Shangguan Yin's lips curled into a smile, his posture unmoving.
"Xiao'er, marry me."
Yun Xiao froze, taken aback. She hadn't expected him to propose, especially not in this place. Her face flushed even deeper, her body as soft as tofu, incapable of doing anything or saying anything. She could only whisper a single word.
"Yin."
Shangguan Yin gently bathed Yun Xiao first, then himself. Once both were clean, he carried Yun Xiao out of the bathroom.
He saw that the kiss marks from the previous day had not yet faded from her body, and new ones had been added today. The corners of his lips curved into an even more bewitching smile.
Yun Xiao leaned against the screen, standing steady. Although she felt energetic and not as tired, her legs were so weak they felt like they didn't belong to her, forcing her to support herself with the screen.
Once Shangguan Yin was dressed, he scooped her up and carried her back to the sleeping quarters.
Along the way, she grumbled with displeasure, "Shangguan Yin, what are you doing again?"
"Yin," the Emperor corrected her seriously, a smile playing on his lips, like a fox that had successfully stolen a taste of chicken.
Inside the sleeping quarters, Shangguan Yin selected a mint-colored silk jacket for Yun Xiao, pairing it with a water-smoke skirt and black boots embroidered with gold patterns. She looked captivating and vibrant, though her legs moved with evident effort.
So, he carried her to the luxurious dragon bed, picked up a cloth, and began to dry her hair. Yun Xiao let him have his way, while also snatching a towel to dry his hair. The two of them made a playful commotion in the palace.
Outside the sleeping quarters, Fu Hai reported cautiously, "Your Majesty, Prince Lin and Princess Anle have arrived."
Shangguan Yin initially nodded casually, but his expression turned cold upon hearing the name Princess Anle.
Murong Yingxue must know the meaning of the Six Pulse Divine Heart, yet she had concealed it. This woman's ambitions were clearly not extinguished. Fortunately, he had brought up the matter of marriage between the two nations with the Northern Emperor today. Murong Yingxue would soon be married into the Northern Dynasty.
Shangguan Yin thought as he commanded, "Let them wait."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Fu Hai's footsteps receded. Shangguan Yin had already dried Yun Xiao's hair and then called out towards the outside, "Someone."
Four maids entered the sleeping quarters, standing respectfully and cautiously. They heard the Emperor's command, "Help Miss Yun with her hair."
"Yes."
One of the four stepped forward. She was a palace maid specialized in grooming. Carefully, she helped Yun Xiao to sit by the dressing table in front of the phoenix mirror. With skillful hands, she styled Yun Xiao's hair into a graceful bun, selected a silver hairpin inlaid with pearls, and carefully held up the phoenix mirror for Yun Xiao to view. She was somewhat nervous, fearing this mistress might be difficult to serve.
They could tell that the Emperor doted on this daughter of the Yun Royal Manor immensely.
She had been a fool before, but now, not only was she no longer foolish, she appeared exceptionally intelligent. It would be best for them to be more careful from now on.
Yun Xiao glanced at it and nodded. She was not overly concerned with her appearance, as long as it wasn't vulgar. She could accept anything simple and neat.
"Your craftsmanship is good."
Yun Xiao praised the palace maid. Upon hearing this, the maid fearfully knelt down. "Thank you, Miss Yun."
Shangguan Yin walked over from behind. Yun Xiao saw that he had finished tidying himself, his jade crown neatly securing his hair, flowing naturally. She couldn't help but marvel that this man was even more adept than her at handling everything himself.
It seemed that he had never allowed anyone to assist him in the past, and had thus developed the habit himself.
"Shall we go? Does Xiao'er want to go out?"
Yun Xiao initially did not want to go. She hadn't yet married the Emperor but was already living in the palace and had experienced such events with him. While modern people might not mind, ancient people would find it difficult to accept. However, thinking of the words on Murong Yingxue's face, she wanted to see it. In the end, she nodded.
Shangguan Yin reached out and embraced her, and the two of them left the sleeping quarters, heading towards the outer hall.
In the main hall of Qingxiao Palace, there was a deathly silence. Shangguan Lin and Princess Anle Murong Yingxue were glaring at each other, their eyes locking in a stare. Amidst the glint of swords and the flash of sabers, a palpable aura of slaughter permeated the air. At this moment, the voice of a eunuch rang out.
"The Emperor has arrived."
The two immediately retracted their gazes and looked respectfully towards where the eunuch had spoken. Several young eunuchs filed out, followed by a figure in imperial yellow, tall and straight.
As Shangguan Yin approached, Murong Yingxue and Shangguan Lin finally saw clearly. The Emperor was holding someone in his arms. Because they were some distance away, they couldn't discern who it was.
However, looking at the pampering and tenderness in the Emperor's lowered gaze, both of them guessed the identity of the person almost simultaneously.
Yun Xiao.
It was this woman again. Murong Yingxue's face suddenly turned pale, looking extremely unpleasant. Her body trembled uncontrollably. The veil on her face covered half of it, making it impossible to clearly see her expression.
However, her eyes shot out fierce, murderous glances, staring at Yun Xiao without blinking, wishing she could stab two holes into her. One of her hands gripped the armrest beside her tightly, steadying herself.
Shangguan Lin, however, was the opposite of Murong Yingxue. His face was full of smiles. It seemed Yun Xiao had forgiven his elder brother, which was excellent. Ji Qingge and Yan Yu, those two scoundrels, would not be able to scheme.
Neither of them considered that the Emperor had now recalled everything.
Murong Yingxue watched as the Emperor gently placed the person in his arms onto a phoenix chair to the side, then turned back to his own seat.
Looking up, his face was now filled with regal authority. His clear and stunning features were shaded with coldness, his pupils exceptionally sharp and malevolent. The aura of aggression around him, he coldly eyed Murong Yingxue.
Murong Yingxue was startled, wondering what had happened to her cousin Murong. Moreover, recalling what Yun Xiao had done to her, she was already filled with rage and indignation. She knelt down with a thud.
"Please, brother Emperor, uphold justice for Yingxue! Yun Xiao actually brought a philanderer to sneak attack Yingxue at night, not only trying to ruin Yingxue's reputation but also writing such vulgar words on Yingxue's face."
As Murong Yingxue spoke, she pulled aside the thin veil on her face, revealing her visage. The redness had faded, and two words were clearly visible on her fair skin: 'Bitch'.
After speaking, Murong Yingxue began to cry.
Shangguan Lin opposite her laughed without reservation, pointing at her and saying, "How amusing! It suits you quite well. Why is the Princess getting angry? It's just a joke."
Upon hearing Shangguan Lin's words, Murong Yingxue abruptly looked up, glaring at him fiercely, wishing she could devour him.
"Does Prince Shangguan think that ruining a woman's reputation can be treated as a joke? Writing such words on a princess's face, how am I supposed to go out and see people?"
Shangguan Lin, feeling a sense of disdain, was about to retort when the Emperor at the head of the hall gave a light cough. Shangguan Lin immediately fell silent, looking at the Emperor.
The Emperor Shangguan Yin's deep and stern voice slowly resonated.
"Then why does she only target you and not others? Can't you reflect on yourself? Did that philanderer injure you? These two words were simply written with medicine. I believe there are ways to remove them. So, what have you done yourself to provoke such an action?"