Lu Yunhong and Wang Xiu left the palace after dinner.
Because the emperor had drunk wine before, he wanted to go to the imperial garden to enjoy the breeze. Yu Deshui supported him, fearing that he would fall.
The emperor pushed him away and said calmly: "It doesn't matter, I'm not drunk."
At this time, Jiang Qing took the initiative to step forward, gently held his wrist and said, "It's better for me to do it. I also want to go out for a walk. Is your Majesty okay?"
The emperor looked down and saw Jiang Qing smiling brightly and generously, as if she would follow him even if he was not sure.
For some reason, he felt that Jiang Qing had changed and become bolder.
He thinks this change is good. When living in the palace, he needs to be bolder so as not to appear submissive.
So he nodded and took Jiang Qing out.
The Royal Garden is very big. When I usually walk alone, I always feel that the paths are very long. I want to go back halfway.
But today the two of them walked for a while and passed by a banana forest, a fence yard, a small bamboo forest...
In front of us, there is an arch bridge, and below it is a pavilion, with weeping willows and beautiful spring scenery.
Jiang Qing helped the emperor over and asked him to sit in the pavilion and enjoy the breeze, while she went to pick lotus flowers by the stream. The little lotuses only showed their sharp corners, and they already had a relaxed and happy atmosphere.
The little girl always liked flowers. The emperor couldn't help but stood up and watched her pick only one lotus leaf, smelled it close up, and then laughed with satisfaction. He also scooped water and played on it, watching the rolling
The water droplets seemed to be very interesting to her.
The emperor thought, fortunately the prince did not come.
Otherwise, one of them wants to pick lotuses, and the other wants to go into the river. If they are noisy, they will have no time to spare.
But after thinking about it, isn’t the joy of life just like this?
He walked forward, looked at the flower buds swaying in the breeze, and asked Jiang Qing, "Do you want it?"
Jiang Qing was afraid that he was too close to the river, so she quickly stood up and said, "It hasn't opened yet, what are you doing here?"
"Cousin, don't come over, let's go back!"
After saying that, she took the fresh lotus leaves she picked and came to help him.
The emperor said: "I'm not drunk, but I didn't take my hand out.
Jiang Qing said: "Of course I know, but my cousin feels sorry for me. If I don't support me, the palace people will see that I am incompetent and they will come up again. Then I will have no place to stand."
The emperor pursed his lips, revealing a gentle smile at the corners of his mouth.
After passing by a quiet courtyard, Jiang Qing saw Xu Xiujun. She came out to pour water. When she saw them, she put down the wooden basin and knelt beside it.
After Jiang Qing entered the palace, she heard Yu Deshui say that Xu Xiujun was not originally from the palace. The emperor had been waiting for King An's people to come back to pick him up. When no one came, he just followed her.
Usually no one comes to this small courtyard. Only Hua Zimo comes occasionally. Jiang Qing saw it twice.
I saw it twice in more than a year, which is really very rare.
I just didn't expect that I would meet you today.
She was kneeling there, her head slightly lowered, and her body upright. It could be seen that she had a pretty good life before, at least she wasn't resigned to her fate as a slave.
The emperor ignored him and left.
Yes, there was nothing to say. Jiang Qing thought, when she followed the emperor to leave, she didn't see Xu Xiujun raise her eyes, her eyes were filled with a trace of sourness and confusion.
…
The emperor thought that Jiang Qing accompanied him to the garden that day because he was a little tipsy and she was worried about it.
But in the past few days, she either cooked meals and sent them to Qinzheng Hall, or came over to make tea herself and watch him approve the memorial.
Sometimes at night, when he was distracted, she came to pick the wicks, and he was startled when he saw the beautiful figure.
Every time at this time, Jiang Qing would smile sweetly and ask, "Are you scared?"
The emperor would not admit it and shook his head.
Jiang Qing would serve him tea and stay with him.
That night, his eyes felt a little sore and his temples were so painful that he had to stop and frowned in discomfort.
But the next moment, a pair of gentle hands came over and pressed his forehead and temples.
It was so sudden and very comfortable.
His originally stiff body gradually relaxed, and he felt sleepy before he knew it, so he fell asleep at the desk.
When he woke up again, it was already midnight.
Jiang Qing is still there, reading a book with her head down.
Under the light, she looked particularly soft and graceful with her head slightly lowered, like a beautiful girl who was at home at home.
The emperor was stunned and asked: "Why don't you go back to sleep?"
Jiang Qing yawned, shook her head and said, "Yu Deshui made a small bed in the outer room for me. I was afraid that the emperor would not sleep well, so I stayed here."
So, are you afraid that he will fall?
Although his feet are extremely numb and his hands that have been pressed for a long time are not very flexible, he is an adult...
There seems to be no answer to the doubtful question, and the emperor is not allowed to ask any more questions.
He picked up the book and said to Jiang Qing: "Go to bed. You don't have to stay with me tomorrow. You can sleep a little longer."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Qing took the fold out of his hand and put it aside.
"Cousin, please go to bed and rest. It's so late and I won't go back to Qiyun Palace. I'll just spend the night on the small bed."
"If my cousin doesn't sleep, I won't sleep either."
"Mrs. Lu is right. We can't help you with anything. The only thing we can do is to take care of you and accompany you. If you can't do these two things well, then there is no point in my coming to the palace."
The emperor paused, thinking that it turned out to be like this. He actually became enlightened after listening to Axiu's words.
He curled up the corner of his mouth and smiled helplessly: "I have said so much, but you have not heard it in your heart. Why do you take what Mrs. Lu said as good advice?"
Jiang Qing said: "That's because what Mrs. Lu said was for my cousin's benefit."
"And I also hope that my cousin will be well, in good health, in a good mood, everything will go smoothly, and no one will deliberately cause trouble for you."
After all, his thoughts are pure, and his words are the most heart-warming.
The emperor stood up and said: "Okay, let's go and rest!"
Jiang Qing laughed and said happily: "This is the best. Cousin, please take care of yourself. Master Ye has already said that recharging your energy and sleeping well are the top priority."
After saying that, he stood up and went to make the bed.
In fact, Yu Deshui had been prepared, and the quilt was warm. Jiang Qing felt very comfortable as soon as she touched it, but she just helped to lift the quilt and stood aside and said: "Cousin, please sleep in peace."
The emperor sat down and wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to say it.
When hesitating, Yu Deshui said: "Why don't you, the noble concubine, settle it together? I will go watch the night outside!"
That voice sounded somewhat excited and impatient!
Jiang Qing said "Ah", surprised, and her cheeks turned red.
She glanced at the emperor subconsciously, and when she saw that the emperor was also looking over, her heart started to beat, and she quickly said: "No, no, I'm going to sleep on the small bed."
After saying that, he ran away in a hurry, not even daring to raise his head along the way. Although his heart was burning with anxiety, it seemed to have a different kind of throbbing.
Until she was lying on the small bed, with her big round eyes open, she was still thinking.
What does the emperor mean by looking at her?
Do you want her to stay?
Woohoo, no way, she must be overthinking it!
Jiang Qing pulled the quilt and covered her head, deciding to go back to the palace tomorrow and never stay in the emperor's palace at night again.