Urgent orderly footsteps came from outside the palace. There were bursts of them from time to time, so Ning Shu said to Qing Zhu, “Head outside and see what happened?”
“Understood.” Qing Zhu went out a while, then came back in. She glanced towards Noble Consort Xuan who was lying on the bed and then lowered her head.
Noble Consort Xuan’s voice was hoarse as she said, “Just say it. What happened? Right now I’m just a useless person waiting for death. What is there that I can’t take?”
“Your Highness.” Qing Zhu turned towards Ning Shu. “The imperial guards are outside.”
“The imperial guards? What are they running around the palace this late at night for?” Ning Shu frowned.
Qing Zhu glanced at Noble Consort Xuan, then said, “I heard that the little fox disappeared during the afternoon and still hasn’t been found. His Majesty is worried so he sent people to search for it.”
“Pfff…” Ning Shu burst out laughing. Noble Consort Xuan clenched her blankets so hard her joints turned white as tears trickled down from the corners of her eyes.
Ning Shu really felt that Huo Qing was just as careless as an animal. One of his women just had a miscarriage, but all he cared about was the main offender, the little fox.
“Noble Consort Xuan, rest up and recover well. There’s still a good show to watch later. If you want revenge, then take care of your own health,” said Ning Shu. “Even if you die from heartbreak now, no one else would care.”
She got up and lightly patted Noble Consort Xuan’s cold hands. “Get better. You’ll see what you want to see. We both will.”
“This subject consort respectfully sees off Your Imperial Highness. This subject consort will remember everything that Your Imperial Highness has said today.” Noble Consort Xuan’s gaze was now resolute and filled with a scorching flame—the flame of hatred.
Ning Shu turned and left Noble Consort Xuan’s palace. As she walked through the imperial garden, from time to time she would see imperial guards passing through the trees and rock garden with lanterns, searching for the little fox.
Ning Shu’s lips hooked. They were in such deep love, there was no way she could not fulfill them.
“Your Imperial Highness, could it be that this fox knows some sort of sorcery? It actually made His Majesty become .” Qing Zhu found this really strange.
“Sorcery? Perhaps,” remarked Ning Shu.
When she got back to her palace and saw that Huo Chengwang was still waiting for her, a little flame seemed to warm her heart.
She hadn’t truly thought of this child as her own child. She had just wanted to keep this child from running around wild with the little fox, but this child had repaid her with sincere affection.
“Chengwang, why are you up so late?” asked Ning Shu. “You two should go to sleep.”
Huo Chengwang loosened a breath in relief when he saw that his imperial mother was fine, then said, “It’s so loud outside. This subject son couldn’t fall asleep.”
If he was waiting for her, he should just say it. Why make up an excuse? Ning Shu rubbed Huo Chengwang’s head.
“Imperial Mother, is Noble Consort Xuan alright?” asked Huo Chengwang. “Is Chengwang not going to have a younger sibling anymore?”
Ning Shu nodded. Huo Chengwang was a little disappointed. Then he said, “This subject son feels like Imperial Father has changed. He’s changed to the point that this subject son can barely recognize him.”
“Love changes a person.” Ning Shu took a sip of tea. “It’s late, you should go to sleep.”
“Love!?” Huo Chengwang looked towards her in confusion. “Imperial Mother, what are you talking about? What love?”
“Your imperial father right now is like a little kid who has just fallen in love,” said Ning Shu with a smile. For the sake of the person he loved, he was doing unbelievable things.
Huo Chengwang continued pressing, “Who’s Imperial Father in love with?”
“Go to sleep. Imperial Mother is also tired.” Ning Shu didn’t want to discuss this with Huo Chengwang.