Chapter 423 - 201: Is This Considered Spoiling?

Chapter 423: Chapter 201: Is This Considered Spoiling?

"Your Majesty, you’ll really spoil me if you keep this up," Song Yunzhao said, looking at Feng Yi. No one dislikes receiving one-of-a-kind treatment.

She was a person of worldly desires, and she enjoyed it as well.

But this unique treatment could conceal a bottomless abyss. She wanted to live a good life, not fall and be shattered to pieces.

Feng Yi chuckled softly at Yun Zhao’s words. ’This is enough to spoil you?’

’It’s not as if I’m encouraging you to be lawless.’ With that thought, Feng Yi felt that while Yun Zhao might seem arrogant and overbearing, she was actually quite timid, worrying so much over such a small matter.

"It’s just a small matter, really."

’He’s really starting to sound like a foolish, doting emperor,’ Song Yunzhao thought. ’But that’s not bad news for me; in fact, I’m rather pleased.’

After Nanny Yu and the others finished setting out the meal, Feng Yi led her to the table. Song Yunzhao was genuinely famished. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the shredded chicken and lean pork congee. She lifted the bowl and drank half of it to line her stomach before letting out a long, satisfied sigh.

Watching Yun Zhao, the guilt in Feng Yi’s heart deepened. ’I was too naive,’ he thought. ’I believed my arrangements were thorough, but I failed to protect her as well as I intended.’

He placed some of her favorite dishes onto Yun Zhao’s plate and said gently, "There’s plenty of wild game here at the traveling palace. If you’re craving anything, just send word to the kitchen."

"Really?" For Song Yunzhao, this was a delightful surprise.

"The kitchens here are separated into a front and rear section. I’ve had your meals assigned to the front hall’s kitchen, so you no longer need to worry."

The front hall’s kitchen was exclusively for preparing the Emperor’s meals; even the Empress Dowager could not interfere.

This was the second surprise for Song Yunzhao. No longer having to worry every day about the safety of her food, she felt as if she were bubbling with joy. She was absolutely ecstatic.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Seeing the delight practically sparkling in Song Yunzhao’s eyes, Feng Yi’s own mood lightened. "Speak with Zhang Maoquan later. Have him handle these things from now on."

Song Yunzhao nodded eagerly. Since her meals were now being prepared in the Emperor’s kitchen, it would require frequent trips to the front palace. Having Zhang Maoquan handle it would indeed be less conspicuous.

After they finished eating, Feng Yi didn’t leave in a hurry. Instead, he stayed and read a book with Yun Zhao. As they read, he felt her slowly lean against him, her head coming to rest on his shoulder. She had fallen asleep.

Feng Yi tilted his head slightly to look at Yun Zhao’s sleeping face and was taken aback to see the faint dark circles under her eyes.

Yun Zhao had always cherished her beauty, and especially her sleep. He had never seen dark circles under her eyes before. It must be because she hadn’t slept well on the journey to the traveling palace.

And, afraid of delaying the journey, she had never mentioned any of this to him.

Feng Yi didn’t move, letting Yun Zhao lean on him. He leaned against the window for support, shifting slightly to let her rest more comfortably.

Outside, the sky was pitch-black. Palace lanterns hung from the eaves, their warm yellow glow decorating the night. Feng Yi closed his eyes as well. As the Emperor, he had been dealing with matters nonstop throughout the journey. He had been even busier upon arriving at the traveling palace, and then Yun Zhao’s incident had occurred. Now, watching her sleep so soundly, a heavy drowsiness washed over him.

In the lamplight, they leaned closely together, eyes closed in a brief rest. Their figures were an elegant and magnificent sight, their features picturesque. A breeze slipped through the window, causing the hems of their robes, which dangled beside the couch, to twist and tangle together.

Seeing this, Xiangxue and the other attendants dared not disturb them, and quietly kept watch outside the hall.

Suddenly, the faint sound of thunder rolled in from the horizon. The wind also grew stronger, rattling the windows.

This time, Xiangxue could no longer worry about causing a disturbance. She hurried into the hall and announced, "Your Majesty, Zhaoyi, there’s thunder. It looks like it’s about to rain."

Feng Yi awoke at once. Yun Zhao also slowly opened her eyes, heavy with sleep and completely unwilling to move.

At that moment, the wind howled more fiercely. Shizhu led some attendants to close the windows as the air grew thick with moisture. It certainly seemed like it was about to rain.

Feng Yi bent down and scooped Song Yunzhao into his arms. "It’s alright, go back to sleep."

Song Yunzhao was overcome with sleepiness. She obediently closed her eyes, feeling Feng Yi lay her down on the soft couch. Someone removed her shoes. A deep drowsiness enveloped her, and she quickly sank back into dreams.

Feng Yi had intended to leave, but when he saw Yun Zhao tightly clutching the hem of his robe, he hesitated, then decided to stay the night.

Yun Zhao was past her first trimester, so it was no longer a major issue for him to stay the night with her.

The night deepened. Outside, large raindrops began to fall. The red candle flame flickered in the breeze as the thick bed curtains were drawn. The sound of rain tapping against the window eaves, a constant PITTER-PATTER, filled the room. Feng Yi thought he would be unable to sleep, but with the woman in his arms sleeping so soundly, he too drifted off before he knew it.

The next morning, Yun Zhao woke up early. The familiar scent of ambergris reached her nose. She snapped her eyes open, and turning her head, she saw Feng Yi sleeping soundly beside her.

She had fallen asleep on his arm; no wonder her every breath was filled with his scent.

They hadn’t shared a bed in a long time. For a moment, Song Yunzhao wasn’t sure if this felt familiar or strange.

She looked at him again. Feng Yi’s sleeping posture was formal and steady, just like his temperament. ’Not like me, who has to express my free will even in sleep.’ His lashes cast fine shadows beneath his eyes. ’The Emperor looks so handsome and harmless while he sleeps—the complete opposite of his actual nature.’

Just as Song Yunzhao was wondering if she should get up first, she saw Feng Yi’s eyes move. Soon, they opened, meeting her gaze directly.

Their eyes met. Song Yunzhao’s own instantly curved into a smile. "Your Majesty, you’re awake? Did I wake you?"

Feng Yi shook his head. "Why are you awake so early?"

"Yesterday, you were so tired I couldn’t wake you, but today you seem full of energy."

Song Yunzhao sat up, the loose collar of her nightgown slipping to reveal a glimpse of her fair collarbone. Feng Yi immediately averted his gaze. A man’s desires were easily stirred in the morning, and on top of that, she was pregnant.

Fearing Yun Zhao would notice his physical reaction, he quickly sat up, turning to the side and speaking to distract himself. "How did you sleep last night? Are you feeling better now?"

"With Your Majesty here, I couldn’t have slept better." Song Yunzhao, oblivious to the Emperor’s discomfort, happily rose to get dressed.

’Feng Yi was willing to stay the night,’ she thought. ’It seems he doesn’t insist on separate rooms just because I’m pregnant. That gives me more to work with in the future.’

’How could I not be happy?’

’If I can keep the Emperor by my side, the Empress Dowager will be furious enough to go mad.’

The more she thought about it, the happier she became, and even her steps grew lighter.

Feng Yi watched her back, pondering. ’She’s this happy just because I stayed?’

’If that’s the case, I should stay with her whenever I have time. That should also stop certain people from getting any funny ideas and trying to harm Yun Zhao.’

’With me here, they’ll have to think twice.’

With that, Feng Yi slipped on his outer robe and walked outside. Meng Jiuchang was already waiting and immediately stepped forward to attend to him upon seeing him emerge.

Meng Jiuchang came hurrying in from outside, stepped forward to salute, and said, "This servant greets Your Majesty and Zhaoyi. Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent someone to inquire about the Zhaoyi’s condition."