TEHAI

C2- HEADACHE

Names mentioned in this chapter (which can also be found in the glossary):
-廖青青(Liào qīngqīng)- Liao Qing Qing, the female lead.
-廖容华(Liào róng Huà)- Lady Liao of Lovely Countenance, the female lead’s current designation.
-景礼帝(jǐng lǐ dì)- Emperor Jing Li, the male lead.
-福生(fú shēng)- Fu Sheng, the emperor’s chief eunuch.
-荷香(Hé xiāng)- He Xiang, the female lead’s maidservant
-梨声阁(lí shēng gé)-Lisheng Pavillion, the place where the female lead resides.
-正乾宫(zhēng qián gōng)- Zhengqian Palace, the place the male lead resides.
–清风苑(qīngfēng yuàn)- Qingfeng Garden
–梁贵妃(liáng guìfēi)- Noble Consort Liang

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After waiting for a long time, she didn’t sense any movement from the person beside her.
Liao Qing Qing slowly let down her guard; subsequently, her body and mind relaxed.
In a short while, she unknowingly fell asleep.

She jerked from the bed as if she was startled by something. She was in a daze momentarily, before she realised that it was already dawn.
She subconsciously looked around her, but there was nothing there.
Where is the Emperor?

Hearing the movements, He Xiang slowly walked in and greeted her with a smile, “Master, you are awake. The Emperor went to attend the morning imperial court before dawn.”

“The Emperor has gone to the morning court?” Liao Qing Qing inquired in surprise. She subconsciously touched her body. She didn’t feel any different.
“Master, what’s wrong?” He Xiang asked in confusion.

The Emperor did not sleep with her?
Liao Qing Qi was even more confused. She was promoted and asked to perform nightly duties. It caused such a huge commotion and the result was just lying in a bed and simply sleeping.
There was no real action!
This is too strange, isn’t it?
Could it be that Emperor Jing Li is impotent?
He came here to sleep just to cover up his inability to be a man. Otherwise, he would have many beautiful women in his harem.
Why was he still childless up till now?
It was clear that the Emperor had an illness.
An unmentionable disease!

At the time when Liao Qing Qing concluded that Emperor Jing Li was impotent, Emperor Jing Li had left the imperial court and was sitting at Zhengqian Palace having his meal.
Seeing that Emperor Jing Li was in a good mood, Fu Sheng beside him couldn’t help but say, “Your Majesty, the crystal shrimp dumplings cooked by the Suzhuo’s cook are good. It has a blend of the flavours of Jiangnan with the style of our capital. Please have a try.”

“En.” Emperor Jing Li nodded. “Not bad.”

“Your Majesty, have some more of this snow fungus soup.”[1]

“Mm.”

After serving Emperor Jing Li with his meal, Fu Sheng cautiously asked, “Your Majesty, should we go to the Imperial Garden or to Qingfeng Garden for a walk later?”

He had followed Emperor Jing Li for many years and still could not understand his mind, but he knew that he had the habit of taking a daily walk.

“I won’t be going for a walk today.” Emperor Jing Li said.

Fu Sheng was puzzled, but also responded, “Yes.”

Jing Li turned and went to the imperial study. He turned on his work mode, going through the imperial dossiers one by one, unknowingly working straight till noon.

It was only when Fu Sheng reminded him to eat that he put aside his vermilion brush.
When he sat down at the table, he felt a little hungry and picked up his chopsticks, but a sudden headache struck him.
A headache!
A headache again!
His brow knitted in disbelief.

Sensing that something was odd, Fu Sheng called out, “Your Majesty.”

“It’s fine.” Emperor Jing Li waved his hand.