Chapter 47 - 047: Fear of Wife

He Ying listened and felt both heartbroken and wronged as he asked back, “You also know I am the Emperor? But do you see any semblance of an Emperor in me? Indeed, there is inequality between us. It is you who stand high above, and I am the one waiting for your favor.”

He became so agitated that he even slipped into using “I” instead of “We”.

Sang Yan paid no attention to this minor detail; she soberly countered, “No. It is the Emperor who elevated me by favoring me. Once you stop liking me, who knows if I’ll be shattered into a puddle of mud?”

The higher one climbs, the harder one falls.

The love of an Emperor is like dancing on the edge of a knife, painful and deadly.

No.

She was already feeling the pain now.

“Emperor, if you want me to like you, you got your wish, I admit, I like you. But liking is not everything. There is much more in life to pursue than love. Think about it.”

Having said that, she turned and walked away.

He Ying was still immersed in the joy of her admitting she liked him, “You just said you like me, you did, didn’t you?”

He chased after her and even grabbed her arm.

Sang Yan quickly shook him off and asked with a frown, “Is that the only thing the Emperor heard?”

He Ying nodded, “Hmm. What else did you say? Is there anything more important than those words?”

Sang Yan: “…”

Of course, there is!

You love-struck fool!

The atmosphere suddenly became very strange.

The previous tension and mutual loathing dissipated in an instant.

He Ying even softened his expression and whispered to her, “I heard you, you said you like me. Once said, it can’t be taken back.”

Sang Yan: “…”

She didn’t want to talk to him anymore and turned to leave again.

When He Ying saw this, he chased after her, trying to grab her hand, but she stopped him with a look.

“Are you really trying to have an episode?”

“Is that concern I’m hearing from you?”

He had truly forgotten the royal “We” now.

Sang Yan didn’t remind him and said disdainfully, “If the Emperor prefers to think that way to be happy, then so be it.”

She truly didn’t want him to have an episode.

After all, dealing with his pains, vomiting, and itching was rather distressing.

Sang Ruoshui had cried plenty over it before.

He Ying had no knowledge of her thoughts; hearing her say that, his previously cheerful mood dampened again, “You make it sound like I’m being fanciful.”

“The Emperor can also choose not to be fanciful.”

Just as long as he didn’t like her.

“Why does it sound like you’re being sarcastic?”

He Ying looked at her deeply, feeling that she was saying one thing but meaning another, and he laughed again, “Well, even if I am being fanciful, I still want you to be happy. Tell me, what would make you happy? A promotion for your sister?”

This sudden turn in the topic confused Sang Yan, “What does Princess Consort Sang have to do with this?”

He Ying explained, “If her status is high, so is yours.”

Sang Yan dismissed the idea, “I think my status is already quite high.”

In the Imperial Palace, who doesn’t greet me as lord?

It’s only the love-struck Emperor who ignores all the protocols.

Indeed, He Ying was disregarding protocol and said quite innocently, “Who’s to blame if I can’t elevate you? I can only grant rewards to your sister then.”

Sang Yan: “…”

So it’s her fault now?

She laughed at the absurdity, “Is the Emperor loving by association? The Emperor is truly universal in his love.”

He Ying sensed something off in her tone and asked back, “You don’t want me to reward her?”

Sang Yan was at a loss for words again.

As sisters, she really shouldn’t hinder her future.

Only, with Sang Ruoshui’s temperament, who knew how arrogant she’d become with a promotion.

“The Emperor is the ruler of the nation, he can do whatever he wishes without looking for my approval.”

“You know I do look for your approval.”

He Ying remarked feelingly, “I always feel that in front of you, I am not the Emperor, not even comparable to those common men outside.”

Sang Yan didn’t understand, “Why would the Emperor say that?”

He Ying said, “I am henpecked. Even amongst the grand families, there’s no one more henpecked than I.”

Sang Yan: “…”

The Emperor is again speaking sweet nothings.

Hmph!

She wouldn’t indulge him, replying, “The Emperor is wrong to say so. Who said being henpecked is bad? No, in this world, there are no henpecked men, only men who love their wives. That’s not fear; it’s love.”

“Since you say so, you should know that I love you very much.”

“…”

Alright, I got roped into this again.

How cunning is he!

Sang Yan sighed, “The Emperor is really different from others.”

He Ying also sighed, “After all is said and done, it’s my fault for being the Emperor.”

Sang Yan shook her head and said seriously, “No, the Emperor’s mistake is indulging in love. I’ve already said that there are many things in this world that are more worthy of pursuit than love.”

She tried to steer the conversation to loftier matters.

But the Emperor, with his love-addled brain, was not cooperating.

“I can’t even pursue love, so what face do I have to pursue anything else?”

“…”

“Ah Yan, you’re noble, you’re great, you’ve fulfilled me, and if I can settle down, then the whole world will be at peace.”

“…”

It was settled, she was no match.

She wanted to persuade the Emperor; she simply didn’t have the intelligence.

“The Emperor thinks too highly of me.”

She decided to escape, “I need to use the restroom. Please excuse me.”

And with that, she ran off.

He Ying didn’t stop her. He watched her awkward escape with a bittersweet smile, then indulgently thought: Let her be. Intentionally scaring her today and hearing her admit her feelings for me were already a pleasant surprise.

“Someone—”

“This servant is here.”

Pei Muyang ran in with a big grin, “What orders does the Emperor have?”

He Ying said, “Issue a decree that I will visit Long Chan Temple to pray for blessings tomorrow.”

There were many capable and extraordinary people in the world.

He didn’t believe he couldn’t break Wan Zhang’s prophecies.

*

Sang Yan, holding up her skirt, ran out of Qingning Palace and returned to her side palace.

At the door of the side palace

A delicate but unfamiliar palace maid was kneeling there.

Qiuzhi was speaking with her.

“Qiuzhi, what’s the matter?”

She walked up and asked.

The palace maid, not waiting for Qiuzhi to speak, knelt toward her and cried, “Lord Sang, please save my Lady!”

Sang Yan was puzzled: She hadn’t heard of any concubine who had angered the Emperor recently?

The palace maid, sensing her confusion, added, “This servant is Yun Qiao, from the Cold Palace. My lady was once Consort Xuan.”

Since coming to the palace, Sang Yan was quite indifferent, and had never bothered to inquire about the Imperial Palace’s secrets or the Emperor’s romantic debts.

Qiuzhi was different.

She was careful and had learned some of the palace’s secrets.

Seeing Sang Yan still confused, Qiuzhi whispered in her ear, “Consort Xuan came from a powerful background. Her father was the former Minister of War and was a major contributor to the siege that subdued Pei Zhen. That’s why she was granted the title of Noble Consort as soon as she entered the palace. However, it’s said that she had a tough and dominant temperament, often lashed out at the Emperor, frequently causing him to fall ill. After several incidents, the Emperor’s patience ran out, and she was sent to the Cold Palace.”

Actually, Qiuzhi didn’t mention that Consort Xuan fell out of favor completely when her father died in a battle and she lost her powerful support.

Listening to Qiuzhi, Sang Yan turned to Yun Qiao and asked, “What happened to your Lady?

Those from the Cold Palace are bound to encounter trouble.

But to seek her out?

Has her reputation spread to the Cold Palace?

“My Lady is ill.”

Yun Qiao kept kowtowing desperately as she pleaded, “Please, Lord Sang, take pity on my Lady, and find an Imperial Physician for her.”@@novelbin@@

She looked to be a loyal servant.

Sang Yan might have ignored it if she wasn’t aware, but now that she knew, and if she was able to help, she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Sang Yan had a moment of softness and nodded, “I understand. You go back and take care of your Lady. I’ll have someone call for an Imperial Physician.”

“Thank you, Lord Sang.”

“You are truly a divine figure.”

Yun Qiao offered a few flattering words, got up with a smile, and left.

True to her word, Sang Yan sent a little eunuch to call for an Imperial Physician.

An hour later

The little eunuch returned.

Sang Yan had finished her lunch and was leisurely enjoying some chilled grapes.

The grapes were large, juicy, and glimmered like jewels. Biting into one, the cool, refreshing sweetness was the perfect remedy for the heat.

She saw the little eunuch’s face burnt red by the sun, dripping with sweat, so she gave him a small bunch and then gently asked, “What illness does Consort Xuan have? Is it serious? What did the Imperial Physician say?”

She couldn’t possibly be trying to fake an illness to win back favor, even from the Cold Palace, could she?