Chapter 40 What would a saintly emperor do to her...?

Her hand, gripping the edge of the paper, trembled slightly. Rain poured in from the window, which was never fully closed, causing the paper to slip from her grasp.

The drawing paper fluttered in the wind a few times before landing at her feet again. She looked down, and the image of the two people entwined in a tender embrace on the scroll came into view once more.

The brushstrokes were incredibly delicate—

Within the brocade quilt embroidered with gold thread and peonies, her dark hair lay disheveled. The woman's face was flushed, her almond-shaped eyes half-closed, her head tilted back as she bit her lip. Her skin, illuminated by the candlelight, appeared as white as snow. Her nails dug deeply into the man's arm, and the back of her foot unconsciously curled up. The man supported himself on her arm, his muscular back taut, his hands gripping the woman's waist, his fingertips turning white from the force.

The painting is so dynamic that the light and shadow of the candlelight on the skin, the fluttering pale gold gauze curtains, and the way the brocade quilts sway are all depicted with lifelike detail.

The viewer can almost feel the intense passion within the curtained room, and even hear the rising and falling breaths of the man and woman.

Even someone as skilled in painting as Yuan Chaolu couldn't help but secretly admire the painter's exceptional skill.

A surge of heat rushed up her mind, and she stood frozen in place, feeling the veins throbbing beneath her cheeks and behind her ears.

She looked up; the drawing paper had floated in from behind the screen behind the dragon bed.

Yuan Chaolu was about to walk there when a commotion outside the hall behind her suddenly interrupted her. She came to her senses, immediately turned around and left, going around to the outside of the inner hall's curtains, where she bumped into Zhong Changjun.

"Is the Second Miss leaving? His Majesty has already finished his meeting."

Yuan Chaolu forced a smile. "It's raining heavily, and I still have lessons to do. I won't disturb Your Majesty any longer."

But no sooner had he finished speaking than they heard voices coming from the council hall opposite. After the curtains swayed, several figures walked out one after another.

The emperor was surrounded by several ministers. The conversation abruptly stopped when one of the ministers saw Yuan Chaolu. Only then did everyone look up and realize that Yuan Chaolu was in the hall.

The emperor stood at the head of all the ministers, his stature as tall as a jade mountain. To his left and behind, there was a tall and slender figure who was no less imposing than Pei Xi, the Left Chief Secretary of the Minister of Works.

Yuan Chaolu bowed to everyone from afar, then stepped forward and said, "Lord Pei."

Pei Xi smiled and said, "Is the Second Miss still here so late?"

Yuan Chaolu said, "I came to deliver something to His Majesty and am about to leave."

After she finished speaking, she gave Xiao Zhuo a slight smile and looked at Pei Xi again, saying, "Lord Pei, let's go together."

Pei Xi nodded, bid farewell to the emperor, and left with Yuan Chaolu.

The remaining officials in the hall glanced at the two figures, their eyes meeting. They had seen this woman in the Emperor's residence at the Chanxu Temple before. Who would have thought that after some time, she would become the second young lady of the Yuan family and become very close to Lord Pei, with rumors suggesting that good news was on the horizon...

Outside the palace, the lanterns swayed, their hazy shadows flickering in the rain. As the woman stepped over the threshold, her foot slipped slightly, and Pei Xi quickly reached out and gently pulled her into his arms.

Pei Xi had never been to Chanxu Temple before and had never seen Miss Yuan, but the remaining few close ministers of the emperor were all aware of the inside story.

What exactly is the relationship between the Emperor and Miss Yuan the Second...?

But the emperor remained calm, his face still bearing his usual elegant smile, seemingly unmoved by what had just happened. The ministers could not guess what was going on, nor dared to think about it too deeply, and respectfully bowed and took their leave.

After the ministers left, the emperor also entered the inner palace.

A subtle fragrance wafted through the air, a scent not previously associated with this place. Xiao Zhuo sensed it the moment he stepped inside.

Zhong Changjun stepped forward to serve, and saw the emperor standing quietly by the window, his tall figure shrouded in the darkness of the night outside, holding a piece of drawing paper in his hand, his eyes lowered and focused on it.

The palace was so quiet you could hear the water clock ticking; the atmosphere was almost stagnant, until the emperor asked in a cold voice, "Has anyone been in the palace tonight?"

Zhong Changjun sensed something was wrong from the tone and said, "No, those palace servants cannot enter without being summoned, but Miss Yuan the Second has come..."

After a moment, the emperor slowly raised his eyelids and looked at a silver sachet hanging on the dragon bed curtains.

He ran his fingertips over it, gently caressing the delicate texture, his gaze cold, but soon, a sharp edge, even a hint of pleasure, gradually emerged in his dark eyes.

The pleasure of exposing her dark side to the world.

**

A misty haze hung over the long corridor, reflecting a hazy, silk-like light under the dim glow of the palace lanterns, making the corridor seem like a celestial paradise.

After Yuan Chao emerged from behind the main hall, he slowly withdrew his hand from Pei Xi's arm and said, "Thank you for your help earlier, Lord Pei."

Pei Xi's voice was calm and steady: "There's no need to be so polite. We'll be husband and wife sooner or later."

The word "husband and wife" stirred a subtle ripple in Yuan Chaolu's heart. She had imagined marrying the Prince of Yan, but she never thought her husband would become the man before her. His face was cold and aloof, and when he didn't smile, he seemed too distant. His long eyebrows that reached his temples added to his coldness. However, after spending a few days with him, she found that his way of handling things and his treatment of people were both very meticulous, which made her feel extremely at ease.

Yuan Chaolu's ears felt slightly warm as she met his scrutiny under the palace lanterns.

Pei Xi asked, "When His Majesty visited you this afternoon, did he notice anything unusual?"

"No, His Majesty has been in poor health lately. He asked me for some incense and left. But I was really scared. After His Majesty left, I risked disposing of Lu Yu's remaining body parts and sent them to the hunting dog, just in case something went wrong."

A troubled look appeared on her face: "But these past few days, I've been living in Luoxia Palace with constant anxiety, and I often wake up inexplicably at night."

Pei Xi listened patiently and said, "In a few days, there will be a hunting ceremony. All the princes and ladies from the academy will be there. You can use this opportunity to relax and put this matter aside. When you return, you can focus on preparing for the wedding."

Yuan Chaolu stepped forward and said, "Then, could my marriage with you, sir, be moved up a little?"

"A little earlier?"

"Yes, but I can no longer stay in that palace. Every extra day I stay there makes me uneasy. So I think it would be best to get married before autumn."

Pei Xi lowered his eyes, his gaze carefully tracing the girl in front of him. In the dim candlelight, her porcelain-white skin seemed to be coated with a honey-colored halo, and her eyes were filled with expectation and tenderness.

Pei Xi said, "I will expedite the wedding preparations. I have already informed my colleagues and elders in the clan the day before yesterday."

Yuan Chaolu knew how fast this was; only four or five days had passed since Lu Yu's death. She couldn't help but ask softly, "What did your father and mother think when they heard about this?"

Pei Xi continued walking with her along the corridor, his voice carrying a soft laugh: "There's no need to be so nervous. My affairs are never for them to interfere with. It's just that after A-Lan praised you, the two elders have been longing to see the Second Miss."

"When would be a convenient time for you?" Pei Xi asked gently. "How about the day of the hunt? The Pei family will also accompany you."

Yuan Chaolu smiled slightly and said, "Alright, I should visit your father and mother as soon as possible."

Just then, crisp footsteps sounded from the corridor behind them. The two turned around and saw that it was Zhong Changjun. Yuan Chaolu's heart sank, and she stepped forward to greet him, "Why has Eunuch Zhong come?"

Zhong Changjun and Pei Xi smiled and greeted each other, then looked at Yuan Chaolu.

She maintained her smile, and then Zhong Changjun raised his hand and handed her an oil-paper umbrella, saying, "Second Miss left in a hurry and didn't take it."

When Yuan Chaolu reached out to take it, she realized that her fingertips were covered in a thin layer of sweat, which made the umbrella handle slip in her palm and almost slip out of her hand.

Zhong Changjun said, "The night is dark and the steps are covered with moss. His Majesty reminded Miss to be careful of the slippery path and not to catch a cold."

What seemed like ordinary words of concern were unusual coming from the emperor himself. This young and decisive monarch rarely spoke kindly to his trusted ministers, yet he was giving such meticulous instructions to a woman he didn't know.

Unsure if those around her noticed anything amiss, Yuan Chaolu felt as if the green bamboo umbrella in her hand was burning hot, and she only wanted to throw it into Zhong Changjun's arms and leave immediately. Even when it rained before, he had never shown such concern and care.

But no matter how much he thought about it, he could only bow and smile slightly, saying, "Thank you, Lord Zhong."

The footsteps faded into the distance, and only the sound of rain falling could be heard. Suddenly, the person beside him spoke: "His Majesty has taken good care of you."

“Yes, it’s because of my mother and the Xiao family,” Yuan Chaolu said with a smile. “My mother was the late emperor’s cousin, and His Majesty also treats me as a cousin and takes good care of me. That day at the military parade, he even had Lord Pei teach me horsemanship. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have met Lord Pei.”

The person in front of her gave a faint "hmm," seemingly not taking the matter to heart. Yuan Chaolu walked forward alongside him, the hairpin at her temple coldly brushing against her cheek.

The sooner the marriage with Pei Xi is put on the agenda, the better. Before the marriage is even settled, there will always be unexpected changes that will interfere.

After the autumn war ends, Helan Yi will enter the capital to meet the emperor and receive rewards; today, she discovered the secret on the emperor's scroll in the Xuande Hall... she is now in a situation where she is attacked from both sides.

Just recalling the contents of that painting, Yuan Chaolu felt an itch, like ants biting, seeping from the cracks in her bones and creeping up her heels.

That feeling of torment was impossible to shake off.

**

As the day of her meeting with the elders of the Pei family drew near, on the day of the hunting ceremony, at the first light of dawn, she set off with the academy members on the official road leading to Hualin Garden.

This was the second royal hunt since the king ascended the throne. On the surface, it was a grand hunting event, but in reality, it was a military training exercise under the guise of a hunt.

The army, numbering in the thousands, marched in a grand procession, their archers and horsemen clad in silver armor and gleaming iron, all according to wartime regulations.

Before setting off, Yuan Chaolu stood in front of the wardrobe, looking at the riding clothes that the emperor had sent him earlier. He finally put them into his bag and followed Pei Lan into the carriage.

Shortly after leaving the palace, the carriage encountered the Pei family's convoy outside the city gate. The carriage stopped, the curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged woman dressed in an indigo-blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) gracefully stepped into the carriage. She was none other than Pei Xi and Pei Lan's mother, Madam Pei.

Madam Pei had long, slender eyebrows and a kind face. Her every move exuded a scholarly air, and her temperament was serene. A string of agate beads on her wrist swayed gently with her movements, shimmering with a vibrant color like pigeon blood.

"This must be the second young lady from the former Minister Situ's family?" Madam Pei took her hand and smiled. "Minister Situ was upright and respected. His reputation was legendary in the previous dynasty. When Lan'er said that Xi'er was going to marry the second young lady of the Yuan family, I was both surprised and delighted. After seeing her today, I realize that Lan'er's words about Xi Shi being no match for her are not untrue. My daughter is very fortunate."

Yuan Chaolu specially changed into a more dignified light blue silk dress to meet Madam Pei today. She was very nervous before the meeting, but she did not expect Madam Pei to be so warm and gentle.

Everyone knows about her past of wandering, and her father has been dead for more than ten years. With the changing times, the Yuan family's status in the court is now negligible. Yet, Madam Pei's words were full of respect, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

Madam Pei pulled her to sit down beside her and said gently, "Xi'er is stubborn and has never allowed us to interfere with his marriage. As he gets older, he has no intention of getting married, and we were almost ready to give up on this idea. Who would have thought that he would meet the Second Miss?"

Madam Pei smiled genuinely, her eyes crinkling with fine lines. "You truly are a good child. Lan'er has been praising you to me these past few days. I've also heard that you and your sister have been living in exile..."

She paused abruptly, her eyes scrutinizing Yuan Chaolu with deep pity: "Poor thing, she's suffered so much. If my Lan'er and Xi'er had to suffer like that, a mother's heart would break."

She held Yuan Chaolu's hands tightly, her palms firm and warm, her voice like a spring breeze caressing the willows, "The Pei family has been upright for generations, and in recent years, thanks to Xi'er's management of the household, we have accumulated some wealth. If you marry into the family, I will treat you as my own daughter and never let you suffer the slightest grievance."

Madam Pei raised her hand and gently stroked Yuan Chaolu's face. Her fingertips were warm, and when they touched her skin, Yuan Chaolu's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

She hadn't experienced such genuine care since her adoptive parents passed away. Yuan Chaolu felt a slight sting at the tip of her nose, but quickly concealed her emotions.

Madam Pei smiled and removed the string of blood-red agate beads from her wrist, placing it on Yuan Chaolu's wrist. Just as Yuan Chaolu was about to refuse, Pei Lan beside her said, "It's a token of my mother's affection; please accept it."

"Yes, you're almost a member of the Pei family, so this is just a small token of my appreciation for my future daughter."

Yuan Chaolu gazed at Madam Pei's kind eyes and murmured, "Thank you—" before quickly calling out softly from behind.

"Mother."

Upon hearing this form of address, Madam Pei was initially taken aback, then her smile deepened, and she affectionately took Yuan Chaolu's hand, beginning to chatter intimately. Yuan Chaolu responded with her eyes lowered, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the agate bracelet on her wrist.

The agate felt warm to the touch and shimmered with a warm luster in the sunlight. She truly loved it.

Pei Xi helped her out of dire straits, and the Pei family was so kind; this marriage couldn't be better.

Hualin Garden is located in the eastern suburbs of Luoyang. When their convoy arrived outside the garden, they could already hear the sound of the forest rustling in the wind.

Yuan Chaolu gently lifted the curtain, revealing a heavily guarded area nearby, lush vegetation in the woods, verdant mountains in the distance, palaces winding around the mountain ridges, and eaves appearing and disappearing in the clouds and mist—truly a scene of imperial grandeur.

The carriage traveled for a while longer before stopping at a grassy slope in front of the garden. Yuan Chaolu helped Madam Pei out of the carriage, and as soon as she lifted the embroidered curtain, she saw a tall figure standing beside the carriage shaft.

Pei Xi extended a hand with distinct knuckles, palm facing up, and waited for the three of them with a smile.

He first carefully helped Madam Pei and Pei Lan down, then turned to himself. Yuan Chaolu's stray hairs were blown by the wind as she gazed at him in the warm sunlight.

Many noble families had already gathered on the grassy slope, and they all saw the scene from afar. The girl was tall and graceful, her skirt fluttering in the wind. After Lord Pei reached out his hand, she slowly touched his fingertips and was helped off the horse by the man.

In the days leading up to and following this, rumors about Lord Pei's marriage to Miss Yuan had spread like wildfire.

It is said that this Miss Yuan was originally the fiancée of the Prince of Yan. She was pursued by the Prince of Yan, but after that, for some unknown reason, the marriage turned into that of the Prince of Yan's teacher.

As is often the case, scandalous rumors spread far and wide. Everyone was curious about who the Second Miss Yuan was, what she looked like, and how she could have attracted the hearts of two dazzling young men in the court.

The young woman, dressed in a light blue silk dress, stood beneath the fluttering banners. Her black hair was tied up high, and the golden hairpins at her temples swayed slightly with her movements, reflecting a golden halo in the sunlight. Her stunningly beautiful face caused all who met her gaze to hold their breath.

They are indeed the figures in the painting.

After Yuan Chaolu dismounted, she tried to pull her hand away from Pei Xi's, but he held it tightly. Her heart trembled slightly as he led her toward the tent. An official came forward and greeted Pei Xi with a bow.

"Congratulations, Lord Pei."

"Congratulations to Lord Pei and Miss Yuan on their happy marriage."

"May I ask when Lord Pei's wedding is scheduled?"

Several officials smiled warmly, and then the usually unsmiling and unapproachable Lord Pei replied to them: "Thank you for your concern, colleagues. I will naturally invite all the officials of the court to the wedding ceremony."

Yuan Chaolu responded to everyone's greetings with a smile.

The person beside him said, "Your tent is ahead; I'll take you there."

He took her wrist and led her forward.

Yuan Chaolu raised her head to look at his profile, feeling the countless following gazes around her.

This marriage is now a done deal. At this hunting ceremony, everyone in the court will know that she and Pei Xi are getting married.

Just as I was about to step into the tent, I suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats behind me.

A group of people approached from afar, startling the birds roosting on the hillside and causing them to scatter. The figures of the approaching people, with their silver saddles and white horses, and their black robes and riding attire, were illuminated by the sunlight, making their handsome features appear even more striking.

Everyone knelt on the ground, and Yuan Chaolu also bowed. When the emperor dismounted and told everyone to dispense with the formalities, his gaze casually swept over everyone. When it passed over her, Yuan Chaolu subconsciously clenched her hands.

"What's wrong?" Pei Xi's voice rang out.

"It's nothing." She forced a smile.

The Emperor's gaze was extremely light, brushing over her like flowing water before sweeping over the person beside her. He clearly saw her and Pei Xi, yet his expression remained unchanged, as if it were a casual glance. That figure stood tall and straight as a pine tree, walking directly into the main tent.

Even after entering the tent and bidding farewell to Pei Xi, Yuan Chaolu could still feel the blinding sunlight on her body, but the painting she had seen in the Emperor's Palace that day involuntarily flashed through her mind. That agonizing feeling of being bitten by ants crept up on her again.

There are still more than ten days left. We just need to wait quietly for the hunting ceremony to end, and then we can marry Pei Xi.

The emperor, a saint-like figure, was pure, aloof, and ascetic—at least in the eyes of outsiders—so he would never actually do anything to her in the hunting grounds.

Yuan Chaolu lowered her eyes quietly and took out the medical book left by her elder sister from her bag.

I heard that the Lu siblings and Helan Zhen will also be coming to the hunting grounds.

She wasn't going to let this opportunity slip by.