Mei Fei only lingered in Li Longji’s embrace for a moment, lying on his bed before the bedding could even warm. Quickly, the rooster crowed. Soon, a young eunuch rushed in panic, reporting: “Your Majesty, no, it’s not good, the Noble Consort has arrived.”
Before the words could fully land, the distinctive sound of jingling ornaments announced Yang Yuhuan’s approach.
Li Longji, the current emperor, was so frightened that his face changed color, falling into panic. He hurriedly dressed while pulling Mei Fei and hiding her in a wall cavity.
At this moment, Mei Fei finally understood that Li Longji had not summoned her to rekindle their relationship, but merely on a whim – tired of plump women and wanting to glimpse a thin woman, purely for entertainment.
Yang Yuhuan was the most important woman in Li Longji’s life, willing to sacrifice his imperial dignity for her love.
And she was less than a speck of dust.
Li Longji was obsessed with women, but his passion bloomed only for Yang Yuhuan.
Poor Mei Fei, completely deceived by Li Longji. Her dream of resurrection, just beginning to spark, was ruthlessly extinguished.
Yang Yuhuan, incredibly bold, entered without waiting for summons, demanding: “Where is Mei Jing?”
Li Longji, lowering himself, feigned innocence: “What? Who? Mei Fei? Isn’t she in the Eastern Palace?”
The narrative continues with intense dramatic tension between the characters, revealing the complex emotional dynamics of the imperial court.
He strode away with confidence.
Li Longji lay on the bed, motionless. He was also angry.
This Yang Yuhuan was too presumptuous, daring to think and act, ruining her noble consort image like a shrew. But Li Longji endured. He knew endurance was about character and cultivation. As a man, one must endure; as a husband, even more so.
Mei Fei had been hiding in the wall, not daring to breathe, like a thief stealing someone else’s husband.
After Yang Yuhuan left, Mei Fei timidly emerged. With Yang Yuhuan’s commotion, Li Longji had lost all interest in Mei Fei. He listlessly waved his hand, weakly saying: “You can go back. I’m tired and want to rest.”
Mei Fei sighed softly. She was completely defeated by Yang Yuhuan and completely without any chance of turning things around.
Li Longji said: “No need, rest for a bit and it’ll be fine. My beloved concubine, go watch the sunset, you don’t need to accompany me.”
Yang Yuhuan looked at him suspiciously.
What’s wrong? Why suddenly feeling unwell?
Li Longji’s gaze was evasive, not daring to look Yang Yuhuan in the eye, afraid his look would betray him.
Yang Yuhuan suddenly smiled softly and tenderly: “Since Your Majesty is unwell, please rest. I’ll go watch the sunset.”
Li Longji hurriedly nodded: “My beloved concubine, go ahead.”
Yang Yuhuan inwardly sneered. Did Li Longji think she was a fool? During the banquet, Li Longji and the Lady of Guo had been flirting, exchanging meaningful glances. They might have fooled others, but did they think they could fool her? Li Longji and the Lady of Guo thought themselves clever, believing they could hide their affair. They didn’t know that fools often think themselves the smartest.
Yang Yuhuan didn’t expose them. She knew there was no proof. Catching adultery requires catching both parties.
She smiled cheerfully, as if nothing was wrong, leading a group of attendants and leaving grandly. She laughingly said she must hurry to appreciate the sunset’s beautiful posture, or it would descend the mountain and be gone.
As soon as Yang Yuhuan left, the Lady of Guo quickly rushed over.
Who doesn’t love power, unless they’re an idiot?
Her sister Yang Yuhuan’s prosperity, extravagance, wealth, and arrogance made the Lady of Guo jealous. She dreamed of being like her sister or becoming another Yang Yuhuan. Why not? She believed she was no worse than Yang Yuhuan.
Li Longji and the Lady of Guo didn’t realize their romantic encounter would end before it began. They only managed to embrace tightly, strip each other naked, and admire each other’s natural state. But they didn’t have time for anything else.
Yang Yuhuan returned, accompanied by eunuchs and court ladies.
Li Longji was so startled he became impotent.
The Lady of Guo hid under the covers, not daring to breathe, clearly guilty.
Yang Yuhuan trembled with anger, her face icy cold. Before her were the adulterous pair – the man she loved and her own sister who had risen to prominence because of her. They had betrayed her, secretly engaging in an illicit relationship. Yang Yuhuan felt her heart breaking. Her body was tense, her heart racing, her reason lost. In an instant, the most intense hatred ignited within her.
Yang Yuhuan was furious, smoke billowing from her seven orifices.
Li Longji, feeling guilty, timidly called: “My beloved concubine—”
Yang Yuhuan ignored him, turning away and ordering her terrified attendants: “Prepare the carriage! Return to the palace!”
Li Longji was unwilling, calling again: “My beloved concubine! Come back! Come back to serve!”
Yang Yuhuan refused to return, ignoring Li Longji’s repeated calls. So what if he was emperor? Did being emperor mean he could betray her and have an affair with her sister?
Yang Yuhuan angrily boarded the carriage and returned to the palace alone.
Li Longji also returned to the palace, feeling embarrassed and angry, engaging in a standoff with Yang Yuhuan.
Gao Lishi, with a compassionate heart, secretly came to offer advice to Yang Yuhuan: “Oh, Your Highness, go apologize to the Emperor, explain that you were feeling unwell and had to return.”
Yang Yuhuan was still angry: “Why should I apologize? The Emperor should apologize!”
Gao Lishi was stunned: “How can the Emperor apologize to a concubine?”
Yang Yuhuan insisted: “He is clearly in the wrong.”
Gao Lishi advised: “Your Highness, the Emperor is still the Emperor. Please go apologize and calm his anger.”
Yang Yuhuan stubbornly refused: “No! I’m the one who should be angry.”
Gao Lishi was helpless.
Li Longji waited all night, but never heard Yang Yuhuan say “I’m sorry.” He felt humiliated.
It was just the Lady of Guo – he didn’t love her, just momentarily lost control, briefly indulging in a fleeting affair.
Li Longji grew more and more angry. Hmph, Yang Yuhuan, she’s just a beautiful woman, who can sing a bit, dance a bit, compose some music and lyrics – what’s so great about that? There are plenty of beautiful women in the world. If he wanted, anyone could be his wife. What’s the big deal?
Li Longji was, after all, an emperor. The words “Your Majesty” aren’t just empty titles. A tiger doesn’t show its might just to be seen as a sick cat. Li Longji decided to teach Yang Yuhuan a lesson.
Tossing and turning all night without sleep, Li Longji finally waited for dawn and quickly climbed in, issuing an imperial decree for the young eunuch to read: Yang Yuhuan was to leave the palace immediately and move to the Yang Gu Mansion.
Yang Yuhuan was still angry. Expelled? Who cares? This imperial palace isn’t exactly heaven on earth. She, Yang Yuhuan, wasn’t afraid of starving on the streets.
Without saying a word or taking anything, she immediately left the palace.
As soon as Yang Yuhuan arrived at her brother’s home, a crowd of people followed. They weren’t there to kick her while she was down.
Relatives and connections from the Yang family all came. The Yang mansion was shrouded in a tense, oppressive atmosphere, with everyone anxious and fearful.
Word spread quickly.
Everyone knew Yang Yuhuan had angered the emperor and been driven out of the palace. They feared the emperor might go further and punish the entire clan. Those with the surname Yang, or related to the Yang family, were preparing for potential punishment – mutilation, execution, or worse.
