Chapter 31: 31

Mercy (1)

Chu Ning was surprised and paused her steps. She looked up at the still bright sky. She seemed a little reserved and cautious as she answered, “I will be returning to the East Palace tomorrow. Since the weather is nice today, I am thinking of going for a walk nearby. Are you also taking a walk in this garden?”

As she spoke, she instructed the maids who were carrying the Empress Dowager’s gifts to return to the Palace of Eternal Spring. Only Cui He remained with her, and they walked leisurely on the garden path.

“The Emperor is kind and permitted me to take a break today. I didn’t expect to meet Your Highness here.” When the other maids left and went out of their sight, he continued, “If I’m not mistaken, one could see the whole grounds of Taiji Palace from the top of this Lingyan Pavilion. It is a good spot to enjoy scenery.”

There was no one else around them. Chu Ning followed his meaningful gaze towards the three-storey-high pavilion and gradually realized what he meant.

“You are right. I have been married to the Crown Prince for more than two years, but I have never been inside Lingyan Pavilion. I really should go and have a look.”

Liu Kang nodded with a smile, “Please go ahead, Your Highness.”

With that, he turned away and went into another path.

“Madam, are you really going up the pavilion?” Cui He asked softly and looked at her with wide eyes.

Chu Ning continued walking and nodded, “Why not?” She pointed to the path opposite the one Liu Kang took and said, “You should go there and find somewhere quiet to wait for me.”

Cui He hesitated for a moment before quickly going to do as Chu Ning said.

Since the late Emperor’s passing, his concubines had all moved out of Taiji Palace. Now, only the new Emperor, Empress Dowager, Crown Prince, and Chu Ning were living in this large palace. As such, there were not many people. There were many portraits of past heroes of the Great Liang Kingdom in Lingyan Pavilion. Other than servants who came here occasionally to clean, others rarely came here.

Furthermore, with Liu Kang and Cui He keeping watch nearby, Chu Ning did not have to worry that someone saw her.

The two eunuchs who were standing by the steps left to follow Liu Kang. Chu Ning walked into the pavilion alone and up the wooden steps.

Her footsteps formed creaking noises that reached the ears of a tall and well-built man at the top.

“What is the matter?” He asked calmly.

There was no answer and only the sound of calmly approaching footsteps. He felt that something was not right and turned around immediately. His alert gaze met with a pair of beautiful eyes that reminded him of an autumn lake.

They were the eyes that appeared in his dream, and he could not forget them.

He felt as if his gaze was shrouded by a mist and blinked to disperse it.

……

He saw rouge lips part and say, “Your Majesty, it’s me, Chu Ning.”

…

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At the Palace of Eternal Spring, Xiao Yu had just returned from the Ministry of Works. He saw the maids carrying in ginseng, pilose deer horn, Chinese angelica roots, and other medicinal herbs.

“Are these gifts from the Palace of Hundred Blessings? Where is the Crown Princess?” He paused outside the main door and asked.

One of the maids answered quickly, “Your Highness, these are indeed gifts from the Empress Dowager for your health. The Crown Princess saw that the weather was good, so she brought Cui He with her for a walk and told us to return first. She should be in Taiji Palace’s back garden.”

Xiao Yu did not say anything and stormed into the house. He wiped his face with a hot towel given by a maid and stood still with his arms apart, waiting for the maid to change his attire.

The whole house was quiet and solemn. All the servants kept their gaze down and did not dare to make a sound.

Xiao Yu looked at the empty room before him. His mood turned from bad to worse.

Today, Wei Fujing from the Ministry of Justice informed him that the investigation for Cheng Liang Biao’s case was nearly completed. Every accusation by the Censorate was supported with strong evidence. There was no way to reverse the sentence. He will be punished soon.

A month after Hou Tongyi was killed, Xiao Yu lost another supporter.

Even though he was not close to Hou Tongyi, the incident still gave him goosebumps.

He had a bad feeling for some reason. He believed that his sixth uncle was just toying with him. The reason he still let him live was so that he had something to play with.

Xiao Yu felt that he was struggling in vain. A few of the courtiers who supported him now showed signs of wanting to break away from him.

He grew even more anxious when he remembered that Xu Rong advised him to take another consort and the Empress Dowager’s sudden invitation today.

He urgently needed relief from this oppressive stress.

This was why he did not stay back to chat when he was finished with matters at the Ministry of Works. Instead, he rushed back to see Chu Ning.

However, she still had not returned.

The palace maid was afraid of him even on normal days. At this moment, upon seeing his darkening expression, she became even more fearful of him. She quickly helped him to unbutton his outer robe and take it off.

But when she was unfastening his belt, he suddenly pushed her away forcefully and shouted, “Useless! Get out!”

The maid bowed and left quickly.

“Prepare a litter,” he ordered.

……

Xiao Yu could not stand to remain in the empty palace, so he fixed his attire and dashed out.

…

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