Li Yu chatted idly with Suoxin, yet his gaze drifted toward the main hall entrance.
Under the dim, yellow lantern light, the door curtain fluttered gently. The moment Yanwan stepped a foot out of the hall, he noticed her right away.
Looking at that graceful silhouette—even without seeing her face clearly—a wave of inexplicable flutter surged within Li Yu’s heart.
He sighed inwardly, wishing he could see her every single day.
He didn’t know what kind of spell she had cast over him; when she was out of sight, he missed her, yet when she was right before him, he had no idea how to get close to her.
Suoxin caught his gaze and followed it. Seeing him focused entirely on Yanwan, realization dawned upon her, and she offered a subtle, knowing smile.
*No wonder he asked me to look out for this girl last time,* she thought. *I assumed Yanwan had pulled strings through Li Yu, but it turns out Eunuch Li is actually smitten with her.*
When Yanwan drew near, Li Yu feigned indifference and fell silent, causing Suoxin to chuckle softly under her breath.
Jokes aside, Suoxin intended to look after his sweetheart for him.
Since Grand Chief Eunuch Li had taken good care of her over the years, she felt she should return the favor. She suggested softly to Yanwan, “I’ll handle the night shift tonight. When I rest tomorrow daytime, I’ll trouble you to serve Her Ladyship.”
*That couldn’t be better!* Yanwan hurriedly nodded in agreement. Her bright smile and sweet voice made anyone around her feel as refreshed as a spring breeze.
Once the two settled the arrangement, Suoxin didn’t linger. She gave Li Yu a meaningful smile and turned to walk back inside.
Having his thoughts so easily read, Li Yu felt somewhat bashful.
Looking at Yanwan beside him, her delicate face seemed veiled under the lantern light, making her inner thoughts impossible to fathom.
“I ate the pastry. Thank you, Miss Yanwan.”
Hearing Li Yu’s awkward thanks, Yanwan felt amused. As Grand Chief Eunuch before the Imperial Presence, Li Yu had always been mature and composed, yet right now he acted just like a flustered young boy.
Her darting gaze took in Li Yu’s flush-tinted earlobes and dodging eyes.
A smile glinted in Yanwan’s watery eyes. Curtsying slightly, she offered a respectful response in her soft, gentle voice:
“Grand Chief Eunuch Li is too polite. His Majesty has retired for the night, so you should also rest early in the side hall. I shall take my leave.”
Seeing his beauty prepare to depart, Li Yu opened his mouth, a bellyful of words waiting to spill out, yet he lacked the courage to say them aloud.
Yet leaving everything unsaid left him unwilling. After endless deliberation, only a single word of concern remained.
“Very well. Rest early as well, Miss Yanwan. By the way, you need not worry about Noble Lady Hai’s side. Childbirth is perilous; everything remains uncertain.”
Gazing at the doubt on Yanwan’s face, a trace of tenderness flashed in Li Yu’s eyes, though he didn’t intend to spell it out for her.
Handling dirty, foul affairs was their job; a delicate flower like her could simply shelter beneath their shade, untouched by the dust.
Since he didn’t elaborate, Yanwan didn’t press further—she didn’t care to know anyway!
With a dainty hmph, she left Li Yu with an elegant view of her back. She walked away crisp and clean, leaving Li Yu alone to gaze silently at her departing figure for a long time before returning to the side hall to retire.
The next morning, the System woke Yanwan up early. Lying in her warm, cozy bed, she stretched her arms.
Raising her hand to part the bed curtain, she saw the sky outside was still dark. She was ten thousand times unwilling to get out of bed.
The System displayed the time directly to her, reminding her like a personal secretary:
“The Emperor is awake. Host, quickly go serve His Majesty with his morning washing and change shifts with Suoxin. Your schedule is packed today.”
Yanwan reluctantly climbed up, quickly dressed, and complained to the System while washing up:
“Luckily Suoxin isn’t as foolishly loyal as portrayed in the show. She knows how to assign tasks like fetching water and sweeping to the junior maids. If she were as hyper-competitive as in the drama, I truly couldn’t stay here for a single second.”
She remembered that in the show, Suoxin had served Ruyi despite an arm injury.
Yet the Suoxin she knew handled tasks with proper balance. Though she still praised and flattered Ruyi, her motive wasn’t blind worship, but a habitual courtesy toward her master.
Knowing the host had never worked in the service industry in modern times, the System encouraged her:
“Host, you’re doing great. The Emperor has already noticed you. Keep it up to win over this father-figure boyfriend, and you won’t have to be a palace maid anymore.”
*This System sure knows how to paint pie in the sky!*
As the senior maid of the Palace of Earthly Honor, the charcoal used in Yanwan’s room was even better than that of unfavored Noble Ladies.
Though the winter morning was freezing, her room remained cozy and warm.
Facing the mirror, she gathered her long hair into a simple style, casually pinning two pink velvet flowers. She tidied her collar and buttons, making sure everything was proper before leaving her bedroom.
The moment she stepped out, a blast of icy wind hit her face.
She pulled her collar tight to block the freezing draft, jogging toward the main hall of the Palace of Earthly Honor.
Li Yu had already led a group of young eunuchs to fetch the dragon robe for the Emperor, and everyone was waiting outside the main hall.
Seeing Yanwan jogging over, Li Yu personally lifted the door curtain for her, noticing her pale cheeks and nose turned red from the cold, and advised her in a pained, soft voice:
“No need to rush. His Majesty hasn’t risen yet. Head inside; Suoxin is in there.”
Out of breath, Yanwan approached the door and felt relieved by Li Yu’s words.
Seeing him holding up the curtain, she couldn’t say much. Passing by his side, she offered a smiling thank you, while her fingers subtly squeezed the hand he held the curtain with.
Having teased him, she ran right inside. Li Yu’s handsome face flushed slightly, yet he maintained his composure, casually turning around to wait at the door to avoid revealing anything before the young eunuchs.
Yet the hand inside his sleeve that Yanwan had squeezed felt as though it were burning, reminding him that the two of them had just held hands right under everyone’s noses.
Suoxin hadn’t expected her to arrive so early. Seeing Yanwan so eager to take over the shift made her feel truly touched.
She didn’t leave immediately, but led Yanwan into the inner chamber to assist the Emperor with his morning grooming.
Clad in a bright yellow bedrobe, the Emperor had already risen, sitting by the bed chatting with Ruyi.
Seeing the two enter, the Emperor stood up and walked over to sit before the vanity table.
A junior maid brought over warm water. Yanwan helped the Emperor wash his face, while Suoxin combed his hair, their division of labor quite smooth.
As for Ruyi, she acted like a bashful newlywed after her first night, still hiding under the duvet.
With his eyes closed, the Emperor felt a pair of gentle little hands glide across his face. Even through the cloth, he could feel the softness of those hands.
His nose was filled with the faint fragrance emanating from her body. It wasn’t incense, but resembled the sweet aroma of almond tea.
The scent was exceptionally unique, sweet and fragrant, making one want to draw her into an embrace to catch a deeper whiff.
*Could she have drunk almond tea this morning?*
Having wiped the Emperor’s face, Yanwan saw him keep his eyes closed. Was there another step?
Serving the Emperor for the first time, she knew nothing of his habits. Just as she was about to ask Suoxin, she saw her finish combing his hair and turn toward Ruyi.
Turning to look at the vanity table, she simply picked up the moisturizer Ruyi frequently used.
Skincare after washing face—that was her daily routine, so it shouldn’t go wrong.
Opening the porcelain lid, she used her fingertip to carefully scoop out a portion, dabbing it onto the Emperor’s cheeks and forehead, spreading it gently with her right hand.
Sliding smoothly along the skin’s texture from the sides of his ears down to his neck, Yanwan followed her modern skincare steps—naturally, the neck couldn’t be skipped.
The Emperor trembled, feeling a cool sensation on his face, followed by a pair of soft hands stroking his skin. The plum blossom scent drifting to his nose carried a familiar trace, and he quickly recalled that this was Ruyi’s favorite moisturizer.
Having moisturizer applied was fine, but those little hands were getting somewhat bold.
After finishing his cheeks, she actually slid along his ears down toward his neck. The ear area was inherently sensitive; every gentle touch made his entire body soften.
Those little hands were actually tracing circles on his neck!
For the first time, he realized his ears were so sensitive. A gentle touch felt as though every sensation were amplified, instantly draining his strength.
The Emperor clenched his fists in restraint, enduring wave after wave of tingling sensations until her hands touched his earlobe.
Unable to endure it any longer, he snapped his eyes open, gazing sternly at the person before him.