In a secluded pavilion not far from the Qingyun Terrace, Ling Shan nestled in Jun Wuyuan's arms, gently tapping his chest with her fair finger.
"Your Majesty, you had the secret guards act out my drowning. What should we do next after they 'rescue' me?"
Ling Shan hadn't expected this. They had clearly discussed the plan in advance.
Jun Wuyuan had even seemed pleasantly surprised and silently agreed to her plan. He was making arrangements in the court, while she was setting the bait in the harem.
Everything had gone smoothly in the past few days, but on this crucial day, he had replaced her with a secret guard.
Instead, she had been brought into his arms, watching the show at the Qingyun Terrace from afar.
Although her plan had been disrupted, Ling Shan couldn't help but feel a little happy.
Not for any other reason, but because Jun Wuyuan was reluctant to let her act out the drowning scene.
It seemed that her efforts to "tame the dog" were starting to pay off.
"Shan Shan, don't worry. The heavens are on our side. I was on my way to the Qingyun Terrace when I happened to save my Lady Zhao. It's fate. Who would dare to question it?"
[I'm a tyrant. Why should I explain myself to anyone?]
If there were no proper excuse, he couldn't just point at the head of a small noble family and say, "You're ugly and your clothes are in a mess..." and then exile them.
Ling Shan: "..."
She had every reason to believe that Jun Wuyuan might actually do something like that.
"Your Majesty, are you worried about me?"
Looking at Ling Shan's smiling face, a hint of unease flashed across Jun Wuyuan's handsome face.
He muttered to himself, feeling both timid and justified.
[What? I'm worried about you, you silly goose, and you have the nerve to tease me!]
[Ungrateful silly goose. Isn't it only natural for me to be worried about you?]
[......]
Ling Shan tried hard not to laugh.
She ignored the tyrant's pet name for her and threw herself into Jun Wuyuan's arms, pretending to be deeply touched. She hugged his waist tightly with her small hands.
"Your Majesty, you're so good to me. I like you so much."
Ouch.
[I know you like me, but could you please not hug me so tightly? I never knew you were so strong. My back!]
Oh well.
She just likes me too much. It doesn't matter if she's a bit strong. At least she's hugging me.
Ling Shan raised her eyebrows and a playful smile curled up on her lips as she buried her face in Jun Wuyuan's arms.
Who would have thought?
The tyrannical and crazy emperor was actually a lovesick fool.
It was really cute and interesting.
Ling Shan's lips curved into a smile. She hugged him even tighter and rubbed her face against his warm chest.
Jun Wuyuan glanced at her and instinctively wrapped his arms around her. A smile appeared on his lips.
---
The palace servants had been searching for almost a cup of tea, but they still couldn't find the "Lady Zhao".
Ban Chun's expression gradually turned from grief to numbness. The hope and pleading in her eyes faded away like bubbles.
As time passed, Concubine Yang and the others were both shocked and overjoyed.
Could it be that the little palace maid, Lady Zhao, was really dead?
Was it really that easy?
Concubine Yang and the others were lost in a daze of joy. They had never thought that they could kill someone without leaving a trace.
However, they didn't expect that Ban Chun would suddenly go crazy and pounce on them.
She blamed them for Lady Zhao's drowning, although it was supposed to be a suicide. In Ban Chun's words, it had become a conspiracy.
Concubine Yang and the others were panicked. A sense of unease flashed through their minds.
Could it be that their secret deeds had been discovered by this crazy palace maid?
No.
It was impossible.
Just now, they had expressed their concern for Lady Zhao sincerely.
It was Lady Zhao who had been so depressed that she had jumped into the water on her own. They had tried to stop her, but it was too late.
No one would know about it, unless Lady Zhao herself came back from the dead and accused them of pushing her into the water. Otherwise...
Concubine Yang sneered silently and exchanged a look with the other concubines.
Just as they were about to turn the tables and blame Ban Chun for neglecting her duty and causing Lady Zhao's death, they heard the announcement of the emperor's arrival.
Concubine Yang and the others were startled, but they quickly regained their composure. In fact, they felt a secret thrill in their hearts.
Now that Lady Zhao was gone, the emperor might finally notice them.
Imagining the emperor's handsome face and affectionate eyes looking at them tenderly, they gracefully bowed down. But they didn't receive any attention at all.
Some of them were bold enough to steal a glance at the emperor, but the next moment, they froze in their tracks.
"Ah—"
Concubine Fei's shy expression had not yet fully appeared when she was startled by a pair of clear, wet eyes. She couldn't help but let out a scream.
Concubine Yang and the others were both jealous and annoyed. They were glad that Concubine Fei had lost her composure in front of the emperor and would probably be hated by him.
But they were also angry that she had ruined their chance to get closer to the emperor.
They had heard that the emperor was unpredictable and temperamental. If Concubine Fei's scream had offended him, would they also be in trouble?
Thinking of this, they gritted their teeth in hatred.
But the next moment, they felt a cold and menacing gaze fall on Concubine Fei.
Concubine Fei's scream was instantly swallowed back into her throat. She sat down on the ground with a thud, showing a panicked and terrified face.
What was going on?
Even if the emperor was a bit gloomy, it wasn't like seeing a ghost, was it?
"Kneel down!"
A cold and angry voice thundered out, like a storm. Concubine Yang and the others, who were still kneeling, were startled and quickly knelt down on the ground.
"Concubine Yang and the others are vicious and have plotted to harm my Lady Zhao. The evidence is conclusive. Strip them of their titles, demote them to commoners, and send them to the Silent Garden. Give them poisoned wine."
The emperor's cold and menacing voice echoed through the Qingyun Terrace, like a thunderbolt that stunned everyone.
Concubine Yang and the others felt as if they were in a dream and forgot the emperor's presence.
Otherwise, how could they have gone from great joy to despair in an instant?
"Your Majesty, we're innocent..."
The palace servants in front of the emperor stepped forward and were about to drag the commoners away from the Qingyun Terrace.
Concubine Yang was panicked and quickly looked up at Jun Wuyuan to plead for mercy. But before she could finish her plea, she froze in her tracks.
She...
How was she still alive?!