Chapter 10: Shou Ta Yi Bing "A Tale of Love and Loyalty"
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Shou Ta Yi Bing "A Tale of Love and Loyalty"
Chapter :
Serving
The way of "entertaining guests" he spoke of was naturally different from the usual.
Pei Qing understood this but still positioned herself in front of Xiao Ji'an, her voice soft and respectful. "It's rather late today. I—I'll personally visit Your Highness tomorrow."
"Personally?"
Xiao Yuan looked at her, noticing how she still tried to maintain the dignity of an Empress in front of this adopted son.
Unfortunately, Prince Nanchuan was a rough man, uninterested in playing along with the palace’s formalities. He sat back down in the seat of honor, deliberately kicking aside the jade cup that had fallen onto the soft carpet. "I'm staying here tonight."
Pei Qing’s head shot up, and even Zhi Lan outside, who heard this, was shocked.
Although Xiao Ji'an was young, he knew that not even his father had ever spent the night here, so no one else should. He glared at Xiao Yuan, "You can’t sleep here!"
Xiao Yuan laughed instead of getting angry. "Do you dare to say that again?"
Pei Qing quickly scolded Xiao Ji'an, "Ji'er, you must not be rude to your Imperial Uncle." She then looked at Xiao Yuan. "Your Highness is magnanimous and surely won't take offense at a child's words."
Her tone was gentle, but her grip on Xiao Ji'an's hand was tight, as if she feared he might do something to the child.
This appearance of outward compliance but inner distrust disgusted him.
No wonder.
This was exactly who Pei Qing was. When she needed him, she coaxed him with sweet words; when she didn’t, she discarded him without hesitation.
Xiao Yuan’s gaze moved from her hand to her stunningly beautiful face. "The Empress spends every night sharing a bed with a prince who isn't her own son, yet she isn't afraid of the rumors that might spread."
Pei Qing frowned. "He’s still young, and the palace has been unsafe. That's why I've kept him by my side to care for him."
"Now that my Southern River army has taken over the palace defenses, what place could still be unsafe?"
Pei Qing was at a loss for words.
With the Southern River army’s tight security, it was only because of this that she dared to take the child for an afternoon stroll in the Imperial Garden.
"But no matter how young he is..." Xiao Yuan looked at Xiao Ji'an. "He's still a man, isn’t he?"
According to the rules, once princes turned three, they were no longer allowed to sleep with their birth mothers. Pei Qing, however, was so concerned for Xiao Ji'an's safety that she disregarded these regulations.
Seeing her still hesitant, Xiao Yuan let out a cold laugh.
Pei Qing's heart trembled, and she immediately called out, "Zhi Lan."
If it weren't for Chu Li blocking her, Zhi Lan would have already rushed in. She couldn't believe that there could be a subject, a member of the imperial family, so brazen and disrespectful of the emperor’s authority that he would dare to make such an outrageously improper request to stay in the Empress's chambers.
But as soon as she entered and met the man's gaze, Zhi Lan felt a chill run through her body, as if she were enveloped in an icy dread. That look in his eyes was like the venomous strike of a snake, sending shivers down her spine.
Pei Qing handed Xiao Ji'an to her. "Take Ji'er back to his Xuyang Palace."
"Your Majesty..." Zhi Lan hesitated, her eyes full of worry as she looked at Pei Qing. She wanted to speak but didn’t dare say anything more in front of that man.
Pei Qing could see her shock. This disgraceful situation would soon be known by more and more people. By then, everyone would know that the Empress of Han Ning Palace, who always appeared so dignified and noble, was, in fact, promiscuous and shameless.
Xiao Ji'an broke free from Zhi Lan’s grip. "Mother, I won’t leave! I won’t let him bully you!"
Hearing this, Pei Qing's eyes instantly reddened. She closed her eyes briefly, forcing back her tears. "Go back to your own palace!"
Xiao Ji'an stood frozen, stunned. His mother had never yelled at him so harshly before.
Only then was Zhi Lan able to take him away.
It wasn't until the palace doors closed that Pei Qing allowed her tears to fall.
Not far away, the man propped his chin on his hand, watching the touching mother-and-son scene with complete boredom. He sneered, "So, the Empress is accustomed to playing the role of a stepmother. Care to tell me, how do you behave in front of that sickly man? The virtuous wife?"
Pei Qing kept her head down, refusing to respond.
Xiao Yuan stood up and walked over to her.
The oppressive heat of his presence surrounded her, and Pei Qing instinctively tried to step back. But before she could, she felt a tight grip around her waist. With a startled cry, she found herself pulled into his strong arms.
Xiao Yuan lowered his head, their breaths mingling as he spoke in a low voice, "However you served him, you'll serve me the same way tonight."
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