Chapter 8: How Adorable, Right?

The emperor favored Consort Ning.

Yuan Peipei couldn’t remember anything else; her mind was filled with this.

When she returned to the Palace of Silken Robes, tears still clung to her cheeks.

Cuizhi and Lanxin hurried over, concerned. “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

“Did the Empress Dowager punish you?”

Yuan Peipei shook her head and entered the inner chamber, muttering to herself, “He is the emperor. The emperor has three thousand concubines in the harem and many to favor. He speaks sweet words to them all, even has breakfast with them, sobbing…”

It turned out that no matter where she was, she was never anyone’s only one.

That made sense.

She was so foolish.

Had little education.

And liked to cry.

Destined never to be loved.

She cried herself to sleep.

In her dream, the emperor was carrying Consort Ning, chasing butterflies—so happy.

“Wuwuwu…”

“Sigh!”

A sigh seemed to linger in her ears, followed by a familiar embrace holding her tightly.

So comfortable.

The nightmare vanished.

Yuan Peipei slept until the third quarter of the si hour.

When she opened her eyes, a magnified face was right before her.

Her eyes widened, and she shrank back.

Oh, it was the emperor.

“Why is the emperor here?”

Shouldn’t he be with Consort Ning or the other concubines?

Dugu Jin pinched her cheek. “The entire palace belongs to me. Do I need your permission to be anywhere I want?”

[He specifically came to keep you company, saw you crying and coaxed you for a long time.]

[Oh! Now he’s strict again. I won’t say who was just coaxing you like a child.]

[Shameless Consort Ning actually dared to poison the great villain. Fortunately, he resisted, but this cold pool is no place for ordinary people. He endured for several hours.]

Yuan Peipei suddenly grabbed Dugu Jin’s hand pinching her cheek. “Did the emperor not favor Consort Ning last night?”

Dugu Jin pulled her close, pressing tightly against her, his lips brushing her ear as he spoke.

“Are you crying just because of that?”

“No, it’s not.” Yuan Peipei’s face flushed bright red, but the corners of her mouth secretly curled into a smile.

Dugu Jin’s tone deepened. “Hmm? My love, do you know the consequences of deceiving your emperor?”

Yuan Peipei’s whole body stiffened, tears threatening to spill again.

“You’re so fierce.”

[He’s not fierce at all, Peipei darling. If you’re fierce to him, he’ll be ecstatic.]

[Exactly, Peipei darling, come on, perk up.]

[Once the tears fall, the tyrant instantly melts, his heart in turmoil.]

Really?

Yuan Peipei read the comments and took a deep breath. “I cried because you favored Consort Ning. So what? You said in bed that you loved me, that you favored only me. You didn’t keep your word. Am I not allowed to cry then?”

She spoke rapidly, her heart pounding with joy.

She didn’t even dare to look at Dugu Jin.

This was bad, so bad.

She had just scolded the emperor.

If she were to be beheaded, could they spare her father and the others?

She kept retreating; Dugu Jin advanced steadily.

Soon he cornered her by the bed.

No way out.

“I… I… umph!”

The scene was sealed with a kiss.

“Last night, the cold pool made me almost burst. Now, my love, you must comfort me.”

The palace doors were tightly closed. Cuizhi and Lanxin deliberately stood far away, unwilling to discuss such indiscretions in broad daylight.

At the hour of You, Dugu Jin left the Palace of Silken Robes, read some memorials in the Imperial Study, then decided to visit Consort Ning’s palace.

Consort Ning was both surprised and delighted to see the emperor still came. She quickly knelt. “Your Majesty, I pay my respects. I know my fault and beg for your forgiveness.”

Consort Ning’s father commanded troops, so now was not the time to fall out with her.

Dugu Jin said, “Rise. Let this be the last time.”

Consort Ning was pleased. The emperor could forgive her even for poisoning—truly, he treated her differently.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

She stood and stepped forward with a caring look. “Last night, Your Majesty fell ill. Are you feeling better now?”

Dugu Jin looked at her, his cold eyes flickering with a trace of warmth, enough to drown any woman in it.

“My condition can only be alleviated through intimacy, but it causes great harm to the woman—at best infertility, at worst death. You must keep this secret, not even your father can know.”

Consort Ning nodded. “I understand, Your Majesty. I am grateful for your trust and care. I shall pray daily for your swift recovery.”

“Hmm, my love, you are thoughtful.”

After sitting a while longer, Dugu Jin left.

Consort Ning was now quite pleased. Though she could not attend the emperor’s bedchamber, it was because he cared for her. That foolish Consort Rou still thought being favored was a blessing; she awaited the day of her demise!

Yuan Peipei was drawing again.

This time, she painted Dugu Jin.

So engrossed was she that she didn’t notice footsteps approaching.

“So, Peipei, you think I’m that fierce?” Dugu Jin came from behind, wrapping an arm around her and taking her hand holding the brush, guiding her to sign the painting with both their names.

“This painting isn’t good. I’ll confiscate it. Next time, when you paint me, do it properly, understand?”

Yuan Peipei was somewhat confident in her skills. “Is it really not good?”

[Peipei darling, don’t listen to his nonsense. He just wants an excuse to take your painting!]

[The villain’s grin stretched almost to his ears when he saw you painted him. Watch your waist tonight.]

[Sigh! According to the plot, the heroine should have met the hero by now. Though not love at first sight, she’s left an impression on him.]

After Dugu Jin left with the painting, Yuan Peipei quickly wrote a letter explaining that Yuan Jinjin already knew the imperial uncle but insisted her sister was a good person.

Under the dark and windy night, she sneaked to the window of the Imperial Study and slipped the letter inside.

The next moment, she ran as fast as she could.

Out of breath, she stopped and looked back to make sure no one was chasing her.

She patted her chest repeatedly.

“That was terrifying, terrifying.”

“Luckily, there weren’t many guards at the Imperial Study today.”

Not far off, Dugu Jin and Du Heng had witnessed the entire scene and watched her safely return to the Palace of Silken Robes before leaving.

Du Heng was puzzled. “Your Majesty, does Consort Rou really think the palace guards are so lax?”

That consort was indeed excessively naive.

Dugu Jin smiled faintly. “Isn’t she adorable?”

Du Heng was speechless.

He was just a servant and dared not judge. As long as the emperor liked it, that was enough.

Back in the Imperial Study, Dugu Jin read Yuan Peipei’s letter, his mind full of speculation.

How could a young lady like Yuan Jinjin have met the imperial uncle by chance?

So, the imperial uncle had secretly returned to the capital?

Dugu Jin was shocked—his men hadn’t received a single clue.

If Dugu Jin could see the comments, he would know this was called the hero’s aura. Naturally, when the hero returns to the capital, no one notices.