Chapter 23

  Murong Xuan didn't sleep well all night and arrived at Wenyu Pavilion very early.

  Murong Xue's expression seemed not as uneasy as she had imagined, but instead looked very good. Seeing her older sister arrive, she smiled and walked up to greet her, "Older sister, you're here so early to see Xue'er? What's wrong? Your expression doesn't look too good, didn't you sleep well last night? This Warm Jade Pavilion is really nice, outside it's cool like water in autumn, but inside it's warm like spring. Why don't you come over and keep me company for a night?"

  The words were unintentional, yet revealed a hint of innocence and some pride.

  Murong Xuan let out a soft sigh. This silly girl, she really thought that anyone could live in the Warm Jade Pavilion? "Little sister, do you think this Warm Jade Pavilion is a place where I can stay? This was originally a place for the emperor's empress and concubines to spend some cool days and avoid the cold. I don't have the qualifications yet, and even though your brother-in-law is the crown prince, he can only look from afar. You're able to live here peacefully, but you don't know how much your family worries about you."

  "Snow knew," Murong Snow's face turned red, and she lowered her head in embarrassment, saying softly, "Last night, the Emperor came over with Imperial Physician Zhang to take my pulse and prescribed some restorative medicine. Imperial Physician Zhang told the Emperor that 'it's possible that Miss Murong was frightened and caught a cold recently, but after taking some calming medicine for a few days, she'll be fine.' The Emperor personally told me that although this is a place where only the Empress and his beloved concubines can reside, my situation is special, and my father has always been loyal to the imperial court, so it's alright for me to stay here. The Emperor said that there are many rooms in the Warm Jade Pavilion, and when winter comes, I can also move in. When I heard the Emperor say this, I really didn't know how to decline."

  Murong Xuan's eyebrows were furrowed in worry, surely Murong Xue wouldn't be so naive as to not understand the Emperor's intentions for keeping her at Warm Jade Pavilion? "Little sister..."

  "Sister, don't worry about Snow for now. It's not so bad here, at least she can avoid that despicable Sima Rui. With the Emperor's care, after a few days, Snow will naturally bring up the matter of returning to the manor. Now that the Emperor is being so enthusiastic, Snow is afraid that even if she were to express her intention to leave, the Emperor wouldn't agree." Murong Xue looked at her older sister and said quietly, the gentle Emperor didn't make her feel as scared as Sima Rui did, and it truly moved her that the Emperor, who was above all others, was being so protective of her.

  Murong Xuan let out a long sigh, her eyes filled with sorrow. Could it be that Sanmei was right? Did Murong Xue really not think there was anything wrong with being with the Emperor?! She hoped that her parents could quickly find a suitable family to arrange a marriage for her younger sister, so that both the Emperor and Sima Rui would give up their hopes.

  "The Emperor has arrived!" The high-pitched voice of Gao Gonggong came from outside, sharp and drawn out.

  Murong Xuan's heart skipped a beat, the Emperor had hurried over right after the morning court. She hastily knelt down with Murong Xue, listening to the Emperor's footsteps as he walked in.

  "Xu?r, hurry up and get up, your body is weak, so you don't have to make such a big courtesy." The voice was very gentle, and he even personally came forward to help Mu Rong Xue up. When he saw Mu Rong Xuan, his voice added a few degrees of severity, "You too, get up."

  Murong Xue's face turned red, and she said with unspoken shyness and gentleness, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. I'm just recovering from a serious illness, and I shouldn't have worried you. I'm truly ashamed."

  His Majesty looked at her with a smile all over his face, and in his eyes, there was only the existence of the first beauty of the Daxing Dynasty. Although Murong Xuan stood by his side, he seemed to be invisible. Looking at Murong Xue, his eyes were full of tenderness and unhidden eagerness, with a hint of effort to restrain himself.

  How can he be blamed for this? A beautiful and lovely woman, so shy and gentle, standing there with eyes full of admiration and adoration for him. How could he not be moved? Having grown accustomed to the faces of the empress and concubines by his side, how could he not be tempted by such a beautiful and charming face, a slender body full of freshness, and not want to possess her for himself?

  If it weren't for Murong Xue being under sixteen, not yet of marriageable age according to the Daxing Dynasty's laws, perhaps he would have already favored her and spent nights with her in the red silk bed. This is all thanks to Murong Qinglang's insistence at that time; if he had really agreed to Rui'er's request and married Murong Xue off to him, perhaps she wouldn't have this flower to pick for herself.

  As he thought of this, another face suddenly appeared in front of him, Mu Rong's face. It was also strange that Mu Rong made him feel timid and not dare to have any improper thoughts. Not to mention that she was the wife of his fourth son, even if she were an unmarried girl, the emperor felt that having any other intentions would be blasphemous.

  That was indeed a stunning woman, and upon closer inspection, she seemed to surpass Murong Xue by a few points. It wasn't about her looks, but rather the natural aura that emanated from within, which was something Murong Xue never had. In that sense, his own unruly fourth son was quite fortunate.

  "Xu'er, I've arrived. The chrysanthemums in the Cuizhong Garden are blooming beautifully. If you're feeling well now, I'll accompany you to admire them together." The Emperor gazed at Murong Xue with a warm and gentle smile. Since helping her up, his hand had not let go of hers, holding her slender and delicate hand tightly, his expression filled with tender loving care. "The breeze outside is also mild and warm, taking a walk will be beneficial for your recovery."

  Murong Xue's face was flushed with shame, her head hung low. In her heart, it felt like there were countless small drums beating continuously. Those large hands held hers tightly, and except for her father, no one had ever been so close to her. Now, the ruler of the Great Xing Dynasty was holding her hand, and the feeling in her heart was so strange. She felt as if she was floating on air, sitting on a cloud, completely unaware of her sister's sorrowful expression beside her. As the Emperor walked slowly out of the Warm Jade Pavilion, only Murong Xuan was left standing there, her heart filled with desolation.

  After going through a thousand hardships and dodging the fourth prince's evil intentions, sacrificing her own happiness for her lifetime as the third sister, she ended up in this situation. Perhaps it's really true what the third sister said, that after some days, she would have to kneel down to welcome her own beloved sister. With a bitter smile, the Great Xing Dynasty truly let the daughters of the Murong family take all the glory. Poor father, his dearly loved daughter still had to be sent into the imperial palace.

  Why sacrifice Sanmei's life at that time? It would be better for Murong Xue to marry Sima Rui directly. One can escape from the tiger but not from the wolf!

  The emperor's hand, which had been holding Murong Xue's hand all along, made Murong Xuan's heart feel like it was being cut with a knife.

  Simazhuan entered the Cui Ting Garden and saw the Emperor standing with a young woman, hand in hand, gazing lovingly at the blooming chrysanthemums. Thinking of his lonely mother, Sima Qiang's heart ignited with an unnamable fire.

  When visiting and seeing her mother, she heard her mother say that the emperor had hidden Murong Xue, the famous beauty of the Murong family, in the Warm Jade Pavilion. This was because Murong Xue was not yet sixteen years old and could not leave the house, so for the time being, he could not have her as his own.

  For this matter, the empress and Wu Fei could only silently endure. After all, the emperor was the ruler of a country, he had to be like that, and others couldn't tolerate him how? Only, Mu Rong Xue was originally the younger sister of the eldest prince's wife and the fourth prince's wife, and also the aunt of Wu Meng, the nephew of Wu Fei. Originally, they were all younger than the empress, Wu Fei, and her own mother. If she really became a concubine, it would be hard to avoid being ridiculed by the people of the world. But now, who could the emperor listen to? He didn't even consider the danger that Mu Rong Qing's power in the court might bring.

  Murong Qingliang has four daughters in one family, and now that I think about it carefully, each of them is indeed a stunning beauty.