Yanwan had not expected Ruyi to accept this task either.
Could she not see that the Emperor’s attitude was clearly displeased? Why bother?
Besides, she had no evidence whatsoever. If she failed to uncover anything substantive, how would she answer to the Emperor when the time came?
No wonder the Empress accused Ruyi of overstepping her boundaries and meddling in matters beyond her place. Ruyi had even blackened the Empress’s reputation right before the Emperor, relying on nothing more than her childhood sweetheart bond with him.
Yanwan understood Ruyi’s subtle mindset all too well.
She felt that the Emperor shared one heart with her, placing herself in the position of the Emperor’s true wife, while completely forgetting that legitimacy requires proper authority.
Putting ancient men aside for a moment, even some modern men might keep several mistresses outside, yet didn’t all the money they earned get brought back home? How many would hand over their entire fortune to a mistress?
Men were shrewd: spending some effort and small money was no problem, but deep down, they secretly intended to enjoy the best of both worlds!
Watching Ruyi begin her investigation, she started from the Imperial Academy of Medicine all the way down to the palace servants who handled the pregnancy-stabilizing tonic.
With the Emperor’s oral edict, she could investigate openly and aboveboard.
Yanwan was not idle either. Ruyi trusted few people, so while Suoxin went to the Palace of Prolonged Happiness for questioning, Yanwan received orders to go to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to inquire who else had come into contact with this pregnancy-stabilizing medicine.
Walking along the palace path toward the Imperial Academy of Medicine, palace servants passed by her back and forth. Passing by the Palace of Universal Happiness, she gazed at the distinct Yu clan decorations in the courtyard, a dark glint flashing in her eyes.
She actually knew who the true culprit behind the pregnancy-stabilizing tonic was—wasn’t it that woman of the Yu clan hiding behind the scenes and plotting against everyone?
Yet she could not drop a hint to Ruyi and had no choice but to go through the motions.
In the original story, this woman’s intelligence was an invincible existence in the early stages, though that was hard to say now.
After all, Jinzhong had mentioned that the Emperor very likely already knew about the “good deeds” this woman had committed!
Yet if the Emperor knew, why hadn’t Concubine Jia received any punishment?
At the thought of this, Yanwan could not help but sigh. No wonder the phrase “striking the mountain to shake the tiger” existed; at any rate, she did not dare make any petty moves.
If this Emperor possessed powers that touched the heavens, wouldn’t she be walking right into the line of fire, destroying her chances of becoming Empress?
Sure enough, after several days of investigation by the Palace of Earthly Honor, the matter of the poisoned pregnancy-stabilizing tonic remained completely without a lead.
Whether in Noble Lady Hai’s Palace of Prolonged Happiness or the Imperial Academy of Medicine, there were no issues at any step of the process, yet appetite-increasing drugs had indeed been added to the tonic.
On this day, the Emperor finally graced the Palace of Earthly Honor with his presence once more. Half a month had passed since he last left, and today happened to be the Little New Year.
“Subject pays respects to Your Majesty. I thought Your Majesty would not come again.”
Upon seeing the Emperor, a flash of surprise lit up Ruyi’s eyes. Curtsying gracefully, her fair and lovely face was filled with delight, yet her mouth unconsciously uttered dampening words once more.
The Emperor knew her temperament as well. Naturally stepping forward to support her up, his deep eyes filled with affection as he said softly, “Today is the Little New Year—how could I not come? There have been many court affairs these days. Does Ruyi blame me for not visiting you?”
“I would not dare blame Your Majesty. Thunder and rain, dew and frost—all are imperial grace. Your Majesty has so many consorts, so naturally, you may go wherever you wish.”
Yanwan and Suoxin stood attentively to the side. Listening to Ruyi’s petty, dramatic words, Yanwan almost broke out in goosebumps.
It was not that coquetting could never be done, but one had to say such words when affection with the Emperor was at its peak.
How long had it been since Ruyi returned to the palace? The Emperor had not even summoned her for night duty once. After three years in the Cold Palace, what could possibly remain of their affection?
Yanwan covertly raised her eyes to steal a glance at the Emperor. She saw his handsome face freeze at first, taking a long moment to recover before soothing Ruyi with a gentle expression.
In just a short moment, he coaxed Ruyi back into a smiling face.
The Emperor and consort sat together before the red sandalwood round table, while Yanwan and Suoxin hurriedly stepped forward to pour tea.
“Yanwan, quickly bring over the white jade frost pastries I prepared. His Majesty likes these pastries. I did not know if His Majesty would come today, yet I prepared them in advance after all. I did not expect His Majesty to truly arrive.”
Ruyi looked at the Emperor with a bright smile, the tenderness and anticipation in her words left unhidden.
The Emperor held her hand, his expression moved, as the two shared quite a bit of tender affection.
Yanwan reached the small kitchen, found a lovely porcelain plate, and neatly arranged the pastries made by Ruyi’s own hands into a beautiful floral pattern.
These pastries were indeed quite good, no wonder the Emperor loved eating them.
As she arranged them, she casually picked up a piece and ate it—soft, sweet, and sprinkled with osmanthus flowers on the outside. Not bad!
Today, the Emperor had brought only Li Yu along. When Yanwan carried the pastries to the doorway, Li Yu hurriedly prepared to lift the door curtain for her, only to be stopped by Yanwan, who quietly stuffed a paper package into his hand.
Fearing someone might see, Li Yu hastily tucked it into his sleeve. Just as he was about to ask what it was, he saw Yanwan give him a charming, coquettish wink before lightfootedly entering the hall.
Looking at the swaying door curtain, Li Yu raised his hand to cover the oil-paper package in his sleeve. After a moment, seeing no one around, he carefully opened the paper.
Inside was actually a package of white jade frost pastries.
He naturally knew of this pastry; what the Emperor loved most here at Noble Consort Xian’s place was precisely the white jade frost pastry and dark fragrance soup.
Carefully picking up a piece to eat, a smile glinted between Li Yu’s brows and eyes. So sweet!
He knew not whether the pastry was sweet, or if sweetness had surged within his heart.
Yanwan entered the inner chamber, walking lightfootedly to the round table to place the pastries before the Emperor.
She was very close to the Emperor—so close that as she approached, the scent of osmanthus flowers on her body drifted right to the Emperor’s nose.
*Osmanthus?*
The Emperor lowered his gaze to look at the pastries on the table, a realization flashing in his eyes as he barely held back a laugh.
“Your Majesty, please taste them. You have not eaten pastries made by my own hands for a long time.”
Ruyi pushed the pastries before the Emperor, resting her chin on her hand with a bright smile as she watched him eat.
The Emperor’s peripheral vision, however, followed Yanwan. Seeing her stand obediently behind Ruyi, an amused look glinted in his eyes.
Just at that moment, Yanwan also raised her eyes to look over, growing startled upon colliding with the Emperor’s smiling gaze.
Seeing this young maid’s pretty face filled with confusion, a mischievous urge arose in the Emperor’s heart. Feigning indifference, he raised his hand to pick up a piece of pastry, silently mouthing two words to Yanwan.
Yanwan: “…”
*It was just two pieces of pastry—how did the Emperor know?*
That was right: the two words the Emperor mouthed were “sneaking bites”!
Yanwan could not figure it out. Seeing the Emperor still staring at her, her watery eyes darted, and her red lips parted slightly as she mouthed a reply back without a sound.
The Emperor focused his gaze to look, and his eyes froze in place.
He had not expected this girl to be so bold as to unabashedly mouth back, “Tasting for you”!
Ruyi, however, did not notice the silent exchange between the two. Thinking the Emperor enjoyed her pastries, she placed another piece on his plate.
“If Your Majesty likes them, eat a few more. I will make them for Your Majesty again in the future.”
She looked at the Emperor softly, feeling only that after three years apart, her youthful lover seemed to have grown quite a bit thinner.
The Emperor withdrew his gaze, casually picking up his teacup to take a sip, the misty tea hiding the smile that broke across his face.
Ruyi had always observed propriety; he had never expected she would keep such a playful young girl at her side, one who even dared to sneak bites of pastries made by her master!
Sneaking bites was one thing, but to be caught by him and still speak so brazenly—
He had truly never met such a woman!
In this entire palace, who wouldn’t be respectful and formal upon seeing him? If it were any other palace maid, she would likely have fallen to her knees to confess her crime by now.
How could anyone act like nothing happened, showing such a remarkably big heart?
The Emperor dined with Ruyi for dinner; having dinner together on the Little New Year was a promise the two had made years ago.
On New Year’s Day, the Emperor had to go to the Empress’s palace, which was why he promised Ruyi that he would surely spend the Little New Year with her.
Ruyi felt only that she and her youthful lover had returned to their past affectionate days, completely failing to notice that the Emperor’s gaze occasionally settled upon Yanwan, who was serving at the side.
Though the Emperor’s gaze was subtle, Yanwan sensed it at the very first moment.
In the Emperor’s gaze, aside from being attracted by her beauty, there was also curiosity.
Once a man became curious about a woman, it marked the beginning of a feeling.
If one added a touch of secrecy to this feeling—engaging behind his childhood sweetheart’s back right under Ruyi’s nose—it would be all the more forbidden and thrilling.
She didn’t believe the Emperor wouldn’t bite the hook!
When dealing with a man like the Emperor, ordinary feelings could not easily move him; one could only strike out on an unconventional path.