Chapter 60: Seriously Ill

Chapter 60: Seriously Ill

In the deep, clear blue night sky.

A bright moon hung high, casting silver light over the world. Moonlight poured into the sheer curtains of the Jiu Hua Pavilion. On the bamboo rocking chair, the couple was intimately close, a fragrant and enchanting scent filled the air. Zhu Yan's cheeks flushed, struggling for breath, "Not here, let's go back to the sleeping chamber."

"I'll listen to everything you say, but you have to let me be unrestrained this time," the Emperor whispered in Ah Yan's ear, his hands not ceasing their skilled movements, tracing a path from her chest downwards, pleased to hear her rapid breaths. He kissed her cheek and neck, leaving marks, the faint fragrance and soft moans becoming the best aphrodisiac.

Warm, fragrant, soft jade filled his arms, intoxicating and inescapable.

Suddenly, a sharp pain on his left shoulder jolted the Emperor back to reality. Slightly turning his head, he saw the bite mark left by Ayan, a clear imprint of teeth oozing blood. Seeing Ayan release her mouth, her lips and teeth stained with vivid red, seductively glowing, stirred a wildness in his eyes.

He swallowed the word 'audacious.'

He felt his condition was serious.

Zhu Yan struggled to keep her clear eyes wide open, staring at him. She gently moved her lips, "Let’s return to the sleeping quarters."

"You..."

The dog Emperor bent down and fiercely kissed Zhu Yan's lips, not waiting for her struggle before quickly pulling away. He rose from her with great difficulty, panting heavily and cursing irritably, "You just keep stirring things up."

The dog Emperor got off the bed, took a moment to compose himself, then picked up Zhu Yan and left the study, heading towards the sleeping quarters. To distract himself, he started talking, "Tomorrow, move Tian Tian's sleeping place to Ruyi Pavilion." Their son, Aji, currently sleeps next to Zhu Yan's chamber, separated by a wooden partition, preventing him from making any significant movements at night.

He had always been spontaneous and unrestrained; when had he ever held back?

Zhu Yan pinched the bleeding bite mark on the Emperor's shoulder. Seeing him grimace and look her way, she retorted, "You should discuss that with your son."

The Emperor, hearing this, couldn't help but laugh in frustration, "It's 'my son' when there's a problem, but 'your precious baby' when there's not." Watching Zhu Yan's uninhibited demeanor, he resolved that he couldn't let her off easy tonight, not after the pain in his shoulder.

Upon reaching the sleeping chambers, he called for Qu Gu, "Take Tian Tian to Ruyi Pavilion. If he cries at night, comfort him well."

Once Qu Gu had taken their son away and they were alone, the Emperor, like a wild horse freed from its reins, lost all restraint and caution, eliciting a hint of fear in Zhu Yan.

The night was long.

Outside the window, the bright moon shone over the lands, witnessing the myriad changes of humanity through the ages.

Zhu Yan didn't know when she had fallen into a deep sleep. Waking up the next day, she nearly fell as her legs were weak. Qu Gu swiftly caught her, "Your Majesty, the cleansing chamber is ready with hot water infused with muscle-relaxing herbs. Let me help you take a bath."

Hearing this, Zhu Yan blushed furiously upon meeting Nurse Qu's meaningful gaze and cursed the Emperor under her breath for not biting her hard enough last night.

In the afternoon, a sudden news spread through the palace.

It was said that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau observed the night sky and found that the moon had violated Xuanyuan, a sign of distress in the harem. Therefore, it was advised that the palace should avoid major activities, leading to the cancellation of the planned summer retreat for the harem ladies.

As night fell.

When Zhu Yan was about to arrange for the evening meal, a young eunuch from Qianyuan Hall, Lin Fu, came with a message, "His Majesty has gone to Fengyi Palace and said he would come later. He asked Your Majesty and the Fourth Prince to dine on your own."

"Understood, thank you for the message," Zhu Yan replied, unsurprised. The Emperor must inform the Empress, who oversees the six palaces, about such significant changes.

Zhu Yan was aware of her willfulness.

Yet, it didn't surprise her that the Emperor agreed to her request.

After all, the Emperor acted even more capriciously, following his heart in all matters, with little regard for rules or sentiments. His decisions were often unbound by conventions.

After dinner, Zhu Yan found herself entangled by her son Ah Ji.

"Mom, Ah Ji doesn’t want to sleep in Ruyi Pavilion; I want to sleep with you." Zhang Ji clung to her neck, begging. Waking up to find himself moved and prevented from seeing his mother by his nursemaids and Qu Gu, he was further upset when his father told him he was a big boy now, ready to sleep alone in Ruyi Pavilion.

He didn't want that.

His mother said he was still young, only four years old by nominal age, turning three this year.

He didn’t want to be a grown man.

He wanted his mother.

His father was mean to make people move his little bed to Ruyi Pavilion.

Zhu Yan looked down at her son wriggling in her arms, his pouting face expressing all his grievances. His pleas softened her heart. Besides, with her son around, the Emperor would at least show restraint, unlike the previous night's outrageous behavior.

Even thinking about it now made her legs tremble. She immediately agreed, "Okay, tonight you'll sleep with mom."

At this, Zhang Ji cheered, "Great, mom!" His face brightened instantly, showing no sign of earlier upset. He kissed her cheeks lovingly, "Ah Ji loves mom the most."

Zhu Yan, infected by her son's joy and the familiar scent of milk, hugged and kissed him back.

"You and your son really don't mind exchanging saliva," the Emperor commented as he walked in, promptly lifting Zhang Ji from Zhu Yan's embrace.

Zhang Ji, suddenly airborne, protested until he recognized his father, then started kicking, "Dad's bad, the worst..."

"Last night you said I was the best, and now I'm the worst?" the Emperor teased, holding his son with one arm while lightly patting his bottom with the other.

"Yes, the worst! Let me go, I want mom!" Zhang Ji struggled, reaching out to Zhu Yan, but the Emperor playfully tossed him in the air. The boy's initial protest turned into excitement, soon forgetting his earlier claim of his father being bad.

"Enough, no more throwing. It's too dangerous and easy to fall," Zhu Yan quickly intervened, her heart racing as she watched.

The Emperor promptly stopped, handing his son over to Nurse Qu, "Take him down for a wash."

But Zhang Ji clung to his father’s sleeve, "Father, I don’t want to sleep in Ruyi Pavilion. I want to sleep with mother, she promised."

"Is that so?" The Emperor pinched his son’s chubby cheek, his gaze shifting to Zhu Yan.

"Tian Tian is still young," Zhu Yan avoided his look.

The Emperor retracted his gaze to his son, coaxingly said, "Let's listen to your mother," then released his son's hand for Nurse Qu to take him away before dismissing everyone with a wave.

Zhu Yan watched him warily.

The Emperor’s eyes, half-smiling, fixed on Ah Yan like a predator stalking its prey, before settling on the floor cushion, "Ah Yan, for a single word from you, I’ve been tired all day. And yet, you embarrassed me in front of our son. You're too heartless."

As he spoke, he reached out to wipe off the drool left by their son on Ah Yan’s face, "No more such closeness. A grown son should avoid his mother. I've never seen anyone in the palace so intimate with their child."

Hearing the absurdity of 'a grown son should avoid his mother,' Zhu Yan felt it was ridiculous, "Tian Tian is only four years old."

"Even at four, it's not appropriate. He's a boy."

The Emperor declared righteously, claiming Ah Yan only for himself. He watched her fair face for a while and, as she tried to stand up, embraced her from behind, pulling her into his arms. Feeling Ah Yan stiffen, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Ah Yan, do you really think I'm a deity? This morning, when I left Fuhua Palace, I felt like I was floating."

Last night was too intense.

He lost count of how many times they were together, but in the end, he didn't want to leave.

Suddenly reminded of this, Zhu Yan glared at the Emperor, annoyed and embarrassed, and tried to push him away, but he stopped her.

"Don't move, I just want to hold you and talk." The Emperor rested his head on Ah Yan's shoulder. "After we put Tian Tian to sleep, we'll move him to Ruyi Pavilion. He needs to get used to sleeping on his own."

"The day for going to the summer palace is set for the day after tomorrow. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has chosen an auspicious day for travel."

The Emperor discussed his plans, "I've thought it over and decided to streamline the entourage. Only half of the senior officials from the previous dynasty's ministries will go, with the other half staying in the capital. Chancellors Hua Guang and Guo Wu will stay behind to ensure no delay in affairs." The thought of not seeing the annoying old man Hua Guang for two months pleased him.

"No concubines from the harem will go, not even the Empress. I will only take you and Tian Tian. Tomorrow, let Nurse Qu pack some personal items for you both. The rest will be provided at the summer palace."

Zhu Yan watched as the Emperor finished speaking, his face full of anticipation. She suddenly wondered if she refused to go at this moment, would the Emperor strangle her.

The thought was fleeting.

Zhu Yan didn't dare act on it, knowing that the Emperor wouldn’t kill her, but he would definitely tie her up and take her. She didn’t want to be treated that way.

Five years in the palace taught her two lessons: make oneself as comfortable as possible and live in the present, as there's no guarantee of being alive tomorrow.

The next day, Empress Liu issued a decree to all the ladies of the harem: the allocation of ice for cooling was to be doubled compared to previous years.

This decree confirmed the news that spread the day before.

Subsequently, people went to Fengyi Palace to verify with the Empress, who confirmed that the concubines would not be accompanying them to Jiujishan. This caused a stir in the entire harem, unsettling many.

Some sought an audience with Empress Liu, while others bravely tried to enter Qianyuan Hall or happened upon the Emperor on their way, only to be intercepted and severely punished by Xing En. Among them, Xing Jieyu was demoted to Xing Cairen, dropping two ranks, which quickly quieted everyone down.

Empress Liu, in Fengyi Palace, sighed with a smile: "After all, they are young, all newcomers."

Not one of the Eastern Palace's old servants dared to make a move.

Upon hearing that the harem ladies wouldn't accompany the Emperor, Princess Chongyang was delighted and immediately went to see the three beauties presented by the Deng family.

Su Wanqing of Minghua Palace was completely astonished when she heard the news, hardly believing it.

This was different from her previous life.

In her previous life, during this summer retreat to the palace, all the concubines except for those who were pregnant went along. Moreover, during this trip to Jiujishan, the Emperor visited the city of Shanzhou in Hexi, where he discovered a slave-born military talent, Ren Fashan.

Ren Fashan was one of the four famous generals during the Emperor's reign.

In her last life, she was pregnant and couldn't go, but Consort Zhu had taken the opportunity to form a bond with Ren Fashan, eventually leading to Consort Zhu's downfall, for which Ren Fashan even pleaded on her behalf.

In this life, she had planned to set up a fool to continue this affair, but now that no one was going, it was even better, as no one could get involved.

On the day the Emperor departed for Jiujishan, Su Wanqing learned that the Emperor took only Consort Zhu and the Fourth Prince, which infuriated her to the point of smashing a glass cup in her hand.

Author's note: