Though Yun Shu was indeed a bit of a glutton and enjoyed pastries, even she felt a lack of appetite with a table full of brightly colored pastries and fruits before her.
Her beautiful eyes held a glint of sharpness as she looked at Zhan Tianhong.
"I have already eaten before coming to the palace, so I am not hungry at the moment," Yun Shu replied, her tone carrying a hint of coolness.
Not far from the imperial garden, palace servants occasionally passed by. While keeping their heads down, they would still steal furtive glances in their direction.
The palace had too many eyes.
Zhan Tianhong followed Yun Shu's gaze and his eyes darkened when he saw the servants.
He sat down first.
He knew very well why Yun Shu had come to the palace.
"Miss Yun Er, you have come to the palace to ask me why I issued an imperial decree for Jiang Luoxi to enter Prince Ye's mansion, is that correct?" Zhan Tianhong asked.
Yun Shu nodded. "That is indeed the case." Her bright eyes fixed on Zhan Tianhong.
However, Zhan Tianhong lowered his head, holding a cup of steaming tea, concealing the changes in his expression. He said, "It was the Empress Dowager who came to beg me. She threatened me with her life, demanding that I agree to this matter, and that I repay her for the kindness of raising me for many years. I do indeed owe her a debt of gratitude for raising me."
"So that's how it is," Yun Shu understood, but her mind was already elsewhere.
Zhan Tianhong continued, "I know that Fifth Brother will surely have a way to deal with Jiang Luoxi. My decree did not grant Jiang Luoxi any formal status."
Yun Shu asked no further questions, her gaze towards him sharpening.
"Is Fifth Brother angry?" Zhan Tianhong looked up, his voice laced with anxiety and his expression tinged with unease.
He appeared as cautious and careful as a child who had made a mistake.
This demeanor clashed with the aura emanating from the dragon robe of the Son of Heaven he wore.
Yun Shu was momentarily taken aback.
But soon, she spoke, "Prince Ye has already made arrangements for Miss Jiang."
Zhan Tianhong breathed a sigh of relief. "Please convey to Fifth Brother that I will soon find an opportunity to have Jiang Luoxi and Zuo Yan leave Prince Ye's mansion. I will absolutely not give them a chance to harm Fifth Brother! I have regretted and worried about this matter ever since I agreed to write the imperial decree."
He suddenly stared at her. "Are you angry?"
"I am not angry," Yun Shu replied calmly.
Although she was not angry, she had already confirmed that the young man before her did not seem to trust Zhan Tianye very much, nor was he truly worried about Zhan Tianye.
She couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Zhan Tianye.
Of course, everyone had their selfish side.
Hearing Yun Shu say she wasn't angry, Zhan Tianhong breathed a sigh of relief. "I can promise you that I will soon have Jiang Luoxi and the others leave Prince Ye's mansion. It will not delay your and Fifth Brother's wedding. Have you and Fifth Brother set a date for the wedding?"
"The wedding date has not yet been set, there is no rush. It seems His Majesty's health has improved quite a bit. Do not forget to take your medicine. This humble subject has other matters to attend to, and will take her leave now." After answering, Yun Shu glanced at him deeply and prepared to depart.
Seeing Yun Shu so resolute in her departure, Zhan Tianhong was flustered and hurriedly called out, "Miss Yun Er!"
Yun Shu stopped.
She had already taken a few steps, with some distance separating them.
It was this distance that made Yun Shu momentarily unable to understand Zhan Tianhong.
"Does Your Majesty have any other matters?"
Zhan Tianhong did not know how to explain himself. His initial hasty words had been spoken in a moment of urgency. He calmed himself and said with a smile, "If Miss Yun Er has no other matters, would you perhaps stay and enjoy the flowers with me for a while?"
The imperial garden was filled with flowers in full bloom, competing in beauty and captivating the eye.
He remembered when he was young, there were many concubines in the palace, and they would often come to the imperial garden to admire the flowers. The entire imperial garden became the most lively place in the palace.
But back then, he was young and did not understand how to appreciate them, as his focus was on how to survive.
Now, he wanted someone to accompany him to see the spring scenery and beauty.
The only person he could think of was her.
But in the next moment.
He heard her say, "I apologize, Your Majesty, please forgive me, but this humble subject has other matters to attend to."
After speaking, Yun Shu bowed to Zhan Tianhong and then quickly left.
Zhan Tianhong stood stiffly, his thoughts drifting. He watched Yun Shu walk further and further away, and it felt as if everything around him had become very quiet.
A voice in his heart suddenly asked him, had he done something wrong?
Just then, someone entered the pavilion.
They walked up to Zhan Tianhong.
"Emperor, I can see that you like Yun Shu?" the Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and looked into the distance, though Yun Shu was no longer visible.
Someone had already gone to tell her what had just happened here.
She knew everything.
Especially seeing Zhan Tianhong looking so dejected in the direction Yun Shu had left, she immediately understood.
She couldn't believe that the child who grew up under her nose was a romantic?
He didn't like the women of their Geng family, but instead liked Yun Shu, who had already had children and was about to marry his Fifth Brother!
It had to be said, this child had grown up with a slightly crooked heart!
A good kind of crooked!
Zhan Tianhong had not yet snapped back to reality. Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, he immediately did.
His first reaction was to deny it. "Mother, you are overthinking. She is about to marry Fifth Brother and will soon be my Fifth Sister-in-law. How could I possibly like her! I was just lost in thought."
Listening to Zhan Tianhong's explanation, the Empress Dowager smiled confidently. "Your Majesty need not rush to deny it. Love between men and women is normal. Moreover, Your Majesty should hold a selection of consorts to bring more ladies into the palace! You are the ruler of this nation. You can decree to have any woman in the world you desire, let alone a mere Yun Shu. You have been plagued by illness since childhood and have endured more hardship than ordinary people. Now that your health has improved, you should naturally plan more for yourself."
These words were like poison.
They seeped into Zhan Tianhong's heart, little by little.
The Empress Dowager thought to herself, old ginger is the spiciest. Zhan Tianhong, who grew up before her, could only be manipulated by her.
"Mother!" Zhan Tianhong's face darkened, and he shouted sternly.
That old witch!
Damn old witch! Zhan Tianhong cursed in his heart, then said coldly, "Mother, it would be best if you no longer speak such words. Fifth Brother and I are brothers. Miss Yun is fond of Fifth Brother, and they are mutually in love. I will bestow marriage upon them."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager did not get angry. Instead, she lowered her voice and said slowly, "There is something that the Emperor likely does not know. Someone has told me that Prince Ye has the fate of a celestial destroyer and lone star. He can only be a solitary man in this lifetime. If anyone marries him, they will surely perish prematurely. Yun Shu is Your Majesty's savior. Can Your Majesty truly bear it?"
"Celestial destroyer and lone star?!" Zhan Tianhong was extremely shocked.
How had he never heard Fifth Brother mention it?
Nor had he heard Yun Shu mention it?!
"Yes, it was a renowned master who determined his fate as a celestial destroyer and lone star. No one can alter Prince Ye's destiny," the Empress Dowager nodded with a smile, like a kind elder.