Chapter 39: The Emperor’s Suspicion

Chapter 39: The Emperor's Suspicion

These bruises, burning into Xiao Jingheng's eyes, left deep marks on his heart.

He draped a garment over Song Zhao's shoulders, looking at her with eyes full of pity, "Why be so foolish?"

Song Zhao's clear gaze met Xiao Jingheng's face, and she smiled faintly:

"Because Your Majesty is my husband. I couldn't bear to see you hurt."

"You feel pain for me, and how could I not feel the same for you? Since you regard me as your husband, then it is my duty to protect you."

This incident deeply moved Xiao Jingheng,

He had always thought of Song Zhao as fragile, afraid of thunder, prone to illness, and naive to the intricate schemes of the palace, in great need of protection.

Yet who would have thought that such a woman would step forward to protect him in a moment of danger?

Later, following Emperor Xiao Jingheng's description of the injury, the imperial physician prepared a high-quality medicinal ointment for Song Zhao to promote blood circulation and reduce bruising.

Xiao Jingheng initially intended to apply the medicine to Song Zhao himself, but she objected:

"Your Majesty has a scheduled meeting with the Minister of Works and the Minister of Personnel. State affairs are of utmost importance. If they are delayed because of this trivial matter of mine, it would be my fault."

She naturally took the ointment from Xiao Jingheng's hands and handed it to Yunsong, "It's just a minor injury. Yunsong can apply the medicine. Your Majesty needn't worry."

Xiao Jingheng, watching his beloved injured in his defense, deeply wished to stay by Song Zhao's side.

However, he had important matters to discuss with the Minister of Personnel and could not delay.

He squeezed Song Zhao's hand firmly and patted the back of her hand, saying,

"Take good care of yourself. Once I'm finished with my duties, I will come to see you."

Saying this, he bent down and left a burning kiss on her forehead.

Later, when Xiao Jingheng returned to the Chaoyang Palace to meet with the Grand Scholar and the Minister of Personnel, he was somewhat distracted.

His mind kept replaying the scene of Song Zhao bravely shielding him without a second thought,

The memory of her pain-stricken face and the bruises on her back made him increasingly restless.

This woman truly evoked deep sympathy.

However, after the initial surge of emotion, Xiao Jingheng found the incident rather peculiar.

Normally, people instinctively dodge in the face of sudden danger.

Even he, a man who had fought on battlefields and possessed martial skills, couldn’t react in time to that unexpected danger.

So, how could Song Zhao, a woman who had lived a sheltered life, react so swiftly?

Unless...

She had known in advance about the falling rocks from the artificial mountain, or perhaps this entire incident was a drama she orchestrated herself.

The more Xiao Jingheng pondered, the more troubled he became. His right hand on the dragon desk ceaselessly rubbed the thumb ring, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

After discussing state affairs with the Minister of Works and the Minister of Personnel, they took their leave.

Jiang Deshun then entered and reported to Xiao Jingheng:

"Your Majesty, all the palace workers responsible for the maintenance of the artificial hill have been executed. Lin Tianhai, the overseer of the Internal Affairs Office, is waiting outside to admit his guilt. Shall I summon him?"

"Let him in."

Jiang Deshun gestured towards the palace gate, and the gatekeepers invited Lin Tianhai, who had been waiting outside, to enter.

Lin Tianhai entered, his face filled with fear and his steps faltering. He knelt upon entering the hall, crawling towards Xiao Jingheng and repeatedly kowtowing until his forehead bled, before tremblingly speaking:

"I deserve to die for my negligence! Today's incident nearly harmed Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

Xiao Jingheng, squinting his eyes, stared at him, "How do your subordinates conduct their work?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The viewing stone on the artificial hill had shown signs of loosening a few days ago, and I had already ordered it to be fixed. But those under my command were lazy and delayed it for two days, leading to today's dangerous incident..."

Hearing this, Xiao Jingheng's fingers stopped stroking his beard, "You noticed irregularities two days ago?"

Lin Tianhai, in fear, replied, "Yes, yes..."

Xiao Jingheng's fingers lightly tapped on the imperial desk, producing a 'tap tap' sound,

He did not want to believe that today's incident was a scheme by Song Zhao against him, but he couldn't help but consider the possibility.

Everything had happened too coincidentally.

Since the onset of summer this year, he had been preoccupied with state affairs and had scarcely set foot in the Imperial Garden,

It was only today, after overeating at lunch, that he decided to take a walk in the Imperial Garden with Song Zhao.

But if it hadn't been for the soup that Song Zhao brought, which appealed to his taste, how would he, who usually exercises restraint, overindulge?

Moreover, if another consort had been injured while saving him, it would be considered a significant merit.

Even if they didn't seek rewards, at the very least, they would coyly insist on his company to show their care.

But Song Zhao was different; the moment he mentioned tending to her wounds, she hurriedly pushed him away.

Xiao Jingheng recalled the incident of Song Zhao drawing spots on her face to feign illness, a slight furrow appearing between his brows, thinking to himself:

Could it be that the bruises on her back were also self-inflicted?

With this thought, Xiao Jingheng couldn't sit still any longer.

He rushed to Yao Hua Palace, forbidding the palace staff from announcing his arrival, and went directly to the western chamber on his own.

Standing outside the door, he happened to overhear a conversation inside and listened quietly for a while.

"My lady, you really risked your life! Fortunately, those stones only hit your back. What if they had struck your head? Have you forgotten Wang Gui from our old residence? Didn’t he die instantly after falling from a tree while catching cicadas, hitting his head? Aren’t you afraid?"

"Of course, I was scared. But at that moment, I couldn’t think of anything else. Seeing those stones falling towards His Majesty, I just forgot everything else, only thinking about protecting him from injury... Alright, stop pouting, I’m fine, aren’t I?"

Listening from outside, Xiao Jingheng found the words of Yun Shang reasonable.

Even if the incident was a scheme by Song Zhao, the falling rocks were beyond anyone's control. Any slight deviation could have been fatal.

His doubts dissipated somewhat, and he then pushed the door open and entered.

At that moment, Song Zhao was sitting with her upper body exposed, her back turned towards the door, as Yun Shang applied medicine to her wounds.

Seeing Xiao Jingheng arrive, she quickly grabbed a garment to drape over herself, attempting to rise and pay her respects.

Xiao Jingheng quickly approached the warm seat, gently patting her shoulder, "You're injured, don't move around."

He then naturally took the ointment from Yunsong's hand, "I will apply the medicine."

Song Zhao instinctively tightened the garment around her, her expression slightly uneasy:

"Your Majesty... How can you undertake such menial tasks? I..."

"It's fine," Xiao Jingheng gently hooked a corner of the garment, slowly sliding it off Song Zhao's shoulder,

"You were injured protecting me. How could I disdain doing this?"

As he spoke, he dabbed a bit of ointment with his fingertip and gently pressed it onto the bruise on Song Zhao's back, rubbing the ointment in a circular motion...