Empress Dowager Feng said that she was worried about His Majesty's condition, so before going to bed, she sent Ahao to Xuanzhi Hall with a midnight snack to visit him. As they walked outside the hall, Zhao Jian, who had been talking with Zhang Yu for a long time, came out from a side hall, led by a young eunuch. He was also preparing to leave the palace.
Song Shuhao bowed to him, but felt that Zhao Jian's gaze was particularly piercing today. The moment he saw her, she saw the surprise that flashed in Zhao Jian's eyes, and she felt that it would have been better if she hadn't noticed it at all.
The last time Ah-hao met Zhao Jian was when he suddenly appeared in her room, and thinking back on it still made her feel awkward. Although what he said at the time was true, she couldn't stand his domineering and completely inconsiderate way of doing things. However, her tone and attitude seemed just as bad that time, so Ah-hao hesitated whether to thank him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Zhao Jian glanced at the food box Ah Hao was carrying. He paused for a moment, then said only, "Aunt Song." He then nodded slightly and added, "I was a bit presumptuous last time. I'm sorry."
Zhao Jian condescended to apologize, and A-Hao had no choice but to say, "It's alright. This servant also misunderstood Your Highness, and it is I who should apologize." As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Jian smiled slightly, as if he felt relieved by her words. His smile, however, made A-Hao feel uneasy.
There seemed to be someone standing in the shadows under the corridor. Ah Hao vaguely recognized him as Zhang Yu, who had already emerged from the darkness. Zhang Yu walked to a bright spot, stood with his hands behind his back, and asked Song Shuhao, "What are you doing here?"
Song Shuhao, who was feeling uneasy, saw that it was indeed Zhang Yu and immediately had the illusion that she had been rescued. She couldn't help but smile and quickly said, "This servant has come to deliver a midnight snack to Your Majesty." Seeing Zhang Yu nod, Ahao and Zhao Jian gave a slight curtsy and walked towards Zhang Yu.
Zhao Jian's eyes flickered slightly as his gaze followed Ah Hao's figure. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched into a fist and then relaxed. Watching Zhang Yu and Song Shuhao enter the hall, he withdrew his gaze, concealing his emotions, but instructed the little eunuch to continue leading the way for him. No one knew the turmoil in his heart.
He had wronged her so much, truly wronged her so much, which was why in this life he could only watch helplessly. But he would not give up easily, never… Others might not understand her, but he always did. He knew what she wanted, and he could give her everything.
With heavy thoughts, Zhao Jian strode into the night, leaving the candlelight shining from the Xuanzhi Hall behind him.
A cold wind suddenly rises, but whose heart does it intend to chill?
Chapter 48 Abnormal
Zhang Yu walked quickly and hurriedly, his steps agile, not at all like someone still ill. Ahao, carrying the food box, followed him with difficulty, not daring to complain. Upon entering the hall, Zhang Yu threw down the crystal beaded curtain and went straight into the inner room. Ahao had no choice but to follow him in.
After placing the food box on the table, Ah Hao turned around and saw Zhang Yu already lazily sunk into a recliner covered with cushions and blankets. He closed his eyes for a moment and pressed his brow with his hand. In the light, it was clear that his complexion was not very good, and he looked exhausted.
The so-called late-night snack was nothing more than a bowl of cordyceps and black chicken soup and a serving of kidney bean rolls. Ah Hao took the food out of the food box and placed it on the table. Zhang Yu's voice came at this moment, sounding somewhat tired, and asked her, "Did Mother send you here again?"
Ah Hao nodded in agreement and said, "The soup bowls and snacks that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager asked me to prepare are still warm. If Your Majesty is hungry, you may have some." She didn't know if Zhang Yu had an appetite, so she could only say this for now.
"What were you saying outside the hall just now?"
"What do you mean, what do you mean..." Ah Hao subconsciously thought, then realized in a moment that it referred to her and Zhao Jian, but she didn't hide anything and replied, "I didn't say anything special. His Highness said that he was abrupt last time and apologized to this servant."
"What did you say?" Zhang Yu asked, sounding like an official conducting an investigation, as if he wanted to know everything clearly. He kept asking questions.
“This servant only said that I also made mistakes and should apologize.” Under further questioning, A-Hao continued to confess. Zhang Yu put his hands on the armrests of the recliner and said nothing more. A-Hao also felt it was inappropriate to say anything more, so she remained silent with him.
Through the crystal beaded curtain, Lü Yuan's voice quickly rang out, saying, "Your Majesty, the medicine has been decocted. Shall we send it in now?" Ahao realized that Zhang Yu had not yet taken the medicine, but it was already very late, and she thought that the matter had probably been discussed for too long, which had delayed the time.
Zhang Yu didn't even look up or say a word. His tone was rather unpleasant. Ah Hao didn't know what she had done to offend him, so she didn't take the initiative to go get the medicine. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yu started ordering her around, asking, "Aren't you going to get the medicine either?"
Ahao glanced at him; the person on the recliner still had their eyes closed. She left, not noticing that the person behind her immediately half-opened their eyes. After bringing in the medicine, she placed it on the table. Ahao looked at Zhang Yu, but he didn't get up on his own.
"Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine."
Ah Hao "kindly" reminded Zhang Yu. The latter still kept his eyes closed and didn't speak, and Ah Hao almost thought he was asleep. After waiting for a while and seeing no reaction, she went over and called out softly, but he still didn't open his eyes. Ah Hao then mustered up her courage and gently nudged him.
Little did she know, before she could even retract her hand, Zhang Yu had already half-opened his eyes and was staring at her, clearly not asleep. Not knowing what he was doing, A-Hao gave an awkward smile, "This servant will bring His Majesty the medicine bowl." As she spoke, she walked to the table and, under Zhang Yu's gaze, placed the medicine in front of him.
Zhang Yu took the bowl of medicine, no longer leaving her bewildered. He tilted his head back and drank the medicine in one gulp; even just watching it made A-Hao feel it was terribly bitter. After taking the porcelain bowl he handed back, A-Hao tentatively asked, "Does Your Majesty still want some candied fruit?"
“I won’t eat.” Zhang Yu, remembering what happened that morning, immediately rejected her suggestion. Ahao didn’t insist, but when she returned, she couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, are you really not going to have anything? Even just a little something will help to get rid of the bitterness.”
Zhang Yu didn't respond to Ahao's words. He stared at Ahao for a while, then suddenly beckoned to her and said, "Come here." His eyelids looked much normal. Ahao not only moved closer to the recliner but also bent down obsequiously, as if waiting for Zhang Yu's instructions.
The next moment, however, things took a completely different turn from what she had imagined. She was caught off guard when Zhang Yu reached out and grabbed her waist. By the time she realized what was happening, she had already fallen onto the recliner and into Zhang Yu's arms.
In an instant, Zhang Yu's incomparably handsome face loomed larger and larger before her eyes. Before she could dodge, Zhang Yu's kiss landed on her lips. His lips, moistened with the bitter taste of medicine, pressed tightly against hers. His teeth were pried open, and his equally bitter tongue invaded her mouth, wantonly taking over.
The scent of ambergris lingered around her nose, making her feel drowsy and disoriented. Struggling only resulted in her being held even tighter. The disparity in power forced her to accept this brutal plunder from Zhang Yu. Yet, she remembered that he had said he wouldn't force her.
Almost suffocating from the kiss, Ah Hao was finally released. She breathed softly, quickly pulling away from Zhang Yu's embrace and standing upright again. She did feel anger, not from the kiss itself, but from the feeling of being disrespected. How ridiculous! Shouldn't a mere female official be grateful for such favor? What was there to expect from respect?
Ah Hao was speechless, unsure of what to say, especially after hearing Zhang Yu's words, "Get rid of the bitterness." His face appeared emotionless, but the smile in his eyes betrayed a hint of something more, and his words were particularly roguish and irreverent. If she also liked this person, she might have thought it was just a playful exchange between two people in love, but unfortunately, it wasn't that simple.
Enraged, Ah Hao couldn't muster any strong words. She glared at Zhang Yu for a long time, biting her lip to suppress the urge to speak. She curtsied and turned to leave without paying any attention to Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu made no move, nor did he try to stop her, and Ah Hao didn't care.
Zhang Yu kept watching Ahao, seeing her practically leap out of his arms, and then seeing her angry face—he found it adorable with a wicked sense of humor. He knew she was angry and wouldn't listen to anything he said, and actually, he didn't have anything to say... Even though Zhao Jian hadn't mentioned her at all in his words today, it didn't stop him from understanding what this person's true purpose was.
But at that time, his mind was filled with thoughts of Song Shuhao. From the moment she touched his palm in the morning, to her clever act of feeding him candied fruit, to when he accompanied her back to the Song residence, she stood under the eaves and said in a slightly annoyed tone that she didn't know whether she should cure her mother.
He thought about how she struggled to drag him out of the hot spring, how she blushed as she peeled off his clothes and wiped his body with cold water, how she froze instantly when she accidentally saw him bathing, and how she took care of him without taking off her clothes, but ended up getting sick herself.
When she followed him to gather prey, the joy she showed was something she never saw in the palace. In the desolate wilderness, with no one to rely on, she depended entirely on him; her palms would sweat when he held her hand, clearly nervous. She also never forgot the silly smile on her face when they had a bountiful catch.
They all seemed like trivial matters, yet they remained exceptionally clear and distinct in his mind. Even more distant events lingered in his memory, unnoticed and silent. He had never noticed or recognized them before, but today they all seemed clear. However, he still harbored a sliver of uncertainty—but now that uncertainty had vanished.
Lost in thought, Zhang Yu gently stroked his lips with his long, slender fingers, his thoughts lingering on the soft touch and sweeter-than-candied taste of kissing Song Shuhao. He straightened up slightly, called out to Lü Yuan in a deep voice, and instructed, "Keep an eye on her, make sure she gets back safely." Lü Yuan immediately took the order and left.
Zhang Yu reclined back in the chair, feeling an overwhelming sense of satisfaction that seemed about to burst forth, making him feel incredibly fulfilled. The joy that welled up from the bottom of his heart was like bubbles rising from fish in water, one after another, never ceasing.
·
Song Shuhao was furious the whole way, cursing Zhang Yu and then herself for being so blind. But even that didn't quell her anger, which turned into frustration. In the morning, she had been confidently thinking about finding a new way out, but what happened that evening felt like a devastating blow.
Lying on the bed in the darkness, Song Shuhao stared at the ceiling, her lips pressed tightly together, but her mind was completely out of control. The image of her falling into Zhang Yu's arms kept flashing through her mind. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and the angrier she became, the more furious she felt.
Song Shuhao suddenly sat up in bed, then scurried to the table in the dark. She poured water from the teapot and began rinsing her mouth repeatedly, seemingly trying to wash away the lingering scent of Zhang Yu on her lips and tongue. But it was all in vain… She slumped over the table, her cheek pressed against the surface, feeling utterly distraught.
She started missing her mother again, wanted to go home, and didn't want to stay in this place. She didn't know how long she thought about it, but Song Shuhao simply slumped onto the table and fell asleep.
She had a dream about her childhood, about her loving parents and carefree life—how happy and content she was! Even in her dream, she couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of joy and peace.
Later, all of that disappeared, and Song Shuhao saw herself at the age of nine. One early morning, her mother combed her hair into a bun and tied it with a green ribbon. She wore a bright green dress and stood under the grape trellis in the backyard of Jingyun Nunnery, which was laden with bright green grapes. In her hand, she held a freshly picked white gardenia, and the air was filled with its fragrance.
At that moment, a handsome young man suddenly jumped down from the wall, looked at her with bright eyes, and asked loudly, "Did you see anyone come here last night?" She shook her head, and the man left.