HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 614: The Emperor's Social Death Scene

Chapter 614: The Emperor’s Social Death Scene

Meeting Shen Xihe’s meaningful gaze, the usually eloquent Crown Prince could only respond with a simple, foolish smile, attempting to gloss over the situation.

Shen Xihe kneaded the fish food between her fingers, seemingly absently rubbing it: “It seems… you’ve spent quite some time plotting against me.”

“Ahem.” Clearing his throat in an attempt to cover his embarrassment, Xiao Huayong coaxed gently, “In my life, which hasn’t been long – merely twenty years – I’ve calculated people’s hearts and affairs to the point of being nearly infallible. Yet uniquely with you, even my most elaborate schemes fail to succeed. Those were just words of self-encouragement after defeat, Youyou, please don’t take them to heart.”

Her fingers paused, and Shen Xihe looked up at Xiao Huayong, who wore a warm and eager smile. She felt that his seemingly explanatory words were sincere.

Those words were perhaps truly spoken when he had been rejected by her again, or when she had frustrated his plans, and he had returned, both annoyed and unwilling to give up, speaking words of self-encouragement after collecting himself.

Thinking this way, Shen Xihe’s lips curved into a gentle smile, her gaze becoming extremely understanding as she softly laughed: “Alright, I won’t take it to heart.”

Even someone as astute as Xiao Huayong couldn’t tell which words had pleased his wife. Though her smile wasn’t brilliant, it was incredibly infectious, indicating her good mood.

When she smiled, Xiao Huayong felt all was right with the world, even the summer heat seemed less oppressive, leaving only fragrance.

He wished he could stay by her side all day, even if just sitting nearby watching her either bent over her books, embroidering by the window, playing the qin in the pavilion, or standing quietly watching Duanming frolic…

Wherever his eyes fell, as long as her figure was there, his heart was at peace.

By August, with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching and the Empress Dowager’s birthday imminent, there were no grand arrangements as it wasn’t a major anniversary. The disaster in Dengzhou had not been alleviated but rather grew increasingly severe. Everyone’s attention was drawn to the Dengzhou situation – except for An Zhengyi, even Emperor Youning had no spare attention to monitor Shen Xihe’s every move.

On this day, another memorial arrived from Dengzhou. Emperor Youning read it with a grave expression. Dengzhou was suffering from a severe water shortage, and the people could no longer restrain themselves from migrating. All available water sources had been mobilized, consuming enormous financial and material resources, yet it was still like pouring a cup of water on a burning cart.

The Eighth Prince, Prince Jing Xiao Changyan, submitted a memorial requesting permission for the people to migrate, with official organization and settlement.

This posed a major problem: Where would they migrate to? Where would they be settled? Besides Dengzhou, the surrounding areas were also experiencing drought – should everyone migrate? If all were to migrate, how would they be settled? Would mass migration cause public panic?

If not everyone migrated, how would they pacify the people outside Dengzhou? Moreover, if the court ordered migration, how would they handle those who stubbornly refused to move? These series of questions made it difficult to implement Xiao Changyan’s proposal immediately.

Emperor Youning urgently summoned the Three Departments, Six Ministries, and relevant court officials for discussion. Each held their views with various advantages and disadvantages, eventually leading to arguments without conclusion, angering Emperor Youning who stormed off.

There was a library in the temporary palace, meant for the emperor and royal family’s reading. Emperor Youning often came here, built within a secluded bamboo grove. Under the eaves hung wind chimes made of bamboo tablets – when the wind blew, their clear sound wasn’t disturbing but rather like a monk’s wooden fish, possessing a magical power to calm one’s heart.

As soon as Emperor Youning entered the library, the gloom in his heart dissipated somewhat. Liu Sanzhi brought over the book the emperor hadn’t finished reading. The attendants all waited outside while Liu Sanzhi quietly accompanied him, with only the fragrance from the incense burner wafting through the room.

Soon there was noise outside, but Emperor Youning appeared not to hear it. Liu Sanzhi went out briefly and returned, bowing to report: “Your Majesty, the young lords from the Marquis of Zhenbei and Marquis of Pingyao’s households have hunted a spotted deer, with excellent deer antler blood. Would Your Majesty like to partake?”

Deer antler blood was a superior tonic, especially when fresh.

Since passing forty, Emperor Youning had paid particular attention to health practices. Hearing this, he nodded: “Bring up a bowl.”

As it was a powerful tonic, it was served in an exquisite small bowl the size of a palm. The Imperial Physician personally delivered it, not only examining the deer antler’s blood but also checking the emperor’s pulse to ensure Emperor Youning could handle it before he drank it.

After waiting about half a cup of tea’s time and seeing no adverse reactions from Emperor Youning, the Imperial Physician finally withdrew.

After the physician left, incense continued to curl through the air. Time ticked by, and after just half an incense stick’s burning time, Emperor Youning suddenly felt a rush of heat, coming extremely fiercely, shooting straight to his lower abdomen. He abruptly stood up, his fists slamming onto the table as he gritted out: “Liu Sanzhi, seal off the library!”

With that, Emperor Youning strode away. He vaguely sensed he had been schemed against but wanted to know who would dare plot against him. He initially thought to summon Consort Su but felt that staying there waiting would make it harder to control the restlessness in his body. Instead, walking would help him maintain his composure without showing unseemly behavior.

Leaving the library, he found no one approaching. This was the temporary palace, and given Emperor Youning’s self-restraint regarding women, there weren’t even any palace maids nearby, only eunuchs. Maintaining his last bit of clarity, he headed toward Consort Su’s quarters, the closest to the library.

“Your Majesty…” The eunuch saw Emperor Youning approaching rapidly and was about to bow and announce him, but before he could finish speaking, the emperor had vanished from sight.

“Where is Consort Su?” Emperor Youning saw Consort Su’s headmaid and asked sternly.

“Her Highness is taking her afternoon rest…” Before the maid could finish, Emperor Youning had already strode into the bedchamber.

The bedchamber was filled with a pleasant fragrance, the wind stirring the layered hanging curtains. Emperor Youning saw a graceful silhouette lying facing inward, his heart growing even hotter as he shed his robes and pressed close.

An Zhengyi was conscious, but her body was powerless and she couldn’t speak. Feeling the strong body press against her and hearing the emperor’s voice, she opened her eyes wide. She had originally thought that once the emperor turned her over, he would see it was her and everything would still be salvageable, but she hadn’t expected that the drugged Emperor Youning couldn’t wait to take her from behind…

Liu Sanzhi stood guard outside Consort Su’s bedchamber, his eyes widening as he saw the Crown Princess and Empress Dowager arriving with an unconscious Consort Su, while Consort Su’s head maid was also pale-faced and panicked.

If Consort Su was here, then who was in the bedchamber?

“Liu Sanzhi, why are you here?” the Empress Dowager asked in surprise.

Today, the Crown Princess had accompanied her in the garden when they happened to find Consort Su unconscious in one place. They brought Consort Su back to her chambers and summoned an Imperial Physician to examine her. When they arrived at the bedchamber, they found Liu Sanzhi guarding outside while the chamber doors were tightly closed, with intimate sounds occasionally drifting out…

The Empress Dowager’s expression changed.

Before Liu Sanzhi could explain, the Minister of Personnel, Minister of the Secretariat, and Grand Secretary all hurried over. Minister of Personnel Cui Zheng hadn’t yet heard the intimate sounds: “Eunuch Liu, there’s urgent news from Dengzhou, we need to see His Majesty.”

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