A Quiet Homecoming

Yet Chen Yao threw herself at him, her small arms wrapping around his neck, and continued to weep silently without a word.

Xiao Mingting was at a loss for words, but he could only hold her gently, his palm slowly stroking her back.

Then he coaxed her softly, "Don't cry, be good. Did I do something wrong?"

Seeing Chen Yao merely burying her face in silence, he recalled the new things he had tried in bed last night...

Perhaps for a naturally reserved girl like her, it had been too much.

Xiao Mingting immediately reflected on his actions, then bowed his head, lowering his posture even more, his tone indulgent as he said, "Was I too reckless last night and exhausted you? I promise to be gentler in the future, alright? Blame me if you must, but don't cry, my dear..."

Given Chen Yao's personality, if she had heard such words, she would normally shyly straighten up and cover his mouth.

But after his words fell, the girl remained quiet in his embrace, without any movement.

Xiao Mingting sighed inwardly.

He could only hold her even tighter, his dark eyes lowering, thinking that he still didn't understand Chen Yao well enough, which was why he couldn't guess her thoughts.

After a while, he felt the girl in his arms seem to have cried herself out, her sobs growing softer, and even her breathing gradually calmed.

He lowered his head and gently pulled her small body away, only to see Chen Yao's eyes quietly closed, having slowly fallen asleep.

Xiao Mingting's features softened, and he raised his hand, his fingertips gently wiping away the tear beads on her lashes before lifting her horizontally and walking toward the bed.

He bent down, gently laid her on the bedding, and carefully tucked the brocade quilt around her.

In the flickering candlelight, the girl's rosy cheeks unconsciously nuzzled against the soft pillow, her sleeping face serene and gentle, seemingly free of any worries.

Xiao Mingting sat on the edge of the bed, his fingertips still unable to resist brushing her cheek.

...What was he to do with her?

*

The next morning.

Chen Yao was listlessly curled up under the brocade quilt, her brows slightly furrowed, and even her usually rosy cheeks showed a hint of pallor, clearly unwell.

Xiao Mingting had not even gone to the morning court, instead half-embracing the fragile girl in his arms, his palm against her back, stroking her gently as if soothing her.

The hastily summoned imperial physician bent down, placing his fingertips over the girl's outstretched wrist through a silk handkerchief, concentrating for a moment as he carefully felt the pulse.

After a moment, he withdrew his hand and bowed to Xiao Mingting, who sat on the edge of the bed, saying, "Your Majesty, the Empress is suffering from excessive worry stagnating in her heart. I can prescribe a prescription to soothe the liver, regulate qi, and dispel melancholy, but since this is a matter of the heart, she must also ease her own mind to fully recover."

Xiao Mingting listened with brows tightly knit, but he said in a low voice, "Then as the physician suggests, have someone prepare the medicine. Remember to use mild herbs, not too bitter."

"Yes," the physician replied and quickly took his leave.

Xiao Mingting then lowered his head again, looking at the girl who still seemed dazed in his arms, his eyes filled with worry. "Yao Yao?"

Chen Yao gave a vague response, "Mm."

She rested her small head against the man's chest, her long lashes drooping, and even her lips seemed dry, as if lacking moisture.

Xiao Mingting quickly waved his hand, signaling the attending palace maids to withdraw.

Once they were alone, he said helplessly, "What exactly is wrong? Why would you have such excessive worry out of the blue?"

Chen Yao pressed her lips together and merely shook her head gently, but soon her eyes began to redden again, her apricot eyes brimming with tears.

Xiao Mingting's heart tightened, and he could only gently lift her chin, then lean in close.

His thin lips lightly touched the girl's tear-streaked eye corners, then moved down her damp cheeks, and finally slowly covered her dry lips.

His movements were extremely gentle, merely brushing against the girl's lips, their breaths intimately entwining.

Until Chen Yao struggled to breathe, her small body growing weak, her amber eyes glistening with a hint of intoxication.

He withdrew slightly, but still pressed his forehead against hers, his voice low, with a hint of coaxing. "Be good, Yao Yao. Tell me, what really happened? If these palace maids have been neglectful and troubled you, I'll have them all dealt with and replace them with more attentive ones."

His tone unconsciously carried a hint of ruthlessness, making Chen Yao's small body tremble at the sound, and her shoulders unconsciously shrank back.

"...It's not their fault." She finally bit her lip in grievance and sobbed softly, "It's my misfortune. Having entered the palace for so long, I still haven't been able to bear a child for Your Majesty."

As she spoke, the girl's lashes trembled fragilely, and the tears in her eyes fell even more heavily.

Xiao Mingting sighed. "So it's about this matter."