Actually, Ji Feiyu's breasts were not particularly small, but neither were they very large. So when she saw the ample bosoms of other women at the banquet, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
She repeatedly checked herself in the bronze mirror in the inner chamber, sizing up her gorgeous attire. It wasn't until that annoying man outside grew impatient and urged her that she emerged from the inner chamber coyly, like a fair maiden half - hiding behind her lute.
"Hey? Not bad!" As soon as Yong Yaxuan saw her, he sized her up from head to toe. His eyes sparkled like stars.
Ji Feiyu was already good - looking, and with the skimpy dance costume, she looked even more stunning.
She felt ill at ease under his gaze, looking down at the floor and counting the patterns on the bricks. Blushing a little, she said, "Your Majesty, just tell me what dance you'd like to see, and I'll perform it for you."
"Hmm... let me think..." He circled around this charming and demure woman slowly. Suddenly, he placed his hand on her slender waist adorned with a waist chain and with a cut - out design. Smiling, he said, "How about the 'Green Pearl' dance?"
That annoying man, he really knows how to pick!
"The 'Green Pearl' dance?" The 'Green Pearl' dance required great strength in the waist. Since this seemed appropriate, then the 'Green Pearl' dance it would be.
Ji Feiyu asked him for a tambourine to accompany her music. As the drumbeats started and she was about to start dancing, there came a sudden and urgent knocking on the door. At the same time, the shrill and agitated voice of Eunuch Li sounded outside the door -
"Your Majesty, the Minister of War has entered the palace overnight and says he has urgent matters to see you!"
Hearing this, Yong Yaxuan frowned. "The Minister of War? What does he want at this time?"
Ji Feiyu was overjoyed, but on her face, she pretended to be helpless as she put away her dancing pose. Disappointedly, she said, "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to dance."
He looked at her reluctantly, then glanced at the shadow outside the door. Standing up, he said, "My dear, wait for me here."
Ji Feiyu nodded obediently as if in a show. She fetched a cloak for him. He stroked her face, gave her a kiss on the lips, and then left in a hurry.
The cold wind outside blew in the moment the door was closed, hitting Ji Feiyu's thin body. She quickly hugged her arms tightly and let out a long sigh of relief. She slowly walked back to the bed and thought to herself: I must find a way to leave the palace as soon as possible! Otherwise, I'll be waiting day after day. When will this end!
It was a pity that this gorgeous attire had no one to appreciate. Ji Feiyu dejectedly took off the dance costume and changed into a normal undergarment, then lay down on the dragon bed and fell into a sullen sleep. Every time he was called away in the middle of the night to discuss state affairs, he never came back as promised. She was already used to it... so used to it...
Ji Feiyu gently closed her eyes. It seemed as if she could see again the days when Yong Yaxuan used to ride horses with her. At that time, he hadn't ascended the throne yet and had far fewer troubles than now. Back then, they had shared some happy moments...
Thinking like this, she fell asleep unconsciously. When she woke up again, she found Yong Yaxuan lying quietly beside her. It was pitch - black and quiet outside. She didn't know what time it was.
She turned to look at his straight nose and suddenly pinched it out of revenge. The man woke up extremely reluctantly from his deep sleep. Seemingly used to it being her, he didn't scold her. Instead, he just removed her hand, turned towards her, gave her a kiss with a hint of tiredness, and softly said, "Don't be naughty."
Ji Feiyu could see the exhaustion on him. A bit unhappy, she lay flat again and muttered beside him, "It seems that Your Majesty has really been working hard lately."
Yong Yaxuan understood the implication in her words. Immediately, he smiled and became interested. Pinching her nose, he said, "You're jealous, aren't you!"
Ji Feiyu felt a bit embarrassed. She hugged him tightly and rubbed her face against his chest, like a coquettish kitten.
Her charming appearance made him let out a muffled laugh, but his tone was very tired. "My dear, don't be naughty. I still have to go to court later. I want to sleep for a while."
So Ji Feiyu stopped being naughty.
"Okay. I'll wake you up later." She knew he was really tired. She had always been so "virtuous" and knew how to be considerate of him.
"Good girl..." He stroked her hair and subconsciously hugged her tightly. Feeling his rhythmic heartbeat, Ji Feiyu slowly closed her eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep without dreams.
In the early morning, it was still dark, but the snow outside reflected a faint light. Ji Feiyu woke up slowly. Turning her head, she saw that Yong Yaxuan was still sleeping soundly. She got up and told the palace servants to prepare breakfast, then lay back on the bed and looked at his eyebrows, gently tracing them.
This man was truly the most handsome man she had ever seen. When he was courting her back then, he was so considerate and gentle. Otherwise, she wouldn't have left her own country for him and entered this deep and secluded palace. After those young and impulsive days, she actually knew that he was not the right man for a long - term relationship.
Ji Feiyu had been in the palace for three years, but the time they had known each other was longer than that. Thinking carefully, they had known each other for about five years. She still remembered that when they first met, she was only thirteen, at the prime of her youth, blooming as flamboyantly as a newly - opened flower.
Her delicate fingertips gently brushed across his thin lips. Ji Feiyu lowered her head and smiled.
People always said that men with thin lips were heartless, but she never saw any sign of heartlessness in him. He had favored all the women in the harem. Clearly, he was the most affectionate man.
The only thing about him that had anything to do with "thin" was that he had taken liberties with her again and again.
Ji Feiyu was lost in the memories of their past. Beside her, Yong Yaxuan, with his eyes closed, asked in a low and lazy voice, "My dear, am I good - looking?"
Ji Feiyu was startled for a moment, then replied with a smile, "Yes, you are."
But he said, "A king doesn't need to be good - looking."
That's right. A king needed strength, because the world was so vast that it was not easy to govern.
She gave him a gentle smile and asked, "When did you wake up?"
"When you got up." He slowly opened his eyes. Those eyes had the luster of stars and had regained their usual wisdom and calmness.
Ji Feiyu simply sat up and said, "Since you're awake, let me help Your Majesty get dressed."
Hearing this, he propped himself up and moved over, laying his head on her lap. Then he closed his eyes again. "I want to eat the plum cakes you make, my dear."
Ji Feiyu couldn't help but smile gently. "Your Majesty, get up obediently and go to court first. When you come back, I'll have them ready."
"Really?"
"Really."
Hearing this, he groaned and rolled over to get up. She quickly got out of bed to help him get dressed, comb his hair, and put on his court cap.
After he helped her put on her outer garment, he suddenly pinched her nose and said, "Next time, I still want to see you dance in that costume. Don't you forget."
That annoying man!
Ji Feiyu cursed in her heart, but on her face, she smiled brightly and gently said, "I know."
She accompanied him to the outer hall for breakfast. Who would have thought that he just took a glance at the food on the table from afar and said, "I won't have breakfast." Then he rushed off with Eunuch Li who was waiting outside the hall.
Ji Feiyu watched him leave. At this time, the sky was just starting to dawn.
Ji Feiyu knew in her heart that Yong Yaxuan was a good emperor, but not a good man to spend a lifetime with. Staying by his side, she always felt an emptiness in her heart.
He only acted like a child when he was tired. Usually, he was as cunning as a fox. With such changes and disguises, she didn't even know which one was the real him.