After the intimate encounter that evening, Song Zhao seemed visibly exhausted.
She leaned against Xiao Jingheng's shoulder, and soon her breathing grew steady.
Moonlight bathed the delicate and fair complexion of the young girl as Xiao Jingheng leaned over and placed a light kiss on her forehead before falling asleep.
About a quarter of an hour later, once Xiao Jingheng had entered the realm of dreams, Song Zhao opened her eyes.
She waited for another joss stick's worth of time, making sure that Xiao Jingheng was fast asleep, before gently rising from the bed and quietly tiptoeing to the diamond-shaped window, opening it slightly.
The cold winter wind seeped in through the crack, causing Song Zhao to shiver.
Instead of immediately wrapping herself in the covers upon returning to the dragon couch, she proceeded to tuck all the blankets over Xiao Jingheng, fearing that he might catch a chill.
As for herself, she only wore a thin sleeping gown and lay down like that.
At dawn the next day, Xiao Jingheng was awakened by the chilly air.
He noticed that he had two layers of blankets wrapped around him, while Song Zhao lay curled up next to him, still asleep and furrowing her brows.
Hastily, he covered Song Zhao with the blankets and instinctively glanced towards the diamond-shaped window, only to realize that it had been left open throughout the night.
He thought that in the latter half of the night, feeling the cold, he unconsciously took all the blankets for himself, leaving Song Zhao exposed to the cold.
As he gently touched Song Zhao's icy cheek, his eyes filled with tenderness and his heart with guilt.
Song Zhao slowly raised her eyelids under his caress, her voice sounding weak, "Your Majesty... cough... "
Xiao Jingheng felt a pang of distress at the sound of her two coughs.
He adjusted the bedding, wrapping Song Zhao up like a zongzi, and said apologetically, "I apologize for letting you catch a chill. It was my fault last night."
Song Zhao reached out to smooth the crease in Xiao Jingheng's brow and smiled, "Where do you see weakness? Your Majesty, rest assured, I'm fine. I just felt a bit cold."
Xiao Jingheng didn't mention the fact that he had taken all the blankets. Song Zhao didn't bring it up either.
As long as they both understood what had happened, it was enough.
Later, when Xiao Jingheng hurried off to attend court, he instructed Jiang Deshun to make some ginger tea to drive away the cold and deliver it to Song Zhao. He also told her, "I will come to see you after court."
Upon returning to the palace, Song Zhao, who had been exposed to the cold air all night, began to show signs of fever.
Yun Shan was anxious to call for the imperial physician, but Song Zhao stopped her.
"If you go to fetch the physician at this time, won't it make His Majesty worry? Don't go. Didn't Jiang Gonggong bring some ginger tea? I'll have some of that, and then you can have Xiao Fuzi come in and check my pulse. Just ask him to prescribe some medicine for a wind-cold. Let's keep this matter from reaching His Majesty's ears."
"No need," Song Zhao said with a cold gaze as she took the medicine bowl from Xiao Fuzi, but instead of drinking it, she poured it all into the waste bucket.
Xiao Fuzi couldn't help but wonder, "Why is the young master doing this?"
Song Zhao explained, "I have caught a cold and fallen ill. I don't want to pass on the sickness to the Emperor and others. So, when the consorts accompany the Emperor to pray at the Empress Dowager's palace tomorrow, I won't go. You will go in my place and inform the Emperor that I am unwell."
Xiao Fuzi became even more puzzled. Song Zhao's illness was caused by catching a chill, not a contagious disease that could be passed on to others.
Furthermore, their young master always plans ahead, so she must be aware that if she doesn't accompany the Emperor to pray for the Empress, she will likely face criticism.
"If the young master doesn't go tomorrow, I'm afraid the consorts will certainly criticize her," Xiao Fuzi remarked.
Song Zhao coldly chuckled, "My illness is caused by the Emperor himself. Who dares to say otherwise?"
After saying that, he raised an eyebrow at Xiao Fuzi and said in a mysterious tone, "Come closer, I have something more important to tell you."
...
The next morning, Xiao Jingheng led the consorts and went to the Empress Dowager's palace.
During the time of praying, servants were not allowed to be present.
In the eyes of those in power, the eunuchs and maidservants held low status and were considered impure.
Keeping them around would taint the sanctity of the Buddha.
Moreover, as they were praying in the Empress Dowager's palace, all palace attendants were dismissed, leaving only the masters.
It was Xiao Jingheng who arranged this, with the Empress Dowager's presence. Since it was for the Empress's prayers, none of the consorts dared to show any negligence and arrived early.
However, among the crowd of elegant figures, Consort Ning and Song Zhao were nowhere to be seen.
Others couldn't help but comment on this.
The murmurs and whispers annoyed Xiao Jingheng, so he sent people to check on Yonghe Palace and Yaohua Palace, to see what was happening.
Yonghe Palace was relatively close to the Empress Dowager's Xianshou Palace, so the palace attendants sent to invite Consort Ning quickly returned with a message.
"Report to the Emperor, Consort Ning is feeling unwell... She can't come today..."
Anyone could tell that Consort Ning was just throwing a tantrum.
Xiao Jingheng, feeling slightly unwell, said, "Tell them to 'invite' Consort Ning here."
However, the Empress intervened, "Emperor, since Consort Ning is unwell, let's not make her go back and forth if she's not feeling well."
With these words, the Empress demonstrated her magnanimity, which made Consort Ning's petty behavior even more apparent.
While the Emperor and Empress were speaking, Xiao Fuzi, who was by Song Zhao's side, arrived.
He hesitantly relayed a message to Xiao Jingheng, "Emperor, my young master has caught a chill and is afraid of passing on the illness to the consorts. That's why she... probably can't come today."
As soon as Xiao Fuzi finished speaking, Consort Yun began to speak sarcastically, "She's never sick when it's convenient, but she conveniently falls ill now? Consort Yao, did you see her calling for a physician?"
Consort Yao hesitated, "Um... I didn't see that. During dinner last night, Song Zhao dined in her own side hall, and I didn't see her in person."
Consort Yun sneered, "If she's truly sick, why didn't she call for a physician? Is she genuinely ill or just pretending? I suspect she doesn't want to come and pray for the Empress, so she deliberately found an excuse to avoid it!"
Xiao Jingheng understood Song Zhao's illness all too well.
Upon hearing Consort Yun's speculation about Song Zhao, he immediately rebuked her.
"Who would joke about their own body? Do you think everyone is like you, full of hidden intentions? Consort Song is virtuous, and I believe she wouldn't do such a thing."
The Empress Dowager and the Empress also spoke a few words in defense of Song Zhao.
Consort Yun was embarrassed and had no choice but to subdue herself and refrain from further commenting on right and wrong.
Later, Xiao Jingheng instructed Xiao Fuzi, "Go and inform your young master to take good care of herself. I'll visit her once I'm done with my duties."
Xiao Fuzi promptly acknowledged and hurriedly took his leave.
After the intimate encounter that evening, Song Zhao seemed visibly exhausted.
She leaned against Xiao Jingheng's shoulder, and soon her breathing grew steady.
Moonlight bathed the delicate and fair complexion of the young girl as Xiao Jingheng leaned over and placed a light kiss on her forehead before falling asleep.
About a quarter of an hour later, once Xiao Jingheng had entered the realm of dreams, Song Zhao opened her eyes.
She waited for another joss stick's worth of time, making sure that Xiao Jingheng was fast asleep, before gently rising from the bed and quietly tiptoeing to the diamond-shaped window, opening it slightly.
The cold winter wind seeped in through the crack, causing Song Zhao to shiver.
Instead of immediately wrapping herself in the covers upon returning to the dragon couch, she proceeded to tuck all the blankets over Xiao Jingheng, fearing that he might catch a chill.
As for herself, she only wore a thin sleeping gown and lay down like that.
At dawn the next day, Xiao Jingheng was awakened by the chilly air.
He noticed that he had two layers of blankets wrapped around him, while Song Zhao lay curled up next to him, still asleep and furrowing her brows.
Hastily, he covered Song Zhao with the blankets and instinctively glanced towards the diamond-shaped window, only to realize that it had been left open throughout the night.
He thought that in the latter half of the night, feeling the cold, he unconsciously took all the blankets for himself, leaving Song Zhao exposed to the cold.
As he gently touched Song Zhao's icy cheek, his eyes filled with tenderness and his heart with guilt.
Song Zhao slowly raised her eyelids under his caress, her voice sounding weak, "Your Majesty... cough... "
Xiao Jingheng felt a pang of distress at the sound of her two coughs.
He adjusted the bedding, wrapping Song Zhao up like a zongzi, and said apologetically, "I apologize for letting you catch a chill. It was my fault last night."
Song Zhao reached out to smooth the crease in Xiao Jingheng's brow and smiled, "Where do you see weakness? Your Majesty, rest assured, I'm fine. I just felt a bit cold."
Xiao Jingheng didn't mention the fact that he had taken all the blankets. Song Zhao didn't bring it up either.
As long as they both understood what had happened, it was enough.
Later, when Xiao Jingheng hurried off to attend court, he instructed Jiang Deshun to make some ginger tea to drive away the cold and deliver it to Song Zhao. He also told her, "I will come to see you after court."
Upon returning to the palace, Song Zhao, who had been exposed to the cold air all night, began to show signs of fever.
Yun Shan was anxious to call for the imperial physician, but Song Zhao stopped her.
"If you go to fetch the physician at this time, won't it make His Majesty worry? Don't go. Didn't Jiang Gonggong bring some ginger tea? I'll have some of that, and then you can have Xiao Fuzi come in and check my pulse. Just ask him to prescribe some medicine for a wind-cold. Let's keep this matter from reaching His Majesty's ears."
"No need," Song Zhao said with a cold gaze as she took the medicine bowl from Xiao Fuzi, but instead of drinking it, she poured it all into the waste bucket.
Xiao Fuzi couldn't help but wonder, "Why is the young master doing this?"
Song Zhao explained, "I have caught a cold and fallen ill. I don't want to pass on the sickness to the Emperor and others. So, when the consorts accompany the Emperor to pray at the Empress Dowager's palace tomorrow, I won't go. You will go in my place and inform the Emperor that I am unwell."
Xiao Fuzi became even more puzzled. Song Zhao's illness was caused by catching a chill, not a contagious disease that could be passed on to others.
Furthermore, their young master always plans ahead, so she must be aware that if she doesn't accompany the Emperor to pray for the Empress, she will likely face criticism.
"If the young master doesn't go tomorrow, I'm afraid the consorts will certainly criticize her," Xiao Fuzi remarked.
Song Zhao coldly chuckled, "My illness is caused by the Emperor himself. Who dares to say otherwise?"
After saying that, he raised an eyebrow at Xiao Fuzi and said in a mysterious tone, "Come closer, I have something more important to tell you."
...
The next morning, Xiao Jingheng led the consorts and went to the Empress Dowager's palace.
During the time of praying, servants were not allowed to be present.
In the eyes of those in power, the eunuchs and maidservants held low status and were considered impure.
Keeping them around would taint the sanctity of the Buddha.
Moreover, as they were praying in the Empress Dowager's palace, all palace attendants were dismissed, leaving only the masters.
It was Xiao Jingheng who arranged this, with the Empress Dowager's presence. Since it was for the Empress's prayers, none of the consorts dared to show any negligence and arrived early.
However, among the crowd of elegant figures, Consort Ning and Song Zhao were nowhere to be seen.
Others couldn't help but comment on this.
The murmurs and whispers annoyed Xiao Jingheng, so he sent people to check on Yonghe Palace and Yaohua Palace, to see what was happening.
Yonghe Palace was relatively close to the Empress Dowager's Xianshou Palace, so the palace attendants sent to invite Consort Ning quickly returned with a message.
"Report to the Emperor, Consort Ning is feeling unwell... She can't come today..."
Anyone could tell that Consort Ning was just throwing a tantrum.
Xiao Jingheng, feeling slightly unwell, said, "Tell them to 'invite' Consort Ning here."
However, the Empress intervened, "Emperor, since Consort Ning is unwell, let's not make her go back and forth if she's not feeling well."
With these words, the Empress demonstrated her magnanimity, which made Consort Ning's petty behavior even more apparent.
While the Emperor and Empress were speaking, Xiao Fuzi, who was by Song Zhao's side, arrived.
He hesitantly relayed a message to Xiao Jingheng, "Emperor, my young master has caught a chill and is afraid of passing on the illness to the consorts. That's why she... probably can't come today."
As soon as Xiao Fuzi finished speaking, Consort Yun began to speak sarcastically, "She's never sick when it's convenient, but she conveniently falls ill now? Consort Yao, did you see her calling for a physician?"
Consort Yao hesitated, "Um... I didn't see that. During dinner last night, Song Zhao dined in her own side hall, and I didn't see her in person."
Consort Yun sneered, "If she's truly sick, why didn't she call for a physician? Is she genuinely ill or just pretending? I suspect she doesn't want to come and pray for the Empress, so she deliberately found an excuse to avoid it!"
Xiao Jingheng understood Song Zhao's illness all too well.
Upon hearing Consort Yun's speculation about Song Zhao, he immediately rebuked her.
"Who would joke about their own body? Do you think everyone is like you, full of hidden intentions? Consort Song is virtuous, and I believe she wouldn't do such a thing."
The Empress Dowager and the Empress also spoke a few words in defense of Song Zhao.
Consort Yun was embarrassed and had no choice but to subdue herself and refrain from further commenting on right and wrong.
Later, Xiao Jingheng instructed Xiao Fuzi, "Go and inform your young master to take good care of herself. I'll visit her once I'm done with my duties."
Xiao Fuzi promptly acknowledged and hurriedly took his leave.
