That handkerchief was clearly stained with … bright red blood!
Tuozan's eyes flashed a few times. She carefully looked at Siyang. After such a violent cough, she coughed out tears, which made her eyes seem more watery. However, her sunken eye sockets and dark skin all told her that this woman in front of her was terminally ill and didn't have much time left.
As expected, her worries were unnecessary. She was just a little village woman. Did she really think that she could become a phoenix after becoming the Empress?
"Her Highness the Empress said she was tired. Hurry and help her to rest." With an order, Tuozan's palace maids rushed over.
"Hey, hey, you, what are you doing?" Cui 'er was pushed to the side and anxiously wanted to go forward.
Siyang allowed the palace maids to help her lie down on the bed. During this time, she coughed a few times.
"Older Sister, I don't want to scold you." The palace maids brought over a chair. Tuozan sat down in front of Siyang's bed. "Let me send a few more people to serve you. You only have one servant girl by your side. It's not safe to do things."
Cui 'er was nervously guarding the bed. She was actually guarding against Tuozan. After hearing Siyang's words just now, she was certain that there was no good person in this palace other than her Miss and herself. Everyone was a demon that ate people without spitting out the bones.
Now that she heard that Tuozan wanted to replace her, she was a bit anxious. However, before Cui 'er could speak, Siyang, who was half leaning against a soft pillow, spoke first.
"Cough, cough, no need." She shook her hand with difficulty. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tuozan's expression change slightly because of her direct refusal. Siyang panted a few times and said in a low and hoarse voice, "Younger Sister knows even if I don't say it. I didn't live a good life when I was away. Now that everything has suddenly changed, it's really hard to adapt."
Siyang's eyes were filled with emotion as she gently held Tuozan's hand.
"You, you … Sister, it's alright. It's been hard on you all these years." Tuozan lived like a princess. Her hands were white and slender, as smooth as cream. Siyang's hands were rough. She gripped them hard, which made her feel pain. But this was not important. She did not know where Wang Baochuan got the strength. Her hands felt like being pinched by a pair of pliers. It was so painful that she could barely maintain the smile on her face. She pulled hard, but her hands did not move at all.
Siyang acted as if she didn't feel anything and continued to hold her hand. She shook her head and sighed, "I'm used to living a hard life. I'm afraid I don't have the life to enjoy this glory and wealth. Look at me. I've only been Empress for a few days and I'm so sick. I've really brought bad luck to you."
"How can you say that?" Tuozan smiled hypocritically. She tried her best to free her hand.
Of course, she didn't mention anything else. In fact, she tacitly agreed with Siyang's words in her heart. However, she continued to pretend on the surface.
"What bad luck? Sister, you can relax and take care of yourself. This is the best thing for His Majesty and me."
"Oh, is that so?" She held Tuozan's hand tightly and pulled it closer. Siyang looked at it carefully and whispered, "Sister's hand is so beautiful. Sister's hand used to be so beautiful."
Siyang understood Tuozan's plan in her heart. She was still occupying the seat like this. She was probably anxious from waiting. Otherwise, why couldn't she wait for 18 days?
Tuozan raised her eyebrows and frowned slightly. She felt that Wang Baochuan's words had another meaning.
Just as Tuozan was about to say something, a voice came from outside the bedchamber.
"His Majesty has arrived." The eunuch's voice was sharp and thin. It traveled directly into the hall without warning.
However, Tuozan's eyes lit up when she heard it. She said in surprise, "Why is His Majesty here?"
"Maybe he's here to visit me." Siyang leaned back in her seat. She didn't feel anything. They would meet sooner or later. It was good to see them all at once today.
His Majesty, Xue Pinggui.
"Then I have to go greet him quickly." Tuozan didn't care anymore. She stood up and shook off Siyang's hand. She thought her hand would be bruised, but she didn't expect that when she pulled it out, there were no marks. The pain that almost broke her bones didn't exist.
Tuozan looked at Siyang suspiciously. She didn't think much about it. She lifted her skirt and turned around. She paused and said to her, "Sister's body is not well. Lie down first."
As she spoke, she hurried to the door to greet His Majesty.
Siyang looked at all of this coldly. She was unmoved.
"Miss." Cui 'er was a little nervous.
Siyang didn't say anything. She stared at the corner. A large group of attendants appeared at the entrance of the bedchamber. Then, a tall and dignified man wearing a yellow robe embroidered with dragons strode into her sight.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." She used the etiquette of the Central Plains. However, perhaps because she hadn't learned it for a long time, her movements were stiff and a little strange. However, in the eyes of that person, all of this made her look lovable. She didn't have much time to learn this etiquette, so her movements were stiff and a little strange.
"Hahaha, my beloved concubine, you don't have to be so courteous." The man laughed heartily. He bent down and helped Tuozan up with both hands. After looking at her carefully, he nodded with praise. "My dear concubine, you are becoming more and more like a woman of the Central Plains."
Tuozan smiled shyly at the praise. She held her chin and said tenderly, "Your Majesty is too kind. If there is a woman of the Central Plains who is gentle and beautiful, it is Sister Empress."
Xue Pinggui, who had been full of smiles a moment ago, restrained the emotions on his face because of these words. He closed his eyes and turned to look in the direction of Si Yang. His eyes were obscure and difficult to understand. Xue Pinggui, who was at the side, saw it clearly. He shook his arm and said, "Your Majesty has come at the right time. Quickly come and see sister. I think her illness has gotten worse."
"Is that so? I am here to see the Empress."
"Baochuan." Xue Pinggui called gently. He sat down where Tuozan had been. However, when he got closer and saw his wife's appearance, his eyes were filled with surprise.
"You …"
"Ahem. Your Majesty is here. I have, ahem. I have waited for a long time …"
"Baochuan, don't talk. Someone, go and get the imperial doctor to treat the Empress." Xue Pinggui seemed to be really shocked by Wang Baochuan's appearance. He shouted angrily at the people, "The Empress is so sick. This is the result of your service."
Tuozan was also shocked. She bit her lip and said with grievance, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. I wanted to mention this just now, but my sister … was too stubborn. She refused to send more people to serve her."
"Don't blame them. It is my fault. I always think about the past and can't live well … Ahem."
Looking at Siyang's lethargic body, Xue Pinggui's deep eyes seemed to have a layer of gloominess, "You don't have to think too much."
"How can I not think …" Siyang looked at him. Xue Pinggui's appearance was really good. He was over 30 years old and had a short beard. Not only did he not look old, but he also added a bit of the charm of a mature man. He started out as a martial artist and dismounted from a horse in the army. This gave him a strong body. Even the dragon robe couldn't hide the smell of iron on him.
Looking at him, she was in a daze.
Xue Pinggui saw the haggard woman in front of him reach out her hand to him. He hesitated for a moment and shook the hand that was rougher than his. This was completely different from what he remembered. He even felt that this was not a hand that a woman should have. The reason for this, to be honest, was because of him.
Even though Xue Pinggui hid it very quickly, Siyang still saw the disgust in his eyes.
"Your Majesty." After shaking his hand, she grabbed him tightly. Siyang's eyes were filled with tears as she said sadly, "This concubine's illness will not be cured. I didn't think that we would be separated by life and death so soon after we reunited."
"Don't, don't speak nonsense." The corners of Xue Pinggui's mouth twitched. Even though he had practiced martial arts and his skin was thick, he still felt that the hand that had been held was about to break. However, he couldn't break free now.
Tuozan looked and touched her hand with lingering fear. She muttered to herself, I didn't think that a person who was about to die would still have so much strength. Hmph, as expected of a peasant woman, she had a burst of brute strength.
"Every word this concubine said is true. I don't ask for anything else. I only hope that Your Majesty will come visit this concubine more often in the future to relieve the pain of my yearning for you day and night for 18 years."
When Xue Pinggui, who was being held, saw Siyang's suddenly shining eyes, he felt guilty and didn't dare to look at her. He looked past her and said, "Don't worry, if we … hiss …"
The strength in her hand increased. This time, Xue Pinggui couldn't resist.
"Baochuan, don't worry. We will come visit you more often in the future."
"If Your Majesty agrees, then come. Don't make this concubine wait for you for so long …"
The latter words caused Xue Pinggui's expression, which had just eased, to freeze again. 18 years. This was what he owed Wang Baochuan and what he didn't want to mention the most. However … this was something that would be imprinted on him for the rest of his life.
"Alright, I think Big Sister needs to rest more. Where's the medicine? Have you taken it today?" Although Wang Baochuan's appearance had declined, Tuozan had always been proud and arrogant. She was also very possessive of Xue Pinggui. In Xiliang for so many years, Xue Pinggui only had her. Now that they were in the Central Plains, Wang Baochuan had always been a thorn in her heart. Seeing the two of them being so intimate, she felt very uncomfortable.
"Today, today's medicine isn't ready yet …" Cui 'er lowered her head at the mention of this. She didn't dare to look at the two people in front of her. Since Miss said there was a problem with the medicine, she didn't care much about it. She still hadn't gone to get today's portion.
"Your Majesty, look. This concubine said that this girl is useless."
"It's fine. She has been with me for so many years. Even if she didn't make any contributions, she still worked hard. My body is already like this. It doesn't matter whether I take medicine or not." Siyang waved her hand weakly. She only looked at Xue Pinggui. From time to time, she would reveal deep affection.
"… It's better to have the medicine prepared quickly. We will feed it to you personally. We don't ask for anything else. We just want you to be well."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
