CHAPTER 114: CHAPTER 113 TROUBLE ARISES

Finally, the evening meal was over, and they had bathed. Within the Shark Gauze Canopy, they lay down together. Zhao Junyao caressed the fragrant, soft body in his arms. Her fair skin was silky to the touch. Having cared for her for over half a year, he had finally nurtured her to be plump and smooth. She was like a fresh and juicy fruit—a single bite promised endless delight, a taste that lingered on!

There’s a saying that beauty is a feast for the eyes. And another that says, ’Wine doesn’t intoxicate man; man intoxicates himself.’ At this moment, Zhao Junyao was so enchanted that his gaze grew hazy.

"Qingqing..."

He hugged her urgently. His breathing was ragged, and his breath, laced with alcohol, warmed her skin as he kissed her neck and collarbone repeatedly.

Xia Ruqing caught the faint scent of alcohol on him. His tolerance is so high, and he didn’t drink much today either, she wondered. So why is he...

As Zhao Junyao kissed her, he urgently pressed down on her.

"Ah!" Xia Ruqing let out a soft cry.

Then... things became indescribable.

The sounds from their room tonight were exceptionally loud; Li Shengan, resting in the adjacent room, couldn’t fall asleep at all. Zi Yue was so embarrassed her face flushed red. She didn’t know whether to stay or leave, caught in extreme awkwardness. With such commotion, are they really doing *that*? Zi Yue thought. What if something terrible has happened!

Li Shengan was also somewhat alarmed. After some thought, he decided it was best not to sleep. Maybe later, they’ll call for water from inside, he mused. With this in mind, he got up, sent his young apprentice to bed, and stood guard himself.

Within the silvery-red Shark Gauze Canopy, Xia Ruqing bit her lip, enduring wave after wave of his powerful onslaught. Truth be told, since entering the palace, although she was not the most favored, she could be considered quite experienced. This particular battle, however, was unlike anything she had ever experienced. In less than a quarter of an hour, she surrendered. After enduring for a while longer, she truly couldn’t bear it and began to plead for mercy.

"Emperor... Emperor..."

But Zhao Junyao paid her no heed. He was like a Great General, eyes bloodshot with battle-fury, leading his tens of thousands of elite cavalry in a devastatingly exhilarating charge! Everything was perfect.

However... at this critical moment, someone stirred up trouble!

Outside Qingya Residence, a series of frantic knocks suddenly shattered the night. "Emergency! Something terrible has happened!"

Xiao Xizi, who was guarding the courtyard gate, was startled by the knocking. But then a thought occurred to him. What’s there to fear? The Emperor is here! Even if the sky were to fall, could it crush the Emperor? In this Harem, the Emperor is Heaven itself; who else could possibly matter! With that thought, he yelled towards the outside, "Stop knocking! If you disturb the Emperor, can you bear the responsibility?"

The voice from outside grew even more urgent and shouted back, "There’s trouble in Xifu Palace! If something happens to the Noble Consort, can *you* bear the responsibility?"

The two Little Eunuchs had both invoked their ultimate protectors; it was a contest of who could intimidate whom.

Hearing this, Xiao Xizi hesitated. The Noble Consort is carrying the royal heir, he pondered carefully. This indeed cannot be delayed. After confirming the urgency once more, he said, "Then wait here! I will go and report this!" With that, he hurried off, his steps nimble.

Li Shengan happened to be standing guard outside the bedroom door and could hear the sounds from within. Seeing Xiao Xizi approaching, he hurriedly ran over to stop him, sternly whispering a scold, "What are you running for? Do you have a death wish? The Emperor is inside!"

Xiao Xizi was so scared he immediately stopped and relayed what was happening outside.

Indeed, Li Shengan hesitated as well. "Are you sure you heard correctly? It’s really Xifu Palace?"

Xiao Xizi hurriedly said, "I heard clearly! It’s someone from Xifu Palace. That person even said that if anything were to happen to the Noble Consort, this servant couldn’t bear the responsibility!"

Li Shengan’s expression changed, the muscles on his face twitching with indecision. He pondered for a long while before hesitantly speaking, "Alright, it seems I have no choice but to go knock!" With that, he picked up his horsetail whisk and proceeded to knock on the door.

After several knocks, there was no response from inside. He simply cleared his throat and called out directly, "Reporting to Your Majesty..."

"Scram!"

Before he could finish, that single word erupted from within, laced with a growling fury, like an enraged beast! Li Shengan was so frightened that the hairs on his body stood on end. After a moment’s thought, he instructed Little Zhuzi, "Go see what’s happening at Xifu Palace. If there really is trouble, report back immediately!"

The Noble Consort has used the child in her belly to act spoiled and arrogant countless times,

Li Shengan thought. What if this is just another instance? He didn’t want to risk his own life over this; he still wanted to live a few more years.

Little Zhuzi departed swiftly and returned in less than half an hour, his face pale. "Grandpa Li, many Imperial Physicians are kneeling in the courtyard of Xifu Palace, and sounds of painful cries are coming from the inner chamber! The Sisters and Palace Maids are all weeping. I’m afraid..."

It looked as if something truly terrible had happened to the Noble Consort. Li Shengan was instantly alarmed. Casting all caution aside, he ran to the door and knocked. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, it’s an emergency! The Noble Consort..."

"I told you to scram!" Zhao Junyao roared, gasping for breath.

By now, Xia Ruqing was utterly vanquished, thoroughly routed. In a broken voice, she managed, "Your... Your Majesty... the Noble Consort..."

"Shut up!" Zhao Junyao, his eyes bloodshot, flipped her over, making her lie facedown on the bed as he positioned himself behind her.

Xia Ruqing was so overwhelmed by his thrusts she could barely stay kneeling, her legs as limp as noodles. "Your... Your Majesty! I can’t... I can’t take it anymore..."

Tears and mucus streamed down her face, her voice fragmented, while Zhao Junyao was thoroughly reveling in his pleasure.

This battle raged until almost the fourth watch of the night before Xia Ruqing finally succumbed to a deep slumber. Zhao Junyao, equally exhausted, collapsed into sleep beside her without even calling for water. The two of them, thus entwined, sank into a heavy sleep.

It was rare for him to be this happy, rare for him to have had a little wine, rare for him to be in such high spirits, and rare to find someone who could make him feel so utterly gratified!

「The next morning.」

After court, he learned that something had indeed happened at Xifu Palace with the Noble Consort the previous night. He had thought it was just another one of her acts... (But could he really be blamed for thinking that?)

After summoning an Imperial Physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau for questioning, Zhao Junyao’s brow furrowed once more. "The fetus was disturbed again?"

The Imperial Physician knelt, his head bowed to the ground. "Your humble servant is incompetent!"

Zhao Junyao pondered for a moment, then set off towards Xifu Palace. Since their last conflict, he hadn’t visited the Noble Consort again! He didn’t want to see the Noble Consort’s resentful face, but today, this was a visit he truly could not avoid.

「Xifu Palace.」

Noble Concubine Shih lay on the bed, her face ashen, as a Female Doctor inserted silver needles into her arms, legs, and abdomen. The Female Doctor, who knew the acupoints, inserted the needles as directed by the Imperial Physician from behind a curtain; concerns about propriety between men and women were set aside. Indeed, when it came to matters of life and death, what did such boundaries matter? When Zhao Junyao arrived, all the Palace Attendants knelt and kowtowed in greeting.

Noble Concubine Shih opened her eyes. But upon seeing the Emperor enter, she closed them again.

Ying Yue was so exasperated she almost fainted. What on earth are you doing, Your Ladyship! she despaired internally. When the Emperor doesn’t come, you yearn for him desperately. Now that he’s here, you act like this. What do you expect His Majesty to do?