Volume 1, Chapter 20: Trying With All Her Might Not to Cry

Zhang Shunlai hurried forward to change the wine. Pei Yushu said nothing, simply setting down her goblet and allowing the palace maid to take it away and replace it with something else.

Seeing her so docile and carrying his child, Xiao Xuanyu was delighted by her every move. Thinking of how she had been suffering from constant morning sickness, he personally reached for a bright orange tangerine.

Hu Guangfu, of course, did not dare let His Majesty peel the fruit himself. Just as he moved to take it, Xiao Xuanyu waved him off. Hu Guangfu glanced at the Concubine Chen and silently berated himself for becoming increasingly unable to read the room.

Once Xiao Xuanyu had finished peeling it, Hu Guangfu held out an exquisite small plate to receive it, then respectfully delivered it to the Concubine’s table.

"Your Ladyship, this is a tangerine that the Emperor peeled for you himself. Please, have a taste."

Pei Yushu gave him the courtesy of peeling a segment and placing it in her mouth.

A smile appeared on Xiao Xuanyu’s face, and only when several princes began to speak to him did his gaze finally shift away from her.

Although everything on Pei Yushu’s table had been supervised by Zhang Shunlai himself at the Imperial Kitchen, she still did not eat any of it, choosing instead to silently break off another segment of the tangerine.

That gaze became increasingly noticeable. Pei Yushu lifted her eyes slightly to see Huo Chi sitting opposite, dressed in official robes and radiating an air of stern integrity. Judging by his position, his rank was likely quite high.

Pei Yushu looked away after only a fleeting glance.

In her previous life, Huo Chi did not arrive in the capital to take office until a year later. Why was he here so early this time?

Pei Yushu stroked her lower abdomen. It seemed that her child’s path to that position would be sooner than expected.

However, that was provided the child was a boy; otherwise, she would have to remain by Xiao Xuanyu’s side for a few more years.

At the same moment, Huo Chi withdrew his gaze and silently poured himself a cup of wine.

Because of that dream, he had often worried about Pei Yushu’s situation in the palace while he was in Linxi. If she were truly like the woman in the dream—wallowing in self-pity and letting everyone bully her—wouldn’t that have been a waste of all his hard work?

But judging by the news from the palace and the attention Xiao Xuanyu was showing her, he realized he had worried in vain.

This woman was deep and calculating, knowing exactly how to manipulate Xiao Xuanyu’s heart, and possessing that peerless beauty; Xiao Xuanyu’s infatuation was hardly a mystery.

It was just that having grown accustomed to her seductive, enchanting side during those days, seeing her now so calm and detached like an autumn chrysanthemum felt truly strange.

At that moment, an unfamiliar eunuch quietly whispered a few words into Xiao Xuanyu’s ear.

Xiao Xuanyu glanced at Pei Yushu and dismissed the eunuch.

In a small pavilion in the Imperial Garden, Lin Shuangjian had waited for a long time, but Xiao Xuanyu had not appeared. He had clearly promised her he would come to release sky lanterns with her.

She looked at the lanterns she had made with her own hands and the salted egg yolk mooncakes on the table, suddenly feeling a surge of bitterness.

He was the Emperor, with a harem of three palaces and six courtyards; she was merely the most insignificant among them.

"Greetings, Mistress Lin. His Majesty is still at the Linshui Terrace; I fear he has no time to..." the small eunuch said, having hurried over.

"What about tonight?" Lin Shuangjian’s expression held a flicker of hope.

The eunuch observed her face and hesitated. "This... I am not sure, but I have heard that His Majesty has secretly arranged a small banquet by Ming Lake, away from Concubine Chen, to admire the moon with you."

"I see. You may go." Lin Shuangjian clutched her skirt, doing her absolute best to keep from crying.

These days, the words she heard most often were "Concubine Chen."

Concubine Chen was peerlessly beautiful; even when her temper was foul, the Emperor was deeply enamored with her.

Concubine Chen was pregnant; even though she could not attend to him in bed, the Emperor insisted on staying with her at Jingyang Palace.

Concubine Chen...

Lin Shuangjian’s tears finally fell. She slumped onto the stone bench, suddenly unsure of what she really meant to the Emperor.

"Mistress, please don't cry. I can see that the Emperor likes you. Otherwise, why would he come to talk to you so often and arrange everything for your daily needs?" Abi comforted her.

"Is that so? Then why has he never let me serve him in his bedchamber?"

Initially, Lin Shuangjian had been happy about this, thinking that she and the Emperor were dating first, and that once their feelings were stable, it would all happen naturally, making her unique in his eyes.

But now, she no longer thought so.

Indeed, there were so many women in this harem; he was never in short supply of bedmates.

Lin Shuangjian silently made a resolution: the next time they met, she would make sure to keep the Emperor by her side, no matter what means she had to use.

With Pei Yushu sitting by Xiao Xuanyu’s side under his direct watch, no one dared to make a move. Empress Ji’s expression grew increasingly grim.

When the time was right, Xiao Xuanyu glanced at Pei Yushu, declared that she was feeling unwell, and took her hand to leave the banquet.

Watching the pair, who looked like a match made in heaven, Huo Chi pursed his lips.

Xiang Jiashan had been flirting with Xiao Xuanyu all night, only for him to leave with Pei Yushu, a sight that made the tassels on her head shake with rage.

Empress Ji covered her mouth to hide a mocking smile, and after a while, she too departed, supported by her palace maids.

Only after they left did the court officials truly loosen up, taking turns to toast Huo Chi.

This young master of the Huo family possessed such capability at such a young age; it was clear that his current glory was merely the beginning.

Huo Chi remained unflappable. His face was extraordinarily handsome, and every gesture carried the inherent grace of a great noble family, leaving the noble ladies in the capital who were seeing him for the first time completely mesmerized.

Lu Xuanyan sat further back and could not see Huo Chi’s poise clearly, but she could guess that many noble ladies were surely setting their sights on her "Third Brother."

But what of it? After the new year, her mourning period would be over, and her Third Brother would certainly come to propose. No matter how much they pined for him, it would be of no use. A smug look filled Lu Xuanyan’s delicate little face.

Ming Lake had already been thoroughly inspected by the Imperial Guards. Xiao Xuanyu pulled Pei Yushu to sit beside him and ordered the maids to serve various delicacies.

Pei Yushu was cautious and had not eaten anything at the banquet. Xiao Xuanyu felt a pang of heartache and, after dismissing the servants, personally served her food.

After finishing the meal and rinsing her mouth, Xiao Xuanyu held her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "From now on, every Mid-Autumn Festival, I will accompany you here to admire the moon."

The view here was expansive, facing the full moon directly; its radiance spilled across the entire Ming Lake, like silver ripples dancing in the night. It was truly a perfect place to view the moon.

Pei Yushu looked up at the moon. Someone else had once said the exact same thing to her.

"I only hope to give birth to this child safely," she said, lowering her eyes, which were filled with sorrow.

Remembering the incident from before, Xiao Xuanyu felt even more guilty. He held her and promised repeatedly, "I will certainly protect you and our child. Qingqing, you need not worry; just keep your spirits high. Whatever you want, just tell me, and I will find it for you."

Ever since Pei Yushu had become pregnant, their relationship had mellowed. Even after he had abandoned her that night, she had not made a scene.

Hu Guangfu was right: once a woman had a child, her heart would settle. Xiao Xuanyu felt the same way now, believing that Pei Yushu had truly let go and was willing to live a good life with him.

Although he had initially forced her into the palace out of stubbornness, now that she was carrying his child, Xiao Xuanyu had no other intentions; he only hoped to spend the rest of his life with her in the palace.

He would pretend that those three years had never happened, and that he had successfully won her over in the end.

Pei Yushu sneered inwardly; what she truly wanted, Xiao Xuanyu would never give.

In the distance, Lin Shuangjian watched the pair, who sat closely together like divine lovers, and felt her heart shatter.

Reason told her she should not have come, but her legs refused to listen.

Reason also told her that this was ancient times, where it was perfectly normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines, especially an Emperor.

But she stubbornly refused to accept it, even harboring the delusional hope that he would fall in love with her and be hers alone for the rest of their lives.

Yet, the scene before her shattered that illusion completely.

She should never have let herself fall for him. But he was so kind, so gentle toward her, and with such noble status and talent, how could anyone not fall for him?

Lin Shuangjian’s face was covered in tears, and she finally broke down and ran away.

As the night grew colder, Xiao Xuanyu brought Pei Yushu back to Jingyang Palace.

Although Pei Yushu could not serve him in bed, he still wanted to stay with her.

The beauty emerged from her bath, her hair still glistening with water.

She wore light-colored nightclothes, which made her skin appear even fairer. Her waist was slender enough to be held in one hand, and her demeanor was as serene as a goddess descended to earth.

Xiao Xuanyu’s throat felt parched. He set down the book he was holding and pulled her into his arms.

He lingered first at her delicate collarbone, then moved upward to capture her red, fragrant lips.

Pei Yushu turned her face away. "Your Majesty should go elsewhere."

Xiao Xuanyu pulled her face back to look at him. His eyes were dark and heavy, his voice hoarse. "Can you bear to?"

Pei Yushu looked into his eyes and said nothing.

Xiao Xuanyu curled his lips, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and carried her to the bed. "Sleep."