Inside the inner chamber of Yaohua Palace, Shen Yuling, now changed into the Pearl-Gathering Snow Gauze Dress, examined herself carefully before the bronze mirror.
Shen Yuling was naturally endowed with a delicate and radiant appearance. In daily life, she enjoyed dressing herself up in a flamboyant manner, with red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple—almost every bright color of dress was prepared in her wardrobe.
However, white dresses were few and far between, almost never worn.
Today, to complement this ethereal, fairy-like dress, Shen Yuling deliberately removed her originally vibrant makeup and meticulously reapplied a more subtle and elegant look.
She had a pair of upturned fox-like eyes, extremely captivating.
For the new makeup, she intentionally drew the eyeliner slightly downward for these eyes, adding a touch of pitiful charm to the original allure.
Coupled with her naturally delicate skin and exquisite features, now with the altered eye shape and paired with the Pearl-Gathering Snow Dress, she truly resembled a celestial being descending to the mortal realm, so beautiful that one could not look away.
Meanwhile, Quan Minghe, waiting in the outer chamber, was already showing signs of impatience on his face.
Does changing a dress take this long?
Quan Minghe did not often visit the inner palace.
He was busy with state affairs. After unifying the realm, matters such as political reforms, improving people’s livelihoods, strengthening border defenses and military, and suppressing noble families required his attention.
Daily memorials piled up like mountains; meticulously reviewing each one consumed considerable energy and time.
Afterward, he might still need to meet with court officials and listen to various reports.
Quan Minghe also placed great emphasis on health preservation, so each month, he visited the inner palace at most five or six times.
And what was the purpose of visiting the inner palace?
Merely matters between men and women.
Quan Minghe did not engage in romantic affairs with the women of the inner palace.
Today, he came to Yaohua Palace because Bai Hua had entered the palace to report that Shen Yuling had been bullied in the commandery prince’s mansion.
Quan Minghe couldn’t help but ponder in his heart.
Her current predicament seemed entirely caused by his own mistakes.
The marriage was bestowed by him, and her innocence was taken by him?
Although Quan Minghe felt both incidents were coincidences and accidents, they were ultimately unintended consequences of his actions.
Thus, he specifically ordered the Pearl-Gathering Snow Gauze Dress to be brought as a form of compensation.
But now…
It was delaying important matters.
Li Ming, as Quan Minghe’s personal eunuch, followed His Majesty all day long and naturally sensed his slightly impatient mood at this moment.
He quickly gave a meaningful glance to the palace maid standing nearby.
The palace maid hurriedly tiptoed into the inner chamber.
Upon reaching Shen Yuling’s side, the maid slightly bowed.
Lowering her voice, she said, “Your Highness, His Majesty attends to myriad affairs daily, and every moment of his time is precious. You see…”
At this moment, Shen Yuling had reached the final step of her makeup: applying lip rouge.
The soft pink color, paired with her light makeup, made her appear even more fresh and refined.
Shen Yuling raised an eyebrow slightly.
Well, Quan Minghe was growing impatient.
This palace maid was quite tactful.
However, she did not delay further. Putting down the lip rouge in her hand, she gracefully rose and walked toward the outer chamber.
She said, “Let’s go. I’m ready.”
Inside Yaohua Palace, candlelight flickered, and shadows danced lightly on the carved window lattice.
Shen Yuling moved with graceful steps, approaching Quan Minghe, who was half-reclining on the soft couch, engrossed in reading.
The book was specially sent by Li Ming from Weiyang Palace for Quan Minghe, who had intended to pass the time while waiting for Shen Yuling to change her clothes, but unexpectedly found himself growing somewhat impatient.
As Shen Yuling stood gracefully before him, Quan Minghe’s gaze shifted to her.
Her jet-black hair was loosely tied up with a mutton-fat jade hairpin, its head carved into a plum blossom pattern with ruby-studded stamens.
Hanging from her forehead was a forehead ornament made of water-blue glass beads, each meticulously carved into teardrop shapes and interspersed with strands of fine silver thread that shimmered faintly with every slight movement.
A few strands of hair cascaded down her temples, their ends adorned with small white jade bells that tinkled crisply with the slightest turn of her head.
At the back of her hair was a hollow-carved peony hairpin, exquisitely crafted and swaying gently with her movements, radiating elegance and splendor.
She wore the Pearl-Gathering Snow Gauze Dress. Though naturally a bright and charming young woman, she now resembled an ethereal and graceful fairy.
When Quan Minghe had brought the dress, he had imagined it would suit her well, but seeing it in person still left him in awe.
He handed the book in his right hand to Li Ming, who accepted it.
Then, he extended his hand toward Shen Yuling, and she placed her hand in his palm.
With a slight exertion, Quan Minghe pulled her into his embrace.
Shen Yuling asked, “Did Your Majesty grow impatient?”
Quan Minghe held her, his gaze unwavering, and replied, “Yes, but it was worth it. This dress suits you.”
So much so that he wished to remove it immediately.
Shen Yuling said, “Thank you, Your Majesty. I like it very much too.”
Her voice carried an added sweetness from her attire.
Quan Minghe fell silent, his eyes fixed intently on her, his deep gaze filled with undisguised, burning desire.
Shen Yuling had no intention of rushing into such matters.
For an emperor like Quan Minghe, the best approach was to first indulge in romantic and sweet moments to build an emotional foundation, then employ tactics of playing hard to get to create a sense of loss.
Aren’t all men drawn to tumultuous love affairs?
The more exceptional and powerful they are, the more this holds true.
However, the prerequisite was that she held a place in this man’s heart.
First, make him yearn, then soothe him—wouldn’t that make him adore her even more?
With a sweet smile on her face, Shen Yuling nestled into Quan Minghe’s embrace.
Like a young woman intoxicated by the emperor’s favor, she seemed unable to withstand his direct and fervent gaze, slightly lowering her head in bashful shyness.
“Your Majesty, do you know how to paint?”
This question made Li Ming’s brow twitch.
Could it be that Consort Shen wanted His Majesty to paint for her?
His Majesty had already waited for her for so long today. In the past, when visiting other imperial consorts’ palaces, His Majesty had always been strictly businesslike.
He had never engaged in flirtatious or romantic gestures with any imperial consort, let alone painting, which was an extremely time-consuming endeavor.
Consort Shen should not presume upon His Majesty’s current favor and become arrogant.
After all, His Majesty’s patience had always been limited.
Quan Minghe, however, showed no change in expression and simply replied, “Yes.”
As a member of the royal family, he had been taught by numerous tutors since childhood, who meticulously instructed the princes in various fields of knowledge and skills.
From historical texts and cultural calligraphy to courtly social etiquette and the arts of appreciation—such as music, dance, painting, and carving—all were covered.
Hearing that Quan Minghe could paint, Shen Yuling’s eyes lit up.
“If I dance for Your Majesty, would you paint a portrait of me?”
Yet, Quan Minghe did not immediately agree.
His narrow eyes held a hint of coolness.
“I have high standards.”
Whether it was the common dances seen daily in the palace or the performances by Imperial Consorts or dancers at banquets, Quan Minghe had long grown weary of them.
If an Imperial Consort volunteered to perform, Quan Minghe generally would not refuse.
However, if the performance failed to impress him, he would be unwilling to see that person again for a long time to come.
Beauty Wang, the most skilled dancer in the palace, had put considerable effort into dancing before His Majesty when she first entered the palace.
Her movements were graceful and captivating.
Yet, after seeing them too often, His Majesty grew bored, and from then on, Beauty Wang never dared to dance before him again.
Hearing Quan Minghe’s indifferent response, Shen Yuling felt somewhat displeased.
She rose from his side.
“My standards for Your Majesty’s paintings are also quite high.”
Shen Yuling resided in the Prince’s Manor, and for Quan Minghe, it was not as easy to see her as it would be in the palace.
Now was precisely the time when Quan Minghe’s interest in her was at its peak, so it was necessary to employ a few small tactics to leave a unique impression in his mind.
She could not let him remember only her beauty—that would be far too shallow.