Yan Xiu still hadn't recovered from Li Yuyu's earlier "Empress" when he saw the woman in peach palace attire approach. Her captivating and lively Willow Leaf Eyes were red, her lips slightly downturned, making her look extremely pitiful.
Li Yuyu felt the overwhelming gaze falling on her head. She dared not lift her head, anxiously waiting for Yan Xiu's response.
Why isn't Yan Xiu reacting at all?
According to the plot patterns of the CEO novels she's read, shouldn't Yan Xiu be embracing her right now, wiping her tears away, and soothing her with "Beloved concubine, don't think too much, I naturally trust you"?
While her mind was in disarray, Li Yuyu's face remained unchanged. Using a soft and sweet voice, she pitifully called out again, "Emperor, could you trust me once more, please."
Li Yuyu hesitantly reached out to grab a corner of Yan Xiu's Dragon Robe, taking the chance to quietly lift her head and peek at Yan Xiu's expression.
Their eyes met, and the world seemed to stop.
The man before her had sword-like eyebrows reaching his temples and eyes like shining stars, a nose as if hung from courage, lips as if painted with rouge; standing tall with hands behind his back, he slightly lowered his eyes, and her figure became the brightest among a million stars, deeply entranced.
"Gulp."
It was the sound of Li Yuyu swallowing because she was so mesmerized, even sucking in a breath as she wiped the corner of her lips with her hand, afraid her drool would betray the nature of her admiration.
Truly, such handsome men only exist in novels. Li Yuyu felt she had wasted over twenty years of her life.
Yan Zixuan, as the male lead, had cost the author a lot of ink, naturally not lacking, but in Li Yuyu's eyes, Yan Xiu's appearance perfectly aligned with her aesthetic. Her desire to change the plot grew weightier; compared to ensuring her survival, she only wanted to cling tightly to the handsome Emperor's leg and live a daily life cured by his striking visage.
Not far away, lines of cracks appeared on Yan Zixuan's jade-like face, his expression momentarily losing control.
It was even more shocking than hearing Li Yuyu say "Empress."
Yan Zixuan wanted to approach but was obstructed.
The chief eunuch in the palace, also Yan Xiu's most trusted Shen Quan, slightly bowed with a face full of smiles, blocking him: "Prince, it's better to first pay respects at the Imperial Concubine's palace. The road to Beihuang is long, lest the Imperial Concubine worry."
Yan Zixuan gathered his thoughts, realizing his purpose in finding Li Yuyu.
The Emperor had entrusted him with the mission to quell the disturbance in Beihuang, ordering him to leave immediately, which was why he could walk freely in the harem after last night's events.
This trip to and from Beihuang would take several months. What would the capital be like during these months? He needed Li Yuyu to keep an eye on the situation in the palace and inform him how to relay messages, lest he miss crucial information.
This time going forth, he knew the dangers loomed, the Emperor wouldn't let him off easily, but he needed a chance to gain public favor.
This rebellion was that opportunity.
He hoped the Emperor would take action against him, so he wouldn't have to exhaust himself arranging things, simply letting it happen naturally.
What Yan Zixuan hadn't foreseen was that Yu'er would be so incensed to the point of pleading coquettishly before the Emperor, which stirred some indescribable emotions within him, almost making him forget his serious business.
"Prince?" Shen Quan smilingly reminded him.
Yan Zixuan came back to reality, making a distant salute with hands cupped to Yan Xiu before speaking warmly: "Then I shall first proceed to Mother Concubine's palace."
Shen Quan smiled and bowed, only slowly straightening after Yan Zixuan's figure disappeared from view, his eyes and brows amused as he continued to guard the vicinity.