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Chapter 26 – No Face Given

  Ying Qionglou likely felt a bit embarrassed himself and said, “The Empress need not mind. Li Liangyi is with child—some fussiness is to be expected.”

  “I didn’t say anything, did I? Why are you in such a rush to defend her? No need to create conflict with a mere Liangyi, is there?”

  “The Empress is magnanimous—well said,” Ying Qionglou nodded.

  “Are you upset?” he asked when Wumian only nodded and didn’t continue speaking.

  “If I were upset, would Your Majesty coax me?” Wumian looked at him.

  That question caught Ying Qionglou off guard. “You’re the Empress—you should be more generous. It’s just a lower-ranking concubine being thoughtless. No need to take it to heart.”

  “Ah, since Your Majesty has said so, what else can I say? Of course, you’re right,” Wumian said as she nudged his teacup toward him, gesturing for him to drink.

  “I’ll spend the night here tonight,” Ying Qionglou decred.

  Wumian gave a faint smile—there was no trace of gratitude in her expression.

  She couldn’t really feel grateful, after all. She suddenly realized: the Emperor's affection wasn’t all that precious.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “Nothing,” Wumian smiled. “Just thinking the Dragon Boat Festival is coming—I wonder how lively it’ll be.”

  “Didn’t you say Mother is pnning an opera? You love that sort of thing—you should enjoy it to the fullest,” Ying Qionglou said.

  “As Your Majesty says.”

  Ying Qionglou reached out and took her hand. “The Empress has really… changed.”

  For no apparent reason, she’d become so much more agreeable. She had always been beautiful, but now that the disagreeable parts of her personality were gone, it felt like she’d transformed completely.

  The Emperor had clearly made up his mind to spend the day with her. Since that was the case, he didn’t pn to return elsewhere that afternoon.

  The two of them went together to pay respects to the Empress Dowager first, then took a stroll in the imperial garden.

  When they arrived at the Empress Dowager’s pace, they passed a familiar-looking pace maid coming out. Seeing the Emperor and Empress approaching, the maid quickly stepped aside and saluted.

  Wumian gnced at her and thought, That one looks like she’s from Fu Meiren’s quarters.

  Ying Qionglou didn’t spare her a gnce as he walked by.

  The Empress Dowager, seeing the imperial couple arrive together, had refreshments prepared and received them warmly.

  They sat for a short while before heading out to the imperial garden.

  “What flowers do you like best, Empress?” Ying Qionglou asked as he sat down.

  “I like them all. A hundred flowers blooming—that’s what makes it spring,” Wumian said, gently fanning herself. Her answer flowed easily.

  “But it’s summer now,” Ying Qionglou said, hinting at something more.

  “Then it’s a hundred flowers blooming for summer. And in autumn, too. Even in winter, there’s the conservatory. So yes—a hundred flowers blooming makes it winter too.” Wumian replied slowly, but with such earnestness that no one could accuse her of being glib.

  “The Empress is quite… broad in her affections.”

  Truthfully, the old Wumian had often told the Emperor what she liked. She used to love lotuses.

  But did he ever remember? Back then, he had only ever brushed her off.

  So now, Wumian couldn’t be bothered. Whatever I like, I’ll like. What’s it to you?

  Ying Qionglou’s harem hadn’t exactly given her face today either. He came to stroll the garden with the Empress in part to smooth things over.

  And yet, just as they’d sat down and begun to enjoy themselves—here came another “beauty.”

  This time it was Hu Meiren, dolled up from head to toe, clearly aiming straight for the Emperor.

  Wumian watched her approach with a smile, leaning zily against the pavilion column, chin in hand, quietly observing.

  By the time Ying Qionglou frowned, Hu Meiren was already upon them.

  She even quickened her steps near the end.

  “This concubine greets Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress,” Hu Meiren said with a bow.

  Wumian didn’t speak, merely looked on—utterly unbothered.

  Ying Qionglou gave a perfunctory “Mm” and waved for her to rise.

  “I heard the pomegranate trees near this pavilion were about to bloom, so I came to admire the flowers. Imagine my surprise running into Your Majesties. I hope I haven’t disrupted your enjoyment?” Hu Meiren’s words were graceful and well-mannered.

  “If you know it’s a disruption, then go admire flowers elsewhere,” Ying Qionglou said bluntly.

  Wumian nearly ughed. She said she didn’t know, and you just outright said she was disturbing us?

  “Your Majesty~~” Hu Meiren pouted and stamped her foot. She was trying to be charming—it was actually rather cute.

  “What? One warning isn’t enough?” Ying Qionglou said, clearly annoyed.

  “I wouldn’t dare… but why doesn’t Her Majesty say anything?” Hu Meiren pressed on, still unwilling to give up.

  “Is what His Majesty said not enough? We’ll go with His Majesty’s word.”

  What’s wrong with being obedient? You had favor once when you first entered the pace. Look at you now—His Majesty doesn’t even want to see you anymore, and you still won’t listen?

  “Yes.”

  Hu Meiren looked utterly aggrieved, as if Wumian had just committed some heinous, unforgivable crime.

  “Then this concubine shall take her leave. I won’t disturb Your Majesties’ flower viewing.”She turned away and left—looking back every few steps, clearly reluctant.

  Once Hu Meiren was gone, the Emperor leaned against the pilr. “The weather’s quite nice today. Not hot at all right now.”

  Wumian tilted her head to look at him. “Your Majesty is even nicer.”

  What a magnet for beauties—can’t take a walk in peace without someone trying to throw themselves at you.

  “Aha, that was teasing. I caught that one,” Ying Qionglou chuckled.

  He wasn’t the type to ugh easily, so when he did, it carried a unique charm.

  Especially when he ughed sincerely—there was a faint crease at the corner of his eye that was, oddly enough, rather seductive.

  They were sitting quite close, so Wumian unabashedly reached out and gently touched the corner of his eye.

  It was something she’d never dared to do in the past. The old Wumian would’ve never dared y a hand on the Emperor—only cling to him with desperate requests for visits.

  Ying Qionglou was clearly surprised. “What? Noticed the lines at the corner of my eyes?”

  “Everyone gets them when they smile. I just think they’re nice,” Wumian replied calmly, sitting upright. “We’re husband and wife. If I find it pleasing and want to touch, surely His Majesty wouldn’t mind?”

  “Of course not. If the Empress likes it, that’s a blessing for me.”He reached out and took her hand in his.

  Wumian let him. “The pomegranates are about to bloom. Their color’s bold and beautiful. The flowers may be small, but if you ask me, they’re no less lovely than peonies.”

  “If you like them, I’ll have the conservatory send some to your pace. Pomegranates carry auspicious meanings,” Ying Qionglou said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

  “If they’re going to be sent, why not just pnt them? After all, trees only flourish when they’re rooted in the ground. The pace is my home—the pce I’ll live for a lifetime.”Wumian said it casually.

  “Even better,” Ying Qionglou replied.

  It was the first time he’d ever heard a consort say something like the pace is my home. But she wasn’t wrong—for women like her, it truly was.

  After sitting together a while longer, the two rose and returned to Fengyi Pace.

  The news that the Emperor and Empress had strolled the gardens together and returned to the central pace side by side spread quickly.

  Everyone had their own interpretations. Some began to wonder—could this mean the Empress was regaining favor?

  In the harem, many consorts had fallen out of favor, but very few had ever regained it.

  Once the Emperor grew tired of you, he rarely forced himself to take you back. Most women never even got a chance to see him again. It didn’t matter how beautiful or clever you were—if you couldn’t get in front of him, it was useless.

  So, the odds of regaining favor were slim—vanishingly so.

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