novelraw Chapter 155 Unless she's pregnant
Chapter 155 Unless she's pregnant
"If the bruises on your waist aren't massaged carefully, they could potentially lead to internal injuries. Tinglu used to study massage, and her technique is extremely steady. How about letting her help you loosen your muscles?"
Qiu Meiren hesitated for a moment and then nodded, "Then I'll trouble you, sister."
After saying that, Tinglu helped her take off her outer garment, leaving her only in a light purple bodice, and she lay down on the soft couch.
Tinglu stepped forward and gently applied pressure to the bruises on her waist with her fingertips.
Qiu Meiren gritted her teeth and endured it.
Xiao Yan received a box of rose balm as tribute from Persia and came to Yaohua Palace with great joy, thinking: Ningning will definitely like this box of rose balm.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Tingyu, who was guarding outside the palace, stepped forward to stop him. She was somewhat flustered but tried to remain calm. "Your Majesty, please wait a moment, Her Majesty..."
Xiao Yan noticed an unfamiliar palace maid standing guard outside the hall and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Is your lady entertaining guests?"
"It's...it's Lady Qiu here."
The rain had barely finished speaking when...
Suddenly, a woman's coquettish voice came from inside the hall, melodious and charming, but it was definitely not Song Shuangning's voice.
Tinglu's touch was a little too forceful, and Qiu Meiren couldn't help but feel pain...
Xiao Yan's face darkened instantly: "Who's inside?"
"Your Majesty, it is Consort Qiu."
Qiu Meiren?
What are they doing?
Xiao Yan brushed past Tingyu and strode into the hall.
Tingyu's brow twitched, and she shouted, "Your Majesty!"
Song Shuangning and Qiu Meiren, who were inside the hall, also heard the voice. Qiu Meiren quickly put on her outer robe.
Xiao Yan pushed open the door and entered, unable to hide his displeasure.
The screen is half-closed.
The woman on the couch could be vaguely seen with her clothes disheveled, frantically trying to gather them up.
Qiu Meiren looked at Song Shuangning with a nervous expression.
Song Shuangning remained calm and gestured for her to straighten her clothes first before slowly walking out.
Xiao Yan's gaze was sharp as he looked her up and down. Seeing that her clothes were neat and her hair was not messy, his tense jawline relaxed slightly and his expression softened.
Song Shuangning smiled and asked, "What is Your Majesty looking at?"
Xiao Yan didn't reply, but just played with the jade ring on his finger and asked casually, "What were you all busy with just now?"
"Consort Qiu injured her back, so I had Tinglu massage it for her."
She hesitated for a moment, but still kept the truth from her.
If the Emperor finds out, he will only let the Empress deal with it. However, the Empress is biased towards Consort Qing, and Consort Qing is good at arguing. It would be better for them to take revenge themselves.
Xiao Yan felt a sense of unease and a hint of displeasure rising within him. He couldn't help but speak sarcastically, "Perhaps I've come at the wrong time, disturbing you two sisters."
Song Shuangning sighed.
This man is being petty again.
She took Xiao Yan's hand and coaxed him softly, "Your Majesty, what are you saying? You can come anytime, and I will be happy to do so."
Qiu Meiren, dressed neatly, bowed her head and hurriedly gave a curtsy.
"Go down," Xiao Yan said coldly.
Consort Qiu hurriedly replied, "This concubine takes her leave."
Having said that, he retreated almost as if fleeing.
Only two people remained inside the hall.
Song Shuangning raised her eyes, looking at Xiao Yan's gloomy face, "Why is Your Majesty unhappy? Consort Qiu and I are good friends. I was only concerned about her injuries. If Your Majesty is truly bothered, please send someone to inform me before you come in the future, so that I can spend more time with you alone, okay?"
Only after she said it did she belatedly realize the sarcastic tone in her voice.
Perhaps she learned it from Xiao Yan, or perhaps it was due to hormones during pregnancy.
Song Shuangning turned slightly to the side.
Xiao Yan stared at her for a long time.
Finally, he uttered only two words heavily, "Never mind."
What's wrong with him?
It's such a trivial matter, why is he getting angry with himself?
He is eight years older than Ningning, so he should be more tolerant of her and not be so petty.
Besides, Ningning is still pregnant, and he shouldn't upset her.
"That's not what I meant. Ningning, don't be upset."
Song Shuangning released his hand, "If Your Majesty continues to overthink, I will truly ignore you."
Xiao Yan smiled and said, "I understand."
"I received a box of rose balm. It can keep your wrists smelling fresh for three days. I thought you would like it, so I brought it to you specially."
Song Shuangning picked out a little perfume balm and applied it to her fingertips. The sweet rose scent spread, a fragrance she liked.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
She leaned over and kissed Xiao Yan on the cheek. Xiao Yan turned his head away, a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Song Shuangning smiled and kissed him on the other cheek.
Xiao Yan was finally satisfied.
Song Shuangning rested her chin on her hand, looking at Xiao Yan's still tense face, and couldn't help but smile.
This person is not only petty, but also prone to overthinking.
The Emperor must have misunderstood something.
She suddenly clutched her chest, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she let out a soft, delicate "Ouch!"
Xiao Yan held her arm and asked repeatedly, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Song Shuangning leaned closer to him, her long eyelashes fluttering twice, and said with feigned grievance, "It's all because Your Majesty was so sarcastic to me just now, which made my heart ache."
Xiao Yan blushed, his expression revealing a hint of embarrassment.
"Your Majesty must not do this again in the future," she gently shook his sleeve, her eyes crinkling with a smile, "I hate hearing such sarcastic remarks the most."
Xiao Yan lowered his head and obediently replied, "I know."
He paused, then asked, "Does your chest still hurt? Shall I rub it for you?"
Song Shuangning smiled sweetly, gently pushed his chest away, and feigned annoyance, saying, "You lecherous scoundrel!"
"Didn't Ningning herself say her chest hurt? How come I'm such a lecher?"
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
The empress now lives a rather leisurely life.
Although some of the power that had been divided up in the palace was returned, it was ultimately a power-sharing situation that was unfavorable to her.
Even the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival banquet did not require her to do anything personally; the Emperor entrusted the organization to Consort Shao and Consort Xu.
Interestingly, even Consort De was sidelined.
The Empress spent her days tending to the eldest princess, teaching her to read and write, a relationship as gentle as still water.
In June, the second prince will turn five years old and will be able to go to the Imperial Academy to study, which will reduce her worries.
This child was naturally unruly, and even though he was confined indoors to study every day, he still couldn't read many characters. After Jiang was executed, he refused to call her "Mother" anymore.
It carries a bad character from the very beginning.
Qingdai said, "Your Highness, Eunuch Rong from the Imperial Kitchen has sent over the menu for the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. Please take a look."
The Empress sneered, "The palace banquet was organized by Consort Shao and the others. What does it have to do with me? Why should I see all this?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."
"Eunuch Rong said that Consort Yuan's diet is quite different from others, so he specially invited the Empress to take a look."
Upon hearing this, the Empress took the document and examined it briefly, and indeed found it to be different.
While others had ice cream, sashimi, and crab roe pastries, Consort Yuan's table had none of these; instead, it had several other dishes.
Donkey-hide gelatin and red date soup, fox nut and eight-treasure cake...
These are all mildly nourishing foods.
The empress's brows furrowed more and more deeply.
Is Consort Yuan Zhaoyi so averse to even the slightest bit of raw or cold food?
Unless... unless Consort Yuan is pregnant.