Chapter 119 If Line: If Yuanyuan Becomes a Concubine (10)

Yang Manyan curled his lips slightly.

"Your Majesty is the ruler of the world and is rich. Don't you need this little benefit from me?" She asked in a deliberately muffled voice.

The night was warm and the dim light from the wall lamp was reflected on her round face, as if covered by a layer of mist, making her look even more bright and beautiful, and full of radiance.

The emperor's eyes moved slightly, "My beloved concubine should know that I never do business at a loss."

Yang Manyan was defeated.

"What benefit does your majesty want? If it is to sleep with you, I really can't bear it tonight. Can you buy it on credit first..."

The man raised his eyebrows and said nonchalantly: "It is natural for concubines to sleep with you. What's the benefit of this?"

Yang Manyan trembled her lips and pretended to be wronged, "Then I really can't think of any benefit I can give to Your Majesty..."

Seeing her pitiful appearance of being about to cry, the emperor frowned slightly, and his heart felt like being pricked by a fine needle.

"Do you really want to go to Wenyuan Pavilion?" His face was tense and he raised his hand to brush away the sweaty hair on her forehead.

Yang Manyan nodded without hesitation.

The next afternoon, the weather was clear and crisp in autumn.

Yang Manyan deliberately changed into plain clothes and took a sedan chair to Wenyuan Pavilion adjacent to the East Palace.

Last night the emperor agreed to her request, but warned her sternly to be low-key and not to become arrogant due to his favor.

Yang Manyan agreed obediently, but in his heart he felt that he was just overthinking.

She didn't like to be high-profile, and she didn't go to Wenyuan Pavilion to show off, she just wanted to see the world.

After leaving the Qianqing Gate, the sedan chair headed east along the deep palace road, turned into the Baoshan Gate and then headed south, finally stopping in front of the gate of Wenyuan Pavilion.

Wenyuan Pavilion was built in imitation of Tianyi Pavilion in Zhejiang Province, adopting the construction method of "two visible and three hidden". It looks like a two-story building with double eaves, but in fact, the whole pavilion has three floors: upper, middle and lower.

At this time, the morning court had not yet ended. In the Wenhua Hall in front, the Crown Prince was conducting morning lessons. There was silence and no one around.

As you step into the pavilion, you will see that the interior is elegant and solemn, with bookshelves almost as high as the wall, and countless rare ancient books.

Yang Manyan took a quick look around and felt so happy that he wished he could stay in Wenyuan Pavilion all the time and be accompanied by this vast collection of books all day long.

Seeing her so excited, Su Yue and Dan Gui were slightly surprised.

They have been serving Princess Yuan in person for nearly half a year, but this is the first time they have seen her look so happy.

After picking out a few ancient books that interested him, Yang Manyan sat cross-legged in a window with good light and read the books attentively.

For the next few days, she was like a call boy. She got up early in the morning, dressed as a palace maid and went to Wenyuan Pavilion. She almost forgot to eat and sleep. If Su Yue and others hadn't reminded her, she would have forgotten the time.

The emperor saw this and was more or less dissatisfied.

In his opinion, as a concubine, she should stay in the bedroom and wait for his favor. Now she leaves early and comes back late every day, which is really inappropriate.

But in the end he did not say anything to stop it. He only ordered people to send more servants to guard near Wenyuan Pavilion to prevent officials from the outer court from colliding with his concubine.

This morning, Wenhua Hall.

Xiao Qi was sitting behind his desk, writing a memorial about the Yellow River and Huai River projects.

Looking at the blueprint at hand, he suddenly had an idea, "Shu Qing, send someone to Wenyuan Pavilion to find the "Taizu Shilu". I need it urgently."

Shu Qing on the side seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Xiao Yan raised his eyes to look at him, his gaze calm.

Shu Qing then hurriedly replied, "Your Highness may have been so busy that you forgot. The Empress Yuan is in Wenyuan Pavilion right now. His Majesty has also issued an oral order that no one is allowed to enter the Pavilion while the Empress is in Wenyuan Pavilion."

Hearing this, Xiao Qi frowned slightly and slowly placed the purple brush in his hand on the green glaze pen holder.

After thinking for a moment, he stood up and said, "In an emergency, I will go there myself. I think Concubine Yuan's mother will not mind such a trivial matter."

Shu Qing hesitated for a moment, but still followed him closely.

Wenyuan Pavilion is just behind Wenhua Hall, only a few dozen steps away.

When the eunuchs guarding outside the gate saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince coming in person, they were undecided for a moment and had to go inside to ask for instructions.

At this moment, Yang Manyan was copying historical materials that he had never seen before, concentrating fully on it.

She didn't even pay attention to what the eunuch who came in to report said, and nodded very perfunctorily.

After a moment, steady footsteps came closer and closer, and a young man in a dark blue brocade robe with cloud patterns walked slowly towards them. He had a tall and handsome figure.

"Your son greets the Empress Dowager." He bowed slowly with his eyes lowered.

Yang Manyan was startled and stood up suddenly with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Your Highness, no need to be polite."

Her voice was gentle, and it echoed in the empty library with a slight echo.

Somehow, Xiao Yan inexplicably recalled the sweet moan of a young girl that he accidentally heard on the east side of Hanyuan Palace in Xiyuan half a year ago, and his ears turned slightly red.

"I came here to look for some urgent documents. I have no intention of bothering you, Mother Yuan. Please forgive me."

He spoke in a gentle tone and never raised his eyes to look directly at his stepmother who was about the same age as him. His attitude was humble and respectful.

The sunlight shone in through the window, his handsome face was bathed in the morning light, and his whole body exuded a noble and cold demeanor.

Yang Manyan glanced at him secretly, his heart suddenly beating like a deer and his face slightly hot.

"It's okay. I'm just looking through some historical records. Since you have something urgent to do, go find the document you want first."

Xiao Qi nodded in agreement, and then walked towards the large nanmu bookcase on the west side of the library, which was used to store the records of the current dynasty.

However, the place where "Taizu Shilu" should have been placed was empty. Not only that, "Taizong Shilu" and "Renzong Shilu" were also nowhere to be found.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you looking for these records?" The girl's soft and sweet voice sounded again, with a tentative tone in her voice.

Xiao Yan's heartbeat suddenly quickened, and his palms began to sweat.

"Yes, I'm writing an article about the two river projects recently. I remembered that Taizu's reign had several experiences in dredging rivers, so I came to borrow it."

"What a coincidence! I have just copied out the records of Taizu's several river management projects. You don't have to look for them again. These are the ones you can use first!"

Yang Manyan said this with a smile as he handed him the pieces of gold-sprinkled rice paper inscribed with words, looking very energetic.

After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Yan took the transcribed manuscript from her and said with a gentle smile, "It is indeed a coincidence. Thank you, Concubine Yuan."

The slightly hard rice paper still retained the warmth of the girl's palm, and he actually felt it was a little hot.