Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C126 pt2

Meifang's mind was not very quick to begin with, and at this moment, she could no longer keep up with Wushuang's thoughts.

After returning, she asked after a long while, "Mi-Miss, a-are we, are we going to separate?"

"I don't want to separate."

"Then, then..."

"If it were before, I actually wanted to separate, but the Mei family clearly doesn't intend to let me go. I don't want to return to the Mei family to be manipulated, nor do I want to enter the palace."

In this way, the Zhao family has now become her place of refuge.

As for why she would ask Zhao Jianzhi?

Mei Wushuang did not wish to force anyone, and moreover, she felt guilty towards Zhao Jianzhi for having schemed for this marriage in the first place. Therefore, she wanted to ask Zhao Jianzhi's opinion. If Zhao Jianzhi wanted a divorce, she would naturally find another way, but it was clear that the Zhao family did not seem to want their son to divorce her.

Originally, Wushuang had been feeling lost, but Bailu's words directly helped her pierce through the clouds and see the light. Now, the only problem was, how to tell him about this matter? Would he agree?

This apprehension lingered for many days, hidden within Wushuang's heart.

During this time, it wasn't as if she hadn't entered the palace, but each time it was in the evening. After arriving, he would embrace her in this way and that, and by the time she woke up the next day, he had already left, leaving her with no opportunity to speak.

Since he didn't ask, she pretended to be ignorant, and this went on for more than half a month.

***

On the southern borderlands, the flames of war had reignited. The court's recent actions all revolved around the Southern Barbarian war. Since there was to be a war, naturally troops had to be mobilized and provisions transported. As the saying goes, "Before the soldiers move, the supplies go first." Warfare was also about provisions and military equipment, and therefore the court had been extremely busy recently.

But even with being so busy, His Majesty did not forget to summon that fox spirit into the palace!

If many people were still observing the direction of the wind before, now, seeing this situation, many people were gradually becoming restless. Consort Hui naturally did not miss the opportunity to stir up trouble, directing the accusations towards the Empress, making all the concubines feel that Mei Wushuang had the Empress behind her.

Wushuang originally did not know about this matter. It was the Empress who summoned her to speak, and her words were all about doing her a favor, which was how she found out.

Wushuang remained noncommittal. Although she did not know why the Empress was trying to do her a favor, Mei Wuxia did everything with a purpose. Without benefits, she would not do good deeds. She only needed to wait quietly, and she would naturally know the other party's scheme.

On this day, the palanquin that came to pick her up was earlier than usual.

Usually, it would only come when the sky was darkening, but now it wasn't even You hour (5-7 PM).

Wushuang suppressed the doubts in her heart and entered the palace. He was indeed there, but he had changed from his previous disheveled hair, wearing a large robe, and looking like he was about to rest, to wearing a purple dragon robe, exuding a full aura of majesty.

Had he just finished discussing matters with the court officials? Wushuang didn't think too much and went to sit down beside him.

"How have you been considering the matter that this Emperor spoke to you about before?"

Emperor Qianwu knew all about the absurd things 'he' had done recently, but he had been too busy with government affairs to spare the time to inquire. At this moment, he half-closed his eyes, looking at her increasingly charming eyebrows and eyes, and felt quite uncomfortable in his heart, so naturally his tone was not good.

"What matter?"

In the next moment, Wushuang understood.

Originally, she thought he would not ask about this matter again, but who would have thought that he would suddenly bring it up again, causing her to forget all the prepared words she had thought of before. For a moment, her mind went blank, and she could not say anything.

"What is it? Are you still unwilling to divorce that husband of yours?"

"I..."

Emperor Qianwu did not speak. With his pride, to have uttered the previous sentence was truly rare, but it would only extend to that, and he would say no more. Therefore, his brow appeared even more cold and stern.

Seeing his icy face, Wushuang felt even more flustered, and also somewhat aggrieved, feeling that this man's mood changed too unpredictably.

Once in bed, he would hold her, praising her to the heavens, calling her his precious darling. But once out of bed, he would turn his face in an instant.

But an emperor's thunder and dew were both heavenly grace. Wushuang dared not be annoyed, nor did she want to provoke his anger, so she hurriedly nestled into his arms, striking the pose he seemed to like very much, wanting to coax him a little.

She nestled into his arms, against his chest, a pair of limpid, beautiful eyes timidly looking at him.

"Your Majesty, please don't be angry."

She leaned against him, and said in a small voice, "Actually, it's not that this concubine is unwilling to part with him, it's just that if this concubine divorces, there will be nowhere to go. This concubine doesn't want to return to her maiden home, and also... doesn't want to..."

"Doesn't want what?" He raised her chin.

Her rosy lips trembled slightly, "Doesn't want to enter the palace."

With this, Emperor Qianwu became interested: "Why don't you want to enter the palace?"

She took her face away from his fingertips and lowered her head, "This concubine simply doesn't want to enter the palace."

Seeming to know that these words were somewhat rebellious and unappreciative, she hurriedly added, "This concubine possesses only beautiful looks, and is fortunate to have Your Majesty's favor, which is already a thousand blessings. This concubine truly dares not and is unworthy of being taken into the palace. Your Majesty is a wise ruler of this era, while this concubine is but dust and chaff, unable to ascend to the hall of elegance. If someone of this concubine's status were to be brought into the palace, it would truly damage Your Majesty's reputation."

He watched her stammering out words flattering him, while not forgetting to belittle herself. What kind of person was Emperor Qianwu? What kind of people had he not seen? Her meaning was clear enough.

If it were anyone else, he would probably only think, 'Such an unappreciative thing,' and leave with a flick of his sleeves.

But this person was her...

She wasn't very brave, he knew.

Yet why did she dare to risk angering him, and still not want to enter the palace?

Was it because of Mei Wuxia?

"When has this Emperor been someone who cares about the words of others?"

"It's not that Your Majesty cares about what others say, but the court historians' pens are merciless. This concubine, this concubine truly, truly cannot bear for Your Majesty to be stained with a bad reputation because of this concubine!"

He lifted her chin, his thumb tracing the outline of her lips, his expression inscrutable.

"Tell the truth."

Her tears streamed down in an instant.

These insincere words were never her forte, yet he insisted on exposing her again and again, forcing her to tell the truth. What truth was there to tell? She simply didn't want to enter the palace, but he didn't even ask if she was willing, and just snatched her into the palace. Now, without asking if she was willing, he wanted her to enter the palace.

How could there be such an overbearing person in this world! Why was her fate so bitter!

Mei Wushuang, overcome by emotion, cried with exceptional abandon.

Emperor Qianwu, however, tightened his jaw.

"Did this Emperor bully you?"

"You are bullying me!" she declared, emboldened by her emotional state.

"How did this Emperor bully you?"

"You bullied me in every way!"

She leaned against his chest, heartbroken, and simply cried like that. Before long, half of his dragon robe was ruined. She cried so unattractively, sniffling as she wept.

In the end, she was still just a young girl!

Even Emperor Qianwu, who had seen all sorts of demons and monsters, had never encountered such a young girl. She was said to be as timid as a mouse, yet she was also outrageously bold, daring to snuggle into his arms, daring to cry against his chest.

In truth, Wushuang had already realized what she had just said, and was still crying now, but only to cover up her panic.

Just as she was anxiously wondering how to keep him from getting angry, a flash of inspiration struck her mind. She haltingly recounted the matter of being called back to the Mei mansion that day, and encountering her former maidservants.

She didn't go into too much detail, only mentioning how they had helped Mei Zong and Cao shi's family deceive and coax her, and why she had broken off her engagement and married Zhao Jianzhi back then.

In fact, Wushuang also intended to explain the events of that year, the gist of which was to say that the matter was already in the past, the deed was already done, and that she was ignorant back then, so he shouldn't hold a grudge against her.

She also spoke, half-revealing and half-concealing, about Cao shi's intention in calling her back, as well as the Empress's actions to win her over.

It was precisely because she didn't want to be manipulated and controlled again that she didn't want a divorce, nor did she want to enter the palace.

"He usually never pays attention to me. He has his own lover, his cousin concubine. In that family, I'm just a decoration. You don't need to worry that I might have something with him..."

"Something with him? What do you mean he has his own lover? Are you saying you have a lover too?" He suddenly moved closer.

Mei Wushuang was truly pushed to the edge and said, "I've already given you my body, you..." As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized what she had said, quickly shut her mouth, and turned her face away in shame.

Emperor Qianwu's expression became somewhat obscure and unfathomable.

Gave her body to this Emperor? That wasn't this Emperor.

Looking at her again, after a bout of crying, her eyes seemed to have been washed by water, becoming even more clear and moist. Her neck was slender and delicate. Thinking of the beautiful scene that day, Emperor Qianwu's eyes darkened for a moment.

He cleared his throat and said, "Do you know that if you don't enter the palace, you won't have a rank. Without a rank, you won't have status. Without status, you can only be bullied by those with higher status than you. If you want to live in peace and quiet, you must have a status that prevents others from daring to bully you."

"Hmm?"

She understood these words, yet didn't fully understand them, and could only look at him with a pair of beautiful eyes.

Emperor Qianwu was already distracted, and couldn't withstand such a gaze. Fortunately, he was usually a patient and restrained person, so he didn't reveal it. He continued methodically, "Or, how about this Emperor bestow upon you the title of Madam?"