Xiao Jingheng traveled with an imperial carriage and an endless number of palace attendants following him everywhere he went.
Song Zhao only had her own two feet to rely on.
In the palace, only the highest ranking imperial consorts were allowed to travel by sedan chair. Her rank was still far too low for that privilege.
However, Xiao Jingheng thought of her needs.
When he brought Song Zhao to the outer area of Chaoyang Palace, he instructed Zhang Deshun: “Go have a sedan chair prepared for Concubine Song.”
Song Zhao quickly declined, “Thank you, Your Majesty, but my rank is too low to deserve such an honor...”
“I’m granting this reward to you, so of course you are worthy of it,” Xiao Jingheng grasped her hand tighter as he jokingly suggested, “If you feel it would bring you undue attention to ride alone, you can share my imperial carriage and be closer to me.”
Riding alone would spur unnecessary rumors, but sharing the imperial carriage with Xiao Jingheng would surely cause even more trouble.
Song Zhao had “important business” to take care of today, so she had no choice but to half-heartedly respond, “Your Majesty likes to tease me so.”
Under Jiang Deshun’s guidance, she stepped into a red sandalwood sedan chair carried by two servants.
Chaoyang Palace was situated right next to the Imperial Garden.
After only half a stick of incense, the sedan chair arrived at the southeast corner of the Imperial Garden.
Once the sedan chair was stable, Xiao Jingheng lifted Song Zhao's curtain and reached out his hand for her,
“Give me your hand.”
As Song Zhao let him help her down from the sedan chair, she deliberately stumbled and gracefully fell into Xiao Jingheng's arms.
She had dressed herself up especially beautifully when coming to Chaoyang Palace today.
Seeing the beauty in his arms up close now, a subtle, light fragrance drifted from Song Zhao’s body to Xiao Jingheng’s nose.
The scent was fresh and delicate like her natural perfume, yet even more alluring than the scent of flowers.
He had spent the past few days with Imperial Consort Chen, who preferred heavy makeup and strong floral fragrances.
Such ostentatious styles made striking first impressions but grew tiresome over time.
Song Zhao was just right,
alluring but not flaunting, with the captivating innocence of a young maiden and the graceful charm of a mature woman.
At first, Song Zhao had "accidentally" stumbled into Xiao Jingheng’s embrace, but now his large palm gripped her slender shoulder tightly, not allowing her to escape.
Song Zhao demurely lowered her long, thick lashes with a shy, alluring look as she whispered,
“Your Majesty...so many people are watching~”
“Hahahaha~” Xiao Jingheng loved seeing her adorably bashful expressions that made her appear even more delicate and tempting to kiss.
He tilted up her chin, gradually nearing her lips.
But just when Song Zhao closed her eyes expecting his kiss, he suddenly stopped and whispered seductively into her ear instead,
“I favor you, so let them watch if they want.”
“Your Majesty...” Song Zhao buried her blushing face into Xiao Jingheng’s embrace, too embarrassed by his forwardness.
As she continued rubbing against him, what man could resist such an alluring beauty?
Xiao Jingheng wrapped his arm around her slender waist and led her deeper into the Imperial Garden.
Jiang Deshun and the other attendants only managed to follow a couple steps before Xiao Jingheng glanced back and ordered,
“All of you stay here and wait. Don’t follow me.”
Hearing this, Jiang Deshun immediately realized His Majesty wanted some intimate alone time with the consort today. He tactfully kept all the palace attendants back and waited from a distance.
Once the pair was some ways off, Xiao Jingheng's hands started wandering.
“What do you think of the scenery here, my beloved consort?”
Tickled by his touches, Song Zhao let out a sweet moan as she shyly nodded, “Very beautiful.”
“Oh?” Xiao Jingheng nibbled her earlobe, his deep, gravelly voice gave her tingles. “But I think this Imperial Garden scenery doesn’t compare to even one percent of your beauty.”
As he said this, his palm had reached the sash at her waist.
Just as the spring colors were about to be revealed,
suddenly, a palace attendant behind them shrieked,
“Your Majesty, watch out!”
Startled from his amorous reverie, Xiao Jingheng’s senses sharply focused as he glanced back.
He saw countless rubble suddenly crashing down the artificial hill towards them at great speed.
The guards were too far away to make it there in time.
In that split second, Song Zhao suddenly used all her strength to push Xiao Jingheng aside. She took a quick step forward, shielding him with her slender frame as the rain of rubble pelted her back.
Stifling a pained groan, her knees went weak and she half-crouched on the ground.
Xiao Jingheng, who she had pushed away, immediately went to check on her, “Are you hurt?”
Biting her lip, Song Zhao shook her head and asked instead, “Is Your Majesty injured?”
Xiao Jingheng helped Song Zhao stand up and looked at the rubble scattered around them. There were a few larger chunks mixed within that would have been extremely painful if they’d struck a person after falling from that height.
“Why did you do something so foolish?”
He gazed at Song Zhao, worry and distress swimming in his eyes.
Yet she gave him a weak smile and gently said, “When the danger happened just now, I was afraid Your Majesty would get hurt, so I didn't think much else.”
Xiao Jingheng softly stroked Song Zhao’s back. His touch was light, but still drew a faint hiss from her lips at first contact.
His brows furrowed in concern as his heart twisted painfully. “You said you weren’t hurt? You must be injured.”
Jiang Deshun rushed over with guards in tow, flustered as he asked “Your Majesty wasn't injured, right?”
Xiao Jingheng’s face darkened. Moving gently, he scooped Song Zhao into his arms and strode swiftly back towards the imperial carriage while coldly ordering,
“Send the imperial physician to Yao Hua Palace. Also, find the palace attendant in charge of the artificial hill’s maintenance from the Internal Affairs Bureau and have them all caned to death.”
Later that day, Song Zhao returned together in the imperial carriage with Xiao Jingheng to Yao Hua Palace.
At first when Consort Yao saw the imperial carriage arrive, she thought Xiao Jingheng had come to visit her. She hurried out the door to greet him.
But she had just paid her respects when she saw Xiao Jingheng carrying Song Zhao down from the carriage. Shocked, Consort Yao stared wide-eyed, momentarily struck speechless.
The imperial physician arrived swiftly after hearing Song Zhao had shielded Xiao Jingheng from the falling rubble, injuring her back. He said he needed to thoroughly examine Song Zhao.
Song Zhao tightly clutched her collar, reluctance showing on her face as she shook her head. “Your Majesty, I'm really fine...”
Xiao Jingheng understood her maidenly modesty.
After all, how could a young lady allow the physician to see her bare back?
He told the doctor to wait in the outer hall before saying gently to Song Zhao,
“He can’t examine you, but you don’t need to hide anything from me. Let me see.”
Still reluctant, Song Zhao gradually turned her back towards him, letting Xiao Jingheng remove her thin silken robes.
As her clothes peeled off bit by bit, her slender, fair back and beautiful shoulder blades were revealed. Further down, several distinct bruises colored her skin—clearly left behind from the rubble that had struck her earlier.
