Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 62

“Even the imperial physician knows that she no longer wanted to live.”

Xiao Yu returned to Jingren Palace and sat on the edge of the bed, the words still echoing in his ears. On the ninth month of the first year of the Yanxi era, when he returned to the capital, he received the exact words.

At that time, the empress dowager told him, “The empress is the head of the harem, and she is well aware of the background of the female officials from the Six Bureaus. Wouldn’t she know that Shangyi Xu’s younger brother died in her father’s military camp? She kept Shangyi Xu by her side because she didn’t want to burden you.”

Didn’t want to burden him.

Xiao Yu pressed his lips tightly, dipped a handkerchief into the water, dampened it, and gently wiped her face. As he looked at her silhouette, he seemed to see her becoming thinner inch by inch, and he saw the day she walked toward the remnants of the oil lamp.

The decree of confinement was issued by him personally.

It was he who drove her to her death.

At that moment, Eunuch Sheng knocked on the door and said, “Your Majesty, the medicine is ready.”

Xiao Yu nodded and said, “Bring it in.”

Eunuch Sheng opened the door and saw the emperor sitting stiffly by the bed. He felt inexplicably flustered, afraid to even think about what might happen to Jieyu Qin. Eunuch Sheng placed the medicine down and closed the door.

***

Qin Ling woke up during the period of hai (9-11 pm). When she opened her eyes, both of them were red. Xiao Yu was sitting by her side, leaning against the bed, his eyes closed as if he had been taking a short rest. He still held her hand.

When Qin Ling moved, Xiao Yu woke up.

“Awake?” he asked.

Qin Ling raised her head, tears rolling down unconsciously. She trembled and withdrew her hand, her voice hoarse, “Your Majesty, why are you here? I… I…” Seeing him, her thoughts were in complete disarray, unable to find any coherence.

What year was it now?

Was it the first year of the Yanxi era or four years later?

Was she Su Ling or Qin Ling?

Didn’t she die? Why was she still alive?

Had the sins of the Su family been fully redeemed?

Xiao Yu helped her sit up and asked, “Is your stomach still hurting?”

Qin Ling hesitated momentarily before shaking her head softly, saying that her stomach didn’t hurt anymore.

“Don’t think about anything else for now. Just drink the medicine,” Xiao Yu turned around to fetch the medicine and made a gesture to feed her. Qin Ling instinctively leaned back and reached to take it, whispering, “I’ll do it myself.”

Xiao Yu let go and allowed her to take the bowl. She drank the medicine in one gulp.

Xiao Yu, as before, reached out and held her hand, but the sense of distance between them was undeniable. Xiao Yu noticed her trembling eyelashes and knew her wounds were too deep. He whispered, “Can we talk?”

In truth, Qin Ling didn’t know what she could talk to him about or what she should talk to him about, but she nodded nonetheless.

It was truly astonishing that two people who used to gaze at each other with the desire to kiss at every opportunity now couldn’t even have a simple conversation. It made one sigh at the impermanence of the world.

“Did you dream about the past?” Xiao Yu asked.

Even her identity was guessed by him, so there was no need to hide this matter from him. Qin Ling nodded directly.

Xiao Yu asked, “Since when did it start?”

Qin Ling answered, “After entering the palace, I think…”

After entering the palace, then just like him.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, “Do you want to see Su Huai’an?”

The matter concerning the Su family was more complicated than she had imagined, and she had been so guarded against him. Some things were still best said by Su Huai’an to her.

At the mention of the Su family, Qin Ling’s eyes involuntarily faltered, and even her voice became weaker. She asked, “Can I see him?”

“As soon as tomorrow.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Ling blurted out, “Is he in the capital?”

Xiao Yu nodded.

Afraid of startling her, he hadn’t dared to mention that Su Huai’an was in the Hanlin Academy directly.

Xiao Yu said, “Take some more rest, and I’ll take you back to Prince Jin’s residence tomorrow.” There were plenty of tea houses and restaurants in the capital, but choosing Prince Jin’s residence for her to meet Su Huai’an was somewhat intentional.

Leaving the palace to meet Su Huai’an was truly an audacious move. She would have surely thought it was a trap if she hadn’t known that he had saved Su Huai’an.

Qin Ling remained silent for a while, her thoughts in disarray. But she truly…wanted to see her brother.

Qin Ling asked, “Then how can I leave the palace?”

Xiao Yu replied, “The same way as before.”

The “before” in the man’s words probably referred to the time before she became pregnant. Back then, she had thought about leaving the palace quietly and meeting him without anyone noticing, and he would provide cover for her. But she hadn’t mentioned it again since she became pregnant.

Qin Ling couldn’t sleep peacefully throughout the night, alternating between thoughts of the past and the present. Her mind was like a tangled mess.

Xiao Yu noticed her irregular breathing and knew she hadn’t slept well. He had initially intended to pat her back and help her relax, but seeing the deliberate distance she maintained from him, he withdrew his hand.

Xiao Yu’s daily routine hadn’t changed much over the years. He would wash and dress at the hour of the yin (3-5 am), attend the morning court at the period of mao (5-7 am), disperse the court at the period of si (9-11 am), and if there were no pressing matters after dispersing the court, he would be able to return to Yangxin Hall at the period of the wei (1-3 pm).

Qin Ling sat in the hall, dressed in a narrow-sleeved robe with a back-flower collar, wearing a crown with black gauze and gold-embroidered curved shoes. She counted the hours, waiting for him in the hall, feeling somewhat nervous. She didn’t know if Su Huai’an would be afraid when he saw her. Did she need to wear a veil? She pondered over it repeatedly.

The sun quickly set.

As Qin Ling expected, Xiao Yu returned to Jingren Palace at the period of shen (3-5 pm).

Seeing her dressed as an imperial eunuch, Xiao Yu couldn’t help but stifle a laugh and beckoned to her as if he were summoning a eunuch, saying, “Come here.”

Qin Ling approached him, straightened her robes, and asked, “Is it okay?”

Xiao Yu nodded and said, “Let’s go.”

The two of them left the inner court and headed toward Taihe Gate. Silently and unnoticed, they left the palace.

The carriage made a clattering sound as it entered the streets and alleys. Qin Ling lifted the gauze with her index finger, and the scenery seemed to change again. The capital city appeared livelier than before.

They were familiar with this route. The carriage made two left turns, covering only a short distance of ten zhang before they arrived at their destination.

When Qin Ling bent down to get off the carriage, she looked up.

Things had changed, and it was a feeling that one couldn’t escape. The plaque of Prince Jin’s Mansion hung prominently overhead. The bricks and tiles were no different from six years ago, but they could never return to what they used to be.

However, she couldn’t help but admit that Prince Jin’s Mansion did provide her with a sense of security. Xiao Yu spoke at the right time, “He’s waiting for you in Chang’en Hall.”

As his words fell, Qin Ling’s heart pounded rapidly.

She lifted her robes and walked quickly through the gate, arriving at Chang’en Hall. Standing in front of the hanging curtain was a man. Qin Ling called out with a tight throat, “Brother.”

The man turned around, and Qin Ling was stunned. He wasn’t Su Huai’an. She felt that she recognized the person in front of her as if she had seen him somewhere before, but she couldn’t remember… Wait!

Wasn’t he the scholar who had become the top scholar?

Before she could figure out the words “Huai Jing,” the man in front suddenly bowed and said, “I pay my respects to Your Majesty, and to Jieyu Qin.”

“No need for excessive courtesy,” Xiao Yu said.

When Su Huai’an raised his gaze, his eyes met Qin Ling with great displeasure.

Qin Ling turned to look at Xiao Yu, her eyes pleading for help, and Xiao Yu couldn’t help but feel a tinge of warmth.

Xiao Yu said to Su Huai’an, “Take off the mask…”

Su Huai’an’s gaze darkened. He didn’t trust the person who claimed to be Jieyu Qin before him, but he couldn’t defy the imperial decree. He took out some gray powder from his sleeve and brushed it against his temples, removing a disguise.

In the silent room, there was a sharp sound.

Qin Ling took a step back, and Xiao Yu supported her waist.

In an instant, Huai Jing transformed into Su Huai’an.

Plain features turned into distinct angles.

Tears welled up in Qin Ling’s eyes as she walked straight over and called, “Brother!”

Su Huai’an didn’t bother to appreciate the poor acting before him and didn’t respond. Instead, he bowed to Xiao Yu and said, “Your Majesty, would you allow me to have a few words alone with Jieyu Qin?”

Xiao Yu nodded and turned to go back to the study.

He didn’t mind since he didn’t really want to witness Ah Ling’s overly attentive behavior toward her elder brother.

The door creaked shut.

Su Huai’an looked at the person before him, almost identical to Ah Ling, with eyes as cold as ice. Initially, he hadn’t believed Lu Yanqing’s claim that His Majesty would often make such bewildering actions in the past three years, but now he believed it.

After today’s morning court session, His Majesty suddenly wanted to meet with him. He had thought it was to visit Ah Ling’s tomb.

But the result turned out to be…

What could be more absurd?

Yes, he was the emperor and could have any woman he desired. It was his prerogative to favor someone who resembled Ah Ling, and as a courtier, he had no right to object. But he shouldn’t mistake just anyone for Ah Ling. He had heard that Jieyu Qin, a favored imperial consort, even raised the eldest prince. All because of a resemblance in appearance?

Su Huai’an couldn’t contain his anger, which surged into his eyes.

He was looking at the mole on her chin. Qin Ling had witnessed Su Huai’an’s fiery temper before. The suppression of his bloodlust made her tremble involuntarily. She hastily explained, “Brother, it’s really me, Ah Ling.”

Su Huai’an scoffed, “Hmm, and then what?”

Qin Ling didn’t want to give him a chance to misunderstand her. After thinking momentarily, she continued, “In the thirty-fourth year of the Yongchang era, after the imperial examinations, you took me to the Chunxi Tower. Also, there’s a scar on your left arm from a sword injury you sustained while practicing with Dad.”

She gestured with her hand, indicating its length.

Su Huai’an furrowed his brows.

Much like many years ago, Qin Ling reached out to tug at his sleeve and looked up at him, saying, “Do you believe me now?”

Su Huai’an squinted his eyes, and his expression resembled that of the high official of the Supreme Court interrogating a prisoner. He was even angrier now.

In a cold voice, Su Huai’an asked, “Where did you hear it from?”

Qin Ling sighed and lowered her head. It’s understandable that he didn’t believe her. She raised her gaze again and continued, “Then… why don’t you listen for yourself? We grew up together, and there are many things we experienced together. How about hearing them?”

Su Huai’an pursed his lips, hesitating, as if he didn’t want to play along with her.

Suddenly, Qin Ling lifted her hand and pressed her index finger against his lower leftmost tooth, raising her eyebrows at him and saying, “Does it still hurt?”

Su Huai’an’s pupils trembled.

Then he took a step back.