Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C123

Stepping out of the main courtyard, Meifang's face was full of worry, and she couldn't help but say, "Madam... Madam, Miss... Miss, you..."

Wushuang patted her hand reassuringly, "Don't worry."

"But... but..."

This silly girl, Meifang, could she also sense the abnormality?

Chen shi's reaction was very strange. Wushuang felt that Chen shi was unsure whether she had 'lost favor,' which was why she seemed so stiff, as if both wary and unable to suppress her anger.

Such scenes would probably not be uncommon in the future. Years of experience had made Wushuang accustomed to always preparing for the worst. She thought for a moment and said to Meifang, "Don't worry. Wasn't it always like this before? Didn't we still get by?"

Meifang saw that Miss smiled as if she didn't care at all, her eyes revealing a hint of hidden sorrow. She hesitated, wanting to say something, but in the end, she concealed all her words behind her stutter.

The two walked past, unaware that behind the rockery nearby, two people were standing.

It was Zhao Jianzhi with his page, Mozhu.

"Young Master..."

Mozhu secretly glanced at his young master, wishing he hadn't come along. Who would have thought that his young master, who rarely left the courtyard recently, would run into the Madam.

Although the Madam was out of favor, it was still awkward.

Zhao Jianzhi stood there, his expression unreadable. He squeezed the jade pendant in his hand and said, "Let's go."

Wushuang had just returned and sat down, intending to bathe and change before having dinner, when Little Quanzi arrived.

"Madam, His Majesty has ordered this servant to escort you to the palace."

The smile on Little Quanzi's face was brighter than usual, and his tone was filled with barely suppressed joy. Wushuang was initially a little dazed, and his appearance made her feel quite embarrassed.

"I just came back from outside and haven't bathed or changed yet," she said hesitantly.

"Madam doesn't need to trouble yourself so much. Once you enter the palace, someone will attend to you."

Seeing Little Quanzi urging her so urgently, Wushuang didn't bother to tidy up any further and followed him into the palace by carriage.

By then, dusk had already fallen. He seemed to have just bathed; his hair was still damp, and he wore a silver-gray robe.

Mei Wushuang didn't dare to look at him. She lowered her face and walked over, curtsying in greeting.

"This concubine greets Your Majesty."

Her head remained bowed. She only heard the soft tapping of fingers on the armrest. After a few breaths, a deep voice finally spoke, "Why are you standing there?"

But where should she go? What should she do?

Although they had shared a bed several times, they spent most of their time on the couch. The only exception was that one time they dined together, after which they went to bed.

Wushuang never took the initiative; she truly didn't know what to do.

Seeing her lost and helpless appearance, Emperor Qianwu frowned and said, "Come here."

Wushuang hurried over.

She was still wearing the clothes she usually wore to the clinic, a set of dark indigo garments, and her hair was styled in a mature and old-fashioned bun.

Upon approaching, she saw his hands were slender and fair, his nails trimmed neatly and cleanly. The silver-gray robe hung casually, and the fabric was clearly expensive, with tiny specks of silver light scattered across the silver-gray.

Looking back at herself, Wushuang felt inexplicably inferior.

She wondered what he saw in her. How could a dignified emperor be toying with her?

Toying?

Yes, Wushuang had always thought so, because she couldn't imagine what she possessed that would make him waste his time and energy on her.

If there was any connection between them, it was the marriage agreement they had years ago, which she later broke to marry Zhao Jianzhi.

So she could only assume that he was perhaps retaliating against her—look at you, so blind back then. Now, this Prince is the Son of Heaven, and can easily manipulate you in the palm of my hand.

Lost in her wild thoughts, Wushuang had just walked closer, unsure of how to conduct herself, when she was pulled onto his lap.

This posture was inherently aggressive, so Wushuang subconsciously tensed up, her hands involuntarily clenching the fabric of her skirt.

"Why are you afraid of this Prince?"

"..."

"Are you afraid this Emperor will kill you?" He raised her chin.

Looking into his ink-black eyes and hearing his deep voice, Wushuang seemed to return to that suffocating situation from that day, subconsciously touching her neck.

Seeing the look of panic on her face, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

"Since you're afraid, then be obedient."

"I will be obedient," she whispered, her voice trembling.

He soothingly stroked her back and looked down at her reddened eyes.

"If you are obedient, this Emperor will dote on you."

***

Afterwards, Wushuang sat on his lap like that, letting him stroke her back, again and again.

He seemed to be pondering something, his hand movements intermittent.

Wushuang was both frightened and felt a sense of 'it is as I expected.'

His Majesty's temperament was capricious; how could he be as simple and harmless as a kitten? Indeed, everything before was her illusion. Or perhaps it wasn't an illusion, but simply that he acted as he pleased; this was his true nature.

"Why such a hairstyle, and wearing such clothes?"

Although Wushuang didn't know why he asked, she still answered honestly, "I went to the clinic, and it wasn't appropriate to attract attention, so I deliberately wore these clothes. I just returned, and Little Quanzi went, so I didn't have time to change."

"What did you go to the clinic for?"

"I learned..." The remaining words were swallowed by Wushuang; she felt a sense of shame, feeling that if she said them, she would seem very shameless.

"What did you learn?"

"I went to learn, learned the art of massage," she said, her face red, stammering.

"Why learn this?" Seeing that she didn't answer, he continued, "Is it because this Emperor learned it?"

Her face couldn't help but flush even redder. Not daring to deny it, she closed her eyes and nodded.

"And how are your studies progressing?" His fingers landed on her face, caressing it.

"The physician teaches in a very complex manner, saying that one must first understand the pathways of the meridians. I have only learned a little bit so far and haven't mastered it yet."

Emperor Qianwu, seeing her face as red as an April crabapple, delicate and charming, with the rich, vibrant corners of her eyes slightly upturned, like a touch of ink in a landscape painting, thought that from his position, he could see her slender white neck and small, exquisite collarbones, her skin like congealed fat, her neck like a grub. Only her clothes and hairstyle were extremely displeasing to the eye.

Just then, he recalled something he needed to instruct Fusheng about, so he ordered someone to lead her away to bathe and change.

When she returned from her bath, Wushuang found that he was no longer there. At that moment, a palace maid brought her food, likely knowing that she had not had her evening meal.

She didn't dare ask where he had gone and simply ate her supper.

Just as she finished eating, he returned.

He entered the bedchamber first, and she followed behind.

Seeing him sitting directly on the couch, with no intention of embracing her, Wushuang thought for a moment, then went around to the other side and climbed onto the couch.

She lay down uneasily, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, and then sat up to lower the curtain on one side, so as to block some of the light. Just as she was about to turn around and lie down again, a strong arm encircled her waist.

Wushuang was startled, her back pressed against his somewhat hot chest. She subconsciously turned her head and turned around, allowing him to embrace her fully.

Her soft, delicate body pressed tightly against his firm, masculine form. An untimely image flashed through her mind: the scene of her helping him change clothes that day.

"Your Highness..."

Her rosy lips trembled slightly, unable to suppress her shivering.

He lowered his head, the close proximity magnifying his eyebrows and eyes in Wushuang's vision. His gaze was somewhat strange, as if it held a hidden fire.

Just as she was feeling nervous, she saw him suddenly frown.

After a moment, he called out, "Wushuang."

"Your Majesty?"

He was still holding her, but not as tightly as before. He then lay down casually, half-pressing her beneath him, seemingly tired. He yawned slightly.

"Wushuang?"

"Your Majesty?"

"You should say 'hmm'?"

She licked her lips uneasily, mimicking him with a soft "hmm," her tone rising slightly, tinged with a hint of inquiry.

"Wushuang?"

"Hmm?"

"Wushuang?"

"Hmm?"

He suddenly chuckled, and she, embarrassed by his laughter, turned her gaze away, murmuring, "What are you doing?"

"Wushuang is so clever. I tell you to, and you know to say 'hmm'?"

She felt a little awkward. "It's not like you didn't tell me to say it."

"Wushuang?"

"…Hmm?"

He drew her into his embrace, shifting his posture. "You haven't been to the palace these past few days. This Emperor couldn't sleep well at night. I was just falling asleep when you woke me. Shall we sleep together, then?"

Wushuang was a little confused by his words, but her mind was already a muddled mess, so she nodded slightly.

He shifted again, seemingly searching for a comfortable position to hold her while sleeping. Amidst the shuffling, Wushuang felt something hard pressing against her.

The pressure was a little uncomfortable, so she reached out to move it, thinking it was his jade pendant. But as her hand drew near, she belatedly realized what it was.

She instantly retracted her hand, daring not to move, her entire body stiffening.

This time, it was her arm that was pressing against him. He took her hand, loosened his hold slightly, embraced her firmly again, and adjusted his position once more, finally ceasing his restless movements.

But as a result, it became Wushuang's ordeal, because that object was pressing against a place where it shouldn't be.

She suddenly understood. It wasn't that his sleeping posture was uncomfortable, but that *that* place was uncomfortable, which was why he kept adjusting, seeking a comfortable position.

Was he doing it on purpose?

Wushuang could only conclude that he was doing it deliberately. After all, he had consorts and the Six Palaces and Three Courtyards ; he couldn't possibly be ignorant of what that kind of reaction meant. But she was a fish on the chopping board, at his mercy. She could only tightly close her eyes, her flushed face burning, and pretend that none of it existed.

Emperor Qianwu widened his eyes and coughed twice. [Ahem, ahem.]

[Don't disturb Wushuang and me while we're sleeping.]

I'm disturbing your sleep? It's clearly you who is disturbing my sleep!

He looked through his own eyes at the person in his arms, whose cheeks were flushed like the dawn, and then reflected on his own foolish behavior, truly not knowing what to say.

In order to keep it out of sight and out of mind, he sank himself into darkness.

Wushuang sat in the carriage, and thinking of the events of last night, still felt her ears burning.

The carriage quickly arrived at the entrance of Duke Zhao's Mansion. Little Quanzi, as usual, was about to escort her back to the small courtyard when, reaching a fork in the road, Wushuang suddenly said, "You can return to the palace. I have some matters to attend to."

Little Quanzi's eyes revealed a hint of doubt, but he ultimately said nothing. Instead, he instructed someone to summon Meifang to accompany Wushuang before turning to leave.

"Mi... Miss?" Meifang asked, puzzled.

"Don't forget to pay your respects to Mother."

When Wushuang arrived, there were actually others in the main room.

There was Meng shi, the wife of Zhao Jianzhi, the heir apparent; the wives of several concubines' sons of the Duke's Mansion; several unmarried daughters of concubines; and some younger members of the household. There was also one other person, Chen Yunshang, Zhao Jianzhi's concubine, who, though not formally named Second Madam, acted as such.

Upon hearing that Mei Wushuang had arrived, the hall immediately fell silent.

Everyone looked at each other, only the younger ones among them not understanding why the adults had stopped speaking.

Chen Yunshang bit her lower lip and said, "Aunt, what is she doing here?"

What could she be doing?

Hadn't the servants announced it clearly enough? She was here to pay her respects.

Chen shi's face turned green and white. She could only assume that Mei Wushuang had come to flaunt her favor. She had just reprimanded her yesterday, and today she had arrived.

If it were any other time, it would have been fine, but it just so happened that she thought the other party had fallen out of favor, only to have the carriage sent to pick her up that very night, making a big show of it outside the gate. Now that she had returned from the palace, was she here to show off?

"Does she have no shame at all?" Chen Yunshang couldn't help but say. She naturally knew about Mei Wushuang being picked up last night.

Meng shi said, "Should we avoid her?"

Seeing that Chen shi remained silent, Meng shi knew that avoiding the situation now would indeed be unseemly, and there was nowhere to avoid it to. After a moment's thought, she said to Chen Yunshang, "Second Sister-in-law, when Second Brother comes in later, you… should still be proper."

In truth, these two calls of "Second Sister-in-law" were already awkward enough, sufficient to draw everyone's attention to Chen Yunshang. Meng shi knew that saying these words would offend, but she also knew that this second wife of Second Brother was not one to be trifled with, and had always relied on her mother-in-law's support, never putting Second Sister-in-law in her eyes.

It was only because that Second Sister-in-law had been avoiding her, rarely going out, that there had been fewer disputes.

Now that the two were facing each other directly, and at such a sensitive moment, she feared that Chen Yunshang would be unable to restrain her temper. If a dispute arose at that time, it would mean that all their previous forbearance had been in vain. After all, the situation was stronger than the person, and that one was currently in favor.