The woman on the bed was pale, her eyes tightly closed, and her red lips were also cracked in several places, with blood seeping out. Her entire body was covered in bruises, but originally snow-white skin now had not a single unblemished spot, with purple and blue marks all over, shocking to behold. Especially those few areas, the bruises covered up the original skin color, making it impossible to see the original smooth complexion.

  Compared with it, the worst is yet to come.

  Even as an emperor, even with a strong self, just one glance, and only dull pain remains in the heart.

  He once admired her vitality, he had secretly made up his mind to protect her innocence and beauty, he was also the one who wanted to shelter her under his wings, but now, all of this is because of him.

  Zong Zhengjin helped her cover herself with a quilt and put on her clothes before walking out.

  Xiao Fu Zi had long since dispersed the palace staff outside, only keeping himself at a distance. He faintly heard the movements coming from inside the inner chamber, but he didn't dare to get any closer, pretending not to know.

  Everyone knows that tonight is the 15th and His Majesty should be in the Kunning Palace.

  "Your Majesty, is there anything else you would like to instruct?"

  "Go and ask Imperial Physician, hurry up."

  Xiao Fu Zi was just about to respond when a figure suddenly flashed by his side, and he immediately thought of something, knelt down on the ground, and kept kowtowing.

  Zong Zhengjin obviously didn't have the heart to argue with him, "Quickly go get some hot water."

  Xiao Fu Zi waited quietly for a moment, and found no one around. Just as he was feeling puzzled, he looked up to see the Emperor staring at him with a gloomy face. He immediately came back to his senses, got up and ran towards the kitchen.

  Zong Zhengjin personally carried her to the bathroom, inch by inch helping her clean up. Every touch was like touching the softest part of his heart, hurting him extremely.

  "How is she?"

  Director Zhang was not on duty tonight, he was sleeping at home, but was suddenly pulled out of bed and ran away. When he came to his senses, he had already arrived here, and the whole process took less than two quarters of an hour.

  "After the first diagnosis, I already had a general idea. Suppressing the shock and astonishment in my heart, I knelt on the ground and said in a low voice, 'Reporting to Your Majesty, the situation is not too good, Zhen Zhuangzi's injury is quite severe.'"

  He could guess that the problem might be with the emperor himself, and the two of them had been together for so long, yet they still endured like Zhen Zhu's master and servant, suffering such injuries but still persisting in bearing it, this kind of woman was truly rare.

  If it weren't for loving the emperor too deeply, then it would be due to being overly calculating, competing for favor and willing to sacrifice one's own life without regard.

  Zong Zhengjin's eyes were fixed on the person lying on the bed, his gaze complex and unclear. His hand tightly grasped the soft object in the quilt, his fingers interlocking.

  "I, your humble servant, will prepare the medicine. For external injuries, it is easy to apply and heal, just apply it to the affected area and it will get better in about 10 days. As for internal injuries, you need to take a medicinal bath three times, accompanied by medicinal congee and decoctions, and you will see improvement in half a month. Complete recovery may take another month."

  "I understand, for this period of time, you will personally take care of her body."

  "Your humble servant obeys your orders, during this period of time, remember not to engage in conjugal relations again, and also maintain a comfortable mood, only then can you recover faster," said Zhang Taishi.

  It was just this last time that he accidentally mentioned it, these two times coming to Zuiyun Pavilion for a diagnosis, he could already be certain that this master and the others in the harem were different, as for where they were different, he couldn't say.

  He remembered that whether it was the Empress's loss of two princes in the past, or Shu Guifei's two miscarriages, the Emperor had never been as heartbroken as he was today. Even though he didn't say a word and his face remained calm, he could still feel this unspeakable pain.

  So today is also considered selling her a good one.

  "Uh, what should be said and what shouldn't be said, you should know, go down."

  Zhang Taichang bowed and walked out, raising his head to see that the moonlight outside was shallow and faint, and it was already the third watch.

  Zong Zhengjin waved his hand, gazed at her for a moment, applied medicine to her himself, took off his outer garment, got into bed, and tightly hugged her.

  A sleepless night.

  Su Jing woke up at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and before she even opened her eyes, she could feel the pain all over her body. This piercing pain was unprecedented, and it brought tears to her eyes.

  A pair of wide and large hands lifted her up, scorching breath sprayed on both cheeks, soft and slightly wet lips gently wiped away the tears from her eyes.

  "Huang Shang" Su Jing opened her eyes, with a clear surprise and excitement in her pupils, as well as a hint of grievance.

  Zong Zhengjin's heart softened, and he didn't want to dwell on many things. He put the dark red embroidered golden brocade quilt on her legs, kissed the corners of her eyes, "Does it hurt a lot?"

  "Su Jing's words were sincere and unadorned, without any pretence of being strong."

  Proper weakness can arouse a man's protective desire, especially since she looks like this because of him, he will only feel more guilty and heartbroken.

  "Hmm, I know," "How can such a serious injury not hurt?" "Are you hungry? Eat something."

  Su Jing nodded, "Mm, I want to eat something delicious."

  "En, can, only you now have many things cannot eat, wait well, I will give you send many delicious food, anything is possible."

  It's a gift, not a reward.

  Su Jingxiao revealed a smile, and her small white face suddenly had much more vitality. Zong Zhengjin also smiled when he saw this, and his originally serious face finally eased up some of its coldness.

  Zong Zhengjin walked out, and Yao hurried in, "Master, you"

  "Why cry? Your master is still alive and well, isn't he?"

  Last night, Ben was on duty with Yao, but he fell asleep during the night watch. However, it was Dai Man who woke her up early this morning. As soon as she opened her eyes, she knew something was wrong, and indeed, something had happened.

  The emperor came down from court and gave them a visit, entrusting them to take good care of her.

  It wasn't until she personally helped her master apply medicine that she knew how severe the injury was. As a woman and a doctor, she understood more clearly than anyone else how these injuries were inflicted and how serious they were.

  But no matter how afraid she was, how worried she was, and how heartbroken she was, none of it could be revealed, because the one who caused all this was the Emperor.

  "The master is like this, if the lady knew, she would be heartbroken," heard Yao wiping away tears.

  Su Jing struggled to get up, and Yao hurried over to support her. Su Jing patted her hand, "Silly girl, Mother won't know about it, I'm clear about my own body, and it's not like I'm going to die or anything, don't worry."

  Xiang Yao had been with her for the longest time, and the relationship between them was no longer just that of a master and servant, but also sisters, as well as dependent on each other's lives. Su Jingfan felt moved in her heart.

  In this deep palace, there is still warmth after all.

  "Yes, Master will recover soon. I'll definitely help Master take care of his body and make him as healthy as before," Yao said with a pat on her chest.

  Su Jing smiled and didn't say much.

  She will naturally get better and be even better than before.

  This is certain.

  After washing and dressing, Su Jing was supported by Yao's arm as she came out of the inner room. Zong Zhengjin saw her and hurried over to personally support her, half-embracing and half-hugging her onto a stool. "All of you can leave now."

  Xiang Yao was somewhat unwilling, but Su Jingyu gave her a look and she eventually left with Su Shunian's pulling.

  "This palace maid is indeed loyal to you," he had vaguely heard what they were saying in the inner chamber just now.

  Su Jingxi is fearless now, "Your Majesty is just envious, it's just that you're envious, the concubine won't give her to you either."

  Zong Zhengjin couldn't help it and gave her a pair of chopsticks with some pigeon meat, "Don't worry, I won't want any other woman."

  Su Jing smiled silently and didn't say a word, thinking that the other woman was referring to Ting Yao.

  Zong Zhengjin wasn't hungry, even though he hadn't eaten much at noon, but now, he was completely immersed in the joy of feeding her, constantly serving dishes.

  This was the first time, regardless of the emperor and concubine identity, regardless of the monarch and minister, putting aside worldly conventions, not following etiquette, truly and intimately having a meal with her, just like an ordinary family.

  "Have some more, Your Majesty," Su Jing also picked up a dish with her chopsticks for him.

  Su Jing could feel the change in atmosphere during this period, although she liked it very much, but if such a result required paying such a huge price to get, it was too tragic for her, and she would rather not have it.

  Su Jingxi under his temptation, ate two bowls of rice and swept away half of the dishes, touching her round belly, "The concubine seems to be getting fat again."

  Nothing, I looked at it yesterday and there wasn't much meat. Holding "Zong Zhengjin subconsciously retorted, then thought of something and swallowed it hard.

  Su Jing whispered softly, with a smile, "Does Your Majesty have any business tonight?"

  Nothing's wrong, how would you like it? Zong Zhengjin recovered his gentle smile and asked.

  Su Jing furrowed her delicate eyebrows and thought carefully, "The concubines don't know either, but now they can't sleep either. The emperor has to accompany the concubines."

  "Hmm," Zong Zhengjin replied readily. Before Bai Ri woke up, he had quickly handled all the urgent government affairs. "What to do next?"

  "Let's play chess with the emperor and his concubines," Su Jing's eyes sparkled with interest.

  Zong Zhengjin had never heard of her chess skills, although playing chess emphasizes the importance of meeting a worthy opponent. He rarely played chess with imperial consorts, and in the entire palace, only Shu Gui Fei and An Liang Gui were barely able to play against him. But making an exception for her was one thing; she probably wouldn't be too bad at it anyway.

  "Good."

  Only after he had lost a few games did he realize how far off the mark he was.

  "Ah, no, not here, concubine wants to get off here"

  Zong Zhengjin was speechless at her regretful chess move.

  "No, Your Majesty, you can't come down here"

  Zong Zhengjin had no choice but to move the chess piece one position in accordance with the trend.

  "Your Majesty, can't you spare just one more son?"

  Zong Zhengjin has given up his futile struggle.

  “”

  “”

  Her chess skills can be described with the words "smelly and unbearable", her chess style is even more indescribable, not even comparable to that of a few-year-old child.

  He vaguely remembered that he seemed to have started learning Go at the age of four, and at that time, it seemed better than his current state.

  Palace Concubine (Yi Shu)

  Gong Shu