When the Emperor suddenly opened his eyes, Yanwan saw that his gaze glistened with a watery sheen. Looking at him like this, he truly was quite handsome; even the queue hairstyle failed to diminish his good looks.
She harbored all sorts of disrespectful thoughts in her heart, yet her countenance remained utterly respectful. Spreading the last bit of cream across his skin, she completed her work.
She didn’t waste the moisturizer clinging to her fingers either, rubbing her hands together and smoothing it over the back of her own hand—a perfect way to care for her skin.
“Your Majesty, everything is tidy and set. I shall invite Grand Chief Eunuch Li inside to assist Your Majesty with changing robes.”
Seeing her leave so directly, the Emperor felt a wave of discomfort like no other. Raising his head, he caught his reflection in the mirror before him—his cheeks were flushed crimson, and even his earlobes were completely red.
Catching himself acting so utterly useless, a rare surge of ashamed irritation arose in the Emperor’s heart. What did this woman mean? Who gave her permission to leave?
After seeing him in such a state, was she laughing at him in her heart?
It was merely applying moisturizer, yet it actually, unexpectedly…
His chest rose and fell heavily twice, but remembering Yanwan’s calm and unbothered expression, he could not help but grit his teeth.
Lowering his eyes to look at his lap, he angrily raised his hand and struck his thigh twice.
Suoxin happened to be by the bed helping Ruyi rise. Turning her head to see the Emperor’s contorted expression, his teeth gnashing as if in rage, a cold shiver ran through her body.
Hurriedly turning her head back, not daring to look any further, she felt secretly puzzled in her heart. The Emperor had always treated her mistress with gentle tenderness; why was he in such a foul mood first thing in the morning?
Unable to figure out why, Suoxin simply stopped dwelling on it—after all, if anything went wrong, her mistress would be there to handle it.
Starting off the morning in a terrible mood, the Emperor found all sorts of faults with Li Yu, even though Li Yu served him exactly as usual, dutifully helping him put on the dragon robe and adjusting the court beads.
*What on earth happened to the Emperor?*
Li Yu felt utterly bewildered, left only to grow even more respectful and cautious. As a servant, he couldn’t reason with the Emperor; when the master had anger to vent, they simply had to take it.
Seeing this, the Emperor let out a hmph. Raising his eyes toward the full-length Western mirror before him, he easily caught the reflection of that alluring figure who was throwing his mind into complete disarray.
Parting his lips, his hand unconsciously tightened around the court beads at his chest. He wanted to fly into a rage, yet he didn’t know where to begin.
Was he supposed to say that she was loyal and dutiful in applying moisturizer for him, while his own mind had dirty thoughts that triggered a physical reaction?
Did this sovereign have no shame left?!
The Emperor held his breath in anger, yet could only glare helplessly at Yanwan’s reflection.
What infuriated him most was that while his own mind was filled with complex turmoil over her actions, this person stood before the vanity mirror styling Ruyi’s hair as if nothing had happened at all.
Yanwan had swapped shifts with Suoxin, having learned how to style Ruyi’s hair from Suoxin during this period.
Combining styles she had seen in modern television dramas, the hair arrangements she created offered greater variety, winning Ruyi’s deep favor.
As for the shift swaps between the two, Ruyi paid no mind to it whatsoever, so long as it did not disturb the normal routine of her life as master.
Once the Emperor was properly dressed, Ruyi approached his side with a bashful, gentle smile.
Today, she wore a tea-colored flag dress embroidered with interconnected branch patterns. Standing together with the Emperor before the Western mirror, in her eyes, the two looked like a match made in heaven.
The two of them were originally a match created by Heaven and crafted by Earth; had the Empress not interfered back then, she would be Hongli’s wife.
Yet, even if she wasn’t Hongli’s wife, the person Hongli loved most was still her.
Thinking of this, a sense of pride and triumph emerged in Ruyi’s eyes, yet she failed to notice that although the Emperor’s gaze rested on the mirror, his attention was focused entirely on the person behind her.
“Will Your Majesty have some breakfast before attending the morning court?”
Ruyi’s gaze was soft, and as she raised her hand to tidy the Emperor’s collar, the Emperor took a step back to dodge her touch.
Seeing Ruyi’s hands raised in the air with a sense of helpless loss—the nail guards on her fingers nearly poking his eye—the Emperor hurriedly raised his hand to grasp her hands, lowering them with the movement. Forcing a smile onto his handsome face, he said gently:
“I shall pass on breakfast to avoid delaying the morning court. Today is neither the first nor the fifteenth of the month, so there is no need for you to rise so early, Ruyi. Go back to sleep for a while longer. I shall come to the Palace of Earthly Honor to see you whenever I am free.”
Saying this, he swept a glance at Yanwan standing quietly behind Ruyi. As it happened, she also raised her eyes to look over, her long eyelashes fluttering lightly, her gaze clear and innocent, her little face looking far more vibrant than a blooming flower.
Looking at her, the smile on the Emperor’s face instantly collapsed, his expression hardening into a stern glare—though no one could tell whose direction it was meant for.
Patting Ruyi’s hand, the Emperor strode out of the Palace of Earthly Honor without looking back once.
Seeing Ruyi gaze blankly after the Emperor’s departing figure, a flash of amusement glinted in Yanwan’s eyes beside her.
Her plan had been a resounding success: not only had she left a “profound impression” on the Emperor, but Li Yu would soon belong to her side as well.
Judging by what Li Yu implied last night, was Hailan doomed to die during childbirth?
Shortly after the Little New Year came the official New Year.
Normally, during a festival like New Year’s, every palace would hand out rewards to the servants so everyone could share in the festive joy and enjoy a proper New Year.
Yet the Palace of Earthly Honor was truly a peculiar place.
Monetary rewards were non-existent; each person merely received two sets of clothing and some dried fruits and pastries.
Inside the sumptuously and elegantly decorated main hall of the Palace of Earthly Honor, Ruyi leaned back on the soft couch in a vermilion flag dress with round embroidered patterns, the sunlight streaming through the window casting a sacred and graceful glow over her.
Watching the palace servants walking back and forth outside the window, Ruyi issued instructions with an unbothered expression:
“It is New Year’s, so the gifts bestowed must be practical. Suoxin, you and Yanwan keep a close watch on the tailoring bureau to ensure the clothes for the palace servants are made and distributed early.”
Yanwan agreed aloud, though curiosity brewed in her mind. *Why make such a grand fuss? Wouldn’t it be better to directly give out silver so people can buy whatever they like?*
Having spent time with her, Yanwan frequently found herself astonished by Ruyi’s bizarre line of reasoning.
Handing these items out to everyone for New Year’s was appropriate enough, yet no matter how appropriate, nothing matched the practicality of hard silver.
No one had sprung out from a gap in the rocks—they all had families, and perhaps wished to send a little silver home.
Although Ruyi usually disdained managing daily affairs, deciding on rewards for everyone required her final say; Suoxin and the others were merely servants who could not make decisions on behalf of their master.
Unexpectedly, Ruyi chose to spend money purchasing these goods instead of bestowing silver down the line.
Outside, Sanbao, who was adding charcoal to the brazier, paused in his movements, his expression carrying a hint of helplessness. *This master truly hasn’t changed a bit!*
He had thought that after enduring hard days in the Cold Palace, Her Ladyship would understand the bitterness of lacking silver.
Now look at her—restored to her noble consort rank, she had turned right back into a high-and-mighty, noble master.
Had she forgotten why she was betrayed, framed, and sent to the Cold Palace in the past?
Naturally, no one questioned Ruyi’s decisions; even if a choice was wrong, no one would say much—after all, a distinction existed between master and servant.
As for how much ridicule she suffered from other consorts over this matter, that was her own burden to bear, unrelated to the servants.
On New Year’s Day, the palace hosted an imperial banquet.
Ruyi took Suoxin along to attend the feast, leaving Yanwan behind to watch over the palace.
Unexpectedly, Jinzhong took advantage of the banquet under way across the palace to lead several young eunuchs under his command, bringing Yanwan two massive chests full of gifts.
These young eunuchs left after setting the items down in Yanwan’s room, leaving Jinzhong behind to speak with Yanwan.
Gazing at the two large chests, Yanwan squatted down and opened the lids out of curiosity, finding bolt after bolt of fabric, jewelry, dried fruits, and pastries—everything one could possibly ask for.
“Why did you bring so many things? With this much silk, how could I ever use it all up? Ah—why are there bellybands in here as well?”