Chapter 29: Fall from the Altar

The next morning, Yang Manyan stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling of the bed. She was actually lying on a golden nanmu bed with a dragon pattern and a bright yellow brocade curtain with a dragon pattern.

Golden nanmu and bright yellow are both exclusive to emperors.

The soothing agarwood incense in the Boshan stove had almost burned out, and the autumn wind blew in from outside the tent. Her body trembled slightly, and her dizzy mind became a little clearer.

He quietly lifted the brocade curtain and saw that Xingyun was the only one in the room. Yang Manyan finally felt relieved.

Xingyun stood beside the couch, her eyes red, as if she had just cried.

Last night she stood outside the Imperial Garden waiting, but her master never called her. She didn't dare to think too much and just waited quietly until dawn.

Later, Chang Daban, who was beside the emperor, led people to look for her. When he heard that she was Yang Shangyi's maid who came with her as a dowry, he took her along as well.

Seeing her master being tortured beyond measure on the bed, Xingyun felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

Miss Manyan, whom she had taken care of as her own sister since she was a child, was...

Seeing her like this, Yang Manyan pretended to smile and said, "Xingyun, why are you crying? I'm fine."

Xingyun just shook her head and cried silently.

What should she do? Her mistress had just become the Lady Shangyi in charge of the harem, and was becoming increasingly close to the exiled prince. How could something like this happen?

Yang Manyan lowered his eyes secretly, and his heart seemed to be cut by a sharp knife.

At the same time, she was at a loss in her heart and couldn't imagine what would greet her next.

After a long silence, she forced herself to sit up, put on her slippers, and walked to the half-open carved window facing outside.

This place is surrounded by water on all sides, just like the fairy island of Penglai in the sea, with majestic palaces and pavilions, surrounded by corridors and pavilions, and endless scenery of lakes and mountains.

"Xingyun, what is this place?" Yang Manyan asked in a daze.

Xingyun choked up and said, "This is the Hanyuan Hall of the Yingtai in the Western Garden."

Xiyuan, also known as Taiye Lake, is located to the west of the imperial palace and occupies one-third of the area of the imperial city. It has sparse buildings and luxuriant trees. It is the imperial palace for summer escape and leisure.

The Yingtai where they were located was on a small island in the middle of the lake at the southern end of Taiye Lake. There was a stone bridge connecting the north of the island to the shore, and the Hanyuan Hall was the emperor's residence.

Before the master and servant could say anything else, the eunuch Chang Ying, who was guarding outside, heard the noise and tiptoed in.

"Miss Yang, you're finally awake." Chang Ying said with a flattering smile.

He even stopped calling her Lady Shangyi, which seemed to indicate that he knew everything that was going on between them.

Yang Manyan knew that he was the chief eunuch of the emperor, so he nodded slightly.

Chang Ying hurriedly ordered his servants to prepare meals, and then quietly looked at Yang, who could bring the emperor down from the altar.

Originally, he only knew that Yang Shangyi was extremely beautiful, but he didn't take it seriously. Now, looking at her again, he saw that she was indeed an immortal with beautiful appearance, but he still couldn't understand how she could have made the emperor so obsessed with her?

Chang Ying thought he had seen a lot of ups and downs in the palace after more than 20 years, but he never expected to encounter such a thing. The emperor, who had abstained from sex for more than 30 years, broke his vow because of Yang!

But it doesn't matter. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is still young, but the Emperor has lived to his thirties and finally has an interest in a woman. He has to help the Emperor.

Chang Ying said with a smile in a coaxing tone: "Girl, just stay here with peace of mind. The people here are trustworthy and no news will leak out."

Yang Manyan looked embarrassed and didn't know what to say.

Chang Ying smiled to himself again and said, "The Crown Prince has gone out to provide disaster relief himself, and Lady Shangyi has asked to go to the Imperial Temple in the suburbs of Beijing to pray for the people. She will not be returning to the palace in the short term."

"Miss Yang, His Majesty asked you several times today. He was afraid that you would be hungry when you woke up, so he asked the servants to keep the food warm at all times."

As soon as he finished speaking, several young eunuchs came in with meals and placed them neatly on the Huanghuali Eight Immortals Table.

Ham and bamboo shoot soup, rouge goose breast, eel noodles...

Yang Manyan was indeed hungry after not having a drop of water for nearly a whole day and night. She was not the kind of person who could not eat when she was in a bad mood, otherwise she would not have such a plump and slightly plump figure.

"Thank you, Mr. Chang." She first thanked Chang Ying, then walked slowly to the table and sat down.

Xingyun tactfully stepped forward and served her the food.

Chang Ying said: "No, no, this is what the servants should do, and the servants are also following the orders of the emperor."

The other young eunuchs in the hall hung their heads very low. They had not expected that the usually majestic Chang Daban would be so servile and fawning in front of this Miss Yang.

Before preparing the meal, Chang Ying had specifically asked Xingyun, and all the meals prepared were to Yang Manyan's taste.

After a hearty meal, Yang Manyan was so full that he could hardly walk, so he sat on the sandalwood chaise longue beside him and asked Xingyun to rub his belly.

After only rubbing it two or three times, the bead curtain was lifted from the outside, and a tall and straight man slowly walked in.

He was dressed in a bright yellow gauze robe embroidered with eight dragon patterns and a golden winged hat on his head. He looked majestic and cold, and his whole body exuded an icy oppressive feeling.

His sharp eyes stared at the intimate master and servant, and asked in a deep voice: "What are you doing?"

Yang Manyan and Xingyun were both slightly startled. They hurriedly stood up to salute but were stopped by the man again.

The emperor waved his hand impatiently and dismissed all the palace maids and eunuchs.

Xingyun looked at her young lady hesitantly, and when she saw her nod, she had to retreat with her head lowered.