Ah Jiu, who had been guarding outside, knew that the Emperor was in an exceptionally good mood as soon as he heard the Emperor's voice. He didn't need to think to know that the Emperor had succeeded in his clandestine tryst.
This was something that had happened on the night of the Emperor's wedding, right after he had first been captivated. Ah Jiu knew that the Emperor had not touched the Empress, and he hadn't expected that they would finally consummate their marriage today, two months after their wedding.
"Your Majesty," Ah Jiu said as he walked in. He saw the Emperor standing casually by the large bed, his eyes sparkling with doting affection as he gazed deeply at the Empress. The Empress was asleep on the intricately carved large bed.
Only a head of cloud-like black hair was visible; nothing else could be seen. The Emperor was truly narrow-minded, Ah Jiu thought with a suppressed chuckle. He quickly helped the Emperor change, preparing for the morning court.
When the Emperor left, he specifically instructed Mo Chou and Mei Xin.
"Let the Consort sleep a bit longer and don't wake her."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Mei Xin and Mo Chou curtsied, then smiled slyly as they pursed their lips.
The Emperor was unusually pleasant and radiant today, looking even more outstanding. After he left, Mei Xin and Mo Chou straightened up and exchanged glances.
"It seems His Majesty favored the Consort last night."
"Mmm," the two maids entered the sleeping chambers and saw the Consort sleeping peacefully on the intricately carved large bed, appearing extremely exhausted.
However, on her fair and tender neck, there seemed to be patches of bruises. Mei Xin felt a pang of concern and wanted to lift the covers to look, but Mo Chou quickly grabbed her arm, signaling her not to be presumptuous.
"Don't be rash. His Majesty favored the Consort last night, so this is likely..."
Mo Chou couldn't finish her sentence. As individuals of the martial world who had grown up in the pleasure quarters, they naturally understood more than Mei Xin. They knew those were marks of love and intimacy, indicating that His Majesty had doted on the Consort greatly last night.
Unfortunately, Mei Xin, the foolish girl, didn't understand. She stared with wide eyes, waiting. Seeing Mo Chou stammering and unable to explain, she became annoyed. "What is it? Did His Majesty beat the Consort? Otherwise, where did these bruises come from? How could this happen? Why didn't the Consort fight back?"
"Alright, don't wake the Consort, lest His Majesty punishes you when he returns."
Mo Chou, afraid she would wake the Consort, quickly used the Emperor to pressure her. The girl finally quieted down, but she remained dissatisfied with the bruises on the Consort's neck.
Mu Qingyao had just experienced the joys of intimacy. Coupled with the Emperor's robust energy, this was also his first time experiencing such matters.
Of course, he doted on her immensely, almost to the point of exhaustion. Thus, she didn't even know when the Emperor left, sleeping until well past dawn.
In the unfamiliar surroundings, a messy pile of clothes on the bed, and the ambiguous atmosphere within the sleeping chambers, she finally, belatedly, remembered what had happened last night. She had slept with the Emperor, and that man had nearly worn her out.
Recalling all of this, she couldn't help but furrow her brow. Her purity, preserved for so many years, had finally been given away last night. The feeling wasn't that bad.
Although it had been painful at first, she seemed to have enjoyed it later. Even though the Emperor's technique wasn't perfect, he was very vigorous. As Mu Qingyao thought about it, she suddenly cursed herself.
She had been drugged last night, her purity ruined. Why was she thinking about these things? Her expression turned cold, and she spoke softly, calling out, "Mei Xin."
Mei Xin, who was outside the glazed screen, rushed in as soon as she heard her mistress wake up. Seeing her mistress's cold expression, she couldn't help but speak with concern.
"Mistress, His Majesty beat you yesterday, didn't he?"
"Mmm," Mu Qingyao raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The Emperor hadn't beaten her. Following Mei Xin's gaze, she let out a cry of surprise and pulled the thin quilt higher to cover her body, which was full of love bites.
This girl knew nothing and thought the Emperor had hit her. It was quite amusing. She gave Mei Xin a stern look. "Just pretend you didn't see anything. No one said you were mute."
"Mistress?"
Mei Xin mumbled. Mo Chou walked in from outside the screen, and seeing Mei Xin flustered, she suppressed a chuckle. She had already told her not to ask, but she couldn't help herself. She deserved to be reprimanded by her mistress.
"Where is His Majesty?"
"He went to the morning court. He should be back soon." Hearing that the Emperor was returning soon, Mu Qingyao thought about what they had done last night. It seemed she had boldly guided the Emperor through his first experience.
This made her feel quite embarrassed, so she quickly ordered Mei Xin and Mo Chou, "Attend to me and let's return to Fengluan Palace."
"Why is the Consort in such a hurry?"
Mei Xin mumbled as she diligently helped her mistress dress. As she lifted the thin quilt, she inadvertently saw fresh blood on the bed and let out another cry of surprise. However, upon meeting her mistress's glare, she quickly closed her mouth. She didn't want to be sent to the laundry room to wash clothes. xxs壹贰
However, as soon as she had finished tidying up, the Emperor, having finished his morning court, came directly over.
As he walked in, he saw Mu Qingyao sitting by the bed while Mei Xin helped her put on embroidered shoes. A captivating smile curved his lips. Their relationship was no longer as it was before; they were now as one.
Although Mu Qingyao couldn't entirely agree, the Emperor considered them as one, his eyes filled with smiles.
"You may all withdraw."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The people in the sleeping chambers retreated, leaving only Mu Qingyao and the Emperor.
Mu Rong Liu Zun reached out and clasped Mu Qingyao's slender, delicate hand, speaking softly, "Yao'er, I will truly cherish you from now on. I will never fail you."
"Your Majesty?" Mu Qingyao wanted to say something, but before she could speak, Mu Rong Liu Zun reached out and covered her mouth, commandingly telling her, "Call me Liu Zun. When we are alone, just call me by my name. Calling me 'Your Majesty' is too distant."
Mu Qingyao looked at his gentle gaze. At this moment, he was looking at her with doting affection, which made her stern words retreat.
She had originally wanted to tell him that last night was just an accident and to please not take it to heart. She wanted to continue living as before.
But now, facing this man with his excited and deeply affectionate gaze, she found herself unable to utter those words. Did this mean that in her heart, she actually cared about him a little, which was why she couldn't bear to speak them?
Recalling last night, Mu Qingyao's face flushed with a blush. It was truly shameful. It turned out she was also passionate deep down. However, upon thinking of that cup of tea, her expression turned somewhat cold.
"Your Majesty, about that tea? Have they found out who had designs on you?"
Mu Qingyao changed the subject. Mu Rong Liu Zun's expression turned cold, and his eyes were grim.
"Last night, according to Ah Jiu, the Imperial Consort came to see me. When she heard you were here, her face turned green. If I'm not mistaken, it must be the Chu family who caused trouble."
"Chu Qianyi?"
Mu Qingyao's eyes turned cold. This man hadn't learned his lesson during the day, and he reappeared at night. Was his intention in drugging the Emperor simply to hope his sister would be favored, or did he have other motives?
"It must be him. Chu Yu Yan must have acted on his instructions, which is why she came over. If I had drunk that cup of tea last night, she would have arrived right then."