Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 103

The conflict in the north was on the brink.

 

Soon, it was the day Xiao Yu set out for battle.

 

Qin Ling took the Golden Crow crown, the white silk robe, and the dark gold armor from Zhu Xin’s hands—dressing him. Her movements were methodical, gentle, and considerate, fulfilling her promise to him.

 

He nodded at her, his gaze slowly descending to her abdomen. “Make sure to check the pulse for safety.”

 

Qin Ling nodded in agreement.

 

Xiao Yu added, “The affairs of the Six Palaces are exhausting. Delegate some tasks to Consort Liu.”

 

Qin Ling continued to nod in acknowledgment.

 

After contemplating for a moment, he suddenly lifted her up, holding her as a butcher would hold meat, palm steady under her hip, weighing her up and down. Startled, Qin Ling asked, “Your Majesty, what are you doing?”

 

Xiao Yu replied earnestly, “Even if you’ve lost your appetite, eat a little. If you’re tired of palace food, have Sheng Kanghai buy from outside the palace. When I return, the empress shouldn’t be lighter than she is now.”

 

Observing his serious expression, Qin Ling found herself both amused and bewildered. His demeanor and tone stayed consistent, yet his words became increasingly intimate. It wasn’t Xiao Yu’s fault for being talkative; after all, the scene before her felt oddly familiar.

 

Qin Ling patted his shoulder, saying, “I can take care of myself. Please put me down.”

 

Xiao Yu placed her on a low couch, leaned in, and kissed her. Amid their entangled embrace, he murmured, “I’ll send letters home when I can.”

 

In his embrace, Qin Ling nodded reluctantly.

 

The preparations for departure were complete. Eunuch Sheng, who had intended to inquire, immediately withdrew upon seeing the emperor and empress embracing.

 

Qin Ling touched her nearly bitten lip and softly said, “The auspicious time has arrived, Your Majesty should go.”

 

Xiao Yu grunted in acknowledgment, picked up the sword on the table, and turned to leave. Just as he was about to push the door, he felt something amiss and turned back to look at her.

 

Back in Prince Jin’s Mansion, whenever he left for official duties, she would hold onto his waist as they parted ways, placing a safety talisman around his neck and whispering mysteriously, “Don’t take it off except for bathing. Third lang, I’ll wait for your return.”

 

Qin Ling understood the reluctance in the man’s eyes, so she bowed respectfully and softly said, “I pray for Your Majesty’s swift and safe return.”

 

Xiao Yu smiled at her.

 

Years passed, and though the man’s skin had gained a few wrinkles around his eyes, he remained much the same.

 

His features seldom bore a smile, yet when he did, it was captivating.

 

In a moment, Momo Yuan led the crown prince to the entrance of Kunning Palace. Xiao Yun formally bowed, “This son respectfully sees off Imperial Father.”

 

Xiao Yu was not as solemn as usual. Instead, he approached the boy and meaningfully patted his head.

 

Just then, the drums resounded.

 

The muscular drummer’s wrists moved faster, the beats intensified, hearts surged, and soldiers raised their swords, shouting loudly.

 

Under the gaze of the people once again, he left the capital city, commanding thousands of horses.

 

As they left the city, while grooming the horse along the way, Xiao Yu took out a slightly faded safety talisman and tied it to the hilt of his sword.

 

In Xianfu Palace, Qing Yue helped Consort Xue put on an extra garment and softly said, “Your Ladyship, today is the first day of the month. We… still need to go to Kunning Palace to pay respects to the empress.”

 

At the mention of Kunning Palace and the thought of Qin Ling’s face, Consort Xue became as silent as a defeated rooster.

 

Qing Yue tried again, “Your Ladyship…”

 

“She’s transformed into an empress. Who knows how resentful she might be towards me…” Consort Xue sighed and gritted her teeth. “In this palace, Consort Liu is still the one with a cunning mind. The moment His Majesty issued the decree, she shifted the power of the Six Palaces to Kunning Palace. Her flattery skills truly make me feel inferior.”

 

Qing Yue massaged Consort Xue’s shoulders and said, “Regarding the empress’ elevation, didn’t Your Ladyship anticipate it after returning from Mount Li?”

 

Mentioning Mount Li made Consort Xue even more restless. The image of Qin Ling riding away on that fiery night was vivid in her mind, making her increasingly apprehensive.

 

Consort Xue remarked, “Qing Yue, don’t you think Empress Su and Empress Qin, apart from their appearance, even their mannerisms are… alike?”

 

Qing Yue immediately interrupted her, “Your Ladyship, please refrain from saying such things in the future.”

 

“What’s wrong with speaking the truth?”

 

Qing Yue said, “Oh, Your Ladyship, if such words spread, how would it fare? The empress might not mind, but who knows what others might think? After all, she’s now in charge of the Six Palaces. If this likeness in appearance is brought up again, it might cause unnecessary trouble… Let’s avoid stirring the pot.”

 

Consort Xue pushed her away and continued, “I’m not talking about appearance. I mean her mannerisms and that… it’s hard to describe, but the more I see, the more they seem alike… It’s as if they’re the same person!”

 

Qing Yue immediately knelt down and pleaded, “Your Ladyship!” Ever since returning from Mount Li, this wasn’t the first time Consort Xue had mentioned this. Each time Qing Yue heard it, it felt like a heartache.

 

Though Consort Xue stopped speaking, she suddenly felt a sense of fear.

 

After much thought, she retrieved the talisman left from the last time she banished spirits and tucked it into her sleeve for comfort.

 

As the emperor left the palace and the empress dowager fell ill, all affairs within the Six Palaces were under Qin Ling’s sole control.

 

Xiao Yu had just reached the city gate when the palace concubines and consorts from the harem waited outside Kunning Palace to pay their respects.

 

Zhu Xin said, “Your Ladyship, they’ve arrived.”

 

Qin Ling nodded and said, “Let them in.”

 

The four consorts chorused, “We respectfully greet the empress.”

 

Qin Ling calmly replied, “Please rise.”

 

While everyone else seemed composed, Consort Xue was drenched in cold sweat, her mind racing with thoughts that felt like seeds in soil, bound to sprout once watered.

 

The more she looked at her in Kunning Palace, the more she resembled… No, she couldn’t have resembled her more!

 

She swallowed hard and sat silently to the side.

 

Qin Ling slowly said, “This pregnancy hasn’t been easy. The morning sickness persists, leaving me constantly fatigued and weak…”

 

The four consorts initially thought this audience would end without authoritative commands, but unexpectedly, Qin Ling continued, “Henceforth, there’s no need for the customary greetings at morning and night.”

 

The consorts exchanged glances, ecstatic yet cautious in expressing their joy. Who would willingly indulge in sleeping in?

 

Consort Liu said, “Your Ladyship is compassionate, but with your health not at its best, how could we relax and avoid the formalities? Perhaps it’s better to pay our respects outside Kunning Palace daily…” As Consort Liu spoke, Consort Xue almost failed to control her own expression.

 

Qin Ling interrupted, saying, “The winter months naturally induce fatigue. There’s no need to fuss over these formalities.”

 

Consort Xue immediately responded, “I thank the empress for her consideration.”

 

Feeling unexpectedly weary at that moment, Qin Ling dismissed the four consorts back to the palace using the excuse of taking medicine.

 

Back in the Xianfu Palace, Consort Xue collected herself and carefully put away the talisman.

 

After supper, Qin Ling still felt a faint dizziness, so she retired exceptionally early. As she removed her hairpins in front of the bronze mirror, a distant clamor echoed in her ears, but when she rubbed them, it vanished.

 

After her ablutions, she changed and lay on the bed. Shangqin Lu, the palace attendant, bowed, “Your Ladyship, shall I extinguish the lights?”

 

Qin Ling replied, “Leave one.”

 

The room was filled with the haze of smoke and flickering flames as Qin Ling slowly closed her eyes.

 

Amidst the midnight, the candle flickered, and she suddenly felt her body lightening, drifting as if amidst clouds and mist.

 

Sounds of horse hooves, war drums, shouts, and clashes filled the air from all directions, assaulting her senses.

 

The clouds and mist before her transformed into billowing smoke. Vultures circled and danced in the sky, while the yellow sands were littered with white bones.

 

This was… the end of the first year of Yanxi, late eighth month.

 

Four years ago?!

 

The autumn wind howled, flags fluttered in the breeze. The walls of Qingzhou were stained red with blood, the dried stains now deeper in hue, and a flag symbolizing the victory of Great Zhou was hoisted atop the lookout tower.

 

Still rejoicing in repelling the enemy, the soldiers were filled with fervor, their cheers and murmurs resounding.

 

On a low mound, a tall soldier sighed, “Finally, we can go home.”

 

A shorter soldier responded, “Yeah, before leaving, my mother’s eyes were nearly dry from crying, fearing I’d be like those sixty thousand who might never return…”

 

The tall soldier said, “His Majesty said that once we return to the capital, there will be rewards.”

 

The shorter soldier chuckled, “That’s great! My mother has been eager for me to marry… Hey, have you gotten married?”

 

The tall soldier grinned foolishly, “I have two sons already. My family is waiting for me.”

 

Xiao Yu lay on the grassy slope by the riverbank, his clothes disheveled and his face marked with bloodstains. He breathed steadily, gazing as the sun slowly descended.

 

The twilight cast its glow upon the river, the turbulent waters now calm, submerging the remains of bones and vast patches of blood.

 

The clinking of metal sounded as Lu Ze dismounted, carrying a water flask toward Xiao Yu’s side. He squatted down and said, “Your Majesty, have some water.”

 

Xiao Yu accepted it, slowly propping himself up as Lu Ze lent him a hand.

 

Subconsciously, Xiao Yu rubbed his chest.

 

Observing the emperor’s movement, Lu Ze’s gaze darkened. “That traitor Yang Di deserved more than just a swift execution. He should have been hung at the city gate for three days…”

 

Xiao Yu replied calmly, “I’m getting better soon, no need to worry.”

 

Lu Ze felt extreme self-blame and murmured, “I was delayed on the way to escort Su Huai… I lingered too long and couldn’t return sooner.”

 

Out of habit, Lu Ze almost let slip the name “Su Huai’an.”

 

Xiao Yu didn’t mind and asked, “Speak freely, no need to conceal. Did the physician reach there?”

 

Lu Ze nodded, “Your Majesty, rest assured, his life has been spared.”

 

“Alright, we’ll discuss the rest later…” Xiao Yu brushed off the weeds from his hands, stood upright, and suddenly, a gust of wind swept through.

 

The leaves rustled and gently fell.

 

He told Lu Ze, “After tonight, I’ll return to the capital first, and you stay back to organize military affairs.”

 

Lu Ze was puzzled, “Your Majesty won’t return to the capital with the soldiers?”

 

Xiao Yu, his face weathered by wind and dust, suddenly smiled at the yellowed leaves on the ground. “It’s almost the ninth month, she’s almost… I’m going to be a father.”

 

He wondered if it would be a boy or a girl.

 

Lu Ze met the emperor’s gaze, and the mood lightened at the mention of offspring. He smiled and bowed, “Then I offer my early congratulations to Your Majesty.”

 

As the words fell, they heard the rapid sound of iron hooves, raising a cloud of dust as they approached swiftly.

 

Xiao Yu and Lu Ze followed the sound, and after a while, they saw a soldier in dark armor riding swiftly, pulling the reins, dismounting, and kneeling to report, “There’s sad news in the capital. I was dispatched by order of the empress dowager to bring the news urgently.”

 

Sad news.

 

Xiao Yu’s heart clenched inexplicably, his brow furrowed. “Sad news?”

 

The soldier met the emperor’s piercing gaze, his chin trembling as he stammered, “Y-yes…”

 

“Speak,” demanded Xiao Yu.

 

The soldier took a deep breath and uttered, “On the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the first year of Yanxi, the empress passed away in the Kunning Palace.”

 

Xiao Yu remained motionless as if he hadn’t heard a word. It was like time was freezing at that moment.

 

But soon after, his body gave way, stumbling back a step.

 

In an instant, a gust of wind arose.

 

The red safety talisman wrapped around the hilt of his sword slipped off and fell to the ground.