“Imperial Consort, Her Majesty has already seen you, why not go over?”
Jing Cheng walked quickly toward his palace, in quite a good mood. “Since she has seen me, there is no need to go over.”
“Return to the palace and practice swordsmanship.”
The palace attendants did not understand and could not help muttering inwardly. Imperial Consort, if this continues, you will completely lose Her Majesty.
Nan Yunchuan clearly felt that Tang Guo’s mood had improved quite a bit. After observing for a while and confirming that no one else was around, he assumed that the Empress found being with him very pleasant.
“Your Majesty, tomorrow is Yunchuan’s monthly day to return home.”
“Oh, I see.” Tang Guo paused. “Later, I will have the Head Steward take you to select some ginseng and medicinal herbs to bring to your father.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Nan Yunchuan was genuinely grateful this time. These days, the Empress had indeed treated him very well. “Does Your Majesty want anything? When Yunchuan returns, I can bring something back for you.”
Tang Guo shook her head. “There is nothing I want.”
“Then Yunchuan will choose something himself. When I return, Your Majesty must not dislike it.”
Tang Guo smiled faintly. “No matter what Yunchuan brings me, I will not dislike it.” Her gaze rested intently on Nan Yunchuan’s face. Perhaps because of guilt, Nan Yunchuan did not dare meet her eyes.
The hand hidden in his sleeve clenched into a fist.
If the Empress were not the Empress, he might truly have fallen for her, perhaps even spent his life with her.
Unfortunately, why was she the Empress? No matter how well she treated him, their positions were different.
“Then when Yunchuan returns, I will brew flower tea for Your Majesty again.”
Tang Guo nodded. “Alright, I will be waiting.”
The next day, Su Qing and Nan Yunchuan returned home together.
The men in the palace, except for Jing Cheng, gritted their teeth in hatred toward the two. Not only had they gained the Empress’s favor, they had also obtained the privilege of returning home once a month. They were truly scheming.
The men in the palace could not sit still and went to find Jing Cheng.
However, Jing Cheng had already anticipated this. The palace gates were tightly closed, and they could not see him at all.
As for going to see the Empress, they were not like Su Qing and Nan Yunchuan. The Empress would not meet them.
And their Empress, after Su Qing and Nan Yunchuan returned home, quietly slipped into Jing Cheng’s palace.
At that moment, Jing Cheng was practicing swordsmanship.
Tang Guo still did not disturb him and simply stood to the side, watching the man who wielded the sword with great elegance.
In this harem, aside from Su Qing and Nan Yunchuan, the only relatively normal man was probably Jing Cheng.
After Jing Cheng finished practicing, he realized that Tang Guo had arrived at some unknown time. He quickly walked over to her and was about to salute.
“Imperial Consort, there is no need to be so formal. You may forgo the salute.”
Tang Guo’s arrival still made Jing Cheng somewhat happy.
“Your Majesty, would you like some tea?”
“If it is brewed by the Imperial Consort personally, I will drink it.”
Jing Cheng subconsciously said, “Does Your Majesty not like the tea brewed by Nan Yunchuan?” After asking, he felt somewhat annoyed.
Tang Guo smiled brightly. “The tea here with the Imperial Consort suits my taste the most.”
“Then I will go right away.” Jing Cheng held his sword and walked off quickly. If he did not leave soon, he was afraid the redness at the tips of his ears would be seen clearly by the Empress, which would be a bit embarrassing.
Jing Cheng quickly washed up, then brought over the tea set and began brewing tea for Tang Guo.
During the process, he felt Tang Guo’s gaze on him and almost let his hand shake, nearly spilling the tea.
Tang Guo rested her chin on her hand and stared straight at Jing Cheng. “Imperial Consort, are you not curious why I treated Nan Yunchuan and Su Qing that way?”
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