Chapter 26 Lipstick as a Guest of Favor
The mountains surrounding Taihua Palace are covered with lush forests. This time, Emperor Qianyuan led the jade lion, with Wenmiao sitting on it, on a slightly flat spot in the mountains. The grass was green and birds were chirping. A few steps away from the bushes, a stream babbled by, with fish leaping and clear water splashing against the rocks.
Behind this meadow is a slightly steep hillside, which can only be reached from the hunting grounds at the foot of the mountain, forming a small cliff hidden by green pines. The two sides, one above the other, each form a separate space.
On the sloping cliff, Meng Hanzhou suddenly stopped his horse and rolled down.
Lin Su, who was a step behind, didn't understand what he meant, but he stopped as well, dismounted, and said, "Look—"
"Keep your voice down!" Meng Hanzhou reacted quickly, covering Lin Su's mouth and whispering, "They're down there."
Lin Su blinked and looked over.
The distance from the cliff top to the grassy open space below wasn't too far. Although it wasn't possible to see the person's face clearly, it was enough for Lin Su to match the woman on horseback below with the woman in Meng Hanzhou's painting.
Before this, Lin Su only felt that his friend's painting skills were extremely vivid and outstanding. But now, separated by distance and the gentle summer breeze, when he saw the woman's flowing hair, trembling skirt, and plump, jade-like figure, Lin Su felt that the person in the painting was not even a tenth as good as the one in front of him.
Every muscle and every feature is exquisitely beautiful.
When Meng Hanzhou removed his hand from Lin Su's face, the latter was still staring blankly, somewhat unable to come to his senses.
"Lin Su, look at that person—"
Meng Hanzhou frowned, his tender gaze towards the lady turning cold as he looked at the tall man leading the horse beside him.
"Could he be the lady's lover?"
Lin Su snapped out of his daze and looked over.
On the other side of the tall white horse stood a tall man in a blue robe. Judging from his figure and indistinct features, he was probably over thirty years old. His features were not clearly visible, but his overall demeanor was extraordinary.
Lin Su stroked his chin. "Is there such a person in the capital? I don't seem to recall him."
Meng Hanzhou also said, "At such a young age and with such an imposing presence, he must be of noble birth. The materials used in his clothes are not found in any of the major cloth shops in the capital... Could he be a member of the imperial family?"
"The only ones who fit the age list are Prince Gong, Prince Rui, and Prince Yu, but everyone knows that Prince Gong went mad more than a decade ago and was imprisoned; Prince Rui is doing well, but he has no fewer than thirty wives and concubines at home. Surely your beloved wife wouldn't be interested in such an old rogue? And then there's Prince Yu..."
Lin Su hissed, "Prince Yu has long since become a monk at Lingyun Temple. He doesn't even see anyone else, so it's impossible for him to be here anymore."
The two young men, who were not yet of age, analyzed the situation for a while, but they couldn't guess the identity of the "guest in the inner chambers." Neither of them even thought about it further—in this vast capital city, there was another person of such age, such imposing presence, and such noble status, and that was the current emperor.
Neither Meng Hanzhou nor Lin Su, despite their aristocratic backgrounds, ever served as officials in the imperial court.
In the past, at some palace banquets, as the eldest sons of noble families, they were brought to the palace by their fathers to attend the banquet. However, under such circumstances, given their status, they could only sit in the farthest and lowest positions. How could they dare to look up and gaze directly at the highest position that represented the emperor?
Therefore, it is perfectly normal for them not to recognize the current emperor's figure or face; to some extent, it can be considered that they are like newborn calves unafraid of tigers.
Most importantly, the impression that the current emperor's harem is empty has long been deeply ingrained in people's minds. Even though there have been many rumors about "the phoenix and the dragon" in the capital recently, apart from the ministers who are restless, most people still do not believe that their emperor has any confidantes.
His Majesty has been stubborn about opening a harem for over a decade. How could he suddenly change his mind? Who has the power to persuade this autocratic emperor to change his mind?
On the mountain, Meng Hanzhou's eyes turned red as he watched, feeling that the old man had deceived the kind-hearted lady.
He wants to marry the lady and even wants to earn her an official title. Is that old man capable of that? Who knows if the other party already has a wife, concubines, children, and so on? He might just be playing with the lady's feelings!
The more he thought about it, the tighter Meng Hanzhou gripped his hands, his teeth grinding together.
Wen Miao sat on the back of the jade lion, with Emperor Qian Yuan pulling the reins as they slowly walked along the forest path.
However, during a brief pause in his walk, Emperor Qianyuan paused slightly and glanced at the hillside not far away.
There was at least a pause of two or three breaths.
Wen Miao brushed a strand of hair from her temple and looked back in confusion.
The distant hillsides sloped gently, interspersed with lush green fields. The trees were dense and shadowy, making it difficult to discern anything clearly. However, when Wen Miao's gaze fell upon them, she noticed that the branches were trembling as if something had passed by.
...Was it a forest animal? The obvious signs of movement suggest it was quite large, right?
Wen Miao asked the more perceptive Emperor Qian Yuan, "Is there something there?"
Emperor Qian Yuan smiled and raised his hand to stroke the mane of the jade lion. "I saw two little thieves whose manes haven't even grown in yet."
"A petty thief?"
Wen Miao frowned, somewhat puzzled: "Are they villains who infiltrated the palace?"
Although she had never experienced any danger, Wen Miao subconsciously thought of ambushes and assassinations—this association was very natural in her subconscious.
The emperor sensed the tension and caution in Wen Miao's tone. He looked up at the beautiful and voluptuous lady on the white horse and couldn't get enough of her... How could she be so lovable? Even when she frowned, pursed her lips, or looked bewildered and slow, she was a million times more beautiful than anyone else.
If someone else asked him that question, he would surely think they were stupid; but when it was his wife, Emperor Qian Yuan felt that she was wonderful in every way.
"Is Madam worried about me?"
The emperor's personal guard, dressed in blue, asked this question.
Wen Miao remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "Yes."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Qian Yuan laughed.
Unlike his previous gentle smile, this was a more open and unrestrained laugh. As a result, the gloom that had been etched on his cold face for years vanished, replaced by a dazzling warmth and an arrogant arrogance.
In his youth, Emperor Qian Yuan must have been like this, galloping across the battlefield—indulgent, unrestrained, wild, and full of fierce spirit. However, more than ten years as emperor tempered his sharpness, but also made him more unfathomable.
In the blink of an eye, Emperor Qianyuan grasped the reins, leaped onto the saddle, and sat behind Wen Miao.
With his large, warm hands supporting the woman's waist, almost the instant Emperor Qian Yuan sat down, Wen Miao uncontrollably leaned into his arms, instantly enveloped by a masculine strength and aura.
"Madam, I am very happy."
The reins were tightened, and the Jade Lion horse raised its hooves, accelerating from its leisurely stroll, creating a strong gust of wind and moving away from those petty scoundrels who secretly coveted the lady.
On the slope behind—
Meng Hanzhou and Lin Su were pinned to the ground by Cheng Yingwei, who wore masks and rarely appeared in public. Their young, handsome faces were covered in bloodstains, and their eyes were filled with anger and resentment.
"Who are you?" Lin Su asked with difficulty. "Do you know who we are?"
Despite the dull pain in his cheek, Meng Hanzhou spoke in a hoarse voice: "Let me go! I am the heir of the Duke of Wei!"
The leader of Chengying Guard didn't say much, but instead made a gesture to his subordinates. The men then tied the man up, gagged him, and carried him down the hillside.
The whole process took only a few breaths. The branches on the hillside swayed slightly, but no one paid any attention to it, taking it only as the sound of birds in the forest.
On the other side, the sound of horses' hooves clattered as they gradually slowed down.
A few stray hairs fell beside Wen Miao's ear, and she couldn't help but ask anxiously, "So what about those bad guys...?"
"Madam, there is no need to worry. Someone will handle it."
The Cheng Ying Guards already knew when Meng Hanzhou and Lin Su stepped into this area. If the two of them had been aware of the situation, they would have left quickly upon seeing people on the hillside, and the Cheng Ying Guards would not have been mobilized.
Emperor Qianyuan showed no mercy to these clueless young men who dared to try and curry favor with his wife. He secretly instructed the Chengying Guards to arrest them first, so as not to offend his wife.
The lady was beautiful and kind-hearted, and even her rejections were gentle and considerate. He wanted to shield her from those unwanted suitors so that they would know what it meant to back down when faced with a challenge.
Seeing the emperor say this, Wen Miao felt a little relieved, but then belatedly realized that she was too close to him—so close that her entire back was embedded in Emperor Qian Yuan's arms.
Wen Miao shifted forward awkwardly, but the emperor supported her waist with one hand.
"Let me take you for a walk around some more, my lady. The scenery here at the palace is beautiful, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it."
Wen Miao pursed her lips, "Aren't you a guard? Why don't you dismount and walk?"
"The guards were concerned for your safety, so they mounted their horses to accompany you. Please forgive them."
The emperor said both the good and the bad.
Wen Miao ignored him, and Emperor Qian Yuan didn't care either. He simply held the reins, controlled the jade lion, and slowly led his "master" through the shady woods.
Most of the time, Emperor Qianyuan was not a talkative person.
As an emperor, he doesn't need to explain everything clearly. People below will naturally speculate and guess. If the emperor explains everything clearly, how can he establish his authority over his people?
But when facing Wen Miao, Emperor Qian Yuan became the one who talked a lot.
His voice was mature and pleasant, and his words were not dry. He carefully introduced Wen Miao to the origin of Taihua Palace and some secrets known only to people in the imperial court.
The past of the Great Chu royal family unfolded before Wen Miao's eyes like a scroll painting. Until the jade lion returned to the palace, Wen Miao still felt a sense of regret for not having heard enough secrets.
Of course, under normal circumstances, Wen Miao would not be curious about these things, but now that Emperor Qian Yuan himself has told her, it would be unreasonable for her not to listen, right?
Seeing that the lady on horseback still had a look of lingering enjoyment in her eyes, Emperor Qian Yuan's smile deepened. He first dismounted, then grabbed Wen Miao by the waist and lifted her down. Once she was on her feet, he said, "I will tell you more about it later, my lady."
He then asked, "Would the lady like to take this opportunity to seek out Master Xie and Xie Mengjun?"
The emperor always knew what Wen Miao cared about and valued.
Wen Miao was surprised, clearly not expecting Emperor Qian Yuan to be so generous.
Emperor Qianyuan deliberately said, "Or does the lady wish to continue staying with me? If so, I will accompany her..."
"No, I'll go find my maternal grandfather and Mengjun. Your Majesty can attend to your own affairs."
As soon as Wen Miao said this, she gathered her skirt and prepared to back away. However, she felt a slight stinging pain in her groin as she moved, but since it was not obvious, she did not pay attention to it in time.
Emperor Qianyuan was just joking, but seeing his wife avoiding him like this, he felt both amused and annoyed. He couldn't help but reach out and grab the shawl draped over his wife's shoulder, using a little trickery.
And so, the apricot-colored gold silk shawl wrapped around the beautiful woman with green hair and red face, and she fell into Emperor Qianyuan's arms. He held her waist and grasped the back of her neck, and lowered his head to kiss the lip rouge on her lips.
It is fragrant and intoxicating.
Touch and then leave.
Wen Miao's cheeks flushed red; she never expected the Emperor to be so reckless and lewd.
With reddened eyes, she glanced at the servants in front of the hall, only to see that Xu Sheng and the others all had their eyes lowered, as if they wanted to stare a flower into the surface of her shoes.
Emperor Qianyuan carefully tucked a strand of hair behind Wen Miao's ear before slowly uttering a sentence that made Wen Miao blush deeply, her neck and collarbone turning bright red.
"The lip rouge that the lady is wearing today has the fragrance of osmanthus."
A gentle breeze blew in front of the palace, and the palace servants were completely silent. Even though the emperor had whispered those words to Wen Miao, it was enough to send shivers down Wen Miao's spine.
She wanted to purse her lips, but remembering the emperor's words and the lingering warmth on her lips, she could only leave her mouth half-open, her cheeks flushed, somewhat at a loss. She angrily and shamefully uttered "You lecher," then casually threw the handkerchief in her arms at that face stained with lipstick, turned and left with the meek and submissive Shi Cui and Wan Bi.
The emperor, who had been scolded, looked relaxed and had a pleasant look in his eyes.
He caught the pale-colored handkerchief, his gaze still fixed on the lady's fleeing figure. He casually rolled his fingertip and rubbed it against his lips, transferring the lip rouge that had been smeared on the lady's lips onto the handkerchief.
In the brief moment between his nods and the slight twitch of his nose, one could almost smell the pleasant fragrance emanating from his wife on the wind.
...and that sweet, cloying fragrance of osmanthus.
The handkerchief, however, was casually stuffed into Emperor Qianyuan's bosom, as if it had always belonged to him.
After the lady and her maid had completely disappeared, Emperor Qian Yuan's face darkened inch by inch. He spoke in a low voice, as if addressing the empty space behind him, "Where are they?"
A dark figure flashed by quickly; it was Cheng Yingwei, who was kneeling on the ground, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect as he replied.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the person is behind the side hall."
Emperor Qian Yuan's lips curled down, his eyes turning icy: "Take me to see him."
If the palaces in front of the Taihua Palace are magnificent and have a rustic and ethereal feel like a fairyland in the forest, then the side halls at the back are much more deserted, with a gloomy and oppressive atmosphere and tightly closed windows.
Meng Hanzhou and Lin Su were blindfolded, gagged, and had their hands behind their backs, tightly bound by a thick rope. They could only lie on their sides on the ground and struggle with difficulty.
Suddenly, Meng Hanzhou, who had been trying to break free of the rope, paused. He tilted his head slightly, and the tips of his ears trembled.
"Who?" Meng Hanzhou asked in a low voice.
Lin Su also stopped what he was doing, his face tense.
Emperor Qianyuan stood against the light at the doorway, looking down at the two disheveled young men.
young.
This was probably their only advantage over the lady when comparing him to him.
What does youth prove? It only proves that they are naive, powerless, and yet they dare to dream of plucking the bright moon from the sky.
Even though the Lady may not realize it now, Emperor Qian Yuan knows very well that in this world, only money and power are her best tonics.
The emperor, who was always shrewd and decisive, remained expressionless as he pondered how to deal with these two arrogant fools. He noticed that Meng Hanzhou's shirt was slightly open at the front, revealing a section of a wooden scroll.
Emperor Qianyuan suddenly thought of the portrait of the goddess that he had faded the ink on, which was now hidden deep in the Wenyuan Hall.
He raised his hand and waved it gently.
Cheng Yingwei immediately understood and stepped forward, raising his hand to pull out the scroll that Meng Hanzhou had hidden in his clothes.
Sensing something, Meng Hanzhou struggled with a "whimper," which conveniently removed the gag from his mouth. He guessed that the newcomer must be Madam Wen's "guest," and like a wolf cub whose territory had been invaded, he immediately opened his mouth to question:
"Who exactly are you? Does Madam Wen know what you've done? Madam is kind-hearted; are you deceiving her?!"
Meng Hanzhou naturally positioned himself as the savior.
Emperor Qianyuan did not respond.
He relaxed as he took the scroll, but as he slowly unfurled it, the veins in his hand gripping the scroll gradually bulged, and the scroll creaked under the weight.
The brushstrokes of a painter can reveal a person's mood when they pick up the brush. When Emperor Qian Yuan first depicted the outline of the goddess in his dream, he did so with awe and reverence. Therefore, he was very careful with his brushstrokes, afraid of disturbing the ethereal goddess in the painting.
However, as time went by, the original feelings changed, and he developed greed and desire, which is why he is now pushing his wife step by step.
But this painting in front of me...
Emperor Qian Yuan saw it clearly: this was entirely a man's portrayal of a "wife" from the perspective of a "husband," imbued with love and desire, and filled with tender emotions.
He wouldn't dare...
Even he wouldn't dare to do that!
If anyone were to see such a painting, it would be an offense to the lady!
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Author's Note: Emperor: (Holding a handkerchief) An epic experience! (My lady smells so good!) (Obsessed)
Wen Miao: (Feels like she's being watched by a pervert) (Shivers)
Here I am! Thanks for your support! Can I have some nutrient solution today?! [Pleading]
If nothing else goes wrong, I'll probably update between 9 and 10 AM. [heart emoji]
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