Quick Transmigration: The Rise of a Favored Concubine

Chapter 127 The Deeply Affectionate and Obsessive Emperor and His Beloved Concubine 4

next day

The Xiao residence was quite noisy last night. When Chu Yue left this morning, no one came out. She slowly walked out of the residence, her legs still a little sore.

When Xiao Yu came out, he only saw Chu Yue's back as she got into the carriage, but he only looked at her for a moment before looking away. He had only come out to have someone get some food for his mother, not to see her off.

If he were to personally escort her, she would inevitably have other thoughts, thinking that he treats her differently.

It was noon when Chu Yue and Xiao Tao arrived at the foot of Ping An Temple.

"Miss, there are still so many stone steps ahead. How can your legs take it? Why don't we rest for a while before going up?" Xiao Tao looked at the endless stone steps and felt overwhelmed.

Chu Yue shook her head: "Let's go. We must be sincere and sincerely bless them." Nightmares kept recurring, her appearance was ruined, and she suffered one misfortune after another.

Xiao Tao, with a mournful face, helped her up step by step.

When they finally arrived at the temple gate at the top of the mountain, Chu Yue was panting heavily and almost collapsed to the ground.

"Miss, how are you?" Xiao Tao used all her strength to support her.

Chu Yue gasped, "I'm fine, let's go inside."

Despite its remote location, Ping An Temple is said to be very efficacious, and even members of the royal family come here to pray for blessings and fulfill vows, so it is usually very crowded.

It was only because it was noon that only a few people were appearing.

Chu Yue entered the main hall, gazed at the Buddha statue, and knelt down sincerely: "May Buddha bless the Xiao family to prosper for generations to come, and may the descendants of the Xiao family be healthy and safe. I, Chu Yue, am willing to be vegetarian all year round to repay the Buddha's kindness."

"May my husband, Xiao Yu, never be defeated, and may he protect the peace and happiness of all the people under heaven."

"Miss, why don't you pray to Buddha for yourself? You only pray for them." Xiao Tao said, feeling indignant on her behalf.

"I...I don't have any requests. I was just praying for them," Chu Yue said softly.

"Miss, they all treated her that way..."

"Xiao Tao, don't talk nonsense." Chu Yue interrupted her with a stern face.

Xiao Tao had no choice but to shut her mouth and stop talking.

"Alright, we still have to stay here for another month. Let's leave it at that for today and go to our lodgings." Chu Yue staggered to her feet.

Xiao Tao quickly helped her up: "Miss, please slow down."

After the two left, the emperor came out, his face somber, his eyes flashing with unreadable emotions.

These past few days, he has been plagued by dreams, unable to break free from their grip every night, and every night he dreams of Xiao Yu's wife.

Moreover, the scene was different every night. Sometimes it was in the Imperial Garden, sometimes in the pavilion. Even more absurdly, he dreamed that Madam Xiao appeared in his bedroom. She was panicked and helpless and wanted to escape, but she couldn't find the way. She tearfully begged him for help.

The emperor could explain the dream once by saying he was just a little confused from drinking too much that day. But when he dreamed about it for several days in a row, he was frightened. He considered himself a good emperor who cared for his subjects and had worked diligently and conscientiously for the country over the years, and he had high expectations of himself.

Unexpectedly, just because he met Madam Xiao once, he dreamed about her every night. The emperor couldn't help but wonder if he had any wicked thoughts, otherwise why would he keep dreaming about his subject's wife?

Unable to accept this, the emperor left the palace and went to a temple to purify his soul, hoping to wash away the unbearable things in his heart.

But he never expected to run into her here, even though she didn't see him.

The emperor had overheard the conversation between the mistress and servant from behind.

The implication was that she had come to pray for the Xiao family, but her maid clearly hadn't finished speaking, and her figure seemed a little unsteady when she left.

The emperor recalled the scene at the palace banquet that day, where Xiao Yu ignored his wife, and even though Madam Xiao humbled herself, she could not win Xiao Yu's pity.

Coming to his senses, the emperor realized he had been overthinking things again. He wearily pinched the bridge of his nose. Ever since he met Madam Xiao that day, he had been acting strangely; to put it bluntly, he had been coveting the wives of his subjects.

But he swore he had no such intention. It seemed he would have to stay a few more days. Otherwise, he would be without any concubines by his side. Since the emperor ascended the throne, he had wanted to stabilize the country first, so he had put aside matters of the harem. Now it seemed he could not delay any longer. If necessary, he would hold a selection of concubines. Perhaps things would get better if he had women.

The emperor, with a sullen face, left in another direction.

Chu Yue and Xiao Tao arrived at their lodgings. The meditation room was rather simple, and the tea was cold.

"Never mind, just make do with it. That's how it is outside." Chu Yue comforted Xiao Tao, seeing her somewhat annoyed expression.

"Miss, you are too kind. Everyone is bullying you. It must be their arrangement. Otherwise, why would they mistreat us?"

Xiao Tao was so angry that she said resentfully.

Chu Yue shook her head. She was a little tired and fell asleep as soon as she lay down.

Xiao Tao had no choice but to stay by her side.

Chu Yue didn't wake up until the evening bell rang at Ping'an Temple.

After resting for a while, she felt much better. Seeing that Xiao Tao was listless, Chu Yue suggested, "Xiao Tao, help me go for a walk."

"Yes, Miss." Xiao Tao helped her out.

The temple was very quiet, perhaps because of the presence of gods and Buddhas, which made people feel exceptionally at ease.

The two arrived at an ancient tree, beneath which was a pavilion perched on a cliff.

Chu Yue stood by the pavilion, watching the twilight descend, and a wave of sadness washed over her. Tears welled in her eyes, which she quickly wiped away.

"Miss..." Xiao Tao choked up as soon as she finished speaking, unable to continue, and forced back the pain in her throat.

"Silly girl, why are you crying?" Chu Yue comforted her, her eyes red.

Xiao Tao sobbed uncontrollably: "I feel so sorry for Miss. They are bullying you too much. Miss just got married, and the groom has already neglected you. The old lady punishes you without even knowing the facts. Now they've even made Miss come to this remote temple to pray for blessings."

"They are bullying Miss. I only hate myself for being useless and unable to protect her."

After venting her frustrations, Xiao Tao felt much better.

"Xiao Tao, the general is just too sentimental and misses his wife. He saved me and was forced to marry me due to pressure. The general must have had some resistance, which just shows how deep his feelings are. As long as I treat him sincerely, the general will see my good qualities."

Chu Yue spoke softly, knowing that the emperor was under the tree behind them; Linglingyi had already told her that immediately.

The emperor must have been so haunted by his dreams these past few days that he came here.

She had no one to rely on in the Xiao family, and no one helped her. She was so pitiful and helpless, who wouldn't feel sorry for her?

"What if the young master keeps neglecting the young lady?" Xiao Tao didn't believe that the cold-hearted young master would ever soften his heart.

"Then I'll... wait until the day he softens his heart. As long as time goes on, the general will see my good qualities." Chu Yue hesitated for a moment, perhaps not really believing that day would come.

“Miss, you think too highly of them. They made you kneel as punishment yesterday, and today they make you come to pray for blessings. They are hard-hearted. There will never be such a day.”

Here, Xiao Tao wasn't afraid of being overheard, and she spoke her mind freely.

“I…I believe the general will see my good qualities. He can protect the people of the world, and I am one of them, and also his wife. Is he…so heartless?”

Chu Yue's eyes reddened, and she felt somewhat sad.

Xiao Tao didn't know how to comfort her, so she stood helplessly by her side.