PFC Chapter 1807 Using the Emperor's Name
Chapter 1807 Using the Emperor's Name
"What did the doctor say?"
The imperial physician said the person's illness was psychological, but how could Wan Lianxing say that? As Wan Lianxing shook his head, the old steward, who understood the emperor's mind quite well, took over the conversation, "Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress, Chief Physician Li of the Imperial Hospital said that Miss Zhuoyang's wound is deep and she has lost a lot of blood, so she needs to recuperate slowly!"
"Did Imperial Physician Li say when Princess Zhuoyang will wake up?"
The old steward thought about what Judge Li had said and said, "If there is no specific time, just say that it will take a few more hours for this person to wake up!"
Zhong Siyu did some mental calculations. "It's already past four in the morning. That means Princess Zhuoyang won't wake up until dawn. So, I'll stay and serve Princess Zhuoyang. By the time we leave around four or five in the morning, it'll be time for the morning court session. The old steward can accompany the Emperor back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and we can get some rest for more than half an hour!"
The old steward was just about to urge the Emperor to rest! The morning court session couldn't be missed, and the Emperor's health couldn't be neglected! "Your Majesty," he said, "what do you think?"
Wan Lianxing looked up and glared at the old steward. "I don't think this is appropriate. How can my betrothed empress serve a princess of a destroyed country without ever taking off her clothes? If word gets out, wouldn't it be a laughing stock!"
The old steward quickly chimed in, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. My beloved Empress, of noble birth, should only be served by others, not serve others!"
The old steward glanced at Wan Lianxing, who was sitting steadily in his chair, and thought to himself, "It's not right for the Empress to be serving here, but you, the Emperor, are just sitting here like this? If word gets out, you'll be a laughing stock!"
Wan Lianxing knew what the old steward was thinking without even looking at him. Just as he was about to get up, Zhong Siyu spoke up again, "What's wrong with that? Princess Zhuoyang has been living in the harem for quite some time now. In my heart, she is already one of us! Your Majesty, please let me stay here to take care of Princess Zhuoyang. When she wakes up, I can inform Your Majesty immediately!"
Zhong Siyu practically said that in her eyes, Zhuoyang was already the emperor's woman! This harem belonged to the emperor, and only the emperor's concubines could live here. How could someone who wasn't a concubine have a place in this harem?
No matter how far back or how desolate Chenqing Palace was, its master was still Zhuoyang. What right did a princess of a conquered kingdom have to live in the harem of another emperor? Considering the relationships here, Zhong Siyu understood everything.
Wan Lianxing's lips twitched, thinking to himself, "Women! Each one of them is more capable of pressuring me than the last. Zhuoyang has only lived in the harem for a little over two years, but after Zhong Siyu's words, it seems as if this person is deeply rooted in Chenqing Palace of the harem."
"Why is Zhuoyang living in this inner palace?" Wan Lianxing asked the old steward.
The old steward understood immediately and hurriedly said, "She's recuperating. Last time, because Princess Zhuoyang committed suicide, she couldn't go with the delegation to the marriage alliance, so she stayed at Chenqing Palace to recuperate!"
It would have been better if this hadn't been mentioned. But now that it was, Zhong Siyu couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Why did Bajiao travel so far to marry Zhuoyang? The Southern Emperor was an old man, rumored to be bald, and now he was bedridden with a serious illness. Bajiao's life in the Southern Emperor's harem was extremely difficult. Bajiao was nominally the princess of Dalang, a princess of a destroyed kingdom; who knew what kind of suffering she was enduring in the palace? These sufferings were what Zhuoyang deserved, yet Zhuoyang, living peacefully here, showed no gratitude for the Emperor's grace, instead acting recklessly and making the Emperor stay up three nights a night to guard her—what kind of behavior was this!
Zhong Siyu didn't say it aloud or show it on her face, but Wan Lianxing knew exactly what she was thinking.
Wan Lianxing stood up and instructed the old steward, "Arrange for a few palace servants to guard this place! Everyone else, withdraw!"
Zhong Siyu pleaded again, "Your Majesty, please let me stay!"
"Why should the Empress lower herself? Come with me to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to rest! Leave this to the old steward!"
"Yes!"
The two walked one after the other. When they arrived in the courtyard, Zhong Siyu's eyes fell on the flowering tree. She said softly, "So this is the flowering tree. No wonder there's only one left at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation!"
Wan Lianxing didn't stop walking and kept going out. He couldn't help but explain because he realized that his empress had misunderstood the situation. Zhuoyang thought that he had given the tree to her, and Zhong Siyu thought so too. He had to be honest, for two years, he had almost never asked about Zhuoyang's affairs. The empress was the head of the harem, and even if she was dissatisfied, she would not mistreat Chenqing Palace. So why would he be so bored as to give Zhuoyang a flower?
"This was secretly sent by that brat Cheng Youning, who lied and said it was a gift from me to Zhuoyang. And this flower became the fuse that led to Zhuoyang's suicide! It's too late today, and I'm too lazy to punish Youning. I'll just punish him by confining him to the Crown Prince's residence and making him copy the 'Crown Prince's Instructions' ten times. He won't be able to leave the Crown Prince's residence for ten days after copying the 'Crown Prince's Instructions' ten times. These past few days, the Southern Yan Kingdom sent him a dog, which has kept him very busy. Even the steward of the Imperial Academy has come to submit a memorial to complain. I'll take this opportunity to teach him a good lesson!"
Zhong Siyu walked beside Wan Lianxing, pleading for Cheng Youning, "The Crown Prince is young and inevitably playful. If Princess Zhuoyang is determined to die, even if the Crown Prince doesn't send this pot of flowers in the Emperor's name, suicide is inevitable. The Crown Prince still has to attend the morning court and study at the Imperial Academy. Confining him to his quarters is too harsh!"
Wan Lianxing glanced down at Zhong Siyu and said, "Don't speak up for that brat You Ning anymore. All these years, you've spoiled him for nothing!"
Zhong Siyu asked in surprise, "What do you mean by that!"
"Why didn't he send that pot of daphne he presented as tribute to your courtyard? Why did he send it to Zhuoyang instead?"
Zhong Siyu was amused by Wan Lianxing. "Your Majesty is trying to sow discord between me and the Crown Prince. It's normal for You Ning to treat Zhuoyang as a friend and occasionally send him things, but it's unacceptable to lie in Your Majesty's name!"
"The Empress and I want to go together! I'll confine him for a while! If he disobeys, I'll punish him with a rod!"
As they spoke, the two arrived at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. A lone flowering tree stood out starkly. Wan Lianxing instructed his attendants, "Move this daphne tree away!"
Suiying asked, "Your Majesty, where are we moving to?"
"Whatever, just move it away from my Hall of Mental Cultivation!"
Suiying waved her hand, and two guards stepped forward. "Take this flower away. Have someone transplant it to the Imperial Garden tomorrow!"
Soon the stone steps were empty again! Only the lingering fragrance of flowers could still be clearly discerned!
Upon arriving at the bedchamber, Wan Lianxing tossed the silver sachet he was holding onto the table. Zhong Siyu picked it up, examined it carefully, and then said, "It's obvious that Princess Zhuoyang isn't skilled at needlework! But it's already quite an achievement for her to have made something like this!"
Wan Lianxing smiled awkwardly, "How did the Empress recognize that it was sewn by Zhuoyang at a glance?"
Zhong Siyu smiled faintly, "Your Majesty held it in your hand all the way, so I think it must have been a gift from Zhuoyang. Moreover, the sachets Your Majesty wore were all sewn by my own hands, and I recognize them all!"