Chapter 7 Chapter 7
When Empress Yuan heard Yuan Mu's change of tone, she immediately caressed her face and said, "It's okay, A'luo."
"Don't be afraid," Empress Yuan said firmly, "I'll be there for you in everything."
Yuan Mu turned his face to the side, his eyes full of struggle.
"Does this have to be the case?" she whispered. "Can't we just send them out of the palace?"
Yuan Mu raised his long eyelashes and looked at Queen Yuan.
The color of those eyes is too light.
It looks as cold as a mountain stream, but in fact it is just clear, weak and soft.
There was also a hint of timidity.
Empress Yuan was slightly angry.
"Don't you understand, A'Luo?" She seemed to be suppressing her emotions. "A woman's reputation is the most important thing. They have been appointed by His Majesty to be concubines of the King of Chu. It is impossible for them to marry into a higher position."
Empress Yuan bit her words and said, "Now they have no other choice but to enter the palace."
Yuan Mu's face was pale.
She really didn't expect that these things would have such a profound impact.
The emperor is used to having the power of life and death.
He is a pure superior who shows no mercy to others.
Yuan Mu still remembers that when she first entered the palace, a princess did not recognize her identity and punished her by making her kneel in the rain for a quarter of an hour.
She was the emperor's concubine sister.
He can't be said to be in a very high position, but he is still a well-known figure.
I heard that she was even quite favored when the late emperor was alive.
Being punished to kneel in the rain is much better than being punished in the dark ancestral hall.
Even in front of others, Yuan Mu didn't think there was anything wrong.
She just couldn't forget the terrifying look on the emperor's face when he saw her in the sedan chair.
He walked straight down, his eyes dark and frightening.
The princess, who had been so arrogant just now, was slapped to the ground and spat out blood before she could even say a word.
Of course the emperor doesn't care about Yuan Mu.
But as long as she is the emperor's concubine, her dignity cannot be trampled upon.
Even if she is a princess, she can only kneel and crawl in front of the emperor.
Later, Yuan Mu never saw the princess again.
I only heard that he died suddenly of illness.
In addition, he had done some shameful things during his lifetime, and even his title was revoked.
Yuan Mu had heard people say before that the emperor was a heartless man and had no feelings towards his own father.
But what happened that day still made her feel the emperor's coldness.
He doesn't even care about his sister, who is closer than blood, let alone someone he doesn't know at all.
Yuan Mu clenched his knuckles and said hesitantly, "But Your Majesty..."
"No buts," Queen Yuan interrupted Yuan Mu, "It's okay."
She looked so conceited.
Empress Yuan softened her tone and said, "You trust me, and I also trust that my words carry weight with His Majesty."
"Your Majesty, for all these years, because of my favor," she said softly, "you haven't even taken in a concubine."
Queen Yuan stroked Yuan Mu's face.
She spoke slowly, "I lack the virtues of a woman."
"Sanniang and Wuniang are both good children," Empress Yuan gazed into Yuan Mu's eyes, "They should receive the honor and favor they deserve, right?"
There was unquestionable determination in her eyes.
Yuan Mu had only seen a similar dark light in the emperor's eyes.
She suddenly understood where Empress Yuan's arrogance came from.
It's different from a caged bird like her who has no support.
Empress Yuan has a powerful family behind her, a father and brother who dote on her immensely, and an emperor who is extremely indulgent of any decision she makes.
The emperor would agree to whatever she wanted.
The emperor would approve whatever she wanted to do.
Although this matter is absurd, it is ultimately a matter between them as a couple.
Yuan Mu is just a bridge and tool for doing things.
Empress Yuan was right. With her support, the emperor would not blame her.
This was not the first time that Empress Yuan had sent a woman to the emperor's bed.
When Yuan Muchu first entered the palace.
She hated both the emperor who issued the decree and the empress who proposed it.
But compared to her disobeying him, what the emperor could not tolerate even more was her disobeying the queen.
Yuan Mu clenched his knuckles and she lowered her eyes.
The feeling of weariness towards the world that had been with me since my youth resurfaced at this moment after a long absence.
She whispered, "I'll do as you say."
Empress Yuan's complexion, which had been changing constantly, finally improved.
She smiled, stood up, and personally escorted Yuan Mu to the sedan chair: "Rest early, I will talk to you when there is something."
The maids who had disappeared for a long time also reappeared.
Many of them came from the Yuan family and were as arrogant as the queen.
Although he was a servant, he never had a good face towards Yuan Mu.
At this moment, everyone's face was full of smiles.
"I will escort the Majesty to the sedan chair," the maid said with a smile, "Please be careful."
Yuan Mu was not used to such occasions. After saying goodbye to Queen Yuan, he left in a sedan chair.
It was already afternoon when she returned to Qingning Palace.
Yuan Mu simply had a bowl of white jade fish soup and lost his appetite.
She took a quick bath, then hugged the embroidered quilt and fell asleep in the curling smoke of the soothing incense.
I don’t know if it’s because I went through too much during the day.
Yuan Mu fell into a nightmare again.
The inner hall was dark, with only a dim light on in the corner away from the bed.
She couldn't open her eyes, and her body seemed to be firmly controlled by someone, with her wrists lifted up and clasped on her shoulders.
The loose soft robe was lifted up, and even the closed legs were pried apart.
His calves seemed to be bound by a snake's tail, and the cold tongue brushed across his legs. His face was also directly grasped by a hand with thin calluses.
Yuan Mu was forced to open his lips and hold the man's slender knuckles.
Her eyes were blurred with tears and she shook her waist, trying to break free from the man's grip.
But the difference in their body shapes is too great.
He could have crushed her to death in his arms with one hand.
The man buried his face in Yuan Mu's neck. Like a black snake hiding in the dark, he morbidly sniffed the subtle fragrance that burst out when she shed tears.
He has always been ruthless in his actions, and he is completely merciless in this regard.
Yuan Mu struggled non-stop, his slender legs trembling, and cried out in a sobbing voice: "No..."
She wanted so badly to break free from the dream.
However, as soon as she finished crying, her soft buttocks were slapped hard several times.
The man's voice was hoarse: "What's going on?"
He squeezed her slender waist tightly, making her tears fall even more.
Yuan Mu felt both pain and embarrassment. Her face was wet and red, the corners of her eyes were burning, and tears were falling like broken strings.
When she was half asleep and half awake, her reactions were always slow.
After being hugged and beaten several times by the man, Yuan Mu finally realized so clearly that she was not having a dream, but was taken to bed by the emperor again.
She was very restrained when she was sober, but now she couldn't stop crying.
When she was at home, her father hated her so much but never beat her.
But the emperor never seemed to treat her as an adult girl.
Yuan Mu tried to hold back her tears, but her body was in so much pain that she couldn't stop crying.
The emperor knew that Yuan Mu often cried and she couldn't stand being teased. She was like a beauty made of water, and no matter what he did, he could make her cry miserably.
But now she was crying a little too hard.
The emperor was somewhat helpless. He picked up Yuan Mu with one hand and lit the lamp beside the bed himself.
There is a seven-year age difference between them. She is usually quite sensible, but sometimes she cries like a child.
You can't hit him, and you can't scold him.
Much more troublesome than his troublesome younger brother.
The emperor held Yuan Mu on his lap and wiped the tears from her eyes with his knuckles: "What's wrong? Did anyone wrong you?"
After this incident, his interest faded a lot.
The emperor also let down Yuan Mu's skirt which had been lifted up.
He had never even coaxed his own brother, and touched Yuan Mu's forehead awkwardly.
"What did Yuan Ying say?" the emperor asked in a low voice, "Or did Concubine De and the others offend you?"
He is the best at finding reasons from others.
Never think about what you have done.
Yuan Mu had just been slapped on the buttocks, and the base of her snow-white buttocks was red, swollen and painful, and she couldn't sit still at all.
She bit her lips and uttered a sob in her throat: "It hurts..."
Yuan Mu's cold and dignified face, covered with blush and showing a shy expression, was really charming.
Hearing her pitiful cries, the emperor's depression from the whole day disappeared.
Now he has been in power for more than two years, and his temper is getting better and better.
If it had happened before, the emperor would only make Yuan Mu feel more pain and cry even harder.
But now he said softly: "I'll rub it for you, and it won't hurt."
Yuan Mu's eyes were filled with tears. She put her arms around the emperor's neck and lay in his arms. It took a long time for the burning heat on her face to subside.
Today is the fifteenth day of the lunar month. Every time there is a new moon or full moon, there are always a lot of things to do.
There are more things to do on the first and fifteenth days of the twelfth lunar month.
Especially since the Queen’s Thousand Years’ Day is coming up in a few days.
"Are you hungry?" The emperor stroked Yuan Mu's belly. "The palace maid said you had some fish soup for lunch."
He picked up Yuan Mu and took him to the outer hall.
Yuan Mu was sleeping so soundly that he had no idea how much time had passed. When he saw the sky getting dark outside, he realized that it was already night.
"I'm a little hungry." Her eyes were slightly swollen and she spoke slowly.
Yuan Mu would be particularly well-behaved at this time. She vaguely remembered the etiquette and was not as nervous as usual.
The emperor touched her eyelids and said in a connivance, "Then go to my place and use it."
The small kitchen on Yuan Mu's side was specially equipped by him.
Poisoning was a common occurrence in the palace.
Yuan Mu has little presence and never takes the initiative to provoke others.
But the identity of being the Queen's sister is dangerous enough.
You can't be careless about eating.
But no matter how exquisite the food here is, it cannot compare to that in Ziwei Palace.
How could Yuan Mu refuse? The emperor didn't ask her, he just informed her that he was going to take her there.
She sat in the emperor's arms and hummed softly.
Qingning Palace and Ziwei Hall are quite far apart, and it is cold on the road. Yuan Mu had a fever not long ago.
The emperor first took out a red cloak, then thought for a moment, changed into a snow-white fox fur, and wrapped her tightly from head to toe.
Yuan Mu let him do what he wanted.
She originally thought that the emperor was acting on impulse, but when she saw the cavalry outside, she realized what had happened.
The iron cavalry stepped on the red steps, like ghost soldiers passing silently to claim their lives.
Just looking at it from a distance can make one's legs tremble with fear.
Countless gloomy soldiers, wearing armor and helmets, were silent in the dead night.
There were so many people, but there was no sound at all.
This situation was normal when the emperor traveled.
There are also troops stationed near Qingning Palace because it is too remote and surrounded by mountains.
This is a very common thing.
But Yuan Mu's heart suddenly skipped a beat. She took a step back and almost fell to the ground.
She was someone who had experienced war. The mutinous soldiers stabbed their superiors' hearts and lungs with long swords, and large streams of blood spurted out, spraying a dozen feet high.
The year Yuan Mu came of age was the most chaotic year in the entire Jingzhao.
The crown prince, who was radiant and illustrious, was deposed.
The virtuous, gentle and noble queen was killed.
Foreign enemies invaded, internal affairs were in chaos, powerful officials were sharpening their knives, and treacherous officials were in power.
The entire Jingzhao was in dire straits, and Yuan Mu himself almost died several times.
She had an instinctive fear of sergeants and men with cold temperaments.
Even now, I still feel scared.
The emperor picked up Yuan Mu and put him into the carriage.
"Have you been eating too little lately?" he whispered. "You're exhausted after just two steps?"
Yuan Mu shook his head and buried his face in the emperor's shoulder: "I didn't eat less."
Her breathing was disordered and her heart was beating violently in her chest.
In the chaos, Yuan Mu felt even more uneasy when he recalled what Queen Yuan had said during the day.
But after getting on the carriage, the emperor was reading documents and did not notice her abnormality.
Yuan Mu was half lying down, holding a soft pillow in his arms.
She closed her eyes, looking quiet as if she was asleep.
Only the beating of his heart revealed Yuan Mu's true feelings at the moment.
They were right in scolding her.
She is indeed a timid person.
It seemed as if all the courage and resistance in this life were used in the year when I came of age.
After being forced into the palace in winter, Yuan Mu suffered a lot of torture, and the courage that was born out of hardship became less and less.
She was holding a pillow, covered with a soft woolen blanket, and tears gradually formed in the corners of her eyes.
But after thinking of the imperial edict, Yuan Mu's confused thoughts suddenly became clear for a moment.
The day she entered the palace seemed to be the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.
Yuan Mu didn't have time to think too much before they arrived at the Ziwei Palace.
The emperor put away the documents and carried her out of the carriage.
Every time I come to Ziwei Temple, my memories are not very good.
Yuan Mu looked at the towering palace and felt that the dark dome was about to fall down.
Dinner is already prepared.
The candle flame was dim, like a dragon and phoenix candle, burning silently.
People of Yuan Mu's rank cannot eat with the emperor.
She could only stand and serve food to the emperor and empress, or accept a small amount of food given by the emperor.
But when Yuan Mu was thinking about the etiquette in the palace, the emperor had already fed a plum blossom pastry to her lips.
He had been holding her just now and didn't let go until now.
Yuan Mu sat on the emperor's lap. The place where he had been slapped no longer hurt, but it still felt a little awkward.
She was not used to being too close to others, let alone the emperor.
Yuan Mu's cheeks were lightly pink. She opened her lips like a little bird and bit the plum blossom pastry.
Although she was not used to it, she knew how to follow the emperor's will.
The whole dinner went smoothly.
The emperor didn't use it much, as all his energy was spent on feeding Yuan Mu.
When they were about to eat the fruit dessert, he said softly, "In the blink of an eye, it has been two years since you entered the palace."
Yuan Mu raised his long eyelashes, and the emperor's handsome face was reflected in his clear eyes.
His expression was rarely so gentle.
Especially since things went so badly today, the emperor still looked calm and peaceful.
"Is there anything you want?" He said in a gentle tone, "Position, money, gold and jade, anything is fine."
The emperor's expression was so gentle.
It is like a seemingly shallow pond with a clear bottom, ethereal and bright, yet unfathomable.
Yuan Mu suddenly felt a sense of fear.
This fear was instinctive, just like her long-standing fear of the emperor.
Yuan Mu opened his lips, but couldn't say anything.
Fortunately, the door of Ziwei Palace was suddenly knocked from outside.
The palace maid must have been deliberately dismissed.
But the person knocking on the door was of noble status, which was really unusual.
"Brother Emperor," the King of Chu called out repeatedly, "Brother Emperor!"
The servants outside wanted to stop him very much, but when he was in the palace, he was a man who feared nothing.
Neither the late emperor nor the late empress could control him.
The charming atmosphere in the Ziwei Hall disappeared cleanly.
The emperor's face was gloomy, and there was murderous intent in his eyes.
Yuan Mu timidly pulled his sleeve and whispered, "I, I should get out of the way first..."
As she spoke, she stood up and headed towards the inner hall as if fleeing in panic.
I scared people a few times before.
Yuan Mu is thin-skinned.
The emperor grabbed Yuan Mu's waist and pulled her back.
He almost gritted his teeth and said, "No need, finish this cherry ice cream first."
Yuan Mu was forced to sit in the seat. She held the golden spoon and scooped up a cherry helplessly: "Is it really suitable?"
The emperor did not allow her to see other men.
Yuan Mu didn't know whether the emperor's younger brother was considered an outsider.
But the emperor had already stood up and opened the palace door.
The King of Chu was dressed in a bright red robe, his eyes twinkling, "Brother, have you had dinner yet?"
He fit in naturally.
The emperor was always calm and indifferent. Yuan Mu was surprised to see the brotherly anger on his face.
Then the next moment, her eyes met the King of Chu.
The red dress is vigorous and young.
Danfeng eyes, hanging nose, and slightly raised eyebrows.
It turns out that he is the King of Chu, the emperor's younger brother.
No wonder they look so alike.
Yuan Mu's knuckles paused, and at a certain moment, she felt sad as if her heart was stabbed.
I can't explain the reason and I can't tell the outcome.
But to Yuan Mu's surprise, after seeing her, the King of Chu did not look away.
He looked straight at her, like a child seeing something new and interesting.
The King of Chu asked softly, "Who is that, my brother?"
The emperor ignored the King of Chu. He turned around and walked towards Yuan Mu. There was cheese on her lips, and he calmly raised his hand and wiped it off for her.
Such behavior directly revealed Yuan Mu's identity without any words.
Yuan Mu did not accompany the emperor to meet guests.
This is a qualification only the Queen has.
She felt uncomfortable, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she tried to avoid the emperor's knuckles.
But the emperor pinched Yuan Mu's cheeks and lifted her face up.
He whispered, "What did I teach you before? What should you say when you see a guest?"
Yuan Mu's face turned even redder after being scolded. When he stood up, his legs were still a little weak. It was only because the emperor held his waist that he did not lose his composure.
She bowed and said softly, "Your Highness the King of Chu is honored."
Such a delicate voice, with a slight tremor, so soft that you could squeeze water out of it.
The King of Chu looked at Yuan Mu.
He looked at her for a moment and said politely, "My Lord greets His Majesty the Concubine."
But no one told him Yuan Mu's identity.
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly.
He asked casually, "Have you seen me before?"
"No need to see her," the King of Chu looked at the Emperor. "Empress Zhaoyi looks so much like Empress Yuan, of course I can recognize her."
The emperor's expression calmed down a little.
He led the King of Chu to sit down, and then asked the eunuchs to add a few more dishes.
The fresh lamb roasted over charcoal fire is sizzling with oil, and the aroma is fragrant and popular.
The King of Chu was a man of great eloquence.
He had such a close relationship with the emperor.
Yuan Mu couldn't eat anymore, so she just sat there, eating cherry yogurt and listening to the two people chatting.
She thought she would be very nervous, but at this moment, she felt inexplicably calm and leisurely.
Yuan Mu was used to being alone, so he had no one to accompany him during meals.
It was only when they were at the farm that Aunt Yu and her younger sister would say a few words to her.
There were court affairs to attend to tomorrow, and the emperor did not allow Yuan Mu to sleep late, so when it was almost midnight, he had the King of Chu taken away.
The night passed as relaxing as a dream.
No. It was even more relaxing than in a dream.
When the emperor carried Yuan Mu to bed after she had taken a bath, she didn't even realize that he had asked her to stay overnight.
"I haven't told you yet," he said, brushing her dark hair behind her ear. "Is there anything you want?"
The bright lights dimmed a lot.
In the dim light, the emperor's face looked so gentle.
Yuan Mu had been in a state of confusion all day, but at this moment, he suddenly became very calm.
She is not a person without desires.
Yuan Mu has a lot of things he wants.
For example, during the day, what she wanted most was that the King of Chu would take the initiative to reject Cui Sanniang and Cui Wuniang as concubines.
But the atmosphere is so good now.
The emperor's expression overlapped with that of his youth in the past when everything depended on her.
Yuan Mu couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, I want to leave the palace, can I?"
She raised her eyes, and in her clear eyes, there was an innocence so pure that it was frighteningly childish.
During her two years of life in the imperial palace, she had not witnessed the swordplay and bloodshed of power struggles, nor had she truly recognized the morbid paranoia beneath the emperor's cold expression.
The man who had been smiling just now suddenly looked extremely cold.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
