Chapter 11: His Majesty Wishes to See You

After the visitor left, Shuangwu looked at the bottle of medicine, hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and picked it up. “Since it’s medicine from His Majesty, it must be the best. Allow this servant to apply it for you, Miss?”

Ning Zhaorou’s expression was a little strained, but she said nothing more and rolled up her pant leg again.

Zhuyue, on her way back from reporting, carefully avoided being seen. No one witnessed her return to the Emperor’s presence.

When Emperor Yin Mingyu heard her report about the condition of Ning Zhaorou’s injured legs, his expression turned slightly indifferent. Once she finished, he simply dismissed her without giving any further instructions.

Ning Zhaorou had thought that kneeling before Consort Liang the other day would be the end of it. She hadn’t expected that on the third day, someone from Consort Liang’s quarters would come for her again.

Her injury had only begun to heal after two days. The bruises on her knees hadn’t even faded. She’d been lying low in her tent these past two days—not only was she unable to come up with any plan, she even hoped people would forget she existed altogether.

To make matters worse, the one who came was the same person who had brought her last time.

Ning Zhaorou stood up and looked the maid over. “What’s your name?”

The maid hadn’t expected her to ask this and hesitated for a moment before replying, “This servant is Liuying.”

Ning Zhaorou nodded and turned to Shuangwu behind her. “I’ll be back shortly. No need for you to come with me.”

Liuying’s probing gaze swept over Shuangwu. Perhaps she thought a mere maid wasn’t much of a threat, so she didn’t stop them.

Shuangwu acknowledged with a soft “yes” and watched as Ning Zhaorou walked out of the tent.

Soon after, she too left the tent.

This time, Ning Zhaorou walked slowly—so slowly that even Liuying frowned and urged, “Miss Ning, please walk faster. Don’t keep Consort Liang waiting.”

But Ning Zhaorou didn’t pick up her pace. She kept her head lowered, watching her steps carefully as she said softly, “I injured my leg a few days ago. I’m sure Her Ladyship will understand.”

As for how she got injured, they were all well aware. There was no need to say anything too direct.

Sure enough, Liuying fell silent and simply led the way with a frown.

As they approached Consort Liang’s tent, Ning Zhaorou could already hear voices from within.

She entered the tent and saw that aside from Consort Liang, there was another young and beautiful consort present.

She didn’t recognize the woman, but after thinking for a moment, she knelt and greeted them, “Greetings to both Your Ladyships.”

Consort Wu looked her up and down and didn’t speak. Just as Consort Liang was about to tell her to rise, she interrupted, “Your Ladyship, is this the girl who offended the Second Prince that day?”

Consort Liang smiled faintly and nodded. “There was no real offense. It was just that Yun’er lost her temper that day… ah. In any case, His Majesty already punished her. I was just worried that this girl might still feel aggrieved, so I’ve been inviting her over now and then for a chat—to comfort her.”

“Your Ladyship has such a kind heart.” Consort Wu spoke with feigned sweetness, her voice low and gentle, but her eyes shifted back to Ning Zhaorou on the floor. “But I see this girl doesn’t seem very grateful. Her Ladyship invites her over, and she dares keep us waiting so long.”

“You may not know—this poor girl lost her mother young…”

The two consorts continued, going back and forth, each remark cutting sharper than the last, but neither of them mentioned letting Ning Zhaorou rise. Their words were laced with sarcasm, every sentence aimed precisely at her.

But Ning Zhaorou had heard these things all too often since she was a child.

Just then, someone rushed in from outside.

It was the palace maid Baihui.

She entered and reported to Consort Liang, “Your Ladyship, His Majesty just issued a decree allowing you to visit the Second Prince’s tent.”

Consort Liang immediately stood up from her seat. Whatever had just been said was forgotten—her face lit up with joy as she looked to Baihui. “Truly? What exactly did His Majesty say?”

Baihui quickly replied, “Earlier today, the Second Princess brought her copybooks before His Majesty. Not long after, His Majesty issued a decree—though the Princess is still to remain under house confinement, Your Ladyship is permitted to visit her in her tent.”

Consort Liang exclaimed twice in delight, then immediately instructed someone to prepare the snacks and sweets the Second Princess liked, speaking as she hurriedly made her way out.

Naturally, Consort Wu followed behind. But she was a bit more shrewd than Consort Liang—before leaving, she glanced at Ning Zhaorou still kneeling unmoving on the ground, furrowed her brows, and finally said, “Her Ladyship is preoccupied today. You may return on your own.”

Ning Zhaorou lowered herself further and answered softly, “Yes, Your Ladyship.”

Only a palace maid remained to keep watch over her. Ning Zhaorou slowly pushed herself up, calculated the time, and realized she hadn’t knelt for too long after all—Shuangwu must have run quickly.

Not long after she stepped outside, she spotted Shuangwu waiting anxiously under a tree.

Seeing her emerge, Shuangwu immediately stepped forward to help her.

“Miss.”

Ning Zhaorou gave her a little wink but said nothing. She began walking slowly, intending to return to her tent.

But Shuangwu didn’t move. When Ning Zhaorou looked at her in confusion, she hesitated before speaking in a low voice: “Miss, His Majesty wishes to see you.”

Ning Zhaorou froze for a moment, then slowly nodded, tension creeping into her features. “Then let’s go.”

The path Shuangwu took her down was unfamiliar. Ning Zhaorou’s thoughts wandered, and she didn’t realize she’d been called twice until someone raised their voice.

Chu Changfeng had spotted her from afar, following behind her maidservant, and a thought stirred in his heart. He quickly spurred his horse to catch up. When the two women stopped, he dismounted and frowned at Ning Zhaorou.

“Second Miss Ning.” He looked a bit uneasy but still cupped his hands in salute and explained, “There are guards posted up ahead. You can’t go any farther.”

Ning Zhaorou glanced at him, then took two steps back and bowed slightly. “Thank you for the warning, Young General Chu. I’m only taking a walk—I won’t go that way. If you’re busy, please don’t let me delay you.”

Her tone was deliberately distant. Surely, Chu Changfeng would understand the message.

“That day…” Chu Changfeng saw that she didn’t look well and tried to explain, but Ning Zhaorou quickly cut him off.

“What I said at the lake that day was nonsense,” she said hastily. “I hope you won’t take it to heart. Just forget it ever happened.”

“Nonsense?” Chu Changfeng tried to grasp her meaning. He felt somewhat disheartened. If he’d had more time to think—and if His Majesty hadn’t said those things—he might really have considered marrying her. After all, Ning Zhaorou was lovely and came from a decent family.

But now that she had made herself clear, he couldn’t insist. No matter how reluctant, he couldn’t disobey the emperor’s orders.

“If that’s what Miss Ning says, then let us both forget that day.”

With that, Chu Changfeng remounted and rode off.

Ning Zhaorou let out a small breath of relief, then turned toward the large tent up ahead.

She knew she was about to see Yin Mingyu. She tried to mentally prepare herself. As she approached the tent, she instinctively adjusted her skirts and patted the dust from her robes.

The heavy scent of imperial incense—dragon musk—hung in the air, thick and authoritative.

Ning Zhaorou lifted her foot and stepped inside. She saw Yin Mingyu seated by a low table reading, two palace maids fanning him.

As soon as she entered and caught sight of him, she instinctively began to kneel.

But Yin Mingyu, still holding his book, lifted his hand slightly and said, “Haven’t you knelt enough?”

Ning Zhaorou froze mid-motion, knees suspended awkwardly in the air, then straightened herself nervously. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said in a soft voice.

Yin Mingyu raised his eyes and gave her a slow once-over. Then he smiled faintly, set his book aside, and patted the soft cushion beside him. “Come sit.”