Perhaps due to eating too much lamb during the day, Yanshu felt somewhat feverish tonight.
Combined with the warmth from the floor heating in the palace, she felt unbearably hot, so she kicked off her blanket and loosened her collar.
But how could she have known that someone would come at this time?
And without any announcement, he entered the hall and lifted the curtain directly.
However, at this moment, she was in a deep sleep, completely unaware that someone was staring at her.
Yuwen Lan stood there looking at her for a while, silently taking in the beautiful sight, but he didn't easily show his emotions.
After all, he still had a belly full of doubts.
At first, he couldn't tell if she was really asleep or pretending, so he spoke, "Asleep so early?"
But there was no response.
The girl still had her eyes closed, her long eyelashes resting on her jade-like face, her cherry lips slightly pouted, her chest rising and falling with her breath. She seemed to be sleeping soundly.
Yuwen Lan: "..."
This wasn't getting anywhere. He decided to wake her up, so he called out again, "Li Beauty."
His voice unconsciously deepened, sounding quite authoritative.
But still, there was no response.
The girl was sleeping like a dead pig, not even lifting an eyelid.
Yuwen Lan's face darkened, and he simply said, "Li Yanshu!"
This time there was finally a reaction. Yanshu mumbled, "So tired, don't bother me..." and then she actually turned her back to him and continued to sleep soundly.
Throughout all of this, she never opened her eyes.
Yuwen Lan: "..."
Even thunder couldn't wake her up?
After some thought, he simply lay down beside her.
The curtained bed was dim, with only the light from a small bedside lamp outside.
Yuwen Lan sighed and said, as if talking to himself, "How did you know about those things?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the sleeping person actually giggled, "Gossip, of course."
Yuwen Lan: "???"
What? Gossip?
He tried asking again, "What kind of gossip?"
But she didn't speak anymore.
Yuwen Lan: "...Hey!"
She continued to sleep soundly, her breathing deep and long.
Yuwen Lan watched her, suddenly pulling her into his arms.
She was still sound asleep.
He sought out her cherry lips and kissed her.
And just like before, an indescribable feeling rose in his heart.
However, that numb place.
Still disappointed him.
But at this moment, the person in his arms suddenly opened her eyes.
"Your Majesty..."
She seemed a bit surprised, yet still in a daze. Yuwen Lan paused, and as if possessed, suddenly tucked her head against his chest, saying softly, "Sleep."
After a moment, she indeed fell back into a deep sleep.
Yuwen Lan put aside that hint of vexation and disappointment, and simply closed his eyes as well.
He still believed that it wouldn't always be like this, that heaven couldn't be so cruel to him.
The fragrant softness in his arms, the long breaths by his ear, were like gentle waves, engulfing him sound by sound.
Finally, he too gradually fell asleep.
That night, Yuwen Lan actually had a dream.
It's worth noting that since ascending to the throne, he hadn't dreamed at all.
He dreamed that he was lying in a soft cloud, surrounded by spring sunshine, warming him comfortably.
His body floated along with the cloud, just like swinging on a swing as a child.
Such was the night, and when he woke up, it was already dawn.
Come to think of it, this was the first time he had slept with a woman for an entire night, and he had slept quite well.
However, he still remembered the purpose of his visit last night.
Seeing that she had delayed him for another night, it was time to stop procrastinating.
He lowered his eyes to look at the girl beside him.
But he saw that at some point, she had messed up her nightgown again, revealing a patch of snow-white skin.
Yuwen Lan: "..."
He silently pulled her collar closed, and then spoke, "Li Beauty."
Yanshu, having slept enough, gradually opened her eyes.
At first, she was a bit dazed, but when she saw him clearly, her eyes suddenly widened in surprise, "Your Majesty? When did you arrive?"
Yuwen Lan raised an eyebrow, "I've shared a bed with you all night, and you didn't notice?"
What? This man had slept beside her all night?
Yanshu shook her head in bewilderment.
—To be honest, she had a habit that could hardly be called a flaw: she slept very deeply, and once asleep, even thunder wouldn't wake her.
She tried to recall, vaguely remembering someone talking to her in her dream last night. Could it have been the emperor?
Her heart skipped a beat, and she looked at him uncertainly—she hadn't said anything strange in her sleep, had she?
Yuwen Lan was about to question her, so he took the opportunity to speak, "I have questions for you."
Yanshu felt a bit guilty, "...Yes."
But she heard him say, "Was it you who told Fu Hai to investigate that young eunuch in Qianming Palace?"
So that's what he wanted to ask about.
Yanshu felt relieved and said, "I merely mentioned it in passing to Lord Fu, he found the person himself."
Yuwen Lan raised an eyebrow, "Then why did you remind him to investigate?"
Yanshu said, "Your Majesty didn't want others to know about your injury, but even the Empress Dowager knew about it. There must have been someone who gossiped. Anyway, there's no harm in investigating."
[This is what they call a blind spot. No matter how brilliant and powerful you are, there are always things you can't cover.]
Yuwen Lan: "..."
He had to admit, that was indeed the case.
Although he had the ability to read minds, he could only hear the thoughts of those close to him. There were so many people in Qianming Palace, he couldn't possibly see everyone.
Moreover, various forces from the court were entrenched, and the Princess and the Duke of Cheng'en's Mansion had infiltrated the harem even when the late emperor was still alive. He hadn't completely cleaned them out yet, and that was a fact.
He asked again, "Then how did you detect the poison in the face-washing water?"
Yanshu said, "I have a keen sense of smell. That day, I knew something was wrong with the water as soon as I smelled it."
In her heart, she thought, [That sounds really uncomfortable. Did I have to be poisoned and disfigured for it to count? When all is said and done, isn't it because of you? Isn't this the fate of a target?]
Yuwen Lan: "..."
Now she was blaming him?
But to be honest... it did seem to be the case.
Because of his approach, other women in the palace had murderous intentions towards her.
Well, she did face danger this time, so he had to say, "I will have Fu Hai assign a few more reliable palace maids to you. Such incidents should not happen again."
Yanshu said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
But in her heart, she pouted, [Is that all? No emotional compensation? I was scared out of my wits, after all.]
Yuwen Lan: "???"
Emotional compensation?
Huh, he knew she was always pushing her luck.
At this moment, he saw her pulling her collar closed again, seeming to look at him with a guarded expression.
Yuwen Lan couldn't help but feel mischievous and said, "Why are you covering up? When I came last night, you were almost naked."
What?
Yanshu's eyes widened. No, naked???
Then, then, then what did he do to her?
But she saw Yuwen Lan lean close to her ear and say, "What do you think I would do?"
Yanshu: "...Your Majesty!"
Scoundrel!!!
But she saw him raise an eyebrow with a nonchalant face, "Why so reserved? Aren't you my consort?"
With that, he lifted the bed curtain and said, "I have important matters to attend to later." Then he got out of bed.
This meant she was to help him dress. Yanshu was angry for a while, but there was nothing she could do. She could only comply and get out of bed as well.
As she was helping him dress, she heard him say to the door, "Fu Hai, inform the imperial kitchen that I will have breakfast here."
Huh?
Before Fu Hai could respond, Yanshu's eyes lit up.
Did this mean she could have the imperial meal too?
Yuwen Lan: "..."
She was just complaining about him, and now she's happy over a meal?
Of course.
By the time the imperial kitchen had delivered and set up the meal, and the two had finished washing up and sat down at the table, Yanshu was beaming with joy, her eyes sparkling.
She looked around the table, almost wanting to exclaim out loud.
—This was quite different from the hot pot they had on that snowy day.
That time, she had ordered the hot pot herself, and the kitchen had sent dishes according to her rank. This time, however, it was a meal for the emperor.
The original round table wasn't enough, so the palace servants brought another one, barely managing to fit all the dishes.
In the middle of the table were two hot pots, one bubbling with bird's nest duck soup and the other with deer tendon and winter bamboo shoot chicken soup. Around them were three flat plates, containing five-spice roast goose, grilled lamb leg, and wine-marinated fish. There were also two desserts: osmanthus milk pudding and white jade paste. The main course was a plate of plump venison buns, and a white porcelain pot contained steaming hot bone marrow soup.
Yanshu was so shocked she didn't know what to say.
What was all this?
Was this really just breakfast???
Did people really eat hot pot in the morning?
And two at once!!!
However, the man in the dragon robe glanced at her calmly and said lightly, "Eat up."
Yanshu nodded, but as she picked up her chopsticks, she didn't know where to start. Fortunately, Fu Hai called over a young eunuch to serve the dishes, allowing the inexperienced Yanshu to learn how to begin.
She first tasted the warm pot. As the flavors touched her tongue, her eyes immediately lit up.
The bird's nest complemented the duck meat perfectly, and the deer tendon melted in her mouth, making the chicken soup even more delicious. Indeed, everything was of the highest quality.
Next, she tried the marinated goose, finding it extraordinarily fragrant and delicious.
The fish in wine lees was also outstanding; the meat was well-seasoned and tender, and even the bones had softened.
The thinly sliced leg of lamb, grilled on an iron plate, retained its juiciness while being tender – simply marvelous!
After the dishes, she tried a venison bun. To her surprise, the venison filling burst with juice in one bite, its flavor rich and mellow!
The desserts were even more impressive. The osmanthus milk pudding was fragrant, soft, and melted in the mouth, with the sweet scent of osmanthus flowers making one want to dance. The white jade cake made of steamed lotus seeds and glutinous rice was sweet and soft; Yanshu devoured three in one go.
Finally, she drank a bowl of incredibly rich bone marrow soup, feeling as if she could live for three hundred years.
...
This was the noisiest breakfast Yuwen Lan had ever eaten.
He had to listen to her various exclamations and mental screams while eating.
He even began to doubt himself: had something happened to his taste buds? Why hadn't he noticed all these flavors she described before?
Just as Yanshu was about to eat another bun, she saw Yuwen Lan suddenly put down his chopsticks.
This signaled the end of the meal, so she had to follow suit.
However, she felt a bit regretful, thinking, "Are we not eating anymore? I'm not full yet..."
"..."
Yuwen Lan looked at her and said, "We're leaving. Take your time to finish."
With that, he stood up.
Yanshu was delighted and hurriedly rose to see him off.
Just as they were about to exit the hall, Yuwen Lan suddenly turned back to glance at her, saying meaningfully, "If there's nothing else, We shall come again tonight."
Yanshu's eyes brightened. "Yes, Your Majesty."
In her mind, she thought excitedly, "Great! This means I can have another imperial meal tomorrow!"
Yuwen Lan: "..."
