CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 39: CONCUBINE LAN (DOUBLE-LENGTH UPDATE)

Resolutely not leaving?

Yun Jiao still didn’t believe it. She refreshed many times, and only when her face fell did she see the Emperor say, "Hmm, I’ll go now, Attendant Lady Xi, rest early."

Then he stepped out of the tent.

After seeing the Emperor off, Yun Jiao asked Xue Ya to blow out the lamp, blissfully lay on the noble bed exclusive to the Emperor, intending to roll around as usual, but after one roll she pressed on a bruised area, crying out in pain.

She was as fragile as a romance novel’s heroine T_T

Xue Ya heard the noise and quickly came to check, finding it was her own mistress’s fault, couldn’t help feeling distressed: "Mistress, stop moving around like that, or it will get serious, and then you’ll need to call an Imperial Physician."

"I’ll, I’ll just sleep."

Yun Jiao shivered, she really didn’t want anyone to know she bruised herself while scrubbing.

She listened to the sound of the night wind blowing over the grassland, soon feeling sleepy. Just as she was about to make a big move into sleep, she noticed slight movement beside her, too lazy to open her eyes in her half-awake state, she murmured, "Xue Ya, if you’re tired, sleep beside me for a while, wake up early tomorrow, just don’t let the Emperor catch you."

The Xue Ya she mentioned had already been chased out.

Xie Zhixing lowered his head to look at her, he had long suspected that fairies occasionally lust after earthly beauty; today’s bath confirmed it further. When he turned his back, she mischievously took advantage of him, and even the Emperor felt it was like stolen jade and scented theft.

It was odd but not unpleasant.

When Yun Jiao was awake, she was too spirited and cunning; besides her lively eyes, she often made him forget she was chosen from thousands for her stunning looks. Attractive people often take advantage, a beautiful face alone inspires many lovely imaginations, making her appear calm, wise, gentle, and virtuous.

At this time, Yun Jiao’s lips moved slightly, as if she was saying something.

But the sound was too faint for him to hear clearly.

Xie Zhixing was extremely curious, leaning closer to hear, hoping she would say it again.

After a few seconds, he finally heard Yun Jiao mumbling again in her sleep.

"I want to eat roast lamb..."

Emperor: ...

He shouldn’t have had expectations for her.

A fairy’s thoughts are impossible for ordinary people to fathom.

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The next morning, still excited from the trip and remembering she had to pay her respects to the Empress, Yun Jiao woke up especially early.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt discomfort in her right leg.

Then she saw a living person lying next to her, staring at her!

"Emperor!"

Yun Jiao was greatly shocked, simultaneously realizing that her leg was resting on his knee, due to being pressed for so long, the blood circulation was uncomfortable, she sulkily drew her leg back: "Emperor, why did you put your knee under my calf?"

Xie Zhixing was amused by her reverse accusation:

"Attendant Lady Xi, do you want to hear what you’re saying."

"Emperor, my hand and leg are both uncomfortable."

Yun Jiao showed weakness.

She wasn’t fragile like paper; although bruised, it wasn’t seriously painful as long as not touched, her calf would be fine with a little movement. Xie Zhixing took her seriously, instructing the servants: "Summon Doctor Xia."

"Yes."

"Emperor, that’s not necessary! I’m not in pain, I also need to go pay respects to the Empress."

The speaker spoke mindlessly, but the listener frowned: "Did the Empress treat you poorly?"

Xie Zhixing recalled returning to Jianzhang Palace once.

He couldn’t ask directly nor did he have evidence, relying on the understanding between a young couple—

When the Empress first joined the palace, she was a closed book. He asked where she was unwell, what she wanted, what she disliked, getting answers perfectly matching the "Yan Chi Virtuous Wife Guide," and after he received answers such as "no discomfort," "nothing desired," and "everything in the house is excellent," he left reassured, only to find her later resentful.

He couldn’t understand and didn’t bother figuring it out, as his then priority was to discern the imperial intent, suppress artistic brothers, and busy with his work topics. With the Central Palace having no heirs, holding the eldest son’s position was risky, if he did not eventually ascend, regardless of a new ruler’s mercy, his best outcome would be lifelong imprisonment.

"When paying respects and serving tea, the Empress’s palace maid deliberately handed me burning hot tea; fortunately, I’m wise, kept my guard up, avoided a major mistake by not dropping the cup,"

Since the Emperor asked, Yun Jiao confessed.

In many palace intrigue novels, the protagonists avoid trouble fearing ruining their image in the Emperor’s heart, thinking they are spreading slander, choosing to endure and wait for the Emperor to investigate himself, maintaining a pure image of not competing, quietly revealing: "Later, it stopped; they’re probably above stooping to quarrel with a mere attendant. Everyone has off days."