The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 154 - A Warm Heart, Cold Emotions

Seeing the Emperor's displeased expression, Lin Wanyi suppressed her confusion and focused on soothing him first.

"My mother once told me that one's given name should only be called by those closest to them. Since Your Majesty has already called me by my given name, it means you're the one closest to me."

Lin Wanyi thought this approach would surely work. She had noticed over the past few days that the Emperor responded better to gentleness than stubbornness. So, to make things easier, she decided to soften her words.

Sure enough, the Emperor felt warmth in his heart after hearing this. His expression softened as he looked at Lin Wanyi.

"I've been summoning Ming Changzai for several days now, and yet you haven't sent anyone to check on me. Aren't you afraid I'll be swayed by someone else and forget all about you, you heartless girl?"

Lin Wanyi smiled. So this was the issue. Without hesitation, she reached out and wrapped her arms around the Emperor's neck, leaning against him as she spoke in a calm tone.

"That night, Your Majesty told me something that I remember well. Knowing that I hold a place in your heart makes me happy and content. But Your Majesty isn't just my world; you are also the world for all my sisters in the harem. If I were to make a fuss over this, wouldn't it just make things difficult for you?"

"I don't want to make you resent me or think of me as unreasonable and quarrelsome. That way, even the strongest affection could eventually wear thin."

As she spoke, her formal self-address of "your servant" turned to "I," but the Emperor, captivated, didn't even notice. Instead, he held her tighter and, after a while, finally said,

"The imperial path may seem filled with boundless glory, but it's actually mired in difficulty. I don't expect you to cut through the thorns with me, but I also don't want my efforts to be met with indifference. This harem is cold enough as it is; I don't want Huifang Courtyard to feel the same."

Although the Emperor's body was as warm as ever, Lin Wanyi felt a chill from within his heart—a coldness that seeped into her.

She, too, felt cold. In the past, she had felt it in the prime minister's residence. Now, in the palace, it was the same. The only difference was that, in the prime minister's residence, she had her family to keep her warm.

In the palace, though...

If she laid her heart bare to warm the Emperor, what would she do if he eventually returned a frostbitten heart? Once a heart truly turned cold, it would be hard to warm it again.

With that thought, she fell silent.

To the Emperor, she could serve as a harbor, a place of refuge. But his ship wouldn't remain anchored here forever. When he eventually found a better harbor, all the bridges and docks she'd built would become irrelevant.

Lin Wanyi neither wanted that nor liked it. So she didn't know how to respond to the Emperor's feelings in a way that would feel right.

They stayed silent, their heartbeats the only sound in the quiet room, until the imperial physician arrived hurriedly. The Emperor finally laid Lin Wanyi down on the bed to rest.

Physician Dou was still catching his breath when he entered, his young assistant sweaty and visibly anxious from running.

Taking a deep breath, Physician Dou greeted them. "This humble servant greets Your Majesty and wishes for your long peace. Greetings, Lin Changzai; may you be blessed with health."

"Rise," the Emperor said. "Examine Lin Changzai's condition. If there's anything that needs further attention, ensure it is taken care of."

Hearing this, Physician Dou was puzzled. The young assistant had told him Lin Changzai had fainted, but the Emperor didn't seem particularly concerned anymore.

"Yes, Your Majesty." He quickly approached the bed, and, placing a silk cloth over her wrist, began to examine Lin Wanyi's pulse.

A moment later, he said, "Lin Changzai's health is well-regulated, and most of the remaining toxins have been cleared. I believe by the time she returns to the palace, she'll be fully recovered. I'll provide additional prescriptions to aid her recovery."

He added, "Illness strikes hard and fades gradually. If there's a relapse, there's no need to be overly anxious."

Upon hearing this, both the Emperor and Lin Wanyi fell silent.

Lin Wanyi was quiet because she felt a little embarrassed to have called in the imperial physician over her feigned fainting.

The Emperor, however, was silent because he hadn't received the response he'd hoped for, leaving him standing there, his expression unreadable.

Physician Dou, caught in the tension between them, began to sweat. He could heal physical ailments, but resolving emotional issues was beyond his skill. Bracing himself, he said, "I'll go check if Lin Changzai's prescription needs adjusting and add a few strengthening herbs to help her recover more thoroughly."

The Emperor replied with a curt "Hmm," and Physician Dou took that as his cue to leave immediately, feeling as if he'd been granted a reprieve.

After he left, the room grew even quieter, so silent that one could hear a pin drop. Neither of them wanted to be the first to speak, as if the first to break the silence would lose.

Just then, Dong Yuzhong's voice came from outside.

"Your Majesty, my lady, breakfast is ready. Would you like to have some now?"

This excuse eased the tense silence, and after a moment's thought, the Emperor called out, "Come in."

"Yes."

Then Qiu Ming, Xia An, Chun Qi, and Xiao Luzi entered one after another, each carrying steaming breakfast dishes.

They brought soy milk, freshly steamed crystal shrimp dumplings, milk cake, and tremella lily red date porridge.

The Emperor noticed their anxious expressions and remembered how Lin Wanyi had feigned fainting just now to protect them. Though still somewhat displeased, he decided not to pursue the matter further.

"This time, your punishment will be recorded. If you indulge Lin Changzai again, disregarding her health, you'll all be sent to the Office of Discipline in the Hidden Courtyard for punishment."

"Yes," they replied, feeling a chill at the mention of the Hidden Courtyard.

Chun Qi, in particular, deeply regretted her earlier actions. Fortunately, the Emperor didn't press the issue further; otherwise, her life might well have been at stake.

Lin Wanyi, aware it wouldn't be appropriate to continue feigning illness, rose and attended to the Emperor's meal as usual. Yet this time, the atmosphere between them lacked the harmony it once had and felt rather distant.

Dong Yuzhong noticed this but stood silently at the side without saying a word.

It wasn't until the Emperor had finished eating and was about to leave Huifang Courtyard that Dong Yuzhong found a chance to speak a few words to Lin Wanyi.

"My lady, forgive my boldness. Although Ming Changzai received orders to visit Qiqing Hall daily, she has hardly been close to His Majesty, only attending to his ink once. Since then, she has merely sat in the side hall and been promptly sent back."

With that, he gave Lin Wanyi a meaningful look before following the Emperor out.