Chapter 379 - The Empress’ Concerns
Chapter 379 The Empress’ Concerns
The matter concerning Consort Yu’s fright, Wang Xiuxiu’s miscarriage, and Feng Yuzhen’s sudden appearance ended with Wang Xiuxiu’s bloody death.
Even though a second consort that the Emperor had officially instated had died, the matter created no commotions as King Yan’s Manor and King Ning’s manor remained silent, with Grand Secretariat Wang keeping quiet as well. As a second consort was merely a concubine, a matter concerning her would not stir up much drama, especially since her presence made others feel threatened and uncomfortable.
Then, there was no need for her to exist!
Ever since Consort Yu returned to her palace, she stayed in Qingwei palace every day to tend to her baby. It was rumored that she had a great fright and dared not venture out casually ever since.
Inside Cining Palace.
The emperor came forth with the sickly Empress to greet Empress Dowager. The Empress had been sick for quite some time and was only getting better now. After she was able to move around, she specially came to greet Empress Dowager.
“You should rest more if you are not feeling well, and shouldn’t come over. Do take care of yourself, it will be harder to treat when you are older if your illness now accumulates.” Empress Dowager looked at the Empress with benevolent eyes as she touched her thin and withered hands, asking her out of concern. The Empress was indeed extremely skinny for this period of time, looking emaciated.
“There’s no need to be so concerned, Empress Dowager. Your body is weak as well, and that made your daughter-in-law extremely worried. I haven’t seen you for quite some while and missed you quite a bit.” The Empress lifted up her head to look at Empress Dowager, emotions hidden in her eyes as she replied calmly according to Empress Dowager’s wishes.
In the past, she used to call Empress Dowager Mum. However, she called her by her title respectfully now.
“I know that you are filial. However, you should only come when you are completely well and have rested. Don’t come these few days and only come after you have fully recovered. Only then will I be at ease.” Empress Dowager nodded her head as she smiled lightly, playing with the Buddhist beads in her hands.
A eunuch walked in from outside and reported, “Empress Dowager, Empress of Yan Kingdom send you a gift to wish for your good health.”
The Empress of Yan Kingdom was Empress Dowager’s birth daughter. It’s normal for her to send gifts over.
“Bring it in. This kid is also filial and thinks about me from time to time. But she does live too far away.” The first sentence was an order to the eunuchs but the rest of the sentences were to the Empress and the Emperor.
“My sister is Empress Dowager’s birth daughter; how can she be not filial? Even though the Yan Kingdom was far away, it is a blessing for you for she still thinks about you.” The Empress was reminded of her daughter too and looked at Empress Dowager with sadness and hatred hidden within her eyes.
At least Princess Royal Yunruo was the Empress of a nation, her daughter was only the wife of First Prince. It was obvious that Bai Yihao had the upper hand in the Yan Kingdom and she was curious about the intention behind Yunruo’s decision to force her daughter to marry Bai Yichen. How could her daughter possibly survive when Bai Yihao gained the throne in the future?
To force Yu’er to marry into the Yan Kingdom, Yunruo played plenty of tricks in harming her. In the end, Yu’er’s marriage to Bai Yichen was because of a devious scheme. Thinking about that made the Empress turn bitter. Her hand holding the handkerchief tightened as she remembered the words that the Emperor told her this morning.
That’s right. No matter which prince became the next Emperor, they would make her Empress Dowager. Everyone would do that except for King Ning Feng Yuzhen. If Feng Yuzhen took the throne, Empress Dowager would still be in charge of the harem and she could only be thrown into the Cold Palace even as an Empress. Hence, she would not allow King Ning to take the throne.
Empress Dowager wouldn’t be naive enough to think that her tactics to harm Lei’er would make her brother support Feng Yuzhen instead of Lei’er.
From what the Emperor said and from sources outside, the Empress gained the conclusion that the matter at the wedding was a conspiracy against King Yan. Unfortunately, King Yan fell into the trap.
The Empress analyzed the situation. Who profited from this matter?
It would not the humiliated Feng Yuxuan, or the injured Feng Yuran relying on his marriage for luck. The only man remaining was King Ning Feng Yuzhen, who just entered the palace. The fact that King Ning Feng Yuzhen, who had always stayed out of politics, managed to enter the court so successfully made the Empress came up with conspiracy theories.
Empress Dowager, her men again…
Hatred jumped from within the Empress’ eyes. She lowered her head and took in a deep breath, suppressing the hatred in her heart. She pondered how the old women lived for so long without dying. She knew that the old woman was like Buddha in front of everyone but was actually devious and evil. On the surface, she cared nothing about politics, but privately, only she knew how much she enjoyed power. However, she would not let her succeed this time!
“You, your mouth is becoming sweeter and sweeter.” Empress Dowager giggled as she played with the Buddhist beads in her hands slowly as if she were playing with the lives of others.
Emperor Zongwen smiled and hid the fierceness in his eyes as he listened to the conversation.
After the conversation continued for a while, the two retreated. The Empress came back to her Tianfeng Palace and laid on her bed. After thinking for a long while, she called Nanny Lin over.
“Do you have a goddaughter in Empress Dowager’s palace?” The Empress was straight to the point.
“Yes, I knew my godsister since young but we parted ways when we grew up. When we met again, her daughter had grown up. Because she struggled to make a living, she asked me to send her daughter into the palace. I was worried that her matters would affect the Empress and me, hence I never told anyone about it.” Nanny Lin knew what the Empress meant and immediately replied.
“Does she listen to you?” The Empress’ eyes were cold and her voice made one shudder within the vast empty hall.
“No worries, Your Highness. She completely listens to me. Her mother and her brother are still outside and are tended by my men.” Nanny Lin knew that Empress Dowager and Empress had hidden grievance with each other despite their friendly demeanor and hence left her there to control Empress Dowager’s servants.
“Have her monitor Empress Dowager. Tell me immediately if anything is amiss.”
Nanny Lin replied as she dared not ask much about her master’s affairs. “Yes, I shall do it immediately.” She then retreated carefully.
Even though a storm was brewing in the palace, Feng Yuran’s King Xuan Manor was still so peaceful.
Mo Xuetong laid on her bed and refused to get up as she was lazy. She opened her eyes and discovered that Feng Yuran was already lying beside him. He was gone since yesterday after she came back, and still did not appear when she fell asleep late at night. However, Mo Xuetong knew that this was common for a busy man.
Her watery gaze fell on Feng Yuran’s handsome face, one that’s white, succulent and inexplicably gorgeous. His long eyelashes drooped from his eyes, perfectly complementing his upright nose and his light red lips. Even though Mo Xuetong was already long aware of Feng Yuran’s beauty, she was still mesmerized at that instant.
That face was so beautiful!
It made one intoxicated with love at one gaze. No wonder numerous women tried to attract his attention despite his terrible reputation. That’s all due to his looks! Such a man was a true devil! How could someone be as beautiful as him, how could someone be so attractive!
Her long white thin fingers gently caressed his handsome and beautiful eye as she became all smiles. She knew that the man belonged to her now. His beauty, coupled with his gentleness, made her question if she was dreaming.
Mo Xuetong moved closer and kissed his upright nose lightly before sighing satisfyingly. Heaven was indeed nice to her. Despite her miserable previous life, she managed to get reborn and seek revenge for herself, not to mention obtaining such an incredible man. Hence, Mo Xuetong felt that she was dreaming.
Just looking at him vaguely, she felt that she obtained the entire world!
Happiness and joy jumped out from her heart as she could not stop smiling.
A lazy and soft voice appeared out of nowhere. “Am I pretty?”
Mo Xuetong was like a frightened kid who immediately closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. If not for her obvious red blush, her pretense would be pretty accurate. The corner of Feng Yuran’s mouth lifted up as he had been awoken since when Mo Xuetong stared at her obsessively. He merely pretended to be asleep to see what she was doing. Now, he was all joyous as he stretched out his hand to hug the woman tight and kiss her on her forehead, saying, “Why are you not looking anymore? So scared? Aren’t you very obsessed just now?”
“Who is scared? Who is obsessive?” Mo Xuetong replied silently in her stomach but still insisted on not speaking. If this man realized that she was awake, he would force himself on her again. He did have a low endurance level and would be taking a cold bath very soon after that. Thinking that he was still recovering from his injuries, she decided that it would just be greater trouble for herself if she lured him on.
She decided to keep pretending to prevent him from being impulsive.
Remembering that he still kept his promise to her, Mo Xuetong felt sweetness as if she just ate honey. No matter what happened, she was still placed first in his heart.
Seeing that she was still pretending, Feng Yuran’s long fingers pinched her chubby pink cheeks as his handsome gaze inadvertently fell on her lips. Her lips were beautiful and pink, shining brightly like a ripe and plump cherry that could be easily plucked.
Her mouth was slightly pursed, making her seem a little coquettish and charming!
He lowered his head and covered his beautiful thin lips on hers. He kissed her lips lightly. When he felt her cherry lips on his, he inadvertently moaned softly with a voice akin to that of soft and appealing cotton. Feng Yuran’s heart was itchy and a little paralyzed as if thin silk brushed across his heart.
His breathing quickened as his large hand grew a mind of his own, reaching into her clothes.
The sudden coldness made Mo Xuetong shudder as she suddenly became sober. Her hand grabbed his one as she tried to push him aside, complaining in a pitiful and yet seductive voice. “Don’t, Yuran, don’t be like this, you will…”
She was so embarrassed as she struggled to complete her sentence. With her watery eyes wide open, she bit her lips and forced her moaning to stay in her throat, merely letting out a soft gasp as she could not speak another word. She didn’t expect herself to look even more seductive like that, with a sense of confusion amidst her beauty. She looked at Feng Yuran, confuzzled, like a little beast with her eyes wide open.
Feng Yuran felt a part of his body changing. The heat and the pain made him uncontrollably want to engulf her.
Mo Xuetong felt his excitement too and dared not move at all, staring at him with her fearful and watery eyes. She felt his hand, tight and numb, shivering with her eyes like water. Such natural and seductive nature could make one irrational with just one glance.
“Liu Xiahui is truly not a man!” Feng Yuran complained dully as he pinched her once again. He immediately took his hand out and wrapped her clothing back with shivering hands. He closed his eyes and breathed heavily. The woman he loved was sleeping beside him for him to enjoy but he was unable to touch her, making Feng Yuran extremely depressed.
He was starting to suspect if he was truly a man!
He repeated to himself that he had to speed up the process, regardless of anything!
The male body’s heat came over, with the heavy breathing of him by her ears. Those things made Mo Xuetong’s body burn as her heart beat fast and her mouth became dry. If not for the fact that she closed her mouth, she could feel her heart jumping up. She could do nothing but to remain still, with her eyes closed.
Inside her heart, she scolded him. “How can you say that he is not a man when you can’t achieve what he did!
“You have such a thick skin.”