Shen Si worked late into the night by lamplight, copying the palace regulations. Zhishu and Zhi Hua had initially wanted to help her.
“No need. His Majesty punished me, so I must obey. Since he ordered me to copy them, I cannot let others do it for me.”
“Miss, His Majesty still cares for you. Even if you don’t finish copying, he won’t blame you. If you exhaust yourself like this and fall ill, you’ll only suffer.”
Zhishu looked at her mistress with concern. Having served her for so long, she had never seen her so diligent.
Moreover, these past two days, while going through the divorce with the Marquis, the young lady had been frequently visiting Ningde Palace. Even a fool could see what she intended.
This was truly audacious. The young lady was still the wife of a minister. If word got out, the court would surely condemn her and demand she beg for forgiveness.
Although in Gu Dynasty’s history, there were instances of rulers taking ministers’ wives, sons taking fathers’ wives, and fathers taking sons’ wives, none of those ended well.
Still, His Majesty treated the young lady better than the Marquis had. The Marquis had neglected their mistress for so long—it was hard to imagine they were husband and wife.
Shen Si said earnestly, “I know I could take my time copying, but I also want to see His Majesty sooner.”
Her shy, maidenly demeanor was unmistakable, even more enthusiastic and proactive than she had ever been with the Marquis.
Zhishu and Zhi Hua hurriedly checked for eavesdroppers. Their mistress truly had no sense of caution.
“Miss, you can say such things to us, but never speak them outside,” Zhi Hua reminded, feeling a chill at the thought.
They were deep within the palace walls, where a single misstep could mean death.
Shen Si, of course, knew this. She wasn’t that foolish. “Qingshui Palace is staffed entirely by His Majesty’s people. You needn’t worry.”
Under the Emperor’s protection, she could afford to be carefree.
Zhishu and Zhi Hua exchanged uneasy glances. That only made them more anxious—didn’t that mean every corner of Qingshui Palace was under His Majesty’s watchful eye?
Everything said and done would be known to His Majesty. The two instantly grew tense.
Shen Si strained herself to copy the palace regulations as quickly as possible. After working day and night, her eyes could barely stay open, and her hands were stained with ink.
But she didn’t want to wait a moment longer. Clutching the Imperial Papers, she hurried to see His Majesty.
Qinzheng Hall.
His Majesty was receiving several ministers to discuss matters of state. The discussions were at a critical juncture and showed no sign of ending soon.
Liu Cha’en noticed his junior apprentice peeking through the doorway and quietly slipped out.
“What is it?”
“Chief Steward, Marquess Xie’s Lady has come again. We… couldn’t stop her.”
The Junior Eunuch wore a troubled expression. His Majesty treated the lady so well—how could they dare to obstruct her?
Liu Cha’en was slightly surprised. “Wasn’t the lady copying the palace regulations?”
“Yes, she said she finished and brought them for His Majesty to review.” The Junior Eunuch quickly relayed the message.
Liu Cha’en wondered if the lady had copied them carelessly. That would violate His Majesty’s strictest taboo—he despised those who tried to cut corners or act clever.
“Inform the lady that His Majesty is truly occupied with state affairs. Ask her to return and wait.”
He hurried back to attend to His Majesty.
The Junior Eunuch scurried away.
Upon hearing she was to return, Shen Si’s vision darkened, and she fainted directly onto the sitting couch.
“Oh, my lady! What’s wrong?” The Junior Eunuch was terrified—this was a disaster.
He quickly sent someone to fetch the imperial physician.
Meanwhile.
Liu Cha’en hesitated over whether to report the matter—after all, Lady Shen had fainted, and she had fainted in His Majesty’s bedchamber.
Gu Lingyun took a sip of tea and spoke unhurriedly, “That will be all for today. The Shumiyuan and the Three Departments should thoroughly prepare the border military supplies.”
“Your servants obey.” Several First Rank Officials in purple robes then filed out of the Imperial Study one after another.
Liu Cha’en, perceptive as ever, stepped forward to report, “Your Majesty, Lady Xie has just fainted.”
Gu Lingyun immediately strode out, his expression darkening slightly. “What happened?”
“The imperial physician hasn’t arrived yet, so we don’t know the lady’s condition.” Liu Cha’en broke into a cold sweat. Despite serving the emperor for so long, this was the first time he had to say “I don’t know.”
Gu Lingyun walked briskly back. Shen Si lay on the bed, pale and unconscious. The palace maids dared not move her to the dragon bed.
“Your Majesty!” Everyone knelt.
The man walked over, picked her up directly, and placed her on his own dragon bed. He touched her forehead and face—there were no signs of fever.
“The imperial physician has arrived!” Liu Cha’en led the physician in, breathing a sigh of relief.
This was Zhang Taiyi’s second visit. Once again seeing the woman placed on the dragon bed by His Majesty, he wished he could gouge out his own eyes.
“Zhang Taiyi, Head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, pays respects to Your Majesty.”
“Examine her. Why did she faint?” Gu Lingyun’s tone was several degrees colder than usual, his face clouded over, yet his emotions remained well concealed.
The physician hurriedly began the examination. After taking her pulse, he frowned, then said with certainty, “Marquess Xie’s Lady has fainted from overexertion. She will recover with some rest.”
A false alarm.
Gu Lingyun frowned slightly and looked at Liu Cha’en. “What was she busy with at Qingshui Palace?”
“Your Majesty, Lady Xie has been copying the palace regulations without a moment’s rest. She completed the task in a day and a night without drinking a drop of water.”
When Liu Cha’en heard the report from the Qingshui Palace servants, he too was astonished. Given Lady Xie’s previously lax nature, it was uncertain whether she would even finish copying, yet now she had not only completed it diligently but also swiftly.
However, he quickly added, “Lady Xie said she wished to finish copying early to see Your Majesty, which is why she worked tirelessly until she collapsed.”
Gu Lingyun had already seen the papers filled with writing on the table. Her handwriting closely resembled his own, for he had personally taught her to practice calligraphy.
He had made her trace character by character under his watchful eye, so it was only natural that it resembled his.
“Dismissed.”
Liu Cha’en promptly ushered everyone out, leaving only the two of them in the bedchamber.
Gu Lingyun’s gaze fell on her cold, pale face. As the candlelight flickered, his expression softened gradually. He noticed her hands, reddened and stained with ink from writing.
“How will you see me if you’re asleep?”
She showed no signs of waking. The emperor sat for a while before leaving.
Late at night.
She was still asleep. Gu Lingyun changed into his bright yellow sleeping robes and lay down. Shen Si instinctively nestled into his embrace, holding him as she slept even more soundly.
The emperor, long accustomed to his lofty position, had never indulged anyone like this before. He lowered his gaze to the woman in his arms, allowing her to inch further into his favor.
Just before the Morning Court Assembly.
As soon as Gu Lingyun opened his eyes, he met another pair of bright, clear eyes.
Shen Si had woken half an hour earlier. After discovering she was once again lying on His Majesty’s dragon bed, she had been excited for a while, then stared intently at his handsome, distinguished face.
His Majesty was truly good-looking—no wonder everyone in the rear palace vied for his favor. To be liked by him would surely bring joy for a long time.
“Your Majesty~ You’re awake. I didn’t get to speak properly with you yesterday.”
“Have you seen the palace regulations I copied? I wrote every single character myself. It was so much work.”
She lay nestled in His Majesty’s embrace, savoring this rare moment of tenderness.
Gu Lingyun sat up, still clung to by her, his gaze gradually clearing and turning cold. “After copying so many palace regulations, do you still not know your place?”