The Empress Dowager smiled and looked around with satisfaction. When she saw Princess Jingyue eating silently with her head down, she couldn't help but sigh. Tonight, besides wanting to entertain Emperor Wu of Shaoyi, she mainly wanted Princess Jingyue to see the young master from Beilu and choose one for a marriage alliance between the two countries. But as it turned out, it seemed that the princess had no such intention at all, and her efforts had been in vain.
Besides Ruan Jingyue, Princess Zhaoyang Feng Yao and Princess Anyang Yan Xiaoxiao were also very frustrated. Look at how well the Emperor takes care of Ji Hailing, and look at their own husbands, one only stares at the beautiful women and the other only eats, completely ignoring them.
However, Princess Zhaoyang Fengyao and Princess Anyang Yan Xiaoxiao dared not cause trouble in front of the Empress Dowager, so they smiled and chatted with her, interspersed with a few words praising the beauty of Princess Hailing and Princess Jingyue.
The young masters from noble families also started a conversation, chatting with the Emperor and Emperor Wu of Shaoyi Kingdom, making the banquet lively.
Everyone had their own agenda. Hai Ling disliked this kind of occasion, but she didn't show it on her face and continued eating her meal expressionlessly.
Miss Xi Yuan from the Xi family was lively, teasing Hai Ling from time to time and occasionally throwing a coquettish remark, making the atmosphere even more harmonious. Besides their table, the people at the other table also started whispering among themselves, mostly about family matters. Who would dare to discuss sensitive topics in front of the Emperor?
The meal took almost an hour.
After the meal, the Empress Dowager was a little tired. She greeted Mu Ye and went to rest.
After exchanging pleasantries with Mu Ye, Ye Lingfeng issued an eunuch ordering the eunuchs to escort Emperor Wu of Shaoyi back to the Ji residence. He then instructed the eunuchs to send everyone in the main hall out of the palace.
After a night of torment, the young masters of those noble families had long wanted to leave. At the Emperor's command, they ran faster than rabbits. Although many of them had initially been thinking about Princess Jingyue, seeing her face, which was dark from head to toe, they found even the most beautiful woman tiresome, so no one had any designs on her anymore.
Hailing and the others also took the opportunity to leave Cining Palace and prepare to return to their residence.
However, the carriage did not leave the palace. Instead, it took her to the imperial garden. Ji Shaocheng was worried about his sister being taken back to the palace alone, so he followed closely behind her.
Cixi Palace.
Princess Ruan Jingyue lived in the side hall. Although she had been injured, she had recovered after a few days of rest. She was sitting on the soft couch in the room with a gloomy face. Her maids did not dare to approach her. Her personal maid, Xiaoxi, was missing.
Although Ruan Jingyue's face was dark, her cheeks were as red as rouge, making her extremely beautiful.
She felt a little hot and her breathing was rapid, but Ruan Jingyue didn't think much of it, assuming it was just because she was feeling hot and irritable that night, so she didn't take it to heart.
Just then, a nimble figure ran in through the palace gate; it was none other than Ruan Jingyue's personal maid, Xiaoxi.
As soon as Xiaoxi rushed in, she went to Ruan Jingyue's side and whispered in her ear.
"Princess, Emperor Xie has returned to his palace."
"Alright, I'll go there now."
Ruan Jingyue's previous anger vanished, her eyes sparkling with a captivating charm, her entire being radiating an alluring light, a smile playing on her lips: "I will definitely get into Emperor Xie's bed, and then we'll see how Ji Hailing marries."
Ruan Jingyue said smugly, since everyone in this palace was her person, she didn't need to hide her feelings at all.
However, the maid Xiaoxi was a little worried: "Princess, if Emperor Xie still doesn't marry you, won't you be at a disadvantage?"
Having wasted her health for nothing, Ruan Jingyue laughed even more heartily upon hearing Xiaoxi's words.
"You're overthinking it. What kind of person am I? If Ye Lingfeng favors me, he has to give an explanation to the Southern Ling Kingdom. Do you think he can refuse to marry me?"
Ruan Jingyue wasn't worried about that; her current focus was on figuring out how to get Ye Lingfeng to truly favor her.
Why did she choose to do this tonight? Because Ye Lingfeng had been drinking tonight. Most men lose their senses when they drink, and she didn't believe that a woman as beautiful as her could resist him if she appeared in front of him. So, if he doted on her, he would have to marry her.
"Princess?"
Xiaoxi wanted to speak, but Ruan Jingyue was impatient, and her chest felt hot, as if she was excited just thinking about Ye Lingfeng.
"Walk."
Ruan Jingyue led Xiaoxi and two maids out of the side hall of Cixi Palace without making a sound. She instructed the remaining maids to guard the hall door and not allow anyone to break in.
Ruan Jingyue, her maid Xiaoxi, and two other people who were all skilled in martial arts carefully avoided the palace guards, eunuchs, and maids, and headed straight for the emperor's palace.
The Qingqian Palace was very quiet, and the lights were bright.
There were many eunuchs and palace maids in front of the main hall. It was impossible to enter without being noticed. The only way was to enter from the back. There were also many guards behind the hall, so one had to be extremely careful. Ruan Jingyue was skilled in martial arts, so it was no problem for her. However, the maids were not very agile. To avoid being discovered, Ruan Jingyue instructed the maids to wait outside the main hall and not to alert anyone. She went in alone.
Xiaoxi watched her go in and felt uneasy. She wanted to follow, but was met with a cold stare from Ruan Jingyue.
There was another reason why she didn't let Xiaoxi and the others follow. If Ye Lingfeng didn't care about her body at all, then she could at least pretend that Emperor Xie wasn't in the palace. If Xiaoxi followed her in and found out that her master had offered himself up but he didn't want her, how could she face anyone?
As soon as Ruan Jingyue left, Xiaoxi gestured for the group to crouch in a corner so they wouldn't be noticed.
A maidservant on one side couldn't help but whisper, "Sister Xiaoxi, the princess seems a little different tonight."
Xiaoxi thought about it carefully and realized that the princess's face was flushed, her breathing was rapid, and she looked very alluring and impatient.
Could something have happened?
Xiaoxi became anxious, but dared not enter Qingqian Palace casually. If she ruined the princess's plans, she would be beaten to death or skinned alive. So she could only leave everything to fate. Who told the princess to have such a sudden whim tonight, wanting to offer herself to Emperor Xie's bed?
The Qingqian Palace was very large. Ruan Jingyue had to avoid the palace maids and eunuchs, find a place to sit, and her head was throbbing with heat. For a moment, she felt lightheaded and hot all over. She couldn't help but reach out and pull at her clothes. She seemed to be too anxious tonight. Was it because she was excited about going to Ye Lingfeng's bed later? Thinking this, she kept walking forward.
The long corridor was silent and deserted.
Ruan Jingyue grew anxious. Where exactly was Ye Lingfeng?
As she was thinking anxiously, a tall and handsome man walked over from the other side of the corridor. His features were exquisite. Who else could it be but Ye Lingfeng?
Ruan Jingyue laughed, trying to strike the most beautiful pose, but at this moment she could do nothing. The heat all over her body made her mind filled with Ye Lingfeng's body. The pleasure of being pampered by a man made her eager to meet him and rush into his arms, her jade arms wrapping around his neck.
The newcomer was clearly startled, but did not refuse. He reached out and wrapped his arm around her slender waist, then leaned down to kiss her cheek.
In a daze, Ruan Jingyue thought that Ye Lingfeng was really passionate tonight. It turned out that men were two-faced. Her whole body went limp and she melted into the man's arms like a puddle of water. The man reached out and picked her up and carried her away, groping his way into a house, where the erotic scene between Xuan Ni and Ye Lingfeng began.
At the same time, in the warm pavilion of the Imperial Garden.
Palace lanterns hung low, light gauze curtains draped over the walls, and a gentle warmth permeated the air. A radiant man sat gracefully in the hall, sipping tea with an air of nonchalance, until someone outside the pavilion softly called out, "Your Majesty, Miss Ji has arrived."