The Fearless Empress - Chapter 22.3

Just last night, she was gravely wounded and nearly at death’s door, yet today she’s bouncing around full of life, truly hard to believe.

Cheng Sangyi grew increasingly curious about her. She reached out and gently turned that small face back toward her, locking eyes once more as she teased, “You are quite amusing, my Empress.”

“What is an empress? Can you eat it?” The Empress shook her head slightly, her gaze falling upon Cheng Sangyi’s playful expression, a face cleansed of makeup, soft and lovely, with no trace of the faint obsession that had lingered before.

“You can eat them, have as many as you like.” Cheng Sangyi’s smile unexpectedly deepened. “Read more books. When you go out, don’t say you’re my empress, it’s too embarrassing.”

Just the phrase “my wife” was already mortifying enough.

The two stared at each other in silence. The empress pouted slightly and retorted unwillingly, “When we return to the palace, don’t come to the Pepper Chamber Palace so often. I’m afraid the noble consorts won’t let me join them anymore.”

Cheng Sangyi: “…”

Curious, she asked, “What do you talk about during your daily gatherings?”

“About you and your white moonlight.”

Cheng Sangyi: “…”

Thrilled to receive a chest of treasures, the empress excitedly took Cheng Sangyi’s hand to pick one out. Unable to resist her, Cheng Sangyi bent down, picked one up, and placed it in her palm. “What’s so special about these pearls?”

“I’m afraid of the dark. They’re perfect for lighting up the night.” The empress stroked the luminous pearl contentedly, her eyes sparkling. Her white sleeping robe made her dark hair gleam like satin, and her delicate face resembled a freshly bloomed white lotus so tender it seemed as if one could squeeze water from it.

A young girl in love, her every glance radiated charm.

As an injured person shouldn’t sit for too long, the empress stood for a while before having her treasures stored away, too excited to sleep.

Just as she lay down, noise erupted outside. Cheng Sangyi’s lips curled with the chill of a winter night as she said, “Rest well.”

For a fleeting moment, as Cheng Sangyi stood up, she was enveloped in a soft glow, her entire demeanor radiating a gentle beauty.

Squinting her eyes, the empress thought to herself, Perhaps she isn’t as unapproachable as she seems.

The soldiers guarding the imperial mausoleum were investigating the assassins, clamoring noisily to search the camp. They had been causing a commotion since morning, coming and going repeatedly, refusing to give up.

The Empress Dowager emerged, draped in a heavy cloak. Unlike ordinary women, she carried no air of fragility. Her gaze swept over the crowd. “You wish to enter?”

The soldiers knelt in unison, bowing their heads, not daring to look upon her.

“Your Majesty, we are acting under the Empress Dowager’s orders to capture the assassins.”

“You follow the Empress Dowager’s orders to hunt assassins, yet you come to search my resting quarters. The Empress Dowager may have granted you your official rank, but I can take your head.” Cheng Sangyi’s tone was heavy. “Anyone who dares take a step forward will face the extermination of their nine clans.”

In the pitch-black night, with the cold wind howling, the Empress’s words struck like icicles upon their minds.

“Perhaps you are unaware of which nine clans are included,” Cheng Sangyi remarked casually.

A court official promptly replied, “Your Majesty, the nine clans refer to the father’s lineage, the mother’s three clans, and the wife’s two clans.”

Standing under the torchlight, Cheng Sangyi’s voice stretched long and cold. The kneeling soldiers and officers dared not lift their heads.

“Step aside. Let them enter,” Cheng Sangyi ordered softly, her expression cold and fierce. “Let me see who wishes to die and drag their entire family down with them.”

“Your Majesty, spare us! We dare not defy your command!”

“Your Majesty, have mercy…”

A chorus of pleas echoed, a testament to the power of imperial authority.

The night passed peacefully. By dawn, the cold had seeped into their bones, so frigid that water would freeze instantly.

Cheng Sangyi woke early and sat by the brazier, reviewing memorials. Palace maids brought in the prepared breakfast, covering the table with an array of pastries.

Lured by the drifting aroma, the empress rose, throwing on her robe. The maids immediately attended to her, helping her dress.

After washing up, the empress sat down, served by her attendants. She reached for a crystal shrimp dumpling while Cheng Sangyi, seated across from her, sipped her porridge nonchalantly. After the empress finished one dumpling, Cheng Sangyi suddenly spoke, “I have issued an edict to recall Rong Han.”

“It’s quite good.” The Empress nodded, her youthful face showing no surprise as she stared eagerly at the food on the table.

Cheng Sangyi suddenly felt bored and set down the bowl of porridge, asking, “What’s so good about it?”

“Consort Gui and the others like it. They’ve been speculating every day whether you’d recall Rong Han. Now things will be lively.”

Cheng Sangyi: “…”

Some people just love stirring up trouble!

After breakfast, they set off. Cheng Sangyi went to fetch the Empress Dowager. The Prince of Guangling had fallen ill again with a fever. After the previous day’s commotion, the Empress Dowager was unusually quiet today, instructing others to take good care of the Prince of Guangling.

The imperial physicians carried the Prince of Guangling into his carriage, and only then did the Empress Dowager board her own. After seeing off the Empress Dowager, Cheng Sangyi made his way to the Empress’s carriage.

The Empress had a back injury and was leaning against a cushion. When she saw him enter, she pursed her lips and shifted to the side to make room.

The journey was slow, and the carriage jolted along the way. The Prince of Guangling repeatedly called for stops, and after a day of travel, they still hadn’t reached the post station. The group had no choice but to camp in the wilderness and continue the next day.

With all the stops and starts, the return journey took five days, by which time the Prince of Guangling’s fever had subsided.

Back at the palace, the Emperor and Empress escorted the Empress Dowager to Cian Palace. Cheng Sangyi then returned to Zichen Hall to attend to official matters.

Left alone, the Empress was quickly intercepted by the Prince of Guangling, who caught up to her phoenix carriage in a few strides. Smiling cheerfully, he asked, “Your Majesty, where are you off to in such a hurry?”

The Empress’s back was still hurting. The jostling over the past few days had not only failed to improve her condition but had worsened it. All she wanted was to return to her palace and lie down.

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