C29 Reward

"Willow breeze, lush peach blossom water, a small boat floating here, beautiful little sister, eyes water, face red fly, ask little sister, who are you going to see?" Butterfly bow dance, mandarin duck chase on water... " The embroidery on Murong's hands didn't stop. He hummed a vague melody, and those days appeared before his eyes in a trance once again.

In the extreme cold of winter, she was alone in a small courtyard in the northwest corner of the palace. She vaguely remembered that it was called the Hall of Rites, and the empty hall only had one small bed, Qing Xue, Mann Xue, and Nanny Rui were all gone. Her father's position was also suspended because of her uncle's investigation, and his Murong Family had fallen.

At that time, she didn't like embroidery. She couldn't stand it, and she wasn't good enough either. But in the Hall of Rites, where there wasn't even a hand stove, she embroidered the first pair of butterflies.

At that time, Duanmu Jue would forgive her and take her back, he would take care of her just like before, but when that pair of butterflies was half-way done, what awaited him was three feet of white silk, an imperial edict, and the news of the execution of the whole family.

"Hiss!" With a single thought from Murong Wanru, the embroidery needle pierced her hand. A drop of bright red blood fell onto the tip of her finger like a teardrop, and her eyes were filled with tears.

"Esteemed Empress, Eunuch Guan has come to declare the decree!" Qing Xue came in to report with a smile on her face.

"Let's announce it outside the pearl curtain. The rash on my face cannot be seen by the wind!" Murong used the back of his hand to wipe the corners of his eyes. A drop of bright red blood also randomly dripped onto the taut embroidery.

"The Emperor has rewarded Empress Murongbei with two bottles of Ultimate Pills of the North Sea, the Emperor has rewarded Empress Murong with a lion's mouth and a silver sprout tribute for serving tea, the Emperor has rewarded Empress Murong with nine colors and a jade ruyi, and the Emperor has rewarded Empress Murong with seven stars and a jade flute." After handing over the imperial edict to Qing Xue, he said with a bow, "The Emperor is concerned about the Empress's body, but due to the nation's busy affairs, he came to visit the Empress at the Fenglin Palace. He gave her a few rare toys to pacify her, and amongst them, this Seven Star Jade Flute was created by the master of the house, Huo Yunxiao. Knowing that the Empress likes to play the flute, His Majesty instructed her to make this jade flute.

"My body has not fully recovered yet. I cannot see the wind nor personally thank His Majesty. Please thank His Majesty, Eunuch Guan, on behalf of me!" Murong said gently, "Qing Xue, see Eunuch Guan out!"

Nanny Rui presented the imperial jade flute to Empress Murong. Her fingertips were cool and smooth, indeed made of high-quality jade. On the flute's body was a series of seven different stars arranged in neat rows.

"Put it aside!" Murong only glanced at it for a moment before picking up the embroidery zipper and continuing with it. He didn't have much interest in it. Nanny Rui knew that Murong Nichang liked flute and was good at playing the flute, so why didn't she like this rare jade flute at all?

"Empress, do you not like this Seven Star Jade Flute?"

"The quality is excellent, the design is ingenious, and even the pendant is lifelike. I really like it!" Murong's face was calm, without a trace of happiness.

"Empress, don't blame this old servant for speaking too much. No matter if it is within the palace walls or within the courtyard walls, if one wants to cover the sky with one hand, one must be doted on. How come the Empress is not happy at all after bestowing so many treasures?"

Murong Qian gave a faint smile as he rearranged the stitches on his embroidered tang and said, "It's not that he's not here, but I'm too lazy to put on a show. It's better to wait for him to come before smiling!"

"His Majesty really treats the Empress quite well, so why can't he keep her warm? In the past few days, not only has the Empress been sick, but she has also sent an imperial physician to check on her illness every three days, and every five days she has been rewarded with a gift, but the Empress has always been indifferent and unhappy."

"Don't worry about what we do, just do your job!" Nanny Rui scolded him slightly and left with Qing Xue.

How could Duanmu Jue know how to act in this life? Murong wouldn't be fooled. Her heart was already broken and scattered. Murong didn't care about what they said and only focused on embroidering a pair of beautiful butterflies.

"..."

In the past few days, he had been so busy that he didn't even have the time to ask about the new female elites entering the palace. He had even drank several pots of refreshed tea, and the servants in the room had all tensed up, not daring to make the slightest mistake while serving them.

"Your Majesty, the rewards have been sent to the Fenglin Palace," Guan Mi bowed and reported.

"En!" Duanmu Jue stopped his memorials. He looked at Guan Mi and asked, "Does the empress like it?"

"In reply to the emperor, Empress is too weak to see the wind and has not received an edict. This old servant does not know!" Guan Mi had a grudge with Murong Family, so he didn't plan to speak up for her.

"..." Guan Mi, did Imperial Doctor Faang say that purslane is not related to the Queen's rash? " Duanmu Jue's face revealed a hint of worry.

"Your Majesty, the two are indeed unrelated! Please do not blame yourself, Your Majesty! " Murong Nichang's body had just revealed a tiny abnormality and stopped drinking the tea for some reason. She even asked about it a few times, and Duanmu Jue was not a soft-hearted person, he could only have some feelings for this Murong Family.

"Guan Mi, I'll be staying at Mrs. Xuanhua's place tonight!" Duanmu Jue's expression changed very quickly. It was as if that gentle expression of his disappeared in an instant.