Logically, it was the original owner of the body who liked Xiahou Riyue, so Jian Yang should have remained indifferent.
But she didn't know what was wrong with her, but every time Xiahou Riyue came, she would uncontrollably steal glances at him.
But you can't entirely blame her.
Ultimately, it was because the emperor would subconsciously glance at Xiahou Riyue every time she came to report on her work.
Let her look; she's upright and has nothing to fear.
But whenever the emperor looked at her, she would remind herself never to look at Xiahou Riyue again.
But her mind told her not to look, but her eyes wouldn't listen, which led to this awkward situation.
After suffering several losses, when she heard that the eunuch had come to announce that Lord Xiahou had arrived, Jian Yang decided that leaving was the best option.
"Your Majesty, I feel a bit tightness in my chest and would like to go to the Imperial Garden for some fresh air."
The emperor glanced quietly at Jian Yang, who was clutching her heart like Xi Shi, for a moment, then nodded and said, "Good."
Jian Yang immediately turned and ran away.
But they were walking too slowly and ended up bumping right into Xiahou Riyue.
Fearing that it would cause unnecessary misunderstandings, she didn't even accept his bow and ran away faster than a rabbit.
Xiahou Riyue stopped and stared in the direction Jian Yang had left, his eyes filled with doubt.
Jian Yang idly swung on the swing in the Imperial Garden for a while, figuring that Xiahou Riyue should have finished his work report by now, so she decided to go back.
But they had only taken a few steps when they saw Xiahou Riyue walking towards them from afar.
It's just that what I feared most has come to pass!
Jian Yang didn't care about anything else, she picked up her skirt and ran behind the artificial hill.
"Where is the Empress going?" Xiahou Riyue strode over. "There's only a rockery ahead, no path."
Jian Yang stopped in her tracks, thinking to herself, "Do I need you to teach me? I'm just heading for the artificial hill!"
But since you've already been seen, hiding again would seem both deliberate and pointless.
Jian Yang then turned around and smiled, "My cat has gone into the rockery. I was planning to go look for it. Is Lord Xiahou going back? Then I won't disturb you any longer. Farewell."
Xiahou Riyue stepped to the side and blocked her path.
Jian Yang looked up at him, puzzled: "What do you mean by this, Lord Xiahou?"
Xiahou Riyue's gaze was deep as he said, "I would like to ask the Empress, why are you avoiding me? Am I really that terrifying?"
If this had happened before, Jian Yang would have definitely roasted him so badly that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him.
After all, this ordinary man used to always misinterpret her actions through his own imagination.
But times have changed.
She was genuinely avoiding him.
This is very embarrassing.
When the lie was exposed, a hint of panic flashed in Jian Yang's eyes.
And Xiahou Riyue happened to capture this emotion in time.
At this moment, he became even more certain that Jian Yang was deliberately avoiding him.
"Lord Xiahou has misunderstood..." Jian Yang said weakly.
"A misunderstanding?" Xiahou Riyue looked down at her. "Could it also be a misunderstanding that the Empress secretly observes me on ordinary days?"
Jian Yang: "..."
It turns out he had seen it all.
This matter is now completely impossible to clear up.
She wanted to disappear into a crack in the ground.
But her life principle has always been that even if she's timid, she absolutely cannot lose in terms of spirit!
So Jian Yang simply retorted, "Everyone has a love for beauty. Lord Xiahou is so handsome. When I look at you, it's just out of appreciation, no different from looking at a tree or admiring a flower."
Upon hearing this, Xiahou Riyue frowned slightly: "Is that all?"
What else?
Jian Yang looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Why could she detect a hint of displeasure in his voice?
Could it be that this person disdains being compared to trees and flowers?
Tsk, quite vain.
“I already said that Lord Xiahou has misunderstood,” Jian Yang began to patiently explain again. “Now that I am the Empress, any feelings I had for you when I was young and ignorant have long since vanished. Please don’t overthink it.”
It's unclear what sensitive nerve her words touched on Xiahou Riyue, but Jian Yang watched as his expression changed.
“There was once a monkey keeper who fed it fresh peaches. He would give it three in the morning and four in the evening, which angered the monkey. So he would give it four in the morning and three in the evening, and the monkey would happily accept them. Your behavior today is no different!”
Jian Yang: "???"
She was completely baffled by all the talk about monkeys, peaches, three or four at a time.
Has this person lost their mind?
Xiahou Riyue became even angrier when he saw that Jian Yang had no reaction to his indignant remarks.
Just as he was about to continue his accusations, he heard a soft cough from behind him.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject pays his respects." Xiahou Riyue composed himself, turned around, and bowed to the emperor.
Jian Yang suddenly felt her legs go weak.
Is she having a Mercury retrograde?
Otherwise, how could he have been caught red-handed by the emperor every time?
"I wish to stroll in the Imperial Garden with the Empress. Would Lord Xiahou like to accompany me?" The Emperor asked with a smile, but his tone was unusually cold.
Xiahou Riyue, being a criminal investigator, naturally possesses a strong mental fortitude.
Faced with the big boss's sarcastic remarks, he remained unfazed and said, "The Dali Temple still has cases that I need to return to handle, so I will not disturb Your Majesty and Empress's enjoyment any longer."
The emperor glanced at him and said indifferently, "Yongfu, see Lord Xiahou out."
After Xiahou Riyue and Eunuch Zhang left, Jian Yang accompanied the emperor on a tour of the imperial garden alone, and suddenly realized what it meant to serve a ruler as if serving a tiger.
The two walked side by side without speaking, but Jian Yang didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
If the emperor stubbornly believes he has been cuckolded, a single word from him could separate her head from her body.
But she couldn't defend herself.
After all, she was the one who had been secretly watching Xiahou Riyue these past few days, and she was also the one who had come out to "meet" with Xiahou Riyue in secret.
From the emperor's perspective, the more she explained, the more it might seem like a cover-up.
Therefore, in situations like this, it's best to keep quiet to ensure your safety.
With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Jian Yang accompanied the emperor on two walks around the Imperial Garden.
She only breathed a long sigh of relief after he was called away by other officials who had come to discuss matters.
That's terrifying.
On a chilly spring day, she was so frightened that she broke out in a sweat.
That evening, the emperor did not dine at Weiyang Palace.
Just when Jian Yang thought he wouldn't come that night, the emperor actually arrived.
After an afternoon of mental preparation, Jian Yang had long since lost her midday fear.
Besides, the emperor is busy with countless affairs of state; how could he possibly dwell on such a trivial matter?
He might have already forgotten.
So she confidently climbed into bed, ready to sleep.
The emperor suddenly spoke up, "Empress, do you remember the story that Xiahou Riyue told you at noon?"
Jian Yang was already a little drowsy. While tucking the blanket around her feet, she casually asked, "What story is it? The one about monkeys and peaches?"
The emperor grunted in response.
Jian Yang said frankly, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and have not read many books. I hope Your Majesty can enlighten me."
All she remembered was Xiahou Riyue rambling on in a string of nonsensical words, half-classical and half-vernacular, and who knew what he was even saying.
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