The summer garments were thin and light.
As soon as her waistband was untied, her upper robe loosened, and the collar slid down to reveal half of her lustrous, porcelain-white shoulder. Beneath it, a corner of her lotus-root-colored camisole was exposed—a sight that incited a deep, lingering desire in any who looked.
The gaze from the shadows grew even colder. It was as cold as a blade, seemingly ready to flay her alive!
Ming Yueni couldn’t help but shiver. Her hair stood on end, and her heart hammered against her ribs, screaming at her to flee!
No, she couldn’t run. Success or failure depended entirely on this one move!
Ming Yueni bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. She looked up, revealing a pale, delicate little face and misty eyes that shed a constant stream of tears. Her blood-stained lips were a dazzling, vibrant red. Like duckweed in a storm, she looked so pitiable that anyone would feel an instinctive urge to protect her.
With a flick of her wrist, Ming Yueni tossed the waistband over a tree branch above her head and tied a knot with her slender, trembling hands.
The gaze behind her, sharp as a bone-carving knife, froze.
Ming Yueni did not look back. She stepped onto a stone, stood on her tiptoes, closed her tear-filled eyes, and with a look of shattered despair, placed her neck into the loop…
“Ugh…”
Ming Yueni swayed, her body wracked with the agony of suffocation.
She wasn’t actually seeking death. She was putting on a performance for the Emperor!
The Emperor of the Yan Kingdom—Bei Chenyuan—had ruled for ten years. During that time, he had governed with diligence and expanded his military might across the four seas. He was both wise and formidable, yet he was also domineering and cold-blooded.
The only thing people whispered about behind his back was his lack of interest in women, as if he suffered from some form of infertility or an inability to produce an heir.
The Crown Prince was ten years younger than him, adopted from a branch of the imperial family. By blood, they were uncle and nephew; by status, they were father and son in name.
He was Ming Yueni’s only choice!
Seducing an emperor was a risky strategy—one that could easily result in immediate execution. However, if she attempted to hang herself in front of him, this wise and possessively dominant sovereign would never simply ignore it.
Just in case the Emperor truly didn’t care about her life or death, Ming Yueni had a backup plan: given her weight, the branch would snap before she actually died!
Ming Yueni’s thoughts were a whirlwind, though in reality, only a second had passed.
Swish—!
A gust of wind rose, followed by a flash of cold light.
The fabric waistband was severed by a sharp weapon. Ming Yueni collapsed onto the ground, coughing violently. “Cough… cough, cough—!”
It worked!
Ming Yueni hid the flicker of joy in her eyes. She kept her head low, weeping and coughing with such heartbreaking beauty that it would pierce anyone’s soul.
“Oh dear! Isn’t this the young lady from the Duke’s Mansion? What on earth happened!”
The Head Eunuch of the Imperial Presence—Fu Lai—stepped forward. He had a round face and a round belly, and he looked genuinely distressed as he leaned over to help Ming Yueni up.
Ming Yueni’s voice was hoarse from crying, and her legs were too weak to stand. “Wuhu… Sister is going to beat me to death…”
“Eh? Your sister? Why would the Eldest Young Lady of the Duke’s Mansion want to beat you to death?”
Ming Yueni sobbed, unable to speak.
Steady, powerful footsteps approached from the distance. Fu Lai immediately offered encouragement and comfort. “His Majesty has arrived! If you have any grievances, Young Lady, you must report them to His Majesty and let him seek justice for you!”
“Your… Your Majesty.”
Ming Yueni’s misty eyes looked down, seeing a pair of black boots embroidered with golden dragons and auspicious clouds. She trembled and timidly looked up—
She saw Bei Chenyuan!
The Emperor was thirty years old, in the golden prime of a man’s life. His sword-like eyebrows reached his temples, and his deep black eyes were sharp, resembling a cold, predatory abyss. His nose was high and straight, and his lips were as red as cinnabar. He possessed a majestic, dragon-like aura—pure imperial grandeur. In terms of looks, the Emperor was truly handsome and extraordinarily martial!
It was only because of his overwhelming aura that no one usually dared to look directly at his celestial countenance.
Ming Yueni found it hard to imagine that such a powerful and vigorous Emperor was actually heirless. Where could the problem possibly be?
While Ming Yueni looked up at the Emperor, Bei Chenyuan was also looking down at her…
Ming Yueni was stunningly beautiful, with a face like a delicate hibiscus and a celestial grace. Her nose was fine, her lips were ruby-red, and her skin was like white porcelain or frost-covered snow. Most distinctive of all were her “peach blossom eyes.” When she looked at people, there was always a hint of lingering affection that drew them in. When she cried, her eyes were shrouded in a hazy mist, and the corners turned red, making her look heart-wrenchingly pitiable.
She looked like a lost, adorable kitten without a master.
“Why do you seek death?” Bei Chenyuan’s voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a natural authority.
Ming Yueni gave a delicate, timid shiver. Her face went pale, and her body went limp. Fortunately, Fu Lai moved quickly to catch her, preventing her from hitting the ground.
“Oh my, why did she faint from fright? It’s not like she saw a ghost…” Fu Lai stuttered, then caught himself and smiled cleverly. “Look, Your Majesty, this lady from the Duke’s Mansion is as timid as a rabbit!”
“A rabbit?” Bei Chenyuan’s cold eyes darkened. His thin lips twitched slightly. “I think she looks more like a cat.”
“A cat?” Fu Lai’s eyes darted around. “Your Majesty, how should I settle her? Shall I send her back?”
Bei Chenyuan’s gaze was somber. Nothing in the palace escaped the Emperor’s eyes and ears. He already knew about the illicit affair between the Crown Prince and Ming Yuelan, and now Liu Yingwu was making a scene, demanding an audience to seek an explanation. Ming Yueni’s suicide attempt was undoubtedly connected to this mess.
Bei Chenyuan gave a cold, stern command: “Take her back.”
“Your Majesty, back where?”
“To the Chen Palace.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Emperor turned and walked away without a hint of mercy.
Fu Lai was left standing there, dumbfounded. He gave himself a slap, still unable to believe what he had just heard for a long time.
The Chen Palace was the Emperor’s private residence and a forbidden zone for others.
“Oh, my dear mother!” Fu Lai held Ming Yueni like she was a hot potato. This was the first woman ever allowed into the Chen Palace! Whether she would be a phoenix or a sparrow in the future, Fu Lai didn’t dare be negligent. He immediately called to the attendants, “Go fetch a sedan chair! Be careful! Don’t let the Lady be bumped or jostled!”
When Ming Yueni woke up, she felt refreshed.
She opened her thick, curled eyelashes, and the hazy peach blossom eyes beneath them instantly became clear and cold. She felt a coolness on her skin.
Ming Yueni sat up and looked down. She found that the bruises on her neck, wrists, and arms from the pinching had been treated with medicine, as had the scrapes on her palms. Her clothes had also been changed into a vibrant, expensive pink palace gown.
“My Lady, you are awake.”
A maid in green walked to the bedside and bowed with a smile. “I am Yin Guo. Would you like to have a meal, My Lady?”
Ming Yueni was a bit dazed. She had become a “Lady”?
Her eyelashes fluttered, and her gaze shifted as she hid her emotions and got out of bed. She shook her head timidly and softly. “Sister Yin Guo, you flatter me. My name is Ming Yueni. Where is this?”
Yin Guo smiled. “The Chen Palace.”
Ming Yueni’s whole body trembled. She quickly lowered her head, her fingers intertwining as she twisted her sleeves. How could this be?
The Emperor’s heart was deep; the more one spoke, the more mistakes one made. That was why Ming Yueni had faked fainting. However, having been reborn and keeping her nerves tense all day, the moment she felt safe after meeting the Emperor, she had truly drifted into a deep sleep.
Ming Yueni never expected that she would actually be staying in…
Yin Guo asked again, “Would you like to eat, My Lady?”
Ming Yueni looked up. she pursed her lips into a soft, lovely smile and nodded obediently. “Thank you, Sister Yin Guo.”
A bowl of porridge, two side dishes, and a plate of pastries were served. While eating, Ming Yueni tried to peel back the layers of the situation, but no matter how much she thought, she couldn’t understand the Emperor’s intentions.
Don’t panic! she told herself. As long as she wasn’t in prison, it was good news.
Ming Yueni wiped her mouth and asked Yin Guo with a soft, timid smile, “Sister Yin Guo, do you know where my… sister is?”
“There!” Yin Guo pointed outside. “She and the Crown Prince are still kneeling out there.”
“His Majesty has issued an oral decree. Once the Lady is ready, please follow me to act as a witness.”
Ming Yueni was startled! Hiding the coldness in her eyes, she stood up. “Alright, I’ll go right now.”
“Wait a moment, My Lady.” Yin Guo led her to the dressing table, looking at her with a smile. “You must be properly groomed and dressed before you can have an audience with His Majesty.”
Ming Yueni remained silent. She hadn’t even started seducing the Emperor yet!