Reborn into the palace, she seduces the emperor's heart, driving the chief minister to madness!

Chapter 114 Whom Do You Want to Protect?

Xingyue Palace

As evening approached, the heat subsided slightly, but the wind still carried a sweltering heat, making it stifling.

Chu Qingyin lay on the soft bamboo mat, her jade feet lightly curled. She wore only a thin gauze dress, revealing glimpses of her snow-white skin. She was leisurely teasing the little snowball in her arms. The little guy lazily rolled over, his belly exposed as he was being stroked, looking exceptionally timid.

"Voice..."

Pei Yuanling's slightly hoarse voice came from outside the door. The maid Xianglan had been following him all the way, her face full of sorrow. Naturally, she dared not stop this unpredictable emperor.

"Your Majesty has arrived, why didn't you announce it?" Chu Qingyin feigned anger, rising from the soft couch to bow.

The little snowball, which had been lying comfortably, was startled by this sudden change. It nimbly leaped out of the small window and disappeared from sight.

"All of you, step back."

Pei Yuanling's gaze burned with intensity as he waved his arm to disperse the crowd.

Even with her slow-wittedness, Chu Qingyin noticed something was wrong with the other party. Before she could ask, the young emperor's tall figure had already reached her.

"His Majesty?"

Before he finished speaking, Pei Yuanling picked him up and carried him into the inner room.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

"Yinyin, I miss you so much..." Pei Yuanling placed her directly on the bed, his slightly calloused hand sliding down her slender neck, his movements becoming increasingly reckless.

"Your Majesty! You've hurt me." Chu Qingyin frowned, her watery eyes becoming even more alluring. Judging from his expression, he must have fallen for a trick by the women in the harem.

She just didn't expect that the man would be so audacious as to use such a potent drug on Pei Yuanling.

Pei Yuanling's voice was hoarse, his hands moved without stopping, and the way he called her name was even more seductive.

In the sweltering summer heat, she was dressed in very thin clothes, and after a few rips from the man, a large expanse of her skin was now exposed.

Chu Qingyin tried to break free, but the other person's actions became increasingly rough, as if they wanted to devour her alive.

"Yinyin, I almost didn't make it here." Pei Yuanling recalled what had just happened. He had almost fallen into Lu Mingzhu's trap. He deserved to die!

His voice is so sensitive to flavors, I wonder how aggrieved he'll be then.

Thinking of this, Pei Yuanling exerted even more force, his fingertips touching the skin of the person beneath him, igniting fire everywhere.

Chu Qingyin didn't understand what he meant by that. How could it be that he had been gone for so long when he had only been gone for half a day?

However, she had no time to think about it at that moment; the man's energy was simply too abundant.

Perhaps due to the drug, he became increasingly reckless and ruthless, tormenting her for several hours that night, causing her immense suffering.

After a long while, the rain finally stopped, and it was already evening outside. The setting sun was molten gold, and the sky was ablaze with red clouds.

Seeing his beloved lying on the bed, looking weak and on the verge of death, Pei Yuanling, regaining his senses, frowned deeply. "Yinyin, I'm sorry, I..."

Chu Qingyin's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. She felt sore all over, and that area was probably swollen so badly that she couldn't even touch it.

She looked aggrieved, but still bit her lip and obediently said, "It's nothing, Your Majesty, please don't worry..."

Seeing her like this, Pei Yuanling felt even more sorry for her. He carefully picked her up and the petite beauty nestled against his chest, the bruises on her body becoming increasingly clear.

He summoned Xianglan and the others who were waiting outside to prepare water, intending to personally carry Chu Qingyin to the hot spring.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't... I can walk by myself..." Chu Qingyin sensed the other's intention and struggled to get up, but the man held her even tighter.

"Don't move." Pei Yuanling's voice was still very hoarse, and his warm breath sprayed on her neck, carrying a hint of thirst and tempting her.

When Chu Qingyin met the man's dark, narrow eyes, she felt a momentary daze and ultimately dared not move again.

Beside Xingyue Palace, there is a sizable hot spring pool. The spring water in the pool is drawn from a natural hot spring several miles away, which is especially moisturizing for the skin. Even in the cold winter, the water in the hot spring pool is still steaming.

Pei Yuanling carried a girl draped only in a light veil as they moved through the misty water vapor.

As they walked along, all the maids lowered their heads, not daring to look at them.

"Your Majesty..." Chu Qingyin raised her chin slightly, her gaze towards the man somewhat unfocused. Through the mist, she could only vaguely make out the man's handsome features.

In their previous life, the two of them had also come to this palace to escape the summer heat. This hot spring pool was specially built for her by Pei Yuanling, and no outsiders were ever allowed to set foot in it.

I never imagined that in this life, they would revisit this place under such circumstances...

Pei Yuanling was unaware of her emotions. He simply carried the person in his arms down the steps and plunged into the hot spring together.

The warm spring water instantly soaked the two of them. Chu Qingyin wrapped her arms around his neck, having no strength left, and could only let him do as he pleased.

Thinking about how Pei Yuanling, after being drugged, would rather endure it and come to see her than touch anyone else.

Chu Qingyin's expression was complicated. "Your Majesty, these matters can be handled by the maids. How could I dare to trouble you..."

"What's wrong with me bathing and changing my woman's clothes? Or is Yinyin just shy?"

Pei Yuanling held a thin gauze in his hand and carefully wiped the marks on her body, afraid of hurting her. His tone became increasingly low: "Thank you for your hard work today."

Chu Qingyin glanced at his expression, wanting to ask what was going on, but seeing the man's gloomy face and the fact that he was exhausted after their intense lovemaking, she suppressed her doubts for the time being and let the man serve her.

She never expected that she would fall into a deep sleep while Pei Yuanling was gently moving.

A beaded curtain hung down, casting flickering lamplight, and Little Snowball leaned against the small window, licking its fur.

When Chu Qingyin got up again, it was just getting light. The candlelight had been out for a long time, and the young emperor beside her was sleeping soundly with a satisfied look on his face.

She put on a light coat and walked out of the inner room. Pei Yuanling was under the influence of drugs, so his movements were anything but gentle. He had been tormented all night, and his delicate skin was covered with red marks. Even after the medicine was applied, it still ached faintly and was very uncomfortable.

"Your Majesty, I have inquired. Yesterday, after His Majesty hurriedly left the Tingxiang Pavilion, the Empress immediately summoned the imperial physician. It is said that Consort Lu was seriously injured and has not yet woken up. I'm afraid..."

Xianglan poured out all the information she had gathered, even vividly describing how Consort Lu was carried out of Tingxiang Pavilion with her face covered by guards.

Seeing that her mistress remained unfazed, she couldn't help but add, "Your Majesty, the fact that His Majesty rushed to Xingyue Palace despite the circumstances shows how much he loves you..."

"Don't mention such things again in the future." Chu Qingyin frowned, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

If he truly loved her, how could he have let her die unjustly in the cold palace, and now he's hypocritically benevolent towards this "substitute"?

As an emperor, he is the most ruthless of men; how could she possibly dare to hope for anything?

Why not mention it?

The deep voice that suddenly came from behind startled both master and servant.

When Chu Qingyin turned around, she saw Pei Yuanling standing in the shadows behind her, his expression inscrutable. It was unclear how much of their conversation he had overheard.

She quickly concealed the surprise in her eyes, curtsied slightly, and deliberately changed the subject, "When did Your Majesty wake up? Why didn't you call for anyone to serve you?"

The morning air was chilly, and the man, who had been wearing a dark cloak loosely draped over his shoulders, took it off and draped it over Chu Qingyin.

After a night of tossing and turning, he hadn't rested for long; his eyes were dark, revealing his exhaustion.

“If you don’t wake up soon, some people will cause trouble.” Pei Yuanling frowned. “That Consort Lu is getting bolder and bolder. Relying on the Lu family’s support, she has made things difficult for you many times before, and now she dares to do such a despicable thing.”

Chu Qingyin suffered quite a bit last night, so she couldn't help feeling resentful. She tentatively asked, "Although Consort Lu is spoiled, the matter of drugging is no small matter. Everything His Majesty eats and drinks is carefully monitored by palace servants. She is just a Consort who has not yet received the Emperor's favor. How could she have such great ability to make such arrangements?"

After she finished speaking, she quietly observed the other person's expression.

Sure enough, Pei Yuanling's expression darkened.

After having people help him change and wash, he told Chu Qingyin to rest well, and then he led his men straight to the palace where Consort Lu was staying.

At that time, Empress Wang sat outside Lu Mingzhu's bedchamber, her long, nail-studded nails lightly tapping the table, making a soft sound.

"You said His Majesty went to Chu Qingyin's place in a hurry yesterday? And hasn't left since?" Empress Wang's face was gloomy. She never expected that all her plans would end up benefiting Chu Qingyin.

Her eyes held a hint of hatred. What kind of bewitching potion had Chu Qingyin given His Majesty? Under the circumstances yesterday, His Majesty was still able to resist touching Lu Mingzhu and rush to Xingyue Palace.

"Yes, yes..." Lin Qing lowered his head and hunched his shoulders, trying to make himself less noticeable. He was afraid that the Empress Wang would be angry with him because he had done a poor job.

Just then, the imperial physician bowed and came out of the palace, carrying a medicine box. He knelt before Empress Wang and reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Lu has awakened, but she is still weak due to her severe injuries and blood deficiency."

The imperial physician was trembling with fear. The impact wound on Consort Lu's forehead was truly shocking to him. If it had been any more severe, she might have died on the spot.

"I understand, you may leave." Empress Wang waved her hand and walked into the inner room alone.

"Lu Liangdi, do you know you're wrong?"

Empress Wang covered her nose and glanced at the person on the bed.

Lu Mingzhu had a thick bandage wrapped around her forehead and her face was deathly pale. It was midsummer, yet charcoal was still burning in the room, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood, which was nauseating.

"Your Majesty, you must stand up for me! It's His Majesty... His Majesty..." Lu Mingzhu spoke weakly, her voice choked with sobs.

"What do you want to say about His Majesty?"

Empress Wang interrupted her sharply: "Now that things have come to this, how dare you defile His Majesty?"

The Empress, always dignified and poised, trembled at the sight of her stern and solemn expression, falling silent as a cicada in winter. "This concubine...this concubine didn't mean that..."

Lu Mingzhu is incredibly stupid, it's a real headache.

"Consort Lu, if you still want to live, the injury on your head can only be from your own slip and fall," Empress Wang said in a deep voice.

If outsiders were to find out that the concubines in the harem had drugged the emperor, where would her dignity as empress be?

What will the Lu family think? Even if Lu Zhiheng dislikes this younger sister, he has no choice but to interfere when it comes to the Lu family's reputation.

Furthermore, exposing such scandals benefits no one.

Upon hearing this, Lu Mingzhu's face paled even further. The Empress had already made her point clear, and even if she was stupid, she knew that she was in grave danger. Even if His Majesty did not explicitly state that he had drugged her, her future was already over.

"Your Majesty, you must save me! This idea is..."

"Insolence!" Empress Wang immediately interrupted her, her eyes filled with icy killing intent. She would not allow Lu Mingzhu to involve anyone else.

Upon seeing this, Lu Mingzhu trembled with fear, tears welling up in her eyes, but she dared not utter another word.

Empress Wang took a deep breath, then softened her tone and gently comforted her, "Sister Lu, you must understand that this matter is not honorable. The more people involved, the more serious things will become."

"If anyone asks, remember this: this was done by you alone. Otherwise, even I cannot protect you!"

As long as Lu Mingzhu doesn't implicate Consort Qin, this matter has nothing to do with me. The most important thing now is to keep Lu Mingzhu calm and get her to take full responsibility. As for what happens next…

"Your Majesty, what a boastful tone! Now that things have come to this, who do you still want to protect?"