“Unrestrained?”
Was “that thing is so big” really something she could say?
Ming Yueni’s face flushed crimson, yet her heart remained bold as she analyzed the situation with calm composure. She curtsied, lowering her head to avoid Beichen Yuan’s deep, piercing gaze, and spoke in a soft, timid voice, “What a massive bath!”
“If Your Majesty hadn’t saved me, I surely would have drowned. I thank Your Majesty once again for saving my life.”
Beichen Yuan remained expressionless.
Little liar.
He flicked his sleeve and walked away. Behind him, Ming Yueni’s sweet, obedient voice drifted over: “This servant respectfully sees Your Majesty off.”
Beichen Yuan paused for a moment, his teeth feeling a bit itchy with irritation.
“Yueni, come with me.”
Yinguo beckoned to Ming Yueni, calling out, “Let’s go back to the room. I’ll take your measurements and make you some new clothes.”
“Thank you, Sister Yinguo! You’re so good to me!”
“You, with your sweet mouth… However, this isn’t my doing. It was His Majesty’s idea.”
Upon hearing this, Ming Yueni blinked, her beautiful eyes sparkling with life. She gave a sweet smile. “His Majesty is truly kind.”
Yinguo immediately began to praise him: “His Majesty is a benevolent and wise sovereign! As long as you don’t cross the line, being by his side is much easier than serving the imperial concubines.”
Ming Yueni’s eyes flickered. She stepped forward intimately to take Yinguo’s arm and asked softly, “Sister Yinguo, what exactly is His Majesty’s ‘line’?”
“His Majesty dislikes those with too many schemes.”
Hearing this, Ming Yueni immediately shut her mouth, feeling a prick of guilt.
The journey back was quiet. Once inside the room, Yinguo took out a measuring tape to record Ming Yueni’s dimensions. She gasped repeatedly, her eyes full of admiration.
“Yueni, your waist is so thin! And so soft!”
“Perfectly proportioned… your figure is truly elegant. Even I, as a woman, find it captivating,” Yinguo teased with a laugh, her hand lightly patting the proud, soft curve below that willow-thin waist.
“Sister Yinguo!”
Ming Yueni’s face turned beet red. She covered her backside and skipped two steps away. “I have them, but you have them too!”
Yinguo shook her head with a smile. “It’s not the same.”
She found herself agreeing more and more with Fulai’s assessment. A beauty as delicate, soft, and obedient as Ming Yueni might actually be able to pry open the Emperor’s heart—which was currently harder than a clam shell—and make the old tree blossom!
Looking at those hips, she would surely be able to bear a prince for His Majesty. Then, they could kick the person currently occupying the Eastern Palace back to the countryside!
Yinguo’s smile became even more affectionate and gentle. She put away the measuring tape and instructed Ming Yueni in a soft voice: “Get some rest early. Tomorrow you start your shift at the Imperial Study! If there’s anything you don’t understand, come find me anytime.”
“Thank you, Sister Yinguo. Safe travels.”
As she watched Yinguo leave, the sweet and obedient smile on Ming Yueni’s face gradually vanished. She touched her own cheek, her gaze turning clear and cold.
She knew Yinguo and Fulai had expectations and designs for her; they were placing their bets on her. And why not? She was playing the part of the obedient girl—wasn’t she using them too?
Ming Yueni went to fetch water to wash her face and went to bed early.
The next day.
Before the Emperor had even finished the morning court session, Ming Yueni was already waiting outside the doors of the Imperial Study.
Thus, when Beichen Yuan returned, the first thing he saw was Ming Yueni’s pretty figure. She wore the most ordinary palace maid attire—a pale green that was plain and unremarkable.
But the moment Ming Yueni looked up…
Her face was like a peach blossom, peerlessly beautiful. A pair of lingering, soul-stirring eyes rippled with watery light as she gazed at him with pure admiration and idolization.
Ming Yueni smiled sweetly. “This servant respectfully welcomes Your Majesty.”
Beichen Yuan stood before her, his gaze cold and dark. After looking her over once, he said nothing and strode into the Imperial Study.
Behind him, Fulai led a group of young eunuchs, carrying memorials inside and arranging them on the desk in a quiet, orderly fashion. Ming Yueni followed closely behind, serving tea and grinding ink. Her movements were beautiful and clean, without a hint of noise.
Once the ink was ready, she stood obediently by the desk, her watery eyes looking at Beichen Yuan, waiting for his command. She was so well-behaved it could make one’s heart soften.
Beichen Yuan’s heart stirred slightly. Just as he was about to speak, someone unceremoniously barged in.
“Reporting to Your Majesty.”
The gatekeeping eunuch knelt on the ground. “The Duchess is outside the palace gates, demanding to see the Third Young Miss of the Duke’s Estate.”
Instantly, every eye in the room fell upon Ming Yueni. Beichen Yuan also looked at her.
“Serving Your Majesty is a matter of the utmost importance! This servant is going nowhere!” Ming Yueni’s eyes were full of devotion; her little face looked incredibly obedient.
A trace of a smile appeared in the depths of Beichen Yuan’s dark eyes. He spoke with cold, majestic authority: “Go down! Tell her to wait.”
“This servant obeys!”
When the Emperor handled state affairs, his handsome face was solemn and steady. He was entirely focused, and time passed quickly.
Ming Yueni watched the Emperor’s profile quietly, thinking to herself: A serious man is truly handsome!
He was extraordinarily good-looking and held the highest status of nobility. He could govern the country with his pen and stabilize the world with his might! With such a “great asset” to boot, he was practically perfect!
Infertility? It must be heavens’ jealousy!
A hint of pity unknowingly crept into Ming Yueni’s eyes.
Beichen Yuan was very sharp. His brush stroke paused slightly as his dark eyes shifted toward Ming Yueni.
When their eyes met, Ming Yueni immediately gave a sweet, obedient smile and took the initiative to ask, “Your Majesty, what are your orders?”
“Go out.”
“Ah?” Ming Yueni looked confused and aggrieved. Had she done something wrong?
Beichen Yuan lowered his eyelashes, appearing absorbed in his work. His voice was majestic yet casual: “The Duchess is still waiting for you.”
“Go on. Don’t be afraid. I will back you up.”
Ming Yueni’s eyes lit up. Suppressing the excitement in her heart, her voice was as sweet as honey: “Thank you, Your Majesty. This servant takes her leave!”
Ming Yueni curtsied and withdrew.
Beichen Yuan immediately set down his brush. He leaned his tall, imposing back against the golden-threaded sandalwood dragon chair and said deeply, “Fulai, follow her.”
Fulai agreed with a smile. Before heading out, his eyes darted around as he asked, “Is Your Majesty afraid the Duchess will bully Ming Yueni?”
“If she dares to cause trouble in the Chen Palace, she must be tired of living.”
Beichen Yuan’s implication was that the Duchess shouldn’t be that stupid. He had only one intention in sending Fulai.
“Listen carefully to what they say. Come back and tell me every single word.”
“This servant understands!”
Fulai was well-acquainted with the grounds. He hid behind the corner of a rockery near the palace gate, where he could see the entrance clearly and hear everything.
The Duchess was waiting with extreme impatience!
When she saw Ming Yueni finally emerge, she ignored the guards and eunuchs nearby. She rushed forward in a few strides and raised her palm high—
“You little slut! I’ll ruin that face of yours!”
Ming Yueni nimbly dodged the slap. Taking advantage of the Duchess lunging into empty air and before she could react, Ming Yueni put all her strength into a backhand swing—
Slap!
It was a resounding blow!
The slap sent the Duchess staggering backward until she landed hard on her backside. The pain left her dazed and her mind blank.
The Duchess touched her burning cheek, staring at Ming Yueni in disbelief. “You little slut, you dare hit me? You’re tired of living!”
“Someone, come here!”
The Duchess trembled with rage, screaming at the maidservants behind her: “Pin her down! I’m going to beat her to death!”
“This is His Majesty’s Chen Palace! Don’t you dare!”
Ming Yueni’s single sentence froze the maids and sent a shiver through the Duchess.
Supported by her maids, the Duchess stood up, consumed by both pain and fear. She glared at Ming Yueni with deep-seated hatred: “You little wench, don’t you think you can use His Majesty to scare me!”
“Once His Majesty finds out what you’ve done, he will surely beat you to death himself!”