Happy Too
At first, Hua Meng thought Emperor Jing'an was joking, but when she raised her eyes and met his gaze, she realized he was serious.
Though puzzled, Hua Meng nodded. "I would naturally like to go home for a visit." Seeing Emperor Jing'an raise a hand to tell her to rise, she hurried to her feet and continued, "It's just that in this dynasty, no palace consort has ever returned home for a visit after entering the palace."
Hua Meng said the words "returned home" with particular clarity.
The moment Hua Meng finished speaking with a smile, Emperor Jing'an raised a hand and pointed at her in the air. "You!" He paused, and only when he saw that she was still smiling did he continue, "Since my beloved consort wishes to go back, I shall accompany you on a visit."
Hua Meng was certain that Emperor Jing'an was using her wish to go home as a pretext.
She felt no reluctance or resentment. On the contrary, it was an honor for her that Emperor Jing'an could use her as a pretext.
"Then I shall wait for Your Majesty to take me home." As she spoke, Hua Meng smiled coquettishly. Seeing that Emperor Jing'an seemed not to have reacted, she deliberately cast him a seductive glance.
Emperor Jing'an had never seen anyone cast such a deliberate, obvious seductive glance. He wanted to laugh, but felt it would not befit his station, so he could only hold it in.
But Hua Meng could still tell from the upturned corners of his mouth that he was in a very good mood.
Having noticed this, Hua Meng gathered her courage and took two steps closer, leaning into Emperor Jing'an's embrace of her own accord. "I am very happy."
Hearing Hua Meng's words, Emperor Jing'an lowered his head slightly and brought his lips to her ear. "Mm, I am happy too," he whispered. After saying this, Emperor Jing'an thought for a moment before continuing in a low voice, "I'm going to see a doctor."
Emperor Jing'an spoke so softly that, had he not been right by Hua Meng's ear and had she not been listening closely, she probably would not have heard him at all.
And after hearing those words, Hua Meng finally understood why Emperor Jing'an wanted to "take her home for a visit."
"I will always stay by Your Majesty's side."
Hua Meng's voice was just as soft, but Emperor Jing'an did not miss a word.
He understood what Hua Meng meant. Knowing that she would always stay by his side, he felt a faint sweetness well up in some unnamed corner of his heart, a rare occurrence.
Hua Meng had intended to give Emperor Jing'an more spirit spring water to nurse his health that day, but she guessed that he already knew there was something wrong with his health. After a moment's hesitation, she ultimately decided not to give him any more.
Everything could wait until after he had seen the doctor.
Hua Meng had just returned to Sparrow Plume Palace from Phoenix Approaches Palace when she saw Consort Wan standing outside the right side hall, waiting for her.
"Why are you waiting out here, Sister?" After speaking to Consort Wan, Hua Meng looked at Ling Cui, whom she had left at the palace. "Why didn't you attend to Her Ladyship Consort Wan and bring her inside to rest?"
Hearing Hua Meng, Consort Wan hurriedly reached out and took her by the wrist. Smiling, she said, "I heard the commotion and just came out to welcome you." She glanced around, and only after seeing that no one was nearby did she ask quietly, "You went to Phoenix Approaches Palace to see His Majesty today, Sister. How did his complexion look?"
Hua Meng did not understand why Consort Wan was asking. She would not reveal that Emperor Jing'an already knew there was something wrong with his health, so she looked at Consort Wan with a puzzled expression.
Without waiting for Hua Meng to ask, Consort Wan said, "Last night, Consort Bai should have attended His Majesty in bed, but he did not summon her."
When Consort Wan finished, she looked at Hua Meng, seemingly hoping to hear something from her about Phoenix Approaches Palace.
In truth, what concerned her was not whether Emperor Jing'an had summoned Consort Bai to attend him in bed, but why he had suddenly broken a habit of many years.