Chapter 63 You're Not Sincere
"You're playing hard to get with me." Chu Mingheng didn't care whether she regretted it or not; once he heard the words, he had no reason to let Lan Wu take them back.
She just didn't expect Lan Wu to have such a big appetite. Holding her birthday banquet at Kongshan Garden and moving her to the main hall of Yilan Palace after the banquet wasn't enough; she also wanted to show off her ring to the other concubines.
For a moment, his expression as he looked at Lan Wu was somewhat complicated.
If it were anyone else, they would know what it means to know when to stop and when to quit while they're ahead. No one is as greedy as Lan Wu.
But Lan Wu's greed was so endearing that no one could bear to say no to her.
Thinking of the way Lan Wu cried in his dream, Chu Mingheng was momentarily lost in thought.
Fine, let him show off then, it's better than crying.
Chu Mingheng reached out and took off the jade and gold thumb ring from his finger, then let Lan Wu reach out her hand.
Lan Wu's fingers are slender, so the ring needs to be worn on her thumb to be secure and prevent it from falling off loosely.
She lowered her fingers, tilted her head slightly to make sure the ring wouldn't fall off, and then, with a joyful smile in her eyes, leaned forward and kissed Chu Mingheng's cheek.
"Your Majesty is so kind." She murmured softly, her warm lips brushing against his. The atmosphere around them was veiled in a misty, ethereal, and alluring atmosphere.
Just as Lan Wu saw an opportunity to escape from Chu Mingheng, she straightened up and landed to run away, but her thin belt was grabbed, and she crashed back into the emperor's arms.
Chu Mingheng is no saint. He was seduced by Lan Wu and gave her everything, so he should get something in return.
His warm palms gently caressed Lan Wu's waist through her clothes.
Lan Wu's waist is sensitive, and she feels uncomfortable when her waist is touched. She has tried very hard not to let Chu Mingheng know this.
But Chu Mingheng discovered it on the very first night.
"Since I am so good, Awu, tie her up and show her to me tonight."
He murmured softly, the desire hidden in his eyes concealed by his lowered eyelashes, preventing Lan Wu from seeing the unfathomable, dark longing within him, like thick ink seeping into water, intertwined and indistinct.
-
After leaving the Imperial Study, Lan Wu hurriedly ordered someone to head towards Biwei Lake, running faster than a rabbit.
Her lip rouge had faded a bit, so Lianqiao took out the lip rouge she had brought and asked her if she wanted it reapplied.
Thinking about how her lip rouge disappeared, Lan Wu was a little annoyed. It was all because Chu Mingheng wanted to kiss her, kiss, kiss, all he knew was how to kiss.
She squeezed the handkerchief, but there was no bronze mirror around, so she couldn't see anything. She could only ask Lianqiao to keep an eye on it and add it for her.
"Don't apply too much."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
It was already afternoon, and the concubines were all heading to Kongshan Garden. Only Lan Wu hadn't arrived yet, but she wasn't in a hurry. On the small boat, she even asked someone to slow the boat down. She was quite relaxed and comfortable along the way. When she arrived in front of the other concubines, she made a rather high-profile entrance.
There's no need for any elaborate setup; Lan Wu's exquisite and beautiful face alone is enough to make her stand out and attract attention.
Lan Wu, seemingly surprised and apologetic, gave a slight curtsy to everyone: "This concubine greets all Your Highnesses."
She gave a half-bow, looking quite arrogant.
Consort Li had always disliked her, and seeing that she was the first to be impolite, she couldn't help but speak up, saying sarcastically, "Sister Zhen really doesn't know the rules of the palace. If it were anyone else, they would have knelt for several hours to reflect on their behavior."
Lan Wu straightened up on her own, a faint smile crossing her charming and beautiful face. She looked at Consort Li and clicked her tongue inwardly—she knew that someone would provoke her whenever she came here.
“Sister Li is right. Who is more strict with rules than Sister Li? She always makes people kneel down to reflect on their actions... Anyone who didn’t know better would think that she came from the Censorate.”
Lan Wu chuckled as she found her seat. She sat down leisurely, casually touching the hair ornament in her hair with her right hand, inadvertently revealing a jade thumb ring on her finger that seemed out of place for her status.
"You—" Consort Li frowned, about to get angry, but then she saw the ring on her hand, her expression froze, and her pupils suddenly contracted, clearly she had seen what it was.
Not only did she see it clearly, but several pairs of eyes focused on Lan Wu, and almost all of them saw the ring clearly.
"Since Consort Li says that my manners are poor, then I will naturally obey. I wonder how you would like me to correct them? I think this piece of land is quite nice. Where do you think it would be appropriate for me to kneel?"
"Should I kneel before Consort Li, or before Consort Shu and Consort Rou...?"
Lan Wu spoke with a smile, her soft and gentle voice carrying a hint of contemplation and difficulty. She said she would kneel down, but in reality, she didn't make a single move. Relying on Chu Mingheng's support, she was quite the show-off, challenging people in a sarcastic and witty manner.
There was a moment of silence around them.
No one dared to make her kneel. The half-bow she had just performed was already considered extremely respectful, since she was wearing the emperor's thumb ring, a symbol of imperial power, and naturally she could refuse to kneel before anyone.
If she really kneels down, everyone here will have to kneel down.
Consort Rou's gaze lingered on Lan Wu's hand for a moment before she smiled and smoothed things over, saying, "Sister Zhen, you flatter me. Today is my birthday, a very auspicious day. His Majesty dotes on you and has specially given you this ring. You should be happy. Consort Li misspoke just now, please don't take it to heart."
Lan Wu's eyes lit up, and she turned her head slightly to look at her.
The moment Consort Rou saw her smile, she had a bad feeling.
"Your Majesty speaks the truth, but as for this ring... I think it's beautiful, so Your Majesty may give it to me."
"His Majesty said that this ring can be used to counteract the imperial decree."
Lan Wu smiled and said to Consort Li, "Since Consort Rou says that Consort Li misspoke, then Consort Li should properly apologize to me."
Neither of them will have an easy time; today she's going to "go on a killing spree."
Consort Li was so angry that she was panting. She glared at Lan Wu, then looked at Consort Rou.
This hypocritical scumbag who only knows how to play the good guy, what does it matter to her whether she's wrong or not! She's so talkative!
Since Lan Wu has been implicated in the imperial decree, this apology is something I have to say.
Consort Li had no choice but to stand up reluctantly, and gave a slight curtsy to Lan Wu, her tone somewhat resentful: "I was talking nonsense, I hope you won't take it to heart, sister."
Lan Wu rested her chin on her hand, her smile fading, and watched her bow with a leisurely air.
In her previous life, Consort Li used the fact that she had presented her to the emperor to suppress her at every turn and even tried to steal her favor. She had always been cowardly and hid away. When had she ever seen Consort Li as...frustrated as she was today?
OK.
Very good.
That's how she should be, so that no one dares to bully her.
Lan Wu gently stroked the jade thumb ring, her smile becoming more genuine.
Power is wonderful.
Then, she stared intently at Consort Li, shook her head slightly, and said, "You are not sincere."
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