Chapter 12 Chapter 12
The dome of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is particularly special, as magnificent as the distant starry sky.
Stretching across the center is the Purple Palace.
Yuan Mu did not understand astronomical phenomena, which was a taboo among the people.
In the previous dynasty, there was a minister who was sentenced to death by the suspicious emperor because he secretly calculated the stars and tried to spy on the emperor's orders.
But Yuan Mu had a special fate, and he often saw sorcerers when he was very young.
Just by looking at her face, they were horrified, as if she were some kind of walking disaster.
When Yuan Mu was in the village, children from the neighborhood would occasionally throw stones at her windows.
They laughed cheerfully, "This must be the place where that evil star lives! Can we really be said to be ridding the people of harm by doing this?"
Destiny is a mysterious thing.
Yuan Muyang lay on the couch, gazing at the stars in the dome, his mind unconsciously wandering in the waves.
But the next moment, her thoughts were forcibly pulled back.
The cold ring in the emperor's hand brought an amazing stimulation when it touched the soft snow-white skin.
The hall was filled with out-of-season peonies, layers of deep red and light red, exuding a rich fragrance, with dew hanging down from their cores, so beautiful that it seemed like something from a fairyland.
Yuan Mu frowned, she bit her lips and took a deep breath.
But the emperor no longer had any pity on her.
He doesn't drink often, but once he gets drunk, he tends to lose control.
The emperor leaned over and kissed Yuan Mu's lips. He bit her lower lip and gently scolded her: "Are you distracted at this time?"
She couldn't help shedding tears and twisting her waist in struggle.
After the gentle tide passed, the huge waves came again.
Yuan Mu's mind was in a mess and she had no time to think about anything. She leaned in the emperor's arms with her wrists twisted behind her back.
The formal dress he was wearing had long since been taken off, leaving only the snow-white fox fur coat.
The emperor put it on her because he was afraid she would be cold.
The coolness of the daytime disappeared, Yuan Mu's eyes were red, and he sat on the emperor's lap and cried, like a bullied little fox.
Her cries were particularly moving in the silent night.
The thin, white, and skinny wrist bones were bound.
Beneath the icy skin, the joints seemed like jade.
If it weren't for that thin bracelet made of crude material, the touch might be clearer.
It is very thin and light in color, making it difficult to notice under normal circumstances.
No one has paid attention to Yuan Mu in the two years since he entered the palace.
But at certain moments, the existence of this thin bracelet often becomes particularly clear.
The emperor's eyes were dark.
He stroked Yuan Mu's face, his eyes stained with drunkenness, "When I was in Shuofang earlier, I accidentally encountered a piece of unpolished jade."
"The craftsman said it was top-quality material, so I had it made into a pair of bracelets," the emperor whispered in her ear. "New Year's Eve is coming soon. How about making this as a New Year's gift for you?"
His knuckles clasped her fair wrist, gently stroking the snow-white skin beneath the thin bracelet.
Yuan Mu was held in the emperor's arms in a strange posture.
The tips of her snow-white ears trembled, revealing a soft blush.
After hearing the emperor's words, Yuan Mu, who was floating in chaos, suddenly struggled out of his messy thoughts.
He was so close that she instinctively felt fear.
The emperor's aura was too strong, and even at his most gentle, Yuan Mu couldn't relax.
He was really drunk.
Yuan Mu pursed her lips. After the cup of tea spilled, she felt like she had given up.
The incense burning in the hall has a unique aroma.
But without the catalysis of tea, it will not have any effect.
Yuan Mu wanted to pull her hand back, but she didn't expect that the emperor would hold her tighter as soon as she struggled.
She hummed softly and instinctively avoided the emperor's dark gaze.
This was not the first time the emperor had acted like this. In fact, ever since Yuan Mu first entered the palace, he had been extremely displeased with the thin bracelet on her wrist.
In his eyes, that was a sign of her infidelity.
He was disgusted by her physical defects and resented that she was not perfect.
But the emperor seemed to have forgotten that when Yuan Muchu was about to get married, he was the one who forced her into the palace.
She is a person with a temperament as soft as a lump of clay, submissive and tolerant.
Only in this matter was Yuan Mu so persistent that it was terrifying.
For this reason, she even tried to go on a hunger strike and hang herself.
When he took her down from the white silk, there was unprecedented terror in the emperor's eyes.
Yuan Mu had never received such a severe punishment. She was imprisoned in a dark veil for five whole days and nights.
After being deprived of consciousness, the perception of time becomes extremely vague.
The emperor initially fed her some medicine, but later stopped giving her medicine and let her endure the punishment in a state of horrified consciousness.
After the punishment period ended, Yuan Mu never dared to mention the word "death" in front of him again.
But after that incident, the emperor never told Yuan Mu again about taking off the thin bracelet from her wrist.
It was so torturous when he was drunk.
Yuan Mu tried her best to dodge backwards, but the emperor grabbed her ankle and pulled her back.
The soft cheeks were pinched and the watery eyes were forced up.
"Don't you like it?" The emperor said softly, "Is there anything else you want? You can tell me."
His voice was soft, but his eyes were far from clear.
However, just as the two were pulling each other, the palace door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
Two young girls, dressed very lightly, walked in quietly.
Cui Sanniang and Cui Wuniang were wearing gauze skirts that were inappropriate for the season. The silk was so delicate and the thin gauze could not cover anything, and the arcs and curves were so clear.
It looks even more graceful in the smoke of incense.
The two of them walked in with lotus steps, their eyes filled with silent tenderness, and their every move attracted the most attention.
But the emperor didn't even look at it.
He picked up the cloak beside him and immediately put it on Yuan Mu, covering all the sexy beauty in his arms.
Yuan Mu was wearing a fox fur coat just now.
But when she struggled, the fox fur slipped down her shoulders.
Large areas of white flesh were exposed, and the round shoulders and trembling spine looked as if they were watered by frost and snow.
Even the shallow dimples on her waist glowed in the night.
Yuan Mu's body trembled, and she hugged the emperor's neck like a frightened bird.
The intimacy was suddenly interrupted, and even though the emperor still had a hint of drunkenness in his eyes, his expression instantly turned cold.
But the two girls were completely unaware.
They approached the soft couch, their eyes full of smiles and their voices sweet, "Your Majesty, we are here to serve you as ordered."
I'm afraid no one outside would ever imagine it.
A noble lady who is dignified and respected in front of others may have such a flattering side behind others.
Is it because they are promiscuous? No.
The smell of power is too sweet and can change people beyond recognition.
But they shouldn't have come here at this time——
When Yuan Mu heard the voices of Cui Sanniang and Cui Wuniang, his body suddenly became like a taut bowstring.
The emperor rarely lost his composure on the couch. Even when Yuan Mu was in such a mess, his jade crown was not in disarray at all. He was wearing a dark black suit with only silver Yinglong embroidered on the corners of his sleeves.
High above, respected and noble.
Even the gloomy brows could not conceal the majestic demeanor.
The emperor's aura is so strong that even if he doesn't say a word, he will be intimidating.
Both girls are from noble families and are well-informed.
But more often than not, the emperor they knew was the gentle husband who doted on the queen in every way.
Rather than being a cold-hearted emperor who was cruel and murderous, and could even exterminate the entire clan of his former ministers.
The beautiful love story concealed the emperor's cruel nature.
It also caused countless young noble ladies to have many unrealistic and terrifying fantasies about the deep palace that could devour people.
The emperor's voice was very soft: "Whose orders are you following?"
He stood up and looked down at the two of them.
The emperor was tall, and when his shadow fell, a sense of oppression arose.
Yuan Mu was held in his arms and could also sense the emotion that would appear when he was unhappy.
Cui Sanniang and Cui Wuniang were ready to untie the emperor's belt according to the method taught by the nanny.
But before she got close, she was frightened by his extremely cold gaze.
They were all girls who were spoiled at home. Even if they had great courage, they would not dare to act like a demon in front of the emperor.
Whose orders could they obey? Of course, it was Empress Yuan's.
According to the original plan, after Yuan Mu drugged the emperor, they only had to climb directly into his bed.
But looking at the emperor's expression, he seemed to be still very sober.
The two girls were suddenly startled and subconsciously looked at Yuan Mu.
It would be fine if they didn't look, but it's hard to ignore such a direct gaze.
Yuan Mu had just shed tears, and her body was full of fragrance.
The dark room is filled with fragrance, moist and rich, just like pear blossoms in the rain and hibiscus weeping in the dew.
When they came in, Yuan Mu knew it was over.
But when the emperor pinched her face and chuckled, she still felt a deep fear.
He smiled faintly and said, "It's a conspiracy, right?"
There was a smile on the emperor's lips, but there was not even a hint of smile in his eyes, which were frighteningly cold.
Yuan Mu didn't understand where his secret anger came from, but when she heard him whisper, "Drag him away and execute him," her blood ran cold.
Wei Cong hurried in after the door of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests was opened.
Cui Sanniang and Cui Wuniang had no idea what was going on. They struggled desperately, kneeling on the ground and begging, "Your Majesty, it was the Empress who asked us to come here..."
This was not the first time that Empress Yuan sent someone to the emperor's bed.
When Yuan Mu was summoned into the palace, the emperor did not expect to visit her immediately.
But that night the queen sent her directly to the emperor's bed.
Yuan Mu was drugged and some things happened just like that.
Afterwards, the emperor did not say much about this matter. What he resented was actually only the fact that Yuan Mu was not a virgin.
This gave Empress Yuan the illusion that she could interfere in the emperor's affairs in bed at will.
He undoubtedly loved Empress Yuan very much.
But how can anyone disobey the emperor's respect?
Yuan Mu's back was soaked with cold sweat. She desperately grabbed the emperor's hand, her voice trembling: "It's not like that, Your Majesty, they, they are not..."
The emperor's dark eyes stared at the tea spilled on the ground.
The bottom of his eyes was as gloomy as a cold pond, not even a ray of light could be contained within.
After hearing Yuan Mu's words, the emperor raised his eyes and said slowly: "Don't talk about them first, what did you do?"
His expression seemed to be still indifferent, but there was clearly a murderous intent in his eyes.
-
The silence in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests was almost deathly quiet.
Only in the inner hall could the sound of suppressed crying suddenly be heard.
The emperor would not see anyone.
Empress Yuan had been kneeling in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests for two hours.
From the bright starry night to the deep night.
Today is her birthday, and it is also the auspicious day for her to prepare to find a new favorite for the emperor.
But no one expected that things would turn out like this.
An ordinary man would be overjoyed if his wife gave him a concubine. If the concubine was washed and delivered directly to his bed, he would be so excited that he would not care where she came from.
But the emperor was obviously not such a person.
Learning from the previous experience, Empress Yuan specially ordered someone to examine the two girls from the Cui family.
Afterwards, she found a nanny to teach her, and both of them were very eager to learn.
Empress Yuan looked at the joy in the two men's eyes and couldn't help feeling disgusted in her heart. If she was not unable to receive the emperor's favor and get pregnant, how could such lowly women like them be given the emperor's favor?
But when she thought about the fact that they would be able to share Yuan Mu's favor in the future and give birth to a prince for her.
The look in Empress Yuan's eyes when she looked at her two cousins became much gentler.
Yes, Prince.
She really needs the prince to make a living.
Since ancient times, queens have often been deposed, but no matter how absurd the emperor was, he would never depose his biological mother.
The Yuan family is still in its heyday today, but nothing can last forever.
If he wanted to continue his current honor and favor, he had to rely on the Crown Prince as his only means.
Empress Yuan longed for a child to the point of being almost sick.
When Yuan Mu first entered the palace, she of course hoped that Yuan Mu would be well, and it would be best if she could give birth to a prince in one go.
Queen Yuan even thought about what to do with Yuan Mu after he left the palace.
Yuan Mu has made great contributions by giving birth to a son and she is still young. When the time comes, she can change her identity, find a suitable man, and marry her off in a grand manner.
Of course, it would be best if this man was her previous fiancé.
After all, the two of them had been together before and were almost married. Yuan Mu even gave away her virginity, so she must have some true feelings for him.
Letting them rekindle their old relationship is also a good deed.
Mrs. Cui worshipped Buddha, but Empress Yuan had never been interested in this.
When she was so desperate that she was almost collapsed, she just kept praying silently, hoping that God would help her.
The emperor was really angry this time.
The two girls from the Cui family were not executed immediately. They were dragged away for interrogation, but after such a long time, there was still no news.
Empress Yuan felt fear from the bottom of her heart.
Anyone who has stayed in the palace can understand to some extent the emperor's cold-heartedness.
But Empress Yuan still could not have expected that he would be so cruel to his wife's close sister.
A spark that fell casually suddenly burned a large area.
Empress Yuan knelt in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, her body almost numb, but she did not dare to leave.
She was very frail and had not had any water or rest for two whole hours. Her body could no longer bear it.
Empress Yuan's voice was hoarse: "I beg to see Your Majesty."
She said this countless times, but the emperor never came out.
The hustle and bustle outside had long since died down. It was late at night, the dew was heavy, and as New Year approached, the wind was as cold as a sharp blade.
It was not until Empress Yuan was about to faint that the emperor finally walked out of the hall.
He changed his clothes, still a dark black robe.
The dark pattern is a light golden phoenix, winding from the shoulder to the sleeve.
It is clearly an extremely gorgeous color, but without any warmth, it only makes people think of the snow-covered imperial throne.
The emperor's face was handsome and cold, with a little blood on his cheek.
He raised his hand and wiped away the blood.
The slender finger bones like white jade, coated with blood red, contain a terrifying beauty.
The emperor's face was one of the best among all the noble families in the capital, but his status was too high, so when looking for a handsome man, no one dared to pay attention to him.
We have been married for more than two years.
Empress Yuan had become accustomed to the emperor's elegance and gentleness, and to the faint smile in his eyes when he looked at her.
They had never been intimate, but there was no other couple in the world who respected each other as much as they did.
When those cold eyes that were as sharp as a blade swept over her, Empress Yuan seemed almost confused and unfamiliar.
This night was undoubtedly a chaotic one.
After personally interrogating and punishing Yuan Mu, the emperor met with the others.
He never shied away from killing; even the most benevolent monarch needed to kill to maintain his authority.
Besides, the emperor never claimed to be a benevolent ruler.
He could kill anyone, and no evil spirits would ever appear in his dreams at night.
The emperor was born and raised in the palace. He was accustomed to the fickleness of human nature. He was the most ruthless person.
When he saw the two girls from the Cui family, he already had the intention to kill them.
The reason why they were assigned to the King of Chu as concubines was out of consideration for the Yuan and Cui families.
Now, the two of them followed Queen Yuan in cheating on his own brother.
The emperor attaches great importance to chastity, and the only legitimate relative still alive is the King of Chu.
Although he often disparaged the King of Chu in public, he actually valued and loved his younger brother very much.
The anger Yuan Mu felt for Empress Yuan sending someone to the emperor's bed was no greater than their intention to cuckold the King of Chu.
He knew what it felt like and didn't want his brother to endure it again.
The emperor never thought that they would actually dare to do this.
After meeting Yuan Wei, his anger subsided a little.
Among the emperor's meritorious officials, the one with the highest status was Yuan Mu and Yuan Empress Yuan's father, Yuan Wei.
Yuan Wei was capable and had good vision. He was good at both civil and military affairs. He served as a general and a prime minister. He even had a lot of experience in taxation and calendar.
Throughout history, there is no other person as talented as him.
When the emperor was in the most dangerous time, it was Yuan Wei who came to his aid. Otherwise, the emperor would not have promised that the eldest son of the Yuan family would give birth to Empress Yuan, who would be extremely rich and powerful.
"A'Luo is ignorant and followed her sister's reckless behavior," Yuan Wei said softly. "I failed to discipline her properly. I apologize to you on her behalf."
He didn't mention Empress Yuan at all, every sentence was about Yuan Mu.
A man who indulges in the world of pleasure can see things more clearly than others.
The emperor held great power and had no interest in hiding anything.
He had been planning to promote Yuan Mu earlier, and Yuan Wei saw it, so he didn't care.
Yuan Mu cried so hard tonight that it was hard to tell whether he fell asleep or fainted.
Logically speaking, she should be sent back to Qingning Palace.
But the emperor's anger was not completely gone, and he ordered her to be taken to the Ziwei Palace.
Yuan Wei came here at that time.
Concubine De and Concubine Xian were also noble ladies from prominent families, and they had families that loved and cared for them.
But their power is still far behind that of the current Yuan family.
Being in a high position and having great power is one thing, but being the emperor's confidant is another.
Many times, the latter is much more beneficial than the former.
The emperor never liked to spend his time and emotions on unimportant people.
After dealing with all the people involved, he did not stay in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests for long. He said to Empress Yuan, "Take care of yourself," and left.
Yuan Mu made a big mistake tonight.
But he was the one who had to worry about her fever at night.
Empress Yuan knelt in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests for two hours. She thought of many words of defense and had prepared many drafts in her mind.
Unexpectedly, after saying this, the emperor left.
His expression was so cold, but his clothes were still stained with the faint fragrance of her sister.
This was the most ridiculous Qianqiu Festival that Empress Yuan had ever celebrated.
There would be no woman in the world who would be humiliated like this by her husband on her birthday.
Empress Yuan looked in the direction where the emperor left and suddenly shed two lines of tears.
As the emperor disappeared, the servants gradually retreated.
In the end, it was her father's servant who pulled her up.
The humble expression on Yuan Wei's face disappeared without a trace after the emperor left.
There was a clear coldness in his narrow eyes.
Yuan Wei looked at him with disdain and said sarcastically, "Look at what you have done."
Empress Yuan's legs were unsteady and her body was shivering in the cold wind, completely lacking the dignity and decorum of an empress.
"I've asked you to be your queen, but you're always reluctant and want to do something else," Yuan Wei said with obvious disgust in his eyes. "Have you ever thought about whether you have the ability to do that?"
There was a chill in his scolding words.
"Didn't I tell you before?" Yuan Wei looked down at Empress Yuan, "The Emperor wanted to break off the engagement with you before the wedding."
He scolded in a low voice: "If it weren't for me, you would have ended up in a worse situation than those two idiots from the Cui family."
This is the biggest omission in the story of the deep love between the emperor and the empress.
On the eve of his wedding, the emperor told Yuan Wei that he had fallen in love with an ordinary woman.
He wanted to wait until the world was peaceful and prosperous, and then make her the queen.
For this reason, the emperor was willing to sever his marriage alliance with the Yuan family.
Fortunately, something happened later.
After the most dangerous war ended, the emperor never mentioned it again.
Unfortunately, those who knew the inside story at that time all died in the rebellion, and all 132 soldiers were killed.
Only the emperor returned injured.
I heard that he was covered in blood that night and almost didn't make it past midnight.
Empress Yuan's expression changed suddenly.
Her eyes were filled with trembling fear. She nervously tugged at her father's sleeve and said tearfully, "I really know I was wrong. Father, please help me again. I will never do this again..."
Empress Yuan was extremely anxious and her body was shaking constantly.
Over the years, what she feared most was not Yuan Mu's taking away of her favor, but the sudden return of that girl from the countryside.
Take away everything that belongs to her.
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