Chapter Fifty-Seven: The So-Called Feast for the Eyes

A few maidservants responded perfunctorily, and Huarong did not continue to tease them. She simply urged, “Alright, everyone, hurry and eat. If the dishes grow cold, my efforts will be wasted!”

Although everyone ate with great caution, seeing Jun Yeli dine with such ease and grace took them by surprise, and gradually their guarded hearts began to relax.

As night deepened, the group ate their fill and drank enough. Huarong watched Jun Yeli, who, having finished eating with refined manners, set his chopsticks aside, and the atmosphere once again grew awkward.

“What’s wrong with me? Whenever I’m alone with him, I get nervous, though I’m not performing in front of those concubines…”

Swallowing nervously, Huarong quickly rose, making to clear the dishes. “I’ll go wash the bowls. You all take good care of the Emperor!”

Yet somehow, these words sounded out of place.

Suxin frowned slightly and hurriedly shook her head. “Your Highness, your status is too noble for such menial work. Please, leave it to us!”

With that, she signaled the other two maids, and the three swiftly collected the plates, as if afraid someone else might beat them to it.

Huarong was left bewildered. Before she could react, the plate she was holding was snatched away by Suxin. “Your Highness, it is more fitting for you to personally attend to the Emperor. We’ll go tend to our chores!”

Once the maids finished tidying, they scampered away in a flash.

A chilly breeze swept through, making one shiver.

Huarong lowered her gaze to Jun Yeli, seated in his place. The darkness of night enveloped everything, save for the luminous full moon above, which cast a vivid glow upon the man before her.

Bathed in the soft afterglow, Jun Yeli seemed a celestial being exiled to earth. Truly, the allure of his features was enough to stir longing in one's heart!

It seemed he sensed the unabashed gaze upon him. Jun Yeli turned his head slightly, meeting Huarong’s bright eyes, which sparkled with such brilliance that their beauty could not be ignored.

A flicker of amusement rose within him. “If you wish to gaze at me so intently, why not come closer? You’re too far away to see clearly.”

With that, he suddenly reached out and gripped Huarong’s wrist, pulling her into his embrace.

The entire sequence happened so swiftly it left no time to react. Huarong’s heart gave a sudden jolt, her pulse almost stumbling in its rhythm.

In the next moment, she found herself nestled in Jun Yeli’s arms.

There was a faint scent of tea about him, soothing and pleasant.

Yet Huarong was exceptionally tense, her body taut as if frozen, not daring to relax for an instant.

Looking up, she could clearly see Jun Yeli’s sharp, handsome features. Even from that unforgiving angle, not a single flaw could be found.

“Heavens, how can such a beautiful person exist in this world? No wonder those concubines fight so fiercely—how could anyone resist such looks?”

It was no surprise that the concubines, risking the enmity of the harem and facing death at any moment, still sought the Emperor’s favor.

Perhaps affection was not always about love or family interests—sometimes, it was simply the irresistible allure of beauty.

“What are you thinking so intently?” Jun Yeli’s voice drifted to her ear, low and seductive, its husky timbre enchanting.

Huarong’s ears tingled. Regaining her composure, she tried to struggle. “Your Majesty, what are you doing? Can’t I stop looking?”

For a moment, she wished she could blind herself, so easily seduced by beauty—such shame! If word got out, she would lose all face.

“Let me go quickly, or I fear I’ll lose my mind!”

Clenching her teeth, Huarong struggled twice more, but his grip remained unyielding.

Realizing Huarong’s intent to flee, Jun Yeli simply raised his hand and encircled her waist, leaving her no room to escape.

“If you try to run again, I’ll use you as fertilizer in the garden before the Nine Dragon Palace. Every day, as I look at the flowers, I’ll think of you, and thus you’ll never escape me.”

Jun Yeli’s lips curled in a smile, yet his words sent chills down her spine.

Huarong immediately dared not move, becoming as obedient as a rabbit. She hastily pleaded, “Your Majesty, why are you so impulsive? Impulsiveness is the devil! I can still speak honestly with you now, but buried underground, what meaning would those flowers hold for me, don’t you think?”

Though she kept smiling, Huarong’s heart bled.

She hadn’t been buried yet, but already felt suffocated, life draining away.

Jun Yeli seemed satisfied with her answer. “I prefer speaking to the living, so from now on, don’t resist me. Do you understand?”

Hearing this, Huarong, even if she wished to feign ignorance, had to consider her own life first.

She nodded helplessly. “Understood, understood. I will always obey Your Majesty from now on!”

Her rosy lips kept babbling nervously, occasionally showing hints of fear, her fragility accentuated by her delicate features. For someone like Jun Yeli, cunning and dark-hearted, she was the most tempting prey.

He swallowed audibly, the sound echoing in Huarong’s ears, making her heart tremble. “Your Majesty, are you hungry? Didn’t you just eat?”

“Perhaps I wasn’t full earlier.” Jun Yeli nodded solemnly, his gaze lingering on Huarong, unable to resist the allure of her fair skin.

“Then let me fetch you something to eat!” Without hesitation, Huarong tried to rise, hoping to use the excuse to escape this perilous scene.

Yet before she could move, his hand clamped tightly around her wrist.

“No need to hurry. Have you ever heard of feasting on beauty? Eating with a beauty before you is simply too mundane.”

“What…what does that mean?” Huarong sensed danger but hadn’t time to react before she felt herself lifted off the ground, her slender body jostled gently as Jun Yeli walked with measured steps.

“Your Majesty, what are you doing? Put me down!” Huarong panicked.