The Emperor and Consort Le remained silent, both of them staring intently at the pouch. The pattern on it indeed was one often used by the Empress Dowager. Of course, the Embroidery Bureau also made things for the Empress Dowager, but she enjoyed doing needlework during her leisure ti, and both of them were familiar with the Dowager’s embroidery skills.
Consort Le was sowhat agitated. She blinked, wanting to reach out, but was powerless as the Emperor had immobilized her acupoints. Seeing this, the Emperor walked over and quickly released her acupoints.
Had he already noticed that she wouldn’t attempt suicide anymore?
Consort Le struggled to get up, but the Emperor didn’t help her, acting as if he hadn’t seen her.
Bai Ruozhu quickly went over to support Consort Le and handed the pouch to her.
Consort Le carefully held it in her hands, feeling it for a while, then looked up at Bai Ruozhu and said, "The Empress Dowager embroidered this herself."
"Yes, the Empress Dowager lost almost all her belongings during her escape, or they fell into others’ hands. A pouch she embroidered herself is the best proof of authenticity," Bai Ruozhu hastily replied.
Fortunately, Consort Le didn’t know that the Empress Dowager had previously given Bai Ruozhu a pouch, and since the Dowager made few of them, the pouch managed to deceive Consort Le.
However, the Emperor beside them was watching her with sharp eyes. The shrewd Emperor was not fooled and had already figured out the issue.
Consort Le sobbed beside them, "The Empress Dowager is really still alive, truly, but why did they deceive ?"
The Emperor did not respond, making it unclear whether he was waiting to see how Bai Ruozhu would answer this question or if he was angry with Consort Le. Bai Ruozhu could only brace herself to continue.
"Your Highness, you are the person the Emperor cares about the most. Many cannot get close to the Emperor, so they think of ways to target you, including making you despair and not believe this doctor’s words. Though you are a victim, you should strive to be stronger and learn to discern, not easily believing everything others say, especially the bad things. If you believe too much, things might truly head in a bad direction," Bai Ruozhu said earnestly.
Consort Le looked at the Emperor, sowhat bewildered, and asked, "They say you will eventually resent , will you?"
Bai Ruozhu quietly stepped back, feeling like a third wheel for the couple discussing such matters.
Still, she sowhat sympathized with the Emperor. At tis like these, when his beloved woman could not assist him and only added trouble, anyone would be sowhat irritated, wouldn’t they? Especially since soone sched for him to sleep with Ling Xue and got Ling Xue pregnant.
Truth be told, Bai Ruozhu didn’t like Consort Le’s nature, not that she was weak in the past, but even now, she didn’t like it at all.
Perhaps she had not been in Consort Le’s position and so could not understand her pain. But she always felt that having a child ant one must be strong for the child. If you were to act irrationally, what about the child? A motherless child is very pitiful, especially in the palace.
The Emperor frowned and hesitated for a long ti before saying, "If you always believe others and not , the affection between us will gradually diminish. By then I might resent you."
Direct, decisive, not at all roundabout!
Bai Ruozhu worried that Consort Le might be upset again and quickly looked at her face. Fortunately, Consort Le only cried for a while and said, "I believe you, I won’t overthink anymore."
The Emperor finally softened, stepped forward to embrace the crying Consort Le, and gently comforted her.
Bai Ruozhu felt even more awkward now; standing here felt inappropriate. Leaving, she had to say sothing, but speaking up would disrupt them, wouldn’t it? If she quietly slipped out, would it be deed disrespectful to the Emperor?
As she was in various dilemmas and had secretly moved towards the door, footsteps sounded from outside. She quickly stepped to the side of the door.
"Your Majesty, an urgent letter from Tang Feng," the voice was rhythmic, a bit anxious.
The Emperor released Consort Le and patted her a couple of tis for comfort.
"Read it," the Emperor instructed, thinking they might have found the people and supposing it wasn’t a big deal.
Bai Ruozhu perked up her ears to listen; was Achun coming back?
From his angle, Lu could not see Bai Ruozhu, so he started reading without concern.
"Your subjects infiltrated the Barbarian Tribe. Minister Jiang led a team into the prison to rescue people, and I was at the outskirts of the tribe supporting them. Unexpectedly, the Barbarians used a thousand lives for sacrifice, executing an Evil Technique that trapped Minister Jiang. Unable to break the spell, I could only continue to hide, and this turned out to be a sche between Sangdian, the eldest Barbarian Prince, and King Rui. King Rui sent people to help Sangdian kill Sangta Prince, who should have inherited the throne, and caused the old King to beco bedridden. Sangdian then helped King Rui to capture Minister Jiang alive..."
In an instant, Bai Ruozhu’s head was in turmoil. Yes, the plague in Guangqi Town was Chiyou’s doing, ant to hinder them, slow down their pace. Later, she was attacked by Chiyou in the Western Regions. Sangta scarred himself saving her, and it was little Furball that bit King Rui, allowing her to escape. It was then that King Rui had colluded with Sangdian!
Achun was captured, Sangta died. Why did it co to this? Just because she missed one aspect, thinking that since King Rui had attacked the Capital City, she beca complacent?
It’s all her fault!
She painfully held her head, as if she heard nothing else.
"What is the Evil Technique of the Barbarian Tribe?" the Emperor asked again.
"As I understand, the Barbarian Tribe has so ancient Evil Techniques, extrely strange, requiring human blood and life as sacrifices. According to Tang Feng, Sangdian should have killed a thousand Barbarian civilians to cast the spell, the effect..." Lu paused, "It should be extrely terrifying, Minister Jiang probably has no strength to escape."
A thudding sound was heard, and it was only then that the Emperor and Consort Le rembered Bai Ruozhu was still there! And Bai Ruozhu had already fainted to the ground.
Upon hearing the noise, Lu rushed into the room and only then saw Bai Ruozhu unconscious, feeling it was bad in his heart, and quickly called palace maids to move Bai Ruozhu to the nearby soft lounge.
"Quickly call for the Imperial Doctor!" the Emperor’s tone was sowhat urgent, now regretting it. If Xiaojiang’s wife and unborn child t with any trouble, how could he face the brother who risked his life for him?
After a while, the Imperial Doctor hadn’t arrived, but Gao Zhou rushed in. The palace had sent soone to inform him that sothing had happened to Consort Le. He arrived to find Consort Le was fine, but Bai Ruozhu was fainted on the side.
"What happened?" Gao Zhou’s anger surged but could only suppress it to check Bai Ruozhu’s pulse, forgetting to even greet the Emperor.
Fortunately, the Emperor was feeling guilty at this mont and didn’t pay attention to such details.
"Tang Feng just sent back an urgent ssage saying Minister Jiang was captured by the Barbarian Tribe using an Evil Technique, and Bai Daren fainted in agitation," Lu replied from the side.
Gao Zhou’s hand paused but quickly cald down again.
After a while, he withdrew his hand and said, "She’s okay, just got frightened and her emotions were too volatile. Plus, she hadn’t rested well before, leading to exhaustion. But she’s pregnant with twins; if she keeps being emotionally unstable, it might harm the fetuses."
User Comments
0 comments from readers