Chapter 43: Dizziness and Palpitations
The moment Chu Yi finished speaking, he unconsciously avoided Sheng Qianheng’s gaze.
The original book recorded that a marriage alliance between Qianlin and Da Mo was the best course of action. The two countries were of equal strength, and if they really fought, it would only result in mutual destruction…
Although he knew it was an inevitable outcome, the fact that the marriage alliance was proposed by Chu Yi himself seemed to give it a different meaning.
The corners of his lips curved up slightly. He caressed the dark circles under Sheng Qianheng’s eyes and slowly explained, “A marriage alliance can be proof of the friendship between our two countries and can also reduce the number of casualties on the front lines. Furthermore, a truce will surely put the common people at ease. If you’re afraid that Qianlin will go back on their word, you can send an envoy to sign a contract… As for the city that was lost, we can say it was a gift to Qianlin.
Right now, there are only Consort Hui and Consort Wan in this harem. Whether the person from the marriage alliance is a man or a woman, their rank naturally cannot be low. A-Heng, you should know all this better than I do.”
Sheng Qianheng looked at Chu Yi’s rational analysis of the situation and couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart.
He rubbed the pad of Chu Yi’s thumb, unable to bring himself to speak. These words should not have come from Chu Yi’s mouth…
“A-Yi…”
Chu Yi slowly looked up at Sheng Qianheng and shook his head slightly. He was just an outsider. He couldn’t let the original plot of the book be destroyed…
“I’m fine. On the contrary, you haven’t had a good rest for a few days, have you? Is there anything else to deal with right now?”
Sheng Qianheng looked at Chu Yi in silence, as if he could see a hint of sadness in his subtle facial expressions. He leaned down, pressed his forehead against Chu Yi’s, and whispered, “I know you were also forced to compromise… But A-Yi, I still stand by my words. I won’t touch a single finger of anyone else.”
Chu Yi could only tell himself that all of this was supposed to happen in the book. He replied faintly, “Alright, I believe you… But for now, you should get some rest, hmm?”
Sheng Qianheng held Chu Yi tightly. He had no choice but to make these useless promises. He couldn’t gamble with the lives of the generals on the front line and the common people.
Chu Yi let Sheng Qianheng hold him. He stared blankly at the slightly open window, vaguely seeing the high palace walls.
He had originally thought that these palace walls couldn’t confine him, but at some point, he had already become a prisoner…
It was almost noon, and it was midsummer. The heavy clothes on their bodies and their tightly embraced bodies were both hot, but neither of them pushed the other away.
He knew that Chu Yi understood his difficulties, but Chu Yi was ultimately unhappy in his heart…
Sheng Qianheng was afraid that after today, an invisible crack would form between him and Chu Yi, and no matter how he tried to mend it, it would be useless.
This vast imperial palace had trapped the two of them.
All was quiet, leaving only the thumping of their hearts. But this faint sound seemed to be intertwined into an unspeakable pain in their hearts.
Chu Yi’s eyes stung. He raised a hand to rub them, repeatedly telling himself not to let his imagination run wild anymore.
He felt Sheng Qianheng’s heavy breathing and whispered, “Shall I rest with you for a while? If your body collapses, I’ll be heartbroken… I remember when you were still in the Cold Palace as a child, you were often weak and ill.”
Sheng Qianheng hummed in agreement and picked up Chu Yi, walking toward the chaise lounge not far away.
Chu Yi couldn’t help but ask, “Why not on the bed?”
Sheng Qianheng took off his outer robe and draped it over Chu Yi, then wrapped his arms around his waist and said, “This way, I can hold you tightly. Just let me.”
Chu Yi had no choice but to let Sheng Qianheng be. The two of them closed their eyes and lay on the chaise lounge, temporarily forgetting all their current worries.
The cyan robes intertwined like ink, their sleeves tangled. Their faint breathing was as long as silk.
Only the two of them were in the room. The remaining ink in the inkstone on the desk gradually dried up. All was silent. No one dared to disturb the tenderness of this moment.
After much hesitation, Sheng Qianheng finally wrote the imperial edict.
He glanced sideways and saw Chu Yi standing there in a daze. He quietly covered his hand, his fingertips tapping lightly, and asked in a low voice, “What are you thinking about?”
Only then did Chu Yi’s gaze focus. He replied, “Is the rank of Pin too low? The sincerity of the marriage alliance seems to be insufficient…”
Sheng Qianheng pulled Chu Yi over and had him sit down together. “The rank of Pin is already high enough. You are the only one in my harem. How can I let someone I don’t like have a higher rank than you?”
Chu Yi only knew that the original book recorded that the person from the marriage alliance was enfeoffed as a consort as soon as they entered the palace. But now it was the rank of Pin? Why was that?
Seeing Chu Yi’s furrowed brow, Sheng Qianheng always felt that he was hiding something in his heart.
After choosing his words carefully, Chu Yi finally persuaded Sheng Qianheng, “Since it is a marriage alliance, we must show the sincerity of our Da Mo. A-Heng, in my opinion, it must be the rank of consort.”
Only after being persuaded several times did Sheng Qianheng write the rank of consort on the imperial edict. Finally, he ordered Liu Deshan to issue the edict and send Jiang Xinrui on a fast horse to the southwest border to deliver the documents for the truce and the agreement to the marriage alliance.
Chu Yi sighed silently. His actions should be able to maintain the original situation in the book, so that the good relations between Da Mo and Qianlin for more than ten years would not be broken. It seemed that he was the only variable in this book…
Sheng Qianheng had wanted to coax Chu Yi, but he didn’t expect him to say, “A-Heng, I’m a little tired. I’ll go back to Yanxi Palace first…”
Sheng Qianheng had no choice but to let him leave Yangxin Hall.
Chu Yi didn’t know how he got back to Yanxi Palace at all. He only knew that the moment he sat down in the bedchamber, he was in a daze.
In the end, he was still forced to accept the constraints of this imperial city.
While Lianfang was making tea, Moshu said, “Your Ladyship, if you want to leave, this servant has a way…”
Chu Yi stared blankly at Moshu, not understanding what he meant.
“I’ve tried to escape several times and failed. What can you do?”
Moshu leaned close to Chu Yi’s ear and whispered.
Chu Yi pressed his lips together, unconsciously considering whether he should really leave…
Lianfang entered with the freshly brewed tea. Seeing Chu Yi’s worried expression, she couldn’t help but ask, “Your Ladyship, could it be that His Majesty didn’t issue an order to arrest the people from the teahouse?”
Only after being reminded by Lianfang did Chu Yi realize that he had gone to find Sheng Qianheng to report the matter of Lu Wenhan and the teahouse.
But he had been distracted by the matter of the marriage alliance and had completely forgotten about it.
He raised a hand to his forehead. Now that he had some free time, he felt a little dizzy and uncomfortable.
“His Majesty was just discussing the matter of the marriage alliance. I didn’t mention the teahouse. Next time. Has Lady Lu’s beloved son been brought into the palace?”
Lianfang: “He has already entered the side hall. The side hall is very lively today.”
Chu Yi nodded.
Chu Yi always felt dizzy just sitting in the hall and had to walk in the courtyard.
Lady Lu’s spirits were getting better day by day, but her beloved son was very naughty.
Chu Yi was drawn by the noise from the side hall. He slowly walked to the front of the side hall. Since there was a child there, he might as well go and see him to relieve his boredom.
Just as he was about to push the door open, it was pulled open from the inside. A child rushed out and almost bumped into Chu Yi.
Lady Lu immediately stepped forward, pulled her son to her side, and knelt down. “My son has offended Your Ladyship. I hope Your Ladyship will forgive me.”
Chu Yi’s gaze fell on the child’s flushed cheeks. He saw him standing there tremblingly, nervously wringing his hands.
He squatted down and couldn’t help but pinch the child’s cheek. “What’s your name?”
The child looked at Lady Lu. Lady Lu said, “Hurry and answer Her Ladyship.”
The child: “My name is Lu Siyuan.”
Chu Yi rubbed Lu Siyuan’s head and replied with a smile, “That’s a good name.”
Lady Lu: “Thank you for Your Ladyship’s praise.”
Chu Yi was about to stand up but felt dizzy the moment he stood straight. Fortunately, Lianfang supported him.
Lianfang said anxiously, “Your Ladyship, shall I call for Imperial Physician Xu?”
Chu Yi waved his hand and said slowly, “It’s fine. It must be because I stood up too quickly and the blood rushed to my head.”
Lady Lu and Lianfang helped Chu Yi sit down together.
Lu Siyuan had been standing behind Lady Lu, staring at Chu Yi without saying a word.
Chu Yi felt that it was a good thing that this child had inherited all of Lady Lu’s good qualities and was completely different from Lu Wenhan.
He looked back at Lianfang and said, “Bring the toys this Palace has prepared for Siyuan.”
Lady Lu thanked him repeatedly.
Seeing that Lu Siyuan was engrossed in the toys, Chu Yi spoke to Lady Lu in a low voice about the teahouse. “In a few days, this Palace will inform His Majesty about the teahouse. At that time, if Lady Lu is willing to report Lord Lu’s actions as well, Lord Lu may be dismissed from his post. This Palace would like to ask if you are willing to divorce Lu Wenhan. This way, madam will not be implicated.”
Lady Lu was at a loss for words for a moment. She had never thought about divorce. It was difficult for a woman to remarry after a divorce… If she really divorced Lu Wenhan, where would she go?
Chu Yi could naturally see Lady Lu’s predicament and continued, “No need to worry about having nowhere to go after the divorce. The Jishi Teahouse will be closed down by then. This Palace has checked. Although the business on the fourth floor is improper, the income from the legitimate teahouse business is actually not small. Madam is from a merchant family, so it shouldn’t be difficult to renovate and reopen the teahouse. If madam is interested, the future owner of the Jishi Teahouse will be handed over to you. How about it? Madam need not answer this Palace immediately. You can think about it for a few days.”
Lady Lu was on the verge of tears and choked, “This subject’s wife can never repay Your Ladyship’s great kindness… I really don’t know what I can do for Your Ladyship.”
Chu Yi didn’t need any repayment. This was all he could do. “If you really want to repay me, this Palace finds your son quite likable. You can bring him into the palace to accompany this Palace more often in the future.”
Lady Lu: “It is my son’s fortune to be liked by Your Ladyship.”
Chu Yi had been feeling dizzy all day. Every time he stood up, he would feel the world spin, and his vision would be as if shrouded in mist. It would only clear up after a moment. He simply attributed it to not sleeping well at night and didn’t take it to heart.
Ever since he had agreed to the marriage alliance, Sheng Qianheng had been staying in Yanxi Palace every day.
Seeing that Sheng Qianheng seemed to be in a good mood recently, Chu Yi said, “A-Heng, I have already found out about the teahouse.”
Hearing this, Sheng Qianheng was furious.
The practice of diǎnqī still existed among the common people. How could someone dare to commit a crime that was explicitly forbidden?
In the second year of Jinghe, the third month of summer, the new emperor of Da Mo explicitly forbade the practice of diǎnqī.
Now that there was conclusive evidence, those who committed this crime, if they were officials in the court, would be caned eighty times, have their salary deducted for one year, and be demoted; if they were common people, they would have to hand over half of their family property and be exiled from the capital.
The Jishi Teahouse was closed down and renovated for several months.
Jiang Xinrui brought the woman from the Qianlin marriage alliance into the palace half a month later and temporarily stayed in the side hall of Zhongcui Palace.
Jiang Xinrui rushed to report the matter of the marriage alliance to Sheng Qianheng. “Your Majesty, Qianlin is quite satisfied with the marriage alliance and the enfeoffment as a consort. The Bureau of Ceremonies has arranged for Princess Zhaoning to temporarily reside in the side hall of Zhongcui Palace.”
Sheng Qianheng closed his eyes. “That’s good.”
Jiang Xinrui: “Your Majesty, this subject has another matter to report.”
Sheng Qianheng: “Speak.”
Jiang Xinrui: “Your Majesty, Lord Lu contracted an illness on his way back and unfortunately died in a fire at an inn…”
Sheng Qianheng frowned unconsciously. Lu Wenhan was dead?
The moment Jiang Xinrui entered the palace, Chu Yi received the news. That woman from the marriage alliance had finally entered the palace.
Chu Yi sat in the hall of Yanxi Palace, feeling a tightness in his chest…
