Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Wei Yi had no choice but to make the trip.

The Chi Family were old ministers from his former princely household, and he had been betrothed to Chi Wan for years.

Back in Liangzhou, he had stubbornly kept the engagement in place for years without marrying her. Even after ascending the throne, he had never granted her the position of empress that was her due as his principal wife. The Chi Family had long since grown dissatisfied.

But the Chi Family’s merit in helping him seize the throne was already immense, and they also held military power. If they were to gain the empress’s position as well, then they would be the ones who ought to feel apprehensive.

Thus, although Chi Wan had not been made empress, the Chi Family had not made too much of an issue of it.

“I’m going out for a while. I’ll be back soon,” Wei Yi said.

A necessary show of concern was still required.

Otherwise, the old ministers would inevitably grow resentful and lose heart.

Sheng Zhaoning showed little reaction. If anything, she seemed faintly relieved.

“Mm,” she replied, lowering her gaze.

Wei Yi swept her a deep look. When he confirmed that her eyes held none of the emotion he wanted to see, he did not make his displeasure as obvious as he usually did. His expression, however, remained grim.

He turned with a dark face and strode away.

Sheng Zhaoning watched his back disappear through the courtyard gate.

At last, he was gone.

After confirming that Wei Yi had gone far enough, Sheng Zhaoning said, “Tao Rui, help me take the jewelry box out of the cabinet.”

There were many maids in Changhua Hall, but the only one who had remained at her side through all the changes was Tao Rui.

Tao Rui and Dan Qing had originally been transferred over together from the Twelve Directorates. At the time, Sheng Zhaoning had not known Dan Qing’s identity or purpose.

Now that Dan Qing had met with disaster and been killed, Tao Rui, who knew what had happened behind the scenes, was even more wary and fearful of her.

She hurried over and took the box from the cabinet.

“Miss, here.” She carefully presented the sandalwood box to her.

Sheng Zhaoning reached out and took it.

The wooden box was small, containing only a few jade hairpins scattered inside.

Most of it was merely a decoy, concealing a hidden compartment beneath the wooden panel.

Tao Rui kept her eyes fixed on Sheng Zhaoning, carrying out her duty of surveillance.

Sheng Zhaoning sighed inwardly. With no one reliable by her side, it truly was inconvenient to do anything.

Wei Yi had been putting on a good show these days. He had even asked whether she wanted to bring Jin He back to the palace.

But Sheng Zhaoning knew perfectly well that he did not want Jin He to return.

Having one more trustworthy person at her side would give her one more source of help. If she needed to conceal certain matters deliberately, they would not be discovered so easily.

Wei Yi would never allow her to slip beyond his control.

After Jin He left the palace, Sheng Zhaoning did not know where she had gone. But if Wei Yi wanted to find her, he could bring her back with enough effort.

Naturally, Sheng Zhaoning would never agree. She had gone to great lengths to get Jin He out. How could she let her return to this deadly palace?

“Bring me another cup of water,” she said.

Tao Rui glanced at the box in her hands, her eyes wavering briefly.

The jade hairpins could be used as weapons, so she ought to be on guard. But she could not make that too obvious.

Still, Sheng Zhaoning had shown no intention of taking her own life these past few days, and she had been taking her medicine properly and recuperating.

After weighing it over several times, Tao Rui curtsied slightly and said, “Yes.”

She walked to the table to pour the water, looking back three times with every step.

Sheng Zhaoning watched the figure by the table, her gaze turning cold.

The moment Tao Rui lowered her head, Sheng Zhaoning’s fingers moved swiftly. She took the medicine hidden in the compartment and slipped it into her sleeve.

At that very moment, Tao Rui raised her head and returned with the teacup.

A cup of tea was held out in front of her.

“Please have some, miss.”

Sheng Zhaoning discreetly pushed the medicine bottle farther inward.

She closed the box, accepted the cup, drank half of it, and returned both the tea and the wooden box to Tao Rui.

Both items were placed back where they had been.

The black pill was hidden in her palm. With a turn of her body, she slipped it into her mouth.

Bitterness spread across her tongue and between her teeth.

The medicine was extremely potent, and taking it would damage her health.

She had not been afraid of that before.

But now that she had finally nursed her body back to some semblance of health, she did not want to fall into any kind of illness again.

Compared with the price of bearing Wei Yi’s child, however, this cost was insignificant.

The medicine’s effects surged through her, and Sheng Zhaoning sank into a heavy sleep.

Dusk fell once more.

No one knew how much time had passed. Another layer of fresh charcoal had been added to the brazier, warming the air around them. A candle had been lit in the distance, casting a faint, hazy yellow glow.

When Wei Yi returned, the night was already deep.

Irritable exhaustion lingered between his brows. The moment he stepped through the palace doors, he unfastened his outer robe and tossed it aside. Then, with quiet steps, he entered the inner chamber and began searching the room.

When his gaze landed on the figure lying on the bed, some of the frustration in his heart finally eased.

“Have them bring water,” Wei Yi ordered coldly.

The maids lowered their eyes and acknowledged him before bringing in hot water and gradually filling the bathing tub.

Clouds of steam rose and dispersed.

Wei Yi went around behind the screen and carefully washed himself from head to toe. Only after he had removed the scent he had picked up from someone else did he return to the inner hall in his underclothes.

He lay down on the bed with practiced ease and instinctively pulled Sheng Zhaoning into his arms.

Sheng Zhaoning frowned and subconsciously struggled, but she could not break free.

“Hold still,” Wei Yi said in a low voice.

He rubbed at his brow, genuinely weary.

Chi Wan’s methods were far too clumsy. Such crude tricks could be seen through at a glance.

He had no interest in playing along with such a shoddy act, but her crying and pleading had kept him there until now.

Wei Yi was thoroughly irritated.

The imperial court had only just settled down. Ao Chun’s military authority had been reclaimed, leaving only the Chi Family.

If the Chi Family were willing to behave and show some sense, he was unwilling to raise a hand against former ministers who had once served him.

As for Chi Wan, she did indeed need to be given a proper warning.

Trapped in his arms, Sheng Zhaoning shifted inward in discomfort.

Wei Yi always liked to hold her tightly. His arms were hard and unyielding, often constricting her so thoroughly that she could not move at all. He was domineering and overbearing.

Her eyes remained closed, and she could not wake. She had no strength even to push him away, only frowning as a few faint whimpers escaped her.

At first, Wei Yi noticed nothing unusual.

He drew her farther into his embrace, brushing his chin over the crown of her head. When he felt its softness, something stirred in his heart. He then sought her face with his lips and lowered his head to peck the corner of her mouth.

The restless spark of desire had only just been kindled when he finally noticed the abnormal, scorching heat of her cheek.

Wei Yi jolted fully awake.

He released her and practically sprang to his feet, reaching out to touch her forehead.

It was burning hot.

Wei Yi’s breath hitched, and his heart seemed to stop for a moment.

Clenching his fists, his eyes wide with fury, he shouted toward the doorway, “Go bring Zhou Lingsheng here!”