At a time like this, Wen Chu was in no mood to eat osmanthus cakes. He said, “Let’s talk about official business first”
“Your Majesty!” Yuwen Jie’s peach-blossom eyes brimmed with a resentful expression. “Your subject didn’t sleep a wink, hurried back to the imperial capital without stopping, and went to buy osmanthus cakes without resting for even a single moment.”
The osmanthus cakes from Liu’s shop were famous throughout the imperial capital. They went on sale early in the morning and would be completely sold out within half an hour, leaving people with no choice but to wait until the following day to buy them.
During the morning court, Wen Chu had felt a bit puzzled as to why Yuwen Jie had returned so early, only to realize he had been awake the entire night.
“Thank you, Lord Yuwen, for buying these osmanthus cakes for me.”
With that, Wen Chu reached out, his fair and slender fingers pinching a piece of osmanthus cake, and began eating it absent-mindedly.
Yuwen Jie gazed sideways at Wen Chu with a smile, as if admiring a rare and precious treasure.
Wen Chu was dressed in red, light, charming, and refined. His natural elegance and breathtaking grace were peerless and matchless.
“Has Your Majesty ever deeply loved someone?”
Wen Chu’s eating motion paused. After a few moments of silence, he replied, “I have.”
Yuwen Jie asked again, “How long ago did you fall in love with that person?”
Wen Chu lowered his long eyelashes: “I loved him the very first moment I laid eyes on him.”
Before Yuwen Jie could ask anything further, Wen Chu spoke first, “That person is dead.” His gaze dimmed. “Let’s change the subject.”
“Very well,” Yuwen Jie said with a look of considerable regret, his peach-blossom eyes lifting as he continued, “How about this let’s change it so that Your Majesty asks me the question I just asked you.”
Having a favor to ask of him, Wen Chu had no choice but to humor Yuwen Jie: “Does Lord Yuwen have someone you love?”
“I do.” As he spoke, Yuwen Jie leaned in close to Wen Chu. “My heart is devoted to Your Majesty—it was love at first sight, spanning a lifetime in a single glance.”
Wen Chu pushed Yuwen Jie away: “Don’t be like this. I am not as good as you think, and I am not worth of your devotion.”
He paused and added, “Aside from the commoners outside, all of you know that Yu’er was born by me…”
“I will treat Yu’er as my own flesh and blood,” Yuwen Jie interrupted Wen Chu. “I love Your Majesty deeply, and I will never let Your Majesty suffer through the agony of childbirth again. Yu’er will be our only child.”
Yuwen Jie was entirely clear about all of Wen Chu’s affairs, which showed just how closely he had been paying attention to him.
Wen Chu did not say a word, quietly sizing up Yuwen Jie.
Yuwen Jie had bright, handsome features, and when he furrowed his brow slightly, he exuded a somewhat wild, captivating allure.
Could that person from four years ago actually have been him?
Unaware of what was passing through Wen Chu’s mind, Yuwen Jie continued, “Your Majesty and I are truly fated. Both of us fell in love at first sight with the person of our affections, and even my name contains Your Majesty’s surname.”
Wen Chu was not listening to him talk; his gaze was carefully scrutinizing Yuwen Jie’s features, trying to find any resemblance to Yu’er within his face.
Just then, Yuwen Jie leaned in close once more. When Wen Chu moved to avoid him, Yuwen Jie said, “Don’t move.”
Instinctively, Wen Chu froze in place. Yuwen Jie raised a hand and wiped away a crumb of osmanthus cake lingering at the corner of Wen Chu’s lips, then with complete composure and naturalness, popped it into his own mouth. Looking rather pleased, he remarked, “Fragrant and sweet—it’s all the taste of Your Majesty.”
Yuwen Jie’s action was far too flippant. After all, Wen Chu was the Emperor and possessed his own dignity.
At that moment, Wen Chu’s face burned red with humiliation. His phoenix eyes flared with anger as he stood up, flicked his sleeves, and stormed out.
After leaving the brothel, Wen Chu boarded his carriage and returned to the imperial palace.
Throughout the entire journey back, Wen Chu was in a terrible mood.
In the past, whenever he felt upset, he would always go to the pavilion in the middle of the lake to breathe in its cool, refreshing air suffused with the faint fragrance of lotus blossoms.
Upon returning to the palace, Wen Chu didn’t even bother to change out of his casual attire before heading straight to the lake pavilion.
“I am such a fool!” Wen Chu gazed out at the shimmering, rippling surface of the lake.
During the morning court, he should have already recognized that Yuwen Jie’s lingering glance was extraordinary.
Yet he had self-deceptively comforted himself into thinking he was just overthinking things.
For Yu’er’s sake, he was willing to do anything.
Wen Chu bitterly regretted his own impulsiveness.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from behind. Wen Chu hurriedly composed his emotions and turned around, only for a face colder than ice to thrust itself into his view.