Chongfei Manual

Chapter 143

Inside Zhao Yang Hall, there were only a few palace servants. They were wearing purple garments and tidying up the hall. As soon as they saw Emperor Chong Zhen entering the hall, they hurriedly saluted, "Greetings Your Majesty."

Emperor Chong Zhen looked around the hall. Not seeing Empress Chen, his expression became more solemn as he asked, "Where's the empress?"

One of the palace servants, Zi Zhu, said, "To respond to Your Majesty, the empress spoke to Princess Consort Jing for a while. She felt tired and she's currently resting in the heated room.

Emperor Chong Zhen nodded. He looked at the food on the small, vermillion-lacquered arhat table and casually asked, "Has Princess Consort Jing left?"

Zi Zhu replied, "Yes, she recently left. Prince Jing personally came here for Princess Consort Jing."

Emperor Chong Zhen didn't ask any more questions. He walked towards the heated room, "This emperor is going to see the empress."

Actually, it was slightly strange. For the past decade, Emperor Chong Zhen and Empress Chen's relationship had been at a deadlock. Every time they met, they would most likely argue and part on bad terms. Even so, Emperor Chong Zhen would still come to Zhao Yang Hall once a month. None of the palace servants knew why.

Zhao Yang Hall's palace servants were already used to their pattern of interacting with each other. This was why they weren't surprised that Emperor Chong Zhen would still insist on going to see Empress Chen today even though she was already asleep.

After Emperor Chong Zhen passed through the luo di zhao that was carved with joyful magpies, pushed open the doors, he looked towards the rosewood couch that was near a window and had decorative carvings. Empress Chen was lying down on the couch on her side. She was covered with a dark reddish purple blanket that was embroidered with dragons, phoenixes, and auspicious symbols. The precious hairpins and other hair accessories had been removed from her hair, so her silky black hair was piled up on the pillow. For no reason at all, it made him think of a phrase – hair as delicate and dense as clouds, neck as resplendent as jade.

(T/N: Luo di zhao is a ceiling to floor carved screen.)

Emperor Chong Zhen walked to the couch and looked at the woman lying down on it. He couldn't help sinking into contemplation.

He thought of the past, how they had fought together to conquer the world. She had been so bold and proud. Back then, she had seemed like an untamable little firecracker. If she wasn't happy with him, she would argue with him. Back then, he had told her that she was impossible to get along with. But in his heart, he would gladly endured any hardships for her and he was a glutton for punishment. No matter what she did, he could tolerate her little tantrums.

He remembered that there was one time when she had pulled her horse's reins and rode out of the camp when they couldn't come to an agreement. Even when night had fallen, she still didn't come back. At that time, it was a crucial juncture for the two armies. He was worried she had been kidnapped by their enemies and was in danger. He searched for her for the next two days like a headless chicken. He even risked the danger of going to the enemy camp to search for her.

Unexpectedly, she rushed out of the enemy camp on the third day with their enemy's severed head hanging on her horse. She proudly raised her chin and asked him, "Do you still think my plan isn't feasible?"

Even now, that scene still remained fresh in his memory. Her back had been facing the sun and she looked like a blossoming rose that was burning. Her beauty had dazzled his eyes.

Later, he had torn off her wings with his hands. He had forced her to give up her freedom and she could no longer soar through the battlefields. She could only become a canary in his cage. He knew that even now, she still wanted to go back. All these years, she had resented him and didn't want to be close to him. And so, the distance between them only increased as they kept walking farther away from each other.