Later on, Luo Shuran felt tired and quietly found a stool to sit on.
At first, she sat properly, but perhaps seeing no one else around, she relaxed her posture, leaning her back against the chair.
“If you’re tired, lie down on the couch and rest for a while,” the Emperor’s low voice came.
Luo Shuran looked up and saw the Emperor buried in reviewing memorials, clearly still busy for a while. She pursed her red lips, no longer pretending to be gentle and virtuous, and lifting her skirt, she walked to the small couch, taking a soft cushion to lie down.
The Emperor’s bed was indeed extraordinary—neither too hard nor too soft, and when lying on her side, she could smell a faint woody fragrance. Closing her eyes, her weariness slowly dissipated.
When Chen An entered, he saw this scene, which was somewhat different from what he had imagined. How could Talent Luo, who was supposed to be serving with brush and ink, end up lying down and falling asleep?
He carried the tea and placed it on the Emperor’s desk, not disturbing him, and helped grind ink on the side.
Not long after, Qi Jingheng took a sip of water, looked at Chen An beside him, and said seriously, “I have finished reviewing. You may leave now.”
Chen An bowed in acknowledgment. Hmm, he had been redundant entering in the first place.
Meanwhile, Qi Jingheng stood up, stretching his arms, which felt sore and stiff. Then he walked toward the small couch nearby, his footsteps unintentionally lightening.
He looked down at the woman lying on her side. Her pink-purple long skirt floated like a blooming flower on the bed, and she seemed like a fairy among flowers, sleeping peacefully.
Qi Jingheng bent down to observe her sleeping face—serene and beautiful, with her small lips slightly pouted, making one want to give them a peck.
His gaze drifted downward, and he noticed the faint bruises on her chest. Qi Jingheng’s throat tightened as he recalled the scenes from the previous night.
But it had to be said, her skin was too delicate—even the slightest torment left marks.
“Your Majesty? Are you finished?” Luo Shuran opened her eyes, her clear gaze veiled with a misty haze, hazy and indistinct.
In truth, she hadn’t fallen asleep at all, only dozed for a while. She was fully aware of when Eunuch Chen entered and left, and when the Emperor approached.
Sometimes, a little lie could be particularly alluring.
Qi Jingheng gently stroked her cheek with his fingertip, then pinched it, feeling its soft and springy texture. A low hum escaped his throat. “Mm.”
Luo Shuran sat up, soft and charming. In that instant, the pearl earring on her right side fell off. Before she could react, she saw the Emperor catch it, steady in his palm.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Luo Shuran said with a smile, reaching to take it from his hand. But she saw Qi Jingheng close his fist, then heard him speak, “I will put it on for you.”
Such feminine adornments were something Qi Jingheng had never done before. Today, he felt an inexplicable urge, perhaps because he found her delicate and lovely ears beautiful.
Luo Shuran’s lips trembled slightly, then she smiled, turning her body to face him. “Then I must trouble Your Majesty.” Although she felt a bit apprehensive inside, she willingly accepted the Emperor’s kindness.
The Emperor disliked timid and cowardly people, especially when a man wanted to do something for you. The degree of acceptance would give him a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
Qi Jingheng sat beside her. The earring looked particularly tiny in his hand—the same hand that usually wielded swords and blades trembled slightly as he handled it, careful not to hurt her.
Luo Shuran tilted her head slightly to look at him, meeting the Emperor’s gaze. Then she saw him holding the earring and slowly threading it through her earlobe.
Feeling the weight, Luo Shuran’s hand inadvertently brushed across the Emperor’s back. Her slender fingertips swept aside a stray lock of hair, grazing her earring and revealing the fair, delicate curve of her neck—utterly alluring.
Qi Jingheng’s eyes darkened. Truth be told, this was when he found her most captivating. He lowered his head, leaning close to her neck, inhaling the faint, intoxicating fragrance that made it hard for him to restrain himself.
Just then, the woman in his arms nuzzled against his forehead like a little kitten.
Qi Jingheng’s rough palm wrapped around her waist, applying a bit of force, and her entire body fell into his embrace.
Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, a sound came from outside. “Your Majesty!” It was Chen An’s voice.
Qi Jingheng frowned in displeasure but still released his hold and looked toward the entrance. “Enter.”
Normally, as the Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Palace, Chen An had a keen sense of timing. If it were a trivial matter, he wouldn’t have come in at this moment. It seemed something urgent had arisen.
Luo Shuran stepped back behind the Emperor, her mind racing with thoughts. She quickly sifted through her memories but couldn’t recall any major event happening today.
Soon, Chen An entered, bowing with his head lowered. He knew he had interrupted the Emperor’s pleasure, but the urgency outside left him no choice.
“Your Majesty, a eunuch from Le’an Palace has reported that Consort Shu is unwell…” Before Chen An could finish, the Emperor cut him off. “Then have Imperial Physician Wang attend to her.”
Qi Jingheng had lost patience. Consort Shu had pulled such stunts before; he could almost guess it was just her throwing a tantrum rather than being genuinely ill.
Chen An decided to get it all out in one go. “Reporting to Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Wang has already been there. He says Consort Shu is with child.”
“With child?” Qi Jingheng was momentarily stunned but quickly showed a pleased expression. “Good. Prepare the imperial carriage for Le’an Palace.”
Luo Shuran stepped forward with proper decorum. “Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Consort Shu.”
Qi Jingheng’s mind was no longer on her, but he still smiled and patted her hand. “My beloved consort, return for now. I will come see you another day.”
Luo Shuran smiled and accepted this. At present, the Emperor’s interest in her was fleeting; he didn’t like her rejecting his advances, but that didn’t mean she could make demands freely. After all, Consort Shu’s pregnancy was a major event.
Once she left the Qianqing Palace, Luo Shuran walked along the path, her thoughts churning. She recalled certain things that seemed different from her past life.
In her past life, Consort Shu’s first pregnancy had indeed occurred this year, but it should have been diagnosed after the Empress held the Third Prince’s first birthday celebration.
If Consort Shu had known she was pregnant all along but concealed it until the pregnancy was stable, it was most likely to protect her child.
Luo Shuran’s eyes slowly lifted. Could it also be related to what happened at the birthday banquet? Using her own joyous news to divert attention?
If so, the Third Prince’s incident might not be unrelated to Consort Shu.
At this thought, Luo Shuran couldn’t help but sharpen her focus. This time, Consort Shu had rushed to tell the Emperor, likely sensing danger and seeking to regain favor.
Her next move might very well target her.
Xi Chun followed behind Luo Shuran, her expression grim. Consort Shu was Consort Xian’s sworn enemy. Her pregnancy was a disastrous turn of events.
With different thoughts in mind, the two saw someone approaching from around the corner of the flower bushes. Before they could clearly make out who it was, the sedan chair seemed to ignore them entirely, picking up speed and charging straight toward them.
Luo Shuran tried to dodge, but it was too late. She was knocked aside, and pain quickly shot through her arm. The sedan chair landed heavily, and the maid standing in front spoke angrily.
“You blind fool! How dare you bump into Qi Zhaorong!”