LF Chapter 84

Chapter 84 Extra (4)

Chapter 84 Extra (4)

Deep within the forbidden palace, spring is in full bloom, vying for beauty, catkins drift on the east wind, and shimmering light falls on the ripples.

In a pond of spring water, koi carp sway. Your Majesty holds a delicate small cup, calmly watching the red carp huddled together for a mouthful of food, ceaselessly fighting. Her eyes are filled with sorrow.

Ever since Jiang Yinghua revealed Ying Feng’s background, Jiang Jingche immediately joined forces with the Empress Dowager to “interrogate” her for half a day.

This person is quick-witted, intelligent, and has a clear and open mind. Not only did she not incite the two great Buddhas to kill her, but on the contrary, because of Jiang Yinghua’s wanton abuse, she was deeply pitied by the two.

Since that day, Ying Feng has also been very sensible, coming every morning to greet the Empress Dowager, serving medicine at the bedside, and being extremely disciplined and respectful, which has increased her aunt’s favor towards her day by day.

There are many koi carp in the pond in the Empress Dowager’s Palace. When Your Majesty is feeling troubled, she gets used to stopping by the pond alone, scattering some fish food, and emptying her mind a little.

Today she arrived a little earlier, thinking that her mother might not have gotten up yet, so she came to the garden alone and quietly. Unexpectedly, at this moment, by the quiet pond where few people visit, someone gathered her skirts and squatted in the grass, not knowing what she was doing.

“Who’s there?” Your Majesty did not bring any attendants, so she could not help but ask alertly.

The sudden voice made the person’s body tremble, and the small porcelain bottle in her hand almost slipped out. She blankly got up and looked back. When she saw who it was, she quickly stepped forward and bowed, “This subject greets Your Majesty.”

“Feng’er? What are you doing here so early in the morning?” Your Majesty looked puzzled and asked softly.

That person did not dare to move rashly, only lowered her eyes and said softly, “Replying to Your Majesty, this subject is here to collect some morning dew. Yesterday, the Empress Dowager wanted to drink hibiscus wine, and the morning dew from the flowers is most suitable for entering the wine.”

Upon hearing this, Your Majesty could not help but be a little moved in her heart. She is only her aunt after all, yet it is rare for this person to be so attentive. She raised her foot to come forward, helped the person up, and spoke in a kind tone, “You are honest. Why do you keep kneeling on the ground? It’s cold and humid in the morning, there’s no need to be like this.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Ying Feng responded in a proper manner. Her thick eyelashes flickered slightly, and her fair face faintly revealed a faint blush, like the petals of early spring peach blossoms, a touch of rosy clouds entering the heart of the stamen.

Looking up and down at the person’s attire, a golden small crown held up her black hair high, and the brocade clothes on her body were sky-blue embroidered with dark patterns, clean and tidy, neither losing her status nor being vulgar and gaudy. Your Majesty walked slowly, and said seemingly unintentionally, “Have you been frequenting the Empress Dowager’s Palace recently? Is her condition improving?”

“The imperial physician said that the Empress Dowager is only worried, and there is no serious problem. As long as she is relieved a little, she will soon recover. Your Majesty, please rest assured.” Ying Feng raised her foot behind her, nodding as she followed.

Jiang Jingche picked up the bait in the small cup and scattered it into the pond at will. Her gaze fell on the pile of fish stirring into a group, and she said faintly, “How does Feng’er view the scenery in this pond?”

Ying Feng glanced at the group of fish fighting fiercely for food, turned her eyes to another place, and said, “The waves are shimmering, and the koi carp are full of the pond. It is the most pleasant scenery in the third spring, relieving the sorrow in the heart of a beautiful person.”

Hearing this, the corners of Your Majesty’s lips unconsciously curled up slightly, secretly saying that this person’s little thoughts were turning quickly. “Relieve sorrow? Do you think I am full of sorrow? Then would you be willing to resolve one or two for me?”

Ying Feng was stunned for a moment. She was already chatting about romance, but how could she still be asked this tricky question. These sisters both have a face that makes people unable to help but linger, and they are also admired for their high positions, but their hearts are too exquisite, and their sharpness cannot be hidden.

However, perhaps she tasted sorrow in her youth, so it is indeed easier to fathom people’s hearts. And her own mother is too weak, making her naturally admire the strong. She is full of respect for this young and promising Your Majesty. She bowed and said solemnly:

“If this subject’s words and actions are inappropriate, please Your Majesty bestow punishment. If I am favored by Your Majesty, I am willing to serve before and after the saddle, and be loyal to Your Majesty.”

So serious. Jiang Jingche turned her back to her, chuckled softly, pondered for a moment, lowered her eyes to look at her, and said faintly, “Hua’er doesn’t want you to wear the name of Prince of the Concubine. I will grant you a title and make you the ‘Prince An’ of Da Chu, how about it?”

Ying Feng seemed to be caught off guard, stunned for a moment with shock and surprise, her lips moved slightly. Your Majesty saw it in her eyes, and said playfully, “You are unwilling?”

As soon as the voice entered her ears, Ying Feng was afraid that this person would change her mind, so she knelt down directly and thanked her loudly, “This subject kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your grace.”

“Keep your voice down, if you wake up the Empress Dowager, you can go and take the blame. You are really a fool.” Your Majesty said with a smile.

Ying Feng got up somewhat shyly, and for a moment felt that her hands were not her hands, and her feet were not her feet. Just when she thought Your Majesty had given her some face, it seemed that she had lost all of it herself. She rubbed her knuckles and dared not say more.

A faint red mark curved and spiraled on the side of her white fingertip, which was particularly unsightly. The wound had almost healed, but it was still hideous, and the shape was strange. Your Majesty narrowed her phoenix eyes and asked softly, “When did you hurt your hand?”

Ying Feng was like a frightened rabbit, and quickly pulled down her sleeves. This ostrich-like behavior displeased Your Majesty, who said in a cold tone, “You shouldn’t deceive me when I ask you a question.”

Ying Feng pursed her lips and still told the truth, “It was a month ago when Prince Zhao pierced it with the spout of a silver pot.”

Your Majesty’s eyes froze, a month ago was the day of their wedding. She did not expect Jiang Yinghua to have such a rude side, and asked in surprise, “Why did she poke you?”

Ying Feng stammered for a long time, buzzing softly like a mosquito, “…to take blood fingerprints to stamp the letter of divorce.”

? Your Majesty’s brows furrowed instantly, full of suspicion, scolding Jiang Yinghua for becoming more and more undisciplined. Her face turned cold, and she ordered, “Where is the letter of divorce, bring it here.”

Such things are obscure, Ying Feng neither threw it away nor kept it for fear of being seen, so she had to carry it with her. Hearing this, she tremblingly presented it with both hands and knelt timidly on the ground.

Your Majesty reached out to take it and glanced at it. It was indeed Jiang Yinghua’s flamboyant and resentful handwriting. And the wording was extremely difficult to look at, devaluing Ying Feng to nothing. Jiang Jingche sighed with frowned brows, “You can also endure such words? She is messing around, are you doing it with her too?”

“This subject knows his mistake. This matter was originally this subject’s deception first. Her Highness has no intention of this subject, and this subject has no intention of her either. If this can make Prince Zhao feel at ease, this subject is willing.” Ying Feng responded in a low voice.

Your Majesty tucked the letter of divorce into her sleeve with some annoyance, and did not say more. She raised her foot and returned to Chengming Hall. She was angry at Jiang Yinghua’s presumptuousness and Ying Feng’s forbearance, but in the end, it seemed that the culprit was herself, who bestowed the marriage. She sighed weakly and rubbed her forehead, but faintly felt a strange emotion in her heart.

She happily bestowed the marriage to the two of them, originally because she felt happy at the first glance of Ying Feng’s portrait, and sent people to investigate Ying Feng’s abilities and character, all of which were good words. In the end, she imposed her own will on Jiang Yinghua. And now that these two are nominal and secretly mutually divorced, there is a trace of inexplicable comfort in her heart.

The neglected Ying Feng was uneasy, huddling in the Empress Dowager’s Palace for half a day, and even the old man noticed that she was restless, and sent her back.

Ying Feng was melancholy in the hall. Since coming to Da Chu, she herself had not noticed Your Majesty’s attitude towards her. She had been caring about it tightly, eager to be recognized by that person, and eager to gain her trust.

So after three days, Ying Feng could no longer sit still. She personally made spices popular in the East Sea, and brought them to Chengming Hall in the name of greeting, to apologize. This person’s actions surprised Your Majesty slightly, but she was also pleased. She had nothing to do that day, so she simply burned incense and pulled the person to play two games of chess.

Ying Feng was calm and thoughtful, and her chess skills were excellent. She amused Your Majesty and made her interested. The two killed for half a day. It was not until dusk that they barely stopped, and it was difficult to tell the winner. Your Majesty got up quietly, rubbed her temples and said, “I’m old, my energy is not enough, I’ll count you as the winner.”

Just as she was about to raise her foot to drive people away, she suddenly felt dizzy. It should be because she was thinking too much and let the toxins take advantage of the opportunity. Her body swayed, scaring Ying Feng, who quickly reached out to help her. Her eyebrows and eyes were full of concern, “Your Majesty, do you want to call the imperial physician?”

Warm hands were supporting her, and the gentle gaze was flustered. She is really like Hua’er. But that person is a blood relative who has been with her for many years, while the person in front of her has only known each other for a short time. The true feelings revealed like this warmed Your Majesty’s heart. “Help me to the couch.”

Ying Feng carefully helped the person to lie down, pouring tea and water with great care, and then tried to massage the person for a while, “In the past, my mother often had headaches, so I learned some tricks. I don’t know if Your Majesty feels more comfortable?”

The strength was just right, and it did relieve it. Your Majesty closed her eyes, and exhaled lightly, “Yes, not bad.”

Ying Feng raised an imperceptible smile, thinking that she was hiding it well. But the sneering sound of nasal breathing was clearly captured by Your Majesty.

More than half a month passed, and Your Majesty often summoned Ying Feng to play chess. The matter of the letter of divorce was never mentioned again, and she did not dare to ask about it.

The sky became brighter and brighter. One afternoon, abandoning the chess game, Your Majesty invited her to tour the Imperial Garden. As she walked, she suddenly had an elegant thought and said softly, “I heard that Feng’er is proficient in everything from Qin, chess, calligraphy and painting. Would you be willing to show me your skills today?”

“Your Majesty praises me falsely, this subject’s skills are not good, it’s all just people around me praising.” Ying Feng perfunctorily said with some embarrassment.

“The weather is good today, and I am tired. Why don’t you splash ink here, and I will play the qin for you.” Your Majesty seemed unwilling to give up.

As soon as these words came out, the palace people beside her were shocked. Your Majesty’s Yaoqin had not been touched since she ascended the throne. A keen-eyed eunuch quickly went to find the pen, ink, and Yaoqin, not daring to delay for a moment.

Seeing this, Ying Feng first did not want to refuse, and second was curious about what Your Majesty looked like playing the qin, so she nodded in agreement.

She picked up a pen to outline, splash ink, and set colors, and had a busy time, carefully repairing it for several hours. During this period, Your Majesty did not intend to watch, and casually fiddled with the seven strings and five tones, relieving her heart.

When dusk fell, Your Majesty quietly stopped the strings and strolled to Ying Feng’s side. This person was already obsessed with painting, her eyes full of ink and color, ignoring external things, and did not notice at all.

Your Majesty looked at the scenery in her painting, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curled up. A pair of clear eyes fell on the side of this person’s face. When this person changed the pen, she joked, “I asked you to paint the scenery, but you are so bold, you dare to paint me without asking me, huh?”

Ying Feng’s body shook. She did not know when this person appeared behind her. She blamed her for having too many small thoughts, and she had already forgotten herself and was intoxicated.

She timidly raised her eyes and glanced, and happened to meet the smile in Your Majesty’s eyes. Knowing that this person was not really angry, she boldly said, “The facial features are not filled in, it doesn’t count. I wonder if this subject is fortunate enough to ask Your Majesty to trace the appearance of the person in the painting with the imperial brush?”

What a good way to advance by retreating, Your Majesty strolled back to the table to drink tea, threatening with a smile but not a smile, “You paint, if it doesn’t suit my liking, you don’t have to keep your hand.”

Ying Feng pursed her lips and took a breath of cold air. The hand holding the pen trembled three times, and she dawdled until the sky was dark before completing the appearance. The lowered eyebrows and eyes were dignified and generous, like clouds dancing in the mountains, like the halo of a god, with seven points of majesty in the tranquility, like a lotus flower that is not stained with dust.

Your Majesty glanced at it casually, and left, without saying a word of comment, causing Ying Feng to feel uneasy and restless, and she did not sleep well all night.

After a long time, she realized later that once Your Majesty was like this, it meant that her heart was moved, but she could not let go of her reservedness and arrogance, so she kept herself cold and fled.

How interesting, the decisive emperor who says one thing is one thing, also has a delicate and shy side.

As the days passed, Ying Feng discovered that this person showed a gentle side in front of her, and was more understanding. She was completely different from the solemnity in front of the court, the strictness towards Jiang Yinghua, and the cautiousness in front of the Empress Dowager, thinking three or five times before saying a word, reporting good news but not bad news.

She wanted to get closer to people more and more, and looked forward to Your Majesty summoning her to accompany her every day. At first, she thought she was admiring her, but until Your Majesty suddenly stopped taking the initiative, she began to scratch her heart and liver, and after a few days of forbearance, she turned and tossed and could not sleep, and the person’s voice and appearance frequently appeared in her mind.

She suddenly realized that she was poisoned by love.

So, she ran to Chengming Hall to show her courtesy. Unexpectedly, Your Majesty said that she had no time to see her. She turned her head and entered the Empress Dowager’s Palace, and coaxed the person out with a few words, pulling the Empress Dowager into Chengming Hall.

Only when she went in did she know that Your Majesty was resting that day, a rare leisure. She was just deliberately avoiding her, complaining that she was not proactive, and was throwing a tantrum. Since that day, the two had an unspoken understanding, and no one made it clear, but they also had a tacit understanding.

Even if she couldn’t help, Ying Feng would sit quietly in the hall, pouring tea and water for her, peeling melons and fruits, and spreading ink for her, making the palace people at a loss and unable to do anything.

Until the height of summer, the agreed-upon tour of the garden outside the palace was intercepted by Jiang Yinghua. That’s all, as soon as Jiang Yinghua left, Ying Feng got the news that Your Majesty was once again angered by this person and was lying in bed. She rushed to Chengming Hall angrily, and looking at Jiang Jingche’s sickly appearance, her temper dissipated completely. She gently took the medicine bowl from the palace people, and carefully cooled it spoon by spoon, and fed it to her.

Your Majesty was exhausted and soon fell asleep. Ying Feng was worried and guarded in silence in front of the bed. The sun set in the west, the sky was dark, and I don’t know how long it had passed before she fell asleep.

When Your Majesty woke up faintly, she saw a fluffy head on the side, her small face drooping on the edge of the bed, her posture was very awkward, and she didn’t know how this person could fall asleep. She raised her hand to loosen the brocade quilt, and sat up, but the slight movement still woke up the person in front of her.

Ying Feng’s dazed sleepy eyes were sleepy. Seeing that the person woke up, she was about to get up to add tea. Your Majesty chuckled, pressed the person down, and put her warm fingers on the side of her face, causing her body to tremble.

“Don’t move,” Your Majesty’s voice was gentle, her eyes full of love, her fingers gently pinching her small face, and using a little force to stretch the marks for her, she blamed, “There are red marks pressed out, too careless.”

How did she know that this face was getting redder and redder as she rubbed it, causing her to shyly lower her eyes and unconsciously bite her lower lip.

Your Majesty saw it in her eyes, and it was difficult to hold back her smile. For a moment, she was moved, turned her wrist and hooked Ying Feng’s chin. With the gentle flick of her fingertips, the little person’s body trembled slightly, her breathing instantly messed up, but she raised her eyes with surprise and met Your Majesty’s scrutinizing eyes.

A pair of eyes containing water mist turned softly, as if revealing anticipation. This shy, obedient appearance of welcoming and rejecting was in her eyes, Jiang Jingche’s heart trembled, and she suddenly felt that the old tree was blooming, and her body could not help but lean forward, and the lingering sight condensed into a point, falling on the vermilion place that was like a begonia, which the shell teeth had stroked.

The front of her eyes darkened, and Ying Feng suddenly felt a softness sticking to her lips, and the tenderness became more and more firm, making her intoxicated, making her demand, and making her almost suffocated and greedily cater to…

The moist touch, the lingering fragrance, reached her bones and veins, and her slightly bent legs were soft and numb. Ying Feng’s eyes were blurred, and she gasped softly.

Your Majesty’s smile reached the bottom of her eyes, and she let go of the person, patted the bed, and said softly, “Since you are so bold, come up.”

At this moment, the three gentle words that entered her ears were more pleasing to Ying Feng than the edict to pass on the throne. She lowered her eyes and climbed onto Your Majesty’s dragon bed without hesitation.

At the moment when the Luo tent flew, the evening breeze in the summer night passed through the half-open window lattice, and suddenly the rain fell, dotting the petals of the lotus flowers in the pond…

When she woke up the next day, Your Majesty’s figure was no longer in the inner side of the couch. Ying Feng was at a loss, as if she had just woken up from a hangover, eager to turn over and get off the couch.

She didn’t know how soft and boneless her waist and legs were after her first taste of forbidden fruit. The moment she slipped off the bed, she staggered straight out, almost giving the God of Earth a good morning kiss.

The skirt embroidered with gold and dragons came into view, and her body clung to a soft surface. Warm breath blew into her neck, “It’s not a festival, Feng’er doesn’t have to perform this five-body prostration ceremony, right?”

Ying Feng did not dare to raise her eyes, avoiding like an ostrich, burying her head deeply, and dared not speak in silence.

Your Majesty stuffed a silk book into her heart, and said quietly, “You don’t want to admit it, or you don’t dare to admit it? But it’s too late, the marriage certificate is for you, and the holy order cannot be violated.”