Under the wide sleeves, their fingers intertwined as Yun Wan followed Emperor Jingxuan onto the imperial carriage.
The autumn breeze carried a chill, and she shivered slightly in her thin robes.
Noticing this, the emperor drew her closer, shielding her from the wind with his sleeve.
His gaze flickered to the dried tear stains on her cheeks, the faint redness still lingering. He brushed his fingers lightly over them, his voice deep and soothing, "Still upset about what happened earlier?"
A shadow passed through his eyes as he recalled the events at Yaohua Palace, his jaw tightening.
Then, a slight tug at his sleeve.
"Your Majesty."
Yun Wan pulled gently at his cuff.
Emperor Jingxuan looked down, meeting her eyes—clear and bright, like polished black obsidian flecked with light.
She bit her lip, her gaze flitting away as she murmured, barely audible, "I wasn’t really crying earlier. I was pretending."
Her cheeks flushed, too embarrassed to face him.
Her eyes dropped to the golden embroidery on his sleeve, gleaming in the sunlight. The craftsmanship was exquisite, each stitch precise. What would the seamstresses have for lunch? Had Sui returned from school yet? Autumn in the capital turned cold so quickly; winter would be here soon...
Her thoughts wandered aimlessly until a soft chuckle sounded above her.
The emperor glanced at the nearly frayed embroidery under her restless fingers, then cupped her face with his free hand, teasing, "Let me see—if you weren’t crying, where did these little pearls come from?"
His palm was warm and dry, like a flame, instantly heating her cool skin.
She blinked, her long lashes fluttering like tiny fans. "They were fake. I was acting. I wasn’t truly sad."
Yun Wan knew her performance had been clumsy, her methods far from subtle. The words she’d spoken then could easily have stirred trouble, and she doubted he hadn’t noticed.
Men preferred their women innocent and guileless. Rather than risk him holding it against her later, she decided to lay it bare now.
Her eyes, dark and limpid, held no secrets. Emperor Jingxuan traced the delicate skin beneath them and sighed. "Whether the tears were real or not, they still fell. The sadness may have been feigned, but the grievance was genuine."
His stance was clear: So what if she had pretended? So what if she’d done it deliberately? Seeing her cry still pained him.
If she hadn’t truly been wronged, why would she resort to such theatrics? All she wanted was someone to stand up for her.
The thought sent a sharp pang through his hardened heart. His voice softened. "Don’t be foolish and rely solely on playing the victim. What if I hadn’t arrived in time? They wouldn’t have relented just because you cried."
They would only have scorned her—seen her as a clinging vine, weak and inconsequential.
Yun Wan understood. A smile curved her lips, her eyes crinkling. "If Your Majesty hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have shed a single tear."
"Because you were there, I dared to cry."
The words poured like honey into Emperor Jingxuan’s heart, igniting fireworks that burst in his chest.
He pulled her tightly against him, overwhelmed with satisfaction.
Ah, this woman.
What was he to do with her?
Pressed against his chest, Yun Wan heard the rapid drumming of his heartbeat. She tilted her head up and asked softly, "Is Your Majesty still angry?"
She hadn’t forgotten the cold fury on his face when they left.
"Not anymore."
How could he stay angry after that?
Yun Wan seized the moment. "Then, Your Majesty... may I return home for a visit in a few days?"
Emperor Jingxuan: "......"
Now he understood the phrase "the dagger revealed when the map is unrolled."
His brows furrowed, displeased. "The annulment papers have already been sent. What reason is there to go back?"
A tacit refusal.
But Yun Wan was prepared. "Your Majesty, let me speak frankly."
Her delicate brows knit slightly, her lashes fluttering like butterfly wings as she sighed.
"Some matters... are best settled in person. There are still many of my belongings in the residence, and I’d like to pack them myself. And the maids who served me—they need proper arrangements..."
She listed reason after reason, her determination evident.
The emperor’s expression remained stern. "Fine. In a few days, on an auspicious date, I’ll escort you out of the palace."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Her eyes sparkled with joy as she impulsively kissed his cheek.
After their time together, she’d learned the quickest way to placate him.
True to form, the kiss melted his resistance. He pulled her into a deeper embrace, kissing her until she was breathless against him.
......
The incident at Yaohua Palace swiftly became the talk of the court—proof that the emperor would move heaven and earth for his beloved. From then on, everyone knew Consort Yun was the treasure of his heart.
Opportunists scrambled for positions in Qiyun Palace, hoping to curry favor. Even Fuling, who’d once worked with some of these palace maids, found herself bribed with silver for transfers.
But how could Fuling dare make such decisions? She brushed them off with excuses of low rank and reported everything to Yun Wan.
Consort Yun had no intention of meddling in staffing matters. She left it all to the imperial household office—better to avoid blame if anything went wrong.
News of the emperor’s devotion soon reached Changchun Palace. After hearing the details, Consort Shu’s face twisted in rage.
"That idiot!"
"I told her to tread carefully, to provoke just enough. How did she end up clashing with that Yun woman? Does she even know her place?"
As for Noble Lady Hu’s claims of defending her honor—Consort Shu didn’t believe a word. Sincerity was a rare commodity in the palace.
A maid whispered, "I heard Consort Yun wore a green gown that day, the same as Noble Lady Hu. You know how sensitive she is—perhaps it unsettled her."
Matching outfits were one thing, but Noble Lady Hu’s plain looks paled next to Consort Yun’s beauty. Overthinking had led her down a bitter path.
Consort Shu sneered. "I don’t care why she did it. Because of her, I’m now a laughingstock. From now on, her troubles are none of my concern!"
Whether Noble Lady Hu’s new robes were stolen or her meals skimped—Consort Shu wouldn’t lift a finger.
The maid hesitated. "But His Majesty has ordered her to serve you. Refusing might be seen as defiance..."
Consort Shu shuddered with fury, revolted by the predicament.
