nashuaworldcup Chapter 222 A Couple in Name Only
Chapter 222 A Couple in Name Only
The carriage stopped outside the palace.
Wen Jiayue looked up and saw that the sky was even more gloomy.
"Hurry up," Shen Fuhan said, "It's going to rain in a quarter of an hour."
Wen Jiayue asked in surprise, "How did you figure that out?"
"With your eyes."
Wen Jiayue ignored him and quickened her pace toward the palace.
Shen Fuhan followed her and advised, "If it rains, it's not too late to leave after the rain stops."
Wen Jiayue nodded, then asked curiously, "Why must we go to the palace today?"
“These past two days, Consort Yun has been quite ill,” Shen Fuhan explained, “so His Majesty would like you to come and visit her.”
Wen Jiayue asked in surprise, "How come I don't know about this?"
She and Yunxi occasionally exchanged letters. She even received a letter from Yunxi a few days ago, and everything was fine then.
Moreover, news from the palace would occasionally leak out, but she had never heard of it.
"If you don't want things in the palace to get out, there are plenty of ways."
Wen Jiayue fell silent; what she said made sense.
She couldn't help but feel anxious. Just how serious was it?
Wen Jiayue arrived at Chunhexuan before the rain started.
As soon as she entered the hall, she heard a muffled cough, which sounded particularly oppressive.
Wen Jiayue carefully went inside, afraid of disturbing Yunxi's recovery.
Rong'er happened to be carrying an empty bowl out when she spotted her first, and her eyes lit up.
"Madam, you are here!"
Wen Jiayue nodded: "How is Yun Meiren?"
Rong'er's eyes immediately dimmed.
She said with distress, "Yesterday, after returning from the Imperial Garden, the beauty has been coughing and unable to eat or sleep well. It breaks my heart to see her like this."
Wen Jiayue quickly asked, "Did you catch a cold?"
“This servant thinks so too,” Rong’er said indignantly, “but the imperial physician said that the beauty’s heart is troubled, and a heart ailment requires a heart remedy. The beauty’s condition is clearly due to a cold!”
After saying that, she spat and muttered, "Quack doctor!"
The Imperial Garden? A knot in my heart?
Wen Jiayue had a guess in her mind, and nodded, saying, "I'll go in and take a look."
Upon entering the bedroom, Yunxi, who was resting with her eyes closed, heard the noise and assumed that Rong'er had returned.
In a hoarse voice, she ordered, "Rong'er, pour me a cup of tea."
Wen Jiayue glanced at the small round table and went straight to pour tea.
Carrying a cup of hot tea to the bedside, she said softly, "My beauty, get up and have some tea."
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Yunxi opened her eyes in surprise, joy spreading to her eyes.
"Sister Jiayue, what brings you here?"
Wen Jiayue smiled gently: "I came to see you. Shall I help you up?"
Yunxi shook her head: "It's alright, I still have the strength."
As she spoke, she slowly sat up, which triggered another light cough.
Wen Jiayue frowned as she looked at her. More than a month had passed since she last saw Yunxi, and her complexion looked even paler, and her chin was even more pointed.
She handed him the teacup and asked with concern, "Why did you make yourself look like this?"
Yunxi explained softly, "I stayed in the Imperial Garden a little too long yesterday and caught a cold, but it's nothing."
Wen Jiayue asked, "Are you even keeping this from me?"
When she heard her ask that, Yunxi was taken aback, and a hint of bitterness appeared on her face.
She took a small sip of tea before speaking in a low voice.
“I shouldn’t have gone to the Imperial Garden yesterday, otherwise I wouldn’t have seen the Emperor and Consort Ming being so affectionate. That scene was really… jarring to me.”
She was trapped in a beautiful dream she had woven for herself, believing that the emperor also loved her.
She only suddenly realized yesterday that the Emperor's heart could be divided into many parts, and she only occupied the smallest part.
Consort Ming came from a good family, with generations of officials and a father who was a general, holding a high position and great power.
She was also beautiful and charming, with a spirited personality, and got along quite well with the eldest princess.
How could she possibly compare?
Moreover, yesterday the Emperor doted on Consort Ming quite a bit, indulging her every whim.
She watched from the shadows for a long time, as if spying on the happiness of others.
That scene was etched in her mind, and she could never forget it. That night, she fell ill.
The imperial physician said that she was suffering from emotional distress, and his words were indeed true.
Wen Jiayue sighed softly: "Entering the palace as a concubine, this kind of scene is common. You should have expected it long ago, how could you..."
“I know this isn’t good, it’s like we’re fighting over a man,” Yunxi said with a wry smile, “but I can’t control it.”
Wen Jiayue patted her thin shoulder and said softly, "But I can't blame you. Anyone would feel sad if they saw their loved one being affectionate with someone else for the first time."
“But I’ve figured it out,” Yunxi said, tears welling in her eyes. “I shouldn’t have fallen in love with an emperor. It was a mistake from the start. I won’t have any more wild thoughts about him. I’ll just treat him as the emperor.”
She's been acting like a fool for so long, it's time for her to come to her senses.
Wen Jiayue looked at Yunxi with a complicated expression.
She didn't know if Yunxi had done this in her previous life, only that after Yunxi died, the emperor killed many people.
Before Wen Jiayue died, the emperor did not visit any of his concubines again, to the point that officials had to remonstrate with him.
As for what will happen in the future, she doesn't know.
However, judging from these events, the emperor was not heartless and did have feelings for Yunxi, but he was helpless.
Wen Jiayue didn't want to tell her these things.
Loving herself is much more important than loving a man, which is a good thing for Yunxi.
If this allows them to avoid the joyous event next year, they will surely live even longer, which would be wonderful.
Wen Jiayue nodded and said, "I support you."
Yunxi asked in surprise, "Don't you think my idea is too shocking?"
Wen Jiayue shook her head. Since Yunxi was being so honest, she would tell her everything in return.
"Like you, I used to love the Marquis deeply, but later I saw through it all. Men are inherently cold-hearted, and now I've slowly let go."
Yunxi was even more surprised: "But aren't you and the Marquis very much in love?"
“It’s all superficial,” Wen Jiayue laughed. “Do you expect me to argue with him every day? That’s too unrealistic.”
She treated Shen Fuhan the same way he treated her, and that's how life went on.
Yunxi pondered for a moment, then said softly, "I understand, thank you, Sister Jiayue."
Wen Jiayue just smiled, hoping she could truly understand.
However, even if she can't let go of her feelings for the time being, it doesn't matter. Yunxi and the Emperor have only been friends for half a year, so it should be easy for her to break free.
The rain that had been brewing for so long finally came down, a torrential downpour, refreshing and invigorating, as if to wash away all the annoying things.
It rained for about half an hour, then gradually turned into a light drizzle.
Wen Jiayue then prepared to leave, and before leaving, she instructed, "Take good care of yourself and don't overthink things."
Yunxi was about to nod when she suddenly paused, looking behind her.
Wen Jiayue looked over and saw a figure in red becoming increasingly clear in the rain and mist.
Her pupils contracted slightly. Why was Li Zhilan here?