Mu Wan Yun was carrying a tray and following Nanny Zhong. They had not yet left the embroidery workshop when a woman blocked their path.
Lin Miaoyi tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Nanny Zhong, you're delivering clothes to His Majesty. Why aren't you taking me? Why are you taking Mu Wan Yun, this new palace maid?"
Nanny Zhong spoke to Lin Miaoyi politely. "Miss Miao'er, these were the orders of Lin Siming."
Lin Miaoyi said indignantly, "You all wait here. I'm going to ask my aunt what she means by this!"
Lin Siming came over and said, "Miao'er, stop making a scene. Let Nanny Zhong and Mu Wan Yun deliver the clothes."
Lin Miaoyi stomped her foot. "Aunt, why her? Why Mu Wan Yun? This was a rare opportunity to get close to His Majesty. Why wouldn't you let your niece go?"
Lin Siming shot Lin Miaoyi a harsh glare and whispered, "Was the palace maid who was beaten to death last time not enough to scare you?
"His Majesty is not a merciful man. That little palace maid lost her life for trying to seduce him. Do you want to go get yourself killed too?"
Lin Miaoyi touched a stray lock of her hair again. "But Aunt, I'm much prettier than that wench who tried to seduce him. Maybe His Majesty will like me?
"Besides, even if you don't want me to go, there's no reason to send Mu Wan Yun!"
Lin Siming said, "No daughter of the Mu Family is any good. Letting her appear before His Majesty more often will only remind him of what the Mu Family has done and make him despise them even more!"
Besides, everyone in the Clothing Bureau was currently busy making clothes for the women of the Wei Family.
Other than Mu Wan Yun, who only did odd jobs, what other palace maid was free to deliver clothes to His Majesty?
Lin Miaoyi was free, of course, but Lin Siming knew what her niece was thinking and would never stand by and watch her go to her death.
...
Mu Wan Yun and another palace maid followed Nanny Zhong all the way to the Diligent Governance Hall within Taiji Palace.
Before they went in, Nanny Zhong warned Mu Wan Yun, "If you don't want to die in there, remember not to raise your head to look at His Majesty. Understand?"
Mu Wan Yun nodded repeatedly. "I understand."
Upon entering, Mu Wan Yun saw Lu Jingxing at his desk, reviewing memorials.
Nanny Zhong curtsied. "Your Majesty, this servant is from the Clothing Bureau. Your new Dragon Robe has been sewn. Would you like to try it on?"
Lu Jingxing was about to refuse, thinking it a hassle, but then he looked up and saw Mu Wan Yun. He pointed at her and said, "Have this palace maid help me try it on."
Mu Wan Yun smiled at Lu Jingxing, then carried the tray and followed him behind a screen in the inner hall.
Before the Imperial Concubines could enter, Mu Wan Yun set down the tray and wrapped her arms around Lu Jingxing's waist from the front.
The Imperial Concubines who had just walked in saw this and immediately fell to their knees.
Lu Jingxing's face darkened as he scolded Mu Wan Yun, "You are here to help me dress!"
Mu Wan Yun looked up at Lu Jingxing. "But I've only ever undressed you. I don't know how to dress you..."
Lu Jingxing took a deep breath. He had intended to have her serve him so he could take the opportunity to humiliate her.
But now, she dared to flirt with him in front of everyone!
The Imperial Concubines kept their heads bowed, not daring to listen to Mu Wan Yun's "words of a wolf and tiger."
Zhang Qiuchi quickly ushered the Imperial Concubines out, telling them they weren't needed to serve inside.
Lu Jingxing said, his face dark, "Since you don't know how, then go to the imperial harem and wash night pots..."
Mu Wan Yun quickly said, "I do, I do! If I know how to undress someone, how could I not know how to dress them?"
She started by undoing the sash at Lu Jingxing's waist, but his Jade Ribbon was designed in a way she didn't understand. Mu Wan Yun had never seen such a difficult belt to unfasten.
She was half-kneeling before Lu Jingxing, her hands nearly raw, but she still couldn't figure out how to open the sash at his waist.
The coils of Mu Wan Yun's hair kept brushing against Lu Jingxing's waist. He looked down at her, so close, and his breathing grew a little unsteady...
Mu Wan Yun glanced up at Lu Jingxing. "It must be because I haven't undressed my husband in so long. I can't even open this sash anymore..."
Lu Jingxing took another deep breath and undid the Jade Ribbon at his waist himself.
Only then could Mu Wan Yun remove his Dragon Robe. She took the new one from the tray, helped him put it on, and smoothed out the wrinkles.
Mu Wan Yun's hands lingered at his waist, making adjustments...
Lu Jingxing grabbed her hand. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Mu Wan Yun fluttered her fan-like eyelashes. "Husband..."
Lu Jingxing said coldly, "I am no longer your husband. The moment you wrote that letter of divorce, the bond between us was severed."
Mu Wan Yun looked up and asked Lu Jingxing, "Everyone in the palace is saying you're about to make Wei Minlan your Empress.
"If we hadn't divorced, after you returned to Chang'an and ascended the throne, would you still have let me be your wife? Your Empress?
"I know I was wrong to ask for a divorce, but you deceived me too. Why put all the blame on me? Why can't you forgive me?"
Lu Jingxing retorted, "When did I ever say I was going to make Wei Minlan my Empress? I'm not like you, who casts aside their partner after finding success! You'd marry someone for a chicken leg and divorce the man who was your husband for two years just for some fine clothes and fancy food!"
Mu Wan Yun's eyes reddened. "Husband, is that really how you see Yunyun? As someone so despicable?"
Lu Jingxing refused to look at her hurt expression and retorted, "Are you saying you're not that kind of person? Do you dare say you didn't marry me for a chicken leg?"
Mu Wan Yun lowered her head. "There's an old saying: 'Marry a man, marry a man, for clothes and for food.' Isn't marrying someone about having something to eat?"
Lu Jingxing's face grew even darker. "So, back then, you would have married anyone who gave you a chicken leg?"
"Yes," Mu Wan Yun answered, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Isn't marriage about not having to worry about food and clothing?"
"Get out!" Lu Jingxing shouted, pointing at the door.
Mu Wan Yun said pitifully, "Husband... what exactly do I have to do for you to forgive me?"
Lu Jingxing said, "I will never forgive you in this lifetime. You'd best stop showing your face in front of me!"
Mu Wan Yun sighed. 'If I had known it would be like this, I never would have written that letter of divorce.'
'Winning my husband back is going to be a long and arduous journey!'
When Mu Wan Yun left Taiji Palace, Nanny Zhong was waiting for her outside. Seeing her dejected expression, the nanny said:
"I warned you when we were coming here not to get any ideas. You're incredibly lucky just to have kept your life."
"His Majesty was framed by the Mu Family when he was fifteen, demoted to deposed Crown Prince, and forced to live among the common people. He suffered more than you can imagine. The fact that he's letting you live is something you should be thanking the heavens for."
Mu Wan Yun was disappointed that her husband still wouldn't forgive her.
But on the other hand, she had also heard a piece of good news. 'My husband isn't going to make Wei Minlan his Empress... doesn't that mean I still have a chance?'