Chapter 022 Chapter 22
Chapter 22
The small earring was placed alone on the table. Yan Shiyu remained expressionless and tapped the table with his hand. "Where is the person?"
"Miss Ruan Yun, she left after delivering the things." Wei Maoyuan noticed that the emperor's expression changed slightly, and he knelt down, "I asked Miss Ruan Yun if she wanted to come in, and she..."
Yan Shiyu shouted coldly, "Get out."
Wei Maoyuan hurried out. It was almost winter, but he broke out in a cold sweat. It was really scary.
The book made a dull sound when it was thrown on the table by Yan Shiyu. He tilted his head to look at the exquisite earring. When he first came to Zichen Palace, it was this earring that was dangling on his small earlobe. Now, she is treating him like a nobody and just giving him one!
Yan Shiyu sneered, hooked the earring with his fingertips and played with it in the palm of his hand.
Now I am braver.
…
After waiting for a long time, the emperor did nothing. Ruan Yun became anxious and tense. She picked up a water bottle and watered the flowers and plants in Yixiang Pavilion. Strings of water droplets fell from the spout of the bottle, scattering and spraying on the stamens, and the shy flowers quietly bloomed.
The indigo palace dress did not look old-fashioned on her, but rather had a beauty that no one else had, with shyness and charm, and sparkling almond-shaped eyes.
I just hope the emperor can still remember that ordinary earring. At that time in Zichen Palace, the emperor's hand lingered on her ear for a few times, and she almost became his concubine. If she hadn't pushed him away in the end, I'm afraid...
Ruan Yun put down the kettle in her hand and looked up at the sky. It was already the afternoon. In another hour, the emperor would turn over the cards.
Ji Xuanshi was a quiet person. When she had nothing to do, she would just read some miscellaneous books in her bedroom.
Yicui stood beside her and served her, looking outside from time to time and then breathing a sigh of relief.
Ji Xuanshi couldn't help but put down the book in her hand, "What's wrong? What's there that you're so concerned about?"
When he looked in the direction he was looking, he saw Ruan Yun's beautiful and graceful figure. The selection officer suppressed the disappointment in his eyes and then turned his gaze back to the book, "Do your job well."
If the emperor had not appointed Ruan Yun to serve him from the beginning, Yixiang Pavilion would probably have been a place that no one would have remembered by now.
The emperor will not enter the harem tonight.
When this news came out, everyone in the harem became restless.
Concubine Shu maintained her composure and looked at Liu Yu coldly, "Didn't you say that as long as I admit my mistakes, the Emperor will favor me again?"
Liu Yu knelt down hurriedly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Liu Jin couldn't bear it, and pleaded for Liu Yu, "My lady, I feel like there's something fishy about this matter."
Concubine Shu leaned on the couch, not knowing how much strength she exerted to restrain herself from throwing the teacup on the table. The emperor would never do this in the past! It was all because of that vixen Ruan Yun, it was all because of her!
"Speak!" Concubine Shu's voice was no longer as gentle as before.
Liu Jin knelt beside Liu Yu and said earnestly, "The Emperor turned over your name card last night. I also asked around. The Emperor was about to go to Qingyi Palace but suddenly went back. Doesn't your Majesty find it strange?"
There was a hint of panic in Concubine Shu's beautiful eyes. "Didn't Eunuch Wei say... it was because of the war in the south?"
Liu Jin continued, "The Holy Chariot passed by Yixiang Pavilion."
The hands of Concubine Shu, which were resting on the table, suddenly softened. All the gold-plated utensils on the small table fell to the ground and shattered all over the floor. She closed her eyes in sorrow, and when she opened them again, she clenched her teeth and said, "Go to Yixiang Pavilion."
The influence of Concubine Shu was so great that even Concubine Ji was shocked.
"See you, Madam Shufei."
Concubine Shu smiled, her charming face full of intimacy, "Sister, you have been in the palace for a long time, but this is my first time to visit you. I hope you will welcome me."
Ji Xuanshi said calmly, "What are you talking about, Madam Shufei? Please come in."
Shufei turned sideways and walked in arrogantly. Ji Xuanshi glanced at the side room where the servants lived, and then followed Shufei in.
"Yicui, serve tea."
Lady Ji placed the teacup next to Concubine Shu's hand and said gently, "The tea and snacks in my palace are not as good as those in your palace. I hope your Majesty will not dislike them."
Concubine Shu only looked down and didn't take any. She acted very dignified. "Last time the Emperor visited me, he specially appreciated my excellent Rain Dragon Well. I thought I couldn't come empty-handed when I came to my sister's place. So, I'm offering the flowers to you."
Liu Jin placed two jars of Rain-Previous Longjing tea on the table. The interior of Yixiang Pavilion was simple, but it instantly became luxurious because of these two small jars of tea leaves.
The imperial concubine looked uneasy, and she stood below and saluted to the concubine, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am very grateful."
Concubine Shu personally helped Ji Xuanshi up and said, "Sister, don't be polite. We are all sisters."
However, Ji Xuanshi shrank even more because of Shufei's words, as if the person who sent clothes to humiliate her that day was not Shufei.
Concubine Shu looked around, sat back down, covered her lips with a handkerchief and said, "Since the little princess got better, she has been talking about the maid who rescued her that day. It's a pity that the emperor gave her to my sister. Shen Chongyi is too embarrassed to bring this up, but I feel sorry for the little princess, so I came to my sister with a thick face. I wonder if my sister... is willing to give her up?"
Concubine Ji took a breath without making a sound, then raised her head with a hint of unwillingness in her eyes, "Your Majesty, don't you know? Ruan Yun is no longer in my palace."
"oh?"
Ji Xuanshi's face showed grievance, "Ruan Jun has gone to Yu today."
…
Wei Maoyuan personally led people to help Ruan Yun out of the sedan chair and said respectfully, "Young lady, please."
Ruan Yun was wearing a dress with peach-colored butterfly and phoenix-tail flowers tonight. She bowed softly to Wei Maoyuan and said:
"There is Eunuch Lao Wei."
Wei Maoyuan waved his hand quickly and said, "You are welcome, young lady."
He looked towards the Purple Palace again. There were candles lit inside, but no one was serving. He whispered, "Young lady, just go in."
Ruan Yun didn't wear earrings today. She only used a plain hairpin to tie up her long black hair, looking calm and gentle.
The young eunuch opened the palace door for Ruan Yun, and closed it again after Ruan Yun went in. The heavy sound made Ruan Yun's almond-shaped eyes tremble slightly.
The golden incense burner in the hall slowly emitted ambergris. Ruan Yun raised her eyes and happened to meet the emperor's eyes.
"Come here."
Yan Shiyu tapped his hands on the table and after saying only this one sentence he looked back at the memorial in his hand.
Ruan Yun lifted her skirt and slowly walked up the stairs. When she reached the table, she could clearly see the earring on the table.
She knelt softly at Yan Shiyu's feet and boldly touched his knees. "One earring is not as good as a pair in one place."
Yan Shiyu grabbed her mischievous little hand and tapped her ear with his other hand, "I allow you to take it back."
Ruan Yun had a sad face and buried herself in Yan Shiyu's waist, hugging Yan Shiyu's waist boldly, "I won't."
Yan Shiyu's hand fell on Ruan Yun's ear. Seeing that it was like a blood-red bead, he couldn't help but rub it. Ruan Yun moaned in response. He patted Ruan Yun's slender waist and said, "Dare you disobey the imperial order?"
Releasing her hand, Ruan Yun bit her teeth, her almond eyes filled with fear, "Will the emperor take my life?"
Yan Shiyu sneered and picked Ruan Yun up before she could react. For a moment, Ruan Yun only felt that her waist and hips were filled with memorials from ministers. She immediately became too stiff to move. She called him softly and said, "Your Majesty..."
One hand was clasped around Ruan Yun's waist, and the other hand was propped on the table beside her, leaving her nowhere to escape. Yan Shiyu's dark eyes stared at Ruan Yun, her eyebrows and lips were light, and under the candlelight at night, she was more beautiful than anyone else. He whispered, "How can I bear to let her go?"
I really can't bear to let go, and more than that I'm unwilling to do so. It's so regrettable to lose someone who has finally come to me so easily.
Ruan Jun boldly hugged Yan Shiyu's neck. Noticing that his eyes just dimmed a little, she moved forward more wantonly, with the spring scenery in front of her rising and falling close to Yan Shiyu's chest. The two were so close that she could even feel the violent beating in his chest.
Seeing her thoughts, Yan Shiyu lifted the end of Ruan Yun's hair and asked, "Are you not afraid anymore?"
Then, without waiting for Ruan Yun's answer, he plucked the black hair from her head with his slender fingertips. In an instant, the three thousand strands of black hair fell all over her shoulders. When the hair was lifted up, Ruan Yun's body trembled unconsciously. The cloak laces were untied, and the spring beauty hidden inside could no longer be blocked, and slowly entered the emperor's eyes.
Ruan Yun lowered her body and slowly knelt in front of Yan Shiyu. She picked up the hot tea on the table and handed it to Yan Shiyu with her jade fingers, but she inadvertently hooked the jade belt around his waist and said, "Your Majesty, please have mercy on this servant."
…
The inner pool of Zichen Palace.
Hot water gushed out of the four-cornered dragon heads in the east, west, south and north, and the spring water was stirred by the people walking down. Ruan Jun was soaking in the pool in her small clothes, but she couldn't help but cross her arms in front of her chest, not daring to let go easily.
Her eyes looked around, and there was a calmness in her misty eyes. After tonight, she would stay completely in the deep palace and become one of the emperor's many concubines.
There was a sound of water behind her, but Ruan Jun did not dare to look back. The rough and thin fingertips hooked the laces on her fair neck, and they all fell apart with just a light flick.
Ruan Yun couldn't help but let out a small cry of surprise and hurried towards the pond.
The corners of her eyes were red, her lips were slightly wet, and she called softly, "Your Majesty..."
Yan Shiyu leaned his hands on the side of the pool, his eyes devoid of lust, and gently tapped her shoulder and said, "Are you afraid?"
Ruan Yun's snowy peaks were vaguely visible in the water, causing the emperor's dark eyes to darken. His gaze fell on her. Before the emperor could speak, Ruan Yun stepped forward and hugged Yan Shiyu's arms, "Your Majesty, I am not afraid."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ruan Yun was picked up from the pool, which made her feel extremely embarrassed and angry. Fortunately, Yan Shiyu quickly pulled off her cloak and carried her into the inner hall.
The curtains in the palace were scattered, and the palace maids had left early. All the water droplets on their skin fell onto the bed, spreading dampness.
Wei Maoyuan and his men stood guard outside the palace, and no matter what happened they dared not make any noise.
Rubbing his hands to warm them up, Wei Maoyuan smiled widely. It seemed that there would be a different and favored master in the harem. He had to be alert, because Miss Ruan Yun was the first concubine to stay in the Zichen Palace.
Ruan Yun's face was covered with tears. Her hands were pressed on her head. Her legs slid down powerlessly and then fell back onto her shoulders. The curtain fell to block the candlelight outside. The emperor's unclear face was seen in the dim light. She sobbed softly until her hands were released and her crying gradually stopped.
She rolled over and fell asleep on her side. Yan Shiyu pinched her face and said, "You don't know the rules."
It was a pity that Ruan Yun cried so hard that she was hard to wake up even though she was not sleeping soundly. Instead, when Yan Shiyu touched her, she cried out in a sobbing voice, "No more."
Yan Shiyu withdrew his hand, put on some clothes, got off the bed, opened the curtain and called for someone, "Come here."
Ying Ning stood behind the screen. Yan Shiyu looked at the person sleeping in front of him and could vaguely see that she was not sleeping soundly. "Give her a bath."
Originally, there were no palace maids to serve in the Zichen Palace. Tonight, Wei Maoyuan transferred several palace maids from the Yunling Pavilion in advance. Yingning and others were hanging the curtains with golden hooks, and she couldn't help blushing.
Ruan Yun's condition was really not suitable for her to bathe in the hot spring, so the palace maid had to use another method.
Ying Ning had just finished tidying up and was about to lower the curtains when she saw Yan Shiyu enter the hall. She quickly bowed silently and retreated.
Yan Shiyu saw Ruan Yun sleeping unceremoniously on the bed, and his eyebrows couldn't help twitching. He didn't know how she learned the rules to sleep like this! Looking around the palace, which concubine didn't follow the rules when sleeping with the emperor? But she was so rough and didn't know how to restrain herself!
Pushing Ruan Jun to sleep on the inside, Yan Shiyu also lay beside Ruan Jun. A faint fragrance came over, and Yan Shiyu finally couldn't help it and pressed down on her again.
…
The next day, when the Empress paid her respects, she had already listened to the reports from Wei Maoyuan and Eunuch Deng early on and was particularly able to sit still.
Ran Xia was putting makeup on the empress and couldn't help but worry, saying, "My lord, Ruan Yun..."
The queen put on her earrings herself, smiling gently, "Everyone has chosen their own path, how can I interfere?"
Ran Xia had no choice but to swallow back all the words she wanted to say and helped the empress to the outer hall to meet the concubines.
Concubine Shu had a thick layer of makeup on her face, which covered her red and swollen beautiful eyes and the dark circles under her eyes. Others found it strange but didn't know why.
When the greetings were almost over, the queen put down the teacup in her hand and picked up the Ruyi beside her. She was elegant and dignified, and smiled as she glanced at the people below, "There will be a new person in the palace soon."
Amid the astonishment of the crowd, the empress remained calm and said, "The emperor's imperial decree of enthronement should be known to the six palaces today."
…
The sky outside was getting brighter, and the heavy curtains blocked the light outside. Ruan Yun woke up from her sleep, and her whole body felt as if she had been rolled over by a carriage, especially the ground underneath her body, which was swollen and painful.
Ying Ning heard the noise, pulled the curtains open a little, and said with a smile: "Miss, are you awake?"
It was neither the side room of Yixiang Pavilion nor the other palaces. Ruan Yun gradually came to her senses and realized that she had stayed in Zichen Palace last night.
Steady footsteps were heard from behind the screen. Yan Shiyu took off his crown and changed into casual clothes. He just reached the inner hall when he saw Ruan Yun's jade arms embracing a brocade quilt, with her snow-capped peaks almost exposed. Her little face was flushed and her almond-shaped eyes were still a little confused. It was obvious that she had just woken up.
Precisely because she had tasted the feeling there, Yan Shiyu's eyes suddenly fell on Ruan Jun. Noticing Yan Shiyu's gaze, Ruan Jun shrank back a little further into the quilt in fear, hoping that the emperor would not see her.
Yan Shiyu raised his hand, and Yingning went down silently.
Yan Shiyu patted Ruan Yun's head with his big hand and sneered, "Now you know how to hide."
Weakly pulling down the quilt, Ruan Jun revealed only a pair of almond-shaped eyes. She was in great pain last night but she was not drunk. When she moaned and went into Yan Shiyu's arms, she was sober. It was the first time for her to do such an intimate thing with a man. Besides being shy, she also had different feelings. But now that the day had just dawned, she realized belatedly and felt embarrassed.
"emperor……"
Her voice was unusually hoarse as soon as she spoke, which was different from her usual sweet voice. It was as if it had been rolled through by fire and was severely burned.
Seeing her like this, Yan Shiyu no longer had any other thoughts. He personally brought the teacup on the table over to her lips. Ruan Jun drank the tea directly from Yan Shiyu's hand, and then squeezed into Yan Shiyu's arms.
The water in the teacup swayed a little, and a few drops of water fell onto Yan Shiyu's court robes. His face darkened and he blurted out, "Nonsense!"
Ruan Jun seemed to be unafraid. She hugged Yan Shiyu tighter and pointed at his arms again, "Your Majesty has made me like this."
Speaking of these, Yan Shiyu's eyes rarely showed guilt. If concubines were crying and pushing each other like her in the past, he would have lost interest long ago. But with her, the fire seemed to never end and it lasted until dawn.
Yan Shiyu groaned in his throat, and did not push Ruan Yun away. He said in a deep voice: "I have issued an edict to confer you the title of Baolin. You are not allowed to talk to me about anything else."
Ruan Yun secretly raised her eyes and saw that the emperor's face was livid. She loosened her grip a little and said, "Everything I have is given by the emperor. I am naturally satisfied."
Baolin's position is already very high, higher than Wen Yunu's. She is indeed very satisfied with it, but if it can be higher, who would be unwilling?
Yan Shiyu glanced at her little face, and when he saw her let go of him and shrink back to her original position, he grasped her soft hand with his big hand.
"The flower mist lingers in the wind, and the singing beads drip into the water, clear and round."
"'Ying' is a good title."
Ruan Yun did not react for a moment, until she heard the title, her eyebrows were overjoyed, and she leaned back into the emperor's arms and said, "I heard it, it seems to have another meaning."
Yan Shiyu pinched her face, his expression dark, "You are asking for a fight if you try to guess my mind!"
Ruan Jun leaned back into Yan Shiyu's arms again, not afraid of his threat at all.
Pulling Yan Shiyu's sleeve, she lowered her head guiltily and said, "I have one more thing I want to ask the emperor."
Yan Shiyu raised her chin. The uneasiness in her eyes had not yet dissipated. He sneered and said, "Go ahead."
Ruan Yun knelt on the bed and said, "When I was a palace maid, there was a maid who treated me very well. However, she was framed and sent to the Ministry of Punishment. Can the emperor show mercy and let her serve me?"
Yan Shiyu sneered. So this was what she had been planning all along. Ruan Jun pretended to look up, but found that Yan Shiyu was still looking at her indifferently. She pouted and sat back in Yan Shiyu's arms, pulling his black dragon robe to cover herself.
Black and white interweave, her black hair falls on her shoulders, still unable to cover the mottled red marks, she keeps rubbing against Yan Shiyu's arms, "This is the only thing I want."
But Yan Shiyu's expression became more and more serious. Ruan Yun gradually stopped what she was doing and sat timidly in his arms, not daring to speak.
Yan Shiyu held her back, preventing her from moving, and said sternly, "If you continue to do this, you won't have to leave the Purple Palace today."
Ruan Yun's body immediately stiffened, and she dared not have any more restless thoughts. If she could not leave the Zichen Palace today, she didn't know how chaotic the situation would be when she paid her respects tomorrow. After all, Concubine Shu had always been unwilling to let herself live an easy life, and the other concubines were easy to get along with, but she was alone and might not be able to resist.
…
Yan Shiyu handed the written imperial edict to Wei Maoyuan and said in a cold voice, "Pick a reliable person to accompany her to the palace."
Then he paused, his eyes cold, and said, "Forget it, go there yourself."
"I obey your order." Wei Maoyuan held the imperial edict in his hand and personally escorted Ruan Yun out of the inner hall.
Yingning was originally a maid in Yunling Pavilion, and was assigned to Ruan Yun by Yan Shiyu.
Wei Maoyuan said with a smile: "The Ruiyu Pavilion where you live is very close to the Emperor's Zichen Palace. It was the Emperor who personally ordered you to live there. You are now in the Emperor's good graces!"
Ruan Jun had a gentle smile on her face. With Ying Ning's support, she walked slowly towards Ruiyu Pavilion. The pain from last night had not completely dissipated, so she still didn't dare to walk too fast.
Ruiyu Pavilion is close to the Emperor's Zichen Palace, although it is only the east side hall of Xuan Palace. However, since there is no queen in the main seat, there is no feeling of being a guest under someone else's roof. It is really a good place to go.
Eunuch Deng had already brought people to wait in Ruiyu Pavilion. A group of palace maids and eunuchs knelt down to greet the young lady. "Greetings, young lady."
The first time Ruan Jun saw Tingxu standing beside her, she felt relieved. Just now in Zichen Palace, when she said she wanted to take Tingxu out of the Ministry of Punishment, the emperor didn't say anything else and only asked someone to help her dress up. She had originally thought of going to the Ministry of Punishment in person, but now it seems that it is not necessary.
Eunuch Deng came forward to pay his respects to Ruan Yun and said, "I have selected ten palace maids and five eunuchs. You can choose the ones you like and keep them."
Ruan Yun looked at Tingxu and Yingning, and said thoughtfully, "I already have Tingxu and Yingning by my side, so I'll have to ask you to choose the other palace ladies for me."
Eunuch Deng received the order and selected a few reliable and appropriate people to come out without saying a word to Ruan Yun.
In the end, Ruan Yun chose a strong eunuch who was obviously suitable for use.
Entering the inner hall, all of Yan Shiyu's rewards had arrived. Ruan Jun was too tired to do so, so she asked Yingning to help collect them first, and then pulled Tingxu to the inner hall. Seeing the slightly painful expression on Tingxu's face, she directly pulled up her sleeves. There were messy whip marks on her, and some places were already swollen.
Ruan Yunxing's eyes were filled with heartache. "Did they torture you?"
Tingxu knelt down at Ruan Yun's feet, "I'm fine, Sister Ayun... No, my lady, Yu Ronghua gave me a brocade as a reward, but I didn't dare to accept it and secretly buried it in the peach forest. But the guards took me away and sent me to the Ministry of Punishment to avoid trouble. The life of a palace maid is not worth much. The people from the Ministry of Punishment did this to get things over with quickly, but I was released soon. I'm fine."
If she had known that her life was bought by Ruan Yun becoming the emperor's concubine, she would rather die in the Ministry of Punishment than ruin her sister's life.
Tingxu sobbed and said, "My lady, you want to leave the palace. Is it because of me? It's my fault..."
Ruan Yun gently covered Tingxu's lips with her hand, "Ever since Yu Ronghua chose me, I have no way out. I only ask you, are you willing to walk with me in this deep palace?"
Tingxu wiped the tears from her face and knelt firmly in front of Ruan Yun, "I am willing."
Last night was too noisy. Ruan Yun let the palace maids pack up and fell asleep in the palace. Normally, concubines who received awards should go to the emperor to express their gratitude, but Ruan Yun didn't care about that. After the dust settled, there was nothing the emperor didn't understand.
Before dinner, Wei Maoyuan came to Ruiyu Pavilion and couldn't help wondering, "Why didn't Master Baolin go to thank you today?"
Ying Ning smiled and came to the rescue of her young master, "The young master is feeling unwell and is still sleeping."
Wei Maoyuan understood, straightened his hat and said, "The emperor will be here for dinner, remember to remind the master."
Ying Ning responded with some worry in her eyes, not knowing whether it was good or bad for the young master to be so favored.
It was almost evening. Ying Ning and Ting Xu brought water into the inner hall. They had no choice but to put the ice towel on Ruan Yun's cheek. "My lady, please don't sleep any more. The Holy Chariot will be here soon."
Ruan Jun rubbed her face and said coquettishly, "I'm really tired."
If it was a man, Ying Ning would have blushed. She put on Ruan Yun's embroidered shoes and put on her makeup. She showed Ruan Yun the rouge and powder neatly arranged on the dressing table and said, "These are all gifts from the emperor. Do you want to use them, young lady?"
Ruan Yun glanced at the jewelry and hairpins on the table. "No need. Just keep it simple."
Yingning had been in the palace for many years and was very skillful. She quickly helped Ruan Yun to tie her hair into a bun and inserted a jade hairpin diagonally into her black hair.
Just as she put down the comb in her hand, she heard the eunuch's voice outside, and Ruan Yun hurriedly got up and went out of the hall.
Yan Shiyu came down from the palanquin and saw at a glance that she was wearing a thin gauze dress, which glowed softly in the moonlight. He could not help but said angrily, "If you are not feeling unwell, how dare you wear so little!"
Ruan Yun unreasonably dived into Yan Shiyu's arms. He took the cloak from Wei Maoyuan and put it on Ruan Yun's shoulders himself. Although his face was ashen, he still carried Ruan Yun into the hall.
Knowing that Ruan Yun was afraid of the cold, all the windows were closed, and the palace maids laid out all the food brought from the kitchen and left one by one.
Ruan Yun was about to go to the table, but Yan Shiyu grabbed her wrist and pulled her straight into his arms.
The jade hairpin on her head was already loose, and even more so at this moment. Yan Shiyu directly pulled out her hairpin and saw that her black hair fell like a waterfall and her lips were red. In the past, there was only a seductive look in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows, but now there was a bit more tenderness, which made people intoxicated.
Ruan Yun pushed Yan Shiyu's chest, noticing his wolf-like gaze, and said nervously, "Your Majesty, I am hungry."
"Yeah." Yan Shiyu nodded, but said, "No rush."
He pinched Ruan Yun's chin and made her face face him. Then, in Ruan Yun's astonished eyes, he showered her with hot kisses, unlike before when he only kissed her neck and ears. Her lips were numb from being sucked, and she opened her lips involuntarily, allowing Yan Shiyu to penetrate deeper, hooking her lips and not wanting to let go, leaving Ruan Yun with only whimpering sounds.
The food was getting cold, and her tongue was slightly painful. Ruan Yun supported Yan Shiyu's shoulders and moved away a little, but his big hand was on her lower back, and there was a pear wood table behind her, so she couldn't move.
With a slightly nervous tone, Ruan Yunweng said, "Your Majesty, the food is getting cold."
It's not her fault that she panicked, but she could clearly feel a threat against her legs, forcing her to be on guard.
Yan Shiyu held the round ball in his palm and said kindly, "Let's eat."
Ruan Yun breathed a sigh of relief. She was indeed very hungry. She had not eaten since last night and was also extremely tired.
The way he wolfed down the food made Yan Shiyu curl his lips for some reason. He suppressed the smile in his eyes and started eating.
It was still early, and the palace maids took away all the food. If she was in good health, Ruan Jun would definitely cling to Yan Shiyu, but now she was in so much pain that she looked sullen. She sat listlessly on the beauty's backrest and let Yingning massage her waist.
Yan Shiyu was sitting at the desk reading a book, but from time to time he could hear her sweet voice:
"Yingning, be gentle."
"Well, right here, it's really sore, rub it again."
The books of saints and sages all looked completely different. Yan Shiyu's heart twitched. He put down the book in his hand and walked behind the screen.
Ruan Jun lay on it, her red lips slightly parted in comfort as she uttered incoherent words.
Ying Ning received the emperor's gaze and quietly withdrew her hand and retreated. Seeing her lying like this, with a gorgeous red flower blooming on her undulating breasts, Yan Shiyu's larynx moved up and down, and he pressed his hand on Ruan Yun's waist.
Ruan Yun soon realized something was wrong, and immediately opened her eyes and turned around. Seeing that it was Yan Shiyu, she said coquettishly, "I am still feeling very uncomfortable."
Yan Shiyu glanced at her, his eyes full of disbelief.
"I'll rub it for you."
Ruan Jun wanted to refuse, but she couldn't say the words when they came to her lips. She could only turn away under Yan Shiyu's lustful gaze.
It was fine at first, but as time went on, something seemed a little off.
Ruan Yun struggled to get up, but was already picked up by Yan Shiyu. When she was pressed on the quilt, Ruan Yun burst into tears, "Your Majesty, I am in pain."
Yan Shiyu picked up the laces of her clothes with his long fingers, and kissed her densely, saying vaguely: "Be gentle."
However, by the time Ruan Jun was carried into the bathtub again, she had no idea how much time had passed. She leaned drowsily on Yan Shiyu's shoulder, her eyes still closed and she was still crying.
Early the next morning, Ruan Yun woke up from her bed in a daze, and there was no one beside her.
Tingxu helped Ruan Yun stand up and said, "The emperor got up and left at 11:00 a.m."
Ruan Yun bit her lower lip and said in annoyance, "Why didn't you ask me to get up?"
Tingxu smiled happily, "Your Majesty is considerate of me, that's why he didn't let me call you."
Ruan Jun breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it wasn't that she had overslept, but the emperor didn't allow her to do so. It was not her fault that she didn't get up to serve him.
Today was her first time to pay respects, so it was not appropriate for her to dress too flashy, although it was already eye-catching enough, but it was always better to keep it simple.
Concubine Shu was arrogant and would reprimand anyone who did not agree with her. Ruan Jun was a little scared. The Empress looked kind, but it was her words that made her the target of public criticism that day in Yuechun Palace. This was what Concubine Shu noticed. Ruan Jun could not figure out the Empress's thoughts, and her almond-shaped eyes were cold.
Ying Ning brought the food into the hall and called softly, "My lady, please have some breakfast so you won't be too hungry later."
As expected of someone who has been in the palace for a long time, he is really meticulous and considerate in his work.
Ruan Yun ate the light dishes on the table and asked thoughtfully, "Are you familiar with the Empress?"
Ying Ning shook her head, pursed her lips and smiled faintly, "Although I have been serving in Yunling Pavilion, the concubines are not allowed to enter Yunling Pavilion, so I have not had much contact with the Empress. However, I have heard from the maids in the palace that the Empress is the most kind and benevolent, and she never scolds or hits the palace maids."
Ruan Yun nodded and wiped her lips with a handkerchief, "Let's go to Fengyi Palace."
There was no ceremonial procession for Baolin's position, and Ruan Yun had a hard time walking. She left early, but when she arrived at Fengyi Palace, she was the last one, and everyone looked in Ruan Yun's direction.
Some people were jealous. Ruan Jun was just a little palace maid, but she was able to become a concubine in one leap, and even jumped to the fifth rank, and even had a title. You know, even after Shen Chongyi gave birth to a little princess, she still didn't have a title.
Concubine Shu wanted to tear off Ruan Yun's face! If she hadn't arrived a step later, if Ruan Yun hadn't seduced the emperor first and let the emperor take her to Zichen Palace, Ruan Yun would have disappeared from this world! It was because she was too soft-hearted at that time that she didn't let Ruan Yun drown directly, which led to the current situation.
Everyone had different thoughts, only the Empress and Concubine De always had gentle smiles on their faces.
"I pay my respects to the Empress and all the sisters."
The queen waved her hand and said, "Hurry and sit down."
Ruan Yun sat down at the last empty seat on the left. Sitting above her was Li Cairen, an old man from Qian's residence. Seeing Li Cairen showing kindness to her, Ruan Yun also smiled softly. Her smiles, anger and joy were all very touching.
Concubine Shu picked up the teacup on the table and said, "According to reason, Ying Baolin should have come to pay respects to the Empress yesterday, but she has delayed until today. Does she not respect the Empress? Or does she feel that she can be arrogant and disregard palace rules after enjoying the favor of the Empress for a few days?"
Ruan Yun looked at Concubine Shu innocently, "Sister Shufei, what are you talking about? I wanted to come here yesterday, but the emperor loved me so much that I dared not disobey the emperor's order. Sister, you are not talking about me, but about..."
Concubine Shu was so angry that she grabbed the edge of the table, "You..."
She is so eloquent. I don't know how that idiot Yu Ronghua has the confidence to control her and keep her by his side. He is so stupid!
"It's inevitable that you will feel uncomfortable on your first night with the emperor. It won't hurt to rest more." The queen said at the right time, "I am not a pedantic and unkind person. Besides, don't you always claim to be sick and ask for leave before coming to pay your respects? I have never said anything. Since you entered the palace earlier, you should know how to be humble."
Concubine Shu stood up reluctantly, her expression almost embarrassed, "I will listen to your instructions, Her Majesty."
Shen Chongyi forced a smile and looked at Ruan Yun, "We are not as lucky as Ying Baolin. He got a title at his first position. It really makes my sister jealous."
Ruan Yun replied with a smile: "I am also jealous of Sister Chongyi for having a daughter as lovely as the little princess."
She just wanted everyone to notice her, but how could a title be as important as the royal heir? Ruan Jun knew clearly who should see her and who dared not see her.
The Queen said to Ran Xia beside her, "Suzhou has presented five bolts of silk satin as tribute. I thought it would be a good idea to give them to Ying Baolin. You are young and pretty, so you should wear more brightly colored clothes to please the Emperor. I will have someone deliver them to your palace later."
Ruan Yun stood up to express her gratitude, and the greetings finally came to an end.
After walking through the long palace corridor and returning to Ruiyu Pavilion, Ruan Jun already felt that her legs were not her own, especially the middle part which was extremely painful.
She said to Ying Ning with a tearful face: "It really hurts."
Ying Ning whispered, "How about I ask a female doctor to come and take a look at you, young lady?"
Although it was a bit embarrassing, Ruan Jun thought it was too uncomfortable, so she wrinkled her face and responded to Yingning's words.
The female doctor arrived at Ruiyu Pavilion, and the news also reached Yu.
Yan Shiyu kept writing as he listened to what Ruan Yun said in Fengyi Palace this morning. His face turned as dark as a pot:
"How dare she frame me!"
Wei Maoyuan almost knelt down in front of the emperor. No matter what Ying Baolin said, it was because he knew that the emperor would not punish him.
Yan Shiyu rubbed his brows and said, "Forget it. Since he is sick, I will go and see him."
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