She was like a lotus after the clouds had dispersed and the rain had stopped, glistening with dew, its bud slightly drooping. Its pink petals were loosely unfurled, the yellow stamens in the center trembling—purity and seduction perfectly blended together.
At this time, in this place, the appearance of a woman was far too unusual.
As the Emperor stepped into the tenglang, the Chief Eunuch silently took a step back, standing with his head bowed in a darker shadow.
The Emperor walked forward with steady steps, seemingly prepared for what was to come. She did not react much until he stood directly before her. Only then did she look up at him with those watery eyes, slowly reaching out a hand in a posture that was exceptionally delicate.
Wei Jingheng naturally took that soft, moist hand and sat down beside her. He had seen this situation many times before; with the Yu family’s repeated hints previously, he was already mentally prepared.
He had been on the throne for five years, and the court was relatively stable. She had been a widow for three years; even if he took her into his harem, it shouldn’t cause much of a stir in the imperial court.
Thinking this, Wei Jingheng reached out an arm and pulled her by the shoulder toward him. A heavy scent of alcohol rushed into his nostrils, and he let out a light chuckle. “I didn’t expect you to enjoy drinking so much.”
The Emperor looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms. From this angle, he could see her pale, smooth jawline and a fullness that even her loose clothing could not hide… Sensing a change in his own body, Wei Jingheng’s eyes darkened.
He was not a lustful emperor. Usually, visiting the inner palace six or seven days a month was considered frequent. To have such a reaction just by holding someone was something that had only happened when he was a young lad.
However, this was what made it a novel experience for him. Wei Jingheng didn’t mind doing a little something here. He tilted her lowered chin upward, fully revealing her face.
Perhaps she truly had drunk too much; her eyes were half-closed, the corners of her eyes a deep scarlet. Only the slow fluttering of her raven lashes indicated she still possessed a sliver of consciousness.
“Do you plan to return with Us now, or wait for Us to finish the banquet first?”
The Emperor asked softly. He was in a rare good mood and intended to give her a choice.
However, she was unable to speak upon hearing his voice. She tried hard to widen her almond-shaped eyes as if trying to identify something, but in Wei Jingheng’s eyes, this was just another beautiful sight.
His fingers pinched her chin, and in the next breath, he descended like a torrential rain. But just as he captured her lips, a hand with little strength pressed against Wei Jingheng’s chest, accompanied by some protesting murmurs.
The Emperor good-naturedly let go of her, only to see the watery haze in her eyes slowly recede, replaced by a surfacing terror.
Before he could ask anything, those two soft and weak hands had already quickly pushed him away as she left his embrace. It seemed as though this small movement had exhausted all her strength; after leaving his arms, she leaned back against the pillar of the corridor.
Her resistant manner caused that inexplicable desire in Wei Jingheng to abruptly vanish. He could only ask, “What is it?”
Yu Yihe had never expected such a scene when her consciousness cleared. She only remembered leaning against the pillar and falling asleep quickly, and then having a dream. She had been married before, and it was inevitable to have moments of loneliness, so she had dreamed of some intimate matters. This was considered quite ordinary, a small consolation.
In the dream, she naturally had no reservations. When a man appeared before her, Yu Yihe had directly reached out to take his hand… But dreams and reality were different after all. After waking up in a daze, she immediately resisted, but what terrified her even more was what followed!
How could it be that person!
Yu Yihe’s mind, clouded by the alcohol, suddenly cleared for the most part, but she felt something even more amiss. Aside from her lack of strength, a certain place was surging like a spring tide.
After not hearing her answer for a long while, the Emperor frowned slightly, his tone carrying a rare note of concern. “Shall We have someone take you to the Rear Hall to rest first?”
The Rear Hall?
Hearing this, Yu Yihe immediately shook her head, though it looked very slow because of her exhaustion.
“Then do you want to return to Xi Dian together?”
Just as he said it, Wei Jingheng retracted the statement. “It’s truly improper for you to go back looking like this.”
Even though it wasn’t bright under the tenglang, he could still see her flushed cheeks and the radiant charm upon her. Once a beauty was held in the Emperor’s arms, how could he allow others to covet her? Not even a glance was permitted.
But how could Yu Yihe dare to continue like this? Pressing down her racing heart, she lowered her head and said slowly, “Please go ahead, Your Majesty. This official’s daughter can just rest here alone for a while.”
Such words, such an avoidant posture—the Emperor’s brow slowly knitted together as an unbelievable thought rose from his heart.
“You… weren’t waiting here for Us on purpose?”
Yu Yihe looked up sharply, her eyes, still full of charm, containing startled surprise. “How could that be? It was the maid beside Consort Zhaoyuan who brought me…”
In the unfinished words, their gazes met. Wei Jingheng stood up and slowly clarified, “This path leads to the main hall of Rende Hall, Our living quarters.”
In an instant, Yu Yihe understood everything. She struggled to kneel on the ground immediately, her heart sinking to the bottom while simultaneously feeling as if it were being cut by a knife.
She only knew that the Yu family wanted to send her into the palace, but she didn’t think the Yu family could be this heartless. After their previous introductions and hints failed several times, they actually used such dishonorable means.
Getting her drunk, leading her to the path the Emperor must pass… If it succeeded, it succeeded; if it failed, they could push everything onto her, and she would be the one to bear the infamy.
What a cruel heart!
Her fingers, hidden under her large sleeves, curled and pressed hard against the green bricks. Yu Yihe was on the verge of tears, but she could not afford to be so rude in front of another. She could only grit her teeth to control her emotions and say, “Please forgive me, Your Majesty!”
“Forgive you?”
The standing Emperor savored these two words in his mouth with a touch of playfulness. In the next second, his voice suddenly turned a few degrees colder.
“Look up.”
Yu Yihe raised her head, but her eyes remained half-veiled, not daring to look up. She only saw below the Emperor’s chin. He stood with his hands behind his back, his presence as towering as a mountain.
“Do you still remember what you did?”
At these words, Yu Yihe’s face felt as hot as if it were on fire. Shamed and guilty, her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum. “This official’s daughter offended Your Majesty…”
Receiving no response for a long time, she had no choice but to brace herself and speak in detail. “…I held the Emperor’s hand.”
“So, your answer is to ask for forgiveness?”
The Emperor’s mood seemed to lighten slightly, and he asked another question in a cool voice.
Yu Yihe was now completely sober. She remembered everything that had just happened, including that kiss that hadn’t been finished. The meaning behind the Emperor’s words was already crystal clear.
As long as she leaned forward slightly and showed a weak, submissive state, she wouldn’t have to kneel on the ground and endure the Emperor’s anger. But Yu Yihe was unwilling.
She was unwilling to be manipulated by the Yu family like this, and she was unwilling to be separated from her daughter. Even if she could be taken into the palace, how could the Imperial family be generous enough to allow her to bring a child?
Therefore, she could only refuse.
Under Wei Jingheng’s gaze, Yu Yihe lowered her head and prostrated herself, performing the grand kowtow. Slowly but firmly, she said, “Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor watched her silently and did not speak again. Whether it was for a single breath or two, he eventually stepped past her and walked toward the back.
The Chief Eunuch, who had been standing in the shadows, also hurried to follow. Only then did Yu Yihe collapse onto the ground, drenched in a cold sweat.
The night breeze brushed past, dispersing all traces of the lingering intimacy.