Chapter 23: Song Zhao Stays Over

Chapter 23

It was said that yesterday night, Xiao Jingheng stayed at the Yonghe Palace.

Today when the concubines went to pay their respects to the Empress, Consort Chen arrived earlier than usual.

As soon as she saw Li Changzai, she said, "Concubine Li, how come you don't look so well today?"

Then she raised her handkerchief to cover her mouth and chuckled, "Oh, I forgot. I should call you Li Changzai now. You are quite capable, these years since the Emperor ascended the throne, I've only heard of raising the ranks of concubines, but degrading them is the first time I've seen it."

Li Changzai was so embarrassed that her face turned red and she wished she could find a crack in the ground to hide in.

It was the Empress who came to her rescue, "No one is a sage, who doesn't make mistakes? The important thing is to know your mistakes and be able to correct them, then it's not too late."

Li Concubine quickly took the opportunity to decline, saying hurriedly, "Thank you Empress for speaking up for this concubine. Letting His Majesty punish me lightly, this concubine is extremely grateful."

"Once you enter the palace, you are all sisters. We should all try to help each other, who would kick someone when they are down?"

When the Empress said this, she deliberately glanced at Consort Chen.

Consort Chen looked at her disdainfully from head to toe, sneered, then turned her head away and ignored her.

As autumn was approaching, these last two days the autumn tiger had become more and more ferocious. Even though the Empress's palace was full of ice, with so many people it was still hot and suffocating.

Therefore, paying respects was just a formality, and it didn't even last a quarter of an hour before the Empress let everyone disperse.

After paying respects, Song Zhao had originally planned to return to the palace to rest, but on the way back she happened to run into Consort Chen.

Consort Chen was fiery-tempered, not the kind of person who liked to beat around the bush. Seeing Song Zhao, she got straight to the point and asked, "I heard that you drove the Emperor away last night? Why?"

Song Zhao respectfully said, "This concubine attended the Emperor two nights ago. If I had attended him again last night, it would have broken the rules. Firstly, this concubine has caught a cold and is not suitable to serve the Emperor; Secondly, in the entire palace, only Consort Chen has the fortune to serve the Emperor consecutively, this concubine dare not compare with Consort Chen."

"Hmm, you are quite self-aware." Consort Chen looked her up and down frivolously. Turning her head she ordered, "Ying Xiang, give it to her."

Ying Xiang came up and handed Song Zhao a brocade box. Song Zhao opened it and found a pair of pink pearl earrings inside, even bigger and rounder than the ones Consort Chen had given to Li Changzai last time.

"This...this gift is too valuable, I dare not accept it."

"Just take it since I'm giving it to you. You are the one who will be attending the Emperor, you can't dress too shabbily. If you follow me, the benefits will be more than just these."

So Song Zhao reluctantly accepted the generous gift, "Consort's enthusiasm is hard to decline, this concubine is very grateful for Consort's bestowal."

Before leaving, Consort Chen urged Song Zhao to recover soon, and even said she would find an opportunity to arrange for Song Zhao to serve the Emperor.

Song Zhao was too lazy to guess how true Consort Chen's words were. Even if she didn't arrange it, Song Zhao had her own ways to make Xiao Jingheng obsessed with her.

Just this one encounter consumed nearly an hour.

As it approached the hour of zi, it was time for Song Zhao to return to her palace.

Xiao Jingheng held her hand. "Stay with me a little longer."

Letting go of his imperial status, under Song Zhao's tender assault, this sentence seemed to have a hint of pleading in it.

Song Zhao shook her head reluctantly, just as she was about to decline,

suddenly, there was a deafening rumble of thunder from outside the window.

Song Zhao shuddered instinctively, and Xiao Jingheng took the opportunity to pull her back into his arms.

He hugged Song Zhao with both hands, protecting her tightly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

The Imperial Observatory's observation of the heavenly bodies was extremely accurate. After a couple rumbles of thunder, the rain began to drizzle down.

Nestled in Xiao Jingheng's arms, Song Zhao stared at the rain outside the curtains, her expression both startled and fearful, unconsciously shrinking further into Xiao Jingheng's embrace.

Xiao Jingheng kissed her forehead lightly and said gently,

"Stay."

"Your Majesty, I cannot..."

"The last few days you didn't let me come to you, afraid of passing your illness to me, saying you would feel uneasy about it. Now there is thunder and rain outside, you are afraid of thunder, and your health has just recovered. If you go back today and get sick again, wouldn't it make me worry?"

Xiao Jingheng tilted Song Zhao's chin with his fingertips, slowly turning her head to face him.

His handsome brows pressed against Song Zhao's eyes, each breath spraying on her porcelain skin.

He leaned down and planted a burning kiss on Song Zhao's lips, then hoarsely said,

"Can you bear to make me uneasy?"

Song Zhao's heart was beating very fast, the 'thump thump' sound even overwhelmed the sound of rain outside.

She was extremely shy, turning back to hook Xiao Jingheng's neck,

moving closer to him inch by inch, breathing heavily and saying,

"This concubine...cannot bear it."