Incense for calming the mind was burning Hanzhang Hall.
Noble Consort Chen sat under the lamp, holding a needle and thread in her hand, the needle tip resting on the embroidery cloth.
Eunuch Zhang served her freshly brewed tea.
"Your Majesty, news has come from the Hall of Supreme Ultimate that His Majesty will arrive soon."
Noble Consort Chen did not raise her head.
Where are the people in the alchemy workshop?
"Follow."
The needle tip fell, piercing through the embroidery cloth.
How many boxes of longevity pills did you bring this time?
Eunuch Zhang lowered his eyes.
Three boxes.
Noble Consort Chen stopped inserting the needle.
The wick tinkled softly.
She lifted the embroidered cloth and glanced at the back.
The lines aren't tangled.
"Last time it was a box."
Eunuch Zhang bent over at a 15-degree angle, positioning himself half a step behind her to the left.
"Your Majesty has been waking up earlier at night lately."
Noble Consort Chen asked, "Shall we eat once you're awake?"
"He does eat frequently, but the Imperial Medical Bureau advised against it."
Who persuaded you to do that?
" Elder Shen."
Noble Consort Chen put the needle back into the needle case.
"Then what?"
Eunuch Zhang said, "His Majesty rewarded him with a box of old ginseng, so he can worry less."
Noble Consort Chen chuckled softly.
Don't worry about it.
Eunuch Zhang did not answer.
Footsteps approached from outside the hall and stopped outside the curtain.
The eunuch relayed the message.
"His Majesty has arrived."
Noble Consort Chen stood up, pressed her fingertips on the needle case, and then walked towards the palace gate.
As Eunuch Zhang stepped back, he could already smell a familiar scent.
Cinnabar, musk, sulfur, and a hint of burnt lead.
He tightened his grip on his left hand.
When the emperor entered the palace, he looked to be in good spirits, with rosy cheeks, but his eyes betrayed his weariness.
Behind him followed a eunuch from the alchemy workshop, who carried a small black lacquered box in his arms.
Noble Consort Chen, please accept my best wishes.
Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you.
The emperor reached out to help her up.
"My dear consort, you don't look too well today?"
Noble Consort Chen raised her eyes.
"I've heard that Your Majesty sleeps lightly at night, and I'm worried about it."
The emperor sat down.
"I am fine."
Noble Consort Chen sat down next to him.
"It's alright, I'll also bring three boxes of longevity pills?"
The emperor glanced at her.
Who told you that?
Eunuch Zhang immediately bowed.
"Your Majesty, this old servant saw the people from the alchemy workshop carrying the box into the hall, and fearing it might displease the Empress's calming incense, I asked a question."
The emperor stared at him for a moment.
Eunuch Zhang's back was bent just right, not too much, not too little.
The emperor looked away.
"You're quite observant."
Eunuch Zhang said, "This old servant dares not neglect serving Your Highness."
Noble Consort Chen handed the tea to the Emperor, a hint of concern in her eyes.
"Your Majesty, no matter how good the elixir is, it should not be taken in excess."
The emperor accepted the tea, but did not drink it.
"You believe all that nonsense from the imperial physicians?"
Noble Consort Chen said, "Your Majesty, I trust you."
The emperor looked at her.
"That sounds nice."
"If I didn't trust Your Majesty, I would have been devoured by this harem long ago, leaving not even bones behind."
The emperor smiled.
Who dares to eat you?
Noble Consort Chen straightened his cuffs.
"Your Majesty dotes on me, so no one else dares to do so."
The emperor was pleased by these words and picked up a pill.
Eunuch Zhang stood to the side and behind, his gaze fixed only on the emperor's fingertips.
The pills have a dark red outer skin, and the wax seal has just been peeled off, making the smell even stronger.
A secret room flashed through my mind.
Medicine bowl, burn ointment, bitter medicine for relieving pain.
And that night at the back Flower-Between Pavilion, the smell of old medicine seeping through the crack in the door.
Eunuch Zhang's throat felt dry.
Noble Consort Chen spoke.
"Your Majesty, please have some tea to soothe your throat first."
The emperor held the elixir to his lips.
"My beloved concubine is being quite nosy today."
Noble Consort Chen refused to resign.
"Your Majesty is afraid that you will have a headache again tomorrow."
The emperor said, "I have a headache, you can stay with me."
"Your Majesty, I dare not accompany you in handling state affairs."
The emperor swallowed the medicine and was stunned for a moment.
The palace maids in the hall all lowered their heads.
Eunuch Zhang tucked his fingertips into his sleeve.
This sentence is placed on the side.
Further back, there was the interference of the imperial harem in politics.
Noble Consort Chen's expression remained unchanged; she smiled, picked up the tea, and personally brought it to the emperor's lips.
"His Majesty will likely have to review the memorials from the Crown Prince and the Second Prince tomorrow."
The emperor took a sip of tea.
What are they causing trouble for now?
Noble Consort Chen replied, "That's just a guess. I'm in the inner palace; how would I know about the affairs of the court?"
The emperor snorted.
"You do not know?"
Noble Consort Chen smiled.
"All I know is that Ran'er has been being closely watched by her two older brothers lately."
The emperor put down his teacup.
"He's caused such a huge commotion, who else should we keep an eye on if not him? Do the eldest and second eldest brothers really think I'm stupid too?"
Noble Consort Chen took the medicine box and placed it half an inch away.
"Is His Majesty also watching?"
The emperor looked at her hands.
"You're being too obvious in protecting him."
Noble Consort Chen's fingertip rested on the lid of the box.
"But I only have this one son."
The emperor's expression changed for a moment.
It's very short.
But Eunuch Zhang saw it.
When the emperor heard that he only had this one son, his eyes softened for a moment.
Noble Consort Chen also saw it.
She pushed the medicine box back.
If Your Majesty wishes to eat more, you may only have half a piece.
The emperor frowned.
"Who takes only half a pill?"
Noble Consort Chen picked up a small silver knife and cut open the wax seal.
"If I say it's there, then it's there."
The emperor stared at her.
A moment later, he smiled.
"You haven't changed your personality in over twenty years."
Noble Consort Chen placed the divided pills into a jade dish.
Didn't Your Majesty like me like this back then?
The emperor picked up half of the pill and swallowed it.
Eunuch Zhang immediately handed over water.
After the emperor finished drinking, he suddenly asked, " Attendant Zhang, how many years have you been in the Hanzhang Hall?"
The thread in Eunuch Zhang's heart was being pulled taut.
He bent down even lower.
"Your Majesty, it has been sixteen years."
The emperor said, "Sixteen years."
He looked at Noble Consort Chen.
"That incident at the Grand Tutor's residence was sixteen years ago, wasn't it?"
Noble Consort Chen had not yet put down the silver knife in her hand.
The tip of the knife reflected the lamplight, making it shine a little brighter.
She put the knife back on the jade plate.
Why does Your Majesty bring up old matters today?
The emperor leaned back in his chair.
As people get older, old memories tend to resurface.
Noble Consort Chen smiled and said, "Your Majesty is in the prime of your life."
The emperor waved his hand.
Stop trying to fool me.
The hall fell silent.
The emperor suddenly said, "If Liu Huaijin were still alive, he would be as old as me this year."
Eunuch Zhang's left hand, hidden in his sleeve, was aching.
Noble Consort Chen picked up the teacup, and the lid touched the rim of the cup, making a soft sound.
She didn't reply immediately, otherwise it would have seemed like she had planned it all along.
But you can't come home too late, it would seem like you have a guilty conscience.
She took a sip of tea before saying, "He's just a dead man, what's the point of talking about being old or not?"
The emperor stared at her.
Do you still resent me?
A breeze swept through the corridor outside the hall, causing the lamplight to flicker.
Standing half a step to the left rear, the smell of sulfur from the elixirs filled Eunuch Zhang's nostrils, yet he could hear the sobbing and needlework sounds from the Hanzhang Hall sixteen years ago.
Noble Consort Chen put down her teacup.
"Don't tease me, I've long forgotten. If I still resented Your Majesty, why would I be sitting here worrying that Your Majesty is harming your health by taking too many pills?"
"How could she willingly bear a son and a daughter for Your Majesty?"
The emperor smiled.
"Too."
He reached out and grasped Noble Consort Chen's hand.
"In this harem, only you don't lie to me."
Eunuch Zhang kept his head down.
Noble Consort Chen did not dodge.
She looked at the emperor, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
"Your Majesty, I dare not, nor can I bear to. In all the world, only Your Majesty truly treats me with sincerity."
After she finished speaking, she looked at Eunuch Zhang.
Prepare water.
The emperor rose and went to the inner palace.
The eunuch from the alchemy workshop, carrying the remaining pills, also followed them inside.
Eunuch Zhang took half a step forward.
"Your Majesty, the calming incense is mild, while the pill box is too strong. This old servant will keep it in the outer room for Your Majesty. If needed tonight, bring it back in."
The eunuch in the alchemy workshop looked at the emperor's back.
The emperor did not turn around.
"Listen to Attendant Zhang."
The eunuch in the alchemy workshop had no choice but to hand over the box.
Eunuch Zhang took it, and he could still feel the residual warmth in his palm through the lacquer box.
Noble Consort Chen glanced at him.
Eunuch Zhang lowered his head.
"Your Majesty, this old servant will go and change the incense."
Stepping out of the palace gate, a night breeze carried an even stronger scent of medicinal pills.
Eunuch Zhang held the box in his arms, walked behind the pillar, and opened it a crack.
One of the red pills had a wax-sealed edge with a pattern.
Eunuch Zhang closed the box, his left hand loosely gripping the same posture he used to hold a pen years ago.
How could the Flower-Between Pavilion mark be on the emperor's elixir?
(･･?)
[Thank you Jinzhou for the amazing verification, Nanmu Nan and dapan3 for the update reminders, and thank you all for your support! (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡.]
[I was overwhelmed by the gifts I received today, and the book's rating has reached 6.9! I'm so happy! I also have over 900 followers now. I'm looking forward to the day I can create a group and hear everyone's feedback! It's just that the outline isn't finalized yet, otherwise I would definitely be updating like crazy.]
[By now, you should have a pretty good idea of what's going on, right? The outline is still being finalized, and I welcome all feedback. What's frustrating is that Liu Ruyan's backstory is introduced earlier, and Ye Qingyun and the other two will die a few days later—it's driving me crazy!]