After a long while, the emperor put down his red brush and rubbed his temples. Seeing this, Songzhi asked softly, "Are you tired, Your Majesty? Let me give you a shoulder massage."

The emperor was silent for a moment, then nodded gently. Songzhi stepped forward and came behind the emperor. She carefully placed her hands on the emperor's shoulders and began to massage them gently.

The emperor closed his eyes, feeling Songzhi's massage. His tense muscles gradually relaxed, and his brows relaxed. Seeing this, Songzhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

During a break in her massage, Songzhi quietly surveyed the imperial study. The mountain of memorials on the desk caught her eye, presumably many of them related to Nian Gengyao. She felt a pang of anxiety, but hesitated to act rashly.

"The emperor is busy with all kinds of affairs every day and is really tired." Songzhi said softly, trying to break the silence.

The emperor snorted softly, but didn't open his eyes. Seeing that he showed no sign of disapproval, Songzhi continued, "I've heard that things have been quite turbulent at court lately. I wonder if this has anything to do with Lord Nian?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the emperor suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Songzhi with a sharp gaze. Songzhi was startled and her hands stopped moving.

"Are you interested in state affairs?" the emperor asked coldly, with a hint of caution in his tone.

Songzhi quickly knelt down, touching her forehead to the ground: "I dare not, I am just concerned about the emperor's health..."

The emperor looked up at Songzhi, his eyes as sharp as a torch. Songzhi couldn't help but shudder and quickly lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye.

"Are you someone close to Concubine Hua?" the emperor asked indifferently.

Songzhi was shocked, but remained calm on the surface and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am indeed serving Concubine Hua."

The emperor nodded slightly and said thoughtfully, "I remember you. Your name is Songzhi, right?"

"Your Majesty has a good memory. I am Songzhi." Songzhi answered cautiously.

The emperor was silent for a long time, then suddenly chuckled.

"You are a thoughtful person."

Songzhi was terrified and didn't know how to respond.

The emperor stood up and looked down at Songzhi.

"In that case, I will give you a chance."

Songzhi looked up, a hint of surprise and nervousness flashed in her eyes.

The emperor waved his sleeves to signal her to stand up, with a hint of amusement in his tone.

"From today on, you are Zhi promised."

Songzhi was extremely surprised and quickly kowtowed to thank the emperor for his grace.

The emperor turned and walked into the inner room, leaving behind a meaningful sentence.

"Serve me well and don't let this grace go to waste."

Songzhi looked at the emperor's back with mixed feelings.

Concubine Hua stood at the window, gazing at the distant palace walls. Her fingers gently stroked the window frame, a worried glint in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, Concubine Hua tried to calm herself.

"The Nian family's situation is becoming increasingly difficult. I must act with caution." She muttered to herself.

Turning to the dressing table, Concubine Hua began to carefully fix her makeup. Her movements were elegant and calm, but a hint of anxiety flashed in her eyes.

"Songzhi." Hua Fei called softly.

"I'm here." Songzhi stepped forward immediately.

Concubine Hua turned around and looked at Songzhi softly, "When you go to the Imperial Study to serve the Emperor, you must listen carefully. If there is any word about the Nian family, remember it in your heart."

Songzhi bowed her head and replied, "Yes, your majesty, don't worry. I will definitely be careful and cautious."

Hua Fei nodded and gently reminded him, "Remember, don't arouse suspicion. If you see anything unusual, report back immediately."

As night fell, Songzhi arrived outside the imperial study, straightened her clothes, and knocked gently on the door.

"Come in." The emperor's voice came.

Songzhi pushed the door open and walked in, bowing respectfully: "Your Majesty, it's late at night. I am here to help you rest."

The emperor raised his head, his eyes piercing: "I still have official business to attend to, please wait on the side."

Songzhi stepped aside and stood quietly, carefully observing the emperor's expression, hoping to discern some clues.

The emperor lowered his head to review the memorials, his brows sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed. His fingers lightly traced the paper, and occasionally he let out a barely audible sigh.

Songzhi was nervous and didn't know how to ask for the news.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, blowing the candlelight on the table. The emperor looked up and his eyes inadvertently swept over Songzhi.

Songzhi's heart tightened and she quickly lowered her head, fearing that someone would notice something unusual.

The emperor strode towards Shuimu Mingse with a solemn expression, his brow furrowed and his eyes gleaming with worry. Seeing this, An Lingrong immediately stood up and walked quickly forward to greet him.

"Your Majesty, what happened?" An Lingrong asked softly, her voice filled with concern. She reached out and gently stroked the emperor's arm, trying to soothe him.

The emperor sighed deeply, his eyes swept across the room, finally landing on An Lingrong's worried face.

He spoke slowly, his voice low and heavy, "Nian Gengyao and Prince Dun are secretly colluding and plotting a rebellion. The situation is critical, and I am worried that you and the Sixth Prince will be caught in the crossfire."

He paused, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes, "I want you to hide in Jiuzhou Qingyan first."

An Lingrong was startled when she heard this, a flash of fear flashing across her beautiful eyes. But soon, her eyes became firm and strong.

She straightened her back, looked directly into the emperor's eyes, and said firmly: "Your Majesty is my husband. I am willing to live and die with you."

She held the emperor's hand tightly, her voice firm yet gentle, "As for Sixth Prince, when the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact? Our family should be together in life and death."

After hearing this, the emperor's eyes flashed with emotion. He held An Lingrong's hand tightly and pulled her close to him.

The candlelight in the room danced on their faces, reflecting the deep affection in each other's eyes.

The Emperor lowered his head and whispered softly in An Lingrong's ear, "Rong'er, as long as you are by my side, I have nothing to fear."

The Emperor gazed at An Lingrong, his mind awash with thoughts. Rong'er's sincere feelings, like a ray of warm sunshine, penetrated the cold shell of imperial power and touched the softest part of his heart.

The emperor couldn't help but sigh, "In this treacherous palace, it's truly rare to find someone like this." He had long been aware of Rong'er's affection for him. That love was like a warm current, bringing some comfort to his lonely imperial life.

The Emperor's gaze was as deep as a pool of water, his expression complex and difficult to interpret. He sighed softly, his voice low and steady:

"Rong'er, the current political situation is very delicate. During this period of time, I will deliberately promote Zhen Huan, so please do not worry too much. This move is just to attract the attention of Hua Fei's faction. I have my own plans."

An Lingrong's eyes flickered with unease upon hearing this. She forced herself to remain calm, but her inner uneasiness was hard to conceal. Biting her lip, her voice trembled as she asked, "Your Majesty, are you worried that I might become jealous?"

The Emperor gazed at An Lingrong, his eyes gentle as water. He slowly reached out and gently caressed her jade-like face. The warmth from his fingertips made An Lingrong tremble slightly.

"Rong'er," the emperor said in a low but firm voice, "How can anyone else compare to the position you hold in my heart?"

These words were like a warm current, instantly soothing Ping Lingrong's uneasiness. She raised her head and looked at the emperor, her eyes full of attachment and trust.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like