Hiding Beauty in the Quilts

Under Hua Rong's insistence, the crowd eventually dispersed, leaving the woman alone in the room to nurse her grief, her heart a storm of conflicting emotions.

"Does he truly intend to make me his scapegoat?" Letting out a heavy sigh, Hua Rong's typically innocent and untainted eyes filled with a profound sorrow and melancholy for the very first time.

Outside, Jun Ye Li kept a silent vigil at the entrance of the Xuanji Palace, with no intention of leaving. Noticing Jun Ye Chen lingering nearby just as he was, a flicker of irritation crossed his face. "Why haven't you left yet?"

"What kind of question is that, Your Majesty? Since I was the one who brought the physician, it is only natural that I stay to ensure the patient is safe and sound before I can leave with a clear conscience." Jun Ye Chen replied with utter composure, though his words left something to be understood. "The physician you brought?"

Hadn't the imperial doctor declared that Hua Rong's condition was a matter of life and death, and that short of a legendary miracle worker, even medicine would be powerless to help? Could it be that he had actually managed to summon a true master of medicine?

Just as Jun Ye Li was left guessing, an old man carrying a medicine box emerged from the Xuanji Palace. Holding a package of medicinal herbs, the man handed it directly to Jun Ye Chen and said, "Second Prince, these are the Empress's medicines. Have someone brew them for her to drink, and she will recover in a few days."

Jun Ye Chen nodded. "Thank you for your life-saving grace, Master."

"Who are you?" The question caught Jun Ye Li completely off guard.

Yet, faced with this astonishment, the renowned physician didn't even spare him a direct glance. Instead, a trace of visible distaste flickered in the old man's eyes. Ignoring Jun Ye Li as if he didn't exist, he turned back to Jun Ye Chen and said, "If there is nothing else, this old man will take his leave. After all, this is not a place where I should linger."

"There is no need for such formality, sir. I have already prepared a place for you to rest. You may stay in the imperial palace for a few days. Aside from helping the Empress recover, you can also exchange medical insights with the physicians here."

As healers, who would ever consider their own skills too advanced to learn? Such a rare opportunity did not come to just anyone. Even if the Imperial Hospital was incompetent, having him around was certainly better than relying on mediocre doctors.

Hearing this, the physician nodded. His weathered, time-lined face relaxed into a calm and serene expression. "In that case, I shall graciously accept your arrangement. My thanks to the Second Prince once again."

The physician was led away by a palace maid, without ever casting a single proper look at Jun Ye Li.

One might call him arrogant, yet he was remarkably courteous to Jun Ye Chen—it was truly baffling.

Having been completely ignored, Jun Ye Li felt a lingering sense of displeasure. He narrowed his eyes and stared at Jun Ye Chen with guarded suspicion. "Just what kind of miraculous healer is he, to actually be able to cure Consort Rong's illness?"

"Naturally, he is a master from Mount Lingyun, whom I managed to invite through relentless effort." Opening the folding fan in his hand, Jun Ye Chen swayed it lightly with an air of self-satisfaction. Yet, that triumphant demeanor always gave the lingering impression that things were far from simple.

Jun Ye Li wanted to question him further, but Jun Ye Chen had no intention of affording him the chance to pester him. Instead, finding a casual excuse, the Second Prince turned and strode away.

***

Jun Ye Li stood in a daze for a long while until darkness fell, yet there was no movement from within the palace. In the end, he had no choice but to return to his own quarters first.

Upon stepping into his bedchamber, however, a heavy, cloying scent of cheap rouge and powder rushed straight toward him.

Jun Ye Li frowned in displeasure. "What is this stench? Did the maids cleaning today slather themselves in thick cosmetics, knowing full well I detest these odors the most?"

His furious roar sent a wave of panic through the attending palace maids, who nearly lost their wits and dropped to their knees in terror, kowtowing and pleading for mercy. "Reporting to Your Majesty, your humble servants would never dare! We have no idea who could have..."

Seeing their pitiful and trembling state, Jun Ye Li felt a wave of irritation wash over him. Involuntarily, his mind flashed back to the look Hua Rong had given him earlier.

A gaze laced with disappointment and lingering hesitation—that was certainly not the expression he wanted to see.

He waved a dismissive hand. "Forget it! Clean this room thoroughly by tomorrow. Let this be the first and last time!"

Regardless of whose doing it was, Jun Ye Li's mind was entirely consumed by thoughts of Hua Rong; how could he possibly have the energy to fuss over such trivial matters?

Once everyone had been dismissed, Jun Ye Li prepared to rest. But the moment he walked toward the bed, he spotted a pair of embroidered women's shoes neatly placed beneath the valance.

This was clearly wrong!

Jun Ye Li's pupils constricted sharply, and he barked in a cold, stern voice, "Who is there? Get out here at once!"

As his words faded, not a single sound stirred from within. The silk bed curtains swayed softly in the breeze, exuding a gentle, mesmerizing charm that tugged faintly at the senses.

At a loss for what to make of it and growing impatient with the silence, Jun Ye Li took a decisive stride forward and yanked the curtains aside, only to find a huddled figure buried deep beneath the covers, completely indistinguishable.

"If you do not come out right this instant, don't blame me for treating you like an assassin!"

Sensing perhaps that whatever lay hidden beneath the blankets was up to no good, Jun Ye Li issued a direct threat. At once, the figure inside gave a violent start and tentatively poked a head out.

"Your Majesty, please don't be rash! It's me!"

Lifting her delicate face to speak was none other than Lady Zhao, who had entered the palace ranks just days prior.

***

"Why is it you?"

Jun Ye Li let out a breath of relief, momentarily believing an assassin had slipped in, though he hadn't expected someone to be foolish enough to reach such lengths.

Taking a faint sniff of the air, he realized the overwhelming scent of cosmetics originated entirely from her, making him realize he had unjustly blamed the maids.

"Get down off my bed this instant! Who gave you permission to come here? Have you grown tired of living?!"

Aside from Hua Rong, no other woman from the harem had ever set foot in his private quarters. Though Jun Ye Li felt a deep aversion to the intrusion, he couldn't help but think the bedsheets would now have to be completely replaced.

Faced with this harsh reprimand, Lady Zhao looked unconvinced. "Why must Your Majesty be so unfair? If Consort Rong is permitted to come here, why can't I? Ever since I entered the palace, Your Majesty has not even touched me, and I remain a maiden to this day..."

The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she sounded. With her wide, expressive eyes, she managed to squeeze out a shimmering pool of tears, deploying every ounce of her allure in a desperate bid for his sympathy.

Yet, her carefully calculated plan missed the mark entirely. Faced with such blatant seduction, the emperor remained utterly unmoved, his disgust only deepening.

Without a second thought, he ripped the blanket away, fully intending to drag her off the bed.

However, as the thick quilt flew open, the woman's naked form was exposed completely to the open air—bare, flawlessly sculpted, and intensely alluring!

"You—why aren't you wearing clothes?!" Jun Ye Li panicked, never in his wildest dreams imagining this woman could be so shockingly bold.

Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of propriety and alarm, he whipped around instantly, wishing he could scrub the sight from his mind.

Seemingly caught off guard by his reaction, Lady Zhao stubbornly sat upright and lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. "Your Majesty, why must you remain so distant from me? What on earth have I done wrong?!"