Concubine Wan watched as she swallowed the floral tea, her smile deepening at the corners of her mouth, “Actually, this consort had nothing important to discuss with you. Since you've already drank this cup of tea, Ying can go and rest first.”
Gu Ying got up, bowed ceremoniously, turned around and left the meditation room.
After Gu Ying left, Concubine Wan waved away her palace maids beside her.
Then, a tall figure slowly paced out from the inner chamber of the room.
The man said in a deep voice, “I thought she was a prudent person, didn't expect she would drink the tea just like that.”
Concubine Wan laughed openly, lazily said, “She didn't fail to notice that this consort had added something to the floral tea. It's just that she knew to mind her own business. If she didn't drink it, how could this consort let her leave this place?” Speaking of which, this consort is looking forward more and more to it. When the Zhao Prince finds out that the woman he loves most is pregnant with my son's child and sleeping in the same bed, wouldn't he be hopping mad?”
Xia Zixi raised his brows, sat down on a chair, "So is this Gu Ying clever or stupid?"
Concubine Wan sneered and curled her lips, "No matter if she is clever or stupid, with her in my hands, Zhao Changdu can forget about making any tricks."
"Is this your purpose for asking her to come over? Aren't you afraid that she will uncover our affairs and report it to the Emperor, then we would be charged with an offense punishable by execution of nine familial exterminations?"
Concubine Wan laughed, "Why take it so far? She is merely a woman of common birth. How could she possibly have the courage?"
But Xia Zixi did not agree. He always felt that Gu Ying was not as simple as Concubine Wan made her out to be.
Moreover, behind her stood Zhao Changdu, who held great power over the Imperial Guards.
Just thinking about Zhao Changdu's aggressive actions lately, clearly targeting him intentionally, Xia Zixi's brows furrowed, "During this procession of Qingjie, Zhao Changdu and the Tianqi Emperor were both acting peculiar. I also discovered people sent by Zhao Changdu among my Imperial Guards. Fortunately I found them in time and had those people removed early on. You and I need to be more careful, so as not to be caught in wrongdoing during this time."
Concubine Wan was fully aware of Xia Zixi's capabilities.
In recent days, with the Emperor gravely ill, the various factions were itching to make a move. It was only natural for Zhao Changdu of the Prince Duan faction to prepare something for his master.
But how could the Imperial Guards that Xia Zixi had controlled for over twenty years be so easily shaken by a Zhao Prince?
Did they think they could pull her down from the position of favored concubine simply by inserting a few people into the Imperial Guards, or by scheming to suppress and frame Xia Zixi's cronies?
How naive.
Concubine Wan gave a contemptuous laugh, the corners of her brows lightly raised in disdain, unconcerned, "His Majesty went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Even if he returns quickly on fast horses, it would still take two hours."
Xia Zixi frowned, picked up the remaining floral tea on the table and poured himself a cup.
Seeing this, Concubine Wan hurriedly tried to stop him, "Brother Xi, don't drink it, there is medicine inside."
Xia Zixi just smiled and joked, "Didn't you say it would take two hours even if he comes back?"
Having said that, he directly downed the entire cup of floral tea in one go.
Concubine Wan helplessly pursed her bright red lips, teasingly said, "I'm afraid this medicine will make you die on top of me."
"Oh? You gave such a strong drug to a pregnant woman?"
"It wasn't my idea, Yang was the one who wanted it. He only wants her person, not the child in her belly."
As Xia Zixi contemplated this, he could feel the medicine seeping into his limbs and hundreds of bones through his throat, arousing a faint heat that instantly put him in the mood. "Since my son rarely wants a woman, let it be so. If something happens, I will cover for him."
Concubine Wan's smile grew even more radiant as she lazily got up and threw herself into the man's arms. Lifting her little face, she nuzzled affectionately against the man's cheeks, "Brother Xi, it really has been such a long time since I could get this close to you."
There were some concerns within the palace, but Qingyun Temple was their own territory where they could be unrestrained and intimate.
Xia Zixi wrapped his large hand around the woman's slender waist. The corners of his lips curved up in a roguish smile. "Why so eager? The Emperor can't satisfy you?"
"With his condition now, how could he still perform?"
Xia Zixi teased, "If he doesn't perform, can't you take matters into your own hands?"
"Brother Xi, what nonsense are you saying!" Concubine Wan leaned against the man's chest, her fingers lingering and tracing circles on his pecs suggestively, "Even if I wanted to make a move, I would only want to die under you. Two hours, Brother Xi, do you have the stamina?"
The corners of Xia Zixi's lips tilted up slightly. "Then I'll ravage you until he comes. How about it?"
Concubine Wan narrowed her eyes coquettishly. "That's great. Only Brother Xi has such vigor."
Xia Zixi was pleased by the woman's words. Gripping her slender neck in one hand, he fiercely kissed down.
After a moment of steamy, passionate entanglement, Xia Zixi carried Concubine Wan in his arms and strode into the inner chamber of the meditation room.
Inside was a huge, bright bed.
The bed had pearl-embroidered, silk gauze canopy embroidered all over with brightly painted Chinese hibiscus flowers and silver threads. When the wind blew, it was like a fantasy of clouds and mountains.
...
Coming out of Concubine Wan's meditation room, Gu Ying still looked fairly calm on the surface. But the little hand gripped tight in her sleeve nearly betrayed her emotions.
Yin Lan pulled her along hurriedly, brows knitted tight, "Mistress, how muddled of you to ingest Concubine Wan's things so casually!"
Gu Ying steadied herself, gently patting her protruding belly, smiled, "It's fine, I merely drank a cup of floral tea, no big deal."
"But Mistress clearly knew Concubine Wan had ulterior motives... She once directly poisoned to death a palace consort with a cup of tea in Yilan Hall. A woman like her is far too ruthless and vicious... Mistress should have been vigilant and on guard." Yin Lan sighed, looking worried.
Gu Ying's expression remained unchanged as she grabbed Yin Lan's hand. Looking back at the tranquil little courtyard of the meditation room, she asked, "Yin Lan, were you standing guard outside? Did you see Xia Zixi anywhere?"
Yin Lan shook her head, "No, it seems Big Boss Xia disappeared as soon as we entered Qingyun Temple."
Gu Ying understood, pondering, "He didn't disappear. He's probably in Concubine Wan's meditation room right now."
Yin Lan hurriedly covered her mouth, "Ah, then, this is..."
Gu Ying smiled lightly, "Let's go. Even if we go catch them in the act right now, it would be useless."
Yin Lan's heart thumped wildly as she closely followed behind her mistress, not even daring to breathe loudly.
She realized Qingyun Temple was far more heavily guarded than she had imagined. Other than a few daoists, there were almost all Xia Zixi's men.
She had initially wanted to casually walk around and take a look everywhere, but had only taken a few steps before being blocked by the imperial guards. That meant they currently could not go anywhere besides Mistress' meditation room.
"Yin Lan, don't worry. I'll take care of everything."
Gu Ying squeezed Yin Lan's cold little hand as they walked, comforting her all the way.
"Your servant is fine. I'm just being a little more cautious."
"Mm."
Returning to the meditation room, Gu Ying immediately saw Shen Munian as soon as she entered the yard. He was holding a jug of wine while squatting at the doorframe, an unrestrained look that was completely devoid of his former aura as Vice Commander of the Imperial Guards.
