Even after leaving Fenghua Palace, Pei Tingyue still felt the situation was somewhat absurd.
The outcome of this test had far exceeded her expectations.
For a moment, she couldn’t discern whether the Empress was genuinely sincere or merely deeply concealed in her intentions.
Suddenly, Pei Tingyue recalled the Emperor’s words from yesterday.
As her husband, he seemed to trust this Empress immensely.
Could it be that the Empress was truly gentle, kind, and virtuous?
Lost in thought throughout the journey, her tangled reflections were interrupted by a voice.
“Lady, be careful,” Yun Shu reminded her.
Pei Tingyue snapped back to reality and realized they had already arrived at the entrance of Changle Palace. In the courtyard, Noble Consort Song was admiring the snow.
Seeing this, she suppressed all her doubts deep within.
Stepping over the threshold, she was about to go forward and pay respects to the Noble Consort when, after just a few steps, the world spun around her.
Before she could steady herself, she abruptly lost consciousness.
When she opened her eyes again, Pei Tingyue saw the familiar sky-blue canopy with flickering candlelight dancing upon it.
She stared blankly for a while before her pupils slowly focused.
Sensing someone by the bedside, she tilted her head to look.
It was the Emperor.
Sitting before the bed, he was intently reading a book.
“Your Majesty,” she spoke suddenly, her voice slightly hoarse.
Hearing the noise, Xie Chen set down the book in his hand, seeming to breathe a sigh of relief. “Tingyue, you’re finally awake.”
Pei Tingyue tried to rise and pay her respects, but as soon as she propped herself up, he pressed her back down.
“You’re unwell; there’s no need for formalities.”
Pei Tingyue lay back in the warm bedding, frowning as she asked, “What happened to this concubine?”
Xie Chen pulled the brocade quilt higher for her and sighed. “Earlier, the Imperial Physician came to check your pulse and said you were exhausted, that your strength gave out, causing you to faint.”
Pei Tingyue blinked, momentarily speechless.
She never expected her body to be so frail.
Was it just from attending to him consecutively and running back and forth a few times? How could it lead to fainting?
Clenching her fist inwardly, she reflected on her pain and resolved to seriously strengthen her body once she recovered.
Noticing her sullen expression, Xie Chen raised an eyebrow and teased, “So when Tingyue said ‘no’ last night, she truly meant it. I thought she was just playing hard to get.”
Hearing this, Pei Tingyue felt blood rush to her head.
Hadn’t he seen her crying like that?
Playing hard to get, my foot!
When she looked up and saw the mockery in the man’s eyes, scenes from last night’s absurd events suddenly flashed in her mind.
Embarrassment instantly spread throughout her body, and she felt her face grow hot.
Pei Tingyue reached out, grabbed the front of his robe, and shook it gently, pleading in a soft voice, “Your Majesty…”
“Alright, I won’t mention it anymore.” Seeing her originally pale face gradually regain color and the sparkle return to her peach-blossom eyes, Xie Chen said with satisfaction, “You finally have some spirit.”
“…”
So he had been teasing her.
Pei Tingyue bit her lip in frustration.
She mentally added another mark against him.
Seeing her in better spirits, Xie Chen helped her sit up slowly and had someone place a Gold Thread Soft Pillow behind her back.
“Tingyue, open your mouth.”
A spoonful of plain congee was held to Pei Tingyue’s lips. She hesitated for a moment but obediently ate it.
Taking advantage of the moment Xie Chen blew on the congee to cool it, she hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, this concubine can manage on her own.”
Being fed spoonful by spoonful made her feel somewhat awkward.
Xie Chen coaxed gently, “It’ll be finished soon.”
Pei Tingyue had no choice but to comply.
After finishing the bowl of congee, Xie Chen took a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her mouth. “Rest well these next few days. I’ll be waiting for you.”
The words carried an implicit meaning—that he would not summon anyone else to his bedchamber these coming days.
Upon hearing this, Pei Tingyue’s face flushed even more deeply with shyness, her eyes shining brightly. “This consort will do her best to recover quickly,” she said.
Xie Chen gently stroked her cheek and praised, “So well-behaved.”
The two lingered in their tender affection for a while longer before Xie Chen carefully repeated his instructions and departed.
Watching his figure disappear beyond the inner chamber door, the smile on Pei Tingyue’s face gradually faded.
She gazed outside through the lozenge windows—the sky was gloomy, making it hard to guess the current time.
Just as she was about to call for someone, Yun Shu entered the inner chamber carrying a bowl of dark, murky medicinal brew. “This is the tonic prescribed by the Imperial Physician. Please drink it quickly, Cairen.”
Pei Tingyue took the porcelain bowl and downed the medicine in one gulp.
“What time is it now?”
Yun Shu took the empty bowl and handed her a piece of preserved fruit. “It’s already past noon. In another hour, it will be time for the evening meal.”
Pei Tingyue waved her hand, indicating she didn’t want the fruit.
She was slightly surprised to realize she had slept for nearly an entire day.
“Tell me in detail what happened after I fainted.”
Recalling the morning’s events, Yun Shu still felt a lingering fear. “After you fainted, Cairen, no matter how much we called, you wouldn’t wake up. This servant was nearly frightened to tears. Fortunately, Guifei Nianniang was admiring the snow in the courtyard and came to check after hearing my cries for help. Seeing you collapsed on the ground, Guifei Nianniang swiftly picked you up and carried you to the rear hall, all while instructing us to summon the Imperial Physician.”
Pei Tingyue interrupted, feeling astonished. “Guifei Nianniang personally carried me back?”
Yun Shu nodded. “Yes, indeed.”
Pei Tingyue tried to picture the scene and found it rather peculiar.
Whether it was her first encounter with Noble Consort Song that day or this incident of being carried back to the palace, this Noble Consort Song didn’t seem ill in the slightest.
If she wasn’t confined to her quarters due to poor health, was it because she wished to avoid the struggles within the Imperial Harem?
The more Pei Tingyue pondered, the more she believed this to be true. If Noble Consort Song had desired to compete or engage in schemes, she wouldn’t have been mentioned so briefly in the original book.
Meanwhile, Yun Shu continued, “Guifei Nianniang only left after the Imperial Physician had taken your pulse and confirmed you were not in serious danger.”
“Afterward, when the Empress heard of the matter, she immediately sent her Female Official with many nourishing tonics.”
“What truly surprised this servant was that His Majesty came in person this afternoon. It truly shows how favored you are now, Cairen!”
Pei Tingyue neither confirmed nor denied this.