When Qing Feng woke up it was time to light the lamps. Fu Ling served dinner and she hastily ate a little before letting them withdraw.
“Fu Ling, prepare for me to bathe and freshen up.”
Fu Ling waited in the courtyard and it was once again a sleepless night. Seemingly getting used to walking to ease her mind, she kept walking around the tree for the entire night. When it was dawn, Wu Gonggong from JingShiFang, per usual, brought a number of eunuchs and appeared in the inside of Qing Feng Hall.
Fu Ling saw the bowl of medication in the last eunuch’s hands and secretly sighed. With her body slightly bent, Fu Ling greeted, “Wu Gonggong.”
Wu Zhi Qiu took a look at her and nodded back. He did not spoke to her like the other time but walked straight to the main house and stopped when he reached the front of the house. Wu Zhi Qiu lightly knocked on the door twice and softly spoke, “Emperor, it is Chenshi (modern timing: 7 – 9 am).”
“En.” There was a soft hum from the room and after which there was no more sound or movement. Wu Zhi Qiu silently waited for a while before crying out softly, “Emperor?”
“Come in.” This time his voice is a little louder and that deep voice is a little hoarse but was still distinctive.
“Yes.” A bunch of people went into the room but Fu Ling did not follow them in and stood at the side of the door quietly. After a while, Yan Hong Tian walked out of the room with Wu Zhi Qiu following closely behind and quietly asking, “Emperor, to keep or not to keep?”
Yan Hong Tian lightly brandished his hand and Wu Zhi Qiu took a step back understandingly. Fu Ling felt a wave of coldness in her heart. As a female medical attendant, she has a thorough understanding that if this concoction was taken over a long period of time, it would be harmful for the body. As Fu Ling was wondering how to restore Qing Feng’s health, that pair of yellow boots that have walked down the steps suddenly stopped.
“Wait.” The deep voice stopped the eunuch who was heading inside to deliver the medication. The eunuch was so scared that he immediately knelt down. Wu Zhi Qiu quickly went forward for additional orders but it was only after a long time before Yan Hong Tian softly said, “Keep it.”
“Yes.” Wu Zhi Qiu gave a look to the eunuch kneeling on the floor and the eunuch who recognised it, quickly carried the bowl of medication and ran out the hall.
After finishing speaking, Yan Hong Tian strode out of Qing Feng Hall. Wu Zhi Qiu, however, was in no hurry to go and walked towards Fu Ling. The previous coldness was swept away and a low voice laughed, “Congratulations, Miss Fu Ling have to take great care of your mistress. In a while, this one will order the Imperial Kitchens to send over some ginseng soup for her Ladyship.”
Seeing that old face filled with smiles, Fu Ling could not help but to sigh again. The people in the Palace… Covering the contempt in her heart, Fu Ling gave the usual slight bow and replied, “Yes.”
This time Wu Zhi Qiu did not treat her indifferently and instead nodded with a smile, after which he swaggered out of Qing Feng Hall with the group of eunuch.
Waiting until they were all out of the courtyard, Fu Ling then only hurried into the house. Thinking of the bruises that Qing Feng was covered in, Fu Ling’s steps quickened. In the room, separated by screens and layers of draperies, a lean figure sat straight on the bed. Fu Ling called out softly, “Mistress?”
Qing Feng with a somewhat hoarse voice whispered from inside, “The medication?”
Fu Ling shook her head gently and replied, “There is no medication. The Emperor said… To keep the Imperial Seeds.”
Separated by the curtains, Fu Ling was unable to see Qing Feng’s expression and could only hear her voice with a bit hasty, “Prepare the hot water for my bath.”
“Yes.”
*****
In the big wooden tub that was filled with crushed roses and steam, Qing Feng immersed her entire self into the hot water. That kind of hot and stifle feeling in the water made her feel strangely calm. Last night she did what she could to please Yan Hong Tian and he maniacally possessed her. It was just a night and no one has any intention then but individually both have different thoughts. Between her and him, there was enmity, confrontation, exploitation. Whatever it is, it was their ill-fated relationship. But… Children? She doesn’t want to have his children, really don’t want…
“Mistress?!”
Qing Feng has submerged in the water for far too long thus Fu Ling parted the roses floating on the surface and pull her out of the water.
Coming out of the water, Qing Feng took deep breaths and the cool air made her cough over and over again. After managing to recover from the bout of cough, Qing Feng grabbed the towel to wipe her body over and over again. The skin that was reddish due to the hot water was almost torn by her wipes and the love bites behind her ears became even darker. Fu Ling could not bear to see it and stepped forward to hold on to Qing Feng’s hand and took the towel over. She sighed, “Let this servant do it.”
Qing Feng did not try to be stubborn with Fu Ling and sat there quietly, letting Fu Ling serve her. After the bath, Qing Feng’s emotions gradually calmed down and she suddenly spoke, “Dress me up and put on the makeup.”
“Mistress, you want to go out?” She had not been resting properly for the past few days and endured many emotional upheavals thus she should be resting instead.
Seemingly expecting what Fu Ling will say, Qing Feng smiled and replied before she could comment, “Imperial Concubine Hui is sick, we should visit the sick and return in just a while.”
“Yes.” Even though Qing Feng said it softly but it was assertive. Fu Ling was helpless to it and could only help to wash and dress up.
*****
As the morning sun shone one’s body, it was warm and also rarely comfortable. Qing Feng walked really slowly and from afar, someone saw them and immediately turned around to walk away. Qing Feng squinted her eyes and with her lips arcing to a smile, she loudly shouted, “Stop there.”
That person stiffen and refused to turn around. Qing Feng had already walked before him before he was compelled to perform a greeting, “This servant, Xu Ji, greets your Ladyship Concubine Qing. May your Ladyship have innumerable safety!”
Qing Feng smiled, “I was wondering who was it and it turned out to be Steward Xu.”
Xu Ji trembled and quickly continued, “This servant wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh?” Qing Feng pretended not to know and softly asked, “What don’t you dare?”
Qing Feng’s tone was not high but Xu Zhi broke into a cold sweat. It is widely spread in the Palace that Prime Minister Lou was bent on marrying Qing Ling. Even if her elder sister was not the Prime Minister Lou’s Furen, she will still be a CeFuren (direct translation: side-wife, usually use for the next highest ranked wife but not official wife). Which brother-in-law will not protect their sister-in-law? Moreover the Emperor stay last night at Qing Feng Hall and Wu Gonggong came by the Imperial Kitchens early in the morning to ensure that the ginseng soup is prepared. This was only done for concubines whom the Emperor allowed to get pregnant! If she were to bear the Emperor’s heir… Aiya, his life would be hard to maintain! The more he thought, the more he grew afraid and Xu Zhi went down on his knees and repetitively lay down his sins, “This servant deserve to die. Previously, this one was senseless and have offended your Ladyship, would your Ladyship be kind as to forgive this lowly one.”
“What is Steward Xu talking about, is Bengong such a narrow-minded person?”
“This servant did not mean that! Seeking forgiveness from your Ladyship!” Xu Ji became so much more terrified that he almost wanted to kowtow.
Seeing enough of his fear and trepidation like a servant, Qing Feng then waved her hands and smiled, “Lets drop the matter since you and I seem to have some fate, As I only entering the Palace for a short while and we stroke such a relationship. The last time the meals that you arranged was towards Bengong’s liking, in the future, would need to bother you more on Bengong’s meal. Do raise.”
Surviving and climbing up in the Palace for all these years, Xu Ji is considered a smart person and could hear what Qing Feng’s words meant. He immediately respectfully and flatteringly replied, “Thank you your Ladyship! This servant will definitely serve the Emperor and your Ladyship even better. More effort will be used to serve your Ladyship!”
“Withdraw then.”
“Yes.” Xu Ji took a long breath and retreated with a shaking smile on his face. He did not think that he would be so lucky today that Qing Feng would actually let it go. If it was like this, it is actually a good thing that she is favoured. Maybe he can get some sweet deals out of it.
Seeing that vile look on his face, Fu Ling worriedly whisper her cautions, “Mistress, Xu Ji is narrow minded and will bend as the wind blows…”
Qing Feng started to laugh out, “Smart people knows how to bend as the wind blows.”