The Sickly Emperor Is Only Immune to Me-Chapter 40 - 0 If
Chapter 40: Chapter 040 If
“You’re finally awake.”
He Ying saw her wake and his tense expression relaxed, but when he noticed her eyes were vacant and spiritless, he grew worried, “Why aren’t you speaking? Has the fever addled your brain?”
Sang Yan: “…”
Of course she hadn’t been addled by the fever.
But if she pretended to be, could she leave the Imperial Palace?
That nightmare-like memory startled her again.
Do not get close to men, it will bring misfortune.
In a daze—
He Ying got fierce: “Sang Yan, speak! If you dare to have something wrong, I’ll have all those Imperial Physicians buried with you!”
Sang Yan: “…”
This bloodthirsty tyrant!
Dog Emperor!
She glanced at the Imperial Physicians prostrating on the ground, trembling, some of them with graying hair, clearly in their twilight years.
Truly pitiable.
Does this dog Emperor not understand respect for the old and love for the young?
“Kill! Kill! Kill!”
Annoyed, she grabbed a pillow and threw it at him: “Aside from threats, do you have no other tricks?”
He Ying was hit by the pillow.
He didn’t feel anything yet, but Pei Muyang along with a group of eunuchs and palace maids all knelt down: “Emperor, please calm your anger. Emperor, please calm your anger.”
He Ying wasn’t angry, on the contrary, he found the pillow that was thrown at him rather comforting.
Look at that, now that the fever’s gone, she’s full of spirit.
“You’re alright, so they’re alright.”
He waved everyone to rise, then looked to the Imperial Physicians: “You’ve contributed to the healing. I grant you a thousand taels of reward silver, you may all leave.”
“Thank you, Emperor.”
After thanking him, the Imperial Physicians quickly ran off.
The Imperial Palace was becoming increasingly unbearable.
Time to retire and return home.
“How are you feeling?”
He Ying asked the palace attendants to leave as well and personally brought her some tea, offering it to her.
Sang Yan didn’t accept it, for as he approached, she smelled a strange medicinal scent on him and was very repulsed: “Emperor, there’s that medicinal smell on you. Could you go wash it off?”
He Ying: “…”
No one had ever dared to say he smelled.
Sang Yan said it outright, and though he was embarrassed, he wasn’t displeased.
He had always been patient and tolerant toward her.
“Alright. Wait for me.”
He agreed briskly and hurried out.
Like a lovesick young man rushing to see his beloved.
“You may enter to serve her.”
After he left the hall, he instructed several palace maids, and then called out: “Summon someone! I need to bathe and change—”
His voice faded away with his departing figure.
Sang Yan retracted her gaze and called Qiuzhi in: “How long have I slept? What time is it now?”
She felt she had slept for a very long time.
And by now, it was dark outside.
“It’s 5 p.m to 7 p.m now. My lady, you’ve almost slept an entire day. You scared me to death.”
Qiuzhi patted her frightened little heart, continuing, “The Emperor has been by my lady’s side the whole time, almost in tears with worry. Seeing this, he strikes me as a truly devoted man.”
Her heart wavered, really wanting Sang Yan and the Emperor to be together.
But seeing Sang Yan uninterested and indifferent, she promptly held her tongue and changed the subject, “Are you hungry, my lady? Would you like to eat something?”
Sang Yan didn’t feel hungry, but when asked, she indeed felt hungry and nodded, “Just prepare something simple to eat.”
No sooner had she spoken, than a eunuch came in to serve the food.
Pei Muyang, as the Emperor’s favorite, was always ready to curry favor: “Everything’s been prepared in advance. The Imperial Kitchen has reheated it several times, just waiting for my master to wake up.”
There’s an old saying, don’t strike the man who smiles at you.
Sang Yan thanked them and got down to eat.
The meal was bird’s nest porridge.
Cooked till it was soft and sticky.
She had two bowls of food and drank a bowl of snow pear juice, having lost her hunger, she was about to continue lying down when she saw Sang Ruoshui come in with a zither in her arms.
“Sister—”
Sang Ruoshui looked pitiful and wronged, “You’ve finally woken up. If you hadn’t, I would have been sent to the Cold Palace.”
Sang Yan didn’t believe her exaggeration and had no patience to play along with her drama, merely asking, “Why are you here?”
Sang Ruoshui said, “I’ve learned a new piece called ‘Zen Sound.’ It’s said to purify the heart and nurture the spirit, so I thought of playing it for sister, hoping you would get well sooner.”
Sang Yan: “…”
It made her seem unfeeling in comparison.
But she truly had no mood to listen.
Just as she was about to wave her off, Sang Ruoshui had already sat down and started playing.
As she said, the ‘Zen Sound’ was indeed elegant and serene, carrying an air of detachment, with casual and peaceful vibes. But here in the Imperial Palace, it always felt more lonesome and desolate.
This piece seemed more suited for being played in a vast wilderness or a secluded valley.
With the companion sounds of flowing water and birdsong, it would surely be extraordinary.
“Clap clap.”
The piece ended and applause came from outside.
Without looking, Sang Yan knew it was the Emperor.
Otherwise, who would dare to applaud here?
“All the worries in the world, only this music can soothe the mind. Not bad. This piece is clear and transcendent; it makes one forget the mundane.”
He Ying walked in, smiling, his praise not stinting, “Princess Consort Sang, your zither skills have become even more exquisite.”
Sang Yan: “…”
Oh, he can flatter a woman before she’s even well.
Bitterness surged within her, piercing her heart.
She suddenly recalled what Consort Hui had said, “The favor for song and dance reigns supreme, leaving poetry and books in disdain.”
Indeed, it was true.
“She plays so well, how could the Emperor not reward her?”
Sang Yan’s words were laced with jealousy.
She herself noticed it and fluctuated between shame and anger at the reason behind that shame, leaving her utterly nauseated.
He Ying didn’t ponder so deeply, just as when Sang Ruoshui had first played the zither to please Sang Yan and really received a reward, “Pei Muyang, go, have someone bring the Luqi Zither here, and bestow it upon Princess Consort Sang.”
The Luqi Zither was a renowned extraordinary instrument, certainly a treasure that any zither player would dream of.
“Yes.”
Pei Muyang heeded the order and left.
Visit fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm for the best novel reading experi𝒆nce.
Sang Ruoshui had not anticipated such a gain, and was overjoyed to the point of silliness, taking a while to react. Then, kneeling to show gratitude, “Thank you, Emperor. I thought of the Emperor’s exhausting paperwork and knew you would need to relax at times, so I practiced diligently. Now, my wish has been fulfilled. Honestly, just receiving ‘not bad’ from the Emperor is already a great honor. How would I dare expect any reward?”
Her humbleness reached the dust.
It’s no wonder all men would love that.
Sang Yan couldn’t bear to watch and spoke, “I need to rest. You two go to the main hall and continue with your zither and tea.”
Sang Ruoshui was more than willing and looked affectionately at the Emperor, murmuring softly, “Emperor, may I play another piece for you?”
He Ying, belatedly realizing Sang Yan’s discomfort, declined, “You may leave. I have other matters to attend.”
How could Sang Ruoshui stand to leave?
Having been praised by the Emperor, she naturally wanted to be more proactive.
“May I know what other matters the Emperor has? Perhaps I could pour tea or attend to your writing materials.”
“No need.”
He Ying frowned, his expression showing a hint of impatience, “You may step down.”
Seeing this, Sang Ruoshui wanted to say more, but Xiangxiu tugged at her sleeve and she closed her mouth, bowed graciously, and left.
Outside the hall,
the eunuch had brought over the Luqi Zither. Seeing her come out, he hastily put on a fawning smile and presented it.
Sang Ruoshui took the zither herself and let Xiangxiu give him five taels of silver as a reward.
The group returned to Yuesang Palace.
On the way,
Sang Ruoshui sat in the carriage and asked Xiangxiu, “Why did you stop me back there in the hall?”
Xiangxiu was already loyal to the Emperor and naturally knew what the Emperor wanted, not wanting Sang Ruoshui to linger and be displeasing. But she said on the surface, “I felt that under those circumstances, it was best to leave while we were ahead. Lady, please forgive me for making my own decisions.”
Sang Ruoshui was in a good mood, holding the zither, and didn’t blame her, waving her off, “Enough. What you said makes sense.”
She caressed the zither, her gaze lowered, contemplative, “I feel… if sister weren’t here, it’s not unlikely that the Emperor might favor me…”
Right.
If it weren’t for Sang Yan…
