"Why does Lady Li always target Han Cairen?" Beauty Zhou staggered closer to Li Yuyu: "When Princess Consort De questioned, Lady Li said it was Han Cairen’s doing. Well, I must ask Lady Li, why would Han Cairen want to harm me?"
Li Yuyu blinked: "Then you should ask your dear sister, why ask me?"
"Cough cough cough."
Beauty Zhou, feeling agitated, coughed into a handkerchief for quite a while before stopping, her already pale face appearing even more so.
"Lady Li, I’m not playing word games with you!"
Li Yuyu: ?
"Are you implying that I am playing games with you? Sorry, I don’t play games with people I’m not familiar with."
"You!" Beauty Zhou, once again exasperated, let out another long fit of near-fainting coughing.
Li Yuyu leaned toward Yan Xiu, putting distance between herself and Beauty Zhou, instinctively pulling out her handkerchief to cover her mouth and nose.
Goodness, coughing to this extent, could it be pneumonia? I hope it’s not contagious.
Beauty Zhou didn’t miss the flash of cautiousness on Li Yuyu’s face, as if she was a virus that needed to be avoided, causing her to gasp and faint.
"Beauty!" Mingzhen cried out in alarm.
"Oh dear, why all the shouting? Do you not want your head if you startle the Emperor? Quickly, bring two people to carry Beauty Zhou back to her room, and have the Imperial Physician look at her again."
Shen Quan saw Yan Xiu purse his lips slightly, understanding that this meant he should oversee the arrangements.
If he stepped in, others would think it was the Emperor’s will, but Shen Quan understood that the Emperor didn’t want to be bothered. If the fainted person was Lady Li, she wouldn’t have even closed her eyes before the Emperor was cradling her in his arms.
Beauty Zhou was taken back to the inner chamber, and Doctor Zhang, who hadn’t left, went in again to treat her.
In the courtyard, since Yan Xiu refused to enter the inner chamber, no one dared to move and they all remained standing in the courtyard.
"If there’s nothing else, disperse," Yan Xiu said blandly.
Princess Consort De approached in confusion: "Emperor, won’t you severely punish the person who pushed Beauty Zhou into the water?"
Such a serious incident of pushing the Emperor’s concubine into the lotus pond without severe punishment could lead to imitation, and anyone could end up as the next person in the water. If there is no Han Cairen to rescue them, what will happen if they lose their life?
Yan Xiu was more puzzled: "Wasn’t the matter already addressed with merits? Why should there be severe punishment?"
"Addressed with merits?" Princess Consort De asked, confused.
Upon hearing this, Han Cairen suddenly looked at Yan Xiu, her beautiful eyes revealing a myriad of complex emotions, which eventually calmed like a stream, her head slowly bowing down again, only her hands clasped in front of her belly slightly clenched.
"If Princess Consort De doesn’t understand, perhaps you should seek advice from Cining Palace. I don’t wish to see such misjudgments again," Yan Xiu said, his tone cool.
Princess Consort De looked at Yan Xiu in disbelief.
"Beauty Zhou was startled, and is rewarded with one hundred taels of silver, five pieces of Shu brocade, two boxes of jewelry, and one each of Lingzhi and snow lotus, as the Commander of Purple Cloud Pavilion, while Han Cairen, who fearlessly sacrificed herself to rescue others, is promoted to Noble."
"Shen Quan, convey my decree to the Cabinet, and immediately announce it to all palaces."
"Today’s events are not to be discussed further, and if I hear any idle gossip, the first one I won’t forgive will be you!" Yan Xiu looked at Princess Consort De, and after speaking, left with his hands behind his back, regardless of her difficult expression.
After taking a few steps, Yan Xiu paused, turned sideways: "Are you not coming?"
Princess Consort De thought the Emperor was speaking to her, about to respond, but the pale pink garment beside her fluttered past, and a soft, lovely voice accompanied it, "Coming~"
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I’ve heard that there are no holidays in 2020 o(╥﹏╥)o