37 3.8 (1/2)

Having chased off that pervert, Chen Yu briefly woke up when daylight broke to dispatch a message before court began.

Although the jittery eunuch on call cursed his luck, he dutifully read out for the emperor, ”This humble consort is not feeling well and may not recover soon. Your Imperial Majesty, please do not trouble to visit for some time.”

Contrary to his fears, the Holy One merely nodded and waved him away. Bowing and scraping his way out, the eunuch scolded himself. How could he have forgotten how merciful the heavenly son was?

But that same afternoon, a trail of eunuchs waited nervously for instructions outside Emperor Taihe's study. As soon as one hurried off to carry out his orders, another frigid ”Come, someone!” would ring out, and the next in line would rush in. None of the servants who'd faced the emperor paused to explain, so the rest were left completely lost on what the emperor needed so many servants for.

When they found out, they collectively looked down with 囧 faces.

It seemed that something had happened between the emperor and Consort Jing, because the eunuchs had, without exception, been ordered to deliver precious items from the royal treasury then report any of the consort's reactions.

Unfortunately, Chen Yu was inured to such luxury.

Thus, Consort Jing's sole response to the stream of gifts coming into his suite was to acknowledge the servants and promptly piled the treasures up in the corner. In his heart, he was rolling his eyes. This pervert, who is he trying to trick into thinking he's some fatuous ruler?

Still, he had to commend the emperor's attention to detail. His offerings were mostly comprised of pieces like ancient paintings and calligraphy scripts, bolts of cooling and warming silks, every jar of sweet wine that tribute countries had offered the past year, and so on, instead of the typical vases, gold, and jewels. Sending such presents that suited Consort Jing's taste, he'd managed to add a personal touch.

Nevertheless, these things that couldn't be bought even with mountains of gold were pushed aside without a second glance.

At the edges of the suite, Yuan Niu was standing with the other servants, biting her teeth with frustration.

Why was the consort so heartless? Everyone could see that the emperor was kindly lowering himself so much to please him, couldn't he at least reciprocate? She could accept it if the consort didn't appreciate her efforts, but to not even honor the emperor's, that was too much! If it was her...Her tongue couldn't be restored from the consort's vicious punishment, but her face had recovered from the heavy slaps she'd suffered. Now, she was as beautiful as the consort. And she'd treat the emperor so much better than the consort did...

Suddenly, she thought of the conversation she'd had with another maid a week ago. There was a powerful person who wished to get rid of Consort Jing, but he required the aid of a servant close to him. At that time, she'd refused, afraid of incurring the consort's wrath. To save the emperor from this vicious, ungrateful master, however, she'd take the risk.

And if the consort was gone, the emperor might turn to others in his grief...wouldn't someone who'd known Consort Jing personally be perfectly suited?

---

Several days passed in this way.

On the fourth day, Lu Guanting sent an imperial physician to the consort, then, confirming that he had been lying in bed from a headache, strode to Consort Jing's suite holding a bowl of hot medicine disguised as a dessert soup. But before he'd even arrived outside the doors, the lively sounds of opera could be heard, making him shake his head indulgently at Zhang Hua's temper.

Just as he was about to step inside, a maid burst out abruptly, startling the whole retinue. Of course, a guard immediately jumped forward to defend the emperor, making Yuan Niu collide with him instead of her target.

Although Yuan Niu was disappointed, she quickly covered it and properly knelt down to beg for forgiveness, extending her hands and lowering her forehead to the hard floor again and again. Seeming to be frightened out of her mind, her movements carelessly exposed the soft skin of her wrists as well as her neck and chest, and while her eyes remained appropriately on the ground, the tears pouring from them and her weak, trembling voice would make any man want to protect her.

Sadly, Emperor Taihe's attention remained entirely on the piece of paper Yuan Niu had inadvertently dropped. It was Zhang Hua's handwriting, the words reading simply, ”The winds are swift.”

A fierce light flashed across the emperor's eyes. The winds may blow, the clouds may shift, but this sky would not change.

An instant later, he ignored the maid and stepped into the room, his face as affectionate as ever.

Noticing the singers freeze, Chen Yu turned to the man, somewhat wondering how he'd evaluated Yuan Niu's show, and placed his teacup down with a light 'dong.' Only after this expression of annoyance at the interruption did he formally salute the emperor.

As expected, Emperor Taihe recognized from that small movement that Consort Jing had not been appeased by his gifts. He motioned the servants and performers out, then embraced the consort, carrying him back onto the chaise. ”Beloved, look, this emperor has brought your favorite dessert.”

Chen Yu narrowed his eyes. En, Lu Guanting was quite skilled, this was in fact his favorite right now. It was rather tempting...No, he had to keep his dignity. So the consort received the bowl and thanked the emperor for his care, but he indifferently set it aside with the excuse that he was still full from his meal.

Emperor Taihe observed the blasé rejection and grasped that roundabout tactics would go nowhere. Directly pulling Consort Jing's hands, he sighed, ”Zhang Hua, do not be like this.”

Chen Yu sneered inside, what 'beloved,' what 'Zhang Hua,' wasn't he already suspecting him because of Yuan Niu's little trick? On the surface, however, he smiled faintly. ”Oh? If Your Imperial Majesty is displeased, this humble consort will of course beg for mercy.”

Lu Guanting truly did not know how to handle Zhang Hua when he was angry. With a helpless expression, he murmured, ”Alright, it was this emperor's carelessness, bringing such an idea up with you.” His expression shifted slightly, then he continued, ”Come, give me your hand again, let us enjoy our days together until the end.”

Chen Yu nearly laughed. The ”end,” was it? But well, this was probably as close as the emperor could bring himself to an apology. Enough.

Deciding to tolerate it, he curled his lips and leaned against the body that held him. This, combined with Zhang Hua's longing stare at the dessert, let Lu Guanting believe that the consort had ultimately softened. Since he knew that Zhang Hua wouldn't want to move a finger, he naturally picked up the bowl, chuckling, and fed him slowly.

Within a few moments of gazing at those wet, red lips opening and closing, Lu Guanting put aside his complex feelings, leaning down to have a taste...

The palace servants discovered that the emperor had returned to sleeping in Consort Jing's suite and that the couple even seemed closer than before, the emperor rarely using titles at all. Unsurprisingly, the consort didn't change his attitude, continuing to leisurely eat, drink, and sleep. But that was good too, the emperor seemed to inexplicably like such behavior.

The onlookers finally let out the breaths they'd been holding. When the emperor was unhappy, their lives were not good. Now that the two had reconciled, they could relax.