Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 109

Xiao Yu’s hand remained on her waist, moving back and forth, gently rubbing her belly. “You asked.”

 

Qin Ling asked in a relatively soft tone, “Has Your Majesty met Taoist Lingyun before?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Qin Ling raised her gaze to him. “When?”

 

Xiao Yu, with a furrowed brow, remained composed as if recalling the past. “It should be… in the second year of Yanxi. That year, amidst the constant disasters in Huguang, the Astronomical Bureau invited Taoist Lingyun to perform a ritual in the palace. I saw him once at that time. It’s been quite a while. Why do you ask about this?”

 

Qin Ling remembered the day they went to Lingyun Taoist Temple. He clearly knew the way, yet he insisted on feigning ignorance as if not knowing what lay ahead.

 

Truly meticulous, with no loopholes.

Better at pretending than she was.

 

Qin Ling’s eyes darkened slightly, her tone growing heavier. “Are you keeping something from me?”

 

Xiao Yu tapped her belly and suddenly smiled. “Ah Ling, why let your thoughts wander so much?”

 

Qin Ling clenched her fists, her eyes misting over. “Regarding the talk of reincarnation and prolonging life, is His Majesty trustworthy?”

 

That single sentence struck like a sudden thunderbolt, exploding in the man’s ears, accompanied by a buzzing sound.

 

“Is this how you intend us to be open and honest with each other in the future?”

 

“Ah Ling…”

 

“How long do you intend to keep things from me? How old are you now? Hm?” Qin Ling’s voice trembled faintly, tears brimming in her eyes, tracing a light trail down her fair face.

 

As a tear fell, emotions suppressed for months collapsed in an instant, her eyes breaking their dam.

 

Xiao Yu reached out, hastily wiping her teary eyes. “Don’t cry…”

 

Qin Ling pushed away his hand. “I’ve forgiven you for deceiving and lying to me in the past. But now you still… You… Xiao Yu, you haven’t changed at all!”

 

Xiao Yu’s gaze was like shattered ice. He took a deep breath before saying, “Ah Ling, this matter is complicated…”

 

Before he could finish, Qin Ling interrupted, “Can’t you just explain this clearly to me? Is it that difficult?”

 

Xiao Yu was about to reach for her hand when she slowly crouched down, her face pale, tears hanging on her eyelashes as she whispered, “My stomach hurts…”

 

The emperor’s pupils contracted, and he hurriedly supported her, calling out sternly, “Sheng Kanghai!”

 

Hearing the call, Eunuch Sheng straightened his sleeve, turned to open the door, and, upon seeing the empress’ unsettling expression, immediately responded, “This servant will go and summon Lord Ning right away.”

 

“Ah Ling, you frightened me. What’s wrong…”

 

Disregarding palace etiquette, Physician Ning rushed all the way, his official hat falling to the ground in haste. While checking the empress’ pulse, his hands were trembling. While wiping the sweat from his forehead, he swiftly grabbed some medicine and handed it to Zhu Xin. “This is a sign of premature labor. Hurry, prepare the decoction within two hours. It must be taken without delay.”

 

Zhu Xin nodded quickly. “Yes, yes, this servant understands.”

 

Hearing it was a sign of premature labor, veins popped on Xiao Yu’s arm, lips pressed together, the room seeming to freeze.

 

Physician Ning reassured, “Your Majesty, don’t worry. Kunning Palace has four midwives. Even with early fetal movement, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

 

The servants in Kunning Palace were all sharp-minded. Hearing Physician Ning’s words, Zhu Lan immediately turned to the maid, Hu Po. “Go and get the midwives ready. Once there’s any movement, call them immediately.”

 

Hu Po replied, “Yes.”

 

After drinking the medicine, Qin Ling fell asleep, and the night passed quietly.

 

As the moon shifted across the walls and daylight peeked through the trees, it was early the following day when she woke again.

 

Qin Ling groggily opened her eyes. Zhu Xin stood with folded hands, swaying slightly, saying, “Amitabha, Amitabha, finally, it’s over.”

 

Zhu Lan said, “I’ll go inform Eunuch Sheng right away.”

 

Qin Ling weakly uttered, “Don’t… go.”

 

Zhu Lan didn’t understand. “Before His Majesty went to court, he stayed with Your Ladyship. He specifically instructed that as soon as the empress woke up, I should immediately inform him.”

 

Thinking of his face made her uncomfortable. She spoke slowly, each word deliberate. “Tell a few people to guard Kunning Palace. No one is allowed in. Say that I need peace and quiet.”

 

Zhu Lan stood stunned on the spot.

 

***

 

Xiao Yu strode towards Kunning Palace with a frown. Not only were the lattice windows tightly shut, but there were two extra young eunuchs stationed at the entrance.

 

“What’s going on?” Xiao Yu frowned.

 

Both Zhu Lan and Zhu Xin hesitated to convey the empress’ message. In secret, they exchanged looks, but eventually, Zhu Xin gathered her courage and approached the emperor.

 

Fidgeting with her fingertips, Zhu Xin spoke softly, “Reporting to Your Majesty, after waking up this morning, the empress is still experiencing abdominal pain. She said she needs to rest… hence, she instructed us to guard outside.”

 

“Rest?” Xiao Yu’s face darkened, his tone turning cold. “What did she say?”

 

After careful consideration, Zhu Xin finally replied, “The empress said… Your Majesty is toiling hard with state affairs and need not come to see her every day. Seeing Your Majesty anxious, she… got anxious herself. Hence, the pain in her stomach.” Zhu Xin felt like she had lost her soul after speaking.

 

The midday sun cast a slanted shadow on the emperor’s rigid back.

 

Eunuch Sheng broke into a cold sweat. While the words sounded reasonable on the surface, a direct interpretation would suggest: “If you care for me, you wouldn’t come.”

 

Eunuch Sheng watched as the revered monarch, fresh from a recent victory, found himself locked out by the empress.

 

Xiao Yu nodded faintly and turned away.

 

***

 

Xiao Yu hadn’t seen the empress for several days and didn’t dare to force his way in. He knew her abdominal pain wasn’t a pretense, and he understood that she genuinely didn’t want to see him.

 

Thus, the atmosphere in the Forbidden City was divided: the harem bloomed with vitality, exuding a sense of spring, while the front court remained bitterly cold, akin to midwinter.

 

Even though the emperor didn’t truly vent his anger on anyone, his gaze seemed ready to punish. Ministers at Yangxin Hall were on edge these past few days.

 

Outside Yangxin Hall, a young eunuch in green attire, carrying incense, was about to enter to replace the incense. He was stopped by Eunuch Sheng. “Hold on.”

 

“What’s the matter, Gonggong?” the young eunuch asked.

 

Frowning, Eunuch Sheng replied, “What were you taught? Can’t you see clearly inside?”

 

The young eunuch nodded and whispered, “Gonggong, what’s wrong with His Majesty?”

 

Eunuch Sheng tapped him lightly. “Is that something you should inquire about?”

 

“Apologies, Gonggong,” the young eunuch said softly.

 

In the evening, Eunuch Sheng pushed the door, intending to inquire if His Majesty needed a meal, but his gaze fell once again on the unlocked wooden chest.

 

Staring at the chest, Eunuch Sheng felt uneasy. The night the empress broke into Yangxin Hall, he sent a message to the emperor. Unexpectedly, the emperor only received the message after he returned to the palace. Eunuch Sheng had hurried to warn him at the gates of Kunning Palace, but by then, the emperor had already let down his guard and embraced the situation.

 

Sigh.

 

Eunuch Sheng approached. “Shall I prepare your meal, Your Majesty?”

 

Xiao Yu paused for a moment before responding, “Yes.”

 

After the dinner and handling the paperwork, it was already late. Xiao Yu walked out of Yangxin Hall, his steps heavy, and found himself at Kunning Palace.

 

The attending palace staff bowed respectfully. “May Your Majesty be at ease.”

 

The night breeze stirred, flickering the lamp flame on the eaves, elongating the man’s silhouette.

 

Zhu Xin hurried out. “I’ve seen Your Majesty.”

 

Xiao Yu’s voice was grave. “How’s the empress?” His tone echoed with a seriousness and depth that could likely penetrate if the person inside was awake.

 

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the empress has just gone to rest.” Hearing the emperor’s faint sigh, Zhu Xin couldn’t help but add, “The empress’ appetite has improved, and she had her dinner. Physician Ning said, for the time being, things seem to have settled.”

 

Xiao Yu glanced towards the lattice window. In the candlelight, he almost felt he could see her, how she was ignoring him.

 

Would she shed tears? He wondered.

 

After a while, the emperor left on his own.

 

Zhu Xin pushed the door and approached the empress. “Your Ladyship, the emperor has left.”

 

The spring night felt chilly. Qin Ling wrapped herself tighter in the covers, closed her eyes, and softly replied, “Understood.”

 

Zhu Xin couldn’t help but be utterly impressed by her mistress tonight.

 

She had intended to advise the empress not to push the emperor away no matter what happened. After all, this was the harem; there were other places to accommodate him. If he were pushed away, regrets would be inevitable. Even ordinary households wouldn’t dare to lock their husbands outside, let alone the emperor.

 

But it seemed she had overestimated things. The emperor truly acquiesced to her in every aspect.

 

Ten days passed quickly. Everything remained normal at Kunning Palace, inaccessible to Xiao Yu. Frustration crept onto his brow. His temper wasn’t good initially, and the sound of his fingertips tapping the table made others tremble.

 

Eunuch Sheng found a way and had to bring over the Marquis of Chun’nan, the most favored aside from the empress. Outside Yangxin Hall, Lu Ze quietly argued with Eunuch Sheng, “If the emperor and empress are quarreling, what use is there for me to come?”

 

Eunuch Sheng had already lost his patience with Lu Ze when he urged him forward. “Commander Lu Ze, you have to be patient. Hurry, go in.”

 

Lu Ze leaned against the door frame, refusing to enter. “I won’t go in. This is their family matter. How can I meddle?”

 

Eunuch Sheng sighed, “Our influence is waning. If Commander Lu Ze won’t do it, then we have no chance.”

 

Lu Ze gritted his teeth, glaring at Eunuch Sheng.

 

Fine.

 

He lost.

 

“Marquis of Chun’nan requests an audience—”

 

“Come in.”

 

Lu Ze entered, smiling ingratiatingly. “Your Majesty.”

 

Xiao Yu looked up. “What’s the matter?”

 

“I have something to report, Your Majesty.”

 

“Speak.”

 

The matters handled by the Imperial Bodyguards were too numerous. Lu Ze could reside in Yangxin Hall for half a month if he wanted to find something to discuss.

 

For instance, Minister Zheng Nan from the Ministry of War visited the brothel, forcing a former official’s daughter to jump off a building. Then, a fraudulent “doctor” appeared in the capital, deceiving people with longevity pills for silver coins. Additionally, Xue Xiangyang was infatuated and enamored with the same performer as Zhuang Sheng.

 

Xiao Yu paused, furrowing his brows at the incessant stream of information from Lu Ze. “Have a seat first.”

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Lu Ze said, touching his nose.

 

Eunuch Sheng pondered and decided to send in a jar of fine wine.

 

Lu Ze and the emperor had grown up together, their relationship different from that with others. The two seemed to be transported back in time with the wine poured.

 

Xiao Yu filled a glass and downed it in one go. The strong liquor sent a surge of heat to his chest.

 

Lu Ze found it rather odd. Not long ago, His Majesty had completely enchanted Princess Baoyin, causing her to deploy troops and go all out to help him. He even managed to convince her to marry He Zichen. But somehow, this influence seemed lost when it came to the empress.