After the Substitute Male Bride Fled, the Emperor Turned Dark - Chapter 23

Governess Gui stood up, her gaze scanning Fang Zhiyan’s face with a meaningful look. “The Empress Dowager has been concerned about Your Ladyship,” she said. “She specifically ordered me to deliver a few books to help pass the time.”

Fang Zhiyan’s first thought was that the Empress Dowager was telling him to read more and spend less time fluttering around the Emperor. He gestured for the young palace maid behind him to present the volumes.

Lan Ruo took them and handed them to Fang Zhiyan with both hands. Fang Zhiyan looked down and nearly threw the books across the room. The covers had no titles; instead, they featured a painting of twin lotuses on a single stalk, their petals intertwined in an ambiguous, suggestive pose.

Even if he were inexperienced in the ways of the world, he knew exactly what these were.

“This,” Fang Zhiyan managed to maintain a forced smile. “Thank you for the Empress Dowager’s concern.”

Governess Gui took two steps closer and lowered her voice. “Your Ladyship has been in the palace for several months but has not yet conceived. The Empress Dowager is worried, so she ordered me to provide some guidance.”

Fang Zhiyan’s fingers tightened around the books. His expression shifted through several emotions before settling into a mask of strained calm. “Governess Gui, His Majesty and I, His Majesty is occupied with thousands of daily affairs. He only comes to Chengqian Palace for meals.”

Governess Gui smiled with the knowing look of an elder. “Your Ladyship need not explain.” She paused, then added, “The Empress Dowager said that if Your Ladyship does not mind, I shall stay at Chengqian Palace for a few days to teach you slowly.”

Fang Zhiyan felt as though he had been struck by lightning. Stay for a few days? Teach slowly? He had to use every ounce of self-control to suppress his internal resistance and avoid losing his composure on the spot.

“Governess Gui is very thoughtful,” Fang Zhiyan said, lowering his eyes to feign shyness, his voice barely audible. “There is no need to trouble you. When I was at home, a governess already taught me these things.”

Governess Gui gave a satisfied smile. “Then I shall return to report back. If Your Ladyship needs me, simply send someone to Cining Palace at any time.” She performed a bow and led the two young palace maids out.

The hall fell silent once more. Lan Ruo immediately reached out and took the books, her expression anxious. “What are we going to do?”

Fang Zhiyan lost his strength and collapsed onto the couch in an ungraceful heap.

“Lan Ruo, there is a kind of medicinal wine among the common people,” he said. “If you drink it, you will wake up the next day having completely forgotten everything that happened.”

Lan Ruo looked skeptical. “Is there truly such a miraculous wine?”

Fang Zhiyan gave a small huff and rolled over on the couch. “Would I lie to you? If we truly cannot avoid this, we can only resort to such a plan. When he wakes up with no memory, I can tell him whatever I want happened.”

“But how are we going to get such medicinal wine?”

Fang Zhiyan gave a mysterious smile. “You will know when the time comes.”

That night, Xiao Huan arrived at Chengqian Palace for dinner as usual. The moment he entered, he sensed something was wrong. Fang Zhiyan was sitting at the table, absentmindedly examining a glass-patterned jade pendant in his hand.

Xiao Huan waived the need for salutations and asked casually, “Did the hospital administrator check your pulse?”

Fang Zhiyan nodded. “Yes. Everything is normal.”

Xiao Huan looked at him with a heavy gaze. Lan Ruo entered with attendants to set the table. Xiao Huan picked up a piece of the Osmanthus Fish that Fang Zhiyan usually enjoyed and placed it in his bowl. “Eat more.”

Fang Zhiyan looked down at the fish, thinking of Governess Gui’s words and the books he had thrown onto the kitchen stove. He had no appetite whatsoever. He was thinking that he needed to find an opportunity to probe Xiao Huan’s thoughts.

Xiao Huan took in his distracted state but said nothing further. After dinner, Xiao Huan sat in the room for a while while Fang Zhiyan sat beside him. The atmosphere between them was subtle. Usually, Fang Zhiyan would take the initiative to find topics to talk about, such as interesting stories from the court or news from the palace. But today, he was remarkably silent, keeping his eyes lowered and lost in thought.

Xiao Huan stood up to leave. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back. Fang Zhiyan looked up and met his gaze. Under the dim yellow lamplight, Xiao Huan’s expression seemed somewhat soft.

He looked at Fang Zhiyan for a moment and said calmly, “If there are any difficulties, tell me.”

Fang Zhiyan pursed his lips but did not know what to say. Xiao Huan did not wait for an answer; he turned and walked out. The wind from the corridor rushed in, making the lamplight flicker. Fang Zhiyan sat there for a long time before realizing that Xiao Huan seemed unhappy.

He remembered the look in Xiao Huan’s eyes when he turned back just now. It was rather pitiful. People would think he was crazy if he said it out loud, pitying an Emperor. However, he had always been grateful to Xiao Huan. Since he entered the palace, Xiao Huan had never forced him to do anything.

They maintained a delicate balance, treating each other with respect and never crossing the line. Xiao Huan gave him dignity, stability, and even a rare sense of freedom within the deep palace. He was not as difficult to get along with as imagined. Since that was the case.

“Lan Ruo!” he called out.

Lan Ruo entered from the outer room. “Your Ladyship?”

Fang Zhiyan tucked the jade pendant under his pillow. “Tell the palace servants not to go to the small kitchen tomorrow.” He thought for a moment. “I want to cook personally.”

Lan Ruo agreed.

Early the next morning, Fang Zhiyan went to the small kitchen in Chengqian Palace. It was not as grand as the Imperial Kitchen, but it had everything necessary. It had been nearly six months since he last stepped into a kitchen, but since he had cooked often at home before entering the palace, making a few dishes was no trouble.

Lan Ruo followed to help. Seeing Fang Zhiyan roll up his sleeves looking ready for serious work, she could not help but ask, “Your Ladyship, what are you making?”

“A soothing soup,” Fang Zhiyan said, laying out the prepared herbs one by one with a serious tone. He had found a medical book on the shelf last night and consulted the duty physician at the Imperial Academy of Medicine today to confirm the recipe.

Spiny jujube kernels, polygala, poria, lily bulbs, longans. The dosage of each herb was carefully considered to ensure it would soothe the nerves and aid sleep without being too cold or harmful to the body.

Lan Ruo watched him. As winter set in, the temperature had plummeted, and the water was bone-chillingly cold. She did not understand why her mistress wanted to cook soup for the Emperor personally.

Fang Zhiyan worked meticulously. He fried and crushed the jujube kernels, then simmered them with the polygala and poria. When the medicinal fragrance filled the air, he added the lily bulbs and longans, simmering it on low heat for half an hour. Finally, he strained the dregs, poured the liquid into a white porcelain jar, and stirred in a spoonful of honey.

He took a sip and frowned slightly. It was a bit bitter. He added another spoonful of honey and tasted it again. Still bitter. He thought for a moment and added a few red dates, then covered it to let it steep.

Lan Ruo watched in amazement. Was her mistress brewing medicine or making syrup?

Fang Zhiyan was finally satisfied. He ladled out the soothing soup, placed it in a food box, and checked it carefully to ensure nothing was missed before sighing with relief.

“Let’s go. Change clothes; we are going to Ganning Palace.”

Lan Ruo carried the food box behind him and could not help but ask, “Your Ladyship, why did you suddenly think of sending soothing soup to the Emperor?”

Fang Zhiyan held a hand warmer, his voice lazy. “Didn’t you tell me the Emperor has not been sleeping well lately? As a favored consort, of course I have to show some concern.”

Lan Ruo was unsure if he truly did not understand or was just pretending. In the past, Fang Zhiyan would never have done such a thing. He wanted nothing more than to draw a clear line between himself and everyone else, living only in his own small courtyard.

Inside Ganning Palace, Xiao Huan was discussing matters with several ministers. Fang Zhiyan waited in the side hall for fifteen minutes before they emerged. Eunuch Li came forward with a smile. “Your Ladyship, please go in quickly. His Majesty is inside reviewing memorials.”

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