Chapter 237: Staying in the Side Hall

Wanning waited by the emperor's side, waiting for his command.
She pondered in her mind what else the emperor would say to her. How would he punish her for angering him a few days ago? Could it really be as he said, as long as she served him tea, the matter would be forgotten? That couldn't be possible, could it? She always felt that the emperor's thoughts were hard to guess, so it would be best to ask him in person. Only then would her heart be at ease.
She found that the emperor did not speak for half a day, and there was no movement at all. She tried calling out: "Your Majesty." But there was no response at all. When she approached, she heard a faint snoring sound. It seemed that the emperor had fallen asleep so quickly, indicating that he was really tired.
She felt respect for the emperors of the present generation.
For a moment, she regained her concentration and stopped thinking about such distant matters. What should she do now? How could the emperor stay here overnight? Wenning thought, maybe the emperor will wake up soon.
She went out to find Yan'er and discuss what to do.
As soon as Yan'er saw her, she reproached her, "Miss, how could you leave His Majesty alone?"
"He fell asleep."
"Sleep--ing!"
Wanning responded helplessly, "Hmm."
As soon as Yaner heard that the Emperor had fallen asleep, she immediately lowered her voice and said, "It's so late, when will the Emperor wake up?"
"Who knows?"
"Miss, if things don't go well, the Emperor might stay here tonight."
"Yes, I have prepared for the worst."
Wan Ning and her companions tiptoed into the inner room and called out softly to the Emperor a few times, but there was still no response. Obviously, he had fallen asleep.
Do not wake up the sleeping emperor. It seems that we can only let the emperor spend the night in the side hall tonight.
Wannning, Yan'er, and Lian'er occasionally glance at the sleeping emperor, then turn their faces to look at each other.
"Miss, it's late at night. You should go rest, we'll take care of him." Yaner said.
"But he's the Emperor, we all need to stay by his side, waiting for his orders at any time. There's no reason for me to go rest."
In order to be considerate of Wanning, Yaner also hesitated to insist on letting Wanning rest and said, "I'm afraid you won't sleep well tonight."
Wanning looked around the entire palace and commanded, "Yaner, turn off the palace lights around us, leaving only the two lamps in the aisle. Lianer, bring two new blankets for the emperor to cover up, so he won't catch a cold. Since the emperor is resting, let's take good care of him."
"Understood."
After everyone finished their busy work, Wan Ning, who had been sitting beside the emperor for a while, got up and was about to rest on the bed. Suddenly she remembered something and pulled Yan'er out.
"Miss, what's wrong?"
"We need to go to the main hall to get the clothes that His Majesty wants to change tomorrow from the court lady."
"Miss has thought of everything, I will go right away." Yan'er had just taken a few steps when Wanning stopped her: "Yan'er, wait."
"What's the matter, Miss?"
"I'll go with you."
"Do you doubt that I can handle such a small task as fetching clothes?"
"No, I would never doubt you. Just think about it, if the emperor suddenly stays here overnight, wouldn't it make people question things? I need to face this with you."
Yaner just realized it.
When the two of them arrived at the main hall, Zhou Cairen was wearing a luxurious robe. Without having to think, she was waiting for the emperor to return. Seeing Wan Ning and Yaner, she asked in surprise, "Wan Ning? Why did you come here? Why aren't you accompanying the emperor?"
"The Emperor is too exhausted and has already rested in the side chamber."
"Oh." It is not hard to see Zhou Cai's disappointment.
"Cairn, are the clothes the Emperor is going to change into tomorrow ready?" Wan Ning asked.
"Everything is ready," the woman signaled her personal maid, Ling'er, "Ling'er, bring it to Wanning."
"Yes."
After giving instructions to Ling'er, Zhoucai turned towards the inner room with a hint of melancholy on her face, presumably preparing for bed. Wanning called out to her, and Zhoucai immediately turned back around, saying, "Wanning, is there something else?"
"Talent, do you believe in me?"
"Fool, how could I not believe in you? After all this time, I understand your character. Wan Ning, what you want is love, not the emperor's favor. What you desire, the emperor cannot give. The bond between you and your brother, it's not so easily overturned."
"Thank you for trusting me."
Zhou Cairen stepped forward and shook her hand, smiling as she gently touched it, saying, "If the Emperor asks you to change his clothes tomorrow morning and you feel conflicted, come find me."
"Yes, Cairen has thought it through.”
"Also, I understand my brother. He still harbors resentment from last time, and tonight's incident is just adding to it. What man would allow another man to spend the night in his woman's room? I'm afraid he will find out about tonight, and your days, Wan Ning, will not be easy."
Yes, I also understand Brother Ziang very well. The person just now was right. Wanning lowered her head with concern and stayed silent for a moment before turning back to the side hall.
She respectfully placed the Emperor's clothes on the chair and then sat by the bed with a dazed expression. She felt very frustrated, but she also realized that thinking too much would be of no use. Tonight, she could only do this.
燕儿和莲儿坐在垫子上，不时用手支着脑袋。
这三个人今晚就打算这么过了。
她们当中最有责任心的当属燕儿了，这种时候她自知更要分外打起精神。不知过了过久，迷瞪的她感觉到有人走近，猛地睁开眼睛，看见皇上正朝婉宁走过去。
She croaked out, "Your Majesty?"
The Emperor looked towards Wan Ning on the bed and said, "Shh..."
Wan Ning was originally sitting, perhaps too tired, and she fell onto the bed. The Emperor personally carried her to the pillow and covered her with a blanket.
"Your Majesty, it's still early. Please rest for a while longer."
"What time is it now?" the Emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, it just passed the Hour of the Ox."
The Emperor scratched his head, "I was actually planning to take a nap, but I didn't realize several hours had passed." He sat back on his bed and looked at the Yan'er and Lian'er sitting on the ground, "You both should rest as well. I'll lie down for a while longer."
"But Your Majesty, you cannot be without someone serving you by your side."
"No worries, come back after I get up later."
"Understood."
It was just dawn, and Wanning sat up after waking up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She lowered her head and saw that her clothes were intact. Looking around, she finally realized what happened last night. She looked at the Emperor, only to see him smiling at her.
Wanning immediately got up and knelt in front of the couch, saying, "This servant deserves to die. I fell asleep and didn't hear Your Majesty's orders. Did you sleep well, Your Majesty?"
"You want to serve Us so much. If We had known, We would have given you more tasks to do last night." After speaking, he got up, "We are getting up, come and serve Us."
"Understood."
At this time, Yan'er and Lian'er heard the noise and also came over. In order to avoid suspicion, they took the initiative to go forward and help the Emperor with his clothes. Wanning understood their intention and stood aside, planning to assist them and pass the clothes later.
Emperor just took off his coat: "Wannin, why are you standing so far away, how can you give me--" he hadn't finished his sentence, and then he said, "Oh, I remember. You are not my concubine."
"Forget it, all of you go down, I'll do it myself."
Wanning led her people out of the inner room, leaving the emperor alone to change his clothes. At this moment, she even felt a little sorry for the emperor, fearing that he had not received such treatment in the harem.
As soon as the emperor changed his clothes, he walked straight out of the hall without saying a word, indicating that he really wanted to leave the side hall. Everyone immediately knelt down. Wan Ning said, "I respectfully see off Your Majesty."
Seeing the emperor about to leave, she got up and called out, "Your Majesty."
"What's the matter?"
"May I boldly ask, Your Majesty, are you not going to punish me?"
The emperor stopped and looked hurried: "You, don't get too cocky, there are plenty of times when I will punish you."