Chapter 19
After returning to King Jing's Manor, Qiu Chi dispelled the illusion.
At last, the hidden guard saw Qiu Chi, who had been motionless in the same position, finally move. She was returning to her room.
The hidden guard couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief and shifted his posture on the roof. He mused to himself: To hold one position and stare at the sky for so long without her neck getting sore… perhaps the Princess Consort has the potential to be a hidden guard.
Qiu Chi, of course, was unaware of the hidden guard's rich inner monologue. She was currently preparing to take a nap.
And a nap it was. She woke up after two hours, then, out of boredom, began to study the strange aura from the previous world that the System knew nothing about.
It wasn't until dawn the next day that Yun Jing awoke, rubbing his sore neck with a frown. He looked at Qiu Chi, who was leisurely sipping tea beside him, and said, “Did you do something to me yesterday?”
Qiu Chi nodded, not bothering to hide it. “Yes, I did. I made you sleep a little more soundly yesterday. Do you want to thank me?”
Yun Jing managed to hold back a curse. He took a deep breath and said, “You knocked me unconscious and you expect me to thank you? What were you doing last night?”
Qiu Chi’s expression didn’t change as she said with a straight face, “Spreading love.”
Yun Jing: “???”
But Qiu Chi was already ignoring him, rising to her feet and walking out.
In the Imperial Palace, within the Imperial Garden.
After court ended, the Emperor didn't immediately attend to state affairs, nor did he go to the Noble Consort's residence as he usually did. Instead, he dismissed his attendants and walked alone along a small path in the Imperial Garden. While it was true that he was quite fond of the Noble Consort, eating the same dish all the time was bound to become tiresome. He had doted on her exclusively for two and a half months now.
He had three thousand beauties in his harem. To have doted on the Noble Consort exclusively for two and a half months was already a testament to his affection for her.
But affection was one thing; growing a bit tired of it was another. It was with this thought in mind that the Emperor encountered Lian'er.
Lian'er was picking up fallen blossoms from the ground. Her figure was slender, her features gentle. As the sunlight spilled over her, it seemed to coat her entire being in a golden light. When the Emperor saw her, his gaze involuntarily froze, and his heart began to race. It was the feeling of being smitten.
He approached her, his voice softening unconsciously. “What are you doing here?”
Startled by the voice, Lian'er turned around. Seeing the court robes he hadn't yet had time to change out of, her eyes widened. Her round eyes, like a rabbit's, were filled with surprise, shyness, and adoration—but not a trace of fear.
The Emperor found Lian'er all the more pleasing. He was a man, and an emperor at that. He liked women who adored him but did not fear him; it gave him an immense sense of satisfaction.
The Noble Consort was stunningly beautiful, but she was also prone to petty tantrums that required him to coax her. When he was in the mood, it was charming. When he wasn't, it was just willful and immature.
After staring blankly at the Emperor for a long moment, Lian'er finally came to her senses. A blush spread across her face, even tinting her ears red. She curtsied, her voice soft. “Your Majesty.”
It was the most ordinary of phrases, yet it sent ripples through the Emperor's heart.
He stared at Lian'er, suddenly feeling his mouth go dry.
Perhaps when facing his court officials, he needed to restrain himself. But when facing the women of his harem, he felt no need for restraint whatsoever, allowing himself to do as he pleased.
Lian'er was a woman of the harem, and she was his woman.
With that thought, he slowly stepped forward and, to Lian'er's astonishment, swept her up into his arms.
Lian'er let out a small cry and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. Her already flushed cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red, making him want to take a bite.
He asked, “Are you willing to be my woman?”
Lian'er bit her lip and glanced at him shyly. Under his smiling gaze, she seemed to summon all her courage, looked up at him, and said in a tiny voice, “I am willing. Lian'er likes Your Majesty. Lian'er was born for Your Majesty.”
The moment the words were out, she immediately lowered her eyes, as if that single sentence had drained all her courage. Her ears were so red they looked as if they might drip blood.
But the Emperor felt exceptionally pleased. He couldn't help but laugh heartily. “That's right. You were born for me.”
The news that the Emperor had taken a young palace maid to his bed and conferred upon her the title of Imperial Concubine spread throughout the imperial city in less than a day.
As someone who kept a constant watch on the palace, Yun Jing naturally heard the news as well.
His face was exceptionally grim. “The Emperor is too much! He had Mingyu enter the palace, yet he doesn't know how to cherish her. This is utterly outrageous!”
Beside him, Qiu Chi looked at him as if he were an idiot.
Yun Jing noticed her gaze, and his face darkened further. “What kind of look is that? Am I wrong?”
Qiu Chi had no desire to speak with a fool. She simply said, “Whatever makes you happy.”
Thinking about how utterly despicable Yun Jing would become later, she wondered if he would feel so ashamed he'd want to disappear when he recalled these words.
However, she wasn't Cui Yueyue, and Yun Jing knew she wasn't Cui Yueyue. Perhaps the plot was bound to change?
Qiu Chi pondered it for a moment but didn't dwell on it.
Today was the day of the bride's homecoming visit. The mere thought of the Prime Minister filled Yun Jing with frustration, and he had no intention of going back with Qiu Chi. However, she forcibly dragged him along.
As a result, Yun Jing's expression was exceedingly foul the entire journey, and it hadn't improved by the time they dismounted from the carriage at the Prime Minister's Manor.
When he stepped out of the carriage and saw that no one was at the manor's entrance to greet them, the anger already simmering in his heart blazed even hotter.
When the guards at the gate saw Yun Jing, they quickly scurried inside to report.
Qiu Chi stood leisurely to the side. “Well? This is the treatment I receive for being so favored. Have you seen enough?”
Yun Jing's face was grim, and he said nothing.
A moment later, the Prime Minister and his wife came rushing out to greet them. It was clear they had run, as they were still panting slightly when they stopped. “We were unaware of Your Highness's arrival. This subject has been negligent. Please, calm your anger, Your Highness.”
Despite his words, the Prime Minister showed little actual fear.
Yun Jing noticed this and spoke with a dark expression, “So this is the courtesy of the Prime Minister's Manor. This King has truly been enlightened. The day of this King's consort's homecoming visit, it seems you've forgotten it completely. We arrive at your very doorstep and not a single person is here to receive us. This King ought to go to the palace and have my Imperial Brother judge the matter.”
Even when the Emperor was brought up, the Prime Minister wasn't particularly afraid. After all, every official in the court knew how the Emperor treated this younger brother of his.
But regardless, Yun Jing was a king. Taking the matter before the Emperor would be unseemly for all involved. They all had to keep up appearances.
“Calm your anger, Your Highness. Yueyue is this subject's most beloved daughter. How could I possibly forget the day of her homecoming? This subject simply did not expect Your Highness to arrive so early. It is my fault for not calculating the time properly. This subject deserves death!”
The Prime Minister's wife quickly added, “Yueyue grew up before my very eyes. I have always treated her as my own daughter. Now that she is married, my heart is truly heavy with sorrow. I should have been out here to welcome you long ago, but I have not been sleeping well recently and felt a sudden dizzy spell, which caused the delay. It is all my fault. If Your Highness must blame someone, please blame me.”
Qiu Chi and Yun Jing watched coldly as the two of them put on their show.
Only after their duet was finished did Yun Jing sneer. “The Prime Minister is a vital official of our dynasty. How could a carefree king like myself dare to blame the Prime Minister? Since the Prime Minister is unprepared for this homecoming visit, then this King sees it best to take the Princess Consort and return directly.”
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