Although she was curious about who the man was and yearned in her heart, she dared not seek him out, not even allowing a whisper of rumor to escape.
"It’s better to summon Princess Yijia earlier. I want to bear a child for Your Majesty!"
The Emperor laughed, reached out to pinch Consort Le’s cheek, "Do you prefer a son or a daughter?"
"I want both a son and a daughter!"
"You certainly are greedy!"
Consort Le leaned into the Emperor’s embrace, "A son as majestic as Your Majesty, a girl as tender as your concubine, soft like a dough of powdered face, would that not be delightful?"
"Good, all shall be as you wish. I shall grant you several children, so even if I am no longer here, you will have support, and no one will dare to harm you!"
Consort Le immediately burst into tears, shaking her head fervently, "Your concubine wants Your Majesty to live a hundred years. I only need Your Majesty’s protection, I want no one else!"
Having children, it takes so many years for them to grow. With several princes grown up, how could she possibly compete without support?
Naturally, it was best for the Emperor to be alive.
"Alright, alright, I shall live a hundred years, I shall protect you, and I shall protect our children too," the Emperor soothed with a gentle voice.
Only then did Consort Le break into a smile through her tears.
It was inevitable that another round of intimacy followed.
After a round of intimacy with Xi Auntie.
His body was satisfied, but his heart felt emptily severe.
At some point, he had grown fond of taking a few puffs of smoke, prepared a brass pipe, took a draw, exhaled a ring, watching the smoke disperse, and then taking another draw.
He smoked a bit too eagerly and coughed profusely.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Yun Qi wiped his face, not sure if it was from the coughing or the smoke.
Not until he had finished smoking did Yun Qi stand up. He didn’t even put on thick clothes, just draped an old cape over himself and left the courtyard.
Somehow he found himself at Qingjue Academy.
The courtyard had been without a mistress for over a year. Only a few maids and older women left by Mrs. Han were inside. They received their provisions, not through the public coffer. Aside from the essential commodities or fabrics, they never came out.
Just like those in Niannian Garden, they never went out as well.
The gates of Qingjue Academy were closed. Yun Qi could not see inside, nor could he tell if it was as lively as it once had been or as cold and lonely as it had become later on.
"Shu Niang..." Yun Qi called softly.
Now, he did not know whether, in this life, Mrs. Han would ever forgive him?
Perhaps, she would never see him again!
He turned back to Xi Auntie’s courtyard.
Xi Auntie sat on the bed, "Second Master, where did you go?"
It had been over a year, and despite all her efforts, she could not conceive. All the medicines she had taken were to no avail.
It was truly aggravating.
"Just out for a walk," Yun Qi replied, taking off his cape.
The room was warm, and soon he felt warm himself.
He went aside, poured some water, and sipped it slowly.
Xi Auntie pursed her lips, the year of exclusive favor made her want more, crave more.
She got up and walked over to Yun Qi, "Second Master, what’s wrong?"
"Nothing, go to sleep," he replied.
"This maid will accompany Second Master," Xi Auntie sat beside Yun Qi.
Yun Qi ignored her and continued to drink the warm water on his own.
Sitting up all night until dawn...
Now that court had been suspended, meeting with a few close friends to recite poems, with several dishes and a pot of fine wine, was also one of life’s great pleasures.
Imperial Prince’s Residence
Yun Jinnian napped briefly before getting up to check Wang’s pulse.
But when he saw Mrs. Dai holding Jade, weeping softly, Yun Jinnian was slightly astonished, "What’s wrong?"