Chapter 0072: Encounter

Chapter 0072: Encounter

Meanwhile, Yun Li, deemed unremarkable by some, leisurely admired the flowers, fan in hand.

The peonies and peonies were in full bloom, at their most beautiful.

Strolling and gazing at the flowers, Yun Li was in high spirits.

"Xiaoyi, this Consort Mei seems quite amiable," Zhifu remarked.

"What use is there in seeming easy to get along with? Consort Jin De also appears amiable, but when she's ruthless, doesn't she disregard human life?" Yun Li shook her head.

"That’s true. Now that Consort Mei is so favored, it’s likely the other ladies in the harem are feeling uneasy," Zhifu said.

"Whether Consort Mei continues to be favored will soon become clear. Once the Yuanzheng delegation leaves, after the wedding of the Crown Prince and Princess Jingning on the sixth, we'll see," Yun Li said. The Yuanzheng delegation hadn't left yet as they were waiting for the marriage ceremony.

Although it was a marriage to a secondary wife, it was still a significant event. They planned to marry and then return.

Probably in about half a month, the Yuanzheng delegation would set off.

By then, if the Emperor continues to seek out Consort Mei frequently, it will prove she is indeed favored.

But from the current situation, it seems the Emperor does have some fondness for Consort Mei; otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed with her for so many days.

Yun Li pondered a lot, but unexpectedly, that evening, she was summoned to Zhengyang Palace.

Yun Li was extremely surprised, having not inquired earlier and assuming the Emperor would spend the night with Consort Mei again.

She arrived at Zhengyang Palace with curiosity.

Unbeknownst to her, the other women in the harem were cursing her for being seductive while planning where to 'accidentally' encounter the Emperor the next day.

They all thought her meeting with the Emperor that day was intentional.

In Zhengyang Palace, Yun Li wore a pine-green dress with a parrot-green jacket.

She stood there fresh and cool, her hair neatly done in a Ling She bun, secured with a pair of silk-threaded cat's eye stone gourd hairpins, and embellished with two emerald bead flowers.

Dangling by her ears were a pair of cat's eye stone earrings, and a small, delicate sachet hung at her waist.

These were the only pieces of jewelry she wore.

Today, her eyebrows were shaped like willow leaves, slightly upturned at the ends, and she had applied a touch of rouge for eyeshadow. She looked exceptionally attractive.

A petal was delicately drawn at the center of her forehead.

She gracefully bowed: "May Your Majesty be forever peaceful."

He Jinli thought back to how simple her attire had been during the day.

She wore a goose-yellow dress, with only one hairpin in her hair.

Like a Yao yellow peony in full bloom at dawn, dew-kissed, both beautiful and enchanting.

"Come here."

He Jinli said.

Yun Li walked over and was pulled into the Emperor's embrace. He looked down at her face.

Such a face, still bearing traces of youthfulness, was already so radiant and beautiful, marked by allure and charm.

Dressed in such pure, fresh colors, yet choosing to dot a spot of red at the center of her brows.

That single dot, amidst her plain attire, seemed to come alive.

It didn't clash at all but only made her more striking.

He Jinli touched her lips with his finger, then transferred the faint red from his fingertip to her chin.

Yun Li blinked without any resistance, tilting her head somewhat bewilderedly at him.

He Jinli observed the petal on her forehead and the red mark on her chin, which complemented each other. Far from looking ridiculous, it was actually... quite beautiful.

Suddenly, he scooped her up without a word and strode into the inner chamber.

It had been a long time since he had been intimate with this woman…

Perhaps because of this, the Emperor was particularly assertive.

Yun Li was cooperative too, not feeling the need to be overly prim in such matters.

Afterwards, the Emperor, thoroughly satisfied, lifted her chin: "Are you hungry?"

"Yes." How could she not be, after a battle upon arrival, with no sign of dinner yet.

"Let's get up and have something to eat," He Jinli suggested.

Yun Li leaned in close to him: "I don’t have the strength, Your Majesty. Help me with my undergarment."

This request was certainly bold, but when had He Jinli ever encountered such a demand?

The novelty of it was more enticing than anything else.

He raised an eyebrow but still called someone in.

They were washed first, then he waved the attendants away.

The palace maid was puzzled, thinking they weren’t getting up.

He Jinli had never done this before, but dressing someone wasn’t technically difficult, so he smoothly helped Yun Li into her pure white undergarment.

He even admired the pattern on it: "Your Highness’s tastes are indeed unique."

Indeed, he had never seen anyone wearing a white undergarment before.

At least not a purely white one.

He then helped her into her inner garment.

Yun Li put on her trousers herself.

When she came out, her hair didn’t need combing, so she simply pinned it up casually with a hairpin.

After their late dinner, the Emperor was evidently not done for the night.

They went back to bed, with the Emperor remaining assertive, until they could finally sleep, which was around the time of Hai (between 9 and 11 PM).

Unfortunately, they couldn't sleep till morning.

Yun Li was awoken by news that Zhang Xiaoyi was in labor.

She immediately became alert, as did the Emperor.

"She might deliver prematurely. The Imperial Physician has already rushed there, and the Empress has gone too. They say it's somewhat dangerous," Meng Chang reported through the door.

He Jinli frowned: "I will go and see."

Yun Li also sat up, and soon someone came in to help them both dress.

After getting dressed, Yun Li stopped the attendants from doing her hair, opting to pin it up herself: "Your Majesty, I would like to go and see as well."

He Jinli nodded, ordering the preparations.

Since he was taking a carriage, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Yun Li to walk; she took a palanquin.

They both headed to Tingzhu Xuan shortly after each other.

The Empress, the Imperial Concubine, Consort De, Consort Lan, and others were all present.

Other court members also gradually arrived.

Seeing the Emperor, everyone hurriedly paid their respects, and many glanced maliciously at Yun Li, whose hair was casually pinned up.

But at the moment, that was the least of their concerns.

The Emperor sat down and asked, "What's the situation?"

"Your servant does not yet know the details, Your Majesty. Suddenly word came that Zhang Xiaoyi had 'shown red,' indicating the onset of labor. But she’s not even eight months along. It's a premature birth. The midwives are already here, and the Imperial Physician is still inside," the Empress explained.

As she spoke, the Imperial Physician came out.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, Zhang Xiaoyi has ingested a labor-inducing drug, possibly mixed with a blood-activating medicine. At this point, we can only try our best to deliver the baby safely," the Imperial Physician said.

Everyone was shocked. Why would she take such drugs?

"Investigate this," He Jinli ordered, frowning.

"Everyone unrelated may leave. The Empress, the Imperial Concubine, and Consort De should stay to assist."

As the crowd was about to disperse, the Empress quickly said, "It's late now. Your Majesty should rest. We’ll detain everyone here and ensure nothing goes amiss. Just leave some guards. Consort Yun hasn’t seen Your Majesty for a while; perhaps she should accompany you back."

He Jinli nodded, still frowning: "Very well, the rest may leave. Consort Yun will stay."

Yun Li thought to herself how she wished to be released to go back.

But she had no choice but to stay.

In the end, only the Empress, the Imperial Concubine, Consort De, and Yun Li remained.

He Jinli gave a few more instructions and then left with Yun Li back to Zhengyang Palace.

The Empress and the others waited a while, but there was still no movement from the room.

Zhang Xiaoyi clenched her teeth, following the instructions, aware of the hardship of forced labor.