Qiong Hua was anxiously waiting as Jun Ning hadn’t returned yet. Earlier, the situation was quite urgent, and she only managed to send Jun Ning out of the Cold Palace, failing to remind Jun Ning not to roam around.
Otherwise, if anyone saw him, especially the Empress, he’d be finished.
"Heaven help, bless my Yi Yi to return safely," Qiong Hua silently prayed in her heart.
"Mother, I’m back." As soon as Jun Ning crawled through the dog hole, he shouted.
Upon hearing him, Qiong Hua quickly got up and rushed toward the direction of the sound.
Seeing Jun Ning standing in front of her unscathed, she joyfully stepped forward and embraced Jun Ning.
"Yi Yi, it’s good you’ve returned," Qiong Hua said, "Hungry? Let me get you a steamed bun."
Jun Ning refused, "No, no, I’m not hungry!"
Meanwhile, Emperor Yongning and his entourage were covered in chili powder, their eyes unable to open, thus hindering their movement to find an Imperial Physician. They could only wait in place, hoping someone would hear their cries for help and come.
The waiting with blinded eyes due to the chili was agonizing every single moment.
Heaven knows how long Emperor Yongning waited before help arrived.
The one who arrived was Liu Pin. It was a sunny moment when the Imperial Garden was stiflingly hot with no breeze, practically deserted. However, Liu Pin always loved flower gazing.
Regardless of the weather, she would come over every few days.
Today, her foot was inconvenient, yet she still came.
As soon as she entered the Imperial Garden, she heard cries for help, which sounded like they were from Emperor Yongning.
Just like the other day, she rushed towards Emperor Yongning, disregarding her foot injury.
After half an hour, Emperor Yongning’s eyes had been washed and treated with medication by the Imperial Physician and were fine, just slightly swollen and red. With proper rest for two or three days, the swelling would naturally dissipate.
However, Liu Pin’s foot injury had worsened, now swollen to the point she couldn’t set foot upon the ground. Yet she seemed entirely unaware, too focused on the matter of Emperor Yongning being covered in chili powder.
After the Imperial Physician left, she looked at Emperor Yongning’s red-swollen eyes with tear-filled eyes, saying nothing, but as if saying it all.
Emperor Yongning glanced at her raised foot and patted the side of his bed, "Come sit."
"Your concubine prefers to stand," Liu Pin said, tears already falling, unsure if it was due to sympathy for Emperor Yongning or her own foot pain.
Yet she instinctively didn’t want Emperor Yongning to see, quickly wiping them away.
Emperor Yongning only knew today who was obstructing his royal carriage last time, and the one saving him this time, was indeed Liu Pin, his concubine.
When she first entered the palace, she once served him, but due to being too stiff, uninteresting, and timid, it only happened that once. Afterward, she was never summoned again.
Now, he had almost completely forgotten this person. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝕟𝕖𝕥
Though Emperor Yongning’s forgetfulness was somewhat disheartening to Liu Pin, she didn’t show it.
She nodded cautiously, "Yes, to report to Your Majesty."
"I command you to come sit," Emperor Yongning ordered, but Liu Pin was about to refuse when he sternly said, "To defy the imperial decree, what punishment do you think you deserve? You know in your heart."
What punishment deserved?
How could she not be aware.
Liu Pin was so frightened she hurried over and sat beside Emperor Yongning, but she appeared somewhat constrained, her body taut, not daring to move, her hands clutching her clothes tightly.
Emperor Yongning’s large hand suddenly reached forward and held her small hand, seeming to convey not to be afraid, that he wouldn’t eat her.
After some time, when Liu Pin was less afraid, Emperor Yongning asked, "Regarding today’s incident where I was sprinkled with chili powder, Liu Pin, what do you think?"