Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Suddenly, it seemed he remembered something. His thoughts detached, and his grip loosened slightly. Yin Luo, who had been struggling and had a flushed face, found the strength suddenly withdrawn. Unable to hold back, she looked up at him. That one glance made him instinctively withdraw his hand, standing up in a somewhat flustered manner.
Li An De hurried to support Yin Luo. Just then, there was a sudden noise at the palace door. Mu Fengyan, dressed neatly but with slightly disheveled hair due to his haste, saw that everyone was kneeling on the ground and quickly stepped forward to Mu Changqing, saying, "Why has Your Highness come?"
Mu Changqing met his gaze briefly before calmly looking away. "It seems the Emperor is well."
Mu Changqing glanced down at Li An De, who exchanged a knowing look with him. Li An De immediately understood and addressed Mu Changqing, "I only felt a bit unwell this morning, which is why I postponed the morning court session. I didn't expect it would trouble Your Highness and require you to come personally."
Mu Changqing looked at him and said, "Since it's not a serious illness, I can rest easy. I won't disturb the Emperor's rest."
Mu Fengyan nodded. "Your Highness, please take care. Li An De, see off the Prince of Jin."
Mu Changqing took his leave and glanced at Yin Luo on the ground before turning to exit Qinghua Palace.
Once he left, Mu Fengyan finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly turned to look at Yin Luo. Realizing they were still outside, he hurriedly said to Li An De, "Send someone to fetch Physician Xue. Also, both of you come inside."
He walked ahead and entered the hall first. Upon seeing the person approaching him, he was momentarily taken aback and then filled with regret. How could he have forgotten that there were people in his palace!
Without waiting for Huairui to speak, he instructed, "Someone, escort Huai Beauty back to the palace."
Huairui didn't have time to say a word; upon hearing his command, she had no choice but to swallow her words and bowed respectfully as she left.
Approaching were Li An De and Yin Luo. Huairui glanced at Yin Luo, wanting to say something but hesitating.
Yin Luo looked at her and gave her a faint smile, slightly bowing in greeting. Only then did Huairui stop speaking and leave.
Once Li An De and Yin Luo entered, Mu Fengyan directly closed the palace door and turned to Yin Luo, asking, "Are you hurt? Let me check!"
Without waiting for Yin Luo to respond, he stepped forward, lifted her chin, and examined the tear stains on her neck. He noticed a ring of red marks that were slightly swollen, and immediately instructed Li An De, "Go get that bottle of Fragrant Jade Dew."
Li An De was taken aback. He glanced at Mu Fengyan's concerned gaze towards Yin Luo, and the words of advice he had prepared got stuck in his throat. He simply bowed and replied, "Yes."
Soon, the medicine was brought over. Mu Fengyan pulled Yin Luo to sit beside him and personally applied the medicine.
Yin Luo chuckled lightly, trying to stop him. "Your Majesty, I'm not that delicate; I can do it myself..."
"Don't move; I'll do it!"
Mu Fengyan firmly pushed her hand away, lifted her chin again, and applied the medicine without giving her a chance to refuse. His expression was so serious that it left no room for argument.
Yin Luo's body felt a bit stiff as she looked up at Li An De. He had already turned his gaze away and walked outside, closing the palace door behind him.
After applying the medicine, Mu Fengyan carefully inspected it before finally feeling relieved. "You should rest for a few more days. Come back when you're healed. In the future, if you encounter such situations again, don't rush in recklessly. It’s very dangerous for your royal brother; you know that!"
Yin Luo did not start off, stepping back a little before saying, "Don't worry, I'm fine. I know my limits."
Mu Fengyan looked at her for a while and finally felt relieved. He took Yin Luo's hand and said, "Come on, I'll take you back to rest."
Yin Luo pulled her hand away and hit him lightly, saying, "How could you forget so quickly after what just happened with Jin Wang? I'm just a Palace Maid, it's not a big injury. I don't need to rest yet. Besides, I'm serving in front of your palace; so many eyes are watching. Taking breaks every few days doesn't look good!"
"I can hear others discussing it wherever I go these days. Don't add to my troubles; otherwise, I'll be the one suffering from the gossip!"
Hearing her say this, Mu Fengyan had nothing more to say. He could only shove the medicine bottle into her hand and say, "Fine, if you feel unwell, just go back by yourself. This medicine is very effective; I guarantee that by tomorrow morning, you won't be in pain anymore!"
Yin Luo took the medicine bottle and nodded. Mu Fengyan then said no more and let her leave.
He instructed Li An De to assist him with his grooming while leaving Yin Luo in the sleeping quarters before stepping out himself.
Yin Luo waited in the hall until the Palace Maid finished tidying up the sleeping quarters; only then did she consider her task complete.
She arranged for someone to inquire about Mu Fengyan's whereabouts and learned that he had gone to see the Empress Dowager. She immediately turned back to her own residence and informed someone to notify her as soon as he returned.
A letter was placed on her desk in the inner chamber, held down by a bamboo stick.
Yin Luo paused for a moment, quickly stepped forward, and picked up the letter. At that moment, she heard some noise outside the door. Looking up, she saw someone outside the window giving her a signal before disappearing. Yin Luo glanced at the letter in her hand and tore it open directly.
It was written in Qin Liu Yan's handwriting.
Yin Luo read quickly, and after finishing, she ignited the Fire Starter and burned the letter.
Her worries were unnecessary; Mu Changqing did not discover her identity.
Yin Luo felt relieved, as the heavy burden that had weighed on her heart for days finally lifted.
Mu Fengyan did not return immediately; she heard he had gone to the Imperial Garden to chat and laugh with several consorts.
Upon hearing the report, Yin Luo sighed silently.
Mu Fengyan was still a child, playful by nature, or perhaps he never held much hope of overthrowing Mu Changqing. After persisting for two or three months, he had now relaxed and spent his days among women, truly enjoying the title of Emperor!
She once thought she could turn the tide, but now it seemed far from easy. A person's nature is not easily changed; if she kept forcing Mu Fengyan, it would only annoy him!
It appeared it was time to think of other methods!
A Palace Maid came to inform her that it had drizzled outside. Li Gonggong arranged for her to go meet the Emperor and arranged for the consorts to be sent back.
Yin Luo did not dare delay and hurriedly got up, instructing the Palace Maid to hold an umbrella for her along the way.
"Is that Jinghao Jing Gongnu ahead?"
Someone in the pavilion called out to her. In the misty rain, Yin Luo looked up and saw the Empress Dowager sitting in the pavilion, and it was her Palace Maid who had called her.
She paused for a moment and bowed, replying, "This servant is indeed."
The person turned to glance at the Empress Dowager and said something, after which she instructed, "The Empress Dowager wants the Quiet Palace Maid to come forward and respond!"
Yin Luo did not dare to delay, quickly acknowledging with a "yes," and turned to the people behind her, saying, "You all go ahead; soon, Li Gonggong will arrange for you."
The palace maids responded and hurriedly left. Yin Luo steadied herself and walked slowly toward the pavilion.
The rain began to fall more heavily, with droplets pattering loudly against the umbrella.
When Yin Luo reached the pavilion, she closed the umbrella and set it aside before stepping forward to pay her respects.
The Empress Dowager was calmly preparing tea that the palace maid had brewed for her. While Yin Luo was greeting her, she did not raise her head and took a while before speaking to excuse her from the formalities.
She lifted her gaze and looked Yin Luo up and down, commenting candidly, "Your looks are quite ordinary; there are countless palace maids with better talents than you. I just can't understand why the Emperor has become so infatuated."
Upon hearing this, Yin Luo quickly changed her greeting to kneeling. She lowered her head and said, "The Emperor treats this servant with great affection. This servant is overwhelmed and fearful day and night, only holding a heart of gratitude, willing to serve him like an ox or horse in return!"
"Return?" The Empress Dowager laughed coldly, "There are many who have returned favors to the Emperor; a small servant like you doesn't even deserve his attention."
Yin Luo lowered her body further, not daring to respond casually.
The Empress Dowager observed her for a moment before suddenly saying, "How about this? My health is not good, and those around me are all unaware of what is important; they do not meet my expectations. You seem quite good; you are perceptive and understand what is important. From now on, why don't you follow me? Rest assured, I will not treat you poorly. What the Emperor can give you, I can give you as well."
"Empress Dowager..." Yin Luo appeared anxious.
"What's wrong? Are you unwilling?" The Empress Dowager looked at her, her eyes filled with a murderous intent, as if she could resolve the matter immediately if Yin Luo disagreed.
Yin Luo understood in her heart that there was no escaping this. She could only respond, "This servant thanks the Empress Dowager for her appreciation. This servant is willing to follow the Empress Dowager and serve her."
Only then did the Empress Dowager seem satisfied and said, "Come, fetch me a cup of tea. As for the Emperor, I will send someone to speak to him shortly."
Yin Luo replied, "Yes," stood up, walked to the side of the Empress Dowager, took the tea set from the maid's hands, and began to wash and brew the tea.
The tea she brewed was always fragrant, but unfortunately, the taste was never quite right.
Once she placed a cup of finished tea into the Empress Dowager's hands, the Empress Dowager inhaled the aroma and initially appeared to enjoy it. However, as soon as she took a sip, her brows furrowed involuntarily. She looked at Yin Luo with a hint of anger in her eyes.
"This servant is terrified!" Yin Luo quickly knelt down to explain, "This servant has only been in the palace for half a year and is not yet familiar with the art of tea. I have done my best to learn, but my skills are lacking, which is why I brewed poor tea. I hope the Empress Dowager will forgive me."
"I see." The Empress Dowager's anger dissipated somewhat. She allowed Yin Luo to rise and said, "I have always enjoyed tea; it is essential for me daily. Here’s what we will do: from now on, you will learn tea brewing from Mingxiang. The tea she brews is unparalleled; no one in the palace dares claim otherwise. After a month, I hope to taste tea that is not like this."
Comment 0 Comment Count