HLnovel Chapter 22 The First Night in the Palace
Chapter 22 The First Night in the Palace
Chu Qingyin was stunned. Although she didn't know what the man was up to, since she could sit down and eat, she naturally wouldn't force herself to eat while standing.
"Then this concubine thanks Your Majesty."
She gave the emperor a charming and shy sweet smile, lifted her skirt slightly, and sat down gracefully to his side, but did not pick up her chopsticks immediately.
Seeing this, Pei Yuanling asked, "What's wrong? It's not to your liking?"
Chu Qingyin quickly shook her head: "No, it's just that His Majesty hasn't touched his chopsticks, so I dare not touch them."
Pei Yuanling said, "You are quite obedient to the rules."
Unlike Yinyin, who was never reserved about these things from the first time she ate at the same table with him.
He also liked her free-spirited nature.
"Do you have any favorite dishes?" Pei Yuanling asked Chu Qingyin.
Chu Qingyin thought for a moment, then said softly, "This concubine likes to eat crab meat lion's head meatballs."
A hint of surprise flashed in the emperor's eyes. She actually liked to eat this too?
Was it a coincidence, or... had she inquired about the Imperial Concubine's preferences beforehand?
Suppressing his suspicions for the time being, he gave a wink to Chen Zhongliang, the chief eunuch beside him.
Chen Zhongliang understood and immediately served Chu Qingyin a bowl of crab meat lion's head meatballs.
Chu Qingyin's eyes lit up with surprise. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Pei Yuanling said, "Eat."
Chu Qingyin then picked up her chopsticks and began to eat in small bites.
Although she didn't look up, she could feel the man beside her staring at her without any attempt to hide it.
He used to watch her like that when she ate.
At first, she was quite shy and said to him coquettishly, "Sixth Brother, why are you always staring at me?"
Pei Yuanling said, "Yinyin looks very cute when she eats, so I want to watch her more."
These words made her overjoyed, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
The sweet excitement of that time has now turned into a feeling of utter despair, leaving me completely unmoved.
Chu Qingyin ate the crab meat lion's head meatballs listlessly, and Pei Yuanling watched her eat, lost in the same memories.
He didn't cherish the imperial concubine who was by his side. Until he saw her cold, stiff body, no matter how much he held her or called her name, the woman who was devoted to him and would call him "Sixth Brother" with a smile would never open her eyes again, nor would she ever smile at him again.
It felt as if a piece of my heart had been brutally ripped out.
During that time, he was lost and dejected, like a walking corpse. He didn't know why God was treating him this way.
He has already lost so much in his life, why must he also take away the woman he loves most in this life?
Is it truly destined that an emperor will be at the pinnacle of power, utterly alone?
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"
Chu Qingyin called out softly, pulling the man back to reality from his reverie, "What's wrong?"
Pei Yuanling snapped out of his daze and realized he had been staring at Chu Qingyin for quite some time. He coughed lightly to cover up his lapse in composure, "It's nothing."
He said in a low voice, "You can continue eating."
Having been husband and wife for five years, Chu Qingyin guessed from the emperor's appearance that he must have remembered the past, so she didn't say anything and just continued to eat slowly.
The meal ended in silence.
Pei Yuanling put down his chopsticks and looked at Chu Qingyin, "It's getting late, you should go back and rest."
Although she knew it was for serving food, she was already at Zichen Palace. If she left without anything happening, people would say she was not favored by the emperor.
Moreover, Chu Qingyin was also very curious: was Pei Yuanling really calling her over today just for a simple meal?
Her dark eyes darted around gently. She bit her lip, quickly squeezing out a few tears, and looked at the man before her. "Your Majesty, is it...is there something I've done wrong in serving you?"
Seeing her pitiful appearance, Pei Yuanling's eyes darkened.
After a short while, he reached out and gently lifted Chu Qingyin's chin with his well-defined fingers, his gaze lingering on her face with an ambiguous expression.
That gaze seemed to see right through her physical appearance, piercing straight into the depths of her soul.
Chu Qingyin suppressed her nervousness and allowed the emperor to scrutinize her, maintaining a naive and shy demeanor as if she were a newcomer to the palace.
After a long while, the man finally let go.
“It’s none of your business,” he said in a deep voice, his tone carrying an unreadable emotion. “I still have state affairs to attend to tonight. You should go back now.”
Having said all that, any further words from Chu Qingyin would be excessive.
"Then I will not disturb Your Majesty any longer. Your Majesty, please take good care of your health and do not overwork yourself."
She bowed respectfully and then slowly withdrew from Zichen Palace.
**
Night had fallen, and the moonlight, like water, spilled onto the continuous vermilion palace walls.
The sedan chair moved slowly along the stone-paved road in the palace. Chu Qingyin sat inside, closed her eyes, and recalled every detail of her time with the emperor.
Was she being too deliberate? Or had some of her actions offended Pei Yuanling? Or was he feigning profundity to test her reaction?
Various possibilities flashed through her mind until the sedan chair stopped, and Chu Qingyin was startled from her reverie. Before her was the gate of Diecui Pavilion.
The night was gloomy and desolate. The young eunuch guarding the gate was somewhat surprised to see her return: "Master, why have you come back?"
Chu Qingyin raised an eyebrow, but before she could speak, Qiu Zhu scolded, "When did the master have to explain her actions to a servant like you? Get out of the way and stop blocking the door."
The young eunuch, upon being reprimanded, immediately retreated to the side in embarrassment.
Chu Qingyin glanced at Qiu Zhu thoughtfully.
If Qiu Zhu isn't someone else's spy, then his keen eyesight and quick wit are still worth using.
When she entered the inner palace, the palace maids on night watch were also surprised to see her return.
After all, she had already been carried to the Zichen Palace, yet she couldn't stay overnight? Could it be that the meal service went poorly, displeasing His Majesty?
An older palace maid stepped forward and asked, "My lady, would you like some hot water prepared for a bath?"
Chu Qingyin shook her head and said softly, "No need, I want to rest for a while. You can all leave."
The palace maids exchanged glances, but they quickly regained their composure and respectfully withdrew.
Chu Qingyin sat alone in front of the dressing table, looking at herself in the bronze mirror. The face that was so similar to hers before now looked strange.
So what was that man thinking when he lifted her face in the Zichen Palace just now?
Before she could think it through, a series of whispers drifted from outside the carved window.
"I really didn't expect you to return so soon, my lord."
"Shh, keep your voice down. This is not something we should be discussing."
"But……"
Before the palace maid could finish speaking, Qiu Zhu's low voice scolded, "What are you doing hiding here lazing around in the middle of the night? Hurry up and get to work."
The palace maids outside the window quickly dispersed.
Chu Qingyin looked at the swaying and rattling sound, but she wasn't surprised at all.
After all, in this court where intrigue and backstabbing are commonplace, any slight movement can become fodder for gossip, and any misstep can become an opportunity to be trampled underfoot.
Watching the moonlight stream through the window and cast dappled shadows on the ground, Chu Qingyin knew that tonight was just the beginning.
Tomorrow morning, the newly arrived concubines will go to Fengyi Palace to pay their respects to the Empress; there will likely be some trouble.