The Scholar's Wife in the Monarch-Minister Story 33

The next day.

Yuan Wangshu and Qu Zhujun tidied themselves up and followed the palace attendant through the layers of palace walls toward Shou'an Palace.

It wasn't until they passed the Imperial Garden that Qu Zhujun, sharp-eyed as ever, caught sight of a slender figure in lotus-green standing not far away beneath a catalpa tree.

Wasn't that Xie Chenyao?

She instinctively halted, about to call out, but the very next second Yuan Wangshu quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Mmph mmph mmph!" Why are you covering my mouth?

Qu Zhujun struggled only lightly, afraid her own strength might hurt her friend. Her eyes were full of confusion, but she still tried hard to point at the young woman standing not far away, letting out a garbled sound from her throat.

Yuan Wangshu didn't even lift her eyes; she simply shook her head quietly, raising a finger to her lips to signal silence.

Qu Zhujun frowned, and though she didn't understand, she obediently calmed down.

But when she turned her head to look again, her pupils abruptly contracted.

The emperor, clad in a black ceremonial dragon robe, had somehow also appeared in the Imperial Garden. He now stood quietly behind Xie Chenyao, the distance between them extremely close, far exceeding normal bounds.

The next second, the tall, graceful man slowly bent down, stretched out an arm, and firmly encircled the petite young woman from behind.

The attendants at their side had long since, with practiced discipline, turned their backs, each lowering their heads deeply.

Xie Chenyao, who had been looking up at the tree, seemed startled by the sudden embrace.

The young woman's small body trembled, like a startled fawn, instinctively trying to struggle, but was soon easily stopped by the man's raised hand.

Xiao Mingting held her shoulders; with a slight press of his palm, he turned the young woman in his arms to face him, then pressed her tightly back against his chest once more.

He rested his chin on the top of her head, raised a hand to gently stroke her soft hair, his movements as familiar as if rehearsed a thousand times.

Qu Zhujun stood frozen in place, completely silenced now, even holding her breath.

A faint blush also colored Yuan Wangshu's face; she slightly embarrassed, lowered her gaze.

But she reacted quickly, tugging at Qu Zhujun's sleeve and pulling her, with light steps, to retreat into the distance.

Sunlight, filtering through the gaps between leaves, fell on Xiao Mingting's stern profile, casting a dappled shadow.

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the direction they had left, a dark glint quickly flashing through his deep pupils.

Only after he withdrew his gaze and looked back at the young woman in his arms did the expression on his handsome face soften again.

"Yao Yao likes catalpa flowers?" Xiao Mingting loosened his embrace a little, helping her tidy the strands of hair he had messed up, and asked in a gentle voice.

Chen Yao blinked, instinctively tilting her pretty face up to look at him, then, at his question, turned her gaze to the lush catalpa tree beside them.

She slowly shook her head, then said in a soft voice, "I saw a nest of baby birds on a branch, all fluffy, huddled inside. They're adorable."

"Mm." Xiao Mingting responded.

He didn't even bother to follow her gaze; he just kept staring fixedly at the young woman before him.

Chen Yao was wearing a lotus-green brocade ru skirt today, layered with a thin autumn-yellow gauze, her cloud-like hair combed high, with gold, jade, pearl, and emerald ornaments swaying, making her already outstanding looks even more dazzling.

The young woman's amber-colored, apricot-shaped eyes shimmered, like a precious cat pampered within the palace.

"Just as cute as Yao Yao." He murmured, his tone wrapped in an unbreakable tenderness.

Chen Yao paused slightly, and soon her fair cheeks flushed crimson. She lowered her head, and couldn't help but bury her entire small face into the man's chest.

*

It wasn't until they had walked quite far along the palace path.

Qu Zhujun's mouth was still slightly agape, unable to hide the shock on her face. "This, this, this... how could Chen Yao... still be with His Maj--"

Before she could even finish saying "His Majesty," Yuan Wangshu quickly interrupted, "Mind your words!"

Her gaze instinctively swept over the young eunuch leading the way ahead; he had remained quiet with his head bowed the whole time.

Qu Zhujun quickly nodded, drew a finger across her lips as if zipping them shut, and clamped her mouth tightly closed again.

They finally arrived at the gates of Shou'an Palace.

Dangui, who had been waiting here, gave a slight bow to the two. A habitual smile hung on her face.

Then she spoke in a respectful tone, "The Empress Dowager is currently in the Buddhist hall worshipping, and is not available to receive guests. Hence, she specifically instructed: should the two young ladies arrive, they may go directly to the side hall in the west to find Lady Xie."

Clearly, the Empress Dowager was quite aware of the purpose of their visit to the palace. Still, this arrangement spared them a good deal of trouble.

Yuan Wangshu thought to herself, and quickly pulled Qu Zhujun along to lightly smile and say, "Our thanks to the Empress Dowager."

Soon they were led further inside, traversing a long corridor until they reached the side hall where Xie Chenyao was staying.

Because the young woman had always preferred quiet and wasn't used to many people around, there weren't many attendants serving in the side hall.

After Yuan Wangshu dismissed the attendants, only the two of them remained in the outer room.

Qu Zhujun, who had been holding it in all the way here, immediately stood up from the couch once she saw no outsiders around.

She paced around, looking troubled, and couldn't help saying, "Tell me, Chen Yao and His Majesty... what's going on with that?"

Yuan Wangshu had been frowning the whole time too, but at this, she could only shake her head. "Not sure."

"And... is she willing? We were too far away just now, I couldn't see her expression clearly, but at first it did look like she struggled a bit..."

Qu Zhujun spoke again, a hint of hesitation in her tone.

Yuan Wangshu was silent for a moment, then could only shake her head again. "Can't be certain."

"And what about Shen Yunxiu, who was sent away?" Qu Zhujun felt her head spinning the more she thought. "If he knew Chen Yao was with His Majesty... what would he think?"

Yuan Wangshu pressed her forehead, her face equally troubled. "I think... he probably doesn't know."

After all, before Shen Yunxiu left the capital, he had specifically entrusted her to look after his wife. If he knew the current situation, why would he have gone to the extra trouble?

As her words fell, their gazes instinctively met, exchanging a complex look.

Then, in unison, they let out long sighs.

*

They didn't have to wait long.

Sitting in the outer room, Qu Zhujun and Yuan Wangshu suddenly heard a light footstep from outside the hall.

Chen Yao had Cheng Yue wait at the door, a clear smile on her pretty face as she walked in briskly.

Seeing them, her eyes immediately lit up, and she said with a gentle smile, "Sister Wangshu, Sister Zhujun, why have you come?"

"Naturally, we came to see you." Yuan Wangshu smiled and stood up, walking straight towards her.

Qu Zhujun also quickly schooled her expression, and walked forward with a playful grin. "As the saying goes: 'One day apart feels like three autumns.'"

"What's with the exaggeration?" Yuan Wangshu couldn't help but scoff at her quoting classics.

Chen Yao's amber eyes curved, her gaze brimming with a light smile.

The three then held hands and settled down together on the cushioned couch.

They chatted, asking about each other's recent circumstances.

Until a while later.

Qu Zhujun, who truly wasn't one to keep things bottled up, seeing the relaxed atmosphere, gritted her teeth inwardly.

Still, she directly asked the young woman, "Chen Yao, you and His Majesty... are you two..."

"Zhujun!" Yuan Wangshu was startled, reflexively trying to stop her.

But by the time she reacted, it was clearly too late.

Watching Chen Yao's face, which had been brimming with smiles, suddenly stiffen, as if all the blood had been drained in an instant, turning pale bit by bit, even her moist lips losing their luster.

"I... really didn't... it's actually..."

She opened her mouth anxiously, seemingly trying to explain something on reflex, but in the end, she stammered for a long time without managing to say a complete sentence.

The young woman was flustered all over, her eyes reddening quickly, crystal tears falling one by one from the corners of her eyes.

Finally, Chen Yao felt too ashamed to face anyone, and raised her hands to tightly cover her tear-streaked face, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably.

Yuan Wangshu immediately shot Qu Zhujun a glare, then stood up, moved closer, and reached out to gently embrace her shoulders. "Don't cry, Chen Yao. We won't ask anymore."

Her palm landed on the young woman's back, patting slowly to soothe her, her tone full of tenderness.

Qu Zhujun also panicked instantly, her face filled with remorse, and she said urgently, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked randomly. Chen Yao, don't cry, I apologize!"

Clearly, such matters had never been up to Xie Chenyao's will. When an emperor sets his mind on a woman, even if she is a married woman, how much room for resistance could she possibly have?

Understanding this reasoning, hearing the young woman's suppressed sobs, Qu Zhujun couldn't help but blame herself even more.

Why couldn't she control her own mouth, to ask such a question right in front of her?

In the end, the two patiently comforted Chen Yao for a long time, until her crying gradually subsided.

Seeing the young woman's eyes red, just like a little rabbit, Qu Zhujun solemnly apologized to her again,

"Chen Yao, I'm sorry. Don't take it to heart. Seriously, just don't mind me."

Chen Yao couldn't help but let out a small sob, and looking at her self-blaming expression, she still gently shook her head.

Yuan Wangshu used a silk handkerchief to dab at the young woman's tear-stained face, and seeing her delicate, pitiable demeanor, she let out a heavy sigh in her heart as well.

But much time had already passed.

No matter how worried Yuan Wangshu and Qu Zhujun were, they couldn't linger in the palace for long. In the end, they could only give their careful instructions once more, then turned and left, looking back repeatedly.