Chapter 657 - 435: He Took Ming Fei Away Again

Chapter 657: Chapter 435: He Took Ming Fei Away Again

"What are your thoughts on this?" Feng Yi asked Yun Zhao directly. There was no need for guesswork between them.

Yun Zhao sat down beside him, sighed, and said, "An Fangyi looks so pitifully ill. If I were to stop this, what would others think of me? In any case, I can’t be the one to object. Besides, it’s even hotter this year than last. Today it’s An Fangyi, but who knows who it will be tomorrow? Rather than waiting for everyone to collapse from the heat one by one, it’s better to just go to Jincui Garden and escape the summer heat without all the fuss."

"If that’s what you think, then let’s go." Feng Yi wasn’t bothered by such a small matter. "Is there anything else you’re worried about?"

Yun Zhao had plenty of worries. She looked at Feng Yi and said, "I’m afraid Consort Shu and I won’t be enough to persuade the Empress Dowager. You will have to go yourself."

Feng Yi: ...

’Just as I thought. It’s never good news.’

"Fine, I’ll go."

His Zhaozhao had asked, and he would walk through fire for her.

Besides, Shouci Palace wasn’t exactly a den of vipers. It was just that every visit there put him in a foul mood.

They leaned against each other tightly, silent for a long while. Feng Yi slowly closed his eyes, his entire body relaxing.

He particularly loved being with Yun Zhao because he could always relax in her presence. It wasn’t just a physical sense of ease, but a deep, comforting contentment that permeated his entire being, inside and out.

Song Yunzhao was still pondering how to arrange everyone’s accommodations at Jincui Garden. Just as she was about to discuss it with Feng Yi, she suddenly heard a soft snore from above her head...

Song Yunzhao didn’t dare move. Feng Yi was holding her so tightly that any movement would surely wake him.

’It’s not easy being the emperor,’ she thought. ’Look how exhausted he is.’

And this was with an emperor who was remarkably self-restrained when it came to women. He only visited her every few days; afraid he wouldn’t be able to control himself, he didn’t even dare to come to Yaohua Palace too often.

The last time Feng Yi had mentioned this to her, Yun Zhao had found it amusing. But then she recalled the time before he was so swamped with state affairs, when their time together was mostly spent occupied with... certain activities behind the bed curtains.

At that thought, Song Yunzhao gently covered her face. ’I can’t think about this anymore.’

’The Emperor is being abstinent and devoted to his duties; I can’t be the one to drag him down.’

Song Yunzhao leaned against Feng Yi and closed her eyes as well. They were so familiar with the rhythm of each other’s breathing that it wasn’t long before Yun Zhao also drifted off to sleep.

Outside, the sun burned hot. Inside, a basin of ice in the corner radiated a faint coolness, and smoke curled gracefully from a white jade incense burner on the windowsill. An unknown amount of time passed before Feng Yi slowly opened his eyes. He heard the sound of light breathing next to his ear and lowered his head slightly to see Yun Zhao sleeping soundly in his arms.

He was too lazy to move, so he simply leaned against the soft pillow, his eyes fixed on Yun Zhao’s face. In the blink of an eye, five years had passed since Yun Zhao entered the palace. It seemed time had been exceptionally kind to her, leaving no trace of its passage on her face.

His gaze traveled down from her eyebrows, past her eyes and nose, finally resting on her ruby-red lips. In an instant, his heart began to pound...

Song Yunzhao was sleeping soundly when she felt her breathing grow difficult. The soft, warm sensation on her lips startled her awake, and she immediately heard Feng Yi’s laughter.

Song Yunzhao: ...

’In broad daylight, no less. You’re really something.’

’Just moments ago, I was thinking about how the Emperor was so abstinent. And now this?’

Yun Zhao allowed Feng Yi to carry her into the bedchamber. ’If I don’t satisfy my own man, I can’t very well let him go foraging elsewhere.’

The pale-green bed curtains slid down from their jade hooks, completely concealing the amorous scene within.

Xiangxue, who was guarding the entrance to the hall, suddenly heard noises from the inner chamber. Without a change in expression, she subtly moved aside, then calmly ordered someone to boil water.

Feng Ze suddenly ran back, but Xiangxue immediately stepped forward and coaxed him away again. She couldn’t let the Eldest Prince interrupt Her Highness’s important business. She was also thinking that now that the Eldest Prince was older, it was about time for Her Highness to have a second child.

Feng Ze didn’t know what was happening, but Anshun saw right through it. Afraid the Eldest Prince would spoil the Emperor’s mood, he quickly joined Xiangxue in coaxing the boy to go play with the guards at Taixi Hall.

Sure enough, Feng Ze left happily. He was very interested in horseback riding these days. Although a guard still had to ride with him, he felt that one day he would be able to ride all by himself.

Feng Yi stayed for dinner at Yaohua Palace. He was refreshed and in high spirits, while Song Yunzhao was a little listless, exhausted.

’The Emperor’s visits to Yaohua Palace might have become less frequent,’ she thought, ’but his... stamina this time was a bit too formidable.’

During dinner, Feng Yi was especially attentive, constantly placing food on Yun Zhao’s plate. Feng Ze found this strange and kept glancing between the two of them.

Song Yunzhao: ...

Feng Yi’s smile only widened.

After dinner, Feng Yi headed for Shouci Palace. He still had to take care of the matter Yun Zhao had mentioned.

Yun Zhao had no energy left for her son. After playing with his toys for a little while, she had Nanny Qi carry him back, while she herself dove under the covers and went to sleep early.

Feng Yi’s visit to Shouci Palace went smoothly this time. Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager agreed at once. He figured it was because the past few days had been genuinely hot, and even with her ice allotment, it wasn’t comfortable for an older person to be around ice all day.

By the next day, the entire harem knew about the summer retreat to Jincui Garden, and a lively, cheerful atmosphere immediately took hold.

Everyone began packing. Consort Shu came over to discuss the living arrangements with Yun Zhao.

The Empress Dowager would stay in Changsheng Courtyard, the same place she stayed last time at Jincui Garden. The name held an auspicious meaning, and the palace itself was grand and magnificent. An Shutong and Qin Xiyue were to be housed in Pingyun Pavilion, near Changsheng Courtyard.

Yun Zhao didn’t want to be too close to the Empress Dowager, as it could easily lead to trouble, so she chose the distant Qingyao Palace. Feng Yunjin, Han Jinyi, and the other two would live in the area between her and the Empress Dowager. This way, the Empress Dowager couldn’t find fault, and it would still be convenient for Yun Zhao to visit them.

As for the others, Song Yunzhao didn’t want to be bothered and left their arrangements to Consort Shu.

Consort Shu had mainly come to ask where Song Yunzhao wanted to stay, and by extension, where Feng Yunjin and the others would be. She knew Yun Zhao wouldn’t concern herself with the rest, leaving Consort Shu to arrange it all. Before leaving, she added, "Once we get to Jincui Garden, you’d better host a banquet for me. Think of all the work I’ve saved you!"

Song Yunzhao readily agreed and happily saw Consort Shu out.

Everyone was busy with the move to Jincui Garden—arranging carriages, organizing staff, and maintaining order. Song Yunzhao couldn’t slack off either. She couldn’t just dump everything on Consort Shu; if she did, the consort would surely have a fit and demand a showdown.

Princess Consort Wan never involved herself in such matters, so she was no help. It was a victory if she could even manage her own affairs.

Preparations for the journey to Jincui Garden began at dawn. The Empress Dowager’s carriage went first, with Feng Yi naturally escorting her as a filial son. Yun Zhao and Consort Shu followed, and the other concubines took their own carriages according to rank. The procession, so long it stretched beyond sight, slowly began to move.

The journey was short, and they soon arrived at Jincui Garden. Yun Zhao and the others first escorted the Empress Dowager to Changsheng Courtyard before heading to their own residences to settle in.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Feng Yi led Yun Zhao and her son directly to Qingyao Palace, leaving a crowd of dumbfounded concubines in his wake.

’He’s leaving already?’

’He’s gone! He’s gone! And he took Ming Fei with him again!’