When Xiao Wanzi left, Liu Liu slumped onto the phoenix couch, her body weak.
She was naturally a sensitive person. Today, she had been provoked repeatedly by these people. Would the Emperor also provoke her later?
If that were the case, she wouldn't blame herself for being impolite. She wouldn't give him a good look. Liu Liu stood up angrily and called out towards the outside.
"Cui'er."
"Your Highness," Cui'er rushed in. Because she was angry that those people had spoken ill of her mistress, and she was afraid her mistress would see her angry look, Cui'er had been sulking outside the palace doors. Hearing her mistress call her, she rushed in swiftly.
"Go to Yongyuan Hall for dinner," Liu Liu stepped down from the high platform. Cui'er quickly rushed over. Hearing that it was the Emperor summoning them for a meal, she couldn't help but worry again. She wondered what that hateful Emperor would do next.
Could it be that their mistress, no matter who got pregnant, it shouldn't be Jin Jiali? It was likely that the Jin family had received the news and would become arrogant, and might even come to the palace to express their gratitude tomorrow.
Because Jin Jiali was carrying the only bloodline of the Tianfeng Dynasty, let alone the Jin family, even all the civil and military officials were overjoyed.
This signified that the empire had an heir. Although it was unknown whether the Consort Shu was carrying a prince or a princess, with the birth of one child, more children would be born incessantly.
Liu Liu understood these principles. It was precisely because she understood them that she felt annoyed. Did she have to be drowned in these people's whispers every day?
She was not one to pay attention to others' words and did not like flattery. Moreover, Jin Jiali had killed Qiao'er and Jiang Cheng. If she had any thoughts, she only wanted to kill Jin Jiali, not placate her.
In the long corridor, palace lanterns flickered. The autumn wind blew, and the night was as cold as ice.
Outside the long corridor, flower shadows were sparse, branches and leaves were mottled, and the moonlight poured down like silk, casting a soft glow. They walked through pavilions and headed directly to Yongyuan Hall, still hearing the hushed whispers of the palace maids along the way.
For example, the Empress was too jealous, and what's more, she had attempted to harm the fetus in Consort Shu's womb the night before Consort Shu became pregnant.
Fortunately, the Emperor arrived in time and saved Consort Shu's life. Liu Liu couldn't help but laugh. These idle servants were really good at making up stories. However, whether they were made up or leaked by someone, it was unknown.
Liu Liu's gaze pierced through the thin night sky, cold and aloof. In this atmosphere, how long could she endure?
Cui'er and Mingyue, who followed behind her, snorted indignantly. The palace maids speaking in the shadows looked up and saw the Empress standing before them. They immediately knelt down with a thud, trembling like fallen leaves in the wind.
Liu Liu seemed not to notice them and walked past them towards Yongyuan Hall. She didn't need to be angry about the words of these little maids. If she were to be angry, it wouldn't be as much as the Empress Dowager.
She always seemed to dote on herself, but when it came to critical moments, she still cared about her own children. She didn't think of her own niece anymore, and this niece might even be fake.
Inside Yongyuan Hall, bright palace lanterns illuminated the hall as if it were daytime. Palace maids in fine robes lined up neatly on both sides, holding various delicacies. They entered in single file and placed them on the dining table one by one, quickly setting up a full table.
As soon as Liu Liu reached the palace gate, a eunuch shouted loudly, "The Empress has arrived."
Liu Liu stepped onto the jade steps and entered Yongyuan Hall. In the bright light, Feng Xie, dressed in brocade and fine robes, walked out from inside, radiant and elegant, exuding a captivating charm with every move. A gentle smile played on his lips.
In the soft light, he looked like a beautiful god emerging from the waves, smiling at her, his voice as soft as dripping water.
"The Empress is here."
In a moment of daze, Liu Liu felt that Feng Xie was unusual tonight. What did he want to do? Could he have ulterior motives? She scanned her surroundings warily. The hall was adorned with flowers, and the large golden censer was filled with the natural floral scent she liked.
She hadn't expected him to notice her dislike for the smell of ambergris. The more he did this, the more her scalp tingled. She had a premonition that what was about to happen might not be a good thing.
"Yes, Liu Liu thanks Your Majesty for the feast," Liu Liu offered a slight bow, walked unhurriedly to the dining table, and sat down. Since she was invited to dine, she naturally didn't need to be coy.
Feng Xie's eyes sparkled with a dazzling light. He loved this unpretentious demeanor of hers. Looking at her from afar, he felt that the woman before him was as pure and elegant as a lotus flower, exuding a faint fragrance that lingered in his heart, making him want to capture her.
Even with her plain appearance, he had accepted her in the harem and it had not affected his liking for her. Now he truly understood his feelings. He had fallen for the woman before him, his Empress.
Feng Xie, filled with joy at these thoughts, paced and sat at the dining table. Looking at the woman opposite him, he watched her dine as if no one else were present, his gaze softening. xxs
"Liu'er, I summoned you here tonight to tell you something," his magnetic voice seemed to drip with emotion, which surprised Liu Liu.
In her memory, Feng Xie had never been so amiable to anyone. This situation was probably a rare occasion in his life. Not knowing what he wanted to tell her, she put down her chopsticks and looked at the Emperor, waiting for his next words.
Feng Xie took a deep breath, steadying his mind. This was the first time he was expressing his feelings to a woman. Only by being honest could Liu Liu possibly accept him. Otherwise, the two of them would only tread water, never taking a step forward.
And he hoped she would enjoy the favor he bestowed upon her, stay peacefully in the harem as his Empress, and be favored for life. As long as she gave birth to a prince, he would be the crown prince, because he believed that only the child born to her would be the most suitable to be the crown prince.
"I like you, my Empress."
Feng Xie's words almost made Liu Liu faint. She felt no joy; instead, she was very troubled and furrowed her brows slightly.
How could this situation make her happy? While letting another woman get pregnant, he came to tell her he liked her. This was probably something only ancient emperors could do.
In their eyes, a man having multiple wives and concubines was normal, but she couldn't accept such things.
Liu Liu was stunned for a moment. When she came back to her senses, she saw Feng Xie's proud face beaming, his eyes filled with ripples, looking at her expressively, waiting for her words. What did he expect her to say, to jump up with joy? Liu Liu shrugged.
"So? Did Your Majesty summon Liu Liu here just to say this one sentence?"
Feng Xie was stunned by Liu Liu's attitude, but quickly recovered. His previous radiance faded, and his eyes instantly filled with anger, leaping with cold light like a frozen pond. His breathing became heavy.
Liu Liu couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, amused. This was the man who had just said he liked her. Because she hadn't shown ecstatic joy, he became enraged. Was this what liking was?
If this was liking, then this liking was too cheap, and she didn't need it. Her expression suddenly turned cold.
"Is Your Majesty angry? Is it because Your Majesty said he liked Liu Liu, so Liu Liu must kowtow in thanks? Your Majesty might as well say these words of liking to Consort Shu. Liu Liu believes she would be happier to hear them, after all, she is carrying Your Majesty's bloodline."
Liu Liu spoke truthfully, but in her heart, she felt unwell, and her breathing felt a little rapid. However, she didn't want the man in front of her to see it.