Chapter 340: Broken Mirror 02

Chapter 340

<Song Zhao> turned her head back and took a look. She saw her retinue had already gone out forty or fifty zhang*, with only sixteen close attendants around her.

Four people held ornamental umbrellas to shade her from the sun, another four walked in front and behind her to fan her, and six more pushed ice boxes full of ice cubes to cool her down. The closest to her were <Yun Shan> and <Xiao Fuzi>.

It was already hot in the summer day, and with so many people surrounding <Song Zhao>, even though they were there to serve and comfort her, looking out all she could see was a dense crowd - how could this be fun?

She complained impatiently, "It's already stuffy today, with so many people coming and going, I don't see how this makes it any better."

<Yun Shan> hurriedly said, "Your Highness... these are all arranged by the Emperor out of his care and concern for you."

When <Song Zhao> heard this, she became even more annoyed. "The Emperor is so good at arranging these things, how come whenever he comes to see me, he's alone? He's the Emperor, even more esteemed than me, he should have all seventy or eighty people fussing around him, make him suffer from the heat."

As soon as these words came out, she had committed a serious taboo. The palace maids attending her bowed their heads deeply, wishing they could plug their ears with cotton.

<Yun Shan> was even more anxious, stamping her feet, "Your Highness! You... cannot say the word 'die' in the palace, and certainly cannot connect these ill-omened words with the Emperor."

"<Xiao Jingheng> can't say this, can't say that, this is so boring! Forget it, let's not appreciate the flowers anymore, let's go back!"

<Song Zhao> said sullenly, ignoring the crowd of servants behind her as she quickened her pace and left.

In her current state of amnesia, she had completely forgotten the proper etiquette she previously learned as a young lady from a prestigious household.

<Xiao Jingheng> could only instruct <Mama> to patiently teach her again.

<Mama> taught her three times a day, with different rules each time, covering etiquette for sitting, standing, speaking, walking - there were taboos galore, giving <Song Zhao> a headache.

On top of the exceptionally stuffy weather these past few days, the noisy cicadas outside were also annoying.

That day, after <Song Zhao> got fed up listening to <Mama>'s nagging, she angrily chased her out.

As <Mama> was leaving the palace crestfallen, she happened to run into <Xiao Jingheng>.

But he didn't say anything, just laughed and sat down across from <Song Zhao> after entering the inner chambers, asking her, "Who made my Zhao'er so angry today? Why are you in such a temper?"

<Song Zhao> shifted away to sit farther from <Xiao Jingheng>, sulking as she complained:

"I can't learn all those rules, I find them troublesome. Why can't I let the swaying bead ornaments on my head move when I walk, why can't I eat whatever I want when dining, why do people have to teach me how to sit and stand a certain way?"

When they reached the door, <Yun Shan> unconsciously glanced at the two palace maids standing guard, then earnestly advised <Song Zhao>:

"Actually, the Emperor treats Your Highness extremely well. Think about it, which woman in the realm can the Emperor not obtain? Yet the Emperor is willing to respect Your Highness's thoughts and not force you against your wishes - this shows how deeply he cherishes you. Since the Emperor considers Your Highness so thoughtfully, Your Highness should also consider the Emperor's feelings in return."

"Consider what?"

"Your Highness used to be intimate with the Emperor beyond any doubt. Now with your sudden amnesia, you've become so unfamiliar with him, how can the Emperor feel good in his heart...?"

Hearing this, <Song Zhao> didn't say anything more, just nodded pensively.

Later that night after washing up, <Song Zhao> had just blown out the candles and laid down when

suddenly a loud thunderclap sounded outside the window, giving her a tremendous shock.

She grasped the edge of her blanket tightly, crying out fearfully towards the door:

"Yun Shan, Yun Shan?"

'Boom'

Another muffled thunder, sounding like firecrackers ignited in a deserted plain, the noise so deafening it made one's heart tremble.

"Ah!"

<Song Zhao> couldn't help letting out a frightened scream.

She curled up on the bed, desperately covering her ears.

Soon she heard urgent footsteps approaching her.

Thinking it was <Yun Shan>, when the canopy was lifted she threw herself towards that figure.

But instead she fell into a firm, warm embrace.

Then a deep, gentle male voice sounded by her ear:

"Don't be afraid Zhao'er, I am here."