you shouldn't have told me this. It puts you in a passive position. Aren't you afraid that if I knew that you were only trying to please me out of fear of losing your life and being forced to do so, you might completely lose my favor?"
"I'm afraid. But what Your Majesty said to me during our long conversation under the moon last night made me realize that you are someone who can speak your mind. Besides, Your Majesty's heart is already occupied by someone else, and even if I try my best, I can't squeeze in an inch. So I can only let you see my piety and respect, and ask for food."
"You are quite clever. I will not let your hard work go to waste."
Standing beside the small pond, Yuanli picked up a bowl of fish food, picked up a handful and threw it into the pond. Instantly, a group of fish swam over, vying for the food. Yuanli whispered, "Even if I were a good master, you wouldn't be willing to be confined to this deep palace and have to obey others' wishes, right? Wangyue, make a deal with me."
"good."
"You dare to agree to it without asking what the deal is?"
"The moment Her Majesty asked, she was already certain that I would agree, so what's the point of me asking? It's better to be straightforward and decisive."
"Come closer."
Hearing this, Wangyue kept moving closer to her, until she stopped her hand, which had been trying to signal him to come any closer. At this point, the two of them were incredibly close, almost like whispering in each other's ears from an outsider's perspective, a picture of love and affection. They gazed at the horizon, envisioning the future, feeding the fish together, and chatting and laughing.
As she was nearing the end of her speech, Yuanli felt a chill on her back, as if someone was staring at her from behind, making her feel very uncomfortable.
"I will definitely live up to your trust, Madam."
As soon as Wangyue finished speaking, a cool breeze swept across Yuanli's neck and behind her ears, causing goose bumps. The breath was a little weak, as if someone was deliberately blowing cool air behind her.
"Well, that's all for today. You've been training all morning, so you must be hungry. Let's go back and have dinner first."
Wangyue understood what she meant and left quickly as she said.
Just as he disappeared around the corner, Cha Suxun's sarcastic voice suddenly rang out from behind him: "Has it come to the point of entrusting someone with something? Your Majesty, why don't you also ask if I'm hungry?"
"That was just an excuse to get rid of him."
"If I don't show up in time, Your Majesty will probably use this excuse to drive me away in the future, right?" Cha Suxun's tone was lost and aggrieved, and it was hard not to hear the jealousy in his words.
"Come out, there's no one around me, and it's weird to talk to yourself."
Cha Suxun instantly materialized and walked out from an inconspicuous corner. When he reached her, his sour demeanor changed, and he adopted his usual considerate and lovable demeanor.
"Your Highness, you got up so early today. Did you not sleep well last night?"
"Ah Xun, do you have to be jealous of everyone?"
"I don't want to either, but there are too many men around Her Majesty who are eyeing her covetously. They all want to get close to Her Majesty. Even if I had three heads and six arms, I can't prevent them all. Her Majesty must treat every one of them equally. If I don't get jealous and attract Her Majesty's attention, I'm afraid..."
Yuanli held his hand, stroking his ring finger with her thumb and said, "Why would you be jealous, Axun? You know very well that my only marriage in this life is tied to you."
"But I want more than just a marriage line. Am I being too greedy?"
Yuanli took the initiative to move closer to him, leading him to put his arms around her waist. She rested her cheek against his chest and soothed him, "Don't let your imagination run wild, A'cha. The three reincarnations are just stories in Sima Ming's picture book and storybook... They don't count for anything. When everything is over, I will go home. We agreed on that, didn't we?"
Hearing Yuanli's words, Cha Suxun felt a mixture of joy and sorrow. He knew she would keep her promise and return to the Netherworld to be with him, just as if Hengjin had never stolen her away. But he knew nothing was going to be the same again. Things were slowly going against his expectations. As the things he had hidden were gradually found by that person, Yuanli was also undergoing an irreversible transformation.
Her heart was occupied by Wen Yici, and returning to the Netherworld was just a way to repay his kindness. He also wanted Yuanli to stay with him because of her love for him, but he didn't dare to say more. He would rather keep her in the Netherworld for any reason than let her repeat the same mistake.
Cha Suxun hesitated several times and finally couldn't express what he was thinking. He just hugged her back greedily and said, "Okay."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cha Suxun clearly felt the person in his arms go limp and start to slide down against his body. He quickly held her and sat her on the ground so that she could lean against him and feel more comfortable.
"The medicine shouldn't be working so quickly..." Taking her pulse, Cha Suxun asked in panic, "Don't you think your life isn't short enough? Why are you secretly increasing the dosage?"
"Acha, I want to leave the palace as soon as possible. I don't want to be trapped here..."
Cha Suxun quickly took out the antidote he had brought with him and was about to feed it to her, but Yuanli pushed his hand away and said, "It's too early to take the antidote now. My pulse will change slightly. I can hold on. Take me back..."
Before she could finish her words, she fainted. Cha Suxun quickly carried her to the bedroom, and the imperial physician was summoned. Xiao Yan'an, still in his court robes, hurried over. Looking at the sea of people kneeling in the hall, Xiao Yan'an was utterly panicked. When the imperial physician shook his head, the fear of losing her again surged.
"Why are you shaking your head? If you can't cure my beloved concubine, bring your heads to me!"
"Your Majesty, spare me! The Imperial Concubine has been deeply poisoned. This poison is extremely rare. I cannot find the cause, let alone a cure. If the antidote cannot be administered within two hours, even the best doctors alive cannot save her."
Seeing that this body was probably beyond saving, Xiao Yan'an could only summon Ju Yue for consultation. However, after reviewing it, Ju Yue simply said, "Your Majesty, I am not a miracle doctor, and I do not have an antidote. Even if I could immediately develop an antidote, Your Majesty's body has been severely damaged, and forcibly restoring it would only last a few years. But as long as I am still here, I can provide Your Majesty with a second body."
"I have been searching for years to find someone with a face almost identical to hers. You know where I should find a second body?"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Although I cannot guarantee that I can find a more like you, I can create an identical face for you. All I need to do is find a woman with the same body shape."
Xiao Yan'an was overjoyed and asked in disbelief, "Really?"
"Indeed! I have painstakingly refined my facial techniques for many years, all for the purpose of one day being able to relieve Your Majesty's worries."
"Good! Good! Good! My dear, you have indeed lived up to my expectations of you. If this is accomplished, I will certainly reward you. Meanwhile, in the battle at the border, please go and lend a hand..."
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