Irresistibly endearing

Wen Leyan truly dared not disobey. She could only bite her lip and agree. "I'll go at once." Before leaving, she shot Wen Yunmian a vicious glare.

Consort Xian smiled. "I hear Noble Lady Yun and Joyous Promise are sisters by blood. One is now the apple of His Majesty's eye, a ravishing beauty who could topple a kingdom, alluring and captivating; the other is lovely and refined, so delicate that one cannot help doting on her. I fear even His Majesty will find it hard to decide which sister to cherish more."

Wen Yunmian raised her eyes and looked over. Consort Xian was always the one stirring up conflict and waves of trouble. Back then, she had nearly become Imperial Noble Consort.

Sure enough, Consort Shu's face instantly darkened. Consort Chun immediately said, "Perhaps they'll become another Feiyan and Hede, bringing chaos to the harem. Who knows? That may be precisely what the Marquis's Residence intends."

Wen Yunmian's expression chilled. "Those are grave words, Consort Chun. If sisters entering the palace together means bringing chaos to the harem, then perhaps the law should be changed from now on. Only one woman from each family may enter. That would also spare their families from being implicated and branded as traitors."

Answering Lady Su looked at Consort Chun and frowned. "But I recall that you and Consort Xian belong to the same clan. Does the Qi Family harbor such intentions as well?"

"You!" Consort Chun was beside herself with fury, yet Answering Lady Su wore an utterly innocent expression.

Just then, a message arrived from the Hall of Supreme Harmony. After hearing it and acknowledging it, the empress finally put a stop to the consorts' argument.

"Enough! You are all sisters here. Do not say such things to damage the harmony between you. His Majesty is busy with affairs of state and will not be coming today. I am tired as well. You may all leave."

The consorts rose and saw the empress off before making their way outside.

Consort Shu carried herself with noble elegance and an imposing presence. She swept a cold glance over Wen Yunmian's undeniably beautiful face. "Noble Lady Yun. Seeing you talk back to Consort Chun with no regard for rank, I can only conclude that you have not learned the rules properly. Go back and copy Lessons for Women and Admonitions for Women thirty times. Have someone deliver them to the Palace of Prolonged Happiness first thing tomorrow morning."

Wen Yunmian lowered her eyes, showing no intention of protesting. "I obey Your Highness's command."

Only after Consort Shu left did Answering Lady Su hurry over to Wen Yunmian. "Sister Wen."

Wen Yunmian smiled gratefully. "I haven't yet thanked you for speaking up for me, Sister Su."

Answering Lady Su smiled. "It was only right."

Back at Peony Pavilion, Yun Fei bristled with indignation. "Her Highness was clearly making things difficult for our mistress on purpose."

Yun Yang frowned. "There are eyes everywhere in the palace, and walls have ears. Speaking of Her Highness like that-have you no wish to live?"

Yun Fei quickly bit her lip and fell silent.

Wen Yunmian gave a small smile and walked over to the desk. "Enough. Stop complaining. Yun Yang, come grind the ink for me."

She knew Consort Shu would not let her off easily, and this was precisely the opportunity she needed to hook Jun Chenyu.

Night fell. The Imperial Study blazed with light, while ranks of imperial troops stood guard outside.

Jun Chenyu had spent the entire day handling affairs of state. Eunuch Lu entered carrying a tray. "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness Consort Shu have sent Jade Dew Fragrant Pear Soup and Spring Breeze Loquat Soup, respectively."

Jun Chenyu kept his long, narrow phoenix eyes lowered, continuing to review memorials without so much as a glance.

Eunuch Lu withdrew to one side.

Only after Jun Chenyu closed a memorial and found a spare moment did he glance at the two bowls of soup. "Which one did Consort Shu send?"

Eunuch Lu hurriedly brought the Spring Breeze Loquat Soup before him, only to find it cold to the touch. "Your Majesty, this soup has already cooled. Her Highness surely has more simmering over the fire. Perhaps you could visit the Palace of Prolonged Happiness and try it there?"

Jun Chenyu set down the Purple-Haired Brush. "No need. Have her wait at Chanyang Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Consort Shu was already waiting in Chanyang Palace, her figure graceful and her eyes brimming with affection. "It seems His Majesty is no longer angry with me."

Her maid Luyue answered with a smile, "How could His Majesty ever stay angry with Your Highness overnight?"

Just as they were speaking, Jun Chenyu arrived.

Consort Shu hastily knelt. "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Jun Chenyu walked up and helped her to her feet. "The night is late and the dew heavy. Why wait outside, my beloved consort?"

The two headed into the inner chamber. Consort Shu smiled shyly. "If I can wait for Your Majesty to come, I would gladly endure even the coldest weather."

Jun Chenyu's lips curved. His sharp, cold eyes turned toward Consort Shu beside him, but just as he was about to speak, his dark gaze passed over her and fell on the hot spring pool.

The soft, delicate body that had fallen into the pool the previous night flashed through his mind.

Then the sensation of those boneless, jade-like hands winding around him from behind and slowly caressing his chest suddenly surged back.

Jun Chenyu's Adam's apple bobbed, and the look in his phoenix eyes visibly changed.

When Consort Shu went to bathe, Jun Chenyu summoned Eunuch Lu. "What is Noble Lady Yun doing?"

Eunuch Lu froze. His Majesty had never asked after anyone other than Consort Shu. This Noble Lady Yun was no ordinary woman...

"Your Majesty, I heard that Her Highness punished Noble Lady Yun today for defying her superiors and showing no regard for rank."

Jun Chenyu raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Defying her superiors and showing no regard for rank?"

Could a woman who burst into tears at a single harsh word really possess such courage?

Eunuch Lu added, "I heard Consort Chun said the Wen sisters might become wicked consorts who would bring chaos to the harem, and even claimed that the Marquis's Residence had deliberately planned it. Only then did Noble Lady Yun offer a few words in her defense."

In the candlelight, Jun Chenyu's sharp phoenix eyes filled with icy disdain. He gave a cold scoff. "Is she comparing me to Emperor Cheng of Han?"

Eunuch Lu hastily lowered his head, not daring even to breathe loudly.

By the time Consort Shu emerged again, Jun Chenyu had long since left.

She stood dumbstruck. Then a eunuch of Chanyang Palace came in and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered you to return to the Palace of Prolonged Happiness."

Consort Shu's face turned deathly pale. "Where is His Majesty? Wasn't he just..."

Before she could finish, the eunuch interrupted her. "Your Highness, His Majesty's whereabouts are not to be privately investigated. Please mind your words."

Wen Yunmian was still in Peony Pavilion. Consort Rong, who presided over the palace, was frail and sickly and never received strangers, so the entire Palace of Eternal Joy grew especially quiet at night.

Judging the sky and the hour, Wen Yunmian set down her brush. "Yun Yang, help me bathe."

Yun Yang answered and was just about to ask Shukui to bring more hot water when Wen Yunmian stood. "I hear there's a hot spring pool in Peony Pavilion's rear garden. I'll go there."

"And warm a pot of wine for me."

When Jun Chenyu arrived under cover of night, snow had begun drifting down. Eunuch Lu held an umbrella over him. As soon as Yun Yang saw the Imperial Guards outside Peony Pavilion, she hurried out with the palace maids and eunuchs to receive him.

Jun Chenyu stood tall and elegant, his cold eyes turning toward the room. "Where is your mistress? Why hasn't she come out to greet me?"

Yun Yang knelt to reply. "Your Majesty, my mistress went to the hot spring pool behind the pavilion. I'll go fetch her at once."

Jun Chenyu looked down at them from above. After a moment, he said coldly, "No need. I'll go see for myself."

At the sight of this, Eunuch Lu guessed that His Majesty would probably spend the night at Peony Pavilion.

When Jun Chenyu approached, he saw a slender figure in a dazzling red gown, her fragrant shoulders half-bared, dancing lightly in the hot spring pool against the shifting light.

Holding plum blossoms, she moved with airy grace. As she danced, she tilted her head slightly, revealing delicate, snow-white skin. Her fingertips hooked a strand of hair, and each turn of her eyes was breathtakingly beautiful.

Yet a lively, mischievous gleam showed through her expression, like a cunning, enchanting little fox.

Jun Chenyu walked over, his towering frame seeming to block out all the light. He crouched as though studying prey, dipping his long fingers into the water with a playful smile at the corner of his mouth.

Wen Yunmian turned and noticed him. With a soft cry of "Ah!" the red gauze draped loosely over her slipped off in an instant.

Her bare, snow-white body suddenly filled Jun Chenyu's phoenix eyes.

The pool water half-concealed and half-revealed her, making the sight all the more tantalizing.

Jun Chenyu's eyes abruptly darkened, his gaze fixed on her. Just as he reached out to draw her close, Wen Yunmian's foot slipped, and she fell straight into the water.

His stern expression shifted slightly, and he immediately stepped into the pool to pull her out.

Unexpectedly, in the next instant, a pair of soft hands emerged from the water and hooked around Jun Chenyu's collar.

Splash!

Her stunning, alluring face rose from the water, droplets clinging to it. Her beautiful eyes brimmed with affection, her gaze a silken caress.

With water beading on her lashes, Wen Yunmian smiled mischievously, her eyes curving into crescents. Seeming a little tipsy, she murmured, "You fell for it~"