Chapter 35 - 035: Status

Sang Yan realized this and her expression became cautious, “Emperor, if I continue to neglect political duties, it will be my fault.”

“What fault?”

“Enchanting the King? Disrupting the court?”

“I see you as more upright and concerned for the people than the ministers!”

Each of He Ying’s statements was more forceful than the last.

But in Sang Yan’s eyes, it was simply that his love had clouded his judgement.

She really wasn’t that good!

The Emperor’s love filter must have been as thick as a city wall!

Sang Yan’s feelings were complex, one moment joyful, the next vain, then worried, and finally, all turned into caution, “Emperor, I am anxious.”

Every time she said this, He Ying felt profoundly helpless.

“Enough.”

He Ying sighed, “Just stay by my side and assist me.”

He refocused on handling the affairs of state.

He went through petition after petition.

Time trickled by slowly.

Sang Yan, grinding the ink out of boredom, glanced around and finally, her gaze uncontrollably fell on the Emperor.

A man concentrating on his work is most attractive.

This saying truly did not deceive her.

The Emperor had fair skin, a handsome profile, a high nose, thick long eyelashes, and lips as red as blood. Under the sunlight, he seemed bathed in a holy light.

He focused on state affairs, his long fingers pinching the brush, moving with a cold and stern charm.

Thump, thump, thump—

Sang Yan felt her cheeks burn and her mouth go dry.

When he seemed to notice and looked over—

She startled, her hands fumbled, and the ink stick pressed against the edge of the inkstone. She exerted force and knocked over the inkstone.

“Clack.”

The inkstone hit the ground.@@novelbin@@

The black ink spilled all over the floor.

“I’m sorry.”

Her face was a picture of panic as she crouched down to clean up.

“It’s okay.”

He Ying also crouched down to help.

Their hands, though separated by fabric, touched.

It should be said that Sang Yan touched He Ying’s arm and got quite a scare, “Emperor, you!”

He Ying waved it off, “It’s fine. Don’t be afraid. It didn’t touch. I had already applied Jade Frost Ointment.”

Sang Yan, seeing that he had no adverse reactions, finally relaxed.

At that time, both of them thought it was because they had not actually touched.

He Ying even said, “Every time I am with you, I apply Jade Frost Ointment in advance. Even if you were to touch me, I would not blame you.”

Sang Yan listened with mixed feelings—The Emperor had some real affection for her. But how long this affection would last, it was hard to say.

Emperor Taizong, a wise monarch, had been moved by the talented Xu Hui and summoned her to the harem as a concubine.

He had once truly appreciated her talents, but later, captivated by the incomparably beautiful Miss Zheng, he pushed Xu Hui to the back of his mind.

A time of songs and dances is valued, the past of poetry and books is cheap.

Xu Hui’s sincere heart had been misplaced, and all that remained for her was a lifetime of desolation.

Tang Xuanzong had truly loved Yang Guifei, but in the end, he ordered her death at Ma Wei Slope to save his own life.

The hearts of emperors have always been fickle!

Sang Yan repeatedly warned herself, then stood up, stepped back three steps, and let the palace maid come in to clean.

“Emperor, I am a bit tired.”

“Keeping me company must be boring, right?”

He Ying answered off-topic but did not stop her, nodding, “You can go back first.”

He glanced out the window and added, “The sun is harsh, take the sedan chair back.”

Sang Yan bowed to express her gratitude and strode out.

The heat outside was oppressive.

She took the sedan chair back and was unbearably hot; upon reaching the palace, she immediately ordered ice water and washed her face directly with it.

“The weather suddenly turned hot. The ice in all the palaces is not enough. Miss doesn’t know, but I heard that Princess Consort Li had a quarrel with the head of the Household Affairs, and still, there was no ice.”

Qiuzhi’s tone was very proud, with a bit of schadenfreude.

There isn’t a shortage of ice in the Imperial Palace except for the sleeping chambers of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Yuesang Palace.

Sang Yan noticed that Qiuzhi’s attitude was wrong and sternly rebuked, “Qiuzhi, don’t be reckless.”

She was conspicuous enough.

It’s just that the Emperor was not fond of female company and did not enter the harem, and none of the concubines were favored or had the heir by their side, so for the time being, they dared not do anything to her.

Otherwise, the palace intrigues would have played out in eighty episodes.

“Yes.”

Qiuzhi had momentarily lost her inhibitions due to pride but quickly returned to being cautious and prudent.

Lunch was served in the palace.

Accompanying her was Sang Ruoshui, with the conversation revolving around the Emperor, “Sister, did the Emperor say when he will give you status?”

Sang Yan feared this question the most.

Sang Ruoshui was bringing up the most inappropriate topic.

“You are overthinking it.”

Sang Yan replied coldly, “There will not be that step between the Emperor and me.”

Even if she really did have relations with the Emperor, she would not enter the palace as a consort.

She was not an ancient person, she did not care about chastity or recognition, just not entering the palace meant freedom.

Sang Ruoshui, unaware of the full situation, thought the Emperor only wanted to toy with her or perhaps was concerned about her husband-killing fate, just wanted to cherish her beauty but not take responsibility. She could hardly control the glee inside her and the dark jealousy she had always felt instantly dissipated, even feeling a bit of sympathy, “The Emperor must have his difficulties?”

It seemed the Emperor didn’t like her that much after all.

She always said an Emperor wouldn’t risk himself for a widow with a husband-killing fate!

Sang Yan felt that Sang Ruoshui might have misunderstood, yet she didn’t explain, but quietly ate her meal.

After finishing the meal and sending Sang Ruoshui away, she started to lazily recline.

Qiuzhi prompted her to exercise, saying she had put on weight.

Sang Yan was pleased, “Really got fat? They say one white covers three flaws, but one fat ruins everything.”

Upon hearing this response, Qiuzhi became instantly anxious, “Miss, even if the Emperor is unwilling to give you status, you can’t just give up on yourself.”

Not only was Sang Ruoshui overthinking.

Qiuzhi, present during the sisters’ conversation, also overthought.

But seeing that Qiuzhi had misconceptions, Sang Yan didn’t explain and simply stated, “A lazy recline after a meal, not even a deity could dissuade me.”

Qiuzhi burst into tears, “Miss, you mustn’t think like that.”

Sang Yan couldn’t help but laugh.

Teasing the maid was quite fun.

“Oh dear, I was just kidding. I haven’t given up on myself.”

“Then get up and exercise.”

Qiuzhi pulled her to her feet.

Sang Yan got up, walked a hundred steps, and then lay back down.

Qiuzhi was in despair.

She went out to complain to Sister Xiangxiu, “How could the Emperor abandon responsibilities like this? My miss may have been married before, but she is still pure. If the Emperor continues this way, how can our miss face anyone when she leaves the palace?”

Xiangxiu didn’t understand, “What did the Emperor do?”

Qiuzhi mournfully said, “The Emperor is unwilling to give the miss a status.”

Xiangxiu: “…”

News from Qingning Palace suggested that the Emperor quite liked Sang Yan; she had even been returned in a sedan chair midday today.

However, how much the Emperor’s favor counted still depended on giving a proper status.

Favor is one thing, but without status, it means nothing.

Sang Yan still had the husband-killing fate, and as long as the Emperor didn’t grant her status, he couldn’t be considered her husband, so the discussion of that fate was moot.

Perhaps this was the Emperor’s true thought?

His kindness towards Sang Yan might be more about compensating for his inability to grant her status?

If so, Sang Yan was indeed pitiable.

“Sister Xiangxiu, what should my miss do? No wonder the miss is always downcast; as soon as she sees the Emperor, she sighs. It turns out, it turns out it’s like this.”

The more Qiuzhi spoke, the more heartbroken she became, and she cried again.

Seeing this, Xiangxiu thought for a moment and still conveyed the message to Qingning Palace.

Sang Yan was unaware of any of this.

She lay down from afternoon till evening, had dinner, freshened up, and was ready to continue being indolently idle when a palace maid came to report—

“Master, the night-blooming cereus has blossomed in the Imperial Garden, and the Emperor invites you to enjoy it together.”