Emperor Qianwu listened, his interest growing even stronger.
A peerless beauty, coupled with an intriguing soul—this woman was becoming more and more fascinating.
“And what is the truth?”
“And what is the falsehood?”
Seeing that Emperor Qianwu was indeed intrigued, Zhou Mingyi replied, “The falsehood is that this humble woman is overjoyed. To serve by Your Majesty’s side and become Your Majesty’s woman is this humble woman’s fortune.”
Emperor Qianwu raised an eyebrow.
“Is this your falsehood?”
“You are unwilling to enter the palace and serve me?”
His brows were high, his gaze deep and faintly oppressive.
The woman’s eyes instantly reddened.
The middle-aged emperor’s frown suddenly relaxed. Why was she crying again?
Then he heard the woman continue:
“This humble woman has been staying in this temple to pray for her elder brother’s well-being, but unexpectedly encountered Your Majesty…” She glanced up at the dignified and handsome middle-aged emperor.
She continued, “This humble woman has lost her chastity, yet she and Your Majesty are not acquainted, nor is there any affection between us.”
“This humble woman only knows that her chaste body has been given to a stranger, and thus she feels despair and fear.”
“This humble woman’s parents passed away early, and she has relied on her elder brother since childhood.”
“Now that she knows she has lost her chastity to Your Majesty, her heart is naturally tied to her elder brother’s safety. I beg Your Majesty to show mercy to my elder brother!”
She struggled free from the middle-aged emperor’s embrace and bowed her head in a deep kowtow.
“As for this humble woman…” The peerless beauty lowered her eyes, her expression gentle and submissive. “Since she has become Your Majesty’s woman, naturally, she will obey Your Majesty in all matters.”
Emperor Qianwu understood. She did not yearn to enter the palace as a concubine; it was only because she had lost her chastity that she had no other choice.
For some reason, a wave of disappointment washed over him.
I, the Son of Heaven, am of the highest status. To become an imperial concubine to the emperor—is she not pleased?
He wanted her to love him willingly, to enter the palace and stay by his side of her own accord.
But upon second thought, in this matter, he and the Empress Dowager had wronged her.
He lifted the peerless beauty and drew her into his embrace.
“You are good. I will not allow you, a bright pearl, to be cast into darkness.”
Zhou Mingyi had no intention of disguising her personality before Emperor Qianwu.
She had relied on her elder brother since childhood, teaching herself embroidery, and her temperament was resilient.
What kind of person she was—if Emperor Qianwu ordered someone to investigate, it would not be difficult to uncover.
Sometimes, mixing seven parts truth with three parts falsehood could better confuse the heart.
As for last night’s seductive demeanor, it was all due to the aphrodisiac administered by the Empress Dowager, not her true nature.
A naturally seductive enchantress who relied on her beauty to serve might win the favor of the middle-aged emperor, but what Zhou Mingyi wanted was submission.
She wanted Emperor Qianwu to fall at her feet, to be captivated by her.
Even if she were exposed in the future, he would believe that she had changed because of her experiences, not that she had always been a woman consumed by ambition and desire.
She softly uttered an “Mm,” her voice gentle and submissive.
Emperor Qianwu gently pinched the peerless beauty’s chin. Her skin was luminous and fair, her eyes shimmering, and faint tear stains still lingered on her snow-white cheeks.
She looked utterly pitiful.
He lightly brushed her tear stains with his slightly rough fingertips, his fingers involuntarily moving toward her slightly parted lips. Recalling the intoxicating and soul-stirring taste of the previous night, Emperor Qianwu’s gaze gradually deepened.
Zhou Mingyi was not an inexperienced young girl.
Seeing Emperor Qianwu’s expression, she knew exactly what this man was thinking again.
She cursed him inwardly as a lustful devil, yet her cheeks involuntarily flushed with a faint pink hue.
A peerless woman, shy and timid, always evoked tenderness and affection.
Emperor Qianwu now truly wished to take her into the palace immediately and treasure her away.
“After all this talk, beloved Fei, you still haven’t told me your name or age.”
“This humble girl’s given name is Zhou Mingyi, my childhood name is A Chang, and I am sixteen years old.”
Zhou Mingyi replied softly.
“A Chang?”
“Beloved Fei’s beauty is peerless, like a celestial maiden from the moon. A fine name, indeed.”
Emperor Qianwu then shifted the topic, speaking with interest, “Sixteen… that happens to be the same age as my Princess Chaoyang.”
Mention of Princess Chaoyang caused Zhou Mingyi’s eyes to darken slightly, though her expression remained unchanged.
“Your Majesty’s daughter is the same age as this humble girl?”
“But Your Majesty is majestic and does not appear old at all. If you hadn’t mentioned it, this humble girl would have thought you were only a few years older than my elder brother.”
She raised her eyes, looking at Emperor Qianwu with slight surprise.
The woman’s astonished expression pleased Emperor Qianwu.
As a man and the most revered emperor, no one had ever dared to imply he was old.
Yet, gazing at the exquisitely beautiful and charming Meiren before him, Emperor Qianwu felt a slight pang in his heart.
His daughter was already this age—he truly was getting old.
“I am thirty-seven this year, much older than you.”
“Rest assured, I will protect you and ensure no one mistreats you.”
Zhou Mingyi lowered her gaze and said softly, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
At this moment, Emperor Qianwu found himself liking Zhou Mingyi more and more.
This fondness stemmed mainly from her peerless beauty, as well as her seemingly delicate yet perfectly compatible body, which captivated him and brought him immense pleasure.
Holding his newly acquired beauty, he gently stroked her slender waist with his large hand, his actions intimate as he coaxed softly, “Why not come with me into the palace today?”
But Zhou Mingyi shook her head gently.
She turned her face away, her cheeks flushed and even her earlobes tinged with a faint pink.
Emperor Qianwu truly adored her shy demeanor.
He had the Three Palaces and Six Courts, and though he had difficulty producing heirs and had ceased selecting new consorts in recent years, he had favored many young and beautiful women in his earlier years.
Now, looking back, she was the only one who truly matched him.
In terms of beauty alone, no one could compare to her.
“Why?”
The tall and majestic emperor frowned in confusion.
Zhou Mingyi replied, “Your Majesty, this humble girl came to Hanshan Temple to pray for my elder brother’s well-being.”
She raised her eyes and glanced at Emperor Qianwu. “Now that the Buddha has shown his grace and Your Majesty is wise, my elder brother can return safely. So, I wish to go home first.”
“This humble girl has relied on my elder brother since childhood, as he has been both father and mother to me.”
“Once I enter the palace, I fear it will be difficult to see my elder brother often. I wish to bid him a proper farewell.”
This was a natural sentiment, and Emperor Qianwu granted her request.
“Indeed, you are a thoughtful and kind-hearted girl.”
He took her hand. “I will accompany you. I cannot bear to be apart from you.”
Zhou Mingyi, her face flushed, did not refuse again.
Emperor Qianwu had ruled the empire for twenty years, accumulating immense authority and possessing a strong personality.
Now, blinded by infatuation, if she refused him repeatedly, she might risk angering him.
The patience of those in power was always limited.
For now, he was merely infatuated with her appearance and had not yet fallen in love with her.
Zhou Mingyi knew she had no right to be willful.
…
Zhou Mingchong left the palace in a daze.
Over the past few days, to force him to yield, Princess Chaoyang had ordered that no food be sent to him.
At first, Zhou Mingchong found it absurd.
He was the Tanhua Lang of the current imperial examination, and this was the palace, where the emperor held ultimate authority.
How could a princess act so arbitrarily?
However, Zhou Mingchong had overestimated himself and underestimated Princess Chaoyang’s standing in the Emperor’s heart.
Princess Chaoyang ordered him locked in a palace hall, with palace attendants guarding outside. Unfamiliar with the place and having no connections, he had no means to seek help.
Emperor Qianwu had no Empress, and the highest-ranking imperial concubine in the palace was Princess Chaoyang’s birth mother—Consort Chen.
Mother and daughter controlled the rear palace, doing as they pleased.
Princess Chaoyang declared that if he refused to submit, he would be starved, and a few more meals withheld.
She wanted to see just how unyielding his bones were!
Zhou Mingchong had already gone hungry for a full four days.
Fortunately, there was a well in the rear courtyard of that palace hall.
When the hunger became truly unbearable, he would quietly fetch a bowl of water and gulp it down.
Only thus had he endured until now.