Concubine Ping was startled, and her hand holding the wine jug trembled slightly. She looked up at the emperor in horror, but saw that the emperor's face was peaceful, without any sign of anger.

"Was it Concubine Shu who brought you to me?"

The emperor continued to ask, but this time, Concubine Ping could no longer hold on. She quickly stood up from the couch and knelt in front of Zhao Yuancheng, saying in panic, "Your Majesty, your concubine, your concubine..."

But Ping Jieyu hesitated and couldn't explain anything, and a voice in her heart told her that the emperor would not blame her.

As expected, the emperor raised his hand and drank the wine in the glass. Then he asked Concubine Ping, who was kneeling on the ground, to stand up. "Didn't I tell you, I just want to find someone to talk to me. If you continue like this, I will let Zhu Yu take you back."

Concubine Ping stood up awkwardly, but seeing that there was no blame on the emperor's face, she gradually felt relieved. She poured the emperor more wine and then sat down.

"What does Your Majesty want to say to this concubine?"

Zhao Yuancheng drank the wine in his cup again, raised his hand to point to the table to signal Concubine Ping to pour more, and asked quietly, "Do you think it's appropriate for an emperor to be attracted to a woman?"

Concubine Ping was slightly startled, and her mind couldn't help but think of Xiao Liu from the past. She must be the one the emperor was asking about.

While pouring wine for the emperor, he thoughtfully replied, "Since ancient times, emperors have been solitary and helpless. But in the end, emperors are also human. Although they rule the world, they also have emotions and desires. The attraction between men and women is just natural. What's wrong with the emperor having someone he loves?"

Zhao Yuancheng looked at Concubine Ping quietly for a long time. After a while, a smile appeared on his lips, as if he agreed with what she said.

He poured himself another glass of wine and said, "You're right."

As he spoke, he chuckled to himself, "I rule the world, with three palaces and six courtyards, but there are so few who truly treat me with sincerity. They flatter me simply because they value the rights and status I can bring them. How many of them truly treat me with sincerity?"

Concubine Ping rolled her eyes slightly, and involuntarily leaned forward, her voice somewhat anxious, "But I can see that the Queen is sincere in her love for you."

Zhao Yuancheng's eyes were filled with tenderness when he mentioned Fu Qianyu. "Yes, the Queen really treats me sincerely. For so many years, she has stayed by my side, gentle and virtuous. No matter what I did wrong, she never left me. I love her but also feel guilty."

"But in the final analysis, there are some things in my heart that I can tell others, but not the Queen."

Hearing this, Concubine Ping said happily, "Your Majesty, I know I am not worthy to serve you, but if Your Majesty feels bored, I am willing to be a quiet listener. I have no other wishes but to make Your Majesty happy."

Zhao Yuancheng smiled faintly and said nothing.

"Everyone in the palace knows that I liked the former Concubine Rou, but no one knows why I liked her." Zhao Yuancheng paused, looked at the person in front of him, and smiled faintly: "Do you want to know?"

"I am all ears."

Zhao Yuancheng sighed deeply, his thoughts suddenly returning to the past. "When I was fifteen, I sneaked out to play, but encountered robbers on the way. I was alone with Zhu Yu at the time. We were outnumbered and quickly defeated. I thought I would die, but suddenly a female knight appeared and saved me. Although she was wearing a veil, I still remember her eyes."

"But later, I sent people to look for her for a long time but couldn't find her. It was as if that day was just a dream."

At this point, Concubine Ping probably already knew what was going on, so she tentatively said, "So, you favor Concubine Rou only because her eyes resemble the female knight who saved you back then."

Zhao Yuancheng held the wine glass, and although he did not admit it, he did not deny it either.

After a long while, he said quietly, "A substitute is only a substitute after all. Because of my momentary thought, I almost destroyed the entire imperial family. Therefore, as an emperor, I am destined to be lonely for the rest of my life."

The side hall of Zichen Palace was very quiet. Zhu Yu, who was standing outside the door, had been listening to the movements inside the room, but no familiar voice came out for a long time.

The quiet night passed quickly.

Before dawn the next day, Zhu Yu ordered someone to quietly send Concubine Ping to his residence, and then he personally helped the emperor dress.

Naturally, what happened last night was not recorded in the diary.

Time passed quickly, and after the Lantern Festival, the New Year was over. Everyone thought that the emperor would favor Concubine Ping, but unexpectedly, after New Year's Eve, the harem was quiet.

Apart from going to Fengyi Palace, Zhao Yuancheng rarely set foot in other people's bedrooms.

But what they didn't know was that on any night when the emperor didn't pick up the cards, it would usually be Concubine Ping who would serve him. What surprised Zhu Yu was that every time Concubine Ping came, the two of them would just drink quietly.

Such a thing had never happened before, and Concubine Ping herself didn't seem to care. She always came at dusk and left at dawn.

In mid-March, the weather gradually became warmer.

News came from Prince Gong's Mansion that Fu Qianyin gave birth to a daughter safely last night. Now Prince Gong has both a son and a daughter, and everyone inside and outside the palace is very happy.

Not only was the third-day bath banquet held grandly, but even the full-moon ceremony was even grander than the one the young master had given him.

It was not convenient for Fu Qianyu to leave the palace to attend the event in person, so she only asked Lingyun to send a lot of gifts. The afternoon sun was very bright, and she had not slept well last night, so she was lying on the kang to rest.

I heard some arguing outside. It seemed to be Peirong's voice: "How many times have I told you that the peach blossoms used in the moisturizer for the queen should be the tenderest ones. Look at the ones you picked, they are old and dry. How can you use them?"

The little palace maid was so frightened that she could only bow her head and admit her mistake.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!