klisemfg Chapter 247 God’s Domain 6
Chapter 247 God’s Domain 6
In the five years since she got married, Liu Zhi has seen him with this kind of expression most often.
They treat each other with the utmost respect, yet they are not truly husband and wife.
Liu Zhi had also seen him look at Song Rui and others with different expressions, showing joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. But when he looked at her, he was always calm and indifferent, as if he were looking at a stranger.
Five years of marriage couldn't even compare to the amount of emotions he could bear from a servant in the household.
Was it because she was the daughter of a Pillar of State General, a mere bargaining chip, and therefore unworthy of stirring his emotions?
On the day of her wedding, Liu Zhi had no choice but to understand many things, and in the five years that followed, she had long since learned to let go.
Today, he came to help her, and Liu Zhi felt it was only right. The harmony between the emperor and empress was something everyone hoped to see. Just like how much he doted on Song Rui in the mansion, he would always give her face in public.
The coronation ceremony went smoothly, so smoothly that no one noticed this little incident until a young eunuch came to announce that the empress was ill, which startled a group of people who went to visit her.
"You're sick? When did that start?"
The emperor paused briefly with his cinnabar brush before continuing to write in red ink.
"I fell ill yesterday, but Ningkun Palace has been keeping it from me and won't let me report it, saying that the Empress's investiture ceremony cannot be delayed."
"What disease?"
"The imperial physician has already gone. He said it was a cold, and the Empress caught a chill two days later on the day of the ceremony. She will need to rest for a while before she gets better."
"..."
The imperial brush paused for a moment, then was finally set aside, and the man strode out.
"...They really don't value their lives!"
Only the eunuchs behind them hurriedly scurried after them.
……
"Your Majesty is here!"
Ningkun Palace is very large, but there were quite a few people in the hall at this time, and it became a bit crowded when the emperor arrived.
At this time, the new emperor had just ascended the throne, and the six palaces had not yet held another selection of concubines. Apart from the few concubines, there were also the imperial physicians who came to consult, and the emperor brought a large group of people. Ningkun Palace was more lively than ever before.
After everyone in the hall paid their respects, the emperor, who was in charge, arrested the imperial physician and questioned him.
"How is the Empress?"
"Her Majesty has already taken her medicine and has just fallen asleep. We are about to leave."
Through the semi-transparent screen, only a blurry outline could be seen beneath the imperial tent. The emperor responded coldly, "Hmm, in that case, all of you may leave. Do not disturb the Empress's rest."
After saying this, the emperor led the way out, followed by the concubines and imperial physicians, who all withdrew, leaving only Consort Jiang, who had volunteered to attend to the emperor, and a few maids and nannies to serve her.
Liu Zhilian was ill for six or seven days before she could barely get out of bed and move around. During that time, several people took turns taking care of her, but Jiang Shu'er could see her all the time.
A few days later, Liu Zhi was able to go out for a walk, but she spent most of her time staying in the palace.
It took more than a month of intermittent care to fully recover from the illness. Liu Zhi's body also began to weaken because of this illness, and she was no longer as able to run and jump as before, but she wasn't in any serious condition.
One year into the reign of the new emperor, the palace began its first annual imperial concubine selection.
It's a good thing to have fresh faces entering the palace. Otherwise, it would be boring to have only a few people in such a large palace. But with more people, there will be more trouble. This is only the first year. More people will enter the harem in the future.
Liu Zhi became more and more adept at managing the harem each year, but there were times when she felt powerless. Later, the older women who had been promoted to the rank of Fourth Consort began to help her manage the six palaces.
There were occasional frictions in the palace, but nothing major ever happened; at least the ground in front of the willow branches was still clean.
In the third year of the Shun Sheng reign, Consort Song gave birth to the first son of the Shun Sheng Qinian reign, who was also the third prince. In the first month of the national celebration of the Qian Sheng reign, a three-year amnesty was granted, and Consort Song was promoted to the rank of concubine. The following year, she was promoted to the rank of imperial consort.
In the same year, the second princess was born, and a banquet was held for all the officials.
In the fifth year of the Shun Sheng reign, the third princess was born, and a ten-day banquet was held.
In the sixth year of the Shun Sheng reign, the fourth prince was born.
In the seventh year of the Shun Sheng reign, the fifth prince was born, but died before reaching his one-month birthday. In the same year, the fourth princess was born and also died young.
At the end of the ninth year of Shunsheng, the former Empress Dowager died at Yiqing Garden. In the same year, the sixth prince was born.
The tenth year of Shunsheng, the winter solstice.
In Yuqing Palace, the royal family members gather here every winter solstice for a family banquet, which can also be attended by the concubines of the harem. This year's banquet was particularly lively.
Since it was a family banquet, there weren't many rules. A bunch of little kids often darted around during the meal, and the three people sitting at the head of the table were very pleased to see them grow up little by little.
Looking at the table full of relatives and friends, Liu Zhi suddenly felt a little melancholy.
Time really flies; in the blink of an eye, they've all reached their thirties.
The harem is now more harmonious than ever before. Although minor frictions still occur from time to time, at least they can play cards together and chat casually, without any tense atmosphere.
Liu Zhi can't expect everyone to be the same, or to be a good person, but at least there shouldn't be so many bad people anymore. She's always learning.
Her older brothers and sisters had all married and moved out, and her father was getting old, but he still rarely came to see his daughter, even when he had permission.
During the few times they met, he mostly told her to be a good mother of the country and to be a good empress, and that was it.
Empress Liu Zhi was a very good empress, and no one could find fault with her. So why couldn't she protect her fourth princess?
Her fourth princess died, and she watched helplessly as her tiny daughter slowly lost her warmth in her arms.
She pleaded with everyone, but no one could save her. Gradually, her heart died along with her.
She thought it would pass, that everything would pass, but that pain, no matter how much time had passed, would still make her heart clench every time she thought about it.
Perhaps she had been lost in thought for too long, or perhaps she was afraid to face it, but that concerned gaze never left her, making her unable to look back at him.
There were many guests present, but she was fully aware of the situation.
"Your Majesty, I have been drinking too much. I would like to go out for a walk to clear my head."
The emperor replied indifferently, "Hmm."
After a pause, he replied, "The road at night is difficult to travel, and the Empress is in poor health, so please be careful."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I'll just go for a walk and be right back."
Such conversations are commonplace and cause no stir whatsoever.
After leaving Yuqing Palace, Liuzhi stole a moment of freedom.
I wandered aimlessly along the pebble path, seeing flowers as flowers and trees as trees, without any mental imagery, simply emptying my mind.
In fact, she was familiar with every road in the palace, and she had walked every single one of them, even the one that led to the Cold Palace.
And the path she loved most was the one that led her to the cold palace.
It was secluded, with no one passing by, as if she were the only person left in the whole world.
The occasional mournful wails emanating from the cold palace only made her heart grow colder and harder.
As the night grew brighter, the willow branches stopped before a ruined pond. The cold winter wind made her mind even clearer, so clear that she could even hear footsteps approaching from afar.
When the sound stopped, Liu Zhi did not turn around. Neither of them spoke; they simply stood side by side, admiring the desolate winter pond.
Listening to the soft sound of falling snow, Liu Zhi pulled her thick outer garment tighter, exhaling warm breath, but the first to speak was the person next to her.
"You didn't look too good during the meal. Are you... thinking about her again?"
Liu Zhi gazed calmly into the distance: "They will forget; it's only a matter of time."
The man turned his head to look at the calm-faced willow branch, remained silent for a while, and finally said, "You've been out for too long, it's time to go back."
Liu Zhi slowly turned her head to look at him, and the two stared at each other in silence for a while. Suddenly, Liu Zhi smiled for no apparent reason. Her smiling face seemed to have returned to sixteen years ago when she was still that little girl who had just come of age.
"The Empress Conferment Ceremony, the danger in the seventh year of Shun Sheng's reign, and the death of Xiao Mi'er... Senior Brother Zhang, my days are numbered. The imperial physician has determined that I have at most six months left."
"Before I die, I wish I could eat your cooking one more time... that would be wonderful."
"You! You, you..."
Zhang Yanyu's pupils shrank sharply, and he stared at her for a long time, unable to speak.
Liu Zhi smiled innocently, just like when she first met her.
The little girl was chattering excitedly around the abbot, telling him about the interesting things that had happened to her that day. When she saw him coming over, she gave him a big smile.
Like the sun, so bright, so very bright...