You Xian'er lowered her eyes and stared at the teacup in front of her. "Cousin, you should go back. What's past is past. Some things are not up to me to decide."
In the past, You Xian'er frequently sent flirtatious glances to Liu Baokun.
She genuinely liked her charming cousin.
However, her father said she was destined to be an empress, and the immense wealth and honor she would receive was something she simply couldn't refuse.
The rise and fall of the family rested on her shoulders, and she could not do as she pleased.
Liu Baokun was tall, and the two maids could not block his view at all.
The maid knew it was just for show; if someone saw it, at least the young lady could get away with it.
Liu Baokun said, "Sister Xian'er, look up at me and answer. As long as you say that you no longer have me in your heart, I will turn around and leave."
"Sister Xian'er, were all those vows of eternal love made under the flowers and moon all lies?"
Liu Baokun's tone was sorrowful.
Images of their past close relationship flashed through You Xian'er's mind, and the lingering reluctance in her heart stirred again.
The stepmother was very strict; even her own nephews were not allowed to enter the backyard.
In order to see Liu Baokun, You Xian'er would always have her maid secretly deliver a message, arranging to meet him in the garden outside the guest room.
Liu Baokun also liked the pretty You Xian'er and always found excuses to stay at the You residence for a long time, unwilling to go home.
He felt that their relationship was as solid as a rock, and that he would marry no one but her in this life; and You Xian'er would marry no one but him.
When he told his aunt about his feelings and prepared to have his family come to propose marriage, his aunt resolutely refused.
As You Xian'er recalled the past, tears welled up in her eyes.
She gritted her teeth and shook her head. "It's fake. I've never had anyone in my heart."
"Sister Xian'er, what you're saying hurts me deeply. Who brought me the ice bowl on a summer night? And who embroidered the sachet for me?"
The despair in Liu Baokun's eyes deepened as he looked at the pretty woman, as if he had never truly known her.
Just then, footsteps approached from afar.
“Sister Xian’er, I will not give up until you enter the palace.”
Hearing footsteps, the two maids hurriedly pushed Liu Baokun, saying, "Young Master, please go out quickly, it won't be good if someone sees us."
Liu Baokun gave You Xian'er a deep look before striding away.
Just as Liu Baokun reached the door, a palace maid walked in from outside.
The palace maid glanced at Liu Baokun, then looked up at You Xian'er.
"you……"
You Xian'er quickly stood up. "Miss, please don't misunderstand. I twisted my ankle under the plum tree and sat there for a while."
The palace maid didn't respond and went straight to the dressing room.
When You Xian'er came out of the hall, she saw Liu Baokun walking ahead. She said to the two maids, "Let's take another route so that he won't see me alone again and again."
Seeing that their mistress understood the importance of this, the maids all nodded in unison, "That's right, we can't let the princess or the emperor see him harassing the young lady."
In the dressing room, just as the group was about to leave, a palace maid came to deliver a message that the Emperor invited Jiang Shuyue to dine with him.
Jiang Shuyue wanted to refuse, but the palace maid said, "If you don't want the Emperor to go to Bixia Courtyard, it would be better if you came with me."
Du Yutong, being very perceptive, said, "Sister Yue'er, you should go and come back soon. Zhu'er and I will go back to our room to rest first."
Jiang Shuyue had no choice but to nod, "Let's go then, we still need to eat eventually."
The group left the main hall, and a palace maid led Jiang Shuyue and Qiuju to the inner palace via another path.
Upon arriving at the inner hall, they saw Gao Mu standing nearby.
"Your Majesty, I have come. I would like to ask you to help me check whether the barbecue made by the imperial chefs is authentic."
Jiang Shuyue: "..."
It's just a meal, why make up so many excuses?
Xiao Jingzhao looked at Qiuju, "You and your husband can use it together in a little while."
“There is a distinction between master and servant, that won’t do.”
Things are different now than before; Qiuju is now particularly careful about rules and propriety.
"The pheasants and rabbits were caught by your son Gao Mu. You can eat them in the side room next door later."
Jiang Shuyue picked up where Xiao Jingzhao left off, "The Emperor has bestowed a meal upon you, so you can just go."
Qiu Ju bowed to Xiao Jingzhao. "Thank you, Your Majesty, this servant obeys."
A moment later, the steaming hot roasted meat was served.
The meat wasn't skewered; it had obvious knife marks on it, indicating it was cut into small pieces after being cooked.
Jiang Shuyue glanced at the seasoning on the barbecue, and a strong smell of cumin wafted towards her.
Xiao Jingzhao used serving chopsticks to pick up a piece and put it on the plate in front of Jiang Shuyue. "Try it quickly, is it the same taste as the one baked by the chef of Juxian Pavilion?"
Jiang Shuyue took a small bite. "Mmm, that's right."
"Then I'm relieved. Eat more. Sui Sui always says you've lost weight from exhaustion." Xiao Jingzhao said, picking up another piece of food with his chopsticks and placing it on Jiang Shuyue's plate.
"Your Majesty, please eat well. Just listen to what Sui Sui says. I'm busy and don't have much time to spend with him. Every time he sees me, he says I've lost weight."
Jiang Shuyue looked up and saw palace maids serving her from a distance.
"I heard you defeated Miss Cui. How about we have a friendly match of musical skills later?"
Jiang Shuyue put down her chopsticks. "Your Majesty, Miss Cui is both beautiful and talented. I didn't really intend to beat her."
"No, Miss Cui is very talented. The piece she played happens to be one that I am good at. In fact, it is unfair for me to win."
Jiang Shuyue's eyes were full of sincerity.
She thought to herself, "Your Majesty, don't take it personally. I didn't mean to win over your future favorite concubine."
"I've already bet on you to win, so why would I care about other people's feelings?" Xiao Jingzhao said somewhat displeased.
Forget it, let's just keep talking and eating.
Jiang Shuyue didn't understand why he was angry, so she simply focused on eating and stopped discussing the competition in the hall.
After the meal, Xiao Jingzhao led her to a pavilion. Looking out from upstairs, they saw a vast expanse of white mist rising from the mountains, swirling around them, like a fairyland.
"This place is perfect for escaping the summer heat. If you'd like, you can bring Sui Sui here for a short stay in the summer."
As Xiao Jingzhao spoke, he closed the window, shutting out the beautiful scenery before nightfall.
Jiang Shuyue smiled faintly, "Thank you, Your Majesty. This place is fine for a short stay, but Sui Sui prefers lively places. The capital city is more suitable for him."
"Why do you always keep everyone at arm's length, I..."
Eunuch Ma brought in the zither, interrupting Xiao Jingzhao's words.
"Which piece of music does Your Majesty like to listen to?" Jiang Shuyue changed the subject.
Xiao Jingzhao personally poured a cup of hot tea and placed it in front of Jiang Shuyue, saying, "Please make yourself at home. I like whatever you play."
Seeing that Eunuch Ma had set up the seven-stringed zither, Jiang Shuyue walked over and stroked the strings, whispering, "I wonder if there will be a bright moon tonight, so I'll play 'The Moon Over the West Tower'."
Xiao Jingzhao picked up his teacup and waited with great interest.
As Jiang Shuyue's slender, pale fingers danced across the strings, melodious music filled the air.
Immersed in the music, Jiang Shuyue's thoughts drifted back to her past life.
Everything seemed like a dream, something that could never be relived, and no one understood the loneliness she felt in the dead of night.
The soft light illuminated her profile, and a faint sadness appeared on her face, which caught Xiao Jingzhao's eye.
Who is she thinking of...?
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