Over on the other side, Wang An wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
This little mistress… she’s outrageously bold! She’s done for. There’s no way she’ll keep her head now!
He had thought she had a promising future.
Who would have guessed her future was simply death?
Cold sweat drenched Jiang Yunshu from head to toe.
Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined…
That damned emperor liked her neck this much!
He was actually stroking it in broad daylight.
Was Heaven deliberately toying with her?
Sending her straight to the emperor in the middle of the day…
Just to send her to her death!
She was certain this was the end.
Yet after a long while, the emperor still said nothing.
Slowly, she raised her head and met Chu Yi’s leisurely, amused gaze.
Jiang Yunshu’s heart skipped a beat. Her cherry lips trembled before she suddenly began to sob softly.
“Your Majesty… please just cut off this concubine’s head.”
Death might be better.
Living in the imperial harem, constantly walking on eggshells, was exhausting.
The corners of Chu Yi’s lips curved slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes.
She was probably the most obedient person to kneel before him in the entire harem.
On the surface, she submitted to him completely.
But in her eyes…
There was unmistakably a trace of defiance.
He could almost hear her cursing him in her heart.
Who in the harem wasn’t afraid of him?
Their fear came from the depths of their souls.
But she…
She had just slapped him.
Although she was trembling all over with fear and kneeling to beg for mercy…
Deep inside…
She still refused to yield.
He had ruled for five years.
From court officials to the women of the harem, who wasn’t terrified of him?
She was the first.
Chu Yi reached out and pulled her to her feet.
Jiang Yunshu’s body was limp—so soft she could barely stand. She almost fell into his arms again, but managed to steady herself at the last second.
This damned emperor is impossible to figure out.
She had slapped him.
Yet he had personally helped her up?
Does he have a thing for being abused?
Without another word, Chu Yi walked toward the pavilion in the Imperial Garden.
Jiang Yunshu hurried after him, trembling, her head lowered.
The moment she saw him stop, she immediately halted as well.
“Raise your head.”
She looked up.
Only the two of them remained inside the pavilion.
“Look at me.”
His cold voice left no room for refusal.
Jiang Yunshu obediently complied, though she dared not meet his eyes directly.
His gaze was as deep as an abyss, as though it could swallow a person whole.
“Did I say I was going to cut off your head?”
Chu Yi arched a brow, his voice calm and cool.
Jiang Yunshu shook her head.
Then she nodded.
Neither response seemed right. Her eyes darted about before she said in a trembling voice,
“This guilty concubine deserves death. I was outrageously reckless and nearly offended Your Majesty. Simply beheading me would be too lenient. Please allow this concubine to atone for her crime…”
Chu Yi looked at her with a half-smile.
“Atone?”
“Yes!”
She didn’t want to die.
Then she’d have to throw herself into his arms.
Since this mad tyrant liked playing games…
She would play with him to the very end.
“Oh? Then how do you intend to atone?”
He was genuinely curious.
Since when had his harem gained such an interesting woman?
Jiang Yunshu boldly lifted her eyes to meet the Son of Heaven’s face and slowly walked toward him.
Dancing?
Too ordinary.
She needed to do something different.
Chu Yi sat upright, watching her with composed interest.
Jiang Yunshu stopped in front of him and leaned in.
To her surprise…
He didn’t avoid her.
From that angle, his eyes fell upon the graceful curve of her neck.
She was now certain.
He liked her neck.
He wouldn’t cut off her head.
Such a beautiful neck…
It would be a pity to sever it.
Once she was sure of that…
Jiang Yunshu pressed a kiss against his neck.
She felt his Adam’s apple bob.
Encouraged, she grew even bolder, rubbing her neck lightly against his.
Chu Yi’s breathing hitched.
The next instant, Jiang Yunshu found herself lifted into the air.
He carried her straight to the Palace of Heavenly Order.
Who could have imagined…
That this tyrant was actually so innocent when it came to intimacy?
The moment she teased him, he completely lost control. In broad daylight, he pinned her onto the couch in the Palace of Heavenly Order and thoroughly indulged himself.
Front.
Back.
Their necks entwined.
By the time it was over, every inch of her body was covered in blooming red marks like plum blossoms.
The corners of Jiang Yunshu’s eyes were tinged red, her beauty now even more enchanting.
Her bold gamble had worked.
She had successfully won over the tyrant—and saved her own life.
But she knew very well…
For now, she was relying solely on her beauty to keep his favor.
One day…
He would grow tired of her.
This wasn’t a long-term solution.
If she wanted to remain favored, she’d have to keep reinventing herself from time to time.
That day, the tyrant carried her all the way from the Imperial Garden to the Palace of Heavenly Order.
It wasn’t until two full hours later that she was finally allowed to leave.
Most importantly…
She had to walk back on foot.
Her steps were unsteady, her posture unmistakably awkward.
Anyone who saw her could immediately guess what had happened…
And just how intense it had been.
The entire way back, Jiang Yunshu cursed under her breath.
Damned emperor.
Bloody tyrant!
I’m finished.
I’m going to become everyone’s target.
That bastard is trying to get me killed!
But she never expected…
Trouble would come so quickly.
She had barely reached the palace walkway…
When Noble Consort Wan’s sedan chair appeared.
Jiang Yunshu immediately stepped aside and bowed.
“This concubine greets Noble Consort Wan.”
From inside the sedan, Noble Consort Wan looked Jiang Yunshu up and down. Disdain flashed across her beautiful face.
“Which palace are you from?”
“This concubine is Noble Lady Jiang of Shuixiang Courtyard, Anning Palace.”
Glancing toward the Imperial Garden ahead, Noble Consort Wan said lightly,
“I have nothing to do today and wish to stroll through the Imperial Garden. You may accompany me.”
Yaya was about to speak.
Jiang Yunshu discreetly tugged at her sleeve, signaling her to stay silent. Then she stepped forward and said,
“It is this concubine’s honor to accompany Your Ladyship while admiring the flowers.”
Noble Consort Wan glanced at Jiang Yunshu again.
Then she noticed the red marks on her neck.
Her pupils instantly contracted.
The emperor kissed her!
He actually kissed her!
The emperor had never kissed anyone before.
He was always rough and direct.
Why was he treating this woman differently?
Little slut.
Shameless temptress!
A trace of twisted malice surfaced on Noble Consort Wan’s exquisitely beautiful face.
Without even looking up, Jiang Yunshu could already feel the hatred radiating from her.
She wanted to pull up her collar to hide the marks…
But there was no covering them.
And in her heart, she cursed that damned emperor for the eighteenth time.