Chapter 58: The Pipa Predicament 1

Chapter 58: The Pipa Predicament 1

It is commonly said that each finger is connected to the heart.

Moreover, burns differ from other injuries,

The initial pain might be bearable, but after a short while, the burned area feels like it’s being pricked by needles, causing excruciating pain.

Xiao Jingheng gently placed Song Zhao’s hand in his palm, his eyes filled with concern,

"Summon the imperial physician!"

For grand banquets in the palace, imperial physicians would always be on standby in a side hall.

Emperor Xiao Jingheng called urgently, prompting the physician to almost run from the side hall to treat Song Zhao.

After a brief examination, the physician said,

"Fortunately, the tea wasn't too hot, and the injury isn't severe. I'll apply a cooling ointment for burn treatment. It should heal completely in three to five days."

"Three to five days..." Song Zhao suddenly withdrew her hand, pressing her lips together in a shake of her head, "I was planning to play a pipa piece for His Majesty's birthday later. Could the physician possibly wait until after my performance to treat me?"

"This..." The physician was clearly in a dilemma, hesitating without a response.

Emperor Xiao Jingheng, worried and slightly annoyed, said,

"Nonsense. You can play the pipa anytime, but how will you cope if the injury becomes chronic? Doctor Chu, go get the medicine."

Emperor Xiao Jingheng could see the disappointment on Song Zhao's face, so he gently put his arm around her shoulder, soothing her,

"Alright, I understand your intentions, but how could I bear to listen to you play the pipa in pain, with each note tugging at my heart?"

With so many eyes on Song Zhao, Emperor Xiao Jingheng's concern for her was unmistakable,

At this moment, if she were to act willfully, it might provoke further jealousy,

So, she tactfully responded, "It was my clumsiness that dampened Your Majesty's spirits."

Emperor Xiao Jingheng found it strange,

In his eyes, Song Zhao was never a careless person, especially not in such an occasion where she couldn't even hold a cup steady.

As his thoughts swirled, he instinctively glanced at Liu Changzai.

Liu Changzai, startled by his sharp gaze, was about to defend herself when Song Zhao interjected,

"Your Majesty, this incident is not Sister Liu's fault. It was my momentary negligence that caused me to lose grip of the cup."

Liu Changzai's words of explanation reached her throat but were swallowed back down, following Song Zhao's lead by saying,

"It's also my slow reaction. If I had been quicker to catch the cup for my sister, she wouldn't have been scalded."

After speaking, she leaned close to Song Zhao, gently blowing on her fingers, showing a look of concern.

Emperor Xiao Jingheng, watching their 'sisterly affection', didn't let his suspicions fade.

He found the incident suspicious,

Perhaps Liu Changzai had done it deliberately, especially since the sound of their cup clinking was loud enough for him, sitting at the head, to hear clearly.

And Song Zhao, always gentle and conflict-averse, might have swallowed her grievances to avoid trouble.

"Ah~!"

Just as Emperor Xiao Jingheng was about to probe further, Song Zhao suddenly cried out in pain when the physician applied the cooling ointment.

The girl bit her thin lips, which turned a faint shade of pink,

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and bright tears swirled in her eyes,

Emperor Xiao Jingheng's heart ached at the sight, and his tone towards the physician became more stern,

"Can't you be more gentle?"

Seeing Song Zhao's fingers trembling with the ointment, the physician quickly fetched clean water to wash off the ointment.

Upon closer examination, he found many tiny cuts on her fingertips, hard to see with the naked eye.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, my lady, forgive me. I was careless and didn't notice the many small cuts on her fingertips.

This cooling ointment should not be applied to open wounds; it will sting if it seeps in. I will prepare a milder ointment for the lady, which should relieve her pain soon."

The physician quickly fetched a different ointment,

But this time, Emperor Xiao Jingheng said, "Bring it here; I will apply the ointment for Song Changzai."

He held Song Zhao's hand gently, delicately applying the ointment to her fingertips with tender movements,

The other consorts, initially eager for gossip, were taken aback to see Emperor Xiao Jingheng treating Song Zhao with such tenderness.

Ying Consort, noticing Chen Consort's displeased expression, seized the opportunity to whisper sarcastically:

"His Majesty is really attentive to Song Changzai. Chen Consort, you're said to be his favorite. Has His Majesty ever treated you like this?"

"Hmph~" Chen Consort's jealousy vanished, replaced by disdain, "Since I entered the palace, I've rarely been ill. The one time I miscarried, His Majesty accompanied me for two full months. Ying Consort, your question should be directed at the Empress."

With a mocking smile towards the Empress, she said, "The Empress often suffers from heart ailments. You should ask if His Majesty has ever cared for her in this way."

The Empress, graceful and smiling, did not even glance at Chen Consort, acting as if she didn't exist.

Instead, she stepped forward and approached Song Zhao, expressing her concern:

"I heard from Consort Yao that you didn't know how to play any instruments, but to make His Majesty happy on his birthday, you practiced the pipa day and night in the palace. To avoid disturbing Consort Yao at night, you even braved the cold winds to practice in the corridor, didn't you?"

Song Zhao, slightly embarrassed, lowered her head and shook it, saying,

"I am naturally untalented, and only through diligence can I make up for my lack of skill."

Emperor Xiao Jingheng then understood, "So, the cuts on your fingers are from the pipa strings?"

Song Zhao pursed her lips and remained silent, while Yunsong, unable to hold back any longer, said:

"The young lady practiced the pipa day and night without proper technique; how could she not get injured? Besides, if her wrists weren't weakened from prolonged practice, how could she fail to hold even a teacup steadily?"

"Yunsong, do not speak out of turn in front of His Majesty!"

Though warned not to speak out of turn, the words were already spoken.

Whether it was out of turn or not, the speaker had no intention, but the listener might take it to heart.

Take Emperor Xiao Jingheng, for instance, who was applying medicine to Song Zhao,

The look in his eyes towards Song Zhao was clearly filled with additional pity and tenderness.

"How can you not make me worry like this?"

"I only wanted to surprise Your Majesty..." Song Zhao, her emotions sinking, spoke with a hint of a choke, "It's just unfortunate that even such a small gesture ended up ruined by me."

Song Zhao's grievance was evident,

She had prepared so diligently for so long, only for her heartfelt intentions to be spoiled by her own doing,

Self-reproach and regret were inevitable.

In fact, if she had cried in Emperor Xiao Jingheng's arms at this moment, it might have eased his heart.

But seeing her striving to restrain herself, swallowing all her grievances,

It was like countless barbed hooks were scratching at Emperor Xiao Jingheng's heart.

He embraced Song Zhao, his voice tender and comforting,

And Song Zhao, always mindful of the bigger picture,

Didn't shed a single tear, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, yet she smiled at Emperor Xiao Jingheng,

Seeing his distressed frown, she reached out to smooth his brows,

"Today is His Majesty's birthday, a joyful occasion. All the sisters have prepared performances with great care. His Majesty should be merry. If Your Majesty is happy, then I am happy too."