Ling Yunche had not seen Yanwan for several days; having finally met his sweetheart today, he treated her with every possible care and concern.
“Yanwan, how are you faring in the Palace of Earthly Honor? I want to visit you every single day, yet I fear that if Noble Consort Xian discovers our relation, it will drag you down.”
A conflicted expression hung upon Ling Yunche’s handsome face. He had not anticipated that although both of them had been promoted, meeting each other would actually become even more inconvenient.
“Rest assured, Brother Yunche. We will be able to meet often in the future. Noble Consort Xian asked me to deliver some pastries to the Emperor, so I might have to come over frequently from now on. Now that you’ve been promoted, my mind is at ease; our days ahead will only get better and better.”
Yanwan soothed Ling Yunche in a soft voice. There was no other way—from the moment they decided to deceive Ruyi, they should have foreseen this day.
As long as Ruyi did not fall from favor, the two of them had to keep acting out this charade. If Ruyi ever discovered that she had been deceived, who knew if her love might turn to hatred?
Ling Yunche understood this in his heart. He could not refuse Yanwan’s request; in their current situation, they could only walk this path to the very end.
His handsome face was filled with helplessness. Seeing Yanwan worry, he actually began comforting her instead.
Being a man after all, he could not bear to see his sweetheart worry alongside him; as long as he knew she was living well, these efforts would not be in vain.
“So long as you aren’t wronged, that is all that matters. Oh, by the way, I went to your family’s house a few days ago. Ever since Zolu broke his leg, he has indeed behaved himself. However, your mother still vents a lot of her temper on him. I told them that you weren’t having an easy time in the palace either, and I left them some silver.”
A bright smile bloomed upon Yanwan’s lovely face. Looking at Ling Yunche, her watery eyes overflowed with admiration, and endless sweet words poured from her little mouth.
“Brother Yunche is truly amazing! Our family has finally quieted down. We work so hard in the palace, while they gamble and enjoy themselves at home. Since Mother values my brother so much, let him stay at home and keep her company properly!”
The original owner’s mother favored sons over daughters and did not care about her daughter in the slightest. In the past, whenever stipend day arrived, she would come to demand money from the original owner, completely unconcerned about how her daughter was faring in the palace.
However, none of these matters had anything to do with her now; at any rate, that family of bloodsuckers shouldn’t dream of taking a single dime from her.
She, too, had grown annoyed by the constant demands for money from the original owner’s mother—no matter how much was given, it was never enough. She had initially thought the family was truly in dire straits, but who knew that mother and son were enjoying rich food and fine wine at home while even having spare money to gamble?
She simply complained a bit to Ling Yunche, and he naturally “took the initiative” to solve the trouble for her, saving her from ever having to get her own hands dirty.
Flattered by her like this, Ling Yunche’s handsome face turned bashful, yet he smiled freely and waved his hand, saying, “These are merely small matters. I can’t just stand by and watch you get bullied. You don’t need to worry about things at home—I’m here.”
Yanwan looked at him with a smile, already planning in her heart to secure a good position outside the palace for him in the future.
Ling Yunche had his flaws, but he also possessed good qualities. In the original story, he was somewhat timid and weak, yet one could not call him a bad person.
The longer they spent together, the more Yanwan understood why the original owner remained unable to forget him even before her death.
The pure innocence that Ling Yunche possessed was something this palace lacked—it was precisely its rarity that made it precious!
As the two were chatting over here, Jinzhong, who was staring at them from the steps in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, was practically drowning in jealousy—it was downright sour!
For Yanwan’s sake, he had also exerted some effort to transfer Ling Yunche to the Imperial Presence. He had never imagined that he would end up suffering the consequences of his own actions, as the two actually ran right in front of him to act all clingy and affectionate.
Seeing Yanwan take a wrapped parcel out from the food box, his brows knitted tightly, and a flash of annoyance glinted in his eyes.
Did Yanwan make a special trip here just to deliver something to Ling Yunche?
Holding the heavy parcel of shortbread pastries, Ling Yunche felt a distinct weight in his hands. Learning that she had made them personally, a look of affection flashed in his eyes as he gazed at Yanwan.
“Brother Yunche, I need to bring this plate over to Chief Eunuch Li. They were originally made specifically for you, but Noble Consort Xian found them delicious and wanted the Emperor to taste them as well.”
Her words were spoken with clever artfulness. Upon learning that he was eating the exact same thing as the Emperor, Ling Yunche burst into a chuckle and nodded in high spirits.
“Go on, hurry. Thank you for thinking of me, cousin. I’m also preparing to head to the duty room—do you need me to carry the food box over for you?”
This guy had truly learned some bad tricks. Giving Ling Yunche a playful glare, Yanwan simply carried the two food boxes herself and walked toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Seeing her holding the food boxes, no matter how sour Jinzhong felt inside, he still hurriedly walked down the steps to greet her.
Beside him, Li Yu lowered his raised foot, looking at Jinzhong’s back while shaking his head helplessly. How was it that both of them had gotten involved with this enchantress?
“Eunuch Jinzhong, I haven’t seen you for a few days—how have you grown even handsomer?”
Yanwan looked at Jinzhong with a grin, naturally handing over the food boxes in her hands to him. Who would have thought that upon taking them, Jinzhong gave her a fierce glare, his tone carrying a sense of interrogation?
“Save that act. What brings you to the Imperial Presence? Could it be that you came specifically looking for Ling Yunche?”
Hearing this, the smile remained on Yanwan’s face, but she felt a slight murmur in her heart. She guessed that her conversation with Ling Yunche had been seen by Jinzhong; she would have to be more careful in the future.
“Noble Consort Xian sent me to deliver pastries to the Emperor, so I took the opportunity to see you as well and brought you some shortbread pastries I made.”
Jinzhong was quite easy to coax. Giving her a sideways glance, the expression on his face softened, and he said in a deep voice, “The Emperor is still busy with official duties and hasn’t had his meal yet. If you want to see the Emperor, I can find a way to arrange it.”
Jinzhong was truly a good partner. Hearing that Yanwan was ordered to deliver items to the Emperor, he no longer pressed the matter, but instead thought of creating an opportunity for Yanwan.
Unfortunately, now was not the right time to meet the Emperor. Seeing this, Jinzhong did not force it; as long as he remained before the Imperial Presence, Yanwan would have plenty of opportunities.
When the two reached the doorway, Li Yu stared at Yanwan with a deep, solemn gaze, inquiring with a cold expression, “Is there business that brings you before the Imperial Presence?”
Heh, what a cold tone. A smile glinted in Yanwan’s eyes, and she feigned a solemn posture as she curtsied, saying respectfully, “Noble Consort Xian instructed me to deliver a plate of shortbread pastries to the Emperor. Her Ladyship found them delicious and wished for the Emperor to taste them as well.”
Hmph, putting on airs. Li Yu rolled his eyes at her in silence, too lazy to even call her out.
Truly, no one attended to duties the way she did—coming to deliver items to the Emperor, yet stopping to chat with others first.
So she was basically keeping the Emperor waiting?
Seeing that Li Yu seemed displeased, Jinzhong hurriedly set down the two food boxes, squatted down, and opened them both.
“The plate inside the porcelain dish is for the Emperor, while the wrapped parcels are for the two of you. I originally intended to make them for you to eat, but Her Ladyship found them delicious and wanted the Emperor to taste them as well.”
Yanwan still used the exact same explanation, placing the importance of these two higher than that of the Emperor.
Since she couldn’t see the Emperor right now anyway, she might as well use sugar-coated bullets to bring down the “two great generals” beside the Emperor first!
If everyone around the Emperor favored her and listened to her, things would become quite interesting.
How could Jinzhong and Li Yu know her “nefarious” little scheme? Hearing her words, surprise filled both of their handsome faces. They looked at her as if she were a rare, exotic creature.
In this palace, the Emperor was naturally the most important, and servants like them were accustomed to bowing and humbling themselves before him.
Across the entire palace, whether consort or servant, everyone placed the Emperor and the imperial will first in their speech.
Especially before the two of them, people wished they could repeat words of loyalty every single day.
After all, the two of them were the Emperor’s “loyal hounds”!
Who would have thought this girl would take an unconventional path, turning the Emperor into a mere afterthought?
Even Li Yu felt flattered at this moment. Exchanging a glance with Jinzhong, the two quickly and tacitly shifted the topic.
Although they held back out of discretion before the Imperial Presence, the warmth in their hearts could not be hidden from themselves.
The atmosphere among the three visibly grew more harmonious.
Yanwan also knew that people of this era were reserved; despite being men, they were quite thin-skinned. She didn’t dare pull off any more emotional tricks, lest every single one of them fell deeply in love with her!
She wasn’t talking nonsense—her eyes were sharp, and she had clearly seen the shifts in their expressions.
With just a bit more teasing, they would probably offer to devote themselves to her entirely!
Jinzhong squatted down, picked up a package of shortbread pastries, and bounced it in his hand. It was indeed a gift from a girl—look how beautifully packaged it was, tied with a pink ribbon.
Comforted in his heart, he looked up at Yanwan with a gentle gaze and said with a smile, “These small shortbread pastries are convenient to eat. I’ll take them back to my room to eat in a bit. This gift is truly practical; I happen to be starving every day after finishing my shift.”
Yanwan raised her hand and lightly tapped his forehead, saying softly, “I made them precisely so you could easily stave off your hunger. As luck would have it, I’m now considered a senior maid in the Palace of Earthly Honor, so using Noble Consort Xian’s small kitchen is quite convenient!”
This act of using public resources for private gain was stated with righteous confidence, yet none of the people present felt there was anything wrong with it.
Embezzlement and bribery were completely normal in this palace, and those before the Imperial Presence received even more benefits. Using some of Noble Consort Xian’s allotted ingredients was a trifling matter.
Li Yu finally looked straight at Yanwan. Taking the porcelain plate handed over by Jinzhong, an unnatural look appeared on his handsome face as he said, “Thank you, Miss Yanwan. Do you wish to see the Emperor? Why don’t you come in with me to present them to the Emperor?”
Although Li Yu spoke sincerely, Yanwan still shook her head and politely declined. She had just arrived at Ruyi’s side; she needed to gain the trust of Noble Consort Xian first before making further plans.
Besides, the Emperor had only recently released Ruyi from the Cold Palace, and the childhood sweethearts were currently in the height of their passionate affection, which was clearly not a good time to intervene.
Even if she were to entice him, she couldn’t make herself look cheap!