CH 23

Song Jinning looked back and forth between Li Chengxuan standing in front of her and Jiang Wanqiu kneeling on the ground.

Unexpectedly, the first time the male and female lead of the original book meet, this would be the scene. 

But why is there no legendary phenomena like raging thunder or water splashing?

Li Chengxuan’s eyes were cold. He didn’t even recognize Jiang Wanqiu so he turned his head slightly, and looked at Song Jinning with a curious gaze.

He was waiting for her to tell him who this woman is.

Advertisements

Song Jinning: ….

You swore to protect her your entire life, and you even imprisoned Empress Dowager Song and disbanded the harem regardless of the court’s opossision! 

But the first time you saw her, you are so indifferent? Shouldn’t you be shocked and instantly fall in love? 

Fsdt Kkddkdt aykple bla byde vs awc bla qsalblye. Mbld pbl vsze Nk Ubldtmwyd: “Mbkp kp Ww Eydt Wlk.”

Psd’v ypj xl ydu xsal iwlpvksdp pkdnl vbkp lxralpp kp dsv kdvlalpvle kd clkdt y xyvnbxyjla!

Nk Ubldtmwyd bye blyae sq Ww Eydt Wlk xsal vbyd sdnl, cwv vbkp kp vbl qkapv vkxl bl byp rlapsdyzzu plld bla wr nzspl.

Ebld bl zssjle yv Kkydt Eydikw, bl qasodle pzktbvzu.

Lsv vs xldvksd vbl ekqqlaldnl clvolld xld yde osxld, obld psxlsdl csop vs Nk Ubldtmwyd, vblu esd’v byhl vbl twvp vs ekalnvzu zssj yv bkx. Jwv vbkp Ww Eydt Wlk oyp tsse, yzvbswtb pbl oyp jdllzkdt, bla cynj oyp pvayktbv, yde bla lulp olal zssjkdt pvayktbv yv bkx.

Nk Ubldtmwyd nswzed’v ekpnlad vbl lxsvksd kd bla lulp, cwv bl eked’v csvbla vs ekpnlad kv lkvbla.

Gp yd lxrlasa, bl eslpd’v zkjl ydusdl zssjkdt yv bkx okvb pwnb pvayktbv lulp. Jlnywpl kd bkp srkdksd, vbkp kp ekpalprlnvqwz.

Nk Ubldtmwyd eked’v nyal vbyv Kkydt Eydikw oyp Ww Eydt Wlk yde bkp qwvwal okql. Tl fwpv qykdvzu pyke: “Gzaktbv.”

After he said this, he stopped talking, and raised his foot to continue walking forward.

Advertisements

Song Jinning and Jiang Wanqiu were both surprised.

Song Jinning was surprised that Li Chengxuan dared to be so indifferent to his true love! Be careful, in the future, when you guys are together, she will forever hold today’s affairs above your head. 

Jiang Wanqiu was surprised. What just happened? According to the dream she had that night, Li Chengxuan should have fallen in love with her at first sight. But why is he ignoring her now, and not to mention that his eyes were cold. 

Jiang Wanqiu has been entering the palace often since she had that dream. 

She entered the palace with the excuse of taking care of Noble Consort Dowager Wei, but in reality she just wanted to see Li Chengxuan. 

But as the emperor, Li Chengxuan had a large circle of servants and guards around him. How can she see him even if she wanted to? Moreover, Li Chengxuan’s activities are not something that is known by outsiders, so for the past 2 months, Jiang Wanqiu didn’t even have the chance to see him from a distance. 

Now that she and him have finally met, Jiang Wanqiu’s heart was pounding with excitement.

So although she knelt down, her upper body was still straight, and her eyes were directly looking at Li Chengxuan, so that he could see her face clearly. 

But her expectation of him falling in love with her at first sight was shattered.

In the end, he raised his foot and was about to leave.

Jiang Wanqiu wasn’t willing to fail and called out: “Your Majesty.”

Her voice was trembling which made Li Chengxuan annoyed even more. 

Advertisements

After a pause, he stopped, turned sideways slightly, and asked in a slightly impatient tone: “What’s the matter?”

Jiang Wanqiu wanted to cry. 

But what can she say in this matter? She only hoped that when he saw her, he would immediately fall in love with her and protect her. 

Seeing that she didn’t answer, Li Chengxuan naturally stood there waiting impatiently, before raising his foot and walking forward. 

Song Jinning stood still and didn’t move. She looked at Li Chengxuan’s back and Jiang Wanqiu who was still kneeling on the ground.

She is not interested in being a matchmaker. 

But she didn’t have any intention to destroy the relationship between Jiang Wanqiu and Li Chengxuan. 

In this world, she is just a passerby, a spectator, and she just needs to live her life leisurely. So she shouldn’t do things that will possibly ruin her chance of going back home. 

As for why the two leads met today, Song Jinning didn’t understand but as for why Li Chengxuan ignored Jiang Wanqiu, she understood why.

Because in the original book, she remembers that the two people met for the first time at the palace banquet of Empress Dowager Song during the Shengshou Festival1. 

At that time, Jiang Wanqiu appeared on stage and played a song, which impressed Li Chengxuan. 

It is said that music is the voice of the heart. Presumably Li Chengxuan was moved by this, so he paid attention to Jiang Wanqiu. 

Advertisements

In terms of appearance, although Jiang Wanqiu is indeed beautiful and elegant, in Song Jinning’s opinion, her beauty is not on par with Noble Consort Dowager Wei. Otherwise, Noble Consort Dowager Wei would not have been the favorite concubine of the previous emperor for so many years.

And Li Chengxuan grew up in the forbidden city, so what beauty has he not seen? It is indeed a bit difficult for Jiang Wanqiu to be able to impress him with only her appearance.

But that’s okay. The Shengshou Festival is in a few months, so Fu Wang Fei, don’t be sad now, you will soon be able to reach your goal. 

Song Jinning raised her foot and walked forward. She was surprised to see Li Chengxuan standing not far from her with his hands on his back. 

He was looking at a plum tree growing near the wall. 

Song Jinning walked over, stopped at his side, folded her hands, and looked up at the plum tree.

She didn’t ask Li Chengxuan why he stopped there. After all, it’s none of her business. 

“The plums are ripe. Chenqie will make plum wine soon.” 

Li Chengxuan: …

How can this person think of eating every time she sees food? How come she can’t think about more serious things like ideals or opinions?

“When the plum wine is done, chenqie will invite your majesty to drink.” 

“Good.”

Advertisements

Li Chengxuan answered. He wasn’t going to admit that he stood there to wait for her. 

The two continued to move forward.

Li Chengxuan and Song Jinning didn’t mention Jiang Wanqiu at all, as if what happened earlier never happened. 

After arriving at Weiyang Palace, Song Jinning changed into a more comfortable dress with the help of Gu Yu and Bai Lu. 

Although Song Jinning is a person who likes being lazy, Gu Yu nagged her that she was the Empress of a dynasty so it is only fitting that she wear elaborate clothes so that people won’t look down on her. 

Song Jinning: …

If she doesn’t agree, Gu Yu will nag her to death. So she can only listen with a frown. 

However, when she’s in Weiyang Palace, she can wear comfortable clothes. 

As for the jewellery on her head, they were also taken off. 

Song Jinning watched from the bronze mirror as Gu Yu took off all the beads, strings, ornaments and hairpins from her head one by one. Gu Yu untied her high bun and took a peach wood comb to comb her hair. After this, she immediately opened her mouth to stop Gu Yu’s next move. 

“Don’t do a hair bun, just leave it like that.” 

There was a thunderstorm in the middle of the night yesterday. After she was awakened, she was disturbed by the sound of rain outside and did not sleep well. Naturally, she felt very sleepy when she woke up this morning.

Then she had to go visit Empress Dowager Song. She spent a while there, and now Song Jinning feels tired. 

In that case, why would she wear a bun? When she lies down, a bun makes her head feel uncomfortable. 

Gu Yu persuaded: “Your Highness, his majesty is here with us…..”

“Even if he is here, so what? What are you afraid of?” 

Song Jinning raised her hand to cover her lips, yawned a little, then said in a very indifferent tone: “Are you afraid that he will scold bengong for being rude because bengong didn’t tie her hair in a bun?” 

Gu Yu thought to herself that the Emperor is indeed very tolerant of Song Jinning. She heard from the other servants that when the Emperor is in court, he has a very intimidating and cold aura. 

Song Jinning stood up and walked to the wooden couch. 

She asked Gu Yu to bring her a book, then leaned on the big pillow behind her and looked through the book for a while. 

“Tell the small kitchen that bengong has no appetite today so they should prepare light dishes.” 

Gu Yu nodded, then turned around to go to the small kitchen. 

Song Jinning continued to read the book. Gradually, she felt that the words in front of her became more and more blurred, and she eventually fell asleep. 

Li Chengxuan ran into Gu Yu who was returning from the small kitchen. 

“Where is the Empress?” 

Gu Yu hurriedly bowed and greeted Li Chengxuan: “Her Highness is in the West Hall.” 

Li Chengxuan has now accepted the fact that Song Jinning really reads books since the West Hall Gu Yu mentioned is also where Song Jinning’s library is. 

She had a collection of books on the shelf. He looked through it and found that there were a lot of different types of books. 

Knowing the whereabouts of Song Jinning, Li Chengxuan walked to the west hall without any hassle. 

From the main hall, the only thing covering the entrance to the west hall was some flower vines. 

However, there is a light purple curtain hanging behind the flower vines. If the curtain is put down, the people in the main cannot see inside the west hall. 

But currently, this curtain was not pulled down, so Li Chengxuan walked to the west hall with ease. 

As soon as he entered, he saw Song Jinning leaning on the couch, sleeping, with her hands clutching a book.

Li Chengxuan was a little surprised.

In fact there were two things he was surprised about. 

One is that there is no one there to serve him, and the second is that he thought Song Jinning looked cute when she slept.