The Empress has returned to the palace.
This news instantly spread throughout the harem, causing everyone to be on alert. They heard that the Empress was injured last time, and it was the doing of Concubine Wen Birong.
She was now confined to the cold palace awaiting punishment. Even the Wen family behind her had their officials dismissed and their positions revoked. This demonstrated the regent king's formidable power. For a mere fool, so many people were punished. From now on, everyone should be more cautious.
Jinhua Palace gained ten new palace maids and four eunuchs, making it much livelier than before.
Yun Xiao watched all this with a cold eye, understanding it all at once. The Empress Dowager's actions were, on one hand, to appease her father, and on the other hand, to monitor her.
However, these eunuchs and maids did not dare to enter and exit the inner chambers at will. Everyone knew the Empress was formidable. Without Xiuxiu and Xiao He's summons, they only waited in the outer hall, doing rough chores, running errands, and guarding the palace gates.
It was night.
The moon was bright, casting its gentle light over the entire imperial palace, as if draped in a thin veil.
The sleeping quarters of Jinhua Palace were lit by palace lanterns. Under the lamplight, someone was tinkering with things. Wanwan brought tea and stood by, watching her mistress busy herself, fine beads of sweat on her forehead. She quickly put down the tea urn and took a brocade handkerchief to wipe her mistress's sweat.
“Your Highness, what are you doing? Rest for a while.”
Yun Xiao looked up and gave Wanwan a smile, saying nothing more. She was concocting poison. There were likely many people with ulterior motives in the palace, and she had to prepare some means of self-defense.
“If you're tired, go rest. I still have some work to do.”
Wanwan couldn't help but chuckle. Her mistress was truly childlike at times. How could the mistress not sleep while the servant was asleep? She sat down on the stool beside Yun Xiao. “Is there anything I can help with?”
“Hmm,” Yun Xiao nodded, looking up. “Come, crush this and extract the juice.”
Wanwan said no more. The two of them worked together. In the sleeping quarters, the night breeze blew, filling the hall with the scent of medicine.
In the silent dark night, time slipped away like water. Both were a little tired, stretching their limbs and tidying up the items on the table. Suddenly, the voice of a eunuch sounded from outside the sleeping quarters: “His Majesty has arrived.”
This single utterance, in the silent night, was like a lit firecracker, bursting with a crackling sound and igniting a flame. Yun Xiao was utterly astonished. What was the Emperor doing here in the middle of the night? Her pupils slowly darkened…
The sound of pearl beads chiming, a tall figure clad in imperial yellow, walked in, stepping into a room full of radiance.
His steps were somewhat unsteady. The two eunuchs following closely behind reminded him worriedly: “Your Majesty, please be careful!”
This kind reminder did not receive a corresponding reception. Instead, it was met with a roar and a kick. His thunderous voice exploded: “Scram.”
Under the lamplight, bathed in the glow, several eunuchs were startled and retreated backward. The little eunuch who was kicked stumbled and crawled out.
Yun Xiao raised her eyes and looked deeply. She quietly gestured, and Wanwan, receiving the order, wanted to speak but held back. Finally, she slowly rose and retreated.
In the vast palace, the scent of medicine wafted. One person was as violent as an angry lion, while the other was quiet and elegant, like the rare Youtan flower under the night sky, inexplicably charming, a fleeting glimpse of breathtaking beauty.
Shangguan Yao's furious rage instantly diminished by two parts. However, he immediately remembered the purpose of his visit, and his anger flared up again. He took two steps forward, pointing at Yun Xiao, who stood quietly.
“You fool, you actually returned.”
Yun Xiao's dark pupils flickered. She understood in her heart that the Emperor was angry that she had returned. She couldn't help but sigh. If she hadn't returned, they would have punished the Yun family. Now that she had returned, he blamed her. Life was truly difficult.
But she said nothing, her smile becoming even more pure and beautiful. She wanted to see what he could do to her.
In the soft glow, she smiled as beautifully as summer flowers. The upturned corners of her lips formed a radiant arc, and her eyes sparkled like the brightest stars in the firmament.
Shangguan Yao's heart tightened as he looked at her. For no reason, he felt a dryness in his throat. He took another step forward, shaking his head in confusion, vaguely thinking, this was not the fool at all, but a beauty. A woman like a mirage in the moonlit dawn, with a face like a painting, sweet and endearing.
“Who are you?”
Shangguan Yao couldn't help but murmur, the scent of alcohol filling the air as he spoke.
Yun Xiao smiled faintly. So he was drunk. This was wonderful. The corners of her lips curved into a playful smile. There was no one in the sleeping quarters. Even if she did or said something, who would know?
“Your Majesty, I am a goddess.”
“Goddess?”
Shangguan Yao seemed to find it hard to believe, yet also excited. He stared at Yun Xiao with wide eyes, as if afraid that if he blinked, this goddess would disappear.
The drunk Shangguan Yao lacked his usual gloom. His silky hair framed his handsome face, making him exceptionally distinguished.
His chiseled features had eyebrows like delicate willow branches, and his peach blossom eyes were slightly narrowed, a hint of intoxicating charm lingering in his pupils. His smooth, silken skin was tinged with a peach blossom-like flush…
Even though she disliked him, Yun Xiao had to admit one thing: this man was indeed handsome and powerful. It was no wonder so many women rushed into the palace.
However, although he appeared gentle and harmless at this moment, the real him was merely a gloomy and bloodthirsty fellow. The Yun King’s Mansion was a thorn in his side, an obstacle he could not wait to remove.
As Yun Xiao was contemplating, the tall figure suddenly leaned closer. The scent of fine wine wafted to her nose. A large hand gripped her shoulder. Even through her clothes, she could feel the burning heat radiating from his hand.
Yun Xiao was momentarily stunned, blinking her eyes and looking at the man leaning close to her. What did he want to do?
The thought had barely registered when Shangguan Yao actually leaned down, intending to kiss her.
In an instant, Yun Xiao awakened. This man wouldn't even spare a fool. Her pupils turned cold, and she suddenly reached out, pushing Shangguan Yao away, and punched him in the chest.
The drunk Shangguan Yao did not have much ability to resist, so he staggered two steps, regaining his balance. Anger filled his eyes as he pointed at Yun Xiao and coldly shouted.
“Bold! You dare to strike me! So what if you are a goddess? As long as I want it, nothing is unobtainable. This entire realm belongs to me, let alone a goddess. If you dare to disobey my imperial decree, you will only die.”
This man's unrestrained speech thoroughly angered Yun Xiao. The smile on her face deepened, but her eyes were filled with ice.
Alright, so he was just an Emperor who threatened others whenever he pleased. Today, she would show him that some people were not intimidated by him.
Yun Xiao's lips curved into a cold, wicked smile. She leaped up, casually grabbing a nearby gauze curtain, and flung it up like a jade-colored net, wrapping Shangguan Yao in layers.
And she, already closing in, kicked over this arrogant fellow, this pig of a man, who wouldn't even spare a fool. Let him try to take advantage of her.
She leaped high into the air and sat down on Shangguan Yao, hearing a muffled groan from beneath her. Without hesitation, she raised her hand and slapped Shangguan Yao's face.
Let you be arrogant, let you be conceited, always threatening death. Today, let me teach you a lesson.
Yun Xiao rained blows on Shangguan Yao, right and left. Since the man was drunk, he had no ability to fight back, making it the best time for her to strike. Normally, she wouldn't even be able to get close to him.
At first, the man struggled, but then he became completely still.
Yun Xiao quickly released her hand, worried she had beaten him to death. If she truly killed a reigning Emperor, she would likely die an even more miserable death. Even if she was a fool, it would be useless, and the Yun King's Mansion would not escape unscathed.