Jieyu Jiang’s delicate, pale face instantly shifted between green and white. She had intended to humiliate Ning Xuan and the others, only to end up suffering the consequences herself. Her eyes widened with rage, moisture gathering within them from shame and indignation. She looked so pitiful that anyone unaware of what had happened might truly believe two men were bullying her in broad daylight.
Ning Xuan now understood more deeply than ever why one could never judge a person by appearances. Anyone who brought ordinary assumptions into palace life would be fortunate merely to end up unable to defend themselves.
Yet Jieyu Jiang’s shame and fury earned only an impatient rebuke from Consort Shu. “Put that expression away. You’re embarrassing yourself. His Majesty isn’t here, so who are you performing for?”
Even allies bound together like grasshoppers upon the same rope had gathered only for mutual benefit. Power, status, family background, and imperial favor created a clear relationship of dominance and dependence between them. When necessary, Jieyu Jiang had to speak, using her sharp and vicious tongue to throw every imaginable accusation at others. In doing so, she also gathered their resentment upon herself. Yet because she was inferior in every respect, even if she hated the person who wielded her like a weapon, she could only cling tightly to Consort Shu, depending upon her and obeying her.
Being reprimanded so mercilessly before so many servants left Jieyu Jiang deeply humiliated. But however unwilling she felt, she could only swallow her anger.
“Guard your words and actions, restrain yourself, and observe propriety. Virtuous Jieyu ought to learn when enough is enough and what it means to grow arrogant through favor. You have overstepped.” Consort Shu smiled charmingly, her bright eyes gleaming. She raised a hand to smooth her hair, graceful, alluring, and exquisitely seductive. Yet the soft words emerging from her red lips were vicious and cutting.
“Your Highness’s instruction is entirely correct. This subject will remember it from this day forward and take Your Highness as my model: guarding my words and actions, restraining myself, observing propriety, knowing when enough is enough, and above all avoiding arrogance born from favor.” Ning Xuan met her attack without yielding, yet remained perfectly composed. His attitude startled both Han Ruifeng and Jieyu Jiang. They raised their heads in astonishment, momentarily unable to understand what was happening. Jieyu Jiang appeared especially terrified. She glanced fearfully toward Consort Shu, then hurriedly looked away as though afraid the woman would notice.
For an instant, the heavily powdered and elaborately made-up face twisted into something hideous. Consort Shu had never dreamed that anyone would challenge her so openly. Even the mistress of the Central Palace had to show her a certain degree of caution, yet this insignificant male concubine dared speak so presumptuously.
“Good. Very good!” Her lotus feet shifted, narrowing the distance between them considerably. Their gazes met, and the curve beside her red lips nearly froze. Each word seemed forced between clenched teeth as she desperately restrained her roaring fury.
The sweet fragrance of powder rushed toward Ning Xuan. His abdomen, which had remained faintly unsettled for several days, seemed to ignite instantly. It cramped slightly, followed by a violent surge of nausea from his stomach. Ning Xuan unconsciously furrowed his brows. The color that had only recently returned to his face immediately drained away again. Yet suppressing the nausea did nothing to stop it; wave after wave of the urge to vomit only grew stronger.
He raised a hand to cover his mouth and nose. That instinctive movement proved more effective than a thousand barbed insults, instantly tearing apart Consort Shu’s carefully maintained mask of elegance and dignity. Believing Ning Xuan’s reaction was directed at her, she had neither time to think nor restrain herself. Fury reddened her peach-blossom eyes, and she raised a hand to slap him. “You shameless, lowborn, bewitching dog of a servant! How dare you pass judgment upon me?!”
Everything happened too quickly. In that flash of lightning, Consort Shu had enjoyed hurling her insult, but the palm descending with thunderous force never landed as expected.
Something suddenly restrained her arm. She secretly exerted more force, but it refused to move.
“Insolence! What are you, to dare—”
Enraged beyond endurance, Consort Shu looked up furiously at the audacious “servant,” only to fall instantly silent when she saw his true face.
The “servant” she had considered outrageously bold and disrespectful was none other than the foremost man in the Hua Dynasty—Emperor Huawu, Feng Xuanyi.
“Y-Your Majesty…” Consort Shu could not immediately react. Her raised wrist remained trapped in Feng Xuanyi’s hand. Her vicious air dispersed in an instant, yet the posture was profoundly unsuited to her rank and bore none of her usual gentleness or captivating grace.
“You are all awake rather early.” Feng Xuanyi raised a brow, an ambiguous smile resting upon his lips. He behaved as though he had not seen the confrontation that had nearly erupted into violence, nor did he display any awareness that he had just intervened. His amused gaze swept briefly across Ning Xuan’s pale face, and his brows tightened almost imperceptibly. He seemed entirely indifferent to the slender arm within his grasp, though it had nearly become a weapon moments earlier.
“His Majesty has arrived!” Mo Yan finally appeared, followed by more than a dozen palace attendants carrying lanterns or ceremonial insignia. He raised his voice in a shrill announcement.
“This subject pays his respects to Your Majesty.” “This consort pays her respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy endless blessings and peace.” Master and servant alike—everyone upon the road—immediately knelt to offer their respects. Consort Shu took the opportunity to free her wrist from Feng Xuanyi’s hand, recovered her composure, and somehow made even kneeling appear alluring and graceful.
“You may rise.”
The beauty had intentions, but the man remained unmoved. Consort Shu’s charms were undoubtedly exceptional, yet Feng Xuanyi’s gaze never settled upon her. However captivating conventional beauty might be, it was still merely painted powder beside something pure, refined, elegant, and quietly extraordinary—like Ning Xuan at that moment, naturally graceful and captivating without the slightest deliberate adornment.
Unfortunately, Ning Xuan was bowing with his head lowered and did not see Feng Xuanyi’s gaze seemingly take root upon him. By the time everyone rose at his command, Feng Xuanyi had once again become the exalted emperor whose heavenly authority could neither be challenged nor fathomed.
Consort Shu, having forgotten the pain as soon as the wound healed, behaved as though nothing had happened. The instant she saw Feng Xuanyi, not a trace remained of her earlier ferocity, viciousness, arrogance, or disdain.
Her entire body seemed to melt instantly into spring water. She showed no concern for propriety despite standing in broad daylight before countless eyes and pressed herself against Feng Xuanyi as though she possessed no bones. Tilting her pale, beautiful face upward, she gazed at him with luminous peach-blossom eyes filled with affection. Her moist red lips gleamed in the sunlight, tempting anyone who saw them to lower their head and taste them. She wrapped her hand around Feng Xuanyi’s arm and pressed the proud fullness of her chest, concealed beneath luxurious silk, closer against him. Shy, expectant, and seductive—no single word seemed sufficient to describe Consort Shu at that moment. It was as though she had been born solely to drive men mad and leave them enchanted. Every movement appeared natural yet deliberately directed. Though seemingly ordinary, each gesture radiated suggestion and temptation. A rich sweetness surrounded her entire body, provocative and bewitching.
“Cousin, what brings you here? You didn’t even have anyone announce you first. You gave me such a fright.” She had clearly been caught behaving outrageously, yet she shamelessly laughed and spoke with perfect ease, appearing simultaneously annoyed and coquettish. A single blink conveyed several parts grievance, several parts playfulness, and several parts bashful affection. Throughout the entire imperial palace, only Consort Shu Meng dared address Feng Xuanyi with such familial intimacy.
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