Chapter 12 Chapter 12
The man paused, as if surprised, then thought of something and smiled slowly, but with an aggressive tone: "Who do you think I am?"
Such confidence and assurance startled Shen Youyi slightly. She looked at the half of his face suspiciously. Should she know him?
It seemed familiar, but she really didn't remember it.
His tone was calm, but his expression was different. It was the look of a lion inspecting its prey before hunting. His eyes were fixed on her, determined to get her, but he approached her at a leisurely pace, neither hurried nor slow.
Everything seems peaceful, but there is a hidden danger.
The stone was still covered with morning dew. Every time he took a step forward, Shen Youyi could only take a step back. It was not until he touched the cold and wet stone that he felt despair in his heart.
From childhood to adulthood, countless men have had improper thoughts about her. Most of these men cover up their desires with a gentle appearance, treat her politely and modestly, but often reveal their beastly side when no one is around.
It would be better if he was just one of those men who have lustful thoughts but no courage to do it, rather than... one of Concubine Wei's former lovers, who was seeking to settle accounts with her like the Crown Prince.
That would be enough to kill her!
Shen Youyi's eyes fell on the surrounding stones, and she finally chose one she liked. Just as she was about to stumble and fall, the man was quick and reached out to grab her arm, preventing her from falling.
The brows behind the mask seemed to be furrowed. The man didn't know what he was thinking about, and his tone was a little heavier: "Nonsense!"
Shen Youyi was furious. They had only met once, and he had been mean to her twice!
Even the prince has never been so cruel to her, so why should he?
She struggled hard and freed herself from his grasp. Although her chest was heaving, she lowered her eyes and said politely, "I assume you are Prince Lanling."
The use of masks to cover the face in opera originated from the story of Lanling King of the Northern Qi Dynasty. This famous general was extremely brave and courageous, but unfortunately his appearance and graceful figure were like a woman, which was not enough to deter the enemy. The emperor ruled the world with martial arts and had a preference for dance and music. Lanling King's March into Battle was often performed in the palace.
However, Shen Youyi secretly complained that Lanling King covered his body with a mask to kill the enemy and establish his authority. The man in front of him was wearing Lanling King's mask costume, and he was probably going to do something shameful!
The man nodded and smiled slightly: "What you said makes some sense."
Seeing that the other party did not deny it and obviously did not want to reveal his true identity, she cleared her throat and asked, "Then do you know who I am?"
The man's eyes were bright and he seemed to be very interested. He asked readily, "Who are you?"
Shen Youyi breathed a sigh of relief, and even his eyes regained some vitality.
It turned out that this person didn't know her.
What else is there to say to him!
"I, I am a palace maid who serves as a flower attendant here..."
Shen Youyi raised her eyes, lifted the hem of her skirt and took two steps forward, glancing at him timidly. She was already pretty, and even though she was crying miserably, she looked very lovable with a little effort.
She was careful to keep a distance of about three or four inches from him, but her figure was quite voluptuous, so when she turned slightly, some contact was still inevitable.
A delicate trace of snow is like the spring scenery on the branches of a cliff, full of charm, yet elusive, teasing and tempting passers-by to pick it.
Even that person couldn't help but be slightly distracted.
However, before he could reach out to pick the branch, the girl, who was about to say something but hesitated, suddenly became vicious and pushed him inside with both arms.
"You disrespectful scoundrel!"
She was still not satisfied, but when she turned around, she saw that the other party was not pushed by her. She was shocked and froze in place, unable to move.
Fortunately, the other party had no intention of chasing her, but just looked at her thoughtfully.
Shen Youyi couldn't think of any more venting words to curse, so she could only curse "Pooh" to get rid of the bad luck, and then she fled in a panic, disappearing in a emerald green mist.
Chen Rongshou and the eunuchs in front of the emperor were waiting far away. They had to be cautious and careful when serving Emperor Yuan Shuo, but the scenery in the garden was pleasant today, and the emperor's attendants also relaxed their tense nerves and talked and laughed in low voices.
They had been living in fear for the past few months, but today the clouds finally cleared. Although there were some twists and turns along the way, who would have thought that with the right time, place and people, it would finally succeed.
Your Majesty accompanied the Empress Dowager to the Taoist temple, but turned back halfway and thought for a moment. Instead of going to Huifeng Pavilion to listen to opera, he came to Qinzheng Tower to climb up and look into the distance.
They were anxious, but did not dare to speak easily to test the emperor's intentions.
Judging from the time, the imperial concubine should have sneaked out of Yaoguang Palace. Since His Majesty is willing to give in, what if she is left alone for too long... what if something happens to the imperial concubine?
The pavilion was hidden in the morning mist, bathed in the rosy glow of the sunset. Climbing the tower and gazing out into the distance, it felt like being in a nine-story palace, overlooking the vast sea of clouds. It was a refreshing experience. Just when he thought His Majesty had changed his mind, he heard Emperor Yuan Shuo chuckle and say, "This is the first time I've done something so shameless."
Being teased by a woman full of sweet words, he actually looked forward to her coming back.
Chen Rongshou held his breath and kept quiet. The emperor didn't want him to answer anything, so he didn't want to speak easily.
It was the emperor's intention to detain the imperial concubine in the Yaoguang Palace, but to lure the imperial concubine out, how could Sui Chao dare to do it alone without people like them who could guess the emperor's intentions?
Knowing that the imperial concubine had sneaked out, she might have intended to meet the emperor by chance, or she might not have.
Judging from the imperial concubine's personality, she really loves to go out and wander around.
But after the news from Yaoguang Palace came, His Majesty pondered for a moment and finally acquiesced.
Forcing the emperor to wait for a concubine to seduce him is certainly a shameless thing to do, but as long as the imperial concubine doesn't know about it, how could they, the servants, dare to say a word?
But the Holy Emperor had no intention of getting up, and the cries of grief pierced the sky, disturbing people's minds.
Looking down from the high building, the small ball curled up in a hidden corner, like a delicate hibiscus blooming in the lush greenery, but the woman was crying her heart out. I don’t know how much grievance she had suffered that made her cry like a child without caring about her face.
Is it because he searched the garden but couldn't find any trace of the emperor, so he felt wronged, sad, angry and humiliated?
How could a concubine who had fallen out of favor cry outside in a undignified manner after failing to meet someone by chance?
Chen Rongshou was terrified, not entirely because of the "palace lady" downstairs, but because of Emperor Yuan Shuo.
The Qinzheng Tower was nearly a hundred feet high, and when the emperor leaned over, most of his body was sticking out of the railing!
Fortunately, just before the eunuchs knelt down to persuade him, Emperor Yuan Shuo had withdrawn his hand.
The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, listening quietly for a few breaths. His brows gradually furrowed, but his stern expression gradually softened, no longer as if he was irritated by the disturbance of his peace.
It's closer to a kind of helplessness... or even a compromise.
Chen Rongshou didn't dare to dwell on it any further. He looked carefully at Emperor Yuan Shuo and was about to ask whether he should invite the imperial concubine up to question her, but he saw the emperor gently close his eyes and order, "Change your clothes."
…
After a while, the eunuch who was sent to find out the reason came back. After hearing this, Chen Rongshou breathed a sigh of relief and a smile appeared on his lips.
Otherwise, why is it said that among the beauties in the harem, Concubine Wei is the best at catering to the emperor's wishes? The two of them actually did the opposite. Although the concubine's guess was not entirely correct, it turned out to be the same by accident.
It's really pitiful.
An eunuch kept looking over there. Seeing Chen Rongshou staring at the sky in a daze, he finally couldn't help but remind him, "General Manager, His Majesty has been gone for quite some time. Do you think we should pull up the brocade screen?"
He hesitated and said, "Although we are guarding it, we are still outside. If someone is not tactful enough to startle the Holy Chariot, we will be guilty of a great sin."
"What nonsense! How could His Majesty visit the Imperial Concubine here?"
Chen Rongshou raised the whisk high, thought for a moment, and then put it down again.
Your Majesty would naturally not be so reckless, but with the addition of a noble concubine, it is hard to say.
After all, a short separation is better than a new marriage. Although His Majesty has rarely mentioned the imperial concubine since this spring, the more he does so, the more he cares about her in his heart.
Even if the two of them reconcile, if you carefully calculate the consequences of these past few months, I wonder if the imperial concubine's body can withstand it.
He flicked his whisk and said subtly, "Let's go forward to welcome the emperor."
If we hear any noise, it won’t be too late to draw the curtain... It’s just that this place is very humid, and the nobles are in high spirits and can’t stop for a while, so the servants can’t go in to lay out the pillows and mattresses, so they can only prepare some soups to dispel cold and dampness.
Unexpectedly, he saw Emperor Yuan Shuo after just a few steps.
The mask covering his face had been removed. Chen Rongshou glanced behind the emperor inconspicuously, then quickly lowered his head to hide the shock in his heart.
The emperor knew what they were thinking and asked calmly, "What did you find out?"
Chen Rongshou had originally planned a flattering speech, but now that the imperial concubine had disappeared, he hesitated and swallowed his words back, whispering, "Someone saw the lady going to the library and coming out a short while later. I don't know how she ended up here. She must have lost her way."
The imperial concubine might have met the two adults along the way, but after careful consideration, Chen Rongshou decided to cover up the matter.
If the imperial concubine was throwing a tantrum because she couldn't find the emperor, the emperor took the initiative to give in today and allowed her to do whatever she wanted. The imperial concubine should be staying by the emperor's side at this moment.
But if they met on a narrow road, not only did the two ministers recognize the imperial concubine, but they also dared to provoke the ladies in the harem, which is even more unbelievable.
Not to mention how outsiders know the appearance of the imperial concubine, even if the prince's confidant wanted to vent his anger for Yang Xiuyuan, it might be possible to contradict the imperial concubine who was the favorite in the six palaces half a year ago. But now that Madam Wei has lost all her favor, it would be ungentlemanly to argue with such a young and pitiful woman.
What's more, although Scholar Shen is close to the prince, he has always been self-disciplined and respectful, and is not the kind of reckless and rude person.
Emperor Yuan Shuo glanced at him and asked, "Just lost your way?"
Chen Rongshou, not knowing what had just happened, tentatively asked, "Your Majesty went to the Taoist temple to listen to sutras this time, and all the concubines and heirs of the royal family accompanied him, leaving only the Imperial Concubine in the palace. Madam, after leaving, was unable to find Your Majesty. Perhaps you heard others talking about something and became suspicious."
But even he was not sure. What could the people below say was nothing more than flattering the powerful and looking down on the weak, and making some sarcastic remarks.
When the imperial concubine dared to take cold medicine for contraception without the knowledge of His Majesty, she should have known that her current fate was an extra favor from His Majesty.
Even though the emperor's will has changed now, no one dares to mention the matter. It is like a sword hanging over one's head. Both sides know of its existence, but no one knows when it will strike again.
Even losing the emperor's favor couldn't make her bow her head. After experiencing the ups and downs of life, she reluctantly came to please him. This...
The emperor's mind is complicated. It would be fine if he didn't care about the concubines, but which lady in the inner court doesn't hope for a life of wealth and glory, and has the vanity to surpass her peers? As long as the emperor still wants to favor her, the woman will be willing to serve him with all her heart. As for what the lady thinks in her heart, and whether she has love for her emperor or not, that is not something the emperor cares about.
It was the imperial concubine who made the emperor have other thoughts. She was doted on, which also meant that she had to endure more criticism than others.
So what if Marquis Lingyang was her first husband? The emperor would never allow anyone else to be with the woman he loved.
However... even if there is such an intention in asking the imperial concubine to stay in the temporary palace to reflect on herself, if the imperial concubine is really being humble in order to still be able to live a life of being the center of attention in Zhaoyang Palace, how can she please the emperor?
As expected, Emperor Yuan Shuo's face darkened upon hearing this, and he said calmly, "That's what she deserves."
It was just that lingering fragrance in his arms, lingering and passionate, entwined around his fingertips, just like just now, when she deliberately used the plump and soft part of her body to gently roll over his chest and abdomen, like a dragonfly skimming the water, separating at the touch, without caring about the ripples on the water.
She is a very bad woman. When encountering problems, she doesn't think about how to solve them. She just thinks that she can get away with it by sleeping with others.
This was the case when he was drugged at the banquet, and when he entered the palace and fought with the concubines out of guilt. Even just now, he intended to throw her down.
——She had read banned books and was curious why there was a couch on the rockery in the noble mansion, as the Duke of Yan’s mansion did not have such a decoration.
Later, when she learned the reasons why they were against etiquette, she not only did not feel it was despicable, but she also lay on his chest with sparkling eyes like a begging puppy, begging him to try it one day, so that she could truly know whether it would be happier than lying on the couch.
She is really shameless, yet very cute and innocent. She is genuinely curious, which gives people a headache, but does not make them annoyed at all.
At any time, no matter whether they are right or wrong, if others are angry, they will go along with her and coax her, for fear that she will shed a tear.
As a result, her rules and temper became worse and worse.
But her weirdness doesn't stop there.
Even if you want to play hard to get, there is no need to pretend that you don't know him.
Is this how young girls beg their lovers to come back nowadays?
Emperor Yuan Shuo lowered his head and thought for a moment. Chen Rongshou didn't know why the emperor was so concerned, and he didn't want to disturb him.
"Well, let her be."
Chen Rongshou heard the emperor chuckle softly, and was just feeling puzzled when he saw Emperor Yuan Shuo shook his head: "I am indeed not young anymore."
After being rejected twice by him, she became angry and embarrassed. Young women are always impatient.
As long as you have the intention, why bother with her about these things?
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