Xiao Rou handed her the new clothes sent by Liu Gongong as her answer. Her mistress had become more cheerful, which was heartening, but her eating manner was hardly befitting an imperial concubine! If the Emperor saw her like this, he would surely not praise her elegant demeanor.
“Wow, such a beautiful dress! Was this sent by him? I didn’t expect a eunuch to have such good taste!” Mei Siyu’s pink face showed surprise, looking adorably cute. She asked Xiao Rou to help her change, loving the outfit so much that when she put it on, it fit perfectly, as if tailored just for her.
“Miss, the dress is not just from Liu Gongong, but the Emperor’s intention. He hopes you’ll wear it to the banquet.”
Mei Siyu’s attitude fully expressed her love for the dress. Under Xiao Rou’s care, she bathed and dressed, sitting before a bronze mirror, allowing her maid to style her hair and apply makeup. After careful preparation, a pure and ethereal beauty emerged!
With curved willow-leaf eyebrows, a touch of cinnabar between them, cherry-like pink lips, smooth hair hanging behind her ears, a jade hairpin, she looked fresh and elegant. Wearing a white and pale yellow floral dress with diamond-studded hem, a golden jade pendant on the right side, lotus-shaped earrings – she looked breathtakingly beautiful.
Xiao Rou, always by her side, was also stunned: “Miss, you’re so beautiful! So transcendent, like a celestial fairy, not a mortal woman.”
“Oh, I think I could be even more beautiful,” Mei Siyu boasted playfully, sticking out her tongue at Xiao Rou, who couldn’t help but smile. Her mistress was mischievous yet pure, with beauty in every gesture.
As night fell, guided by Liu Gongong, Mei Siyu walked through the winding corridors to the Yangyan Palace, admiring the beautiful scenery – countless pavilions and exotic flowers captivating her attention.
“Well, if it isn’t the famous Mei Concubine,” a contemptuous voice spoke. Mei Siyu looked up to see Shu Concubine, the clingy woman who disgusted her.
Liu Gongong, recognizing the formidable Shu Concubine, bowed and stood aside.
“Wan’er pays respects to Mei Concubine,” a small woman behind Shu Concubine said shyly. Wan’er was petite and delicate, the type one would want to protect.
“Siyu greets Shu Concubine,” Mei Siyu curtsied, smiling slightly at Wan’er.
“Such a provocative dress. Where are you going?” Shu Concubine spoke sharply.
“Don’t you think it’s beautiful? The Emperor specially sent it to me,” Mei Siyu said loudly, intentionally trying to provoke her.
Mei Siyu walked past Shu Concubine, leaving her fuming and Wan’er silent, with Liu Gongong following, always smiling.
At the Yangyan Palace, “Emperor, Mei Concubine has arrived,” Liu Gongong announced.
“Mm, you may leave,” Han Lenchen said expressionlessly.
As they were left alone, Mei Siyu met his deep gaze, feeling her heart race, and greeted: “This concubine pays respects to Your Majesty.
Casually picking up the wine pot, he filled the wine cup standing before him, then poured himself a full cup, his voice equally soft and gentle: “Your Majesty, this cup of wine is my apology to you, for my inappropriate words that day.” Saying this, he first raised the wine cup and drank it in one gulp, then turned the empty cup upside down to show he had finished it completely, his sincerity evident.
He looked at her face, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, picked up his wine cup and drank it all, and as soon as the cup was set down, he pulled her into his embrace with a turn, lowering his head to kiss her tempting red lips. “Your Majesty, don’t be in such a hurry, I still have something to say.”
Ming Lenchen held Mei Siyu in his embrace, his sensual thin lips brushing against her forehead, taking a light sip, “My beauty, can’t we talk about this later?” As he spoke, his hands restlessly rubbed her back, declaring his deep affection.
“I will punish you with a cup,” she again filled his cup and handed it to him, speaking tenderly: “Blame you for kicking me off the bed.” It seems the previous cup was not intense enough, unexpectedly not causing the anticipated heat, so she was preparing to administer another strong dose, ensuring he would soon be begging her! A good revenge for her humiliation.
Ming Lenchen gazed at her with tender eyes as she spoke eloquently beside him. Today she was unusually attentive – there must be a trick, but he wanted to surrender, even if it meant getting drunk. He could dive into her gentle embrace; dying under the peony flowers, even as a ghost would be romantic!
Without much thought, he drank it all in one gulp, then put down the cup, about to embrace the beauty beside him. Unexpectedly, she had already fled far away, as if he were a terrifying snake or beast. This action only increased his suspicions – there must be something in this wine. He had always been highly alert, yet this time he had easily fallen into a woman’s trap.
Her avoidance made him understand that he might have been drugged. Otherwise, she, who was usually reserved, would not be so attentive or eager to toast him. He shook his slightly dizzy head, trying to maintain his remaining rationality, and approached her.
His approach terrified her. After all, she knew the reason best. The drug in the wine was not an ordinary sleeping potion, but an aphrodisiac that would make one unable to stop! Imperial Doctor Liu had repeatedly warned her to use it in moderation. She had thought him too verbose, but now she realized the drug’s effects were extraordinarily powerful and shocking.
“Your Majesty, aren’t you feeling unwell? Your face looks like a monkey’s bottom, how interesting,” Mei Siyu knew she was in grave danger but still couldn’t resist teasing him, considering it revenge for being kicked before. Who told him to be so heartless then? Now she was giving him a small lesson!
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Thank heavens, her appearance was just right! If not for her, chastity might have been lost!
“Who are you, why are you trespassing in the Yanyan Palace?” Ming Lengchen’s heart was already burning, and he was just about to succeed when this strange woman completely ruined everything. If she didn’t have a reasonable explanation to convince him, she would die a miserable death!
“This concubine was just selected and, because Noble Consort is feeling slightly unwell, I boldly came to see the Emperor, hoping to… check on my sister,” she said tremblingly, intimidated by his presence, her head bowed low, not daring to meet his gaze.
Her voice sounded so familiar, like Wan’er’s. Hearing her mention the Noble Consort’s poor health, Mei Siyu guessed it was indeed Wan’er from earlier.
During his questioning, Mei Siyu quickly straightened her disheveled clothes. Once presentable, she peeked out from behind the curtain, wanting to see who had arrived. She was certain that whoever it was would suffer, because he was already cold, and under the influence of the passion drug, he would be incredibly irritable – even a child could predict he would explode!
Looking back at his cruel face, which was frighteningly gloomy, no wonder he terrified the young girl. As the instigator, would she die an even more miserable death? She had heard of cruel punishments – incredibly perverted methods like being torn apart by five horses, dismemberment, molten lead burial, and more – absolutely horrifying!
She was just past 20, had already died unjustly once, and after finally borrowing a body to return, she might be subjected to torture before her seat was even warm. Wouldn’t that be too unfair? She needed to escape, at least before he could take his anger out on her, and flee far from this source of danger!
