The scene suddenly became awkward, and even Zhang Wanyin was taken aback; she had not expected that she was the one who wanted to call the Emperor to see her!
Her expression shifted, and she said with a slightly stiff tone, "Wanrou, even if you are doing this for my sake, you cannot make such demands of the Emperor! The Emperor toils day and night for state affairs. As Imperial Concubines, if we cannot help, we certainly should not add to his troubles!"
"If the Emperor has the heart and the time, he will naturally come to visit us! You must not say such things again in the future!"
Zhang Wanrou lowered her head and replied softly, "Wanrou understands. I am sorry, Elder Sister, it was Wanrou who was rash..."
Cheng Qi, seeing this, smiled and said, "Do not worry, my ladies. The Emperor is busy with a thousand tasks, but he did say that after the morning court session, he would come to Yonghe Palace for lunch."
Zhang Wanyin’s face revealed a hint of surprise; clearly, she had not expected the Emperor to actually come for lunch.
After Cheng Qi left, Zhang Wanyin looked at Zhang Wanrou with a calm expression: "Since you have received the Emperor's favor today, you should rest well on the couch. Perhaps you will be able to bear a son in one go! In this Harem, only a woman with a child by her side can live as smoothly as a fish in water. Do you understand?"
Zhang Wanrou nodded and replied obediently, "Do not worry, Elder Sister, Rou'er understands!"
After saying this, Zhang Wanyin hurried back to the Main Hall and gave an order, "The Emperor is coming for lunch today. Go, tell the staff to prepare a plate of Golden Silk Candied Jujube Cake! Remember, the Emperor does not like sweets, so make sure the cakes are not too sweet!"
Chun Xu replied immediately, "Yes, this servant will go and give the order right away!"
Just as things were bustling with activity over there, Zhang Wanrou returned to the side room of the Side Hall and collapsed!
Even with a thick layer of rouge applied, it could not hide her pale complexion.
"My Lady!!"
Qing Ning hurried to help Zhang Wanrou onto the couch. The rouge on her face, washed away by sweat, was already mottled and unsightly.
"I am fine, I will be better after some rest." She shook her head weakly, and as soon as she was on the couch, she fell into a deep sleep.
On the other side, after Xiao Wenyi finished the morning court session, he dealt with a pile of memorials.
It was only when Cheng Fang reminded him about lunch that he returned his focus from the state affairs.
"Your Majesty, you mentioned today that you would go to Yonghe Palace for lunch. Shall I prepare the Imperial carriage?"
Putting down the memorial, Xiao Wenyi thought of the kitten-like Zhang Wanrou from last night and said calmly, "Let us go."
Yonghe Palace.
Seeing the Imperial carriage, Chun Xu hurried to report, "Noble Consort, the Emperor has arrived!"
Zhang Wanyin quickly straightened her clothes and head ornaments, then stood in the courtyard to wait.
Xiao Wenyi had changed into a Xuanse robe, upon which golden dragons soared and auspicious clouds were densely patterned; with every step he took, it seemed as if flowing light spilled out.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. May you live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
"Rise, Noble Consort, there is no need for such formalities!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Entering the Inner Hall, Xiao Wenyi sat down, and Zhang Wanyin had someone bring over a plate of Golden Silk Candied Jujube Cake.
"Your Majesty," she said in a sweet and delicate voice, sitting beside Xiao Wenyi, "this is the Golden Silk Candied Jujube Cake that I made myself. Knowing that you do not like sweets, I specifically made it less sweet. Would you like to try it?"
Xiao Wenyi nodded. Cheng Fang immediately stepped forward to taste it, and only after that did Xiao Wenyi pick it up to take a small bite.
"Hmm, not bad. You have a thoughtful heart, my beloved concubine."
After tasting only one bite, he put the jujube cake back.
Scanning the room, he asked, "Is Wanrou not here?"
Zhang Wanyin’s body stiffened, and the smile on her face froze slightly. She quickly composed her emotions and said, "It is because Your Majesty does not know how to cherish the delicate. Last night, you tired my younger sister quite a bit, so I let her rest a little longer!"
Xiao Wenyi recalled the indulgence of last night, and a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face. "Indeed, that Yatou was truly exhausted! When she returned, did she cry?"
He hoped she hadn't complained in private to her sister, saying that he, an Emperor, had bullied a young girl!
Although he had indeed bullied her, and quite severely at that.
Zhang Wanyin frowned slightly, then smiled, "Your Majesty is joking. Serving you is our duty as Imperial Concubines and a great honor. Why would Wanrou cry?"
"Besides, she is not the type to cry easily, so Your Majesty need not worry."
Xiao Wenyi raised an eyebrow. Not the type to cry easily?
It seems the Noble Consort does not know her own younger sister very well!
Last night, she had cried quite a lot!
Thinking of this, a trace of helplessness flashed through his heart again, and he said, "Cheng Fang, go call Consort Zhang over to join us for lunch!"
Cheng Fang was about to agree, but heard the Noble Consort say, "Your Majesty, I have already prepared a separate lunch for my younger sister. At this hour, she has likely already finished eating."
Hearing this, Xiao Wenyi’s gaze, which had previously held a smile, suddenly became colder as he stared at her.
Zhang Wanyin felt a chill in her heart under that gaze and explained, "Your Majesty, why, why are you looking at me like that?"
Xiao Wenyi calmly withdrew his gaze: "Serve the meal."
Cheng Fang immediately gave the order.
This meal was not easy to eat, and Zhang Wanyin even felt a great sense of pressure.
After finishing the meal, Xiao Wenyi left without saying a word and went straight to the side room where Zhang Wanrou was staying.
At that time, Zhang Wanrou was eating. After resting for the whole morning, her spirits had improved, but her complexion remained pale.
She was wearing pink-white undergarments, her long hair draped over her back, as she gently blew on the hot porridge in her bowl.
Qing Ning placed some fish meat into her dish, "My Lady, you must eat more meat to nourish your body."
Zhang Wanrou saw that she was still full of worry and smiled at her, "Don't worry, Qing Ning, I will eat more at dinner!"
Having lived a second life, she would not mistreat herself! However, having just taken the potent Contraceptive Pill, she could not eat meat yet.
"Why wait until evening to eat?"
The sudden male voice startled Qing Ning. She looked back, immediately knelt down, and kowtowed, "This servant greets the Emperor!"
"Your Majesty?" Zhang Wanrou also stood up in surprise, not even putting down the porridge in her hand.
Xiao Wenyi walked in with a slight smile, his presence imposing and awe-inspiring, like an insurmountable mountain that made one feel intimidated.
After reacting, she quickly knelt down, "Your subject greets the Emperor!"
Xiao Wenyi quickened his pace, held her arm, and smiled, "You are the first person to greet me while holding a bowl of plain porridge!"
Zhang Wanrou stood up, quickly put down the porridge, and a blush appeared on her face, "Your Majesty, you are bullying me again!"
Xiao Wenyi could not bear to hear the word "bullying" now; he would unconsciously think of last night, that tear-streaked face he had "bullied" until she cried.
At this moment, that little tear-streaked face was still pale.
"Why is your complexion so poor? Has the Imperial Physician seen you?"
Zhang Wanrou put down the bowl, linked her arm with his, and smiled at him, "I am just a bit tired, there is no need to see the Imperial Physician."
"Your Majesty, didn't you go to my Elder Sister's place for lunch? Have you finished?"
"Did you eat the Golden Silk Candied Jujube Cake? Was it delicious?"
She looked bright and beautiful, showing no signs of the weakness she had displayed earlier.
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