Chapter 889: The Young Empress (26)

"Imperial Consort, Her Majesty has already seen you. Why didn't you go over?"

Jing Cheng strode briskly toward his palace, his mood noticeably bright.

"Since she saw me, there was no need to go over."

Then he added casually, "Let's go back. I'm going to practice swordsmanship."

The attendants were baffled.

Unable to stop themselves, they grumbled inwardly.

Imperial Consort, if you keep acting like this, you're going to lose Her Majesty completely.

Meanwhile, Nan Yunchuan could clearly sense that Tang Guo's mood had improved considerably.

After observing for a while and finding no sign of anyone else nearby, he came to his own conclusion.

Naturally, he assumed the Empress was simply enjoying his company immensely.

"Your Majesty, tomorrow is Yunchuan's monthly visit home."

"Oh, is it?"

Tang Guo paused briefly.

"Then later I'll have the Chief Steward take you to select some ginseng and medicinal herbs for your father."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

This time, Nan Yunchuan's gratitude was sincere.

Over these past days, the Empress had truly treated him exceptionally well.

"Does Your Majesty want anything? If so, Yunchuan can bring it back when he returns."

Tang Guo shook her head.

"There isn't anything I particularly want."

"Then Yunchuan will choose something himself. When I return, I hope Your Majesty won't dislike it."

A faint smile touched Tang Guo's lips.

"No matter what Yunchuan gives me, I won't dislike it."

Her gaze settled intently upon his face.

Perhaps because of his guilty conscience, Nan Yunchuan found himself unable to meet her eyes.

The hand hidden within his sleeve slowly clenched into a fist.

If the Empress were not the Empress...

Perhaps he truly would have fallen for her.

Perhaps he would even have spent the rest of his life with her.

Unfortunately, she was the Empress.

No matter how well she treated him, their positions would always stand in opposition.

"Then when Yunchuan returns, I'll brew flower tea for Your Majesty again."

Tang Guo nodded.

"Very well. I'll look forward to it."

The next day, Su Qing and Nan Yunchuan left the palace together to return home.

Aside from Jing Cheng, the other men in the harem hated the pair so much that their teeth practically itched.

Not only had the two of them won the Empress's favor, they had also obtained the privilege of returning home once every month.

What scheming individuals.

The men of the harem could no longer sit still.

One after another, they went to seek out Jing Cheng.

Unfortunately, Jing Cheng had anticipated this long ago.

The palace gates remained firmly shut, and none of them were allowed inside.

As for seeking an audience with the Empress...

They weren't Nan Yunchuan or Su Qing.

The Empress had no intention of seeing them.

Meanwhile, after Su Qing and Nan Yunchuan left the palace, their Empress quietly slipped into Jing Cheng's residence.

At the time, Jing Cheng was practicing swordsmanship.

Just as before, Tang Guo didn't disturb him.

She simply stood nearby, watching the handsome man wield his sword with effortless grace.

Among all the men in the imperial harem, aside from Su Qing and Nan Yunchuan, the only relatively normal one was probably Jing Cheng.

Only after he finished his practice did Jing Cheng realize that Tang Guo had arrived at some unknown point.

He immediately hurried over and prepared to bow.

"Imperial Consort, there's no need to be so formal. You may skip the ceremony."

Tang Guo's arrival genuinely pleased him.

"Would Your Majesty like some tea?"

"If it's brewed by the Imperial Consort himself, then I'll drink it."

The words slipped out before he could stop himself.

"Does Your Majesty not like the tea Nan Yunchuan brews?"

The moment he finished speaking, regret struck him.

Tang Guo's smile widened.

"The tea here with the Imperial Consort is the best. It's my favorite."

"I'll prepare it immediately."

Still holding his sword, Jing Cheng practically fled.

If he didn't leave now, he was afraid the Empress would notice how red his ears had become.

That would be far too embarrassing.

After quickly washing up, Jing Cheng returned carrying a tea set and began preparing tea for Tang Guo.

Throughout the process, he could feel her gaze resting on him.

Several times, he nearly lost control of his hands and spilled the tea.

Tang Guo rested her chin on one hand and stared at him unabashedly.

"Imperial Consort, aren't you curious why I've been treating Nan Yunchuan and Su Qing that way?"