Blood-Sucking Empress

Chapter 46: Enjoying the Zither in the Garden

In Luo Yu’s silence, Sang Zixin trembingly sat down, sitting down as far away from the other two as possible.
He lowered his head cautiously, not daring to take up the chopsticks.

“Eat…” Qianhe Liyou picked up her chopsticks and signaled for everyone else to start eating.
She first put a sliver of goose meat steamed in broth onto Luo Yu’s bowl, “Eat more.”

“En.” Luo Yu nodded, his eyes filled with warmth and he gracefully nibbled on his food.
On the other side, Qianhe Liyou only looked at him, did not touch the food and just drank tea.

Sang Zixin lowered his head and clutched his bowl tightly, trying to shrink himself as much as possible.
He did not want to affect the two people who were eating.
If he had a choice, he really would not choose to sit here, he always felt that his presence was merely superfluous and unneeded.

“You’er, do you not want to eat?” After taking a few bites, Luo Yu started to notice Qianhe Liyou’s strange behavior.

“I’m not hungry.” These foods did not appeal to her.
Compared to the people in front of her, they were not as attractive.
If she really was to eat, she would choose him, or otherwise, the fresh young appetizer next to him was also possible…

“Even if you are not hungry, you should still eat a little.
One cannot drink too much tea, otherwise it will hurt the body.” As he spoke, Luo Yu picked up a little piece from the Drunken Chicken steamed in wine dish and looked at her with a persistent and tenacious gaze, the meaning that she must eat it.

Qianhe Liyou was helpless.
She really did not like to eat these kinds of things, but under Luo Yu’s extremely expectant gaze, she could only swallow that piece of chicken down obediently.

Luo Yu beamed with satisfaction, his smile was like the melting frost, dazzlingly cold and beautiful under the winter sun.
When Qianhe Liyou saw this smile, she felt that this piece of meat had not been for nothing…

After lunch, Luo Yu and Liyou drank another pot of fragrant tea.
Luo Yu rose from his seat and wanted to leave, he did not want to further delay You’er’s handling of court affairs any longer.

“There is nothing big going on, let’s go for a walk in the Imperial garden.” She was reading before Luo Yu had visited and there was nothing pressing in the Imperial court at the moment, so she was in a leisurely mood.

“Alright.” Naturally, Luo Yu agreed and the two walked out of Qin Pavilion together.
Sang Zixin followed behind the two and Feng Ying and the rest of the attendants trailed after the group, not daring to take a step forward and disturb them.

When the two walked into the Imperial garden, they heard the melodious sound of the zither reverberating within the natural scenery.
With her sharp hearing, Qianhe Liyou immediately discerned that this was Li Qujun’s zither playing, it was uplifting and lively.
She had a deep memory of this sound, after all, she rarely listened to any zither playing, and Li Qujun’s zither playing was especially unique.

“This zither playing sounds familiar, does You’er know who it is?” Luo Yu questioned softly, but there was a thread of clear understanding in his eyes.
He obviously knew the identity of the other party.
After all, there were not many people in the Imperial palace that could play zither, and the musicality and timbre of the playing was especially light and effortless.

“Does Luo Yu also like this zither playing?” As the two walked, they conversed back and forth as they approached the source of the music.
They had already caught sight of Li Qujun’s figure.
He was sitting in a cold pavilion with a warm stove next to him.
The season was already late autumn and the weather was cold.
It would be easy to catch a cold when sitting outdoors.

The sound of the zither ceased, and Li Qujun rose from his seat to greet the two, “This concubine greets the Empress, greets the King Dowager.”

“Quickly rise.
Playing the zither here, be careful not to get sick.” Qianhe Liyou walked two steps forward, a hint of concern laced in her tone.

“Thank you for your Majesty’s care, this concubine will pay attention in the future.” Li Qujun had suddenly felt like wanting to play the zither outside, and the scenery and mood here was his favorite.
Consequently, he came here but unexpectedly crossed paths with the Empress and the King Dowager instead.

“Play another tune, zhen wants to listen.” Qianhe Liyou took Luo Yu’s hand and sat down, signaling Li Qujun to start playing again.

The sound of Li Qujun’s zither playing made listeners feel immensely relaxed and most of his tunes attached importance to staying lighthearted and pleasant.
Additionally, the tune ‘Yangchun in Springtime March” made people feel like it was the beginning of an abundant and vibrant spring, and all living things would once again revive into life….

“Good.’ After another tune was finished, Qianhe Liyou lightly patted her palms together and gave a round of applause.

Li Qujun’s face turned reddish and he embarrassedly smiled, “It is good that the Empress and King Dowager enjoyed it.”

“It was really quite good.
You’er’s people all have their own unique characteristics and talents.”  Luo Yu knew about every single person in the harem.
He had investigated and read their detailed information, identity, background, personality and even preferences.
But, he had only glanced over them, but never studied it carefully as he had not taken these people to heart.

But now, it seems to be a little different.
After coming into contact with these people in close proximity, he started to have his own thoughts and comments on these people.

Qianhe Liyou was a little surprised that such a comment would come from Luo Yu and a strange feeling started to surface in her heart.
Li Qujun was equally taken aback.
First, he stared at Qianhe Liyou with a dazed look and then his expression turned embarrassed.
He lowered his head and looked like he was at a loss, his current look seeming very cute.

“Empress, King Dowager, do your esteemed selves want to listen to another tune? Is it alright for this concubine to play one more piece?” Li Qujun broke the brief silence.
After seeing Qianhe Liyou nodding, his fingers nimbly flicked up and down the zither, and a new piece began…

This time, Qianhe Liyou did not listen to the zither for an entire afternoon because the temperature outside was really not suitable for long-term stay.
She personally did not care, but Luo Yu and Li Qujun’s body would not be able to withstand it.
After listening to two more pieces, she saw that Li Qujun had started to shiver, so she sent him back to his palace and also sent Luo Yu back to Luoxian Pavilion, only leaving after eating dinner.

Two days later, Sang Zixin’s complexion grew increasingly pale and waned.
There was a suppressed cough, panicked body movements after coughing, in addition to his increasingly weakening body…

The poison inside him had finally broken out.
Qianhe Liyou could clearly hear Sang Xizin’s painful and strained breaths, but they were very suppressed, as if he was afraid of disturbing her.

“If you feel uncomfortable, go and rest.” After enduring for half a day, Qianhe Liyou could not stand it any longer and coldly instructed this to Sang Zixin.

“Thanking the Empress for her kindness.
This servant is fine and can still serve the Empress.” His time was running out and he had no luxury to waste his remaining time anymore.

“You can still serve zhen when you are like this? With a body that can collapse at any moment, do you want others to think that I am abusing you?” Just what was he thinking? She had given him countless opportunities to poison her, but he had not done anything.
Instead, the poison in his own body started spreading.
That painful and miserable appearance, even without saying, she could feel it.
Then could he…

Qianhe Liyou suddenly thought of a possibility that had come across her mind.
Could it be that this little pitiful thing had already made a decision just like this?

“Are you poisoned?” Now that she had guessed his decision, she did not want to waste any more time.
She was not a sadist and she did not want to see someone at her side struggling so painfully.
Even if it did not hurt, she still would not be happy.

“Poisoning? This servant…servant…cough cough….” Sang Zixin had been startled and was eager to explain himself.
However, he began coughing violently and a mouthful of fresh blood couldn’t be helped but to be coughed up!

“Don’t lie! You have already gotten to this state and you still want to hide it, are you a fool?” Qianhe Liyou’s tone was sharp, but her movements were gentle.
She first tapped Sang Zixin’s eyebrows and a ray of black light appeared.
Sang Zixin immediately felt a lot more comfortable, but before he had much time to think, he had been frightened by the Empress’s harsh and stern tone.
Kneeling on the ground, he said, “Empress, this servant, this servant does not know what your Majesty is talking about…”

“….Sang Zixin, do you really not know?”