“Your Majesty, drink it while it’s hot. It will help you sleep well tonight. I notice you’ve been looking unwell lately—once it goes cold, it will lose its calming properties.”
The Empress Dowager slowly turned the prayer beads in her hand. Though her words were full of concern, her tone carried no emotion whatsoever, spoken stiffly.
Liu Cheng read the situation and dared to speak up: “Empress Dowager, this servant has already instructed the Yushanfang to prepare Anshentang tonight, and His Majesty has just consumed it.”
“Oh? Already drunk it?” The Empress Dowager cast a sidelong glance at Liu Cheng. “It seems I’ve wasted my efforts. In that case, I shall bestow this bowl of soup upon you.”
Liu Cheng lowered his head a little further, glanced at the bowl not far away, and spoke with difficulty: “This servant… thanks the Empress Dowager for her great kindness.”
“The Anshentang Mother sends is far more effective than what the Yushanfang prepares,” Gu Yanbei said unhurriedly just as Liu Cheng was about to step forward. “Every time I drink it, I sleep very soundly through the night.”
With that, he picked up the bowl and drank every last drop of the soup.
“Mother has been thoughtful. I am grateful for such care from Mother.”
His expression was indifferent as he wiped away the remnants at the corner of his lips with his finger, utterly nonchalant.
The Empress Dowager looked at the empty bowl and nodded with satisfaction.
Liu Cheng bowed his head deeply and retreated to one side.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze suddenly shifted to the Shengzhi in Liu Cheng’s hands: “Your Majesty has already drafted the edict so quickly?”
“I wish for her to enter the palace sooner,” Gu Yanbei raised his eyes to look at the Empress Dowager. “However, I worry that Mother might not take a liking to her…”
The Empress Dowager forced a strained smile at the corners of her mouth: “The woman you fancy, I will naturally fancy as well.”
“Then once she enters the palace, I must trouble Mother to look after her well.” Gu Yanbei lowered his head and casually straightened his sleeve.
“That goes without saying,” the Empress Dowager smiled without sincerity. “I also look forward to holding a grandson soon. What rank have you bestowed upon her?”
“The rank of Guifei.” Gu Yanbei gave a faint smile with a slight nod of his head.
The Empress Dowager’s brow twitched violently, her lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze fixed intently on that edict.
When Li Manman had entered the palace, she had only been granted the rank of consort—and it was only later, after she had exhausted every means, that she had pushed her up to the position of Huangguifei…
Yet that girl was granted the rank of Guifei the moment she entered the palace…
“It’s late. Your Majesty should rest early.”
After a long moment, she uttered these words flatly, then flicked her sleeve and left with a complicated expression.
Liu Cheng hunched over and hurried to the door. Seeing the Empress Dowager walk far away until her figure disappeared from sight, he quickly closed the doors and brought a spittoon to Gu Yanbei.
“Rest assured, I won’t die just yet.” Gu Yanbei waved his hand with a cold, clear smile.
Liu Cheng didn’t even know what to say: “Your Majesty, why must you torment yourself like this…”
Gu Yanbei rose and paced to the window, gazing ahead without focus, his fist hidden in his sleeve gradually clenching tight.
……
Su Tuan’er soaked in a hot bath, then lay down on her bed wrapped up like a dumpling, thinking she could finally sleep soundly.
But she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She was afraid that the moment she opened her eyes tomorrow, the dog emperor’s edict would arrive at Jiangjun Fu.
At this point, aside from fleeing, there was no other way—but if she ran, Jiangjun Fu would surely suffer the consequences.
Her father and brother cherished her as if their very lives depended on it. How could she let them be implicated because of her?
So that plan simply wouldn’t work.
Then again, perhaps Gu Yanbei was only speaking casually and wouldn’t take it seriously at all, because deep down he didn’t like women, so he wouldn’t deliberately cause himself trouble.
With this thought, Su Tuan’er felt much more at ease and gradually drifted off to sleep.