Chapter 119 -s 114, 115: The Unemotional Emperor

Chapter 119: Chapters 114, 115: The Unemotional EmperorToday, she wore a crimson dress, her head adorned with a matching set of ruby plum blossom hairpins, her steps somewhat slow, but her beauty was even more stunning and captivating, every move she made exuded charm.

The women of the harem watched her, still so enchanting in front of these women, could not help but secretly resent her, the Emperor is only one, and she monopolized him, what would they do?

In terms of facial features, Noble Princess Consort Xiao was not inferior to her, but somehow, she lacked that mesmerizing charm.

Li Yanlan secretly sighed in her heart, no wonder the Emperor summoned her day after day, indeed she was a woman with a peculiar grace.

"I pay my respects to the Empress, wishing the Empress health and longevity, and to the noble concubine, wishing the noble concubine fortune and well-being." Li Wan curtsied weakly, her heart unwilling, clearly these women were inferior to her, where did they deserve her worship?

But for now, she still had to endure it, sensing the hostile gazes around her, she could not help but feel proud.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Empress."

Li Wan was about to sit down, but Noble Princess Consort Xiao was not ready to let her off: "Is Rong Jieyu disregarding me and the Empress?"

Li Wan feigned surprise in her question, her tone filled with confusion and grievance: "Why would the Lady ask this, what did I do wrong?"

Li Yanlan narrowed her eyes and sighed lightly, Noble Princess Consort Xiao clearly was not her match!

"Everyone else arrived, why were you the only one so late?" Xiao Rou coldly questioned her.

Li Wan pretended not to understand the interrogation, blushing slightly.

She had not finished speaking, but the crowd already understood her implication, becoming even more envious.

Li Wan, feeling the envious and resentful gazes of everyone, couldn’t help feeling quite pleased, ah, these foolish women, where did they qualify to compete with her?

However, her face continued with a shy expression: "His Majesty woke up late this morning, and I had to attend to His Majesty, so... I, please ask for the noble concubine’s forgiveness for my delay."

"Impudent!" Xiao Rou’s face distorted with anger, today was her birthday, yet this despicable woman dared to provoke her? Thinking of how the Emperor had summoned her for several days in a row, Xiao Rou’s heart was full of jealousy.

Li Wan looked at Xiao Rou’s angry face and gently furrowed her brows, her eyes innocent: "Noble Lady, I really don’t know where I went wrong."

Caught off guard by this question, Xiao Rou really couldn’t find a reason to blame her, seeing this, Li Yanlan opened her mouth: "Enough, today is a great day for you, it’s not suitable to be angry, let Rong Jieyu sit down, the Emperor will be here soon."

Noble Princess Consort Xiao hearing this, had no option but to let it go, whereas Li Wan felt somewhat regretful inside, she actually hoped these women would pick on her!

Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao arrived, just as Li Yanlan’s words fell, a eunuch’s announcement came from outside: "His Majesty has arrived!"

Li Yanlan went to the front, followed by the concubines in order, Xiao Ke performed his salutations nervously, his eyes inadvertently following the figure in bright yellow, seeing it moving towards her direction, his heart leaped, but the next moment the figure stopped right beside the person in front of her.

"Everyone rise." Ye Qiu said indifferently to everyone, but he passed all the concubines to personally help Rong Jieyu up, his tone filled with pity, "Why did you come so early, didn’t I instruct you to rest a bit more?"

This statement, hitting right at Noble Princess Consort Xiao’s face, just now she was questioning why Rong Jieyu was late, and then Ye Qiu came only to say Rong Jieyu came too early?

Xiao Rou’s face turned green with anger, Li Yanlan’s face also looked unpleasant, she is the Mother of the Country, yet the Emperor surpassed her to personally help up a lower-ranking concubine, this was the first time in six years he had disgraced her.

The expressions on everyone’s faces were similarly unpleasant. Everyone entered the palace with the same goal in mind, but now it seemed they didn’t even have a chance to compete?

Especially Xiao Ke, who considered herself smart and beautiful, and never took seriously the two direct descendant misses of the Xiao Family. However, unexpectedly Rong Jieyu appeared, and today she had dressed up on purpose, but thinking that the Emperor didn’t even spare her a glance, she couldn’t help but feel filled with resentment.

"Your Majesty." Li Wan deliberately snuggled up to Ye Qiu in front of everyone, dragging her charmingly coy voice and laughing lightly, "Today is the Noble Consort’s birthday, I was afraid I was late!"

Ye Qiu smiled affectionately, "Then what birthday gift have you prepared? Take it out and let me see."

Li Wan’s face turned red, shyly saying, "Your Majesty, you mustn’t laugh at me." Her palace maid promptly presented the birthday gift, which appeared to be a painting.

Li Wan unfurled it herself, seemingly embarrassed as she said, "I come from a humble place, I don’t have anything valuable, this is a painting I did myself, I hope the Noble Consort will not despise this humble gift from me."

The painting depicted Guanyin, her face full of compassion, holding two adorable babies in her arms. It was a beautiful painting, but it seemed to deliberately provoke Noble Consort Xiao. She herself monopolized the Emperor every day, how could Noble Consort Xiao have the chance to bear children? However, Noble Consort Xiao couldn’t even get angry but instead had to thank her.

"Hmm, I didn’t expect you to have such talent," Ye Qiu praised, and after finishing, he whispered in Li Wan’s ear ambiguously, "I do hope you will give me a child soon."

His voice wasn’t quiet; everyone who should hear it did, and all the concubines’ faces turned awkward and jealous, with only Li Wan shyly stamping her foot: "Your Majesty... I will not bother with you anymore."

Xiao Rou found this scene irritating but it brought back memories of Li Yanlan. This scene was all too familiar. Years ago, the Emperor treated Noble Consort Xiao in the same playful and teasing manner, simply changing the protagonist now.

Ever since Li Yanlan took the position of Crown Princess Consort, she understood that she would share her husband with many other women in the future. Her heart had felt unbalanced, but after giving birth to a son, she no longer expected that illusory affection. She just needed the Emperor to provide her enough honor as the Empress and secure the Crown Prince’s position.

Yesterday it was Noble Consort Xiao, today it is Rong Jieyu, who will it be tomorrow? Li Yanlan watched all this with indifference.

By rule, today being the birthday of Noble Consort Xiao, Ye Qiu was supposed to stay overnight at Ganquan Palace, but had it not been for the Empress Dowager intervening, he would probably have left with Rong Jieyu.

Empress Dowager Xiao also felt uneasy during this time; selecting numerous beauties was meant to produce heirs for the Imperial Family, but Rong Jieyu monopolized his favor alone. Could she possibly bear ten children at once?

So although Ye Qiu was reluctant, under the high pressure of the Empress Dowager, he still stayed.

After leaving the Ganquan Palace, Li Wan softly curled up a smile, thinking Noble Consort Xiao believed that keeping His Majesty would fulfill her wishes?

Li Wan smiled confidently. She had been through many worlds, her skills were not something these people could comprehend.

Ganquan Palace, Ye Qiu drank tea restlessly; Xiao Rou had just finished bathing, taking a lot of effort to keep the Emperor, herself emitting the scent of arousing emotion and wearing clothes she once disdained.

It was quite a tempting scene. If it had been the highly favored Xiao Rou of the past, she would not be willing to make such an effort. However, it was first forced upon her to put down her pride.

"Emperor brother, let me help you change clothes," Xiao Rou said, her cheeks blushing.

Ye Qiu did not move, letting Xiao Rou remove his clothes. He frowned slightly, feeling somewhat annoyed. At this moment, he couldn’t help recalling the subtle yet enticing body fragrance of Rong Jieyu, drifting into some wild thoughts.

But Xiao Rou thought Ye Qiu was pleased with her and became even bolder, holding Ye Qiu’s hand to lead him to the intricately carved bed in the hall, shyly smiling.

Yet Ye Qiu suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Your Majesty, what’s wrong?"

"Wanwan..." Ye Qiu murmured, and Xiao Rou’s face instantly darkened.