Part 3
The Empress Dowager froze, remembering that the Emperor had lived in the Eastern Palace since childhood and had always been with the late Emperor, so he wasn’t very close to her to begin with. In the past two days, there had been rifts and estrangement between them. If this continued, it would indeed be of no benefit to her.
“If Your Highness has nothing to do, isn’t it good to call a few little palace maids to read, or call Xunfang in to talk and play chess, or even go out of the palace to relax?” He Mingshou persuaded, “Why make yourself and His Majesty unhappy over these things?”
The Empress Dowager wasn’t dead set on seeing He Xunling, just a little worried. After being persuaded by him, her expression loosened slightly, and she finally sat back down.
“Fine, I’ll listen to Brother this once. Aijia is too lazy to care; let them make a fuss.” The Empress Dowager said.
Having finally completed the task assigned by the Emperor, He Mingshou felt relieved instantly, only to realize his back was soaked with sweat, as if he had just been fished out of the water.
After chatting with the Empress Dowager for a few more sentences, he stood up to take his leave: “Your Highness, this subject still has some official business in the government office, so I will take my leave first.”
“Brother, go quickly.” The Empress Dowager waved her hand, signaling him to go.
He Mingshou took out some small snacks from his sleeve pocket, saying his wife made them for He Xunfang, and then left.
However, when he left Wanchun Palace, he happened to bump into a group of people.
It was Consort Dowager He and Linchuan coming together, their steps hurried. He took a half-step back to bow, then turned sideways to leave.
“Did Eldest Brother just visit Elder Sister?” Consort Dowager He asked with a smile.
He Mingshou replied, “Yes, this official was concerned about the Empress Dowager’s health and came specifically to visit.”
Consort Dowager He naturally saw the alienation in his eyes, but she chatted with him as if nothing was wrong before hurrying in.
“Elder Sister!” She called out urgently, panicking, “Xunling knelt for so long today; will Elder Sister go and see her?”
Just having listened to He Mingshou talk for a long time, the Empress Dowager was very firm at this moment and refused directly: “You can just ask the imperial physician to go. Aijia is not a physician; what use is it to look?”
Noises suddenly came from outside, mixed with footsteps.
A voice said through the door: “So the Consort Dowager is here; you made us slaves look hard.”
Listening to this voice, it seemed to be someone serving before the Emperor.
The Empress Dowager frowned and asked indifferently, “Why are you here?”
“This slave is passing on His Majesty’s decree.” The inner attendant cupped his hands through the door, his head slightly lowered, his voice submissive. “Consort Dowager He has lost her virtue. She is to be temporarily confined in Shicui Palace and may not go out without an edict.”
Within just one day, many things happened in the palace.
When the news reached Zhao Yiyi’s ears, she was slightly stunned for a moment, and her hand holding the brush paused there.
Mancao was grinding ink for her at the side and felt very relieved, snorting, “Let her be arrogant, running here to threaten Her Highness. Doesn’t she like to kneel? Good for her today; let her kneel enough!”
Zhao Yiyi was only stunned for a moment, then dipped the chicken-feather brush in ink and continued to copy the calligraphy model.
She knew clearly He Xunling’s purpose in coming yesterday. If she had agreed to see her yesterday, she, the Empress, would have lowered her head. If she refused, kneeling there for a while would be enough to implicate her reputation.
But her wind-cold hadn’t healed, and she had just dealt with the Emperor. Waves of blood surged up, and she even had the mind to personally order her to kneel.
“Alright, pour some more water; the ink is almost dry.” Zhao Yiyi reminded softly.
Mancao came back to her senses, hurriedly took some water from the water dropper to the inkstone, and added, “Your Highness, yesterday His Majesty went to Wanchun Palace to back up Your Highness, and today he vented this anger for Your Highness.”
Zhao Yiyi’s hand shook slightly, and that stroke went a little askew. Although it could be salvaged, Zhao Yiyi had always been strict with herself when practicing calligraphy. Being in a bad mood, she found the calligraphy unpleasant to look at no matter what.
She crumpled it into a ball and threw it into the basket, sighing lightly, “This sheet has to be rewritten.” Turning her head to look at the rotating ink block, she said, “Mention these things less in the future.”
Mancao stammered agreement. They chatted a few sentences about the Silkworm Ceremony, and she lowered her head to write again.
A gust of wind blew in, causing her sleeves and hair to sway gently. She held her sleeve with one hand, revealing the wrist wearing a jade bangle, and held the brush with the other suspended wrist.
Beautiful as a painting.
Through the half-open window, Gu Zhen saw this scene and froze for a moment, his expression somewhat dazed.
The Emperor’s arrival was naturally a major event. The attendant wanted to go in and announce him but was stopped by his raised hand.
The two had been making enough noise a while ago. Every time they met, before saying a few words, they would start arguing and quarreling for unknown reasons. Such a quiet moment was rare peace.
He rarely saw the Empress like this.
In the past, he rarely stepped into the harem. Most of the time, it was those two days; he would come at night and leave in the morning, rarely staying long, and had no thought of staying.
Naturally, he had never cared about her daily hobbies.
In his eyes, as long as the Empress did her duty and fulfilled the role of Empress, it was enough. As for the rest, it was secondary.
Therefore, he never had the thought of knowing the Empress’s hobbies.
Never even thought about it.
Not once.
Seeming to have finished copying several sheets, she tidied up with the maid beside her. There was a smile in her eyes as she turned sideways to talk. Her slender hands organized the copied sheets one by one, rolling up the good ones and crumpling the ruined ones into balls, throwing them straight into the paper basket.
Unknown what was said, but seemingly reaching a happy point, both of them laughed.
Those almond eyes were filled with light, shining brighter than the morning sun.
He thought, Let’s watch a little longer.
But as her eyes flowed, she turned slightly back, her gaze fixing outside the window, and froze instantly.
Four eyes met.
In but a moment, Gu Zhen clearly saw the light in the Empress’s eyes extinguish, inch by inch, until nothing remained.
Author’s Note:
Gu Zhen: I came over!
Yiyi: …
Gu Zhen: Pay attention to me @
Today’s update, chirp chirp chirp! Still 30 small red envelopes~
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Hi! just fyi the content for this chapter doesn’t show 🙂
Hello, sorry for that! I fixed it.
Thank you!!