Chapter 119: Old and Fading

Suppressing the chill rising in his heart, Emperor Jingxuan smiled and said gently, "Madam, why do you say that? Has anyone been gossiping about me in front of you?"

Who was it? Names flashed through his mind, and his heart was filled with turmoil and a cold light flashed across his face.

Yun Wan, leaning in his arms, paused for a moment, then shook her head: "No, no one is gossiping."

"I don't believe it." Emperor Jingxuan said firmly, not missing her hesitation for a moment.

"If someone hadn't said something to Madam, why would she suddenly say this?"

His eyes narrowed as he spoke, his tone dangerous: "Could it be that Madam is still thinking about leaving the palace? She doesn't care about me anymore?"

"Is there something about me that Madam is dissatisfied with, or is there something about this palace that Madam doesn't like? Feel free to tell me."

Emperor Jingxuan felt heartbroken. He had tried so hard to keep his wife in the palace, but not long after, his wife was thinking of leaving the palace again.

Someone must be deliberately instigating this! They have bad intentions!

His expression was full of tenderness, but Yun Wan's heart trembled. She didn't know what his random thoughts were about, so she quickly denied it: "No."

"...It doesn't matter who said it. I just want to ask for your mercy. If that day comes, I don't want to become a disfigured and resentful woman and ruin the impression I have in your heart."

Her wings trembled slightly and she looked lonely.

Emperor Jingxuan couldn't bear to see her like this. He took a deep breath, suppressed the restlessness in his heart, and comforted her softly: "Madam has always been the best in my heart. What you said will not happen."

The light in his eyes gradually brightened, then suddenly faded away. Yun Wan shook his head lightly and murmured, "But things in this world are unpredictable. Who can say for sure..."

"Your Majesty..." Yun pulled his sleeve, her eyes full of water.

Her eyes were filled with anxiety, confusion, and hope, but no joy.

Seeing this, Emperor Jingxuan's heart softened. "Forget it, I will agree to your request, Madam, but the prerequisite is that Madam tell me who told you what."

He wanted to see who was so bold as to not want to see him do well?

Yun Wan frowned slightly and hesitated slightly.

Emperor Jingxuan pursed his lips, his tone brooking no room for argument: "Madam, it doesn't matter if you don't tell me. I can find out."

He smiled grimly.

Yun Wan was stunned for a moment, and whispered softly: "It's the Concubine Shu..."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingxuan frowned, "Why is it her again?"

Yun Wan: "Actually, it's not your fault, Madam. It was me who insisted on visiting her today. I wanted to ask her what to do with the banknotes, but I didn't expect Madam Shu to say that I..."

She paused, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

Emperor Jingxuan had a bad feeling: "What did she say?"

Yun Wan lowered her eyes and said, "Your Majesty believes that my beauty serving a man will not last long, and that one day His Majesty will be disgusted with me."

"But after careful consideration, I feel that what Madam Shufei said makes sense." She lowered her eyebrows and eyes, twisted her handkerchief tightly with her fingertips, and said in a casual tone:

"Beauty will eventually fade. Rather than causing you to dislike me and not realize it one day, causing you unnecessary trouble, it would be better for me to leave early. This will also be considered as a way to relieve you of your worries. Don't you agree?"

She showed a calm smile, but it was particularly dazzling.

Bullshit!

Emperor Jingxuan couldn't help but roar.

If his wife's beauty fades and he despises her, then what about me, who is eight years older than her? Wouldn't I age and lose my beauty even faster?

In the future, when my wife is thirty, I will be close to forty; when my wife is forty, he will be fifty; when my wife is fifty, he will be sixty... Such an age gap cannot be eliminated no matter what.

Looking at his wife again, with her fair skin and beautiful face, and rosy cheeks, she looked like a young girl of 28, Emperor Jingxuan suddenly felt a sense of infinite crisis.

He said in a deep voice, "Madam, you didn't listen to my words, but you took the nonsense of others to heart. Madam, do you think this should be punished?"

Yun Wan glanced up at the person and muttered softly, "I don't listen to everything you say, I just think there's some truth to it."

Emperor Jingxuan heard it all clearly. He hugged her and snorted coldly: "After all, it seems that Madam doesn't trust me."

Yun Wan hesitated, unable to find words to refute.

Emperor Jingxuan saw this and his eyes darkened slightly.

The reason for distrust is nothing more than uneasiness in one's heart.

As for why I feel uneasy, it’s because I lack confidence.

Everyone knew that the lady was a second-time bride, and everyone knew that she had no one to rely on in the palace except him, so no one took her seriously and thought that anyone could ridicule and mock her.

But the lady was clearly a treasure he had snatched away, and he held her in his hands, so how could he allow this group of people to humiliate her at will?

Do they deserve it?

Emperor Jingxuan's expression was gloomy and his anger grew stronger, and he tightened his grip on her waist.

"I'm sorry, I made you unhappy."

Yun Wan snuggled up to his chest, her eyes fixed on his taut jaw.

He was angry, but not at her. Emperor Jingxuan lowered his eyes and said with a gentle expression, "Madam, you are mistaken. I am not unhappy."

"What's that banknote Madam was talking about?"

Yun Wan: "I was just about to tell you that Duke Lu sent some banknotes this morning—"

"who?"

"Duke Lu." Yun Wan glanced at him and explained in a gentle voice, "Don't misunderstand me. This is the Lu family's intention. They said they feel guilty towards me and want to make amends with money."

"I haven't figured out how to handle this yet, and I wanted to ask the Concubine Shu for advice."

"If you don't like it, I'll have someone send it back."

Otherwise, this person will come back to take revenge on you one day.

“No need.”

Emperor Jingxuan waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "Since it is the Lu family's filial gift to Madam, Madam, please accept it. It is their thoughtfulness."

"But the palace has its own rules. Madam, please do not accept things of unknown origin in the future."

Who knows what he was thinking? He still said what he had to say.

Yun Wan ignored his jealousy, raised her head and kissed his lower lip, saying gently, "Your Majesty, you treat me so well."

Emperor Jingxuan snorted in a reserved manner.

It’s just a mere 100,000 taels.

The next day, amid the beating of drums and gongs, rewards flowed from the imperial court to the Qiyun Palace.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, dozens of palace servants, holding and carrying all kinds of objects, headed towards Qiyun Palace. Their procession was so grand and impressive that no one failed to stop and marvel wherever they passed.

The palace maid who was reading the praises read for a full half hour until her mouth was dry.

What about Yunjin, Shujin, palace silk, palace satin, jasper cups, amber bowls, Ru kiln and Ding kiln vases, rosewood screens and glass mirrors, gilded step-shaking hairpins with pearls, snow mountain ginseng and silver fox furs...

From food, clothing, daily necessities to ornamental and amusing items, there is everything, a dazzling array, filling the front yard of Qiyun Palace.

The palace maids watching were shocked. The emperor doted on Concubine Yun too much. Was he going to empty the warehouse?

In addition, the palace servants were holding trays covered with cloth.

Jiang Fusheng said with a smile: "Your Majesty, this was specially sent to you by His Majesty for your enjoyment."

Yun Wan lifted the curtain out of curiosity, and the room was suddenly filled with golden light, becoming extremely bright.

On the tray, rows of gold ingots are neatly arranged, and they are people's favorites regardless of size, weight or shape.

And there was not just one tray, but ten, all filled with gold ingots.

It's yellow and golden.

Yun Wan's breathing was slightly stagnant, and it was hard not to be moved.

Nothing is more touching than naked gold.

At the same time, Changchun Palace also received a box of considerable rewards.