Chapter 41 A Dream of Yellow Millet Your Majesty, do you want to know what I said in my dream…?
Chu Yueyuan's peaceful life has finally come to an end.
On this day, without prior notice, the Imperial Stud arranged for the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" imperial carriage to be parked in front of the Phoenix Perch Palace with great fanfare.
Chu Yueyuan wanted to struggle a little more, but Jin Tong, whom she had sent to deliver the message, quickly ran back in a panic and squatted down beside the mother-of-pearl inlaid sandalwood and rosewood couch, whispering in her ear:
"Your Highness, twelve imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital have accompanied the imperial procession today. The Regent has ordered the Imperial Hospital to say that the Empress Dowager's headaches have not healed for a long time, which is entirely the fault of the physicians' lack of medical skills. If they cannot cure Your Highness's headaches today, then... they shall be ordered to return with their heads to report back."
Chu Yueyuan's sleepy eyes widened suddenly. She sat up and heard sobbing coming from outside the window, sometimes loud and sometimes soft.
Threat—this was a blatant threat from Pei Zei.
Grabbing a chestnut-patterned Suzhou embroidered soft pillow from the couch, Chu Yueyuan used it to pound Pei Ze's face a few times to vent her anger before getting off the bed.
"Go then, Jintong, do my hair and makeup."
"This servant obeys."
The imperial carriage landed outside the Hall of Diligent Governance, and announcements flooded through the palace gates like a tidal wave:
"The Empress Dowager has arrived."
The officials in the study, caught off guard, turned to look at the door in unison.
The young empress dowager wore a light brown silver brocade phoenix-tail dress, with a snow fox fur coat over it. Her pointed chin was tucked into a snow-white fur collar, and a crystal beaded hairpin dangled from her serpentine bun, swaying gently as she walked, making her watery eyes appear as if they were filled with dew.
The woman's face was unadorned, but her youthful beauty was captivating, like a flower bud blooming overnight on a branch, fresh and radiant.
The people in the study were all elderly and experienced officials, unlike the young lads who were captivated by the sight. After a brief moment of amazement, they all bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects."
"My lords, you may dispense with the formalities."
Chu Yueyuan smiled and nodded slightly. She took off her snow fox fur coat, as if she hadn't seen the only minister behind the sandalwood dragon-patterned desk who hadn't bowed to her. She walked straight into the jade curtain, lifted her skirt, and sat down.
The young empress dowager, having been absent from government affairs for a long time, immediately gave the regent a show of force upon her return. This situation caught the ministers in the council off guard, and they looked at each other, completely bewildered.
"Lord Sun, please continue."
Upon hearing the Regent's reminder, Minister Sun of the Court of State Ceremonies quickly regained his composure and steered the conversation back to the visit of the envoy from the Western Xia Kingdom.
The jade beaded curtain shimmered like ripples on water in the breeze. Chu Yueyuan tilted her head and rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window. Even though her neck felt stiff, she was unwilling to turn her head.
Although she couldn't see, she could hear and smell. A deep, calm male voice could be heard from time to time, and the air was filled with the subtle fragrance of sandalwood.
Behind the long sandalwood table with dragon patterns, the regent exuded composure, calmness, and steadiness as he issued his commands. In contrast, the man who had imprisoned her in his arms that night was tyrannical, violent, and even somewhat disheveled.
Chu Yueyuan's cheeks flushed as she recalled what happened that night. She shook her head vigorously, trying to banish the disturbing memories from her mind.
In the past, the desks between the emperor and his ministers were blocked by an impenetrable sandalwood screen inlaid with jade and flowers. Later, the screen was replaced by a bright bookshelf. Now, the bookshelf has also been removed and replaced by a plum blossom-shaped incense table for placing incense burners.
A woman's graceful figure emerges from the rising wisps of smoke.
Pei Muwei's gaze moved from the stubborn back of the Empress Dowager's head to her delicate, smooth earlobe, his eyes gradually deepening.
Half an hour later, the council concluded, and the officials emerged from the hall in small groups, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.
"Li Pifu's memorial was utter nonsense. In the past, it would have been sent back to be rewritten by the Regent. Today, he's gotten away with it."
"Indeed, if I had known that the Empress Dowager would be in power today, I shouldn't have submitted the report about the dilapidated river embankments in the three counties of Jingzhou yesterday, which wasted three months' salary to repair the river."
"Yang represents severity, Yin represents warmth; when Yin and Yang are in balance, no disease arises. From now on, we need to inquire with the Imperial Stud and make sure to suppress any difficult memorials on days when the Empress Dowager is not in power..."
"Your Excellency Yu's insight is truly remarkable!"
———
Rhythmic sounds echoed in the study. In less than half an hour, Chu Yueyuan swiftly finished stamping the document. She put away the phoenix seal, twisted her sore wrist, and found a small patch of ink on her palm.
The study was equipped with a bamboo aqueduct for flowing water, which connected outdoor spring water to the house through bamboo tubes. The clear water flowing from the bamboo tubes was poured into a water vat, and the palace servants then used the water in the vat to wash their writing brushes and inkstones.
Chu Yueyuan parted the jade beaded curtain, and a crisp rustling sound rang out. At the same time, Pei Muwei, behind the desk, put down his wolf-hair brush.
She pretended not to see anything, walked straight to the water tank, bent down, and tried to wash the ink off her palms.
The water in the tub was icy cold. After just a few rubs, the back of my hand turned a faint red, but the ink stains on my skin were not washed away at all.
"Is the Empress Dowager's headache any better?"
Chu Yueyuan did not turn around. She was focused on cleaning the stains on her hands. She slightly curled her lips and said in a cool tone, "Fortunately, Minister Pei sent more than a dozen imperial physicians who were crying their eyes out early this morning. Their crying made my headache disappear on the spot."
Pei Muwei could easily hear the sarcasm in the Empress Dowager's words. His dark eyes were fixed on her shapely back as he said meaningfully, "If we don't resort to this drastic measure, the Empress Dowager's headache will never be cured."
Chu Yueyuan neither agreed nor disagreed, and vigorously rubbed the ink on her hands.
Hearing steady footsteps behind her, she frowned as the footsteps drew closer.
She quickly wiped her hands twice with a handkerchief she took from the tray, and was about to turn and leave when her wrist suddenly tightened. She looked up in surprise and met the man's dark, phoenix-shaped eyes.
"Your Highness has just recovered from a headache and should not come into contact with cold water."
Pei Muwei held her wrist and slowly rolled up her wide, silken pipa sleeves, revealing a section of her fair, lotus-root-like forearm.
With great tact, Eunuch Wang brought over a basin of warm water and placed it on the waisted, high-ceilinged flower stand.
Pei Muwei first tested the water temperature with his fingers, then took the little empress dowager's hands and put them into the water.
The water temperature was just right. The moment her hands were immersed in the warm water, the biting cold was dispelled, and her stiff knuckles gradually regained their suppleness. Chu Yueyuan breathed a sigh of relief, and her tense heartstrings relaxed as well.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Regent standing opposite the high-ceilinged table, leisurely unfastening his purple jade cufflinks to reveal the sandalwood prayer beads on his wrist, and then... brazenly placing his hands into the basin of water.
Meeting her questioning gaze, Pei Muwei remained calm and said gently, "When I was reviewing documents, my hands got stained with ink, and I wanted to wash them off. Does Your Highness mind?"
Chu Yueyuan: ....
Pei acted first and asked for her opinion later. Wasn't it a bit too late to ask her opinion after he had already reached in?
Four hands were submerged in a small basin of water. The woman's hands were fair and delicate, long and graceful; the man's hands were long and strong, with distinct knuckles. They were clearly separated, yet inevitably touched underwater.
Chu Yueyuan's ears flushed crimson, and she deliberately lowered her voice, saying, "I'm finished washing. Minister Pei, please make yourself at home..."
Before she could finish speaking, her wrist was once again firmly gripped by the man. The temperature of his palm was hotter than water, seeping into her skin and making her heart skip a beat.
"Your Highness, the ink on your hands hasn't been removed yet."
Pei Muwei picked up a piece of white soap from the bamboo slip and slowly rubbed it in her outstretched palm.
The soap dissolves into foam when it comes into contact with water, making the skin feel moist and slippery. The man's long, well-defined fingers easily slipped between her fingers, and as they intertwined and rubbed together slowly, milky white foam gradually oozed from between them.
A faint scent of soap, a subtle aroma of sandalwood, and a strangely ambiguous atmosphere quietly permeated the air.
Chu Yueyuan's fair cheeks quickly flushed crimson: "There is a distinction between ruler and subject, so there is no need for Minister Pei to serve me. I can wash myself."
Pei Muwei curled his lips and said lazily, "A ruler treats his subjects with courtesy, and a subject serves his ruler with loyalty. There is no need for Your Highness and your subject to be so distant."
Chu Yueyuan was speechless for a moment, silently enduring the sycophant's outpouring of loyalty.
It took three basins of water to rinse the ink, which was about the size of a fingernail, clean.
A light drizzle began to fall outside the window. In the blink of an eye, the sky darkened, dark clouds gathered, and accompanied by the rumble of thunder, the raindrops fell like thousands of arrows onto the ground, splashing up puddles of water, and the air was filled with a damp atmosphere.
The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and even after finishing her memorial, Chu Yueyuan couldn't leave for a while.
Pei Muwei sat by the window, holding a light blue Ru porcelain teapot. The teapot was slightly tilted, controlling the water flow to form a perfect vortex in the cup. His profile seemed to blend into the misty scenery outside the window, creating an elegant ink painting.
"Your Highness, please try some of these golden chrysanthemums recently sent from the Beiyuan Imperial Tea Garden."
"Thank you, Minister Pei."
Chu Yueyuan sat down opposite the tea table, picked up the warm teacup and took a sip. The unique bitter taste of chrysanthemum tea spread on her tongue, making her think: If only there were some snacks or candied fruits to accompany the tea at this moment.
Before she could even form this thought, she heard the man say softly, "Your Highness has been away from state affairs for a long time, and this humble subject has also not tasted the tea and snacks of Phoenix Perch Palace for quite some time."
The slightly reproachful tone made Chu Yueyuan's heart pound. She lowered her eyes, staring at the whole golden chrysanthemum floating on the surface of the tea, and said calmly:
"The imperial chefs in the Imperial Kitchen are highly skilled. In terms of preparing tea and snacks, they are definitely much better than the small kitchen in Fengqi Palace. If you want to eat tea and snacks in the future, you should just send them to the Imperial Kitchen."
Pei Muwei stared at the woman's profile, his long fingers twirling the sandalwood prayer beads on his wrist, and smiled, "This humble subject is sentimental and only enjoys the tea and snacks served in Your Highness's palace."
Chu Yueyuan raised her eyebrows slightly, secretly thinking that he wasn't being nostalgic at all, but was clearly just being picky about food!
She changed the subject without changing her expression: "The tenth of next month will be the anniversary of Consort Chun's death. When the Consort passed away, it happened to coincide with a snow disaster in several counties around the capital. The Ministry of Rites hurriedly buried her, and even a proper funeral service could not be held. It was really... unfair to her."
Chu Yueyuan paused slightly, then continued, "Consort Chun is not only my elder sister, but also the Emperor's birth mother. After much thought, I've decided to take advantage of this anniversary of her death to hold a proper memorial service and posthumously confer upon her the title of Imperial Noble Consort. What do you think, Pei Qing?"
She raised her eyes and gazed at the man's handsome face, trying to discern subtle changes in his expression.
To her disappointment, the man remained expressionless and simply said, "This matter is entirely up to the Empress Dowager. Your humble servant will inform the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Eunuchs to carry it out."
His indifferent attitude and detached tone made it seem as if he were talking about someone who had nothing to do with him.
Is it because he hid it too well, or is it because he is inherently cold-blooded and ruthless?
Chu Yueyuan decided to take another step forward. She leaned forward and said softly, "When we were little, everyone in the family said that I looked somewhat like my sister. Pei Qing, have you ever met Consort Chun? Don't you think I resemble her in some way?"
Pei Muwei's gaze lingered on the young empress dowager's bright eyes for a moment.
The woman had almost no makeup on her face and wore no jewelry. She slightly raised her chin, exposing her slender neck to the sunlight. The lines were beautiful, her skin was as white as snow, and an alluring fragrance emanated from her neckline.
It has a natural, unadorned beauty.
Meeting the man's focused gaze, Chu Yueyuan felt her face burning. Just as she was about to turn her head away, he grabbed her chin first, his voice low and deep: "Your Highness, please don't move. Allow me to take a closer look."
"Hmm... okay."
Chu Yueyuan had no choice but to be patient and tilt her little face up to let him look her over.
The little empress dowager in his palm was like a docile and adorable little lamb, her soft white cheeks puffed up by his pinching, and her rosy lips slightly parted.
Pei Muwei's gaze lingered on her glistening lips. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he suppressed the rising impulse in his heart. He released her delicate chin, his voice slightly hoarse: "It doesn't seem like it."
Chu Yueyuan's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly asked, "If Pei Qing says it doesn't look like her, then it means you've met my sister before?"
The rain was still falling outside the window, the raindrops dripping onto the eaves, splashing up a layer of white mist. With a gust of wind, the mist, like a light veil, drifted away.
Pei Muwei picked up the teacup, placed it to his lips, and gently blew on it. The wisps of steam dispersed, revealing his lowered eyelashes.
"I've met you."
Seeing the Regent readily admit it, Chu Yueyuan's heart raced, and she secretly clenched her fingers, quickly asking, "When? Where? What did you talk about?"
Pei Muwei turned her head to look at her, her phoenix eyes slightly narrowed: "When did the Empress Dowager take over the post of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?"
The man had deep-set features, long and narrow phoenix eyes, and eyes as black as lacquer. In particular, when his thick eyelashes narrowed slightly, a small shadow would fall at the corner of his eyes, as if dark clouds were obscuring the sun, and his gaze would suddenly become sharp.
Chu Yueyuan's breath hitched. She composed herself, met the other's sharp gaze, and said calmly, "When I was sorting through my sister's belongings recently, I unexpectedly found a portrait of Pei Qing tucked inside her favorite book. So I'm curious about the relationship between Pei Qing and Consort Chun."
Chu Yueyuan promised Princess Liang that she would not involve her, so she made up a lie.
A gust of wind blew in through the window, causing the crystal beaded hairpin hanging diagonally from her serpentine bun to sway for a moment, like waves lapping against her fair, tender cheeks.
Pei Muwei looked into the woman's inquisitive dark eyes, his expression calm, his voice clear and crisp: "Does Your Highness truly wish to know?"
Chu Yueyuan's eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded vigorously.
Pei Muwei put down his teacup, his long fingers tapping casually on the tea table: "Emperor Shang always harbored suspicion towards the Northern Court and repeatedly reduced the number of the Floating Pagoda Army. However, I am trapped in the Northern Court because of the Emperor Emeritus's decree that 'no one may enter the capital without being summoned.' With foreign tribes causing trouble in front and the Emperor becoming suspicious behind, if Your Highness were in my shoes, how would you break this deadlock?"
Chu Yueyuan didn't know how he brought this up, but she thought about it for a while and slowly spoke:
"To avoid having our troops reduced, we must 'nurture the enemy to enhance our own power.' We must let the court know that the northern tribes are restless before the imperial edict is issued. Once the border is in turmoil, the court will have no reason to reduce our troops."
"However, the Northern Court is far from the capital. Even if spies are planted in the court to keep a close eye on the political climate, once the Imperial Secretariat drafts an edict, it can be passed through the Secretariat in seven or eight days. By the time the Northern Court receives this news, the Chancellery will probably have already signed the edict..."
Having ruled in her own right for some time, Chu Yueyuan was already very familiar with the procedures of the Three Documents and Six Departments. She turned her head to look at the strings of water dripping from the eaves outside the window. Her slender fingers, which had been resting on the rim of her teacup, unconsciously slid down. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she murmured to herself:
"But I've heard that Minister Pei always manages to send over information about the northern war before the Imperial Secretariat drafts the edicts... How exactly do you manage to do that?"
"unless...."
Chu Yueyuan's dark eyes flickered, and she suddenly turned to look at him.
“Unless Pei Qing can strike first when Emperor Shang just has the idea of reducing the number of troops, you... your spies are not only in the court, but also in the harem.”
Pei Muwei's eyes flashed with admiration, and he smiled, "Your Highness is exceptionally intelligent."
Chu Yueyuan felt as if the clouds had parted and the sun had shone through. She looked at him in disbelief and said blankly, "Consort Chun... my sister is Pei Qing's spy in the harem."
Pei Muwei's brows were completely calm: "It was true, but what she wanted, I couldn't give her, so she became a pawn. There are many concubines in the harem, and she is not the only one who can see through the Emperor's heart."
The implication was that his spies were everywhere in the harem, and Consort Chun was just a drop in the ocean.
Chu Yueyuan's eyes flickered. She suddenly remembered that when Chu Wanxi first entered the palace, she was favored by Emperor Shang. As a result, she became arrogant and offended a concubine. Unfortunately, the concubine's family was quite powerful. With a little manipulation, she almost got Chu Shuheng sent to the remote Hanshan County.
Therefore, Du went to her maternal home to smooth things over. After returning, she plotted to send Chu Yueyuan to the bed of the Prince of Qinghe in order to save the Chu family from this catastrophic disaster.
Later, Du's scheme failed, but Chu Shuheng was not sent out of the capital. Instead, the father of that imperial concubine was impeached by the censor.
It's likely that by then, Chu Wanxi had already become a pawn in the Regent's hands.
Chu Wanxi had always admired the man and was unwilling to be just a pawn in his game. So, when she accompanied the emperor to Liangzhou, she wanted to take their relationship to the next level.
Little did she know that her act of throwing herself into his arms touched a raw nerve, thus making her a pawn to be discarded.
Even after learning the truth, Chu Yueyuan was still unwilling to accept it and asked, "The late Consort Chun was the most beautiful woman in the capital. Didn't Pei Qing ever have feelings for her?"
Pei Muwei raised an eyebrow slightly: "She is Emperor Shang's concubine."
Chu Yueyuan curled her lips: "That may be true... but Pei Qing is not the kind of person who is friendly and respectful to his brothers!"
Pei Muwei: ....
"Your Majesty and Consort Chun have each found their place, and that is all."
Hearing this answer, Chu Yueyuan's heart finally died. It felt like a thirsty well digger who was full of hope and had inexhaustible strength. Just when he was about to find water, his hoe struck a huge rock.
Not only did it break the hoe blade, it also didn't dig in the right place at all.
This result left her confused and frustrated, and at the same time, a sense of unease arose. How could she fill the deep hole she had dug in the wrong place?
Pei Muwei took in the woman's changing expression, noticing her slightly furrowed brows and unhappy demeanor, like a flower wilted by a downpour outside the window.
He slowly twirled the sandalwood prayer beads on his wrist and said in a calm voice, "This humble subject also has something he would like to ask the Empress Dowager."
Chu Yueyuan forced herself to cheer up, picked up her teacup, took a sip to calm herself, and then looked up at him with a slight smile: "What does Minister Pei want to ask me?"
Pei Muwei gazed intently at her, and slowly began, "On the night of the victory celebration banquet, I was drinking alone in the Imperial Garden when I encountered the Empress Dowager..."
Chu Yueyuan's heart skipped a beat, and she sighed that what was bound to happen had finally happened. She secretly clenched her fingers, her face remained calm, and she opened her dark eyes wide, pretending to listen attentively.
"Your Majesty is not a strong drinker and only remembers inviting Your Highness to drink with him. After that, I have no recollection of what happened. Could Your Highness tell me what happened afterward?"
"Oh... so Pei Qing doesn't remember..."
Chu Yueyuan's heartstrings relaxed slightly, and her tense shoulders and neck visibly eased. She smiled and said, "Pei Qing drank quite a bit that night, chatting with me about everything under the sun and admiring the full moon together. Later, perhaps you were too tired and fell asleep on the rattan couch. The night was chilly, and as the pillar of the Great Qi, Pei Qing must not catch a cold. So I left my cloak to shield you from the wind."
After speaking, she lowered her eyelashes and took another sip of tea to hide her inner unease.
A man's drawn-out voice came from beside her ear: "Judging from what the Empress Dowager says, it seems that Your Highness and I had a pleasant night together."
With a flick of her wrist, the surface of the tea rippled slightly. Chu Yueyuan took a deep breath and replied with a smile, "Yes, it was quite pleasant..."
However, there was a hint of gritted teeth and anger in her gentle tone.
Pei Muwei stared at the woman's taut, pink cheeks, his eyes deepening, and said softly, "Fortunately, the Empress Dowager has shown me mercy. No wonder I dreamt of Your Highness that night. Would Your Highness be willing to listen to my dream?"
Chu Yueyuan's eyelashes fluttered twice. She put down her teacup, turned to look at the white, misty rain outside the window, and, as if she hadn't heard the other person's words, muttered to herself:
"Hmm, the rain seems to have lessened a bit. I need to hurry back to dine with His Majesty, so I won't keep you company any longer..."
Just as she was about to get up, a crimson brocade robe with a dragon pattern suddenly came into view. The lifelike dragon embroidery on the chest, though only having four claws, was still imposing.
Pei Muwei braced himself on the armrests, leaned down with his tall body, and nestled the petite Empress Dowager in the lacquered phoenix chair with auspicious beast carvings.
"Does Your Majesty wish to know what I did to Your Highness in my dream?"
The man whispered in her ear, and the warmth of his touch on her neck made Chu Yueyuan's shoulders go weak and her cheeks burn. She mustered her courage, looked up at him, and said firmly, "..."
"I have no interest in hearing this. Can you let me go, Minister Pei?"
"Your subject regrets that I cannot comply."
"What...what exactly do you want to do?"
Chu Yueyuan panicked a little. She reached out to push the man, but her strength was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and she couldn't budge him at all.
On the screen beside the tea table, there is an embroidered pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water with their necks intertwined, and the two figures reflected on it are also intertwined and affectionate.
Pei Muwei lowered his eyes, his deep black gaze fixed on the struggling Empress Dowager with her hibiscus-like face, and said in a calm tone, "Your Highness, do not panic. This humble subject will only do what I have only done in my dreams."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yueyuan became even more flustered.
Could it be... that Pei is going to force a kiss on her like last time...?
The thought flashed through her mind, and Chu Yueyuan immediately withdrew her hands that were shoving the man, covering her mouth tightly.
However, what she imagined did not happen. The man simply raised his hand and gently put the crystal bead hairpin that was about to fall off her hair back in.
A playful smile flashed in his dark, bright eyes: "Your Highness, what do you mean by helping the Empress Dowager with her hair in a dream?"
Chu Yueyuan suddenly realized that the other party had been toying with her all along. She lowered her hand and rebuked him with a stern face: "Pei Muwei, how dare you! I am the late Emperor's first wife!"
Pei Muwei's eyes deepened slightly, and he said nonchalantly, "Didn't Your Highness say that I am not the kind of person who is friendly and respectful to my brothers?"
Chu Yueyuan: .....
She turned her head and said coldly, "It's just a pipe dream, it doesn't count. I didn't even take it to heart, so surely you're not taking it seriously, are you, Pei Qing?"
The rain outside the window stopped at an inopportune moment, just as a person who was wailing suddenly heard some shocking news and was startled into stopping their crying.
The dark clouds dispersed, the sky cleared, and the setting sun streamed through the window.
The bright sunlight after the rain shone on the woman's profile, clearly outlining the shallow abyss between her brows, her red lips pressed into a line, and the wary look in her eyes. Her entire being expressed resistance.
Looking at the face in front of him, filled with fear and unease, the dark color that had been swirling in Pei Muwei's eyes gradually faded.
The room fell silent for a moment, a silence so profound it made one's heart race.
Chu Yueyuan listened to her own heart pounding like a drum, and heard the soft breathing above her head.
Her panic stemmed from never truly understanding the man in front of her and being unable to guess his thoughts, which made her feel at a loss.
She didn't take the three forced kisses after drinking to heart.
I still remember when she was young, her father would come home drunk and occasionally stagger into her mother's yard, grab her mother's hand and burst into tears, saying that he had broken his promise and let down such a kind woman.
However, when he sobered up the next day, all the past events had vanished like smoke. His father's most beloved wife was still the eldest daughter of the prestigious Du family.
Therefore, it is clear that what a man does when he is drunk is nothing more than a dog farting.
Chu Yueyuan believed that she was just unlucky that night. If it had been a pretty little palace maid who appeared in front of the Regent, the outcome would have been the same. After all, even her famous sister in the capital couldn't subdue this demon, so what ability did she have to restrain this great demon?
After a long silence, a response finally came from above: "Your Highness is right, it's all just a dream, not worth delving into."
Chu Yueyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, without raising her eyebrows, and said slowly, "The rain has stopped, I should go now."
"Your humble servant respectfully sees off the Empress Dowager."
Despite being told he was seeing him off, the man merely turned slightly to the side. Chu Yueyuan didn't bother with him, brushing against his broad, hot chest as she quickly left the study.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..."
Chu Yueyuan stopped in her tracks. She turned her head, and the crystal beaded hairpin in her hair swayed violently, revealing her nervous state of mind.
"What is it?"
Pei Muwei stood by the window, his face flawless like a clear breeze and bright moon, and smiled gently, saying, "Your Highness, please don't be late for the morning court assembly tomorrow at 9:00 AM."
Chu Yueyuan's tense shoulders finally relaxed, and she nodded, saying, "Thank you for reminding me, Minister Pei. I will remember it."
The jade bamboo curtain rustled crisply, and the fragrant aroma in the room gradually dissipated. Pei Muwei watched through the half-open window as that slender figure hurriedly left.
Her gaze lowered slightly, landing on the sky-blue teacup on the rosewood tea table with upturned ends. A clear lipstick mark was left on the rim of the cup, outlining the woman's full lips.
He naturally picked up the teacup, his thin lips touching the pale red hue, and took a sip of tea.
The tea had cooled, but its flavor remained sweet.
He drank the tea little by little, and Pei Muwei's eyes grew increasingly dark, like a wild beast tasting blood for the first time, a sickly, obsessive look slowly spreading in his eyes.
He had already tasted this tempting flavor, so how could he easily give it up?
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Author's Note: Thank you to all the lovely readers who regularly feed me nutrient solutions! I'm practically a cow or horse lured along by you guys with carrots [shy emoji]
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