Xiao Jingheng blamed Noble Consort Li for deceiving the emperor, not for bullying Song Zhao.
This way, it would not attract more jealousy toward Song Zhao, and it would make the punishment more justified.
When Concubine Li was taken away, she did not even dare to say a word of injustice, only able to cry and shout 'Thank the emperor for his grace.'
After she left, Consort Yao was astute and knew that Xiao Jingheng wanted to be alone with Song Zhao, so she tactfully withdrew as well.
Later, Chu Imperial Physician took Song Zhao's pulse and prescribed medicine, saying her illness was not serious and she would recover after peacefully recuperating for two days.
After the medicine was decocted, Xiao Jingheng sat by Song Zhao's bedside and personally attended to her taking the medicine.
He carefully blew on each spoonful until the temperature was suitable before bringing it to Song Zhao's mouth.
Song Zhao shyly and bashfully parted her rosy lips to swallow each mouthful, her slender brows slightly furrowed, like a spoiled little girl as she said:
"Such bitter medicine..."
Xiao Jingheng stroked her forehead, "Good medicine is bitter to the mouth, be obedient."
After Song Zhao reluctantly finished drinking the bowl of medicinal soup, Xiao Jingheng suddenly snapped his fingers by her ear, then moved his clenched right hand in front of Song Zhao, smiling as he said:
"Guess what's in my hand?"
Song Zhao blinked her watery big eyes, full of curiosity, "What is it?"
Xiao Jingheng slowly unclenched his palm, revealing several sugar-coated beans that had mysteriously appeared in his palm.
When Song Zhao saw them, her eyes shimmered, and she took one in her mouth, suddenly exclaiming in surprise: "Sugar lotus seeds?"
Xiao Jingheng said, "I was afraid the medicine would be too bitter for you, so I had Jiang Deshun fetch some earlier. You have a cough, and overly sweet things will make it worse. I thought these moderately sweet lotus seeds would be perfect for you, and lotus seeds also have the effect of clearing heat and eliminating fire."
Song Zhao's pearly teeth lightly bit into the candy coating and gently chewed the boiled lotus seed inside.
The specially processed lotus seeds had their inherent bitterness nicely balanced.
But as Song Zhao ate, tears welled up in her bright eyes, wetting her lashes.
Xiao Jingheng, not understanding why, wiped away her tears and asked in puzzlement, "What's the matter, why are you crying?"
Song Zhao said, "When I was little, my auntie also used to make sugar lotus seeds for the concubines to eat. I haven't tasted this flavor in such a long time, and suddenly all the emotions came back to me at once, making me lose face in front of Your Majesty..."
Xiao Jingheng gazed at her tearful eyes, his heartbeat quickening slightly.
This woman was like a bewitching enchantress, beautiful enough to take one's breath away with just a frown or a smile.
Xiao Jingheng already felt indebted to her, and seeing her cry now made him even more tender toward her. He said,
"Noble Consort Li bullied you because I summoned you to my bedchamber. I didn't anticipate that. I promised you that by my side, I absolutely won't let anyone humiliate you. Don't worry."
Song Zhao nodded, "This concubine believes Your Majesty."
She deliberately nodded with more vigor, and the loose bun on her head, barely held in place by a single silver hairpin, came undone. Her cascading black tresses spilled down.
The scent of jasmine from the ends of her hair wafted into Xiao Jingheng's nose, mingling with his breath.
He deeply inhaled the fragrance and pulled Song Zhao into his embrace, saying, "Your hair smells so nice, is it jasmine?"
Song Zhao looked up at him, "Yes, I like the scent of jasmine, so I added jasmine extract to the soap I use to wash my hair."
As she spoke, she secretly observed the subtle changes in Xiao Jingheng's expression.
She knew Xiao Jingheng must like jasmine, otherwise the staff of the Flowers and Birds Department wouldn't keep sending pots of jasmine flowers to Noble Consort Cheng's palace.
Sure enough, her speculation hit Xiao Jingheng's sweet spot.
Xiao Jingheng held her even tighter and lightly rubbed his nose against her forehead, "I also like it. My beloved consort truly understands me."
After he spoke, he gently kissed her forehead.
His kisses slowly moved down, inch by inch invading Song Zhao's face.
To be honest, Song Zhao did not resist Xiao Jingheng's intimacy with her.
After all, this emperor was young, handsome, and fit, with clear, smooth muscular lines.
Men lusted, and so did women - everyone had the right to yearn for beautiful things, it was not shameful.
It was just that today, she had to refuse Xiao Jingheng.
So, just as Xiao Jingheng's kisses approached frenzy, Song Zhao firmly pushed him away,
"Your Majesty... Imperial Physician Chu said earlier that although my illness is not serious, the sickness can still be passed to others. If I were intimate with You today and it harmed Your dragon body, how could I ever rest easy?"
Of course Song Zhao knew that pouring cold water on a man when he was aroused was extremely unromantic.
One look at the slight anger appearing between Xiao Jingheng's brows told her that her disobedience had already displeased him.
Xiao Jingheng said in a deep voice, "Are you trying to drive me away?"
"This concubine wouldn't dare," Song Zhao said in fright, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, but Your Majesty is also this concubine's husband. This concubine is sick, and naturally hopes her husband can stay by her side. But exactly because Your Majesty is this concubine's husband, this concubine cannot let her husband stay with her while she is sick."
She lowered her head, blushing as she weakly said,
"Your Majesty cares for this concubine, and this concubine also cares for Your Majesty. This concubine...hopes Your Majesty will be well in every way."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingheng was puzzled for quite a while:
Back when he was still a prince, countless beauties had thrown themselves at him,
and he had seen more than enough women eagerly seeking his favor. But a woman who rejected him - this was the first time he had encountered it.
What's more, Song Zhao had already refused him twice this very night.
This inevitably made him even more curious about this woman.
And because he sincerely didn't have the heart to tire her out while she was still sick,
he couldn't help sighing and said, "Fine, you rest well then. I'll come see you another day."
He helped Song Zhao lie back down, carefully tucking in her bedcovers before taking another sugar-coated lotus seed and giving it to her,
"Have another lotus seed, focus on recovering, don't make me worry about you, understand?"
He personally placed the lotus seed into Song Zhao's mouth, his fingertips gently caressing her thin lips,
making Song Zhao's face flush with shyness. Seeing her so made Xiao Jingheng's heart tingle.
This woman really was interesting.
After he had just left, Yun Shan came in.
"Young miss, this servant saw that the emperor's expression didn't look too good when he was leaving."
"His expression was bad because he didn't get what he wanted. He's used to people obeying him, so I insist on letting him taste what it feels like to be rejected." Song Zhao got up on her own and spat the lotus seed in her mouth onto the floor. "After suffering bitter days for so long, I don't want to taste bitterness anymore."
Yun Shan handed Song Zhao a sweetmeat, "But Young Miss, rejecting His Majesty like this again and again, aren't you worried it will anger him and make him never come see you again?"
"He won't," Song Zhao coldly shook her head with a mocking smile. "Do you really think a man will easily let go of something he can't obtain? Actually, you don't even have to specify men - that's just human nature. The more unattainable something is, the more preoccupied they become with it. The more powerful the man, the more he enjoys conquering women. What they enjoy is the process, like climbing a mountain. When they climb one peak, they'll always see a higher one. What I need to do is make sure he can never summit my peak. That way, he'll keep thinking of me, wanting me, and take the initiative to deliver what I want right to me."
