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Chapter 51
Jun Zechen sat upright in his imperial sedan chair, his expression showing a hint of urgency.
Today, too much time had been wasted.
Just then, a sudden voice of a palace maid rang out.
She rushed forward, blocking the path of the sedan chair, her voice trembling with tears. “This servant greets Your Majesty.”
Jun Zechen’s face immediately darkened. Before he could speak, Fu Quan, standing beside him, had already shouted angrily.
“How dare you! You are just a lowly palace maid, yet you dare to block the emperor’s path? Do you want to die?”
The palace maid quickly responded, “Eunuch Fu Quan, this servant is Meixiang, the Noble Consort’s personal maid.”
Hearing this, Jun Zechen frowned deeply.
His voice was low and serious as he asked, “What happened to the Noble Consort? Why are you not by her side, and why have you come looking for me?”
Meixiang’s voice was filled with desperation.
“Your Majesty, after drinking her medicine today, the Noble Consort fell asleep but was trapped in a nightmare. When she finally woke up and didn’t see Your Majesty, she became extremely frightened. She hasn’t even eaten dinner yet.”
“The Noble Consort is still recovering from poisoning. How can she not eat? But no matter how much we, the servants, tried to persuade her, she refused. Without Your Majesty, she won’t eat. This servant begs Your Majesty to visit Yikun Palace and see her.”
As she spoke, Meixiang’s face was full of worry, and her body trembled slightly.
Jun Zechen slowly rotated the ring on his finger and remained silent for a while.
Then, he finally spoke, “Let’s go to Yikun Palace.”
He wanted to check on Ling Yue first. Her health was fragile, and she couldn’t handle too much stress. After having dinner with her, he would then go to Zhaochun Palace.
~Yikun Palace~
Jun Zechen stepped inside and immediately saw Ling Yue leaning against the bed with a gloomy expression, as if a dark cloud hung over her.
He walked closer and gently asked, “Why aren’t you eating? Your body hasn’t fully recovered. You can’t be stubborn like this.”
The moment Ling Yue saw him, her eyes lit up. She quickly sat up and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
“Your Majesty, I’m scared. I’ve been having nightmares… In my dream, someone was trying to poison me… sob…”
Her voice was filled with fear and grievance, and her body trembled slightly.
“It won’t happen. Don’t be afraid. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I will find out who did this and punish them severely.”
Jun Zechen patted her back gently, his eyes turning cold with determination.
“You’ve been in bed all day without eating. Come, let’s have dinner together.”
Ling Yue looked up at him and asked softly, “Has Your Majesty eaten yet?”
Jun Zechen shook his head—he had planned to eat at Zhaochun Palace.
Hearing this, Ling Yue immediately smiled.
“Then, Your Majesty, let’s eat together, shall we?”
Jun Zechen’s gaze flickered with a complex emotion, but seeing her hopeful expression, he eventually nodded.
The palace servants moved quickly, and soon, the table was set with dishes.
Jun Zechen didn’t eat much, only occasionally picking up some food with his chopsticks.
After a while, he asked casually, “Yue’er, do you know what day it is today?”
Ling Yue lowered her head while eating, and a brief look of hesitation flashed in her eyes.
Then, she looked up in confusion, “Hmm? Today is the third day of the third lunar month. Is it a special day?”
She turned to Meixiang, who shook her head slightly.
“It’s nothing. Just eat,” Jun Zechen said.
After dinner, Jun Zechen tried to leave several times, but Ling Yue always found a way to keep him.
“Your Majesty, will you stay in Yikun Palace tonight? I can’t sleep without you.” She pleaded with a pitiful expression.
Jun Zechen did not agree immediately. Instead, he said gently, “Sleep now. I will stay until you fall asleep.”
He sat by the bed while Ling Yue lay down, looking up at him.
“Your Majesty, won’t you sleep too?”
“I still have matters to attend to later. You sleep first,” Jun Zechen replied softly.
Ling Yue forced a smile. “Your Majesty, don’t overwork yourself.”
Under the covers, her hand clenched into a tight fist, her nails digging into her palm. Her closed eyes trembled slightly.
Did he love Pure Consort so much?
Was he determined to go to Zhaochun Palace tonight?
As time passed, Jun Zechen’s frown deepened.
It was almost the hour of the pig (around 9-11 PM).
Had Yao Yao fallen asleep already?
Jun Zechen glanced at Ling Yue. Seeing that she was sleeping soundly, he carefully pulled his hand away from hers and quietly left the palace.
As soon as he stepped out, he couldn’t wait any longer and quickly got on his carriage.
“Quick, to Zhaochun Palace,” he ordered.
~Zhaochun Palace~
When Jun Zechen arrived, he saw two of Yao Yao’s maids, Miaoyue and Miaoxue, whispering outside the hall.
Miaoyue frowned with concern. “Miaoxue, ever since our lady returned today, she hasn’t changed her clothes, she skipped dinner, and she even locked herself in her room all afternoon. Should we go in and check on her?”
Miaoxue sighed, “Miaoyun and Miaoxia are inside with her. She just wants to be alone right now.”
“But the chief eunuch said that His Majesty would come to accompany her tonight. It’s already so late, and he’s still in Yikun Palace. I don’t think he’s coming…”
Miaoyue’s voice was filled with disappointment.
“She hasn’t eaten and has been drinking instead. I’m worried about her health,” Miaoxue said, clearly anxious.
“Yes… Even though she gave birth to the Crown Prince, she still doesn’t hold as much weight in His Majesty’s heart as Noble Consort does. But today is her birthday, and he didn’t come… She must be heartbroken.”
Hearing their conversation, Jun Zechen’s expression darkened instantly.
She hadn’t eaten… and she was drinking on an empty stomach?
And… he never thought that Yao Yao was less important to him than Ling Yue!
“You two dare let your master behave so recklessly? Do you not know how to stop her? If anything happens to her, you will be held responsible!”
Jun Zechen’s deep and authoritative voice suddenly rang out.
Miaoyue and Miaoxue were startled, their faces turning pale with fear.
They hurriedly knelt and stammered, “Your Majesty, forgive us!”
Jun Zechen ignored them completely, his face cold as he strode into the hall.
Inside, Su Jingyao was sitting on the couch, resting her delicate face on one hand.
In her other hand, she lazily swirled a cup of wine.
Her eyes were misty and dreamy, her cheeks slightly flushed, making her look as alluring as a blooming peach blossom.
Miaoyun, another maid, anxiously tried to stop her, “My Lady, you don’t handle alcohol well. You’ve already had several bottles. This is too much for your body!”
As she spoke, she reached out, attempting to take away the cup.
Su Jingyao pouted, slightly drunk, and protested. “This is my palace. I can do whatever I want here! No one is allowed to stop me!” Su Jingyao declared stubbornly, pulling her wine cup away.
Miaoyun and Miaoxia stood anxiously by her side, helpless and unsure of what to do.
Just then, Jun Zechen walked in and saw her like this.
Miaoyun and Miaoxia were startled for a moment before quickly bowing. “Your Majesty.”
“Leave us,” Jun Zechen said coldly.
Hearing this, the two maids sighed in relief and quickly exited.
Outside, they exchanged glances with Miaoyue and Miaoxue, their eyes filled with joy. They smiled at each other, as if everything had gone according to plan.
Inside the hall, Jun Zechen sat down at the other end of the couch, his deep gaze fixed on Su Jingyao.
He then gently took the wine cup from her soft hands.
Su Jingyao’s dazed eyes slowly focused, as if she couldn’t believe who she was seeing.
She blinked her beautiful eyes. “Your Majesty?”
Realizing it was really him, she tried to stand up and bow, but her body swayed unsteadily.
Just as she was about to fall, Jun Zechen reacted quickly, catching her in his strong arms.
“Mm… let go,” she mumbled, struggling in his embrace.
“Why did you drink so much?” Jun Zechen frowned slightly, his tone filled with both concern and reproach.
Su Jingyao suddenly giggled like a child. “Hehe, because it tastes good!”
“Give me back the wine cup!”
Perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, Su Jingyao reached out and boldly snatched the cup from his hand.
With slightly trembling fingers, she poured herself another full cup.
Seeing that she was about to drink again, Jun Zechen’s deep voice rang out, carrying undeniable authority.
“Wine is bad for you. Drinking harms your health.”
For a moment, Su Jingyao was stunned.
Then, her eyes became distant, her gaze wandering.
She slowly raised the cup in front of her, staring at the wine inside.
“Under the moon and in the breeze, one should live freely. Sing when happy, sleep when tired.”
“But tonight, no matter what I do, I just can’t sleep.”
She was still in his arms when she turned her gaze toward him.
Their eyes met, and in hers, there was deep sorrow and longing.
“Your Majesty says wine is bad, but even if it’s bad, at least it helps me sleep.”
Then, with her fair and delicate hand, she gently touched his sharp features, her eyes filled with grievance.
“Your Majesty is wonderful… but you make me lose sleep.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a single tear slid down her cheek.
While Jun Zechen was still in slight shock, she quickly tilted her head back and downed the wine in one gulp.
Jun Zechen couldn’t even put into words the mix of emotions swelling inside him—heartache, regret, and guilt.
Today, he had broken his promise to her. He always thought she was understanding and wouldn’t mind. But he never imagined she would be this hurt.
Her words pierced his heart like a blade, making him feel an unbearable pain.
For the first time in his life, his deep, unreadable eyes grew misty.
He rarely cried, not even as a child.
Yet now, the sorrow in his heart was so overwhelming that he could not suppress it.
Jun Zechen pulled her into a tight embrace, his voice low and filled with tenderness.
“Don’t cry. It hurts me to see you cry.”
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