Chapter 15: Refusing to Be Love-Brained
Chapter 15: Refusing to Be Love-Brained
"Your Majesty, it is already the fourth watch, you should get up."
The next day, the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The candlelight in the hall flickered slightly. Jiang Quan led a group of young eunuchs to serve outside. Emperor Yuji, who should have been sleeping soundly in bed, was sitting cross-legged on the bed with the sound of sweet breathing.
He looked at Shen Qingtang who was sleeping with the quilt around her, and saw the mottled marks on her white jade-like skin, and he knew how diligently she had taught last night.
but--
Emperor Yu Ji corrected Shen Qingtang's sleeping position and gently pinched the pretty face in his hand. He saw that even though she was sleeping soundly, her brows were slightly furrowed and she could not hide her fatigue, and he couldn't help feeling a little pity for her.
His little beloved concubine is really delicate and weak...
Emperor Yu Ji thought of the sweet chirping of orioles at night, and his deep phoenix eyes suddenly became obscure.
"It's a different one."
After other concubines had slept with him, they would still act coquettishly and wish they could stay on him all the time, but his Concubine Shu was totally unpretentious. Not only did she refuse his embrace, but she even dared to roll up the entire quilt away after falling asleep.
Everything is good, except that he sleeps very badly.
If the weather were cold, the act of snatching the blanket tonight would be detrimental to the dragon's health...
"Come in!"
Inside the heavy bed curtains, Emperor Yu Ji let out a long sigh. When he tucked in the quilt for Shen Qingtang, Jiang Quan also directed a group of palace servants to file in from outside and help Emperor Yu Ji change clothes and wash.
Everything went on in an orderly manner, and Jiang Quan put the imperial crown on Emperor Yu Ji.
The twelve-pearl jade tassels swayed lightly. Before going to court, Emperor Yu Ji glanced at Shen Qingtang again. Thinking that she had indeed worked too much at night, he couldn't help but give her a few words of advice out of pity for the beauty.
"Madam Shu is weak, please be careful when serving her, and don't wake her up."
Jiang Quan didn't dare to look at her any more, he just lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, according to the rules, a new concubine needs to greet the Empress after she goes to bed with him. If Lady Shu is late, I'm afraid--"
Emperor Yu Ji paused, looked at the sweet sleeping face of the girl on the bed, and a voice that could not tell whether he was happy or angry slowly came out of his thin lips.
"Send someone to inform the Queen that Concubine Shu will be excused from paying respects today."
Emperor Yuji put down the curtain in his hand and walked like a dragon and a tiger. Suddenly he thought of the bad character of his little beloved concubine, and his pair of sharp sword-like eyebrows slanting into his temples couldn't help but slightly frown.
"Prepare a sedan chair in advance. If Lady Ruoshu insists on going to pay respects after she wakes up, this will allow her to catch up on time."
Jiang Quan listened to Emperor Yuji's instructions, but in his heart he was quite impressed by how favored Concubine Shu was, and couldn't help but look at her with a sidelong glance.
"I will ask Xiao Yinzi to arrange it right away."
Although the emperor is gone, his heart is still concerned about him.
"Also, prepare the Qi-boosting soup."
……
In the early morning, birds are singing.
When Shen Qingtang woke up, his face was black.
The dog emperor doesn’t behave like a human being!
Are you treating her like a pancake?!
She just propped herself up and prepared to get up, but unexpectedly her waist went weak and she fell directly onto the bed. All of a sudden, she was overwhelmed by the aches in her body and mind, and she gasped in pain.
hiss!
it hurts!
Shi Liu and An Lan, who had been waiting outside, heard the noise coming from the inner bedroom and their eyes lit up.
"My Lord, would you like to get up?"
Shen Qingtang, whose breathing was trembling from the pain, said in a hoarse voice: "Come and help me."
It's so embarrassing! I'm almost dying of shame!
A pair of jade arms stretched out from the brocade quilt. Shi Liu and An Lan had a clear division of labor. One of them pulled open the curtain, and the other helped Shen Qingtang stand up. The brocade quilt slipped off her body, and the mottled marks that came into view made the two girls open their eyes wide.
"My lady, when we get back, I'll apply some ointment for you." Shi Liu was heartbroken. Doesn't the emperor know what it means to be gentle and considerate to women?
How can it be so tiring to sleep with someone for the first time?
An Lan was a thoughtful person. When she heard that her young mistress's voice was not right, she immediately poured a cup of tea and handed it to Shen Qingtang.
"My dear, would you like to moisten your throat with some tea first?"
"Okay." Shen Qingtang took the teacup, took a sip and said, "What time is it now?" He had indulged in music and dance for half the night and was now very sleepy. After paying his respects, he would have to get a good sleep when he returned.
"My lord, in two quarters it will be the morning hour."
"Hour of the Rabbit?" Shen Qingtang's breathing stagnated.
So, she only slept for less than five hours?
According to the twenty-four hours, the Dog Emperor tossed and turned in the name of teaching guidance until almost twelve o'clock last night.
Thinking of the teaching guidance, Shen Qingtang felt quite aggrieved.
If pure and lovely was not her current personality, she would have to let the dog emperor know what a thousand-year-old vixen is!
As she thought about it, Shen Qingtang suddenly felt her body become even more sore.
Not only that, but my throat was almost dry and smoking.
I’m really impressed!
She never thought that after having a good meal elsewhere, the man would come back and force her to have sex with him three or four times! !
God have mercy on her, her frail body was unable to take care of herself, and she almost died on this bed last night.
"It's getting late. We have to pay our respects to the Queen today. Let's pack up and leave."
Seeing that her face looked strange, An Lan thought she was worried about missing the time to pay her respects, so she slowly told her about the grace bestowed by the Emperor.
"Don't worry, my lady. The Emperor loves you and has specially sent Eunuch Yin to inform the Empress that you don't have to pay your respects today."
"..."Is this dog emperor sure he is not trying to attract hatred for her?
Shen Qingtang rubbed his forehead and said calmly, "There is no order without rules. The emperor loves me and cares about me, so how can I let him down and become arrogant because of his favor?"
Today's goodness will be tomorrow's knife.
She is not a love-sick person, so how could she be carried away by such a small favor?
What's more, such good things would mean endless troubles, which she couldn't bear.
Shen Qingtang was neither arrogant nor impatient. Even if no one was watching her behavior, all the palace servants serving in the Hall of Supreme Harmony were smart and capable.
"The Empress is the Emperor's first wife and a role model for women all over the world. As a concubine, it is my blessing to be able to pay my respects to the Empress."
The girl's voice was light and pleasant, and although her voice was soft, it could be heard clearly.
In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, even though Xiao Yinzi was used to the attitudes of the concubines after serving the emperor in bed, she still looked at Shen Qingtang with awe.
Regardless of whether it comes from the heart or not, this noble lady Shu should not be underestimated. After all, the old ones are the wisest!
Thinking of his master's instructions to serve Concubine Shu well, the smile on Xiao Yinzi's face suddenly became more sincere.
"My lady, I have prepared breakfast for you. The Emperor anticipated that you would go to pay your respects, so he specially prepared a sedan chair for you. You may as well go to pay your respects after breakfast. The eunuchs I have prepared for you are fast and steady, and will definitely not miss the time to pay your respects."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you for your trouble."
When Shi Liu helped Shen Qingtang out, An Lan stuffed a red envelope into their mouth swiftly and asked Xiao Yinzi to say a lot of auspicious words.
During breakfast, the atmosphere in the Hall of Supreme Harmony was harmonious, until -
"Can you wait until I get back to drink?"
Shen Qingtang stared at the medicine bowl in Xiao Yinzi's hand with deep hatred. The strong smell of medicine rushed straight into her brain, making her feel almost broken.
Xiao Yinzi scratched his head. "This bowl of Qi-boosting soup was specially made for you by the Emperor from his treasury. The Emperor said that you are weak and need to be nourished."
What I mean is, you have to drink it!
There was no other way, Shen Qingtang could only hold his nose, ready to die, and finish the whole bowl.
I can’t finish drinking it, I really can’t finish drinking it…
yue～
……
Thanks to the emperor's grace and favor, Shen Qingtang took a sedan chair and arrived at Kunning Palace before dawn.
Just as he was stepping weakly onto the solid ground with the help of An Lan and Shi Liu, a clear voice suddenly came from behind him with great surprise.
"Sister Shen?"
(End of this chapter)