PNB Chapter 59 The Kiss Landed
Chapter 59 The Kiss Landed
Inside the Water Moon Pavilion.
Qiu Zhu rushed back and saw that the main gate of the pavilion was closed. She breathed a sigh of relief and, after calming her breath, she raised her hand and knocked on the door from the outside.
After waiting for a long time, there was still no sound from inside the room. A sense of panic rose within her, and she increased the pressure on her hand, calling out loudly, "Your Majesty, are you there?"
There was still no sound coming from inside. Qiu Zhu thought to herself that something was wrong and was about to push the door open when it suddenly opened from the inside.
"Qiuzhu, what are you doing, disturbing my peaceful sleep?"
Chu Qingyin looked sleepy, her beautiful face showing obvious displeasure.
Seeing this, Qiu Zhu breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was anxious because you hadn't responded for a long time, and I forgot the rules for a moment. Please forgive me."
"Alright, I've been away from the banquet for a while now, and I'm all sober up, so it's time for me to head back."
After saying that, Chu Qingyin walked towards the palace banquet with a normal expression.
Seeing this, Qiu Zhu's panic slowly subsided, and she quickly followed in her footsteps.
At the banquet, as soon as Chu Qingyin returned to her seat, she noticed the probing gaze cast by Pei Yuanling, who was seated at the head of the table.
She pretended to be unwell, pressed her forehead, and then took a big gulp of wine, looking heartbroken.
Sure enough, the gaze that had been sharp and scrutinizing instantly turned into one of heartache.
As night deepened, the banquet was drawing to a close.
Empress Dowager Wang was getting old and could no longer withstand such commotion, so she returned to the palace to rest.
Too much had happened tonight, and Chu Qingyin wanted to go back early to sort out her thoughts, so she stepped forward with Qiuzhu and said, "Your Majesty, I am feeling a little unwell and would like to go back to rest first."
"I am also tired. I will return to the palace with you."
Chu Qingyin looked up in surprise and saw that Pei Yuanling had already stood up from his seat and was slowly walking towards her.
He seemed to have drunk quite a bit, as his steps were somewhat unsteady.
As soon as she got closer, Chu Qingyin smelled the strong aroma of alcohol on him and couldn't help but frown slightly.
"Yinyin." Pei Yuanling called her affectionately as if no one else was around, and at the same time naturally reached out and put his arm around her slender waist.
Catching a glimpse of the jealous and resentful gazes cast upon her by the concubines around her, Chu Qingyin couldn't help but gasp. Did Pei Yuanling think she wasn't hateful enough and wanted to make her the target of everyone's hatred?
But it's all good. Considering what Consort Shu had just arranged for Qiu Zhu to do, she might as well go with the flow and add fuel to the fire.
Chu Qingyin withdrew her original intention to push him away, allowing Pei Yuanling to embrace her, appearing respectful and serene: "Is Your Majesty drunk?"
The woman's voice was soft and gentle, and Pei Yuanling's gaze became even more tender. Yinyin, it really was his Yinyin who had returned.
Pei Yuanling unconsciously hugged her tighter, his gaze lingering. "I'm not drunk, it's just that seeing you makes me happy."
Chu Qingyin's ears burned at the sweet words. She gave a coquettish laugh and then took the initiative to put her arm around the man's back: "Your Majesty, let me help you back to rest."
"it is good."
The two left the banquet in this way. From behind, they looked like a perfect couple, a sight to behold, truly enviable to others.
Empress Wang, seated on her high throne, gazed silently at the couple before her, her eyes dark and unfathomable.
She thought that since it was the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet today, Pei Yuanling should give the Wang family some face and accompany her back to Fengyi Palace. But she didn't expect him to slap her in the face in public like this!
Even with all her composure, a crack appeared on her usually dignified face.
The same emotional fluctuations were felt by Consort De, who was usually indifferent to worldly affairs and devoted to Buddhist worship. A hint of dejection appeared on her plain and unadorned face, and the fingers gripping the Buddhist prayer beads tightened slightly.
It is said that Buddha saves those who are sincere, but why does Buddha not save those who are devoid of love?
Meanwhile, inside the Shuhua Palace on the other side.
Consort Shu, who had returned home early because she was not good at drinking, was furious when she heard that Pei Yuanling had brought Qiao Qingyin back to Feixue Palace in public.
"What a little vixen! What kind of seductive tricks did she use to make His Majesty disregard even the Empress's dignity!"
As Consort Shu spoke, she smashed the exquisite glass cup beside her to the ground with a loud bang, and shards flew everywhere.
As soon as Zijuan entered from outside the door, she saw this scene and immediately gave Yulin, who was serving her with trepidation, a wink.
Yulin immediately bent down, quickly cleaned up the broken pieces on the ground, and left.
"Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Consort Qiao won't be able to cause trouble for much longer." Zijuan leaned close to Consort Shu's ear and whispered a few words.
A smug smile slowly appeared on Consort Shu's originally gloomy and ugly face, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips: "You little slut, I'll let you be smug for two more days."
Inside the Feixue Palace, the lamps burned continuously.
Pei Yuanling had already drunk quite a bit at the banquet, and now, feeling drunk, he lay down on the soft couch with Chen Zhongliang's help as soon as he entered the inner room.
Chu Qingyin covered him with a soft blanket and then walked towards the outer room: "Qiuzhu, make a bowl of hangover soup."
"Yes." Qiu Zhu accepted the order and left.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Xianglan noticed the weariness in Chu Qingyin's eyes and couldn't help but ask with concern.
"I am fine."
Chu Qingyin shook her head, thinking of what she had overheard behind the rockery at night, and beckoned to Xianglan: "I have a very important matter for you to handle."
"Keep a close eye on Qiuzhu's movements for me recently. Report her every move to me immediately."
Xianglan originally wanted to ask Chu Qingyin what she meant, but seeing her master's inscrutable and cold expression, she held back her words.
Before entering the palace, the master had instructed her that the palace was a dangerous place and that she must listen to the young lady and never betray her master in this life.
Now that you've said this, it seems there must be something wrong with Qiu Zhu!
Thinking of this, Xianglan looked quietly at Chu Qingyin, a pang of heartache rising in her heart, followed by a resolute expression on her small face.
No matter what happens in the future, she will protect the girl. She will not let anyone who tries to harm the girl get away with it easily.
The full moon hung high in the sky, a gentle breeze wafted through the curtains, and Qiu Zhu quickly brought in a hangover soup.
"Your Majesty, please get up and drink some hangover soup before you go back to sleep."
Chu Qingyin walked to the bedside and reached out to help the handsome emperor on the bed.
The moment her hand touched Pei Yuanling, he grabbed it. He pulled her hand gently, and Chu Qingyin gasped in surprise, falling uncontrollably into his arms.
The man's warm breath touched her head, and as soon as she looked up, she met a pair of narrow eyes filled with deep affection.
He gazed at her silently, as if trying to see through her completely.
But in the hazy night, a hint of desire seemed to tinge the depths of his eyes, which were as deep as a pool. But upon closer inspection, it was clear that rather than the desire between a man and a woman, there was a deep longing in his eyes, as if they were still damp with moisture.
“Yinyin…” The man’s eyes were heavy, and his thin lips murmured, “You’re back. It’s so good.”
Chu Qingyin had never seen Pei Yuanling look so sad before, and her heart ached. Her slender fingertips slowly caressed the man's handsome face.
She hadn't looked at him so closely in a long time; in just a few months, he seemed to have aged and lost a lot of weight.
Is it because of her death that we are grieving?
Chu Qingyin's gaze also became unfocused, after all, the man in front of her was someone she had deeply loved when she was young!
The cool touch lingered on her face and around her eyes, and Pei Yuanling's heart seemed to tremble as well. He looked at her eyes, which were gradually filling with tears. Those once bright and beautiful eyes now seemed to be filled with endless grievances.
Pei Yuanling felt as if his heart was being squeezed and crushed in someone's hand. The tearing pain came over him, and in an instant, he seemed to go mad and suddenly grabbed Chu Qingyin's shoulder.
"Your Majesty!" Chu Qingyin exclaimed.
She had just raised her head when the man's kiss landed on her.