His back looked so much like someone else’s, but he had never paid her any attention, so it seemed they were strangers.
Finding it uninteresting, Mei Siyu made an excuse to use the restroom and secretly ran back to the Yangfeng Palace. “Miss, you’re finally back. Did everything go smoothly?” As soon as she entered, Xiao Rou grabbed her, interrogating her.
“Relax, I’m back, so nothing happened. I’m so thirsty. I wish I could have a glass of fruit juice right now,” Mei Siyu lay on the royal chair, curling up greedily.
“Fruit juice? Is that a type of tea?” Xiao Rou asked her mistress.
Mei Siyu realized she had misspoken again and quickly explained, “Oh, it’s a very delicious tea. I’ll make it for you someday.” Thankfully, she had responded quickly.
[Text: 010 Waiting in the Rain]
Tonight, he asked her to meet at the rockery. Should she go or not? Mei Siyu pondered deeply, finding it hard to decide.
He was the first close male she had met since arriving in ancient times. Whenever she recalled that night’s scene, she would blush, her heart racing. His unique subtle fragrance, his precisely defined exquisite features, the innate extraordinary temperament he exuded – all of these created ripples on her previously calm heart’s lake.
Crouching beside the rockery, her thin body trembling, she still felt the cold wind. He asked her to come out, but he didn’t show up. What was going on! She had been waiting for about two hours. She wanted to leave, but feared he would arrive just as she did, so she continued to wait patiently.
He held her hand tightly, which felt noticeably thin. Her outward appearance seemed delicate and weak, but her inner spirit was surprisingly strong. What kind of woman was she? Sometimes pure, sometimes fragile, sometimes clever and quirky – in any form, she was stunning! Even someone like him, who had seen countless people, was shocked by her beauty!
Entering the imperial kitchen, the spacious room contained only the two of them. “Wait a moment, I’ll check if there’s anything left to eat,” Ming Leng Chen said, walking towards the stove. “I’ll come with you,” Mei Si Yu grabbed him as he was about to turn, speaking lightly.
Without a word, Mei Si Yu followed Ming Leng Chen, seeing only some pastries piled on a porcelain plate. “There’s nothing much to eat now, just make do with these,” Ming Leng Chen said.
”Mm, this is delicious! What is it made of? It’s really good!” Mei Si Yu, already hungry to the point of feeling her back touching her chest, ate without hesitation, talking while eating.
Ming Leng Chen gently wiped the food crumbs from the corner of her mouth. “Eat slowly, be careful not to choke.” Her every move was so pure and simple, without any affectation, which deepened his good impression of her.
”Haha, it’s fine, cough cough!” Mei Si Yu couldn’t stop coughing, her almond eyes tightly closed, looking in great pain. She took the water Ming Leng Chen handed her and drank it in large gulps, her adorable appearance once again drawing him in.
Seeing the flickering light in the distance, Ming Leng Chen sensitively pulled Mei Si Yu’s body down, and they both crouched under the table, not daring to make a sound. “Have they gone far?” Mei Si Yu asked softly. This was the second time they had been so close to avoid others. The entire room was quiet, so quiet that they could hear each other’s heartbeats and steady breathing.
”Ah, the sleepyheads are out. I guess you’re tired too?” Mei Si Yu covered her mouth, yawning. “It’s so late, let me take you back. Which palace are you from?” Ming Leng Chen asked caringly.
What should I do? How should I answer? I can’t say I’m the imperial concubine. Who would dare to be friends with the emperor’s concubine? “I’m a maid from the Yang Feng Hall, who snuck out. You must keep my secret!” Her watery, beautiful eyes looked pitifully at Ming Leng Chen, hoping he wouldn’t distance himself because she was from the Cold Palace. It would be such a shame to lose a friend she had just made!
He had long guessed her status as a maid but never expected her to be from the Yang Feng Hall. The woman’s humiliation towards him was still vivid in his memory. He never thought such an ugly woman would have such a beautiful maid.
”I will keep the lady’s secret, please be at ease,” Mei Si Yu got the answer she wanted and couldn’t help but feel secretly delighted. “Where do you work? You seem to move around freely.”
”I’m the emperor’s personal bodyguard, responsible for his safety,” he said casually, not wanting to reveal his true identity. He just wanted to interact with her normally, believing his noble status would only add pressure to her.
”You must be quite impressive! Your martial arts must be excellent!” Mei Si Yu sincerely praised.
”It’s okay. Aren’t you tired? Shall I take you back?”
”No need, I can go back myself. You should rest too!” As she spoke and walked out, her foot slipped, and she fell forward, directly into Ming Leng Chen’s arms. Their lips met, and just like that, Mei Si Yu offered her first kiss!
Mei Si Yu opened her eyes wide. At first, it was a light kiss, but he never expected her to be so sweet, so different from ordinary women. Gradually, the intensity deepened, their lips and teeth meeting. Ming Leng Chen looked at Mei Si Yu lying in his arms, her cheeks blushing, her almond eyes closed, unconsciously letting out soft moans.
”You’re so careless, falling while walking,” Ming Leng Chen’s deep eagle eyes gazed at Mei Si Yu, who hadn’t yet come to her senses. Her clumsiness excited him, and he could feel her innocence.
Mei Si Yu left his embrace, feeling an inexplicable sense of loss, wondering if she was acting like a lovesick fool! “Cough, the floor was slippery. Well, I’m really leaving now.” She just wanted to escape quickly, feeling so embarrassed!
Before Ming Leng Chen could react, her graceful figure had already disappeared into the night. “You will be my wife!” he thought, his gaze resolute and unusually gentle.
Although Mei Si Yu had been very careful, she still woke up Xiao Rou sleeping on the floor. “Miss, you’re not being good. You’re coming back later and later,” Xiao Rou said, trying to look serious.
Under Xiao Rou’s care, she changed out of her silk dress and into a cute self-made pajama, holding Xiao Rou’s hand. “Don’t be angry, I’ll make you juice tomorrow.” Clearly a bribe and a coaxing attempt.
”Miss, your face is so red. Could it be a pollen allergy?” Xiao Rou asked, concerned about Mei Si Yu’s flushed face, remembering a similar occurrence last time.
Mentioning it only made her face even redder, looking like a cooked shrimp! “It’s so hot! I don’t know why I feel so warm!” She kept fanning herself, making even others feel hot!
After finally getting through the moment, both of them fell asleep. The sky was already showing a faint light, which meant Mei Si Yu would be walking around with panda eyes the next day. She must have encountered something good in her dream, her mouth forming a large arc.
The next day.
”Miss, what are you doing with so many fruits? Can you even eat all of these?” Xiao Rou asked worriedly, looking at the table full of various fruits, no less than a dozen. This was like preparing a fruit feast! She couldn’t guess what was on her mistress’s mind!
Mei Siyu, with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, mixed various fruits and preserved fruits in a homemade container, crushing them with a small stone pestle until a reddish-brown liquid flowed out. She then poured the juice into a porcelain bowl, added a bit of warm water, and slowly stirred it, creating a unique, fresh natural fruit juice!
Mei Siyu confidently handed her labor of love to Xiao Rou, saying, “Try it, it’s incredibly delicious!” She then picked up another bowl and drank it with relish.
