The bleak winter finally passed. After the Awakening of Insects, all things revived. The Grand Yong Imperial Palace was once again resplendent with colors. As the weather warmed up, the graceful figures of concubines from the three palaces and six courtyards were on full display. Yong Yaxuan hadn't shown up in Qiwu Palace for a long time.
One day, Ji Feiyu was painting in Qiwu Palace. She sat in front of the album of "The Scenery of the River and Mountains" on the table, painting again and again. Feeling bored, she murmured softly, "It would be wonderful if I could go out of the palace and paint the real beautiful mountains and rivers."
It was just a casual remark, but it might not be taken that way by others.
As soon as the words left her lips, the maids and eunuchs in her palace knelt on the ground.
Ji Feiyu turned around in confusion and suddenly bumped into a broad embrace.
At that moment, her long hair was lazily coiled up, and her daily clothes were loose and casual. With this bump, her hair scattered, and her shoulders were exposed. It seemed as if she had deliberately thrown herself into his arms.
Yong Yaxuan couldn't help but chuckle. He sniffed the fragrance of her hair and said, "My dear consort, why are you being restless again?"
Ji Feiyu immediately got up from Yong Yaxuan, tidied her clothes, and said softly, "When did Your Majesty come? Why didn't you have someone announce your arrival?"
Yong Yaxuan put his arm around her and made her lean back against him. He asked, "What did you just say, my dear consort? Do you want to go out of the palace?" He lowered his head, his chin resting on Ji Feiyu's cheek, his breath right next to her.
Ji Feiyu quickly tried to push him away. "Your Majesty heard wrong."
"Really?" He hugged Ji Feiyu tighter instead, raising his eyebrows as he looked at her, with a more playful look in his eyes.
Ji Feiyu felt a bit guilty under his gaze. She lowered her eyes and said softly, "Of course. I like Your Majesty so much. How could I bear to leave?"
"Then why can't I see your love?" He said with a half - smile. Suddenly, he turned Ji Feiyu around and hugged her face to face.
Ji Feiyu shuddered all over. She quickly said, "My love for Your Majesty is hidden deep in my heart. How could I show it so easily? It's so embarrassing..." Ji Feiyu wished she could bury her head in Yong Yaxuan's arms.
The emperor burst out laughing and finally let go of Ji Feiyu. "Then why don't you prove it to me?"
This time, Ji Feiyu was smarter. Instead of just agreeing to everything he said, she asked, "How does Your Majesty want me to prove it?"
He tilted his head, thought for a while, and suddenly his eyes lit up. He looked at her excitedly. "How about playing the flute?"
Ji Feiyu was stunned as if struck by lightning. She quickly shouted, "No!"
He raised his eyebrows, puzzled. "Why not!"
Ji Feiyu clenched her small hands. "It's broad daylight..."
Yong Yaxuan was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly understood. He burst out laughing and tapped her on the nose. "My dear consort, are you thinking about something inappropriate again?"
Ji Feiyu quickly shook her head and covered her face. "I'm not!"
He leaned close to Ji Feiyu's ear and said, "You still say you're not. Your ears are red!"
Ji Feiyu continued to shake her head and wriggled her body. "I'm not! I'm not!" She was too ashamed to face him.
Yong Yaxuan removed her hands. His face was full of smiles. "What I mean by playing the flute is the normal way of playing. It's the tune we played together back then."
"What?" Ji Feiyu suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked at him. The next moment, she felt even more ashamed and wished she could find a hole to hide in!
He laughed heartily, got up, and went into the inner room to fetch the long flute he had given Ji Feiyu back then.
Ji Feiyu took it shyly. It took her half a day to calm down and recall the tune from that year.
That year, on the top of Qinling Mountain, they sat cross - legged. He played the zither, and she played the flute. It was a harmonious scene. As Ji Feiyu thought about it, a smile appeared on her face. She gently played the tune they had played together back then.
The sound of the flute was clear and melodious. The turns in the tune still carried the lingering charm of that year. Some past events gradually came to her mind. Their first meeting was because of a misunderstanding and a quarrel. At that time, she was a princess in distress from a small and unknown country, framed by her sisters and forced to live among the common people.
Ji Feiyu smiled faintly and continued to play the flute.
The afternoon seemed to pass very quickly. Before they knew it, the sky was covered with a layer of darkness.
Yong Yaxuan looked at the sky and said, "It's getting late." He was about to get up when Ji Feiyu couldn't help but grab his arm and shake it. "Your Majesty will be bored anyway when you go back. Why not stay with me for a while longer?"
This time, it was Yong Yaxuan's turn to stroke her head. "I heard that your menstrual period is not over yet. I'll come to accompany you another day."
After saying that, he gave her a charming smile, flicked his robe, and left gracefully.
Ji Feiyu was left alone in the palace, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Oh my god! How did she manage to provoke such a vengeful man!
A few days later, the spring imperial examination of the country ended. Yong Yaxuan personally selected the new top - scorer in the palace examination. On the day when the results were announced to the world, he invited the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the top three in the palace examination to the Qionglin Feast.
On the day of the feast, the Qionglin Garden was full of spring vitality. Ji Feiyu was not originally on the invitation list. But the emperor remembered what the envoy from the Northern Cold Region had said, that in important events in the Northern Cold Region, the king and the queen always attended together. So he made an exception and invited her, which was also to cheer her up. Once this honor was spread, Ji Feiyu became the center of attention for a while.
Ji Feiyu was well - made - up by the maids, her hair was neatly done, and she put on a phoenix crown and a gorgeous phoenix robe. She truly looked peerless.
However, just as she was a beautiful sight to others, others were also a sight to her. The greatest enjoyment for Ji Feiyu at the Qionglin Feast was to see the newly - promoted talented scholars and beautiful ladies of the court. As a result, the emperor glared at her all night. When the top - scorer came to toast and saw the emperor's expression, he thought the emperor had an eye disease.
Ji Feiyu looked through the top - scorer at the third - place finisher not far behind him. At this moment, he was drinking with the second - place finisher. He was truly as elegant as a rain - drenched tree, with the charm of the forest in his clothes.
Ji Feiyu gently shook her wine cup and asked very comfortably, "Your Majesty, what are the names of the top three in this imperial examination?"
The emperor gave Ji Feiyu a dissatisfied look and then said slowly, "The third - place finisher is Lin Zhiran, the second - place finisher is Dai Yanwen, and the top - scorer... the top - scorer..." When it came to the top - scorer, the emperor suddenly stopped. Ji Feiyu noticed his strange expression and then realized that he thought she had been looking at the top - scorer just now...
At this time, the top - scorer, who was still toasting, reminded with a smiling face, "My name is Mo Yong."
When Ji Feiyu heard this, she couldn't help but smile softly. Mo Yong. What an interesting name.
When the emperor saw her smiling, his face became even darker. He thought her wish had come true, so he glared at the top - scorer several times. The top - scorer had never seen such a situation before. After finishing the toast, he quickly stepped down, his feet feeling unsteady.
As soon as the top - scorer left, Yong Yaxuan whispered in her ear, "Don't have any ideas about the top - scorer!"
Ji Feiyu just smiled and said nothing. Who said she had taken a fancy to the top - scorer? She was clearly looking at the third - place finisher behind him. Why was he getting jealous for no reason?
Ji Feiyu thought that the biggest mistake the emperor made in this year's palace examination was to select a few young and handsome scholars with both talent and good looks, and finally let her feast her eyes on them. He really brought this on himself!
Ji Feiyu continued to drink wine and ignored him. Unexpectedly, it was the third - place finisher's turn to come and toast. When Ji Feiyu saw the third - place finisher approaching, her heart couldn't help but beat faster. His gentle and handsome appearance reminded her of her first love.
He really looks like him!