Hearing another man’s name from Li Yuyu’s mouth, Yan Xiu’s eyes gradually grew deep, and his thin lips slowly pressed into a line.
"How could Li Xiurong know the name of my palace brother?"
Princess Consort De suddenly turned to look at Li Yuyu.
"Oh, you said it just now." Li Yuyu said casually.
Princess Consort De’s eyes showed confusion; did she just mention An’er’s name?
Li Yuyu, however, thought that Miao Sian was ultimately Yan Zixuan’s person, so the Emperor had to intervene.
"Emperor." Li Yuyu stood up from her chair, approached Yan Xiu, grabbed his sleeve with her small hand, and whispered, "Emperor, you must help Princess Consort De; you can’t let her brother suffer."
Yan Xiu’s hand hidden in the sleeve slowly tightened, the anger in his chest nearly overflowing.
Fortunately, Li Yuyu noticed that Yan Xiu’s face didn’t look good; she blinked her beautiful eyes and approached Yan Xiu’s ear again, coaxing softly, "Emperor, I don’t know Miao Sian, but if you don’t intervene, someone else will."
The sweet scent of the girl drifted over, and after hearing these words, Yan Xiu’s expression softened considerably.
Princess Consort De was kneeling below, unable to hear what Li Yuyu said, but seeing Li Yuyu so close to Yan Xiu, speaking to him so naturally, she just felt heartache.
She took a deep breath, simply bowed her head and closed her eyes.
"I understand Princess Consort De’s words, and I will investigate the matter thoroughly before making a decision." Yan Xiu said, standing up from his chair, his hand that hung from his sleeve grasped Li Yuyu’s small hand, holding her tightly as he walked outside.
"Thank you, Emperor, for your grace!"
Princess Consort De’s face showed joy as she turned to kowtow towards Yan Xiu’s departing figure.
When Yan Xiu’s figure could no longer be seen, Lan Qin, still kneeling, moved to Princess Consort De’s side, reaching out to support her.
"I was wrong, so wrong." Princess Consort De leaned powerlessly against Lan Qin’s embrace: "Did you see? Between the Emperor and Li Xiurong, no one else can intervene..."
Tears slipped across the corners of her eyes, flowed down her cheeks, and finally disappeared as they fell.
Princess Consort De slowly closed her eyes, the smile at her lips becoming more bitter.
On the palace road, Yan Xiu walked quickly.
Li Yuyu watched Yan Xiu with a somber face, not speaking, and couldn’t shake off her hand, having no choice but to keep up with Yan Xiu’s pace.
"Emperor, slow down, my feet hurt from walking."
The girl’s soft voice made Yan Xiu slightly turn his head; seeing the little concubine beside him with her brows furrowed and lips slightly pouting, he softened again.
Yan Xiu slowed his pace.
Li Yuyu sighed: "Emperor, why do you get angry so easily? It’s clearly me who should be angry."
Yan Xiu frowned, and with a wave of his hand, Shen Quan and the others retreated, leaving the space for Yan Xiu and Li Yuyu alone.
"Li Xiurong, why don’t you tell me what you have to be angry about?"
Li Yuyu widened her eyes: "Emperor, you haven’t forgotten what you did last night, have you?"
Mentioning last night’s events, Yan Xiu’s anger, which had finally subsided, was stirred up again; he walked towards Li Yuyu with hands held behind his back: "Li Xiurong dares to bring up last night’s matter?"
"Why can’t I bring it up!" Li Yuyu’s anger was also stirred by Yan Xiu’s tone: "Last night was perfectly fine, why did you force me? And remind me not to forget my duty!"
Thinking of "duty," Li Yuyu’s anger grew even more, forgetting even her own title.
"Matters of the bed are meant to be consensual; forcing me when I’m unwilling is coercion, and you don’t allow me to be angry?"