You Yao, carrying a fragrance of chrysanthemum, just turned a delicate crescent moon door, a breeze swept over the face, carrying floral scents and the imposing authority of distant palace walls.
She couldn't help but slow her pace, savoring the beautiful scenery of the imperial garden.
At this very moment, a steady and powerful footstep broke the surrounding silence.
You Yao was stunned for a moment, lifting her head and gazing up, she saw a man in a dragon robe slowly walking towards this direction, it was the current emperor of the dynasty, Xuan Huansan.
His gaze was fixed on her, filled with curiosity, and it seemed as if he could see right through her mind.
"Are you You Yao? The Western Dance Girl?"
Xuan Huansan's steps did not approach, but his voice had already spread out, deep and magnetic, with a trace of unnoticeable amusement.
Recognizing who the visitor was, You Yao's expression subtly changed, she dipped her body in a bow and respectfully said, "Subject You bowing to meet Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy eternal happiness and prosperity."
The chrysanthemum following behind You Yao was also startled, how could it be so lucky to meet the emperor, she reacted and also bowed respectfully: "Slave to meet Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy eternal happiness and prosperity."
Xuan Huansan had already walked over, gently lifting his hand, indicating that she should be exempted from the salute.
His gaze remained fixed on You Yao, filled with scrutiny.
Whether it was his illusion or not, he felt that this Western woman looked even more beautiful than the last time she danced at the banquet.
With the exotic flavor of Western women and without losing the gentle tenderness of central women.
There was an alluring charm that emanated subtly from her very essence, drawing people's attention involuntarily to her, and making them reluctant to look away.
He suddenly understood, his indifferent brother must have fallen so deeply in love with her.
Indeed, it was very attractive, especially to men.
"I've heard that you are greatly favored by Prince Qin. Today, after seeing you, I see that it is no exaggeration."
Xuan Huansan's words carried a hint of inquiry.
You Yao's heart tightened, but her face flushed with a slight blush, modestly replying, "Subject is like willow or grass of weakling posture, honored by the king's wrong favor, it is indeed subject's fortune."
Xuan Huansan smiled lightly, a flash of appreciation in his eyes: "You are indeed modest. I had thought that Prince Qin's aversion to women was due to his nature, but it seems now that he simply never found a woman worthy of his notice."
You Yao's face showed a bit of embarrassment, lowering her eyelids, avoiding eye contact with Xuan Huansan's gaze that seemed to be able to see through people, "Your Majesty is too kind. The Lord is a rare talent, for me to be able to accompany him by his side is already a fortune in this life."
Xuan Huansan's deep eyes were fixed on her, and his eyes reflected a touch of imperceptible jealousy, "Prince Qin is indeed a rare talent, but you are also beautiful. Even my concubines in the palace cannot compare to you. It's no wonder..."
His words were cut off abruptly as if he realized he had said too much, and then he turned the conversation, "Go ahead, Prince Qin is still waiting for you."
You Yao slightly bowed her body, performed the farewell bow, turned around, and felt a mysterious gaze on her.
She frowned slightly, and her spirit unknowingly probed out, only to find that the queen was hiding in the flower bed of the imperial garden, peeping with the concubines.
But she did not turn back to look, only speeding up her pace and leaving.
Only when she had disappeared from sight did Xuan Huansan lift his foot and leave here.
The Empress was dressed in luxurious attire and had a dignified countenance, her eyes flashing with foreboding.
She stood still, witnessing it all, and casually plucked a flower, shattering it fiercely.
"None of the concubines in the palace can compare to her. It's a pity that she is already the woman of Prince Qin, and you can only covet her in your heart."
The Empress spoke softly to herself, these words were like self-muttering, or like saying to someone else.
This sentence fell on the ears of a young eunuch who was busy tidying up the flowers and trees nearby. His eyes flickered, he put down the small hoe in his hand, and quickly went to pass on the message.
As the night falls, the Qin Palace is filled with dimly lit lamps, but it cannot hide the depth and majesty.
Xuan Huanshan sat in the study, the moonlight outside was like water, illuminating his cold and stern face, adding a touch of elegance and solemnity.
The candlelight flickered, the east wind hurriedly flashed in, looking at the master in the study, he said respectfully, "Master, today Concubine Yu returned from the Cining Palace and met the emperor by chance in the imperial garden on her way back. They talked for a while."
"What did they talk about?"
Xuan Huanshan's pen paused slightly in his hand, the ink spread out on the silk paper indifferently, and he asked casually.
East Wind, thinking of the message from the spy in the palace, cautiously cast a glance at his master and dared not hide it.
"The emperor praised Concubine Yu as very beautiful, saying that no concubines in the palace could compare to her. Empress Dowager was present in the imperial garden at the time, but she did not make an appearance, only watching from the shadows."
Xuan Huanshan frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on Dongfeng, "Has Empress Dowager reacted?"
"According to the report from the spy in the palace, Empress Dowager's expression was very unpleasant at the time. She muttered something, saying that Concubine Yu was already Master's woman and that His Majesty could only cherish her in his heart…"
"Hmph..."
Xuan Huanshan made a short and crisp light huff, his eyes filled with coldness.
Although my elder brother hasn't done anything, it's wrong for him to have feelings for his woman.
He lightly tapped the table with his fingers, making a rhythmic sound, seemingly calculating something. He said coldly, "Order it to monitor the Fengyi Palace. At the same time, be cautious of my elder brother. Every move in the palace, I want to know."
"Yes, master."
Dongfeng took the order and was about to withdraw when he heard Xuan Huanshan add, "Also, send someone to protect Concubine Yu in secret. I don't want her to be assassinated by others."
Dongfeng felt surprised in his heart, but he also understood that his master had a different attitude towards Concubine Yu.
The master was superior to others and never looked down on any woman. It was normal for him to pay attention to the first woman he liked and have feelings for her.
"Yes, master."
Dongfeng answered respectfully and left the study.
The study fell into silence again.
Xuan Huanshan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the window, gazing into the distant dark night sky, his eyes filled with coldness.
"Oh, brother, you must not let me down. Otherwise, I have the ability to promote you to the throne, and I also have the ability to pull you down from it."
As night deepened, the Lantern Light Pavilion was still brightly lit.
You Yao sat in front of a bronze mirror, allowing Xiangling to take off her hairpins and comb her long hair, reflecting on the encounter in the imperial garden today, feeling an unease in her heart.
Xuan Huanshan's interest in her and the queen's hostility towards her both made her uneasy.
If she had known that she would meet Xuan Huanshan in the imperial garden, she should have taken a different path.
She wasn't afraid, but she just didn't want to cause trouble.
Maybe she was thinking too deeply, not realizing someone had approached.
"Yo ye, it's late at night, why haven't you rested yet?"
Xuan Huanshan smiled lightly, the black long robe he wore, under the warm and dim candlelight, looked even more noble and extraordinary.
"Slave to meet the Lord."
Xiangling was startled by the sound, jumped in surprise, and then hurriedly bowed.
Xuan Huanshan waved his hand, indicating that she should leave.
You Yao smiled slightly, the candlelight flickering in her eyes, and in a gentle voice, she said: "I knew His Majesty would come, so I've been waiting here."
"Haha, if I hadn't come, wouldn't you have to sit here and wait all night?"
Xuan Huanshan smiled and walked over to her, his eyes gentle, and he forcefully pulled her into his arms.
The man held her delicate waist with a large arm, and the two of them were close to each other, their faces close, looking at each other, and all the reflections in their eyes were of each other.
The atmosphere suddenly became intimate.
"I wouldn't be so stupid to sit and wait all night. If His Majesty doesn't come, I'll go find you in the front yard."
You Yao gently caressed the man's chest with her small hand, lightly hooking it, and coquettishly said.
Xuan Huanshan smiled lightly, suddenly catching her hand and placing it to his lips for a kiss, then looked at her with indulgence, "Today at the Cining Palace, did the Empress Dowager cause you any trouble?"
You Yao looked at him for a moment, then gently shook her head, "Empress Dowager is kind and loving. She did not cause me any trouble at all, and she even gave me many valuable gifts."
Xuan Huanshan's lips curved up slightly, and his mood seemed to be good, "Empress Dowager is kind-hearted. Today when she called you into the palace, it's probably just to see you."
He shifted the subject, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry, "I heard that you met my elder brother by chance in the imperial garden?"
You Yao was slightly surprised, thinking that she shouldn't have told anyone about the incident in the palace, and how could he have known it so quickly.
But she quickly realized that there might be spies of Xuan Huanshan in the palace.
Fearful that he might misunderstand her as having something with Xuan Huanshan, she dropped her eyes and explained, "Yes, I hadn't expected to meet the emperor there. I was at a loss for a moment."
Xuan Huanshan slowly played with her hand, occasionally pinching a few times, and did not look away from her face. His eyes were deep.
He asked casually: "His elder brother... Has he said anything?"
Although he already knew the entire process, he still wanted to hear what she had to say.
You Yao knew that this man was testing her, and she hesitated for a moment before deciding what to say. If she lied now, he might immediately see through it and her favor would decrease.
So she told him the truth about her conversation with Xuan Huanshan.
"His elder brother... Seems to be quite interested in you?"
Xuan Huanshan's right index finger gently rubbed her delicate and white skin, indicating his satisfaction with her truthful answer.
But he still couldn't resist probing her feelings.
His gaze was deep and mysterious, almost uncharted.
You Yao's face changed slightly, and she quickly got out of his embrace and knelt down, "My heart belongs only to the Lord. Today's encounter with the emperor was an accident. From now on, I will avoid causing trouble and will not disturb you."
Xuan Huanshan quickly pulled her up, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and indulgence: "What are you doing? I trust you."
You Yao gave him a knowing look, implying, "Trust me? And you still test me?"
But she also knows that this man is jealous and uneasy, which is why he acts like this.
But she was deeply moved and red-eyed, "Thank you, His Majesty, for trusting me."
Xuan Huanshan smiled lightly, lifted her up in his arms, and carried her into the inner chamber.
As night falls deeper, inside the room, the silk curtains blow in the wind, and the spring scenery is full of blooming flowers.
The two of them, like a pair of jade-like lovers, overlapped each other on the bed. Their clothes fell around the bedside as they indulged in passionate lovemaking. The amorous murmurs filled the room, causing people's faces to turn red and their hearts to beat faster.
