The hall was silent. Ye Suxue and Shangguan Yao sat together on a couch in a corner.
"Why has His Majesty come? Isn't there morning court today?" Ye Suxue asked with a raised eyebrow. She knew perfectly well that the Emperor had been beaten and was afraid the court officials would notice, which was why he skipped morning court. However, even if she knew, she couldn't let it show, or it would cause annoyance.
A flash of ferocity quickly crossed Shangguan Yao's pupils before he returned to normal. He reached out, embraced Ye Suxue, and spoke in a gentle voice near her ear.
"I'm feeling a bit unwell today, so I skipped morning court. I came to see Suxue while paying respects to the Empress Dowager. Doesn't Suxue wish for me to come?"
Ye Suxue immediately smiled, overjoyed. "What is Your Majesty saying? Your concubine is truly grateful. It is your concubine's honor that Your Majesty thinks of her."
Ye Suxue's soft words, like a spring breeze, brushed against Shangguan Yao's heart. His morning's ferocity finally dissipated a little.
"Such a gentle Suxue, and so virtuous and wise, who else could be the mistress of this harem but you?"
A gleam appeared in Shangguan Yao's dark eyes. His words made Ye Suxue feel like she saw a glimmer of dawn in the dark night. She was very excited, and a flush spread across her cheeks.
"What does Your Majesty mean by that?"
Shangguan Yao continued, "It's a pity there's a fool in the palace. If not for that fool, I would have already made Suxue Empress."
Instantly, the hope in Ye Suxue's heart was shattered. Yes, there was still a foolish Empress in the palace. If she wasn't deposed, how could she be made Empress?
But her aunt forbade her from touching her. Could she only watch that fool continue to occupy the Empress's position? A cold glint appeared in Ye Suxue's pupils.
A hidden smile flickered across Shangguan Yao's lips. Women, indeed, were so vain.
"Your Majesty, since the Empress Dowager doesn't allow me to touch her, should I just watch her occupy the Empress's position?"
Ye Suxue, being clever, did not mention what happened last night. The faint visible injuries on the Emperor's face proved that the eunuch's report was not false.
If she brought it up, the Emperor might suspect her, a mere concubine, knew his whereabouts so well.
If he knew her schemes, the Empress's position might be out of her reach, and it would benefit that slut Consort Xian.
"Suxue is a smart person, doesn't she have any ideas about this?"
Shangguan Yao hinted at it and said no more. He believed Ye Suxue would understand. He had only given a subtle hint; he hadn't said anything concrete.
Ye Suxue lowered her eyebrows and nestled in Shangguan Yao's embrace, her pupils flashing with brilliance. Did His Majesty mean she could act?
If so, she was no longer afraid. No matter how powerful her aunt was, she was just an Empress Dowager. His Majesty was the most important person in Dong Qin.
"Your Majesty, your concubine understands," her soft voice filled the hall. The two, each with their own thoughts, shared a moment of tender affection...
In Zhaoyang Palace, after the Emperor left, Ye Suxue summoned her trusted maidservant, Yue Mei.
"Your Ladyship, what has happened?"
Yue Mei saw that her mistress seemed very happy and excited, and couldn't help but ask with concern.
Ye Suxue suppressed the excitement in her heart and slowly looked at Yue Mei. "His Majesty wants to deal with that fool."
"Deal with the Empress?" Yue Mei blinked. Why would His Majesty tell her Ladyship such a thing?
"Mistress, why would His Majesty tell you this? Is it perhaps for Your Ladyship...?"
Yue Mei didn't finish, but her eyes widened. Yue Mei did not approve of her mistress doing such a thing. The Empress was not like before.
She was extremely volatile. Hadn't her mistress suffered enough last time?
If she provoked her again, she might still not fare well. Moreover, the Empress Dowager had already issued a decree that anyone who dared to touch her would be ground to dust.
Ye Suxue didn't speak, but nodded slightly.
"Your Ladyship, this absolutely cannot be done. The Empress Dowager has issued an imperial decree. If you do this, you will undoubtedly be going against her. The Empress Dowager is someone who values face. If such a thing reaches her ears, Your Ladyship will not get off lightly. Furthermore, His Majesty has many ways to deal with the Empress, why would he use Your Ladyship's hand?"
Ye Suxue paid no attention to Yue Mei's advice. Her mind was filled with how to deal with the foolish Empress. But this time, she wouldn't be so rash. Recklessly provoking her would only attract the Empress Dowager's attention.
"Yue Mei, I know you mean well for me. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. This time, I won't be so impulsive. Help me think of a way."
Ye Suxue had made up her mind. Yue Mei knew that no amount of persuasion would work, so she could only keep quiet and lower her head to think of a plan for her mistress. Since her mistress was determined to do it, she had to do it as well as possible and not let the Empress Dowager know about it. Thus, Yue Mei's pupils flashed.
"Your Ladyship, I know someone. This person had previously asked for my help to come to Zhaoyang Palace to serve Your Ladyship. I will first privately inquire about the Empress's situation."
"Good, you are truly Yue Mei."
Ye Suxue smiled happily and waved her hand, signaling Yue Mei to go and handle it. Yue Mei responded and walked out. Standing at the entrance of the hall, she couldn't help but look back at the resplendent hall. Was this truly appropriate?
She felt uneasy in her heart. The Ye family and the Yun King's mansion already had strained relations. If something else were to happen, the two families might completely break off. What exactly did His Majesty intend?
Inside Jinhua Palace.
In the side hall, Yun Xiao was having her meal, with Wanwan and Xiuxiu waiting by her side.
The two maidservants looked at their Empress, who was eating happily, thinking about what happened last night. They exchanged glances, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Did the Empress really get violated by His Majesty last night? She didn't seem like it at all. If Your Ladyship wasn't violated, then why?
Wanwan finally couldn't help but walk over and speak with a smile.
"Your Ladyship, last night...?"
"What is it?" Upon hearing this topic, Yun Xiao's mood suddenly became gloomy.
Thinking that the man actually wanted to violate her made her feel nauseous. A man who had touched countless women wanted to kiss her? Forget kissing, just the thought made her feel dirty.
How could she possibly let him kiss her? If he hadn't provoked her, she wouldn't have openly challenged him. But if he provoked her, even if he was the Emperor, she would still hit him.
As for the unspeakable scene at the end, it was merely to ensure her own safety.
Wanwan looked at her mistress, who had been happy a moment ago, but now looked upset upon hearing her words, and couldn't help but worry.
"Did Your Ladyship really get violated by His Majesty?"
As soon as she spoke, Xiuxiu glared at her and walked over respectfully, saying, "Wanwan, that's not called violation, that's called favor. The Empress is still His Majesty's concubine. It's natural for His Majesty to favor his concubines, so how can it be called violation?"
Wanwan glared at Xiuxiu and said with dissatisfaction, "But Your Ladyship is a fool. Is it not a bit immoral for His Majesty to do that?"