Chapter 450

Chapter 450 The Emperor smiled and tossed the jade pendant onto the desk. The pendant rolled across the desk a few times before bumping against the edge of a memorial. It was only thanks to that stack of memorials blocking its path that it didn't fall off the desk. He said casually, "You may not be prone to jealousy, but that doesn't mean you don't have a sour streak." "Otherwise, why would your face fall just because I was holding a jade pendant?" Xie Run: "!!" "When did my face fall?!" The Emperor patiently coaxed her, "Enough, enough, I must have seen wrong." "Suisui is smiling so sweetly, of course she isn't jealous." Xie Run muttered, "...Why does Your Majesty sound like some lecherous rogue?" He chuckled, "If you don't like this jade pendant, I'll have someone throw it away." Xie Run raised an eyebrow, "Would Your Majesty bear to part with it?" This was a token of love between him and his childhood sweetheart, after all. What a pity it would be to just throw it away. The Emperor asked, puzzled, "Why wouldn't I bear to part with it?!" Xie Run: "...Lady-in-waiting Bai had someone deliver this jade pendant to Your Majesty—surely it must have some significance?" The Emperor looked at Xie Run with a knowing smile, as if to say, I know you're jealous. Xie Run wanted to get to the bottom of the gossip, so she could only silently bear the blame. The Emperor paused for a moment before saying, "I've been thinking about it for a long time, but I still can't recall why she sent me this jade pendant." Fortunately, Xie Run wasn't staring at the Emperor's face, or she feared she wouldn't be able to keep her composure. The token of love that had been famous throughout the Six Palaces in her past life—the Emperor couldn't even recognize it in this one. In an instant, Xie Run had already figured it out. The Emperor had lived for decades; the things he'd given away were probably countless. For something to stick in his memory, it either had to be extraordinarily precious, or carry special sentimental value. Clearly, the jade pendant in Bai Fu's possession was neither. In her past life, the Emperor had doted on Bai Fu. When Bai Fu held up the jade pendant and claimed it was their token of love, could the Emperor have denied it? Acknowledging it cost him nothing—it gave him a romantic tale to tell and could even serve as a bit of amusement. In this life, Bai Fu held a low rank and wasn't favored. When the Emperor saw this jade pendant, he probably couldn't even be bothered to give it a second glance. The jade pendant was still the same jade pendant. If the Emperor acknowledged it, it was a childhood keepsake. If the Emperor didn't, it was merely an ordinary piece of jade. Xie Run: "If Your Majesty doesn't even know Lady-in-waiting Bai's intentions, why keep the jade pendant and deliberately bring it before me?" The Emperor pinched Xie Run's nose, "You ungrateful little thing." "I kept this jade pendant only to tell you that Bai is someone who can't stay still." "She schemed against you before, and now she's trying every means to get this jade pendant to the Imperial Study." "I suspect this jade pendant was given out by me, and she wants to use it to stir up old feelings, using my hand to spar with you." "I showed you this jade pendant today just to let you know." "When I leave the palace in the future, if this Bai woman does anything else untoward, you may deal with her directly." Xie Run never expected the Emperor to say such a thing. She thought for a moment before replying, "No matter how many schemes she has, as long as she doesn't harbor ill intent toward others or violate palace rules, I won't deliberately punish her." "But if she refuses to stay in line and courts her own ruin, now that I have Your Majesty's word, I won't be soft-handed." The Emperor pulled Xie Run into his arms in one motion, "I love that you're so clear about gratitude and grudges." In the third month of spring, the capital was bustling with excitement. Everyone knew the Emperor was going to lead the campaign personally. From the initial anxiety to the present unity of purpose, all were praying for the Emperor to reclaim the Xia Dynasty and return in triumph. Xie Run had been hand-sewing a great cloak since winter. Working against the clock, she finally finished it the day before the Emperor's departure. She had specially consecrated an extremely hard jade plaque at Baohua Temple and sewn it into the chest of the cloak. She only hoped that, as in the storybooks, it might save the Emperor's life at a critical moment. The Emperor felt the jade plaque at the cloak's chest and listened to Xie Run's words, his smile impossible to contain. His gaze at Xie Run was filled with warmth and indulgence. For a fleeting moment, it even resembled the way Xie Run looked at Taotao. "Your feelings—I know them all." That was the last thing the Emperor said before coaxing Xie Run to sleep. Before Liuzheng Hall, Xie Run stood in resplendent attire, holding Taotao's hand, bidding farewell to the Emperor alongside the other consorts and concubines. The occasion was far too solemn and formal. Xie Run could only gaze at the Emperor with tears in her eyes, not daring to say much. The Emperor, clad in armor, exuded authority and sharpness in every feature. After exchanging greetings with those of the harem, it was time to depart. But unexpectedly, his gaze landed on Xie Run's face, and he suddenly raised his hand to embrace her. Xie Run was taken aback, "Your Majesty..." This was surely against protocol. But Xie Run rarely did things to spoil the mood. Since the Emperor had already embraced her, what was the point of bringing up protocol now? He patted her on the back, his voice deep and steady, "Take care of yourself in the capital. When I unite the realm and return in triumph, I will make you my Empress!" Xie Run stood frozen in place, unable to snap back to her senses for a long while. After the great shock, the Emperor had already mounted his horse, his figure growing ever more distant. Banners fluttered on both sides, the sound of wind whipping through the air ringing in her ears. The sound of war horns pierced the sky, and a heroic spirit seemed to surge through the clouds. Xie Run had never in her life witnessed such a grand and magnificent spectacle. She could only quietly hope in her heart that the Emperor's return would be just as grand. Whether for the Empress position he had promised, or for Taotao and Baozhen's sake, Xie Run longed for the Emperor's triumphant return. Three years later— Time flew by, and before she knew it, Baozhen was already running all over Zhaohua Palace. In the year the Emperor left the palace, Taotao had moved into the Princes' Residence. In the three years since entering the Princes' Residence, he had been instructed by several venerable elder ministers of the court and had already become far more composed. Today, the Princes' Residence had a day off, and Taotao had returned to Zhaohua Palace. Consort Shen had brought the Third Princess over early in the morning, letting the three siblings play together. Before long, a palace attendant came to report, "Your Ladyship, the Sixth Prince has arrived." The year before last, as soon as the Sixth Prince turned five, he had eagerly insisted on moving to the Princes' Residence to live with the Fifth Prince. Lady Xian had originally refused. But the Sixth Prince made such a fuss that he ran straight to Xie Run and Consort Jingshu, crying in front of them. Xie Run and Consort Jingshu then allowed the Sixth Prince to move into the Princes' Residence according to palace regulations. Lady Xian was certainly displeased, but she no longer had that fiery spirit she once possessed, and could only secretly fume to herself. Every time she woke from a midnight dream, she would dream that all her painstaking efforts had ultimately been made into a wedding dress for someone else. Xie Run knew she was petty and often worried that she would make herself sick with anger. After the Sixth Prince moved into the Princes' Residence, he ate and played with Taotao every day, and the bond between the two brothers grew stronger and stronger. Now they were inseparable—like Meng and Jiao, never apart. So before Taotao had even warmed his seat upon returning, the Sixth Prince came knocking at the door.