After leaving Fengyi Palace, Jiang Yunshu deliberately walked at the back of the group.
Her mind was occupied with thoughts of the Emperor and the Empress, then Consort De. The more she thought about it, the more she felt there was some hidden connection between them.
Beside her, Erya whispered,
“Your Ladyship, look at Imperial Talent Lin and Lady An. They seem awfully close.”
Pulled from her thoughts, Jiang Yunshu looked over at the two women chatting intimately.
Imperial Talent Lin?
Lady An?
Whenever she had crossed paths with Lady An before, the woman had never deliberately made things difficult for her.
Yet today, Lady An had openly targeted her.
Could it be because of Imperial Talent Lin?
Heh.
So much for sisterhood. The moment she realized I was no longer useful, she immediately latched onto someone else.
As Jiang Yunshu was pondering this, a young eunuch hurried over.
“Lady Jiang, this servant is Xiao Yuan, one of Eunuch Li’s men. Eunuch Li asked me to pass a message to Your Ladyship.”
“The Emperor has been overworked with state affairs lately. He has been eating poorly and sleeping even worse.”
Jiang Yunshu understood the hidden meaning immediately.
She looked at Xiao Yuan, motioned for Erya to slip him a small embroidered pouch, and thanked him.
Grinning from ear to ear, Xiao Yuan tucked away the pouch and left.
Erya, however, was much more straightforward and couldn’t understand.
“What did Eunuch Li mean by that?”
Jiang Yunshu did.
She looked up at the blazing sun. The scorching heat was enough to roast someone alive.
Which meant…
She had to visit that dog Emperor in the Imperial Study.
Sigh…
His mood must have been terrible lately.
With the pressure from the imperial court, it would be strange if he could still eat and sleep peacefully.
As she walked, Jiang Yunshu considered what she should bring him.
The palace kitchens already produced the finest delicacies imaginable. Anything she cooked normally would hardly stand out.
She needed something novel—something the palace didn’t already have.
Although the summer heat had not yet reached its peak, the fire burning inside Chu Yi’s heart certainly had.
With that thought, Jiang Yunshu quickened her pace back to her palace, completely oblivious to Lady An and Imperial Talent Lin whispering to one another behind her.
Upon returning to her residence, Jiang Yunshu headed straight for the small kitchen.
Technically, her rank didn’t entitle her to have one.
However, because Chu Yi had favored her several times recently, the Imperial Kitchen no longer dared refuse any ingredients she requested.
Once everything was prepared, Jiang Yunshu began cooking.
An hour later…
She looked at the exquisite pastries in her hands and smiled with satisfaction.
Near the end of the noon hour, Jiang Yunshu carried the food box toward the Imperial Study.
Erya held an umbrella over her.
She walked quickly.
Not because she was eager to see Chu Yi sooner—
But because the faster she walked, the sooner she could escape the merciless sun.
After all, an oil-paper umbrella wasn’t exactly effective against ultraviolet rays.
The original owner’s skin was naturally delicate, but that didn’t mean she could keep roasting herself under the sun.
By the time she reached the Imperial Study, tiny beads of sweat dotted Jiang Yunshu’s forehead, and her cheeks were flushed a rosy pink.
Seeing her arrive, Li Quan beamed.
“Your Ladyship! You’ve worked hard coming all this way. This servant will announce your arrival immediately.”
“My thanks.”
Li Quan cheerfully hurried inside and gave Wang An a meaningful glance.
Understanding at once, Wang An approached Chu Yi, who was sitting before his desk with a splitting headache, having barely touched his lunch.
In a low voice he said,
“Your Majesty, Lady Jiang has come to see you.”
Chu Yi looked up.
Lady Jiang…
After all this time, she had never once visited his Imperial Study.
“Let her enter.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Wang An immediately went outside to escort Jiang Yunshu in.
By then, Chu Yi had already lost all interest in reading memorials.
He was reclining on a couch, waiting for Jiang Yunshu.
Today she wore a light bean-green embroidered summer blouse with hanging sleeves, paired with a lotus-leaf skirt of soft blue gauze that swayed gracefully as she walked, accentuating her alluring figure.
She was undeniably charming.
Most women in the palace behaved according to strict decorum.
Especially because of his reputation as a tyrant.
Whenever they looked at him, they trembled with fear, shy and timid.
Only she…
Was bright and confident.
Sweetly seductive.
Even in her obedient demeanor, there was always a hint of playful mischief that he couldn’t quite grasp.
It stirred an irresistible urge within him—
The desire to conquer her.
To tease her until she begged for mercy.
Before Jiang Yunshu could even reach him, Chu Yi suddenly strode forward, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace, gently pressing her against the couch.
Blinking her tear-shaped phoenix eyes, clear and luminous like polished glass, Jiang Yunshu looked up at him almost as though she were already pleading.
“Your Majesty…”
Chu Yi forced himself to calm down somewhat.
His fingers lingered affectionately along her slender neck.
“What have you brought for Me?”
Jiang Yunshu immediately opened the food box.
“I specially made some pastries for Your Majesty.”
As she spoke, she placed a jade plate before him.
Chu Yi’s attention was instantly captured.
The delicate pastries were shaped like flowers, crystal clear and translucent. At their centers rested pieces of fruit, faintly visible through the glistening exterior, making one eager to taste them at first sight.
Jiang Yunshu picked up a small silver fork.
“Please try one, Your Majesty. Let me feed you.”
She held one to his lips.
Chu Yi took a bite.
Cool.
Slightly chewy.
It was an entirely unfamiliar texture—one he had never tasted before.
Just like her.
Unique.
“What is this called?”
“Crystal Cake.”
“A fitting name.”
As he slowly savored the Crystal Cake, one hand wandered leisurely over her slender waist.
Jiang Yunshu carefully attended to him, gently wiping the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief.
Whenever she concentrated, she naturally leaned a little closer.
Breathing in the faint fragrance clinging to her and tasting the unusual pastry, Chu Yi murmured beside her ear,
“Did you miss Me?”
Jiang Yunshu thought for a moment before shaking her head.
“No.”
His gaze darkened.
“You didn’t miss Me? Then why come here?”
“I sensed that Your Majesty has been in poor spirits. I heard you’ve been sleeping badly and eating poorly, so I was worried.”
She continued feeding him with calm patience.
“So you worry about Me… yet you don’t miss Me?”
“Because Your Majesty doesn’t belong to me alone. You are everyone’s Emperor.”
“Besides, Consort De is now expecting a child. How could I compete for your favor?”
“You should spend more time with Consort De.”
“I’ve heard pregnant women often become emotionally unstable and lose their appetite and sleep.”
After saying that, Jiang Yunshu gently set the jade plate down.
At that very moment…
Her stomach let out an unmistakable growl.
Embarrassed, Jiang Yunshu instinctively covered her stomach and smiled awkwardly.
“Your Majesty… have you eaten lunch yet?”
Chu Yi lifted her chin.
“I’ve only stayed away from you for a few days. Has the Imperial Kitchen started neglecting you again?”
Jiang Yunshu hurriedly shook her head.
“Your Majesty misunderstands.”
“I was so worried that you weren’t eating or sleeping well that I became absorbed in making these Crystal Cakes for you…”
“I completely forgot it was already nearly afternoon.”
The moment she finished speaking—
Chu Yi suddenly leaned in.
She had thought this dog Emperor was about to pin her down and bully her again.
Instead…
He simply cupped the back of her head and kissed her.
His mouth still carried the sweet taste of the Crystal Cake.
She found it… slightly unpleasant.
But unfortunately…
He kissed far too well.
The kiss left her dizzy and limp all over.
She thought he would continue further.
Instead, he remained focused on her lips alone, kissing her more and more fiercely.
Soon Jiang Yunshu could barely breathe.
She pushed lightly against his chest, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t move him.
Just when she felt she was about to suffocate—
Chu Yi finally released her.
Instead, his hand gripped her waist tightly.
So tightly that it felt as though he wanted to crush her.
Pain made Jiang Yunshu’s delicate face wrinkle slightly.
Yet she didn’t utter a single sound.
Inside, however, she cursed that dog Emperor a thousand times over.
He was angry.
Furious.
He hated feeling manipulated and cornered.
And Jiang Yunshu—
The unfortunate outlet for all that pent-up frustration—
Was filled with resentment herself.
Yet she couldn’t voice a single complaint.
After a long while…
Chu Yi finally managed to compose himself.
Looking at Jiang Yunshu, whose eyes were glistening with tears from the pain he’d inflicted, something in his heart unexpectedly softened.
“You silly little fool.”
“I hurt you, yet you didn’t even whimper.”
“You didn’t even beg for mercy.”
Such a delicate little thing…
Why was she enduring it in silence this time?
He clearly remembered that she hated pain more than anything.
On the night she first shared his bed, she had even scratched his back until it bled.