Chapter 54: She Is Truly Honored

Chapter 54: How Very Honored She Was

Although Ye Wanwan was unable to attend to the Emperor in the intimate sense, Zhao Yi chose to stay the night anyway. After bathing together, the two of them lay down, and Zhao Yi pulled Ye Wanwan directly into his arms. Even though he knew nothing could happen between them, he was still in a remarkably good mood—which felt utterly bizarre.

"Your Majesty, this concubine is unclean." She wanted to chase Zhao Yi away, to send him to any other consort—anyone at all, as long as it wasn't her bed. Even though he was the Emperor and she was a consort, she simply could not accept this.

However, Zhao Yi's eyes held a smile. That gaze, seemingly gentle yet ultimately callous, cut off the rest of Ye Wanwan's words. He was wise and cunning; her petty thoughts could not be hidden from him. To speak more was to err more, and she might just push herself onto a path of no return.

"I know. I don't mind."

How very honored she was.

And so, the two of them went to sleep just like that.

Harboring their own hidden agendas, they shared the same bed while dreaming different dreams. The night was silent, save for each other's breathing. With nothing visible, their other senses were amplified—each other's scent, their touches, and their warmth.

How much time had passed? The breathing behind her became steady and deep. Had he fallen asleep?

Ye Wanwan shifted slightly; having maintained the same posture for too long, her body had grown stiff. She got up, stepped onto the floor, and sat by the edge of the bed for a long while until she recovered. Once her wits returned, she shivered, only then realizing how ice-cold her body had become.

Even so, she chose not to return to the bedding. Instead, she got up, draped an outer garment over her shoulders, and gently pushed open the door.

Deep into the night, the dew was heavy. A gust of cold wind poured in, making her shudder. Then, Ye Wanwan saw the person standing guard by the door—unexpectedly, it was Yan Chen.

As their eyes met, both were somewhat startled. Yan Chen had been leaning against the doorframe, and it was clear he had been growing sleepy, only to be jolted awake by her appearance. Nearby, Emperor Yang's guards had already fallen asleep leaning against the pillars. Yan Chen did not make a sound to disturb them, simply questioning Ye Wanwan with his eyes.

Ye Wanwan shook her head. There was nothing wrong, but clearly, she could not go out through this door now. If these people found out she was wandering outside in the middle of the night, heaven knows how they would gossip about her behind her back.

Ye Wanwan gently closed the door and returned to the bed to lie down again. Zhao Yi was right beside her, completely motionless and fast asleep.

Unable to control herself, she reached out and softly caressed his face. This was the face she had once longed to cup in her hands, and now she was finally touching it. Yet her heart felt like stagnant water, refusing to stir even the slightest ripple.

No, that wasn't entirely accurate to say she felt nothing. At the very least, when her hand brushed against Zhao Yi's neck, she found herself wondering if she could stab him to death with a hairpin right this instant. The thought of killing him with her own hands filled her with an uncontrollable thrill.

What a pity. Zhao Yi could not die just yet. With a sense of regret, she withdrew her hand, pulled the quilt over herself, and stared blankly into space. With nothing in her mind, she let herself drift into emptiness until she could no longer fight off the exhaustion and finally drifted off to sleep.

In the darkness of the night, while Ye Wanwan lay lost in thought, she had no idea that Zhao Yi beside her was not truly asleep either. As an emperor, suspicious and vigilant, how could he fall asleep so easily? He was well aware of Ye Wanwan's internal struggle and her tossing and turning.

A night of royal attendance, with each harboring their own secret designs.

At the hour of Mao in the early morning, Zhao Yi got up. A crowd of palace attendants came forward to wait upon him as he washed and dressed, the lamplight illuminating the entire grand hall.

According to the rules, Ye Wanwan was supposed to get up and serve him. However, the moment she stirred, Zhao Yi pressed her back down. "Your body isn't well. Go back to sleep."

With that, he leaned down and planted a kiss on Ye Wanwan's forehead. She could not refuse, but her thoughts were somewhat dazed.

After Zhao Yi left for the morning court session, Ye Wanwan lost all sleepiness. She got up, put on a cloak, and made her way through the side door into the small garden.

The sky was still dark, and even the nocturnal insects had grown quiet by this hour. The silence was broken only by the crackle of burning lamps and the sound of the chilly wind whistling past.

Ye Wanwan sat beside a stone table. The table and chairs were icy cold, and the night wind brought a chill to her cheeks, carrying the dampness of the early morning dew. Right now, she needed this freezing cold to clear her head.

A sound of footsteps approached from afar, and soon a cup of hot tea appeared before her. It was Yan Chen.

"The morning dew is heavy, and Her Ladyship's health is poor. You should not sit here for long."

Ye Wanwan touched the teacup; it was lukewarm, and that warmth seemed to travel from her palm straight into the depths of her heart.

She almost fancied she could hear the sound of her frozen blood beginning to flow once more.