Life's Finest Moments

Shouchun Royal City, the rear palace.

"Your Majesty!"

Yu Ji, Hua Qiandai, and the other women were chatting with the maids in the garden. Seeing Jian Shang hurry over, they thought something had happened and quickly rose to greet him.

"All of you, withdraw!"

Jian Shang surveyed the maids as he gave the order, then looked at the Evil Consort, Hua Qiandai, indicating that she was included.

The women withdrew. Jian Shang drew a deep breath, strode up to Yu Ji, and gazed at her tenderly...

"Your Majesty?"

Seeing Jian Shang behave so unusually, Yu Ji grew nervous and called to him softly, full of unease and worry.

"The years have drifted by. Thank you for all your efforts these past few years!"

Gently taking Yu Ji's delicate hand, so soft and smooth it seemed boneless, Jian Shang spoke in a tender voice.

"...It was... nothing..."

Yu Ji looked at Jian Shang with eyes full of bewilderment. A sunset-red blush spread across her exquisite, jade-white face, making her beauty beyond compare. Her heart pounded wildly, and her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum.

She had no idea what had come over Jian Shang. He had never taken such initiative before, nor had he ever touched her, leaving her often wallowing in self-pity, resentment, and confusion.

In Yu Ji's mind, even Qi Ji had no formal status, so naturally she would have none either. She had not dwelled on that. But Qi Ji had a genuine physical relationship with Jian Shang, and that in itself was a kind of status.

As for her, although everyone under heaven regarded her as the Huan King's woman, and the Huan Kingdom's officials treated her as their mistress, none of it had any substance. The Huan King had never formally declared anything.

"I