I Prepared Several Outfits

Consort Shu stepped forward and curtsied. "Your Majesty, before Noble Lady Yan entered the palace, His Majesty seldom visited the harem, but he still bestowed his rain and dew equally. Now, not only is she incapable of bearing children, she has thrown the harem into chaos, repeatedly stealing the favor of all our sisters. It is truly reprehensible. Please issue a decree stripping Wen Yunmian of her rank as noble lady and expelling her from the palace at once."

Consort Shu's appeal met with an immediate chorus of agreement. Noble Lady Yu knelt as well. "Please strip Wen Yunmian of her rank as noble lady and expel her from the palace at once, Your Majesty."

Attendant Hui would never let such an opportunity slip by. "Please send Noble Lady Yan out of the palace, Your Majesty!"

The consorts and concubines knelt one after another to petition her. For a moment, only the Empress, Consort Xian, and Noble Lady Wei remained seated in Fengyi Palace.

Seeing this, Consort Hui tugged at Noble Lady Jia beside her, ready to kneel.

The Empress looked troubled, her pale, sickly face taking on an even more sorrowful cast.

Wen Yunmian also knelt, intending to explain. "Your Majesty, I..."

Before she could finish, a cold, stern voice rang out behind them, laden with authority. "I had no idea anyone intended to send Noble Lady Yan out of the palace behind my back."

That icy voice made everyone's back stiffen. They turned to salute him. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Jun Chenyu approached in a bright yellow Dragon Robe. Tall and slender, he stood straight as a graceful stalk of bamboo, his height exceeding eight chi. Every movement exuded nobility and majesty.

His sharply defined brows and eyes had an imposing edge. When his face was expressionless, the cold indifference in his phoenix eyes was enough to make others shudder. His thin lips curved with a trace of chill as he took the seat of honor.

After respectfully saluting him, the Empress moved aside and sat in the adjacent seat.

"Consort Shu believes Noble Lady Yan is barren and has brought disorder to the harem, so she asked me to send her to live at the Temple of Protecting the Nation."

Beneath Jun Chenyu's high nose, his taut jawline outlined his handsome, stern face. He looked coolly at Consort Shu. "You proposed this?"

Consort Shu lightly bit her lip. "I was only thinking of Your Majesty's health. A bewitching consort brings ruin to the nation; she truly cannot be allowed to stay. Besides, all the sisters in the palace agree."

Jun Chenyu's keen phoenix eyes swept past the others and settled on that snow-white figure. Even kneeling among the crowd, she stood out. Now she was looking at him pitifully.

Jun Chenyu withdrew his gaze, his voice betraying no emotion. "What does the Empress think?"

The Empress had been watching Jun Chenyu all along. Just now, he had clearly felt tenderness for Noble Lady Yan. She had never received such loving concern from him herself, and she could not help envying Noble Lady Yan.

"I believe Noble Lady Yan is still young and has faithfully observed the palace rules without overstepping them. Though our ancestors decreed that a woman unable to bear children could not remain in the palace, even the Imperial Physician cannot say for certain that she cannot conceive. Why not let her stay for now? If she receives more of Your Majesty's rain and dew in the future, she may yet become pregnant."

Consort Shu abruptly raised her eyes. "How can that be allowed? Rules are rules. How can they be changed for Noble Lady Yan alone?"

Tears streamed down Wen Yunmian's face, and her slender, frail body nearly gave way as she knelt. Just when everyone thought Jun Chenyu had paid her no attention, he rose and walked toward her.

As his tall, upright figure approached, he blocked all the light before Wen Yunmian.

She looked up in astonishment, clearly not expecting Jun Chenyu to come over like this either.

"Your Majesty..."

"Get up first." Jun Chenyu helped her to her feet, his phoenix eyes lowering. "Do your knees hurt badly?"

Wen Yunmian bit her lip. Though her gaze was delicate and pitiable, her ears flushed red.

After she had "knelt" for so long last night, her knees naturally hurt. But how could she say so openly? She shook her head. "They don't hurt. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

She quietly caught Jun Chenyu's hand. His hand was very large, and her slender, jade-white fingers curled around his long fingers. Biting her glistening red lip, she looked at him through her tears.

She said nothing, yet conveyed a thousand words.

He recalled how she had attended him in Chanyang Palace last night, holding him as they entwined and whispering over and over how much she loved him. Those words had melted his heart. How could he bear to let her leave the palace now?

"Sit." With Jun Chenyu's permission, who dared utter a word?

Wen Yunmian obediently sat down, still reluctant to release Jun Chenyu's hand, and heard him reassure her. "I won't let you leave."

Only then did Wen Yunmian smile at him in relief and let go. "I believe you."

Consort Shu watched with her beautiful eyes wide in shock, her heart cut as though by a knife.

His Majesty never used to treat another woman like this in front of me! Why does he care so much about Wen Yunmian now? What is so good about her?

Jun Chenyu returned to the seat of honor. "I have my own considerations regarding Noble Lady Yan's infertility. From this day onward, anyone who brings this matter up again and spouts nonsense will not be spared!"

"Your Majesty..." Unwilling to accept this, Consort Shu tried to speak again.

Jun Chenyu's gaze turned cold. "Consort Shu, I think you ought to return to the Palace of Prolonged Happiness and take some time to calm yourself."

Consort Shu froze, great beads of tears rolling down her face. She could only watch as Jun Chenyu passed her and led Wen Yunmian out of Fengyi Palace.

None of the consorts and concubines dared say another word. They all found excuses to take their leave, looking crestfallen.

They had thought they would soon witness Wen Yunmian being expelled from the palace in disgrace. Who could have guessed that the instigator would be reprimanded by the emperor instead? Who would dare linger now? They wished they had never appeared in Fengyi Palace at all.

Consort Shu was helped out, utterly distraught.

Once everyone had left, Suo Chun asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, according to our ancestors' rules, a beautiful woman who cannot conceive must be sent out of the palace. Yet His Majesty suppressed the matter without saying anything. Is that not rather improper?"

The Empress smiled, a hint of loneliness in her eyes. "His Majesty is the Son of Heaven. The Son of Heaven need not explain anything he does. Still, I truly envy Noble Lady Yan. At least she has caught his eye."

Wen Yunmian was brought back to Peony Pavilion. With only the two of them in the room, she gazed at Jun Chenyu with smiling eyes, glistening like fresh lychees, lively and winsome. "Thank you for coming to my rescue, Your Majesty."

Jun Chenyu's phoenix eyes softened, and the wariness in his gaze diminished. "Oh? How does my Mian'er intend to thank me?"

She knew that throughout the dynasties, a consort or concubine who could not conceive would lose the sovereign's favor. Yet she had deliberately let Jun Chenyu know.

Only this way could Jun Chenyu believe she was not a pawn the Marquis's Residence used to manipulate power.

Once his guard was down, the next step was to conquer his heart.

In this life, the sovereign's heart would belong to her alone.

Wen Yunmian looped her arms around Jun Chenyu's neck and wheedled, her alluring gaze soft as silk. "Your Majesty is a gentleman. When a gentleman saves someone from peril, would he truly demand repayment from me?"

Jun Chenyu raised a brow and clasped her slender waist. "Can a gentleman not ask for thanks? I never knew my Mian'er was so overbearing."

Wen Yunmian gave a bashful smile. "I don't know how to thank you, but I do have an idea. I wonder whether it would repay your kindness this time."

Desire colored Jun Chenyu's eyes. "Let me hear it."

Wen Yunmian nestled against his broad chest and tilted her head up to look at him, her cheeks red as rosy clouds, her breath fragrant as orchids. "I prepared several outfits. I could put them on for Your Majesty, one by one."

Having said this, she lowered her eyes. Jun Chenyu's phoenix eyes dropped, giving him a perfect view of her lovely, fair, soft cheeks.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his gaze deepened. His tall frame pressed her against the edge of the table as his large hands clasped her soft, slender waist. He bent closer to her. "What outfits has my beloved consort prepared? Why not put them on for me now?"

Wen Yunmian lightly bit her red lip. "But it's still early."

"That doesn't matter." Jun Chenyu kissed her lips. "I'll wait for you. Go on."

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