novelraw Chapter 144 All You Do is Annoy Me
Chapter 144 All You Do is Annoy Me
Xiao Yan lay flat on his back, his eyes fixed on the top of the tent.
Song Shuangning sighed softly. Good times and bad times are typical of East Asian families. Moreover, people are too complicated. To say they love is too absurd, and to say they hate is too absolute.
Hearing her sigh, Xiao Yan turned to look at her and said, "You don't need to take what the Empress Dowager said to heart."
"I don't care. They're just some unpleasant words. They're not enough to upset me."
Her tone was so light that it seemed she didn't care at all.
Xiao Yan's gaze fell on her face, and a low chuckle escaped his throat.
"It's good that you think that way."
Her eyes were dark and the area around them was terribly red—a haggard look from staying up all night. She had been through so much last night, and had spent the entire night by herself.
A pang of tenderness swept through Xiao Yan's heart, and his voice softened: "Go and rest. You've been taking care of me all night; you must be exhausted. Don't let me end up taking care of you when I recover."
Song Shuangning raised an eyebrow, a sly smile playing on her lips. "So, may I depart now? Return to Yaohua Palace?"
She deliberately dragged out her words.
Xiao Yan glared at her helplessly, then reached out and grabbed her wrist. "You just know how to annoy me."
"I told you to rest in the side hall, not to go back to Yaohua Palace."
Song Shuangning chuckled softly and bent down to tuck the blanket around him.
Thinking back to those days when he set aside his imperial status and took care of me without ever taking off his clothes—
He fed her medicine, and when she had trouble sleeping at night due to coughing, he stayed by her bedside and patted her back. He even fell ill from exhaustion.
Just because he's treated me so well, I'll treat him better too.
Song Shuangning placed a very light kiss on his forehead.
"I will not return. I will rest after His Majesty has fallen asleep."
Xiao Yan felt a tickle in his heart from her kiss, and he closed his eyes with a smile, unable to hide the smile on his lips.
Song Shuangning originally wanted to sneak back to Yaohua Palace for a few days of peace and quiet before putting the important matter she had mentioned earlier into practice.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor was exceptionally clingy; sometimes, if he didn't see her for even half an hour, he would send someone to fetch her.
The plan to sneak back home fell through.
Xiao Yan is a man of deep thoughts; if she goes back, he will surely overthink things.
In order to allow him to recuperate in peace, and for his physical and mental well-being, and to avoid hurting his fragile heart that could not be hidden, Song Shuangning stayed in Zichen Palace and did not mention returning to Yaohua Palace.
*
The next day, Xiao Yan's health improved slightly, and despite the advice of Song Shuangning and the imperial physician, he insisted on going to court.
On the throne room.
Xiao Yan sat upright on the throne, his brows furrowed with lingering weariness.
"I have been reviewing memorials for days and am exhausted. In addition, I caught a cold a few nights ago due to the wind. Therefore, I was unable to attend court yesterday. Today, I am feeling a little better. If you have any memorials to present, please do so. If not, the court may adjourn."
His voice was nasal and weak when he spoke.
The ministers then realized that the emperor had indeed caught a cold, and that he was quite ill.
Those ministers who had originally prepared memorials, intending to take advantage of the Emperor's illness to severely criticize Consort Yuan for not serving him properly, exchanged glances and swallowed back all the words they had prepared.
Offending the ailing emperor and the Marquis of Zhenbei would not be a wise move.
The emperor's brother-in-law stepped forward from the crowd, bowed respectfully, and spoke in a solemn yet unyielding tone: "Your Majesty, please allow me to inform you that Consort Yuan has been residing in the Zichen Palace for a long time, accompanying you day and night. The Zichen Palace is Your Majesty's residence, not a place for concubines to reside for extended periods. Our ancestors established a rule that concubines are not allowed to reside in the imperial palace without permission. This was a sound measure to prevent interference in politics by the empress dowager and to protect the integrity of the court. Now, Consort Yuan has broken this rule, and there are already criticisms from both the court and the public. I earnestly request Your Majesty to prioritize the overall situation, strictly adhere to the ancestral rules, and order Consort Yuan to return to the empress dowager immediately to set the record straight!"
No sooner had the emperor's brother-in-law finished speaking than silence fell from the throne paper.
Xiao Yan tapped his fingertips heavily on the armrest of the dragon throne, a soft sound that silenced the entire hall.
When he looked up again, there was no trace of weariness from illness in his eyes, only the majesty of an emperor.
"Is the Imperial Brother-in-law instructing me on how to conduct myself?"
The emperor's brother-in-law stiffened, and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Your subject dares not!"
Xiao Yan glanced at him: "I am naturally familiar with the ancestral rules and palace regulations. I have been ill and bedridden, unable to sleep at night, with a high fever that is difficult to break, and unable to eat or drink. If it weren't for Consort Zhao staying by my side day and night, preparing soup and feeding me medicine, never leaving my side for a moment, how could I be standing here today to hold court?"
He slightly raised his hand, his gaze sweeping over the silent officials below the steps, and said slowly:
"Everything must be considered from a reasonable perspective. I have fallen ill this time, and Consort Zhao has stayed by my side without taking off her clothes or leaving my side for a moment, encouraging me and highlighting her merits. I cannot turn a blind eye to this. Consort Zhao's temporary residence in the Zichen Palace is my decree. Once I am fully recovered, I will act in accordance with the rules, neither condoning any overstepping nor wronging those who have made contributions. This matter ends here."
The Emperor's attitude was already quite clear.
Every word and phrase was meant to protect Consort Yuan.
Those officials who had originally launched the impeachment could only shake their heads and sigh, realizing that the matter could only be discussed at a later stage.
Their eagerness to make a fuss was certainly partly for the sake of maintaining order and discipline in the imperial court.
But more often than not, they harbor their own selfish motives.
Many people have daughters who are concubines in the harem. Now, the emperor's heart is only focused on Consort Yuan. Their daughters are trapped in the deep palace walls. Not to mention gaining favor and promotion, even the hopes of their families to use the power of the harem to climb the social ladder and get a share of the pie in the court have all vanished.
Such exclusive favoritism towards one person is tantamount to undermining the future prospects and interests of their entire family.
*
After the court proceedings, the Marquis of Zhenbei presented his memorial.
Xiao Yan roughly guessed that the Marquis of Zhenbei wanted to reminisce about his father-daughter relationship with Song Shuangning, so he instructed Li Fuquan to take the Marquis of Zhenbei to the side hall.
Before long, the father and daughter took their seats in the side hall.
Looking at the faint blue shadows under his daughter's eyes, the Marquis of Zhenbei sighed gently, "You've worked hard these past few days taking care of the Emperor in the Zichen Palace."
"It's not hard work. Why do you say that?"
"This morning at court, some officials impeached you based on palace rules and ancestral regulations," the Marquis of Zhenbei said in a somber tone. "His Majesty said that if it weren't for your meticulous care, staying by his side day and night, his illness wouldn't have healed so quickly."
Song Shuangning couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.
That sounds true, but it's actually quite exaggerated.
She did indeed guard the Emperor, but she wasn't entirely devoted to him; she would occasionally slack off and doze off.
The emperor exaggerated all her good qualities.
The Marquis of Zhenbei earnestly instructed, "Take good care of yourself and don't overwork yourself."
Song Shuangning nodded, remained silent for a moment, and finally overcame the hurdle in her heart, saying softly, "Thank you, Father."
Upon hearing the word "father," the Marquis of Zhenbei's face instantly lit up with joy, and even the fine lines at the corners of his eyes smoothed out.
He pondered for a moment, then finally revealed his worries one by one: "There is one more thing that I must remind you of."
"Your continued residence in the Zichen Palace is not a long-term solution. There are many people in the court impeaching you, especially the Emperor's brother-in-law, who are all targeting the ancestral rules and regulations. If possible, you should go back as soon as possible."
Daughters, living deep within the palace walls, may not be aware of the intrigues and power struggles at court.
Song Shuangning lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment. When she looked up, her eyes were clear, and she nodded gently: "Daughter understands. Father, rest assured, daughter knows what she's doing."
She had long anticipated that someone from the previous dynasty would target her, but she hadn't expected that these undercurrents against her would have surged this far.