strictlysupreme Chapter 215 Responds to Softness but Not Hardness
Chapter 215 Responds to Softness but Not Hardness
"This... Your humble servant does not know either. I suddenly fell into a deep sleep and developed a fever. Perhaps I caught a cold from the wind."
Pei Yuanling felt even more heartache seeing Chu Qingyin's furrowed brows even in her sleep.
He took the handkerchief handed to him by a palace maid and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Why are you arguing with me and making yourself suffer?"
The soft handkerchief slowly wiped her face.
The emperor's eyes no longer held the scheming and estrangement of the past; all that remained was deep affection and tenderness.
"Your Majesty, we servants may withdraw and prepare the medicine."
Pei Yuanling felt sorry for the beauty before him, waved his hand, and dismissed her.
With no one else in the hall, he could no longer maintain his royal demeanor, and his eyes showed even greater sorrow.
"Yinyin, as long as you wake up, I will grant you whatever you want..."
His heart was now filled with worry, and he could no longer care about his personal feelings.
Hearing his words, Chu Qingyin felt a touch of emotion. She moved her eyes, but knew that this was not the best time to be sober.
She forced her eyes closed, pretending to be dead.
Several days passed in a row.
Chu Qingyin could only get out of bed and walk around when he was attending court.
Fortunately, lying in bed every day doesn't require much exercise, so even if I don't eat much, it's not too difficult to endure.
On the fifth day.
His Majesty, who was originally imposing, looked quite haggard. He changed out of his court robes and hurriedly rushed to Feixue Palace.
How was your day?
During these five days, Pei Yuanling even brought memorials to Feixue Palace to handle.
Chu Qingyin was filled with emotion and could no longer pretend.
Following Chu Qingyin's instructions, Physician Ling said, "Her Majesty's pulse is becoming increasingly stable, and she should be able to regain consciousness around this afternoon. Your Majesty need not worry any longer."
The Emperor nodded and, as usual, sat down by the bed to talk with Chu Qingyin.
"Those old ministers in the court are really noisy. Today they said those nonsense things again, saying that I don't leave Feixue Palace all day and that I favor you and act arbitrarily. You are still sick now, what could I possibly do with you? Those old ministers just wish I could have ten or eight of them and favor all their daughters in one night."
He looked down at the stunningly beautiful woman on the bed, his voice low and deep, "Please wake up. As long as you wake up, I will forgive whatever happened in the past, and I will never argue with you again over those unfounded accusations."
Chu Qingyin couldn't help herself and gently opened her eyes.
Through her hazy vision, she caught a glimpse of the man's haggard profile, and recalled the words he had been nagging in her ear these past few days. She still reached out and weakly tugged at the hem of his robe.
"His Majesty……"
"Yinyin, you're finally awake!"
Pei Yuanling was suddenly overjoyed. He gripped her waist tightly with his large hand, leaned closer, and looked at the woman who had opened her eyes. "Do you know how worried I was when you were unconscious for so long?"
"It was my fault, Your Majesty, that caused you worry..."
"Don't say such things, I'm not blaming you."
Pei Yuanling wiped the sweat from Chu Qingyin's forehead. "What exactly happened that afternoon when you inexplicably fainted?"
"It was my fault, I shouldn't have blamed Consort Qiao."
"What does this have to do with Consort Qiao? Did she offend you?"
Chu Qingyin looked up and recounted how Qiao Qingling had come to Feixue Palace to show off that day. Finally, she sighed softly, "I don't know what happened. Anyway, after she left, I felt tired and wanted to lie down. But when I woke up again, so much time had passed."
Upon hearing this, Pei Yuanling frowned. "Don't worry, I will definitely have someone investigate this matter thoroughly."
"His Majesty……"
Chu Qingyin called to him softly, "Are you still angry with me?"
Her timid, ingratiating gaze instantly softened Pei Yuanling's heart like a pool of spring water.
He pulled her into his arms, saying, "I'm too busy worrying about you to be angry with you..."
"When I was unconscious, I heard Your Majesty say those words in my ear. I wonder if what Your Majesty said still counts now."
Pei Yuanling's eyes flickered slightly, and he said in a low voice, "I can grant any other request, but if you wish to be with Lu..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chu Qingyin reached out and sealed his lips with hers.
She shook her head, slowly turned away from his embrace, and knelt between his legs like a cunning cat.
"From the day I entered the palace, I have belonged to Your Majesty. How could I possibly have feelings for another man? All I ask is that Your Majesty thoroughly investigate the affairs of the Duke of Chu's mansion. I still believe that the Chu family's affairs..."
"You want to save Chu Tianheng?"
"Yes, my brother has been a brave and skilled warrior all his life. He has made countless contributions to Your Majesty and the country. Now he is imprisoned in the Zhaoyu Prison. I am very worried about him. I beg Your Majesty to exonerate him as soon as possible."
The Chu family...
Seeing the hesitation in Pei Yuanling's eyes, Chu Qingyin added fuel to the fire, "Now, apart from His Majesty's few confidants from earlier years, there are no other capable people in the court. His Majesty's empire is controlled by clans at every turn, and the Empress and her relatives manipulate the situation. My brother is devoted to the country. If His Majesty is willing to clear his name, I believe my brother will be willing to put aside past grievances and continue to serve His Majesty to the death."
Chu Qingyin thought that she would take advantage of the man's soft heart today and make sure to get to the bottom of things.
She had been lying in bed for several days, without sunlight, and her face was pale. She had also deliberately tampered with the medicine she was drinking, so she looked extremely weak at this moment.
Pei Yuanling has always been someone who responds better to gentle persuasion than force.
Seeing her so frail and pitiful, he finally sighed, took her hand, and said, "Are you sure you don't want to ask for something related to the Lu family? To do that for Lu Zhiheng and save that Lu family girl who was banished from the palace?"
"As I said, I have no relation to the Lu family. When Grand Secretary Lu interfered in the Empress's affairs, it was only to deal with the Wang family. We had the same goal, so it was just a matter of going with the flow."
Her beautiful eyes were clear, yet also held a hint of hurt and grievance.
Pei Yuanling finally softened his heart, changed his posture, and held the person in his arms. "I have already sent people to investigate General Chu's affairs. If General Chu really did not do those things, I will definitely clear the Chu family's name."
"Then I thank Your Majesty."
She blinked, looking innocent and naive, which made Pei Yuanling, who was usually very polite, darken his eyes slightly.
"Your Majesty, I am a little thirsty..."
Chu Qingyin said softly, then subconsciously stuck out her tongue and licked the corner of her mouth.
Pei Yuanling's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and after a long while, he said in a low voice, "I'll go pour you some tea."