Yun Xiao was somewhat speechless. These women were too eager for romance. Perhaps they had been in the palace for too long and hadn't seen men for a while.
She settled into Qingfeng Pavilion, and it wasn't until nightfall that the Emperor summoned her to Jingfu Palace.
The main hall of Jingfu Palace was dazzling with glazed lamps, illuminating it as if it were day.
Shangguan Yao was not seated on the high throne. Instead, he had changed out of his dragon robe and was casually wearing a brocade imperial yellow long gown. He was leaning against a soft couch on one side of the hall. As soon as he saw Yun Xiao appear, he spoke calmly.
"Leng Yue, come over and take a look for me."
His tone was casual and natural, as if he were speaking to a friend, devoid of any killing intent or aggression.
Yun Xiao sneered. He had probably retracted his sharp claws, waiting for her to cure him. Was this a dream? No, that wasn't right. The point was that such a person had no heart.
Although Yun Xiao was grumbling inwardly, her face remained cool and detached. She wasn't foolish enough to let this suspicious Emperor see through her. Leading Wanwan, she slowly walked over.
Shangguan Yao's personal eunuch, Xiao Tingzi, had already brought over a low stool and placed it by the Emperor's couch. Yun Xiao cupped her fists and said,
"Leng Yue obeys the decree." She then sat down, neither subservient nor arrogant. The man lying on the couch gazed at her intently, a dark and unreadable smile playing on his lips, his eyes cold and deep.
Wanwan stood behind Yun Xiao, calm and composed.
Shangguan Yao extended his hand. Yun Xiao signaled Wanwan to fetch a cushion, and then began to feel his pulse.
The hall was silent. The eunuchs and palace maids kept their distance.
Yun Xiao appeared to be concentrating fully on taking his pulse, but in reality, the hidden light in her eyes was observing Shangguan Yao's movements. Knowing that Shangguan Yao had been watching her, she finally spoke lazily after a long while.
"Leng Yue, where are you from?"
Yun Xiao was startled, then quickly replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I am from Sucheng in Jiangnan. My ancestors were physicians. Due to family decline, I came to Yanjing to make a living."
Wanwan, standing behind her, had broken out in a cold sweat when she first heard the Emperor's question. Hearing her master's natural reply now, she finally relaxed.
"Are there any other family members?"
The Emperor continued to ask, as casually as if they were discussing family matters. However, Yun Xiao knew exactly what schemes this man was hatching. He was inherently suspicious and found it difficult to trust others, which was why he kept probing her.
"There is only me. Both my parents are deceased and left some meager property, which Leng Yue sold."
Having said this, Yun Xiao raised her head as if it were true, gazing at Shangguan Yao. Her eyes were veiled with a thin layer of mist, and her handsome features were tinged with sorrow, making her look exceptionally sad.
Shangguan Yao's heart skipped a beat. Those forlorn and sorrowful eyes truly evoked pity. He carefully examined Leng Yue and found that he was indeed exceptionally handsome.
Even he, as a man, couldn't help but be captivated after looking at him a few more times. This person was truly enchanting.
Yun Xiao finished taking his pulse and quickly let go of his hand, standing up and moving aside. She felt a touch of disgust. This man was looking at her with pity. Was she that pathetic?
"Your Majesty, Leng Yue has completed the examination."
"How is it? Is there a way?"
Yun Xiao feigned a frown, then shook her head with a look of helplessness. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the most important thing is that we don't know what medicine was administered. If the culprit can be identified, there might be a way to try, but for now, there seems to be nothing that can be done."
"Try it then."
Shangguan Yao's expression turned unpleasant, dark and gloomy, shedding his previous gentleness. A chill permeated his entire being.
Inside the hall, a cold airflow enveloped the space. The eunuchs and palace maids standing at a distance, seeing the Emperor's displeased expression, had lowered their heads to their chests, not daring to breathe.
Yun Xiao felt both exasperated and amused. This man was truly ridiculous. She had already said there was no way to cure him, yet he still asked her to try. It seemed he was trying anything as a last resort, perhaps out of desperation.
"Your Majesty, if you wish to try, it will depend on you yourself."
"What do you mean?"
Shangguan Yao shifted his posture, his eyes regaining their sharpness as he stared intently at Yun Xiao.
"Generally, male dysfunction is caused by inner demons. If Your Majesty truly likes a certain woman, perhaps that might break through the effects of the medicine."
"You mean?"
"Yes. There are many beauties in the harem. Leng Yue believes that Your Majesty must particularly like someone. So, why not seek that feeling from one of the beauties? It might be beneficial for your condition. The more Your Majesty is troubled by it, the harder it will be to recover."
What Yun Xiao said was a mixture of truth and falsehood, and it did contain some logic. Shangguan Yao's eyes were dark and unfathomable. After some thought, he nodded in agreement.
"Good, I have decided to try."
After speaking, he waved his hand, signaling Xiao Tingzi to escort Leng Yue out.
Yun Xiao curtsied, bowed, and took her leave. The moon was round in the blue sky, a perfect time to listen to music in the breeze. She turned to Wanwan.
"Let's go and play a piece of music for the young master."
There was a zither in Qingfeng Pavilion, a quite good guqin. She believed Wanwan would play it even better. Listening to music by the lake would be exceptionally pleasant.
"Yes, young master." The two of them walked out, leading four eunuchs and palace maids towards Qingfeng Pavilion. After several turns, they arrived. Thinking that Shangguan Yao would soon summon beauties from the harem to find stimulation, a radiant smile spread across her face, an exceptionally deep one.
Walking back under the moonlight and light mist, someone blocked their path in front of Qingfeng Pavilion. It was an unfamiliar palace maid, her eyes shining with astonishment, then she spoke respectfully.
"This servant greets Young Master Leng Yue."
As soon as the maid spoke, her voice carried a strong accent from the northern regions. Yun Xiao immediately guessed that this girl was someone under Princess Yan Ling of the Northern Dynasty. She wondered what she was here for. Yun Xiao spoke calmly, "Get up. May I know what brings you here, sister?"
The maid blushed even more intensely at being called sister by the handsome Young Master Leng Yue. She was overjoyed and spoke excitedly.
"Our mistress is ill and requests the young master to proceed to Qianlan Palace."
Yun Xiao raised an eyebrow.
She had no good feelings towards Princess Yan Ling of the Northern Dynasty. The way that woman looked at her last time was too blatant, making her scalp tingle.
It was so late, and she didn't want to get entangled with a harem concubine and incur the Emperor's wrath. Even if the Northern Princess was not favored, the Emperor was still the Emperor.
However, he was the Emperor, and even if he didn't use a woman, he wouldn't allow others to touch her.
"Please ask the Noble Consort to summon the imperial physicians for diagnosis. This young master is merely a guest."
Yun Xiao said this and was about to go inside, flicking her sleeve. The little maid was startled, not expecting the gentle and refined Young Master Leng Yue to get angry, but she dared not obstruct him.
This Young Master Leng Yue was right. He was the Emperor's savior and was a guest in the palace. How could he treat a consort?
As the little maid was lost in thought, footsteps sounded from behind. A group of people carrying lanterns quickly approached.
Leading the group was the Emperor's personal eunuch, Xiao Tingzi. Xiao Tingzi spoke respectfully, "Young Master Leng Yue."
Yun Xiao stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked at him with surprise. "What is it?"