Chapter 155 Excuses to Avoid Bedding the Emperor

Chapter 155: An Excuse to Get Out of Sleeping with the Emperor

"Your Majesty, you're here…"

When Consort Li saw Emperor Jingyang, she struggled to rise and pay her respects, but the emperor stopped her.

"My dear, you're unwell, so there's no need for formalities."

He said, sitting down by the bed, suspicion and confusion flickered in his deep eyes.

"My beloved consort, what happened to you?"

"When I came this morning, you were perfectly fine. How did you get so sick by evening?"

Consort Li knew the emperor was testing her, and she cursed inwardly, "This damn Emperor Jingyang is indeed suspicious. Fortunately, I was wise today and didn't pretend to be sick."

Her eyes reddened, and a look of grief and coldness crossed her face. She thought for a moment and decided she needed a scapegoat.

Thus, she placed all the blame on Ji Yuntang.

"Your Majesty, I don't know why I suddenly fell ill. But as soon as Princess Ye came today, I caught a chill in the evening. Tonight, I'm afraid I cannot attend to you."

Under the moonlight, her face was exceptionally pale. Her voice was hoarse, and a sickly gleam shone in her beautiful eyes. Before she could finish two sentences, she began to cough.

"Cough, cough… cough, cough…"

This hint made Jian Lan understand immediately. She knelt and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Li told the absolute truth."

"Consort Li was perfectly fine before, but today Princess Ye suddenly barged into Weiyang Palace, claiming a young eunuch had faked Consort Li's order to summon her."

"When Princess Ye started striking the Tenth Princess with a ruler while our mistress was taking her afternoon nap, Consort Li was startled. Soon after, she fell ill. Please, Your Majesty, see that Consort Li gets justice."

By twisting Xiao Shunzi's summons into Ji Yuntang's intrusion, she made it clear that Ji Yuntang had deliberately come to cause trouble in Weiyang Palace.

Emperor Jingyang frowned. He didn't completely disbelieve Consort Li, but he didn't fully believe it either.

After all, today the emperor, the empress, Luo Qingge, and many others had come to Weiyang Palace.

It wasn't just Ji Yuntang.

Consort Li blaming her illness on Ji Yuntang's visit was way too far-fetched.

Emperor Jingyang certainly couldn't convict Ji Yuntang based on such flimsy grounds. He knew she was a troublemaker but also smart and hard to deal with.

But he didn't want to embarrass Consort Li, so he said, "I already dealt with today's matter this afternoon. The empress was present at the time. No point rehashing old business."

"My beloved consort, you are unwell. Rest well. I will come to see you another day."

Consort Li felt a surge of joy. Though she hadn't made Emperor Jingyang punish Ji Yuntang, she had achieved her goal of sending him away.

Her ice bath was worth it.

"I, your consort, bid you farewell…"

Before Consort Li could finish her sentence, she saw Emperor Jingyang, who had already reached the door, suddenly turn back.

Her expression slightly changed. Why was this bastard coming back after leaving?

Emperor Jingyang walked back in and started yelling at Jian Lan and Nanny Sun.

"Your mistress has caught a chill. How are you servants looking after her? Is this how you care for Consort Li when I'm not here? Believe me, I'll skin you alive!"

"What are you standing around for? Why haven't you gone to the Imperial Hospital to summon a physician to check on your mistress?"

Consort Li twitched her lips, a flicker of sarcasm in her eyes.

Hmph, Emperor Jingyang still didn't trust her, didn't believe she was genuinely ill.

This man just keeps getting more disgusting!

Nanny Sun was terrified, her body trembling slightly, and she quickly said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I'll go fetch Imperial Physician Zhu right away to examine our mistress."

Consort Li hadn't called for a doctor right away after her ice bath because she wanted her illness to appear more severe.

At Emperor Jingyang's shouting, the servants of Weiyang Palace began bustling about.

Some tended to her, some boiled water; everyone appeared diligent.

Emperor Jingyang was no longer in a hurry to leave. He turned and came back to Consort Li's bedside, pretending to be concerned.

His eyes full of feigned affection, he asked, "My beloved consort, I have neglected you all these years. Have you ever hated me?"

Consort Li felt disgusted inside, but on her pale face, she displayed a trace of panic. She shook her head and said:

"Your Majesty, I have never resented you. I know my status is lowly, nothing compared to the other consorts. Being able to enter the palace and serve by your side, to receive Your Majesty's favor, is already my great honor."

As she spoke, her eyes softened, and a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

"Though Your Majesty rarely comes to my palace these years, you've never been tight with my supplies. I lack nothing in Weiyang Palace. I can't even put into words how grateful I am; how could I possibly hate you?"

Emperor Jingyang loved hearing that.

Who in the palace hasn't benefited from his grace?

But it was rare to find a consort who remembered his kindness like she did.

Seems she was head over heels for him.

"Good, good, good. I'm very gratified you feel that way. I will have Zhang Fugui send you additional rewards later. If you need anything, just tell him."

Consort Li pursed her lips and said dismissively, "Your humble consort thanks Your Majesty."

Just then, Nanny Sun led in a man in a blue robe carrying a medicine box.

The man was in his fifties, square-faced with sharp eyes, his hair slightly white and his eyes gleaming with cunning.

The moment Consort Li saw him, she knew the plan was set.

Because the person Nanny Sun had summoned was Imperial Physician Zhu.

And Imperial Physician Zhu had been on her payroll for a while.

Imperial Physician Zhu saw Emperor Jingyang and immediately knelt to pay his respects. "Your servant greets Your Majesty. May you be blessed."

Emperor Jingyang waved his hand dismissively. "Come check on Consort Li. How is she doing?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Imperial Physician Zhu walked to Consort Li's bedside, exchanged a knowing look with her, and started feeling her pulse.

When he arrived, Nanny Sun had already informed him of Consort Li's condition, so he naturally knew what to say.

Although Consort Li's cold was not severe, Imperial Physician Zhu greatly exaggerated her actual condition.

"In reply to Your Majesty, Consort Li has contracted a severe cold. I'm afraid she won't be able to get out of bed for several days, nor do anything too strenuous. I'll prescribe a medicinal formula for her to recover during this time. Her Ladyship must stay in good spirits for the illness to heal quickly."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingyang was slightly taken aback. Was Consort Li's illness really that serious? She couldn't even get out of bed?

He had been about to leave at that moment, but the more he thought about it, the more suspicious he found Consort Li's sudden illness. Moreover, he recalled that he had intended for her to share his bed tonight.

Emperor Jingyang couldn't help but secretly speculate: Could Consort Li be deliberately making excuses because she didn't want to serve him tonight?

------------