No wonder the Empress Dowager only granted Princess Consort De the authority to assist in managing the harem; she’s not even an Empress yet, but she’s already putting on Empress airs.
Hmph.
In the future, it’s uncertain who will bow to whom.
Noble Lady Ying felt resentment towards Princess Consort De for punishing her in public, and after venting, she continued to copy the palace rules.
Yin Cheng lowered his head and ground ink, pretending he hadn’t heard anything.
In Luaxin Pavilion, it was time for the afternoon rest again.
Li Yuyu didn’t sleep enough in the morning, and after spending time in Cining Palace to please the Empress Dowager, she was already exhausted. In front of Yan Xiu, she used a round fan to cover her mouth and delicately yawned.
Her beautiful willow leaf eyes blinked drowsily, with a hint of moisture in their dark depths.
"Since you are tired, my beloved concubine, you don’t need to help me change clothes; you can go ahead and rest," Yan Xiu said considerately.
Hmm?
Li Yuyu’s drowsy mind gradually caught on: "Does the Emperor wish to stay here in Luaxin Pavilion for a rest?"
Yan Xiu did not answer, but raised an eyebrow at her, his gaze seemingly asking: If not?
"Emperor, my chamber only has..."
"Are you trying to say the bed is too small to accommodate two people, beloved concubine?" Yan Xiu intercepted Li Yuyu’s words, completing her sentence.
Li Yuyu nodded her small head: "That’s right, my bed is too small, and in the heat of summer, it’s best for the Emperor to rest separately from me."
Yan Xiu chuckled lightly and ascended the stairs with his hands behind his back: "You’re joking, my beloved. I just asked the Imperial Household yesterday to select a large and comfortable bed for you; perhaps it’s so comfortable you don’t want me to try it."
A big bed?
Li Yuyu’s eyes instantly brightened, almost forgetting.
Yesterday, she had personally cooked chicken soup for Yan Xiu to vent about Zhang Jian, and then due to various incidents, she forgot.
Oh, you’re talking about her causing an explosion in the kitchen?
That was an accident, worth overlooking.
In short, since Yan Xiu drank her chicken soup, he should take action for her.
So when Yan Xiu saw that Li Yuyu hadn’t replaced her small bed, his sword-shaped eyebrows knitted in frustration, and his jade-like face turned somber.
"Oh, Emperor, you see, my bed is still so small that it can’t fit two people," Li Yuyu complained pitifully before Yan Xiu could speak.
Yan Xiu pressed his lips together, his deep phoenix eyes resting on Li Yuyu’s face.
She didn’t want to share the bed with him, hence she refused his good intentions to replace it; she sought to use this reason to continue refusing him.
As this thought echoed in his mind, Yan Xiu felt a sudden urge to confine Li Yuyu to the bed, to show through his actions that he can if he wants to.
But faced with her tear-streaked, pear blossom-like expression, Yan Xiu forcibly restrained this impulse.
Even knowing she was acting again, he still couldn’t bring himself to see her cry, fearing it would frighten her.
"...Emperor, the Imperial Household people are too bullying; they say one thing and do another behind the scenes. The Emperor said to let them change the bed after I woke up, but they didn’t—hmpf!"
Li Yuyu snorted coquettishly: "I sent someone to summon them, and nobody responded, clearly showing they don’t take me seriously."
"The Imperial Household didn’t send anyone?" Yan Xiu suddenly realized he might have misunderstood Yu’er earlier.
"That’s not the case," Li Yuyu pouted: "They came, but I was asleep, and Feng Yin treated them with good tea and snacks, yet Eunuch Zhang from the Imperial Household said I deliberately made things difficult. He was never ignored like this in Jingxiang Palace, and left with a sour face."