The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 47

Yun Zhu’s head ached from the shaking, but after thinking, she answered without hesitation: “If by fast horse, one can probably arrive the afternoon of the following day.”

Only then did Shen Lingyan calm down. She was already so weak from coughing that she couldn’t stand straight. She bent over and vigorously patted herself to suppress the coughing fit. Yun Zhu walked over heartbroken, but she didn’t know how to comfort her and even considered rushing off to brew another bowl of medicine.

“I’m fine. I’m just a little tired. You should help me go back and rest first.” Shen Lingyan’s weak voice genuinely sounded unassuming. Yun Zhu had no choice but to help her return to Chaohui Palace. These days, Shen Lingyan had grown completely tired of lying down in Chaohui Palace.

Shen Lingyan walked to the bed like an old person, staggering slightly. Today, she was very obedient: when told to cover herself with the blanket, she actively pulled the silk quilt over herself, closed her eyes meekly, and seemed truly ready to rest. Yun Zhu observed her for a long time, and finding nothing amiss, she finally left.

It was only after Yun Zhu had been gone for a long time that Shen Lingyan slowly sat up. She walked to the wardrobe, selected a few simple, unadorned dresses, and wrapped them all up with a bolt of cloth. She tied a knot, creating a bundle much like one would use for running away from home.

She looked at the sky. It was still bright, which was truly unsuitable for her escape. She had no choice but to hide the bundle under the silk quilt and hide herself in bed, lost in thought. Dai Sulan came by, but Shen Lingyan refused to see her, claiming illness. Even when important court officials came to discuss matters, she still claimed illness and refused to meet.

Yun Zhu also realized that the Emperor truly wanted to rest, so she stood at the entrance of Chaohui Palace and loudly shouted to all those who came to pay their respects: “His Majesty is unwell and should not receive visitors. Please return, everyone…”

Shen Lingyan heard this phrase for a long time, but the people disturbing her were still endless. With no other choice, Shen Lingyan could only silently anticipate the coming of the night…

Leaving the Palace

Shen Lingyan found that sometimes it was just like this: the more she didn’t want time to pass quickly, the faster night would fall. Time seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye. Yet, when she dutifully lay in bed waiting for the night, time passed so slowly. Shen Lingyan had already woken up countless times, and still, the sky hadn’t darkened.

At this moment, Dai Sulan lightly knocked on the door, carrying dinner and medicine. The very complex smell made Shen Lingyan frown. Watching her enter, with the clear implication that she wouldn’t leave until Shen Lingyan ate, Shen Lingyan stood in silent confrontation with her for a long time. In order not to delay her plan for the evening, she finally seemed to compromise, bracing herself to eat a few bites of food. She then picked up the medicine, drank it like a warrior, made a face, and showed the empty bowl to Dai Sulan.

Dai Sulan was somewhat confused throughout the process. It was the first time she had seen Shen Lingyan so obedient. She had originally intended to sit and chat with her for a while, but Shen Lingyan urged her to leave: “You should go out first. After taking the medicine, I just want to sleep. I finally feel a little better today… Make sure you watch over me well. No one is allowed to come in and disturb my sleep…”

Dai Sulan stood there, somewhat conflicted, but she didn’t dare disobey Shen Lingyan’s command. She sighed, turned, and gently closed the door. Silence returned to the hall.

Sometimes Shen Lingyan was very afraid of this silence. She simply curled up under the quilt, her eyes wide open, observing the complicated and exquisite bed canopy, as if she were dreaming back to the time she had just transmigrated here, where the first thing she did upon opening her eyes was observe the bed canopy above her head.

At that time, she was only completely unfamiliar with her current environment, with no other emotions besides strangeness. But now, as she stared quietly at the bed canopy again, Shen Lingyan was filled with mixed feelings. There was despair over her own body, and worry for Zhou Jin.

It was the middle of summer, but her body was still very cold, as if plunged into an ice cellar. Shen Lingyan clutched the quilt tightly, waiting for time to pass minute by minute.

Finally, the sun set, and the moon slowly rose, casting a silver glow on the window lattice. Shen Lingyan rose from the brocade quilt and listened carefully to the sounds outside. They all assumed she had fallen asleep early, so the palace maids outside were not noisy, and had even begun arranging the night watch.

Shen Lingyan waited for a long time, and after confirming that everything had quieted down, she lifted the quilt, suppressed a cough, and walked to the window. She slightly opened the window and looked outside. There were not many palace maids. She threw her bundle out, then slowly cocked her ear to listen, confirming there was no unusual movement outside. Only then did she climb out herself. Because the sky was too dark, Shen Lingyan let out a soft cry; her ankle instantly swelled up and turned red. She cried out softly, then quickly covered her mouth, hiding herself in the darkness. She didn’t even pick up the bundle. After the pain subsided, she stood up and, relying on her familiarity with Chaohui Palace, easily fled.

“Where is His Majesty going…” Just as Shen Lingyan was hobbling toward the palace exit, a guard’s voice came from behind her. Hearing this, she turned around, putting on the air of the female emperor: “Does… cough cough… Does We need to tell you where We are going?”

Shen Lingyan ultimately couldn’t suppress her cough and had to speak while coughing. The guards exchanged glances and did not stop her. However, the one in charge watched Shen Lingyan leave, then signaled to the person next to him. The person who received the signal immediately nodded in understanding and turned toward Chaohui Palace…