Chapter 318: Chapter 315: Worries

Qing Wu really didn’t know how.

She didn’t know what to say.

She was still figuring out how to interact with him.

“Emperor, bear with it for a moment, it will stop hurting soon.”

“Why don’t you pity me anymore?”

He Ying adopted a tone of grievance.

Qing Wu was actually a bit overwhelmed–where was the image of a mighty emperor? Why was he acting like a needy puppy?

She couldn’t help thinking of Qi Wuya, a man who could be compared to He Ying. Was he like this in front of Sang Yan? These powerful men really crumbled in front of the women they loved.

Thinking about it made her hands itch.

She somewhat liked this contrast in men.

Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched into a fist as she resisted the urge to get closer.

“Ah Yan, why are you ignoring me?”

He Ying felt that “Sang Yan” was acting strangely.

To avoid revealing anything, Qing Wu had to respond, “Emperor, are you hungry? Shall we have the Imperial Kitchen send over some food?”

He had been unconscious before, surviving only on medicine, and had lost a lot of weight.

He Ying was indeed hungry, and nodded his head, but he negotiated, “Then you feed me.”

Qing Wu didn’t feed him, but said earnestly, “Emperor, once you are better, it won’t be excessive for us to be close. For now, just keep still to put me at ease.”

This would have been something Sang Yan might say, and it sounded quite reasonable.

He Ying, who usually listened to her, nodded, “Then when I can get out of bed, you can’t be like this anymore.”

Qing Wu neither agreed nor disagreed.

She quietly watched Luo Shan tending to his wounds, watching as the Palace Attendants brought in the meals.

There weren’t many dishes, just three, each meticulously prepared, placed on a small table and brought in front of him.

While He Ying ate, he murmured wistfully, “I was hoping to enjoy the first snow with you.”

“No rush. There will be opportunities.”

Qing Wu said, bowing her head, hiding her deep eyes.

Beiqi Palace

In the blink of an eye, Sang Yan had been living in the Beiqi Palace for three days.

During these three days, Qi Wuya was busy handling He Hongzhao’s funeral and hadn’t disturbed her, giving her some peace.

But while the environment was calm, her mind was not.

She thought about escaping every moment but couldn’t find any opportunity.

Everywhere here was under Qi Wuya’s control.

Just the palace maids and eunuchs numbered over twenty, not including the rows of guards outside the Fengyi Palace.

He really treated her like a prisoner!

A suffocating feeling enveloped her heart.

Her longing and worry for He Ying tormented her spirit.

Every day, she was gloomy and joyless.

In terms of food, if not for the child, she had no appetite at all.

The palace maid taking care of her, You Ran, was Qi Wuya’s confidante. Seeing her sad day after day, hesitated but still ventured to ask, “Miss, is something troubling you?”

Sang Yan sat on the soft couch, idly looking at the tea on the tea table.

The tea was a bright red color, giving off a nice fragrance.

She knew it was not suitable to drink tea during pregnancy, so she refrained.

Noticing her looking at the tea, You Ran, thinking she was thirsty, quickly said, “The tea has cooled. I’ll get a new pot.”

Sang Yan didn’t speak but shook her head.

She was not the type to vent her bad mood to others.

Seeing her shake her head, You Ran thought for a moment, but nevertheless had someone bring a fresh pot of hot tea.

Then with a smile, she asked, “Miss, you didn’t eat much at noon. Are you hungry? Shall I have the Imperial Kitchen send over some pastries?”

When she was in a bad mood, she liked to eat.

So, she assumed others were the same.

Sang Yan still shook her head.

She really had no appetite.

Seeing this, You Ran thought for a moment and, just like before, had someone bring some pastries.

Whether the master would eat was up to her mood; as a servant, being prepared was her responsibility.

Tea and snacks were soon brought over.

Sang Yan took a glance and, having no appetite, didn’t touch any of it.

You Ran, distressed, scratched her head, “Why does my master lack liveliness? The Emperor specifically instructed her to be well attended to.”

Thinking of the Emperor’s cold-blooded ruthlessness and thunderous methods, You Ran suddenly knelt on the ground, “Miss, I can see that you are a kind-hearted master and you also have a lot of concerns. I may not be powerful or influential, but I am willing to relieve your worries if you would give me a chance.”

Her words were sincere and pleasing.

Upon hearing this, Sang Yan couldn’t help but raise her head to look at her, thinking to herself: I do indeed hide many concerns, but if I were to actually speak them, I fear you would flee faster than anyone.

Hold on–

Although I can’t mention fleeing, I can still ask about Emperor Da He.

With this thought, she perked up and asked, “That… do you know anything about Emperor Da He?”

You Ran was startled, her mind wandering to the violent rage the Emperor had shown not long ago upon hearing that Emperor Da He was to take an Empress, smashing many items in Taian Palace. Several ministers who went to discuss the matter that day were scolded almost to the point of fainting.

“Why do you ask about this, miss?”

As You Ran questioned, a thought struck her, and she began to suspect the identity of the woman before her–could she be the Empress that Emperor Da He was to marry?

They, deeply secluded in the palace, also knew that when the Emperor was a prince, he had been quite close to a woman from Da He.

Initially, they thought it was Hong Zhao, but it proved not to be the case.

The Emperor indeed cherished Hong Zhao, providing her with the finest food and medicines and often visiting her, even personally feeding her medicine. But the emotions in his eyes could not deceive anyone.

The coldness and detachment stemmed from his very bones.

But the woman before him was different.

From the moment she arrived, the Emperor’s eyes were only for her.

He even arranged for her to reside in Fengyi Palace, the dwelling of an Empress.

Her moods and daily trivial matters were also reported.

The Emperor liked her.

That was the consensus recognized by everyone in the palace.

You Ran wanted to ingratiate herself with her to become a confidante and gain greater benefits.

But she was too difficult to please.

“I’m asking you.”

Sang Yan was in a bad mood and quite irritable, trying to restrain herself, but occasionally she couldn’t help it.

The woman before her seemed clever, so why ask such foolish questions?

Isn’t it a waste of time!

“You just need to tell me if you know or not.”

She said coldly, crushing her excessive curiosity.

Seeing this, You Ran could not ask more and directly said, “Sorry, miss, I am not aware of it.”

Being a palace maid, how could she know about a foreign emperor’s affairs?

Sang Yan thought the same.

But she was naive and still asked.

What she received was disappointment and anxiety.

She was genuinely worried about He Ying’s safety.

This couldn’t go on!

When Qi Wuya returned, she must ask him clearly!

Thinking of Qi Wuya, Qi Wuya just so happened to return.

He had been busy with He Hongzhao’s funeral these past three days, especially selecting the site for her tomb at the beautiful summit of Wulun Mountain.

He even went to the funeral.

The whole process was very solemn.

He felt he had duly honored her devotion.

Hence, when he returned, feeling unburdened and light-hearted, he rode quickly back to the palace.

Upon arriving, he saw the woman pacing worriedly at the entrance of the hall.

His woman.

This thought alone filled him with a soothing pleasure.

“Sang Yan, Sang Yan, Yanyan–”

He wouldn’t call her Ah Yan like He Ying.

From now on, she was his Yanyan.

“You were waiting for me.”

He dropped his riding crop and strode forward, his tone confident and his smile bold, “Missed me?”