In the afternoon, Yun Wan wanted to return to her small courtyard in the Perfumery Bureau but was stopped.
Emperor Jingxuan stood before her, blocking her path, his expression calm but his tone faintly unsettling: "Is my lady uncomfortable in my palace? If anything is lacking, I will have it prepared for you."
Yun Wan shook her head.
Emperor Jingxuan paused. "Then it must be that these servants failed to attend to you properly. Otherwise, why would my lady think of leaving?"
His voice turned cold, carrying an unspoken authority.
At his words, the palace servants on either side knelt in unison, bowing their heads, their faces tense with unease.
Yun Wan disliked such unwarranted blame—or perhaps she simply wasn’t accustomed to it. Her delicate brows furrowed, and she quickly explained: "This is Your Majesty’s private palace. My intrusion is already a grave offense. If I stay longer, it will invite gossip. It would be better for me to return to the Perfumery Bureau."
Staying overnight in the Zichen Hall had already broken protocol. Emperor Jingxuan might disregard such matters, but Yun Wan could not ignore them. If someone later used this against her, she would be the one facing accusations.
At the very least, she didn’t want to leave any opening for others to attack her.
Her reputation mattered to her.
Unaware of the thoughts swirling in her mind, Emperor Jingxuan’s expression darkened. He stepped forward, forcing her into a narrow corner, displeasure evident in his gaze. "Has my lady forgotten the promise she made to me last night?"
Yun Wan retreated until the edge of the hard desk pressed against her lower back, leaving her no room to escape.
Emperor Jingxuan narrowed his eyes, advancing relentlessly, refusing to let her evade the matter. "My lady promised that if I helped relieve her desires and gave her pleasure, she would stay by my side as my woman."
"If my lady has forgotten, I don’t mind helping her remember." He cupped Yun Wan’s face, his tone low and dangerous.
Meeting his dark, inscrutable gaze and sensing his predatory stance, Yun Wan’s expression remained composed, her red lips pressed tightly together, clearly displeased.
She turned her head away and muttered, "I never said I would leave you. I only thought staying in your palace was improper. Must you interrogate me like this?"
Hearing this, Emperor Jingxuan was momentarily stunned, then delighted, the gloom vanishing from his face.
He grasped her shoulders, his voice softening. "Don’t be angry, my lady. That place is hardly a proper residence. I’ve already ordered the inner court to select suitable palaces for you to choose from."
Now that Yun Wan was his, Emperor Jingxuan naturally wanted to arrange everything perfectly, offering her the finest things so she could indulge in them.
If she experienced the most luxurious comforts the world had to offer, would she still wish to return to the Lu family, where she had lived like an unwelcome guest?
Yun Wan frowned. "May I truly not return there? I rather liked that place."
Though small, it was peaceful and free from disturbances.
Emperor Jingxuan replied, "Anything but that. Whatever else my lady desires, I will do my utmost to fulfill."
At this, Yun Wan’s eyes brightened. "Anything?"
Emperor Jingxuan raised a brow. "Has my lady thought of something?"
Yun Wan nodded. There was indeed one thing she had long desired but found difficult to achieve—
"I wish for Grand Scholar Xu to tutor my Sui."
Her clear voice reached his ears, and Emperor Jingxuan was taken aback. "My lady wants Grand Scholar Xu to take that boy as his student?"
His repeated use of "that boy" didn’t faze Yun Wan.
Emperor Jingxuan would never affectionately call him "Sui" or "darling," nor would he address him by his full name like his peer Pei Qian. Over time, "that boy" had simply become his default term.
Yun Wan hesitated, then quickly asked, "Is it possible?"
Her initial intention was merely for Sui to meet Grand Scholar Xu. If he could receive lessons from him, that would be ideal. But from the emperor’s tone, it seemed he could even arrange for Sui to become the grand scholar’s disciple?
She gazed at Emperor Jingxuan with hopeful eyes, her bright, clear pupils shimmering with anticipation, reflecting only him.
Following his instincts, Emperor Jingxuan reached out to stroke the corner of her eye. "This matter is neither too difficult nor too easy. The main challenge lies in the fact that Grand Scholar Xu hasn’t taken on any new students in ten years. Persuading him to accept Sui would be the hard part."
Hearing this, Yun Wan understood. Grand Scholar Xu was a revered figure with disciples across the land. Now advanced in years and retired, it was only natural he no longer accepted students.
Emperor Jingxuan’s tone shifted. "Becoming a formal disciple may be difficult, but securing a place as a nominal student isn’t. He would still have the chance to receive personal instruction from Grand Scholar Xu."
What he didn’t say was that Grand Scholar Xu had always admired those who were both talented and diligent—such individuals rarely lacked good character, especially when they were young.
And as it happened, Lu Changsui fit the criteria perfectly.
He kept this to himself, leaving room for error in case things didn’t go as planned, sparing Yun Wan disappointment.
If it succeeded, it would be a delightful surprise for her.
Seeing his confidence, Yun Wan sensed he was at least ninety percent certain. The remaining ten percent likely stemmed from his respect for Grand Scholar Xu. Her anticipation grew.
......
The inner court operated with strict procedures. Even under Emperor Jingxuan’s orders, it took time to select palaces that met his exacting standards.
For instance, they couldn’t be too far from Zichen Hall, yet not too close to the six main palaces. They had to be warm in winter and cool in summer, facing north and south to receive sunlight year-round while remaining tranquil. They needed spacious courtyards for planting flowers and open areas for drying spices...
After much deliberation, the inner court finally presented three suitable consorts’ palaces, each with elegant names and auspicious meanings.
Preparing a palace for a new occupant required extensive renovations. Amid the flurry of activity, rumors of the emperor "hiding a beauty in a golden house" spread like wildfire.
At first, many dismissed it. But as treasures and lavish garments flowed into Zichen Hall, even skeptics were convinced.
For years, the imperial harem had been like stagnant water—perhaps with undercurrents, but at least superficially calm.
Now, this incident was like a boulder hurled into the water, sending ripples in all directions. Everyone wanted to know: Who was the woman the emperor had "hidden in a golden house"? What did she look like?
Consort Shu, who knew the truth, scoffed at the rumors.
"A golden house? Chen Aijiao was noble-born. Yun Wan is nothing special—just a fleeting fancy of His Majesty’s, kept for her beauty."
Still, the privilege of staying in Zichen Hall had been wasted on Yun Wan.
Fortunately, Consort Shu was past the age of petty jealousy. She listened to the gossip impatiently before dismissing her attendants, reclining on her daybed with a frown.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
A maid’s panicked cry and hurried footsteps broke the silence.
Disturbed, Consort Shu flung a teacup in irritation. "What is this disgraceful commotion?"
The cup struck the maid’s forehead, drawing blood, but the girl dared not complain. Too frantic for decorum, she cried out:
"Your Highness, Eunuch Jiang has taken Chun Tang away!"
