Chapter 132: Volume 1, Chapter 132: Dreaming of Revenge

If Consort Ming was this eager to send Ming Zan to the north, then it proved they had already reached an agreement with Di Yue Nu, or perhaps Di Yue Nu's return to Qingxuan had gone smoothly, and at this time sending Ming Zan to patrol the borders...

Then there was only one possibility: Consort Ming might know that His Majesty's body could not hold on much longer, yet the Crown Prince still had not been deposed—she was preparing for both contingencies.

If His Majesty could smoothly depose the Crown Prince and install Prince Qi, that would be best; if not, Ming Zan could also join forces with Di Yue Nu and her brother to lay siege to the capital with troops.

If Ming Zan dared to leave the capital for the north at this time, it meant he must have left behind someone he especially trusted in the capital.

Only then did Rong Luoge feel the urgency of the situation—the storm was about to break.

Inside the Daoist temple, Liu Yingying watched the sleeping His Majesty with fear and trepidation. Earlier she had been truly scared to death—His Majesty had suddenly collapsed onto the bed, frightening her so much she nearly screamed aloud, but fortunately she clamped her hand tightly over her mouth.

Fortunately His Majesty woke soon after. Liu Yingying did not dare say anything, and could only pretend to complain that His Majesty had deliberately frightened her; as she spoke, tears fell and she looked thoroughly wronged.

The Emperor gently patted Liu Yingying's shoulder without denying it. It was precisely because His Majesty did not deny it that Liu Yingying felt even more afraid.

She kept feeling that His Majesty's occasional glances at her were extremely piercing. She still had to pretend not to notice, serving His Majesty to sleep as before, and only after His Majesty had fallen into deep sleep did Liu Yingying dare to open her eyes.

The light in the hall was very bright, which was quite uncomfortable for her—she preferred dimmer light when falling asleep.

But His Majesty insisted on placing palace lanterns at all four corners of the hall, illuminating the room brightly.

The lamplight fell through the gauze canopy, clearly illuminating His Majesty's sleeping face. Liu Yingying gently turned her head and stared at the top of the canopy, her heartbeat growing ever more rapid.

His Majesty had fainted before, and although it had not lasted very long, it still alarmed the Hou Gong.

Now His Majesty's fainting this time made Liu Yingying's hands and feet turn cold. Moreover, she could sense that His Majesty did not want anyone to know about this. That feeling was hard to describe—if she had not played dumb and muddled through, she was certain that tonight she would disappear from this world.

Liu Yingying felt she had to let Good Lady Rong know about this matter, but she did not know whether she could get the message out tomorrow.

His Majesty had been secretly scrutinizing her earlier; tomorrow every one of her actions would have to be extremely cautious.

Liu Yingying guessed correctly. In the past, when His Majesty did not need her attendance during the day, she could return to the side hall for a short rest, but today His Majesty wanted her by his side at every moment. Liu Yingying knew that today the message could not be sent out.

She steadied her patience and spent the day with the Emperor, pretending to be delighted and clingy. Today she did not dare use the little pills at all, and while bathing, she tossed the pills into the bathtub to dissolve. Only when that tub of water was carried away and dumped did her heart finally settle.

"What is my beloved consort thinking about, why are you spacing out?"

Liu Yingying's heart jolted at suddenly hearing His Majesty's voice. She immediately turned her head to meet the Emperor's scrutinizing gaze and put on a coy, shy look, gently leaning over to rest on the Emperor's knee, saying softly: "This consort was thinking about what His Majesty said about taking this consort to escape the summer heat. This consort is truly looking forward to it, and that is why this consort was so lost in thought."

Hearing this, the expression on the Emperor's face eased somewhat. "No rush, we will discuss it in a few days. Are you not happy in the palace?"

"As long as His Majesty is here, this consort is very happy—it does not matter where." Liu Yingying smiled even more happily, her eyes bright and shining, her gaze at the Emperor filled with adoration and devotion.

The Emperor's hand gently brushed across Liu Yingying's eyes. What he liked most was this pair of clear, bright eyes—when they looked at him, he felt he was her master.

The adoration of a young woman—this was what gratified him the most.

"How about I raise your rank for you?"

Liu Yingying's heart shook. On her face she showed just the right amount of delight and surprise, but then she shook her head and said softly: "There is no need, Your Majesty. Now this consort already possesses everything this consort never had in the first half of my life, and this consort does not wish to put Your Majesty in a difficult position."

"My beloved consort really loves to joke. How would I be in a difficult position?" the Emperor said with a loud laugh.

Liu Yingying leaned forward and pressed her cheek to His Majesty's chest, her voice lowered. "Your Majesty, last time this consort was granted the title of Noble Consort, it broke precedent, and Consort Ming was very unhappy. So let it be this time. As long as Your Majesty lets this consort stay by your side, this consort is already satisfied."

The Emperor chuckled. "Do you truly think this way?"

Liu Yingying heard the probing intent in His Majesty's words. She immediately raised her head to meet His Majesty's eyes and said very earnestly: "Your Majesty, you know Yingying's background. Though a young lady of a wealthy family, I was bullied from childhood. Before entering the palace, my stepmother even wanted to marry Yingying off to an old widower. With no way out, I entered the palace to seek an audience with the Empress—who could have known I would instead encounter Your Majesty."

Liu Yingying's tears fell as she spoke. "Your Majesty, no matter what others say, in Yingying's heart you are the heavenly being who came to redeem me. In this life, Yingying wishes to accompany Your Majesty. As long as you do not tire of this consort, this consort will be here—is that alright?"

The Emperor gazed at Liu Yingying. His figure was reflected in those eyes from which tears rolled. Her gaze held trepidation mixed with hope, and deep in her eyes burned what seemed like clusters of tiny flames, making even his heart feel warm.

The Emperor smiled. "Do you want to return to your family home to visit?"

Liu Yingying was frightened to death by these words but did not dare show it. She only revealed a puzzled expression. "Your Majesty, this consort does not wish to return home to visit relatives. This consort's father is far away serving as an official at Yunjiang, and the household in the capital only has my stepmother and step-siblings—what would be the point of going back?"

"You were once bullied by them. Now it would count as returning home in glory—do you not want to see how they look up to you?"

How could Liu Yingying not want to? She dreamed of it!

But His Majesty certainly would not suddenly show her such care. She did not dare take a single wrong step, and could only continue to maintain her gentle and kind nature before His Majesty. So she gently shook her head. "Even if going back could bring a measure of satisfaction, it would only be a measure. I have already grown up, and having met Your Majesty is already the greatest fortune of my life. I only wish to hold onto this fortune well and accompany Your Majesty—one year, two years, ten years, twenty years. Nothing else matters."

This time the Emperor laughed with genuine happiness. Ten years? Twenty years?

He too wanted to live on for a long, long time.

The Emperor slightly narrowed his eyes and looked through the window at the blazing sunlight outside, and could not help recalling Consort Ming's earlier words.

Sending Ming Zan to patrol the borders had originally been his own idea, but now that Consort Ming had raised it, it made the Emperor feel rather displeased.

After Xiao Shen took over the palace garrison, Ming Zan had been making frequent small moves, which forced the Emperor to think more deeply on the matter.