“Second Young Master, what’s wrong with you?”
“Ever since you caught a glimpse of that Miss Zhou earlier, you’ve been completely out of sorts. Could it be that Miss Zhou is a fox spirit in disguise?”
Cen Shaoyuan’s page had grown up with him and was a house-born servant.
The boy was exceptionally clever, and with the bond of having grown up together, he was extremely diligent and proper in front of the mistress. But privately, he understood his young master’s temperament well, so he spoke rather casually.
He hadn’t expected his young master to respond at all.
Ever since returning from outside, his young master had seemed as if he’d lost his soul. He had plopped down on a large rock by the artificial hill in the small courtyard, chewing on a stray blade of grass, his gaze vacant as he stared into the distance, lost in thought.
Yet the moment the page finished speaking, Cen Shaoyuan suddenly clapped his hands.
“Qingshu, do you think there truly exists in this world a great beauty capable of toppling cities and kingdoms?”
Qingshu immediately perked up upon hearing this.
“There must be, how could there not be?”
“If there weren’t, wouldn’t that mean the tales from the past were all made up?”
Cen Shaoyuan leaped down from the artificial hill, startling Qingshu, who patted his chest vigorously. “Second Young Master, please be careful! You scared me half to death!”
Cen Shaoyuan paid no mind. He beckoned to his servant. “Help me prepare a horse…”
“No, help me find out where the Zhou residence is.”
“Come to think of it, it’s rather presumptuous of me—I’ve never paid them a visit all these years…”
Qingshu: ?
“Second Young Master, which Zhou residence?”
Cen Shaoyuan raised an eyebrow. “Which one else could it be?”
Qingshu suddenly remembered the Zhou family young lady who had come to break off the engagement today. His pupils constricted. “You mean… Miss Zhou?”
Cen Shaoyuan tapped him on the forehead. “Obviously!”
Qingshu had a sudden realization, though he still felt somewhat puzzled. “But wasn’t it said that Miss Zhou’s face was marred when she was young? And now that the engagement between her and you… has been broken off, wouldn’t it be inappropriate to go and pester… ah, no, to visit?”
Hearing this, Cen Shaoyuan abruptly grew flustered and angry.
“Am I the young master, or are you?”
Qingshu: “…You are!”
…
After returning to the Zhou residence, Zhou Mingyi stayed in her room without going out.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study at the palace.
A masked Imperial Shadow Guard knelt before Emperor Qianwu, reporting what he had witnessed that day.
“Your Majesty, while Consort Zhou’s father was still alive, he arranged a marriage for her. The groom was the second legitimate son of Cen Fang, the Assistant Minister of the Household of the Heir Apparent.”
“Consort Zhou personally went to the Cen residence today to break off the engagement.”
“Other than that, there was nothing unusual.”
“However, after the matter was settled, that Second Young Master Cen chased after her, seemingly dissatisfied with the broken engagement, and accidentally…”
The Shadow Guard paused.
As a Shadow Guard assigned by Emperor Qianwu to Zhou Mingyi’s side, tasked with protecting her, he had naturally seen her face.
A woman of such heavenly beauty—any normal man who saw her would find it hard to resist.
Second Young Master Cen was no exception.
“…accidentally saw the Consort’s face…”
The imperial brush in Emperor Qianwu’s hand paused.
He then said in a deep voice, “Was there any issue with the breaking of the engagement?”
The Shadow Guard replied, “The Consort has retrieved the token of promise and torn up the marriage contract.”
Emperor Qianwu nodded and lowered his head again to review the memorials.
“It’s good that the engagement is broken.”
The Shadow Guard stole a glance at Emperor Qianwu and added, “Afterward, that Second Young Master Cen specifically sent someone to inquire about the Zhou residence and brought gifts to pay a visit.”
“Oh?”
Emperor Qianwu did not like fickle women.
Zhou Mingyi was already his woman, and he naturally disliked her having too much contact with other men.
Especially when that man was her former fiancé.
But on second thought, this newly acquired Jieyu Zhou was born with such heavenly beauty. Even if it was not her intention, it was normal for men to see her appearance and develop interest in her.
Emperor Qianwu began to reflect.
Three days… was that too long?
He should have brought her into the palace that very day and kept her by his side.
But since he had already promised her, it would not be good to go back on his word.
Emperor Qianwu frowned, “You continue to protect Jieyu Zhou closely. Before she enters the palace, do not let anyone disturb her.”
The Imperial Shadow Guard was about to withdraw when Emperor Qianwu suddenly said, “You said, Jieyu Zhou’s father…”
The Imperial Shadow Guard cupped his hands, “Lord Zhou Yanjin.”
Emperor Qianwu was taken aback.
“She is Zhou Yanjin’s daughter?”
Emperor Qianwu certainly remembered Zhou Yanjin.
He suddenly recalled Zhou Mingchong speaking eloquently in the Golden Luan Hall, his eyes bright and spirited.
No wonder he always felt this young man looked familiar.
Now that he thought about it, it overlapped with an image from many years ago—the same youthful demeanor, radiant and spirited.
Only, his father’s appearance was even more stunningly handsome.
It was rare for a man’s appearance to be described as “stunningly beautiful.”
But Zhou Yanjin’s grace and looks could only be matched by such a word of resplendent beauty.
Speaking of which, this lad Zhou Mingchong fell somewhat short compared to his father.
Instead, his newly acquired Jieyu beauty truly and perfectly inherited all of Zhou Yanjin’s best qualities.
Moreover, as a woman, Zhou Mingyi’s appearance was more delicate and radiant, her skin fairer, her figure exquisite and graceful, her body even softer—he had deeply experienced such beauty…
If their father was Zhou Yanjin, no wonder he could produce such a pair of children!
However, back then, Zhou Yanjin served as an official, his loyal minister, an upright remonstrating official.
If that old fellow were still alive and knew he had taken his daughter as a concubine, he would probably stand in the Golden Luan Hall and debate with him for three hundred rounds!
Remembering Zhou Yanjin’s stunningly beautiful grace and his unyielding integrity, Emperor Qianwu felt inexplicably guilty.
Well, what’s done is done. Even if that old fellow were still alive, it would not change reality.
Ming Yi—he was determined to have her!
…
Night fell, and Cen Shaoyuan still guarded the Zhou family’s gate, unwilling to leave.
Zhou Mingchong, knowing he was the second young master of the Cen family, changed his expression, hardly giving him any friendly looks.
Each time he came, he was driven away, not even allowed through the gate.
Cen Shaoyuan was furious but helpless.
Finally, gazing at the high wall, an idea came to him as his eyes shifted.
…
Zhou Mingyi was in her room doing embroidery.
This was a habit she had cultivated over many years.
In her previous life, she was sent by the Cen family to the Taizi Fu, possessing nothing of value and with empty pockets, so she could only return to her old trade.
Her embroidery was extremely exquisite and could fetch a considerable amount of silver.
But the Eastern Palace was filled with the Crown Princess’s lackeys. The embroidery she worked on for days and nights only brought back meager amounts of silver.
Not even enough to reward the servants.
If even a small Eastern Palace was like this, now that she was about to enter the palace, having money on hand was very important.
This piece of embroidery had taken her over half a year. Ming Yi aimed to exchange it for a large sum.
It would be finished in a few days. Sending it to a familiar embroidery workshop, it could fetch at least several hundred taels of silver.
Money obtained for free naturally should not be refused.
“Why doesn’t the host immediately take the Childbirth Pill?”
The System’s indifferent voice suddenly rang out.
“Although I have become husband and wife with that man, he has been childless for many years. If I were to conceive after just one night with him in the temple’s side chamber, would you believe it if you were him?”
System: “He has sent Imperial Shadow Guards to protect you in secret, which undoubtedly carries an element of surveillance.”
“Moreover, becoming pregnant earlier would allow you to gain his attention sooner.”
“He should care deeply about having heirs.”
Zhou Mingyi understood the System’s meaning.
She hadn’t spent much time with the System yet, but she was gradually growing accustomed to its presence.
It spoke little, and its voice was filled with indifference.
Yet Zhou Mingyi felt this kind of companionship was just right.
“I need to silence the gossiping mouths.”
“This pregnancy cannot come too early.”
“Besides, what comes too easily may not necessarily be cherished.”