“Ming Yueni, the Duke is looking for you.”
On her way to the Imperial Study, Ming Yueni was stopped by a young eunuch who relayed the message in a hushed tone. Her gaze turned cold, though she wasn’t the least bit surprised.
She asked the eunuch, “Where is the Duke?”
The eunuch pointed in a direction, and Ming Yueni walked over, spotting Duke Ming behind a circular archway.
Duke Ming was a man of dignified appearance with a neatly groomed beard. Clad in his official court robes, he carried an air of great importance. Upon seeing Ming Yueni, he stroked his beard and called out in an affectionate tone, “Jiao Jiao’er.”
Ming Yueni remained unmoved.
Standing before the Duke, she offered a cold and detached salute, addressing him formally: “Lord Duke.”
Duke Ming’s brow furrowed. “Jiao Jiao’er, I am your father.”
Ming Yueni sneered inwardly.
Father?
The last time he had called her by that affectionate childhood nickname was when she was five years old.
For thirteen years, Duke Ming had cared nothing for the survival of her, her mother, or her younger brother. He had allowed them to be bullied by the Duchess and Ming Yuelan, and in her past life, he had watched with cold indifference as her mother and brother met their tragic deaths.
He deserved to be called a father?
Ming Yueni’s heart was as cold as ice frozen for ten thousand years. She lifted her face, her peach-blossom eyes devoid of warmth, and her voice was even more distant and sharp: “Lord Duke, what business do you have with me?”
Hearing this, Duke Ming looked deeply disappointed, his gaze filled with accusations of unfilial behavior.
Ming Yueni wasn’t buying it.
As she turned to leave, Duke Ming shouted in annoyance, “Halt! Is this how your mother taught you?”
Only at the mention of her mother did Ming Yueni stop in her tracks.
A glint flashed in Duke Ming’s eyes as he continued, “Your mother and brother have already moved into new quarters. I have arranged for maids and servants to attend to them; they want for nothing.”
Ming Yueni stood there coldly, waiting for his next words.
Unable to contain himself, Duke Ming quickly revealed his true intent. He asked Ming Yueni with appalling bluntness, “Has His Majesty… favored you yet?”
Ming Yueni never expected to hear such an outrageous question!
She widened her eyes, staring at Duke Ming in a mixture of rage and shock. Was this something a father could ask his own biological daughter?
He sounded like a pimp! It was absolutely disgusting!
“Since you have entered the Chen Palace, attending to the Emperor’s bed is the matter of utmost importance!”
Duke Ming cared nothing for shame, lecturing her openly: “You are young and beautiful—that is your advantage. You must take the initiative! Strive to win the Emperor’s favor so you can help your elder sister secure her position!”
Ming Yueni felt both sickened and furious. She let out a cold, incredulous laugh. “You want me to help Ming Yuelan? How can you even say that!”
“Ming Yueni, do not be difficult!” Duke Ming scolded her in a displeased tone. “Lan’er is your legitimate elder sister! As the younger sister, it is only right that you help her! In fact, you must help her!”
“I won’t!”
“Nonsense!” Duke Ming glared at her. “I can overlook your past behavior! Think of your mother and your brother—their honor and disgrace rest entirely on your shoulders.”
Ming Yueni clenched her fists. “Is the Lord Duke threatening me?”
Duke Ming narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, he sighed, softening his tone like a compassionate father offering an apology. “Jiao Jiao’er, I neglected you in the past, but you are still my daughter. I am thinking of your future as well!”
“You entered the palace as a mere maid. Once your favor ends, at best, you’ll be a low-ranking concubine. Lan’er is different! Although she is currently the Crown Prince’s side consort, as long as she can be the first to give birth to a prince, His Majesty will be pleased and she could even become the Crown Princess!”
Duke Ming stroked his beard, indulging in a smug fantasy. “When the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, Lan’er’s status will rise because of her son. The throne of the Empress will surely be hers!”
Ming Yueni rolled her eyes. Dreaming in broad daylight; he certainly thinks highly of himself!
She felt incredibly annoyed and retorted with hedgehog-like sarcasm: “Has the Lord Duke forgotten that His Majesty is only thirty? While His Majesty is here, when would it ever be the Crown Prince’s turn?”
“His Majesty cannot…” Duke Ming stopped himself just in time, lowering his voice with conviction. “The world is destined to belong to the Crown Prince!”
Within Ming Yueni, a raging fire of fury burned!
Noticing maids and eunuchs glancing their way, Duke Ming spoke rapidly: “You are alone in the palace without support; the Duke’s Mansion is your only backing. You are young, don’t act on impulse. Think it over carefully! I will come find you again next time!”
Having said his piece, Duke Ming hurried away.
Ming Yueni stood in place for a moment. She clenched her palms so hard her nails dug painfully into her soft flesh. Her eyes surged with turbulent rage!
“Who says I’m alone in the palace without support?”
“Threatening me with my mother and brother? Wanting my help? Fine!”
Ming Yueni let out a cold, wicked laugh. “I will ‘help’ you all very well! So the whole family can be together, nice and neat…”
Because of the delay, Ming Yueni was late for her shift. Since she was already late anyway, she boldly made some preparations.
She steeled herself and pinched the soft flesh of her leg hard. The pain brought tears to her eyes, but that wasn’t enough. Finally, wearing a pair of red, swollen “rabbit eyes,” she kept her head down and carried the tea into the Imperial Study.
“Your Majesty, please have some tea.”
Ming Yueni’s voice was hoarse, thick with the sound of weeping.
Bei Chenyuan’s brow lowered. “Look up.”
Ming Yueni bit her red lip and lifted her head, revealing a small face drenched from crying. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and tears pooled within them. She looked both devastated, like a pear blossom in the rain, and movingly pitiful.
“What happened?” Bei Chenyuan asked in a deep voice.
Ming Yueni buried her head, refusing to speak.
Bei Chenyuan’s eyes turned cold and dark. With a wave of his sleeve, he ordered all the attendants to withdraw. Then, he commanded with cold authority, “Come here.”
Only then did Ming Yueni walk over. Her waist went soft as she knelt at the Emperor’s feet.
Bei Chenyuan reached out, hooking his finger under Ming Yueni’s chin to make her tilt her head up. The delicate beauty wept silently, which only made her more alluring. Cold tears flowed over her soft face, sliding down her chin and landing on Bei Chenyuan’s hand.
Cold tears meeting a burning palm—the collision of ice and fire made Bei Chenyuan’s gaze darken further, a surge of protectiveness and possessiveness rising in his heart.
“Tell me.”
Bei Chenyuan’s thumb rubbed against Ming Yueni’s chin, his voice low and majestic. “Who bullied you to make you cry like this?”
Ming Yueni’s expression became even more aggrieved and pitiful. Like a kitten that had been bullied outside and returned to huddle against its master, she lodged her complaint in a soft, sobbing voice: “Your Majesty, the Lord Duke scolded me.”
Bei Chenyuan’s brow sharpened as he stared at her small face. “How did he scold you?”
“Ugh… he scolded me for being difficult, saying I don’t know how to help my elder sister become the Crown Princess.”
Ming Yueni’s curved lashes trembled, and tears fell like broken strings of pearls. She sobbed, “I am just a weak woman, how can I help? Waaa… The Crown Prince refuses to marry my sister as the Crown Princess, what can I do… hmph…”
“Your Majesty, help me.”
Ming Yueni timidly reached out and tugged at Bei Chenyuan’s sleeve. With a helpless and wronged expression, she looked up at him with utter dependence.
Bei Chenyuan’s eyes were deep and dark; he did not speak. But his thumb continued to rub her cheek lingeringly, while a restless anger brewed in his heart.
Was Duke Ming blind? If he didn’t know how to raise a daughter, he would take her!
“Stop crying. Get up. I will back you up.”