Hidden Heart Chapter 18

  Kyoto Imperial Palace, Chounin-den Hall.

  Emperor Zhao was leaning on the velvet couch, and Zhen Fei was feeding him a spoonful of ginseng soup. Eunuch Zhang De Shun stood beside him with a feather duster in hand, while other palace maids and eunuchs held tea cups and water basins, waiting respectfully.

  After taking two sips, Emperor Zhaojian pushed away the golden spoon handed over to him.

  "Your Majesty, use some more." Zhen Fei advised.

  Emperor Zhaoqian covered his mouth and coughed twice, shaking his head: "I know this medicinal soup is for me to hang on to my life, but at the moment I really can't drink it down. Use it later."

  "Your Majesty!" Zhen Fei's discontented voice was laced with a hint of petulance, but her eyes couldn't help but redden.

  "Your Majesty, don't think too much, Your Majesty's good fortune will surely bring you a long and boundless life." Zhang Deshun hastily spoke to comfort him.

  Zhaogong Emperor smiled and slightly closed his eyes, coughing softly.

  Zhen Fei handed the jade bowl to Zhang De Shun while softly laughing and saying: "Your Majesty, don't think too much, just focus on recuperating. The imperial physician also said that Your Majesty's illness is due to excessive worry and overthinking; as long as you can calm your mind and nourish your energy, and avoid overexertion and worrying, your body will definitely recover."

  Jian Zhao Emperor fell silent and closed his eyes as if he had fallen asleep. Zhen Fei hastily dismissed the crowd, leaving only herself sitting quietly by the bed, accompanying him.

  After a while, footsteps sounded and Zhang Deshun walked in again, slightly excitedly reporting in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince have returned."

  Zhen Fei's pair of autumn water-like eyes suddenly lit up and immediately turned towards the palace gate.

  Emperor Zhao suddenly seemed to regain his spirit and sat up straight, saying repeatedly: "Quickly announce, quickly let them come in."

  "Yes." Zhang Deshun smiled and took two steps back, shouting: "Announce the arrival of the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince!" The voice echoed outside the hall, and in a short while, two people walked in one after the other. The person in front had a straight posture, wearing a long white-green robe, with no hair crown on his head, and his black hair was casually tied with a green ribbon around his waist. His movements were elegant and refined, with a calm and serene demeanor. The person walking behind him was younger, with handsome eyebrows and bright eyes, full of vigor and vitality. When he smiled, it was as if the warm sunshine had entered people's hearts, brightening their eyes and filling them with warmth.

  "The child pays respects to the Emperor Father." The two of them knelt down together, with their knees on the ground, and paid their respects with a solemn and respectful bow.

  "Xiao Wu, Xiao Qi, get up quickly!" Zhao Jian Emperor's eyebrows and eyes were relaxed and happy, his mood was extremely good.

  The two men stood up and bowed again to Zhen Fei.

  Zhen Fei hastily got up from the bedside, nodding her head. A pair of charming eyes like silk, hiding shyness, eyelashes fluttering, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks, so beautiful that it was hard to look away.

  Zhao Gan Emperor leaned against the bedside, with a smile at the corner of his mouth: "Didn't you say you'd be back in a few more days? How come you're back today?"

  "The child heard that the emperor's health was poor and his heart was worried, so he hurried back." Yuan Longqi leaned forward, with deep concern in his eyes.

  A figure in apricot yellow slipped to the bedside in a few steps, knelt down and leaned against Emperor Zhaojian's legs, "Imperial Father, Xiaoqi misses you so much!"

  "This child is so big and still throwing a tantrum!" Emperor Zhao Qian lovingly stroked Yuan Longyun's hair, his tone doting.

  "His Royal Highness is only like this in front of Your Majesty, normally when handling affairs, who doesn't praise the Seventh Prince for being steady and reliable?" Zhang De Shun smiled and chimed in.

  The smile in Emperor Zhao's eyes grew stronger, revealing a few hints of pride and relief.

  Smelling the faint scent of herbs in the air, Yuan Longxiang knelt down motionless, his fingers grasping the corner of the quilt, burying his head as his nose felt a bit stuffy: "Father Emperor, please get better soon, I don't want Father Emperor to fall ill again."

  A sour feeling rose in his heart, and Emperor Zhao's hand trembled slightly as he stroked his hair.

  Everyone's expression couldn't help but be sorrowful, although the imperial physician didn't dare to speak directly, but it was a well-known fact that Emperor Zhaojian's body had already shown signs of exhaustion. Especially this time, the illness recurred, and the situation was critical, even causing him to fall into a coma for several days. This was also the reason why Yuan Longqi and Yuan Longlin rushed back day and night.

  Yuan Longqi stepped forward and pulled up his younger brother, comforting him by patting his shoulder. He forcibly held back the worry in his eyes and smiled: "Xiao Qi, let's take good care of Father Emperor together. Father Emperor will definitely get better soon."

  "Hmm." Yuan Longlin calmed himself down and turned to face Emperor Zhaojian with a smile, the radiance returning to his youthful face.

  He gazed at his fifth son with admiration, a silent understanding flowing quietly between them, though unspoken, it was more powerful than a thousand words.

  "The Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince have been traveling in the wind and dust, it seems that as soon as they enter the palace, they will come to see Your Majesty directly. Why not let the two princes rest and tidy up first before coming to accompany Your Majesty?" The gentle voice of Zhen Fei suddenly rang out, her soft tone extremely pleasant to hear.

  Perhaps due to his good mood, Emperor Zhao's spirit also became exceptionally good. He smiled warmly and stretched out his hand towards Imperial Consort Zhen, who hastily stepped forward to grasp it. "Zhen'er is right, it was my oversight. You two brothers quickly go rest, tonight I will have Zhang De Shun summon all your brothers into the palace, we'll have a good reunion. Xiao Wu, you don't need to return to the manor either, just take a break in the palace to avoid running back and forth."

  Yuan Longkui and Yuan Longlin exchanged a glance, both smiling as they bowed: "Yes, we will obey."

  Her eyes followed Zhang Deshun as he sent the two brothers out, and Zhen Fei sat back down on the bed, letting out a long sigh of infinite regret.

  Zhaodian Emperor: "What's wrong? Why are you sighing?"

  Another sigh, Zhen Fei shook her head and said: "I am because I saw the fifth prince, so I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss."

  With a questioning gaze, Emperor Zhao Jian raised an eyebrow and looked at her.

  "Your Highness has the appearance of a dragon and phoenix, although the Prime Minister's daughter is talented and virtuous, in terms of looks... " She paused before continuing, "Indeed, she doesn't quite match up."

  With a thoughtful expression, he closed his eyes, and his chest rose and fell slowly and evenly, as if he were pondering something, yet seemed to have fallen asleep again.

  Zhen Fei leaned forward, cautiously speaking: "I heard that General Xia's family has two more unmarried young ladies, with the same beautiful appearance and stunning looks. Why not summon them to the palace one day for Your Majesty to take a look? If they are indeed as good as the rumors say, it wouldn't be bad to choose one of them as a concubine for the Fifth Prince. It's not like it would make the Fifth Prince too humiliated, what does Your Majesty think?"