Inside Yanxi Palace, candlelight flickered.
Lin Yun sat in front of the dressing table, looking at herself in the bronze mirror, while the palace maids were doing her final makeup and grooming.
The woman in the mirror had exquisite features and snow-white skin. The light purple shawl made her even more beautiful and charming.
"Your Majesty, you are so beautiful." Chunlan exclaimed, blushing, as she deftly gathered up the last strand of her hair.
Lin Yun forced a smile, but her heart was pounding like a drum.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her chaotic thoughts.
"Your Majesty need not be nervous," Li Mama said softly, noticing her unease. "His Majesty cherishes women the most and will surely treat Your Majesty gently." Lin Yun nodded, but unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
She wasn't an inexperienced girl; she had romantic experience in modern times, but at this moment, she felt as uneasy as a girl experiencing love for the first time.
Perhaps it was because the other party was an emperor who held the power of life and death, or perhaps it was because this body had indeed never been with a man.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
The eunuch's shrill voice outside the door sent a shiver down Lin Yun's spine.
She hurriedly got up and, at Li Mama's prompting, walked to the center of the hall and bowed her head in greeting.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
The footsteps drew closer, and a pair of bright yellow boots stopped in front of her. A long, strong hand reached out and gently lifted her chin.
"Yun'er, you may dispense with the formalities."
Lin Yun looked up and met a pair of deep, dark eyes.
The Emperor Yongzheng had a faint smile on his sharply defined face, a stark contrast to the decisive and efficient emperor he was in court.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," she replied softly, feeling her cheeks slightly flushed.
Yongzheng waved for the palace servants to leave, leaving only the two of them in the hall.
Lin Yun felt a sudden panic, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes.
"Is Yun'er nervous?" Yongzheng's voice carried a hint of teasing. "I remember you were so poised and elegant when you entertained guests at Yunxiang Pavilion." Hmph, now you are finally mine.
Lin Yun was taken aback, not expecting the emperor to bring this up.
She mustered her courage and looked up, meeting Yongzheng's smiling gaze.
"Your Majesty, that...that was doing business, which is naturally different from what we're doing now." Her voice trailed off, and her ears turned bright red.
Yongzheng chuckled softly, took her hand, and led her to the soft couch in the inner room: "I've been reviewing memorials all day and was just thinking of talking to someone. Would you like to keep me company for a chat?"
"Okay." Lin Yun obediently sat down with him.
The soft couch was spacious and comfortable, yet the two maintained a just-right distance between them, avoiding any hint of frivolity.
"I've heard that your Yunxiang Pavilion is doing very well lately, and even the Ninth Prince has been praising you highly." Yongzheng casually picked up the teapot on the table and personally poured a cup for Lin Yun.
Lin Yun didn't stand on ceremony, accepting the teacup with both hands and carefully replying, "Thanks to His Majesty's blessings, business is doing alright. Ninth Prince... only showed me favor because of His Majesty's influence."
Yongzheng took a sip of tea and gave her a meaningful look: "I didn't give the Ninth Prince any face. It's your own ability to get him to cooperate willingly."
Lin Yun didn't know how to respond, so she simply lowered her head and sipped her tea.
The tea was warm and palatable, but it couldn't relieve the dryness in her throat.
"Did you enjoy today's meal?" Yongzheng changed the subject, his tone as casual as if he were asking about the weather.
"The food is excellent, the servants are excellent, and Yanxi Palace is excellent. I am very grateful for Your Majesty's arrangements. It's just that there's nothing to do, and I'm a little bored," Lin Yun replied playfully.
Yongzheng suddenly leaned forward, closing the distance abruptly.
Lin Yun could smell a faint scent of ambergris on him, mixed with a hint of ink, which was surprisingly pleasant.
Emperor Yongzheng reached out and stroked her cheek: "I love your honesty. Most of the women in the harem are trembling with fear before me, or they flatter me, but you alone dare to speak the truth."
His thumb traced her soft lips, his gaze deepening. Lin Yun held her breath, feeling his breath drawing ever closer.
"Your Majesty..." she called softly, her voice trembling.
His palms were warm and dry, and the touch was as gentle as a feather. She felt her heart race, and her blood seemed to rush to the place he touched.
"Your Majesty...You flatter me," she stammered, her mind blank.
Yongzheng seemed amused by her reaction, chuckled softly, and slid his fingers down her cheek to her chin, gently lifting her face: "What's wrong? You were saying everything was fine just now, but now you're so nervous just because I touched you?"
Lin Yun felt a wave of embarrassment, but also a bit resentful.
She's a modern woman, after all. How could she be so flustered by the teasing of an ancient person?
Thinking of this, she took a deep breath and looked directly into Yongzheng's eyes: "Your Majesty, I just...didn't expect you to be so gentle."
These words made Yongzheng's eyes darken.
He suddenly tightened his arms around Lin Yun, pulling her into his embrace: "Then what does Yun'er think I should do?"
Their bodies were pressed tightly together, and Lin Yun could clearly feel the emperor's strong chest and powerful heartbeat.
Her cheeks flushed, but she forced herself to remain calm: "I've heard... that Your Majesty is decisive and efficient in court, and I think... I think..."
"Did you think I would have been so rough back then?" Yongzheng whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe, causing a shiver to run through her.
Lin Yun was so embarrassed that she couldn't speak, and could only shake her head gently.
Yongzheng chuckled softly, placing a hand on her back and slowly moving it down: "Don't worry, I won't hurt you..."
His lips pressed down, first gently touching, then gradually deepening.
Lin Yun was initially stiff as a board, but as the kiss deepened, she gradually relaxed and even began to respond awkwardly.
When the kiss ended, both of them were a little out of breath.
A clear desire ignited in Yongzheng's eyes, and his fingers had already unbuttoned the first button of her nightgown.
"Your Majesty..." Lin Yun called softly, her voice so gentle it was almost unbelievable.
"Call me by my name," Yongzheng commanded hoarsely, his fingers continuing to unbutton his clothes.
Lin Yun's eyes widened in surprise: "This...is against the rules..."
"At this moment, there are no emperors or concubines, only you and me." As Yongzheng spoke, he had already unbuttoned her outer garment, revealing a bodice embroidered with twin lotus blossoms underneath.
Looking at the man before her, now stripped of his imperial majesty and reduced to mere lust, Lin Yun, as if possessed, softly called out, "Yinzhen..."
This soft call ignited Yongzheng's last vestige of restraint.
He picked up Lin Yun in his arms and strode towards the bed, but gently put her down.
"It will hurt a little the first time, just bear with it," he whispered in her ear, his fingers deftly untying the ribbons of her bodice.
Lin Yun closed her eyes and felt a chill, which was then covered by her burning body temperature.
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