What the heck?! Imperial Concubine?! When did she become an imperial concubine? Shes only been in the palace for less than half a day, has anyone even informed her?! Liao Tingyan was stunned, but looking around, it seemed like only she was stunned, making herself look too foolish. So she quickly forced herself to adjust her expression and calmly responded with a "yes".

  Liao Tingyan looked at Sima Jiao, who had slightly leaned forward and extended a hand towards her, and resignedly lifted up her skirt hem to walk forward. Fine, let him be happy however he wants, after all, hes the emperor.

  However, if she didnt remember incorrectly, the original female lead was one of the nine consorts by the emperors side during that period. Why did it directly become a first-rank third madam, second only to the empress and the noble consort, when it came to her? Was it because of the different treatment for obediently entering the palace and being forced into the palace after running away?

  Furthermore, since Sima Jiao is not yet the empress, this means that she has directly parachuted into being the number one in the harem. This kind of cheating and hacking-like feeling is really too strong.

  Is the heroines halo really that strong? When Liao Tingyan walked to Sima Jiaos side, looking at his small white face that she had seen for many days, she felt like an innocent audience who had missed ten episodes of a drama and couldnt connect with the previous plot, leaving her confused.

  "Sit down beside me." Sima Jiao pulled her over and had her sit next to him.

  Liao Tingyan sat down straight, and at the same time her eyes involuntarily followed the fragrance that came from her nose to the case in front of her. It was filled with all sorts of delicious food, she was really hungry.

  There was also Sima Jiao beside her, and she didnt dare make a move.

  Simar glanced at her calm expression and gentle face, suddenly saying: "If you want to eat, just eat, arent you hungry?"

  Liao Tingyan thought to herself, she felt that she had covered it up quite well, how did Sima Jiao discover her true thoughts? Clearly looking like a brainless murderer, unexpectedly sharp.

  "Then... Ill eat it?"

  "Eat." Sima Jiao smiled and looked at her with a gentle gaze.

  The tone was so gentle it made her hair stand on end. Just as Liao Tingyan reached for a plate of crispy fried meatballs, she suddenly had a terrifying guess - with Sima Jiaos tone being so gentle, could it be that the meat was some kind of strange meat? It couldnt be... human flesh, right? Given Sima Jiaos wicked personality, it wasnt impossible either.

  Liao Tingyans imagination had scared herself, and her chopsticks stopped in mid-air. Sima Jiao looked at her expression, suddenly leaned in close to her, and whispered softly in her ear: "Why arent you eating? Dont you like this dish?"

  Liao Tingyan didnt answer, so Sima Jiao turned to ask the eunuch beside him, "The noble consort seems to dislike it, who made this dish?" His voice was cool and calm, a complete reversal of his tone from just now.

  Liao Tingyan: This tone is so frightening, could it be that hes going to kill someone again?

  She took a deep breath, and then she put a meatball into her mouth. The crispy feeling instantly filled her mouth, and after biting open the crispy surface of the meatball, there was still a fragrant juice inside, it was simply delicious. Liao Tingyan tasted it at the same time, this is venison.

  Simar leaned against his chin and watched her eat, stretched out a finger to let her turn around, and smiled: "Is this deer meat ball delicious?"

  Liao Tingyan felt his hand was chillingly cold, just like an ice cube. However, she was naturally heat-intolerant and not afraid of the cold at all, so after swallowing the pill, she replied: "Its delicious."

  Simar Jiao quickly let go of his hand and put it on the armrest, "Heard that, the imperial concubine is right, reward."

  The eunuchs beside him bowed their heads, "Yes, Your Majesty."

  Simar Jiao looked at Liao Tingyan again and said, "Have some more."

  There was a female attendant who came forward to serve dishes for Liao Tingyan, but Sima Jiao said: "Did I let you serve the noble consort?"

  The female attendant was so frightened that she fell to the ground, her face pale and trembling, but she didnt dare say a word. These palace people all understood the emperors temperament, at this time if they cried out for mercy, they would only die faster, because the emperor would feel annoyed when he heard the commotion, like this immediately kneeling down without making a sound, perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope for survival.

  Liao Tingyan was not used to this scene, a Sima Jiao who could change his face at will, and a group of palace beauties who would be frightened to death even if Sima Jiao just gasped loudly. No wonder the atmosphere here was so oppressive, everyone seemed a bit neurotic - after all, it was all Sima Jiaos problem, just listening to his tone filled with murderous intent made him seem like he wanted to kill someone, no wonder they were all afraid of him, to be honest, she was starting to get scared too.

  Originally chewing on a meatball, Liao Tingyan was startled by Sima Jiao and choked, covering her mouth to cough.

  She felt a cold hand stroking her back, the feeling was like a snake slithering up behind her. Sima Jiaos hand stroked her back and whispered in her ear, "What are you afraid of? Im not going to hurt you, just eat your food."

  Liao Tingyan couldnt say a word and could only shake her head. Big brother, your tone is so terrifying, even if youre not talking to me, its still very scary to listen to, okay?

  Simar Jiao looked at her shaking her head, frowned and irritably said to the female servant: "Get out."

  The maid who was kowtowing on the ground thanked her and quickly left.

  Although she didnt know why Sima Jiao hadnt blown up, not having to face someones death still made Liao Tingyan breathe a sigh of relief, and her cough slowly subsided. Suddenly, her face felt cool, and Sima Jiao touched her face, frowning slightly in displeasure, "You cant even eat after seeing a dead person, why are you so delicate."

  Liao Tingyan thought of the words she had said to him on the horse-drawn carriage, and her whole body felt a bit uncomfortable. Generally speaking, most normal humans would feel nauseous when seeing a dead person, but this female hero who could sit beside him with an unchanged expression and eat meatballs was called weak?

  Liao Tingyan was shocked.

  Simar Jiao saw her expression, leaned on the thick armchair, and glanced around at other beautiful people in the temple who had been neglected for a long time. "You dont believe it? Ask them if they can still eat after seeing a dead person. You must be the most delicate one."

  She thought she was already weak and helpless, but when Liao Tingyans gaze fell on the beautiful women sitting below her, she found that they seemed even weaker and more helpless than herself. When they heard Sima Jiaos question, almost everyones face showed a suppressed fear, the kind of desperate attempt to appear calm, but trembling at the sight of Sima Jiao, made Liao Tingyan feel a pang of sympathy.

  They still had to answer in unison according to Sima Jiaos words, "We can eat it."

  Liao Tingyan seemed to be able to imagine the scene, Sima Jiao was unhappy and killed someone, the beauties were forced to watch, not daring to speak or make a sound, Sima Jiao still wanted to force them to continue enjoying the food in front of the corpse, and after many times, they were forced to get used to it.

  Too pitiful.

  Her face felt cool again, Sima Jiao wiped her cheek and supported her head with a lazy expression: "You see, arent you the most delicate one."

  Liao Tingyan had nothing to say, at this time she saw that there were beauties secretly glancing up at her from below, sitting on the upper level, and all sorts of small movements of the people below could be seen clearly. Liao Tingyan also took a few more glances at those beauties.

  "Your Majesty," Sima Jiao asked, "what do you think of my harem?"

  Liao Tingyan: How? Its probably like being a group of sheep raised next to wolves, because the wolves are always staring at them with greedy eyes, ready to pounce and kill them at any moment, so they can only huddle together and tremble with fear. What a unique painting style! With her original world experience of reading through all sorts of palace struggle novels and TV dramas, she couldnt even evaluate this.

  But she couldnt say that, so she just smiled and said softly, "Each of the beauties has her own unique charm, and they all look very elegant."

  Simar Jiao waved his hand, "None of them are comparable to you."

  Liao Tingyan: Hehe, of course. You didnt even look at the heroines appearance settings. If she wasnt as beautiful as a fairy, after eloping with someone in the original story and getting caught by you, she wouldnt have been spared from death directly.

  "Does the imperial concubine like these beauties?"

  Liao Tingyan became vigilant, what does this mean? It feels like no matter whether you say you like it or not, theres a possibility of triggering something bad. In an instant, she had the illusion of playing a strategy game, and now the two options in front of her both lead to a tragic ending.

  She pondered for a moment before responding, "I like quietness, all the beauties are very gentle." Good, no problem, this sideways answer is perfect for both offense and defense.

  Simar Jiaos approach still couldnt grasp it, because Simar Jiao smiled at the crowd in the palace and said: "Since the noble consort likes quietness, then you all must not disturb the noble consorts peace."

  As soon as the words came out, the already quiet and silent hall became even more so, with everyones breathing almost stopping. Liao Tingyan felt that if she had to eat with Sima Jiao every day, she would probably lose ten pounds in a month. She reasonably suspected that all the beauties under her might have stomach problems - who could stand being played like this by Sima Jiao during meals?

  "Your Majesty, dont you have an appetite? Why arent you eating?" Liao Tingyan asked boldly to reassure himself that he could finish this first meal. He really hoped the king would hurry up and eat something, and then shut his mouth and stop scaring people.

  Simmering with a demonic aura, Sima Jiao was taken aback by her question, revealing a somewhat listless expression. He glanced at the dishes on the case tables with disgust and said, "I have no appetite, these dishes are unpalatable."

  Liao Tingyan really had to scold this foolish ruler, such delicious food and he still complained? She had been in the river for a few years and hadnt eaten anything better than these dishes. With such craftsmanship, Sima Jiao could conquer her, a modern person who had tried all kinds of cuisine. Being an emperor was truly wonderful.

  "What does Your Majesty usually eat?"

  Simar frowned, "Cant remember, talk about it when Im hungry."

  Liao Tingyan really admires, just Sima Jiao this dead force, even if the male lead in the original work doesnt kill him, he probably wont live much longer, such a casual lifestyle is simply chronic suicide.

  Simar stared at her, "Whats wrong, you need someone to accompany you to eat before you can swallow?"

  Liao Tingyan: "......" Im not, I didnt, dont talk nonsense about me.

  She was just about to explain when Sima Jiao picked up his chopsticks: "Forget it, lets just eat with you."

  Liao Tingyan saw the middle-aged eunuch with a smile on his face beside Sima Jiao, and upon seeing this scene, he revealed an uncontrollable look of surprise, as if Sima Jiao had done something magical.

  Liao Tingyans stomach growled, it was just eating a meal, was it so exaggerated? Did Sima Jiao really not eat normally? Looking at the beauties below again, they all showed a look of surprise, even if they quickly lowered their heads and converged, Liao Tingyan saw it.

  Liao Tingyan: "......"

  Simar Jiao ate two mouthfuls of food and threw down his chopsticks, eating something that seemed to take his life away. Are you the five-year-old bear child in my cousins family who needs three people to coax him into eating a meal? Liao Tingyan muttered to herself.

  After finishing this dinner, the beauties automatically and consciously took the maids back to their own palace. A higher-ranking maid led a team of palace people to Liao Tingyans side, knelt down and saluted, "Nu Guiye, pays respects to the noble consort." The palace people behind her also knelt down and saluted.

  Simar nodded with his wine cup and pointed at Guiye, "She will serve you, go."

  Liao Tingyan, surrounded by Gui Ye and others, arrived at a huge palace by the water, and was invited into the inner chamber. The palace staff came and went to prepare her bath and bed. Lying on the soft bed, touching the smooth silk quilt, Liao Tingyan revealed a smile of relief.

  Its great, Sima Jiao is indeed the same as in the original novel, he didnt sleep with her! Right, in the original novel, during the time the female lead was by Sima Jiaos side, Sima Jiao never slept with her. As for why he didnt sleep with her, the original novel doesnt explain, it just shows that regarding whether or not Sima Jiao slept with the female lead, the male and female leads were entangled in a you love me, why dont you believe me situation, which made her feel very tired.

  Liao Tingyan didnt have the idea to investigate the reason either, anyway, as long as Sima Jiao didnt disturb her, she could sleep well at night. She pulled the quilt over her head, curled up in the quilt and fell asleep with her eyes closed.