The moonlight was like water, casting a clear glow across the ground.
A cool evening breeze swept by, ruffling the calm surface of the small pond in the courtyard of Yilan Hall into ripples.
Xie Chongyuan had escorted the young lady back and stopped on the pebble-paved path before the main hall.
He smiled and said gently, "It's getting late. Huahua should go back and rest early. However, Mother has given orders tonight, so I must borrow a night's stay in Huahua's eastern side chamber again. Tomorrow morning, Huahua will need to join me for breakfast once more."
Ming Hua tilted her small face up, gazing at the emperor whose handsome features were illuminated by the moonlight, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. A wave of guilt washed over her.
She furrowed her crescent-shaped brows and apologized with a face full of remorse, "Your Majesty, I'm sorry. It's all because of Huahua. Huahua caused Your Majesty to be scolded by Mother."
Xie Chongyuan quickly reassured her, "It's no trouble. Huahua need not worry. Mother isn't truly angry with me. At my age, having Huahua by my side only now—she's merely worried and anxious on my behalf. Huahua shouldn't blame herself."
A thought seemed to occur to him, and a faint smile curled at his thin lips. His deep, magnetic voice carried a hint of teasing, "Besides, Huahua is so protective. You spoke so many kind words on my behalf before Mother just now. I'm very grateful to Huahua, so please don't feel guilty about this."
Recalling how the usually obedient and gentle young lady had so anxiously defended him before her own mother, Xie Chongyuan felt great delight in his heart.
Ming Hua shyly lowered her small head, hiding her blushing, delicate face beneath the hazy moonlight.
She stammered in explanation, "Huahua, Huahua was only speaking the truth…"
Then she hesitated and said, "Or, or… how about Your Majesty stays in the main hall tonight instead of the eastern side chamber…"
"It's been so long since I entered the palace. Huahua, Huahua should be ready by now…"
She knew that Xie Chongyuan came to Yilan Hall every day to have lunch with her—it was his way of giving her time and opportunity to gradually acclimate to her current status and the relationship between them.
Ming Hua reflected on the moments she had shared with Xie Chongyuan these past days, finished speaking in a small voice, then gathered her courage and tremblingly reached out her small hand to take hold of the broad, warm palm beneath the dark purple sleeve embroidered with silver dragon patterns.
She slowly raised her head, her limpid apricot eyes, as if holding autumn water, gazing shyly yet timidly at Xie Chongyuan's phoenix eyes that burned brightly in the moonlight.
The moment the young lady's soft, jade-like hand pressed willingly into his palm, Xie Chongyuan's body stirred slightly.
He felt as if a light feather had brushed across his heart, carrying with it an unbearable tickling sensation.
Instinctively, he greedily clasped her delicate, jade-smooth hand, feeling her icy skin and jade-like bones. Suddenly, he was reminded of that night—the young lady's warm, fragrant, and exquisite figure.
His body tightened in response, his phoenix eyes burning like fire in the darkness. Gazing into her glistening, dark apricot eyes that stirred ripples in his heart, his Adam's apple bobbed as he asked in a hoarse voice, "Is Huahua truly ready?"
"I…" Ming Hua looked at Xie Chongyuan's scorching gaze and recalled that night—how he had seemed to transform into a wild beast, as if he would devour her whole. Hesitation crept into her heart.
Though the two had gradually grown familiar these past days, and she had no complaints about Xie Chongyuan now, when she thought of how aggressively he had approached her that night, she still resisted the idea of the kind of intimate union depicted in the secret manuals—two bodies melding as one.
Her long, curled lashes fluttered in panic, then she lowered her gaze evasively, unable to speak.
Xie Chongyuan saw the young lady shrink back again, and for reasons he couldn't quite name, a flicker of disappointment passed through his heart.
His reason returned, and he realized clearly that she had only said this because she couldn't bear to see him scolded by his mother. The desire that had been sprouting in his heart dissipated like smoke. He then felt a measure of self-disgust—he had nearly been reckless and presumptuous again.
Xie Chongyuan reluctantly released the young lady's small hand. A faint smile curved at his thin lips as he gently reassured her, "Huahua need not rush or force herself. I've said it before—we have a long road ahead."
"As for Mother, I'll explain things to her myself. Huahua shouldn't feel guilty or pressured."
"I'm sorry. It's all Huahua's fault. I'm sorry…" Ming Hua slumped her small head in defeat. Beyond these words, she didn't know what else to say.
"How could this possibly be Huahua's fault? If Huahua says sorry again, I'll truly be angry," Xie Chongyuan said in a gentle voice, patting the young lady's slender shoulder to comfort her.
Then he turned to Qingyun and Nuanxue, who were waiting behind Ming Hua, and instructed in a low voice, "It's getting late. Take the Noble Consort inside quickly, attend to her washing up, and let her rest early."
The moon was bright and the stars sparse; lamplight flickered in the shadows.
When Ming Hua had leisure time, she loved to capture her daily life in paintings.
The Yilan Hall was serene and secluded, with beautiful scenery in the courtyard. Ming Hua had been painting the views of Yilan Hall in recent days.
After bathing in the washroom, she still felt no drowsiness. She went to the huanghuali rosewood carved desk and continued working on the orchid painting she had yet to finish these past few days.
But today, after setting brush to paper, she was never satisfied. She ruined several expensive scrolls and felt deeply vexed.
Looking at the fine Chengni inkstone set that Xie Chongyuan had sent her, Ming Hua's mind was filled with the flicker of disappointment that had crossed his face earlier. Her chest felt heavy and constricted, and she didn't know what was wrong with herself.
"Has His Majesty retired for the night?" Ming Hua set down her brush and turned to glance at the pitch-black window outside, her voice muffled and low.
Nuanxue placed a cup of Xueya tea that had been brewed and left to cool for a while beside Ming Hua's hand, then reported: "When this servant went out earlier to fetch refreshments for Your Highness, I noticed the lamps in the East Side Hall were still lit. His Majesty likely hasn't gone to sleep yet."
Qingyun, who was collecting Ming Hua's paintings and tidying her brushes, spoke up leisurely from the side: "Didn't Your Highness say a few days ago that she wanted to rearrange the furnishings in Yilan Hall?"
"These past few days, this servant ordered the main hall and the east and west side halls to be cleaned thoroughly. The day before yesterday, when I took the palace maids to clean the East Side Hall, I discovered that the bedding there isn't very thick."
"The East Side Hall is adjacent to the small pond. After an entire spring has passed, the dampness inside is quite heavy, and the bedding is somewhat moist. His Majesty labors over state affairs diligently—he probably won't sleep well in the East Side Hall."
Hearing this, a hint of worry appeared on Ming Hua's face. "Then did you send someone to the East Side Hall just now to change His Majesty's bedding to a new set?"
Qingyun looked innocent and explained: "Your Highness said she wanted to rearrange everything, so this servant had many of the items in the hall sent to the laundry bureau for washing. Right now, apart from the spare bedding kept for Your Highness's main hall, there's no more to be had."
Nuanxue caught Qingyun's intent and chuckled softly from the side: "Why not let this servant go to the East Side Hall on Your Highness's behalf and invite His Majesty to come rest in the main hall? That way, Your Highness needn't worry about His Majesty, and His Majesty can sleep better tonight as well."
Ming Hua watched the two of them exchanging knowing glances and suddenly realized they were conspiring together to coax her into sharing a room with the Emperor.
She glared at them with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, then flung her embroidered handkerchief at them, stomping her little feet in anger as she scolded: "Fine, fine! You two are traitors who bite the hand that feeds you!"
"You've joined forces just to throw your mistress into the tiger's mouth, haven't you? Well, there won't be any of your beloved lotus blossom crisps at mealtimes for the next few days!"
Hearing this, the two quickly begged for forgiveness.
Then Qingyun asked with a puzzled expression: "These past few days, this servant has observed that Your Highness and His Majesty have endless things to talk about every day, and your feelings for each other are growing better and better. Why is Your Highness still unwilling to share a room with His Majesty? And why describe it so dramatically as entering the tiger's mouth?"
Ming Hua thought again of how Xie Chongyuan had looked that night—as if he wanted to devour her whole. Wasn't she just a little lamb waiting to be slaughtered?
Her small face flushed crimson. She lowered her head, stammering with a look of shy embarrassment, and said irritably: "Oh, it's just—it's just that I'm not ready yet. You're not allowed to ask anymore!"
"Alright, alright. Since Your Highness doesn't wish to speak of it, this servant won't ask."
Qingyun looked at her mistress's flustered and annoyed expression and dared not press further. She only continued to advise earnestly: "These past few days, this servant has observed that His Majesty treats Your Highness with the utmost care in every way. Your Highness must not disappoint His Majesty's sincere heart."
Ming Hua lowered her eyes, a look of guilt on her face. "I know…"
These past few days, Xie Chongyuan's favor and concern for her had been meticulous in every way. Though he was an exalted emperor, when he was with her, he humbled himself in every matter, always putting her wishes first, never once putting on imperial airs before her. He indulged her even more than her parents and elder brothers at home.
Even if she hadn't entered the palace, she would be hard-pressed to find a husband with such good looks and temperament.
Ming Hua's dark eyes darted thoughtfully. She pursed her lips and pondered for a moment, then instructed Qingyun: "Take a new set of bedding from my quarters, along with some of the agarwood incense I use to calm the mind, and deliver them to His Majesty in the East Side Hall."
Although the East Side Hall was by the water, summer had now arrived—it wouldn't still be damp, at most just a bit humid.
But while Qingyun and Nuanxue had exaggerated somewhat, the East Side Hall truly wasn't as comfortable as the main hall. Xie Chongyuan labored over state affairs every day and still spared attention to care for her in so many ways—she couldn't bear to see him uncomfortable.
The night was dark and the wind was high. The lamps in the East Side Hall were still lit.
The large table of nourishing soup and delicacies that the Empress Dowager had specially prepared that night was extremely fortifying.
On his way back to Yilan Hall, Xie Chongyuan had already felt an unusual heat rising in his body. It was only because the young lady was by his side that he had been forcibly suppressing the strange sensation.
After entering the eastern side hall, he immediately ordered Li Shun'an, who was on duty tonight, to prepare ice water for his bath. He soaked in the ice water for nearly half an hour before coming out.
When he emerged from the bathing chamber and saw the calming incense and fresh bedding that the young lady had sent over for him, the faint sense of disappointment hidden in his heart from earlier tonight vanished completely.
In the past, when Xie Chongyuan was on military campaigns, he could fall asleep anywhere, even on the bare ground. Now, his only requirement for bedding was that it be clean.
But tonight, he made an exception and didn't mind the trouble at all. He had someone change the bedding to the set the young lady had thoughtfully sent over, and lit the agarwood calming incense she had given him before going to sleep.
As the night deepened, only a dim candle flame remained lit in the hall. Xie Chongyuan wrapped himself in the brocade quilt with clustered flower patterns that the young lady had sent, feeling an inexplicable joy and contentment in his heart.
But gradually, Xie Chongyuan noticed that this bedding was filled with a familiar, sweet fragrance.
He thought about it carefully—it seemed to be exactly the same scent as the young lady's. Could it be that she had sent him her own bedding?
With this thought, his mind couldn't help but wander into improper territory, gradually turning dark and lewd. The restless heat he had only just suppressed seemed to flare up again like dry kindling meeting a flame, drawn out by this sweet fragrance.
Xie Chongyuan, now lying beneath bedding filled with the young lady's sweet scent, gradually lost his composure. His mind was filled entirely with images of that night—the young lady beneath him, her robes half-open, pitiful and endearing, yielding to his every desire.
He greedily inhaled the scent from the brocade quilt, and before long, a damp patch had soaked through the dry fabric.
When Xie Chongyuan regained his senses, he felt a surge of shame and self-loathing at how he had lost control like a beast just moments ago.
He suddenly felt that this young lady was sent by heaven specifically to subdue him. Now, even just a faint trace of her fragrance could disturb his peace of mind and make him lose his composure so completely.
His mother's tonic soup tonight had been made with generous ingredients, and now, smelling the fragrance from that brocade quilt, he felt like he was drinking poison to quench his thirst.
Looking at the soiled bedding, Xie Chongyuan sat up, rubbed his brow, and let out a helpless, soft sigh. Then he rose and, feeling somewhat awkward, called Li Shun'an in to have the quilt taken away for washing, and to prepare cold water for another bath.
But who would have thought—he had barely settled into the bath when a faint commotion began to drift in from outside the hall.
"What's happening outside?" Xie Chongyuan asked with a furrowed brow.
Li Shun'an went out and returned almost immediately, bowing as he reported: "Your Majesty, it seems the Noble Consort is unwell. The maidservants in the main hall are bustling about attending to her."
"What's wrong with the Noble Consort?" Xie Chongyuan's face showed a flash of concern upon hearing this, and he immediately rose to his feet.
He grabbed the night robe from the ebony clothes rack, draping it on as he asked urgently: "Have you heard where exactly she's feeling unwell? Has anyone been sent to summon the imperial physician?"
Li Shun'an hurriedly bowed again and reported: "Qingyun, the young lady attending to the Noble Consort, only said that the Noble Consort is slightly indisposed. She didn't specify where she's feeling unwell, nor has anyone been sent to summon the imperial physician."
Hearing this, Xie Chongyuan's brow furrowed even more tightly. He gave the order in a deep voice: "Go quickly to the Imperial Medical Bureau and invite Physician Li to come to Yilan Hall to examine the Noble Consort!"
With that, he fastened his night robe and strode out of the bathing chamber in large steps.
Li Shun'an, left standing in place, was astonished.
Physician Li—that was the imperial physician who exclusively took the emperor's pulse.