The Flawless Empress - Chapter 090
“Chapter 090”
“In the front courtyard of the Kunning Palace, numerous fruit trees were planted. Covered in heavy snow, they looked as though draped in white robes. When the wind blew, it shimmered like silver petals falling.”
“With the children busy with lessons during the day, Chuyin instructed the servants to build snow lions and rabbits to cheer them up and bring back some of their childhood joy.”
“Lu Zhen came to see his mother after his lessons, smiling, ‘It looks just like the one we made before.'”
“Chuyin asked, ‘Are you going to put flowers on it again?'”
“‘Yes, but…’ Lu Zhen giggled and ran out to have a palace maid climb a ladder to pick flowers for him.”
“Now, the only flowers in bloom were the woodsy osmanthus and winter jasmine.”
“The palace maid gathered a full basket of flowers.”
“Lu Zhen brought them back and showed off to her mother, ‘Look, Mother, am I skilled?'”
“She had actually crafted a small flower wreath.”
“‘That’s beautiful, how did you think of that?’ Chuyin was amazed.”
“‘Last month, our lecturer mentioned the Jin Dynasty, saying women of that era loved wearing flower wreaths… I’m going to put it on the rabbit.'”
“Just as she was about to leave, Lu Yu in Chuyin’s arms reached out, ‘Sister, I want one too…'”
“‘Oh, Yu’er, you like wreaths too?'”
“‘Yes.'”
“Lu Zhen was delighted, ‘Alright, alright, I’ll make one for you first. You have to join me in appreciating and arranging flowers in the future!'”
“Lu Yu didn’t quite understand what his sister meant but nodded anyway.”
“Lu Zhen, even happier, leaned down to kiss her brother’s face and placed the wreath on his head.”
“‘I’ll go make a few more.'”
“Chuyin said, ‘Teach me, I’ll make them with you.'”
“‘Okay!'”
“Lu Zhen asked a palace maid to bring the basket of flowers over.”
“Chuyin, naturally dexterous, quickly learned how to make wreaths under her daughter’s guidance.”
“The two of them made four flower wreaths.”
“The largest was for Chuyin to wear, three smaller ones: one for Lu Zhen, one for the snow rabbit, and the last one was meant for Lu Zhu.”
“Chuyin shook her head, ‘Zhu’er will surely refuse.'”
“Lu Zhen grinned mischievously, ‘I have a way to make brother wear it.'”
“As a result, the siblings ended up chasing each other around the snow lion and rabbit for quite a while.”
“Xiao Dou, watching anxiously, called out, ‘Your Highnesses, be careful not to trip!'”
“Lu Zhen, of course, couldn’t catch up to Lu Zhu.”
“Lu Zhu stood at a distance, his small frame rigid, ‘I’d rather die than wear it. Stop chasing me, I’m a boy, why would I wear a flower wreath?'”
“‘Yu’er is wearing one!'”
“‘He’s just a kid, you’re taking advantage of his innocence.'”
“Lu Zhen then started to coax, ‘Brother, please wear it for a bit. Mother and I spent so long making it, my fingers are sore… Just for a little while, okay? Look, we’re all wearing them. If you don’t, it’s like you’re not part of our family.'”
“Lu Zhu: ‘…'”
“Lu Zhen slowly approached him, holding the wreath up, ‘Brother, look closely, isn’t it pretty?'”
“Seeing his sister’s red-tipped nose and her eyes full of expectation, Lu Zhu sighed, ‘Fine, I’ll wear it for a while.'”
“Lu Zhen hurried over to place it on his head.”
“Chuyin watched through the window, smiling warmly.”
“But she didn’t go outside.”
“With only two days left until the Winter Solstice, Chuyin sacrificed some time with Lu Jingzhuo and the children. At this critical juncture, she couldn’t afford any mistakes; she had to safely make it through the Winter Solstice!”
“Chuyin finished the medicine brought by her maid.”
“When Lu Jingzhuo returned, he saw the three children laughing around the snow lion and rabbit, each wearing a flower wreath.”
“His daughter boasted, ‘Daddy, don’t we look nice like this?'”
“Glancing at his two sons, he replied somewhat insincerely, ‘Yes, very nice.'”
“However, upon entering the palace and seeing Chuyin, he was struck by her radiance.”
“She wore a pink satin jacket trimmed with fox fur, her black hair loosely tied up, with all her jewelry removed except for a brightly colored flower wreath, resembling a flower fairy descended from heaven.”
“Lu Jingzhuo’s lips curved, ‘Did Zhen’er make that for you too?'”
“‘Yes, Zhen’er is so clever, she even taught me how to make it.'”
“He touched the wreath gently, ‘It suits you… but aren’t you hot in that jacket?’ There were several charcoal basins around, and he felt warm enough in his shirt. As he spoke, he began to take off his cloak and outer robe.”
“‘I’m fine, better to be warm than cold,’ Chuyin pulled him to sit, ‘I want to discuss something with you… On the day of the Winter Solstice, could you not go to the Qianqing Palace and stay with me for the day?'”
“‘The entire day?'”
“‘Yes, the whole day,’ Chuyin held his hand, ‘Is that okay?'”
“Though unsure why she made such a request, Lu Jingzhuo had been waiting for this day and agreed.”
“With him by her side, she would have more courage.”
“Just two more days, she had to hold on!”
“That evening, when Lu Jingzhuo became ‘exploratory’ with her, Chuyin firmly refused.”
“‘Getting up later for a bath might make me catch cold.'”
“Lu Jingzhuo: ‘…'”
“So, being cold was one thing, but now not even being intimate was allowed.”
“Was she practicing some sort of magic?”
“Well, only two days left, and soon he would know her secret.”
…………………………
“Although Wei State hadn’t seen snow, the weather was still very cold. Cheng Miyuan, coming out of the patients’ ward, removed the silk cloth covering his face, exhaling air that looked like white mist.”
“After washing his hands, he headed towards the place where medicines were being prepared.”
“Suddenly, a gatekeeper came running: ‘Doctor Cheng, someone is waiting to see you at the entrance. Do you have time?'”
“His exceptional medical skills during this epidemic had earned everyone’s respect. Not just gatekeepers, even the Wei State Prefect had to show him some courtesy.”
“Cheng Miyuan inquired, ‘Are they here for medical treatment?'”
“‘No.'”
“‘Then I won’t go; I am busy with other matters.'”
“‘Ah, Doctor Cheng, please don’t go. That person seems to be of high status… Though I couldn’t see them clearly in the carriage, their guards looked extraordinary. Even the Prefect’s guards might not compare…'”
“A figure flashed in Cheng Miyuan’s mind. He quickly turned, but then ran back to his quarters to change his clothes and shave his beard.”
“When the gatekeeper saw him again, he was speechless.”
“So Doctor Cheng was actually so handsome…”
“His usual disheveled appearance hid it well.”
“Seeing the guards stationed in front of the carriage, Cheng Miyuan realized his guess was right; it was indeed Princess Baocheng.”
“‘Didn’t I tell you not to come?’ he approached the carriage and spoke.”
“‘Come up,’ Princess Baocheng invited.”
“Cheng Miyuan remained motionless.”
“‘Get in,’ Princess Baocheng commanded, ‘or I assure you, you’ll never see me again.'”
“Her words carried a threat, making Cheng Miyuan hesitate before finally getting into the carriage.”
“‘You shouldn’t have come; the epidemic isn’t over yet,’ he said gravely, ‘Didn’t I tell you to stay and learn medicine with Ah Ping? He’s taught you enough. Why travel all the way to Wei State, especially when the journey isn’t safe…'”
“Princess Baocheng interrupted his rambling, ‘I want you to teach me, will you or won’t you?'”
“Cheng Miyuan: ‘…'”
“It was a classic case of ‘distance makes the heart grow fonder.'”
“When he taught her, she often found him annoying with his inexplicable rules. But when Fu Ping taught her, she realized the stark difference. Fu Ping, timid by nature, would be rendered speechless by her scolding, unlike Cheng Miyuan, who dared to correct and command her.”
“Of course, she was just as harsh with Cheng Miyuan, but at least he had the courage to truly teach her.”
“‘Only you can teach me, no one else,’ Princess Baocheng declared, raising her eyebrows, ‘I’ve already arranged for a residence nearby. You’ll come and teach me when you find the time.'”
“‘Can’t you wait until I return to Qingfeng Town?'”
“‘No.'”
“……”
“Seeing his helpless yet unwilling to refuse her demeanor, Princess Baocheng suddenly chuckled, leaning towards him, ‘Doctor Cheng, did you think of me in Wei State?'”
“His instinctive reaction was to lean back as her fragrance enveloped him.”
“She moved closer, just inches away.”
“The woman before him, with her striking beauty and allure, was even more captivating than he remembered. Cheng Miyuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he impulsively pulled her into a tight embrace, ‘Shanhui, if I say ‘I missed you,’ will you stay by my side forever?'”
“‘In your dreams!’ Princess Baocheng was startled, ‘Let go of me, how dare you…'”
“She had meant to tease him but hadn’t expected him to actually take action.”
“Cheng Miyuan, noticing her pale face yet amused, teased, ‘Whether I’m dreaming or not, haven’t you come to see me?'”
“‘I’m here to learn medicine, not to see you,’ Princess Baocheng replied frostily, ‘Cheng Miyuan, let go of me. Who knows what disease you might have picked up? Do you want to infect me, maybe even kill me?'”
“‘I’m wearing newly changed clothes and shoes, and I’ve washed my face. Can’t you see?’ He had made a special effort to tidy up for her.”
“Hearing this, Princess Baocheng stopped struggling.”
“Cheng Miyuan whispered, ‘Shanhui, I know I’ve been dreaming, but you shouldn’t make it a reality…’ and then kissed her gently.”
“Princess Baocheng initially resisted, but gradually, she stilled.”
“His kiss was inexperienced and forceful, clearly his first time, yet he quickly adapted, kissing her until her cheeks were flushed and her body felt weak, like a ball of cotton in his arms.”
“After a while, he released her, ‘I’ll spare an hour each day to teach you. Once the patients here are all healed, we’ll go back to Qingfeng Town together.'”
“Princess Baocheng wiped her lips with a handkerchief, ‘I’m not going back to live in that shabby place of yours. You’re coming to the capital with me.'”
“……”
“Seeing his silence, Princess Baocheng scoffed, ‘Get out of the carriage, I’ll go back to the capital alone.'”
“……”
“Reluctant to let go of a woman he finally fancied, Cheng Miyuan agreed, ‘Okay, but don’t expect me to live off you. I’ll open my own clinic in the capital. I don’t need your support.’ He knew he could make a lot of money if he wanted to.”
“Princess Baocheng: ‘…'”
“She hadn’t even suggested him being a kept man.”
“It seemed he thought their differing statuses made a marriage impossible.”
“But this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, Princess Baocheng thought with a secret smile. After all, they were officially master and disciple, and marriage might bring gossip. Besides, she was a divorcee with two children. Why rush into another marriage?”
“Having a man she liked by her side, practicing medicine together, traveling the world, being intimate when desired, and having the freedom to part ways if tired of each other seemed ideal.”
“Her spirits lifted, looking out the window, the world seemed even more expansive.”
………………
“The ‘Winter Solstice’ arrived as expected.”
“Lu Jingzhuo didn’t go to the Qianqing Palace that day; instead, he found himself embraced by Chuyin in bed early in the morning.”
“Feeling her arms and legs entwined around him more tightly, the word ‘Snake Spirit’ flashed through his mind.”
“In reality, Chuyin was overjoyed.”
“It was finally Winter Solstice, and she hadn’t caught a cold. She had safely and smoothly reached this day. Just waiting for the hour of Zi to pass, she would have completely survived the Winter Solstice. Her feelings were a mix of anticipation, excitement, and a hint of fear.”
“Only nine hours left.”
“Just to get through these next nine hours…”
“Chuyin mentally cheered herself on.”
“‘Can we just lie here a bit longer?’ she adjusted her position, ‘Usually, Your Majesty wakes up and gets up immediately. We’ve never just lain together like this, doing nothing.'”
“……”
“Because he didn’t see the point in doing so.”
“What’s the purpose of staying in bed after waking up? Unless…”
“She certainly wouldn’t agree to be intimate this morning.”
“Lu Jingzhuo asked, ‘Do you like this?'”
“‘I like it today,’ she nestled into his arm, ‘Today, I want to spend every moment with Your Majesty.'”
“He chuckled softly, ‘Could it be that your secret has something to do with me?'”
“‘Of course, it has something to do with you…'”
“‘You can’t tell me now?'”
“‘I can tell you after the hour of Zi; is that okay?’ she asked.”
“Having agreed to everything already, what was a little longer? He leaned over to kiss her lips gently, ‘That’s fine.'”
“Chuyin returned his kiss, and they continued, not minding that they hadn’t freshened up, until their three children came to the door to greet them, prompting them to finally get dressed.”
“The family of five had breakfast together.”
“Lu Zhu asked, ‘Father, Mother, today is the Winter Solstice, I know. But in our dynasty, we don’t observe it like the previous ones, and we don’t take a break either. Why don’t we have lessons today?'”
“Chuyin wasn’t sure how to explain.”
“Seeing this, Lu Jingzhuo said, ‘Your mother thought you might be tired, so she gave you a day off. It happens to be the Winter Solstice, so let’s make it festive.'”
“That made sense.”
“Lu Zhu quickly got up with his sister to bow, ‘Thank you, Mother, for your consideration.'”
“As for Lu Yu, still young, he was being fed by his mother, opening and closing his little mouth.”
“After the meal, the children gathered around their parents.”
“Chuyin listened as Lu Jingzhuo quizzed them on their studies.”
“Later, she told the children stories, enjoyed paintings, and practiced calligraphy with them.”
“Outside, Dong Ling and Xiao Dou were busy preparing for the barbecue, instructing the kitchen to marinate various meats, and setting up the iron grill with pine branches. Soon, the rich aroma of roasting meat wafted through the air.”
“Time passed joyously, yet Chuyin’s heart remained tensely beating, never relaxing. Fortunately, the presence of her husband and children made her feel blissful, like walking on a high wire with the risk of falling, yet still happy.”
“She smiled all day, sometimes feeling a slight sting in her heart, other times overwhelmed with a sweet fullness.”
“By the hour of Xu, the children said their goodbyes. She embraced each one, watching them retreat to the side hall, leaving her alone with Lu Jingzhuo.”
“Through the window, the night sky was dotted with stars, glittering like scattered pearls.”
“Sitting on Lu Jingzhuo’s lap, Chuyin wrapped her arms around his neck, ‘Suddenly, it feels like I’m in a dream…'”
“‘Why?'”
“Because everything felt too perfect, too complete.”
“Nothing was lacking, as if it was all a beautiful illusion, somewhat unreal.”
“She leaned in to kiss his lips repeatedly, tirelessly.”
“For the first time, he felt as if Chuyin might kiss his lips swollen.”
“‘You look like you’re drunk,’ he observed her flushed face, gently caressing her lips, ‘Doesn’t it hurt?'”
“Her lips were a bit swollen, like ripe cherries.”
“‘It hurts,’ she hummed softly, ‘but I just want to keep kissing you.'”
“‘…If you keep kissing, you won’t be able to eat tomorrow,’ he glanced at the water clock in the corner, ‘It’s almost the hour of Zi, Ah Yin.'”
“She knew.”
“That’s why she felt so light and airy, as Lu Jingzhuo described, like being intoxicated.”
“She lay her head on his shoulder, gazing at the water clock, listening to the sound of dripping water.”
“Drip, drip, drip…”
“The steady dripping…”
“Her heart suddenly tightened, almost leaving her breathless.”
“Those moments stretched unbearably long, as if they would never end.”
“The wife on his lap tensed up, her fingers gripping his robe tightly.”
“Her body pressed against him, her heart so close he felt he could hear its beats.”
“At that moment, fear unexpectedly gripped him.”
“It was as if Chuyin, a celestial being fallen from the heavens, was about to ascend back.”
“He instinctively tightened his embrace around her waist.”
“Both of them fixated on the water clock, unblinking.”
“Drip, drip, drip…”
“Time, eventually, flowed on like water.”
“She welcomed a new day.”
“Tears of joy ‘swooshed’ down Chuyin’s face.”
“All her efforts hadn’t been in vain; she hadn’t died.”
“‘Your Majesty, I’ve survived the Winter Solstice!'”
“He didn’t quite understand the significance of her words, but his heart, like Chuyin’s, was filled with joy.”
“Thank goodness, Chuyin was still in his arms, not ascended…”
“At this moment, he felt that knowing the secret or not wasn’t important.”
“All that mattered was that Chuyin was well and by his side.”