Watching her make a fool of herself

"I will certainly keep to my place." As she spoke, Wen Yunmian started to climb out of bed. "Then I shall return to my own palace."

Jun Chenyu gave her an indifferent glance. He knew how readily the people in the palace bowed to power. If he sent her back tonight, everyone would be trampling on her tomorrow.

A greenhouse peony like her would surely be devoured alive by those people.

"Stay. I will not touch you tonight, but I will preserve your dignity."

Wen Yunmian looked up in surprise, her reddened eyes still misty.

"What are you standing there for? Help me undress."

Coming to her senses, Wen Yunmian hurried to her feet. Jun Chenyu spread his arms and stood there silently while she went behind him to undo his sash.

She was petite, while Jun Chenyu was tall and straight-backed. Her head barely reached his shoulder.

She circled around to the front to undo his robes. Perhaps because she had kept her head lowered, she leaned forward without warning, and Jun Chenyu's lips landed on her forehead.

Wen Yunmian looked up in alarm. "I-I did not mean to."

Jun Chenyu's throat shifted slightly. Concealing that fleeting flutter in his chest, he remained silent, his expression cold.

Wen Yunmian timidly continued undoing his clothes.

He had thought she would finish quickly, but those slender, delicate hands fumbled clumsily over his body.

After puzzling over it for quite some time, Wen Yunmian reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist. The instant her soft body drew close, a delicate fragrance drifted into his nose, and she nestled against his chest, fragrant and yielding.

Jun Chenyu's handsome face tightened. He wanted to demand whether she was doing this deliberately, but the woman's flustered manner did not look feigned.

Those hands were like hooks stirring the flames of desire, slowly roaming over his body and leaving not a blade of grass unscorched in their wake.

Jun Chenyu's breathing grew heavy. After enduring it a while, he lifted her straight out of his embrace.

Like an innocent rabbit, Wen Yunmian gazed at him with wide, dark eyes.

Jun Chenyu drew a deep breath. "Xiao Luzi!"

The maids and eunuchs outside hurried in. They had long since learned all the emperor's habits; a single glance was enough for a maid to step forward and deftly remove his robes.

Wen Yunmian stood awkwardly where she was. Jun Chenyu ordered coldly, "What are you standing there for? Change out of those wet clothes."

"Oh." Wen Yunmian obediently hurried behind the screen. A maid brought her clean clothes, then withdrew.

Only the two of them remained in the bedchamber.

Jun Chenyu had just sat down beside the bed to straighten his sleeves when he raised his cold eyes and saw the graceful, shapely silhouette behind the screen, illuminated by candlelight.

His hands went still.

Her shadow outlined every curve of her body in exquisite detail.

Full breasts, rounded hips, a figure as lustrous as pearls and jade-this vivid, sensuous sight crashed into Jun Chenyu's heart when he was almost entirely unguarded.

The desire he had just suppressed flared up again.

By the time Wen Yunmian emerged in her fresh clothes, Jun Chenyu was already lying down.

Wen Yunmian bit her lip. In her previous life, she had been the empress dowager. Besides Jun Chenyu, she had kept several male favorites to while away her boredom. She could hardly have been more familiar with matters of the bedchamber.

One glance was enough for her to notice Jun Chenyu's unusual state, such as the obvious rise beneath his quilt.

Perhaps he was waiting for her to take the initiative?

Wen Yunmian's lips curved faintly, and she turned toward the cushioned couch beside them.

Several candles had been extinguished when Jun Chenyu opened his deep, cold eyes. "Has Attendant Yun forgotten that she is attending me tonight?"

At his voice, Wen Yunmian hurriedly knelt. "I remember. But I understand that Your Majesty has already shown me great kindness by allowing me to stay tonight. Consort Shu holds your heart, so you surely do not wish to touch me. I will not overstep again. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

You want to touch me? Then endure it a little longer.

The more something eludes you, the more you yearn for it.

At Wen Yunmian's words, Jun Chenyu gave a cold laugh in the darkness, then said nothing more. Only then did she dare return to the couch.

Wen Yunmian woke very early the next morning. As soon as she rose, she caught the smell of medicine on her body. Looking down, she saw that her wounds had been covered with ointment. They had not been serious to begin with, and now they were almost healed.

Had the emperor applied the medicine for her last night? How curious.

The eunuch who had come to escort her back was already waiting. His manner was exceptionally respectful. "My lady, your sedan chair is ready. I will have someone escort you back."

"Very well. Thank you, Eunuch Lu."

Wen Leyan had not slept all night. She waited eagerly, craning her neck in anticipation. Yesterday, the Marquis's Residence had used its connections to send someone from Madam Meng's household into the palace, solely to await news of this imperial favor.

The moment Ming Cui told her that Wen Yunmian had left Chanyang Palace, Wen Leyan hurried to Wen Yunmian's palace to wait.

Nanny Hong sighed. "My lady, Madam hopes you will rise above the rest and put the first madam in her place. Yet not only did the second young lady steal your chance to attend His Majesty last night, you have come here today to watch her bask in her glory. Madam would surely be upset if she knew."

Wen Leyan smiled at Nanny Hong. "Who said I came to watch her bask in glory? You will understand soon!"

In her previous life, Consort Shu had plainly been the one tormenting her, beating her until she was covered in wounds. Yet the emperor had not only refused to punish the consort or seek justice for her, he had also made her kneel on the floor all night! She had cried and protested for ages, hoping for fairness, only to nearly lose her life.

When she finally emerged in daylight, she was covered in wounds, and her beauty had also earned the consort's resentment. Every time, Consort Shu used the emperor's name to summon her to Chanyang Palace and torment her. The emperor had never concerned himself with it!

She did not even dare recall those terrifying, hellish days. Now, at last, it was that bitch Wen Yunmian's turn!

Soon she would see Wen Yunmian's wretched state!

The moment Wen Yunmian returned, she saw Wen Leyan wearing a broad smile.

Besides her, several newcomers who had entered the palace in the same group as her in her previous life were also there.

Answering Lady Su, Attendant Hui, and Noble Lady Wei.

Had Wen Leyan invited them all here to watch her make a fool of herself?

Wen Leyan came toward her, all smiles. "Sister, you are finally back! Yesterday, you became the first of us to attend His Majesty. Did you find it agreeable? These three sisters entered the palace with us. I invited them over for a chat. You do not mind, do you?"

Wen Yunmian curved her lips and curtsied to Noble Lady Wei. "Greetings, Noble Lady Wei." She then exchanged the courtesies of equals with Attendant Hui and gave Answering Lady Su a smiling glance before straightening.

Answering Lady Su had a sweet face. Though her looks were not outstanding, she seemed innocent and lively. "Greetings, Sister Yun. You received the first share of His Majesty's favor last night. We are all so envious. Surely the Ruyi Harmony Fan will be delivered soon?"

If a consort received that fan after her first night attending the emperor, it meant she had greatly pleased him, and it would help her establish herself in the palace. If she did not receive one, it meant the emperor disliked her and found her tiresome-a tremendous humiliation.

Wen Leyan's lips curved smugly. "I remember that the fan is delivered along with the consort when she returns in her sedan chair. It has been so long now, and there is still no sign of it. Could His Majesty have forgotten? Or did you displease him, Sister?"

In her previous life, she had not received that fan, yet the emperor had "summoned" her every day, leaving her in an extremely awkward position in the palace. Had she not humbled herself and bowed low, people would likely have discovered long ago that she was being tormented by the consort rather than enjoying the emperor's favor.

But she knew this elder sister of hers, born to their father's principal wife. Proud and haughty, Wen Yunmian would never bow her head. She would probably suffer not only beatings, but also the utter ruin of her reputation.

"Enough. Let us go inside to talk." Of everyone present, Noble Lady Wei held the highest rank and came from the finest family.

She was the empress's niece and should have been the first to receive imperial favor upon entering the palace. Consort Shu had deliberately made things difficult for her, however, replacing her with Wen Yunmian.

Noble Lady Wei remained composed. Had she not wanted to see just how beautiful this Attendant Yun was and gauge what she was really like, she would not have bothered coming.

Yet as she looked at Wen Yunmian, whose beauty surpassed snow and whose appearance seemed heavenly, she could not help growing wary. This woman was surely no creature destined to remain in a shallow pond. She would be difficult to deal with.

Once inside, Wen Leyan pulled Wen Yunmian down to sit. "We are all sisters. Let us sit and talk."

Smiling on the surface, she deliberately pressed down hard on Wen Yunmian's arm.

She knew Wen Yunmian would surely scream in pain!