Even more captivating when she cried

Wen Yunmian lowered her eyes. "I am blessed to have Your Majesty's love, but my mother has never known such good fortune."

Jun Chenyu's brows stirred slightly as Wen Yunmian spoke sorrowfully in his arms. "My father has never had eyes for my mother, and he has always treated us poorly at home. I thought life in the palace would be no different, but then I met Your Majesty. With your protection, I have no regrets in this life."

"So you were upset today because you remembered this?" Jun Chenyu's voice betrayed no emotion.

He held Wen Yunmian by the waist and continued calmly wiping away her tears.

A shadow flickered in Wen Yunmian's eyes. Of course that was not why she was upset. Without something concrete to offer, Jun Chenyu would surely think she had said it deliberately, and would only find her scheming.

"I received a letter from home today. It said..."

Her voice choked up again. "It said Father got drunk and remembered how Mother once carried a son but lost him, leaving the Marquis's Residence without anyone to inherit the title. He flew into a terrible rage, went to Mother's courtyard, and beat her to vent his anger."

This was no excuse she had invented, but something that had truly happened in her previous life. She had no fear of Jun Chenyu sending someone to investigate.

Yet every time she thought of Wen Fu'an's abuse of her mother, her hatred for him deepened.

Jun Chenyu frowned. He had never expected Wen Fu'an, a military officer who usually seemed so refined, to behave so outrageously behind closed doors.

Wen Yunmian's eyes glistened. She sounded as though she were talking to herself, or pouring out the grievances she had suffered. "Father has never liked either of us. He hasn't spoken to Mother in years, or even seen her. Why must he still torment her..."

Jun Chenyu's gaze was deep. He lifted Wen Yunmian's chin, looked at her aggrieved face, and lowered his head to kiss the teardrop at the corner of her eye.

Wen Yunmian's thick, dark lashes trembled. Her eyes filled with surprise, yet she looked utterly fragile.

"Since you have entered the palace, I will naturally see that justice is done for you." He encircled Wen Yunmian's slender waist and drew her forward, pressing her full breasts against his chest.

Wen Yunmian's cheeks immediately flushed. Tears still clung to her lashes as she gave a pitiful little murmur, like a kitten. "Thank you, Your Majesty..."

"Tomorrow, I will give you an answer. I will not let Madam Wen suffer such mistreatment for nothing."

Wen Yunmian stared at Jun Chenyu in a daze, starlight seeming to shine in her eyes. Surprise and delight mingled there, and her undisguised adoration struck straight into his heart. "R-really?"

Jun Chenyu was in a pleasant mood. "An emperor does not speak in jest."

"I believe you, Your Majesty." Only then did Wen Yunmian brighten. Suddenly, she rose onto her toes and took the initiative to kiss Jun Chenyu's thin lips.

Jun Chenyu was tall and straight-backed. Even on tiptoe, straining with all her might, Wen Yunmian only managed to touch his lower lip.

Unable to get her way, she grew a little anxious. Her lashes fluttered again and again, and she was terribly embarrassed.

Jun Chenyu watched her, a wicked curve lifting his lips. Just as Wen Yunmian was about to helplessly abandon her attempt to kiss him, he made the rare gesture of bending slightly, bringing his thin lips directly against her glistening red ones.

At his kiss, shyness immediately filled Wen Yunmian's grape-like eyes. The next moment, Jun Chenyu swept her into his arms.

The candle flames swayed, and their breathing gradually grew ragged.

Wen Yunmian's skin was snowy white, smooth and soft as cream. Her eyes, which had finally stopped crying, began to rain tears again in the latter half of the night. The delicate tip of her nose reddened from crying, and marks covered her body.

When Jun Chenyu was sated, his phoenix eyes still burned with heat. Gripping that tender, water-soft waist, he spoke in a low, slightly unsteady voice. "Mian'er, you are even more captivating when you cry than you were that night."

Utterly embarrassed, Wen Yunmian hid in his arms, the corners of her eyes misty. "You're so wicked, Your Majesty."

Although Wen Yunmian felt she had temporarily eased Jun Chenyu's suspicions and could breathe a little easier, her cool, composed heart had been thrown into turmoil at this moment.

The man before her might be a suspicious bastard of an emperor, but his handsome face, the beautifully proportioned body and lean muscles beneath her hands, and his astonishing prowess in bed all drew Wen Yunmian under.

Everything else aside, being with Jun Chenyu at least brought pleasure to both body and mind.

In her previous life, she too had truly loved Jun Chenyu. Like the other women in the harem, she had longed for his sincere affection, hoped he would spare her a glance.

She had believed they would go on together forever. But after he suspected her again and again, after a blade wielded by the Blood-Dropping Agents pressed against her neck, his imperial ruthlessness and indifference had shattered her heart.

This man was truly heartless. When he loved you, he could give you anything. When he no longer loved you, he cast you aside like a worn-out shoe.

As her earlier impulse faded, Wen Yunmian gently looped her arms around Jun Chenyu's neck. Her breath was fragrant as orchids, her alluring gaze soft as silk. "Your Majesty, I want more~"

Holding her softly rounded, jade-smooth body, Jun Chenyu's gaze darkened. An uncontrollable impulse broke through the cool restraint he had maintained through all his years as emperor.

He had never been like this with anyone before, yet a single sentence from her was enough to stir him.

"Very well." Jun Chenyu rolled over and pinned her beneath him.

Only when daylight filled the sky did Eunuch Lu lead the attendants inside to dress the emperor.

Water had been called for seven times in a single night. It was truly unprecedented.

This Noble Lady Yun was formidable indeed.

When Jun Chenyu rose, Wen Yunmian was still sound asleep on the bed, her long, sleek black hair spread across the pillow, soft and fragrant.

A rare gentleness touched his narrow eyes. He went over and sat beside the bed, looking at the long lashes resting quietly over her eyes. Raising a hand, he gently stroked her brows and eyes, then leaned down to kiss her lips before leaving for morning court.

As he went out, he instructed, "Do not disturb her. She may return once she wakes."

"Yes." Eunuch Lu was stunned. Not only had the emperor kept Noble Lady Yun for the entire night, but he had granted her this extraordinary privilege too?

Eunuch Lu smiled knowingly. A woman who made the emperor break his rules time and again was one who could change the skies over the harem.

After Wen Yunmian woke, Eunuch Lu personally escorted her back to Peony Pavilion. Only once they arrived did the imperial decree come.

"His Majesty's verbal decree: Noble Lady Yun is beautiful and graceful, gentle and refined. She is hereby bestowed the honorary title Yan!"

Wen Yunmian knelt to give thanks. "Thank you, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty, for ten thousand upon ten thousand years!"

Everyone in Peony Pavilion shared in her glory and joined her in giving thanks.

Eunuch Lu gave Wen Yunmian a meaningful look. "Congratulations, Noble Lady Yan!"

"Thank you, Eunuch."

After seeing Eunuch Lu off, Yun Fei could barely contain her excitement. Throughout the palace, the consorts' titles were chosen either from their surnames or from a character in their given names. This was the first time the emperor had personally bestowed one of his own accord. Naturally, she was delighted that her mistress enjoyed such favor.

Wen Yunmian finally breathed a sigh of relief as well. In her previous life, her title had remained Yun until the very end. She had never imagined that this time, Jun Chenyu would personally bestow a new title upon her.

Remembering how he had called her Mian'er over and over the night before, Wen Yunmian could not help curling her lips into a soft smile.

Just as she was thinking this, Eunuch Zhou came rushing over and nearly fell. "My lady! My lady, something terrible has happened!"