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墨書 Inktalez
Le Yao Yao declined Dongfang Bai's offer to escort her back to the residence. After all, her mood had calmed down now.
Moreover, her previously terrible complexion had improved after washing her face with lake water, and her eyes were no longer the frighteningly red and swollen they had been earlier.
Once she felt that her expression had returned to normal, Le Yao Yao made her way back into the palace.
At that moment, she overheard some other young eunuchs saying that the prince had already returned.
Although she had mentally prepared herself for this, Le Yao Yao's heart still tightened painfully.
However, she took a deep breath, adjusted her chaotic emotions, and headed toward the Elegant Breeze Pavilion.
She thought that the Living Yama would be in his study handling official business as usual. However, she later discovered that the prince was not in the Elegant Breeze Pavilion but in the main hall.
Upon hearing this, Le Yao Yao was taken aback. As she approached the main hall, she realized that there were guests in the palace today. She did not know who they were, so she decided to take a look for herself.
When Le Yao Yao arrived at the main hall, she found three people seated inside.
She recognized all three of them.
There was Leng Junyu without a doubt, and sitting across from him was none other than Nian Sulan, along with the Empress Dowager!
Seeing this, Le Yao Yao's delicate face froze for a moment. Her gaze lingered on Nian Sulan for a while.
After all, ever since Nian Sulan last came to the palace to find her and lured her away only to be scolded by the Living Yama for it—prohibiting her from coming back—Le Yao Yao had not seen her again.
She had thought she would never see Nian Sulan in the palace again, yet just a few days later, here she was once more.
However, this time, she was accompanied by the Empress Dowager.
Le Yao Yao was no fool; she naturally understood Nian Sulan's intentions toward the Living Yama.
The last time Nian Sulan tried to lure her away from the palace, she had no idea why. After all, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Now, reflecting on it again, Le Yao Yao understood.
Perhaps Nian Sulan had long been aware of the Living Yama's feelings for her and regarded her as a rival. Thus, taking advantage of the Living Yama's absence, she attempted to use gold to persuade her to leave the palace, only to be caught by the Living Yama.
Given the Living Yama's decisive nature, having declared that Nian Sulan was not allowed to step into the palace again, Nian Sulan naturally dared not approach.
She had thought that after the Living Yama treated her this way last time, Nian Sulan would give up on him. Unexpectedly, not only did she not abandon her feelings for him, but now she was even more cunningly using the Empress Dowager to bridge the gap and boldly entered the palace.
Looking at Nian Sulan today, dressed so charmingly, she wore the latest trendy pink veil and silk skirt, her dark hair styled into an exquisite bun. Adorning her hair were delicate pearl hairpins that accentuated her little face, making it even more radiant.
Moreover, just by looking at Nian Sulan's stunningly beautiful face, it was clear that she had put in considerable effort into her makeup today.
It was only natural; how could one not dress well when meeting someone they loved?
In contrast to the dazzling Nian Sulan, Le Yao Yao couldn't help but lower her gaze slightly and glance at her own attire.
She let out a soft sigh, wondering when she would next wear women's clothing. Watching other women dress so beautifully made her feel a twinge of envy and desire.
After all, everyone has a love for beauty.
She was originally a delicate beauty but had to dress like a eunuch. Just thinking about it made her feel quite frustrated.
Moreover, after learning about Nian Sulan's feelings for the Living Yama, Le Yao Yao found it hard to like her.
After all, how could she not see Nian Sulan as a rival?
Although the Living Yama favored her, just thinking about the child in her womb made Le Yao Yao's heart tighten and cast a shadow over her face.
However, at that moment, Le Yao Yao suddenly sensed a gaze upon her. Startled, she immediately looked up with questioning beautiful eyes towards the source of that gaze directed at her.
When she saw that handsome and imposing face, Le Yao Yao's heart skipped a beat, tinged with a hint of bitterness.
However, Le Yao Yao quickly suppressed the sourness in her heart, curling her lips into a sweet smile as she returned the gaze of the man.
At that moment, a young eunuch carrying a tray of Tea Cakes passed by her. These Tea Cakes were meant for the hall, and seeing this, Le Yao Yao called out to the young eunuch.
"I can take it from here."
"Then thank you, Xiaoyaozi."
The young eunuch was familiar with Le Yao Yao; after greeting her, he handed the tray in his hands over to her.
Le Yao Yao accepted the tray filled with Tea Cakes and immediately made her way toward the hall.
The hall was specifically designed to receive guests, adorned in lavish splendor.
Sheer curtains swayed gently.
The brilliant sunlight outside streamed through the intricately carved doors into the hall, casting bright reflections on the bluestone floor.
On the walls of the hall hung priceless ink paintings, while against one wall stood a rosewood table adorned with precious antique jade items.
The floor was covered with a layer of crimson floral carpet, featuring an intricately carved round table and several carved stools…
At that moment, Leng Junyu and Nian Sulan were seated in the hall, engaged in conversation. Just as Le Yao Yao stepped into the hall, she heard a hearty laugh from the Empress Dowager.
It seemed that despite her age, the Empress Dowager was still quite robust.
Nian Sulan must have been sharing some amusing stories that kept the Empress Dowager laughing heartily.
In contrast to the smiling Empress Dowager and Nian Sulan, Leng Junyu sat across from them with an expression that remained unchanged; his enchanting face showed no trace of a smile.
Nian Sulan's words were either not funny or perhaps she just didn't get it.
However, regarding Leng Junyu's indifferent demeanor, Nian Sulan seemed either oblivious or pretended not to understand.
It wasn't until Le Yao Yao stepped forward and placed the tea cakes from her tray onto the table that Nian Sulan, who had been focused on Leng Junyu, briefly swept her enchanting gaze over Le Yao Yao.
Although Nian Sulan's attention lingered on Le Yao Yao for only a moment, it still made Le Yao Yao feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Moreover, she sensed that there was something calculating in that glance.
As Le Yao Yao felt a slight shock and slowly turned her gaze back to Nian Sulan, she noticed that Nian Sulan was now engaged in conversation with the Empress Dowager, as if that previous glance had been unintentional.
Seeing this, although Le Yao Yao still felt a bit uneasy, she didn’t dwell on it and simply placed the last bowl of Sour Plum Soup from her tray in front of the man.
At that moment, during the sweltering summer heat, a bowl of chilled Sour Plum Soup was just perfect.
Looking at the Sour Plum Soup on the table, Le Yao Yao couldn't help but feel tempted.
In the past, she hadn't been fond of sour foods. However, recently, she had developed a strong liking for this sweet and sour flavor.
She initially thought it was because her taste had changed after switching bodies. Now, Le Yao Yao realized it was because she was pregnant.
She had heard from various relatives that pregnant women often craved sour foods, and she had also heard about the saying that carrying a boy made one crave sour things while carrying a girl led to cravings for spicy foods.
She wondered if her newfound love for sour foods meant she was having a boy!
However, in truth, she loved children regardless of whether they were boys or girls; she would cherish them all. Moreover, the baby in her belly was her own!
Just as Le Yao Yao was lost in thought, Nian Sulan's delicate voice suddenly rang in her ears.
"Cousin Yu, on such a hot summer day, nothing is better than a bowl of Sour Plum Soup. Come on, you must try it!"
Nian Sulan finished speaking and extended her hands to pick up the chilled Sour Plum Soup from the table, placing it in front of Leng Junyu.
As she moved, her delicate hands hidden in her sleeves were fully revealed.
These were well-maintained hands.
The skin was fair and tender, with long, slender fingers. At the pristine wrist, she wore a piece of jade known as Sheep Fat Jade, which accentuated her skin's smoothness.
However, the long nails were painted with a layer of bright red polish, making her hands as alluring as she was.
Seeing Nian Sulan's deliberately flattering demeanor made Le Yao Yao uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
Originally, that bowl of Sour Plum Soup had already been placed in front of the Living Yama. Nian Sulan intentionally picked it up and brought it closer to him—wasn't she trying to draw his attention!?
Moreover, if she was going to take the Sour Plum Soup, why did she have to lean in so close?
It was hard not to wonder how much perfume Nian Sulan had applied! Even though she was already at a distance, the strong scent still assaulted Le Yao Yao's senses.
Whether it was due to pregnancy or something else, the moment Le Yao Yao caught a whiff of Nian Sulan's perfume, her stomach churned, and her face turned pale.
She felt that if she stayed there any longer, she would be sick.
Just then, Leng Junyu glanced over unintentionally and noticed the unusual expression on Le Yao Yao's face. He immediately stood up from his seat. In the surprised gazes of Empress Dowager and Nian Sulan, he spoke in a low voice.
"Empress Mother, didn't you say you wanted to explore my residence? I will lead the way now."
Leng Junyu addressed Empress Dowager. Upon hearing this, before she could respond, Nian Sulan looked surprised. A hint of urgency flashed in her eyes as she hurriedly said,
"Cousin Yu, there's no rush. Here, finish your Sour Plum Soup first; it will help you cool down."
With that, Nian Sulan pushed the bowl of Sour Plum Soup closer to Leng Junyu, her anxious gaze leaving others puzzled.
It was just a bowl of Sour Plum Soup, so why did Nian Sulan look so anxious?
Le Yao Yao, who was trying to suppress the sourness in her stomach, finally noticed Nian Sulan's expression and felt a wave of confusion wash over her.
Before she could ponder further, Leng Junyu spoke up again.
"Let's leave this Sour Plum Soup here and drink it later! We should go for a stroll in the garden! A peony has just arrived at the residence, and doesn't the Empress Mother love peonies the most?"
"Oh, really? Then let's go take a look!"
Upon hearing Leng Junyu's words, the Empress Dowager's face immediately brightened with joy. It seemed that she also had a fondness for flowers!
Seeing this, Nian Sulan couldn't say much. The anxious look on her face flickered for just a moment before she quickly returned to normal. She smiled as she linked arms with the Empress Dowager and feigned delight.
"Well then, let's go enjoy the flowers! I remember Aunt loves the exquisite peony red."
"Yes, indeed! Little Girl, you still remember..."
With laughter echoing, the Empress Dowager and Nian Sulan walked ahead while Leng Junyu followed behind.
However, after taking a few steps, Leng Junyu suddenly stopped and turned to Le Yao Yao, who was about to follow.
"If you're not feeling well, you should head back and rest."
"Uh..."
Le Yao Yao was slightly taken aback by Leng Junyu's words but soon realized what he meant.
It turned out that this man had been paying attention to her all along! He even noticed when she wasn't feeling well.
What sharp eyes he had!
Le Yao Yao felt a mix of joy and worry.
The joy came from the man's kindness towards her. The worry stemmed from his cold and unpredictable demeanor, yet he was incredibly perceptive; even the slightest hint of discomfort she had shown did not escape his notice.
With such a sharp mind, how could she hide any secrets from him?
Perhaps the very thing she dreaded most would happen soon.
Although she was extremely reluctant...
As these thoughts crossed her mind, Le Yao Yao felt a wave of desolation wash over her. Fearing that she might reveal her secrets in front of him, she quickly lowered her head and softly murmured to Leng Junyu.
"Um, alright. I'll head back to my room now."
After saying this, Le Yao Yao turned and left.
At the moment she turned away, a tear slipped uncontrollably from her eye...
---
Le Yao Yao had been exhausted from the events of the day. Once she returned to her room, she collapsed onto her bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.
She didn't know how long she had been asleep when a piercing scream jolted her awake, causing her to sit up abruptly.
As she looked around at the dim light, Le Yao Yao realized it was sunset.
But what had caused that terrifying scream!?
Moreover, that voice sounded so familiar... it seemed to be...
Tong Yaar's!?
Upon realizing this, Le Yao Yao felt a sudden jolt and quickly jumped out of bed, hurriedly putting on her shoes before rushing out of the room.
Although she had only known Tong Yaar for a short time, she found the adorable girl to be quite likable. Hearing her scream now suggested that something terrible had happened, causing Le Yao Yao to panic and rush out without a second thought.
Based on the direction of that voice, Le Yao Yao was certain it came from Nangong Junxi's room.
Since the Elegant Breeze Pavilion was not far from where Nangong Junxi stayed, Le Yao Yao dashed over as soon as she heard the scream. She arrived at Nangong Junxi's door in no time and pushed it open without hesitation.
She expected to find some major incident, perhaps even a murder; otherwise, Tong Yaar wouldn't have screamed so tragically.
However, when Le Yao Yao burst through the door and took in the scene before her, she was utterly stunned, as if struck by lightning!
The room was in complete disarray.
Clothes were strewn all over the floor—men's Silk Robes, women's Silk Skirts, undergarments, and even some garments that had been violently torn apart. It was clear what kind of chaos had just unfolded.
As her Beautiful Eyes scanned the mess on the floor, they landed on the large bed, and once again she gasped in shock.
The Rosewood Carved Bed was a wreck; the curtains were torn as if a fierce battle had just taken place.
What shocked her most was that the couple on the bed was none other than Tong Yaar and Nangong Junxi!
Clearly oblivious to Le Yao Yao's intrusion, the two on the bed continued their conversation. She could hear Nangong Junxi's panicked explanation.
“Yar, I'm really sorry about what just happened. I don't know what came over me; it felt like I was possessed and not myself at all. I just felt so hot...”
As he spoke, Nangong Junxi stumbled over his words until suddenly he seemed to remember something important.
“Right! It must have been that bowl of Sour Plum Soup! As soon as we got back, I drank that bowl of Sour Plum Soup right away. Someone must have put something in it... that's why I...”
Nangong Junxi's face turned an even deeper shade of red as he desperately tried to explain himself.
At that moment, he was not wearing any clothes, only tightly wrapped in a sheet that covered his lower body, revealing his muscular upper body.
However, his upper body was covered in scars.
The lines of blood marks were clearly from being scratched by nails, and there were bite marks on his shoulder that were still bleeding!
Hearing Nangong Junxi's words, Tong Yaar, who was curled up in the corner of the bed and also not dressed, was tightly wrapped in the sheet. She was sobbing continuously, seemingly ignoring Nangong Junxi's explanation as she cried out.
"Second Senior Brother, I know you don't like me, but no matter how much you dislike me, I don't want to be treated as someone else's substitute! I'm not Piglet! If you like her, why don't you just go find her? Why hold onto me while thinking of someone else!?"
This was the reason for Tong Yaar's heart-wrenching tears!
Her body had been possessed by the person she liked the most; she had originally been willing. However, the person she cherished most called out another's name while holding her close. How could she accept that!?
Even if Second Senior Brother didn't like her, she still didn't want to be someone else's substitute!
Just as Tong Yaar was about to scream at Nangong Junxi in despair, Le Yao Yao couldn't help but gasp when she heard her words.
Because of what Tong Yaar said.
Just now, when Nangong Junxi was holding Tong Yaar and doing those things, he had actually called out her name...
Thinking of this, Le Yao Yao's pretty face suddenly stiffened.
At that moment, a figure quietly approached her side. Upon seeing what was happening before her, he merely frowned slightly and asked.
"Junxi, what exactly is going on?!"
"Senior Brother!"
Hearing Leng Junyu's words, Nangong Junxi immediately looked up. He appeared like a child caught doing something wrong by an adult and hurriedly began to explain.
"Senior Brother, things are not as you see them! I... I don’t even know how it happened. Just now, when I was coming back with Junior Sister, we passed by the hall and saw a bowl of Sour Plum Soup on the table. I was so hot that I noticed one bowl of Sour Plum Soup hadn’t been touched, so I drank it immediately. Who would have thought that after drinking that bowl of Sour Plum Soup, when I returned to my room, I felt all hot and then Junior Sister came to find me, and I..."
Nangong Junxi didn’t finish his sentence, but given the current situation, even a fool could tell what had happened next.
Upon hearing this, Leng Junyu’s previously furrowed brows suddenly knitted into a deep frown. Even Le Yao Yao beside him seemed to realize something as she gasped in shock!
Oh my!
That bowl of Sour Plum Soup!?
Hearing Nangong Junxi's words, Le Yao Yao recalled what had just happened in the hall.
Earlier, she had felt that Nian Sulan was acting strangely. Moreover, it seemed like she wanted Leng Junyu to drink that bowl of Sour Plum Soup. Could it be that she knew that the soup had been tampered with and intentionally wanted to make the living Yama drink it? Then she would distract everyone and plan to take advantage of the situation with him. With the Empress Dowager present, she surely wouldn’t let her niece suffer any grievances, so she must have intended for them to...
Le Yao Yao wasn’t foolish; based on this clue, she pieced together the entire sequence of events.
However, it wasn’t just Le Yao Yao who figured it out; even Leng Junyu immediately understood what was going on. His cold eyes narrowed as he shot a glare at Nian Sulan, who was walking toward them.
It turned out that earlier, Leng Junyu and the Empress Dowager had been admiring the flowers up front. After hearing the commotion here, Leng Junyu rushed over first.
The Empress Dowager was elderly and couldn’t walk quickly, so Nian Sulan had been supporting her, which was why they were only just arriving now.
When they reached this spot, the Empress Dowager immediately asked in confusion.
"Yuer, what happened? Who was calling just now?"
"Yes, Cousin Yu, did something happen?"
Nian Sulan also put on a worried expression. However, before she could finish her sentence, Leng Junyu suddenly moved like lightning to Nian Sulan's side. Startled by his sudden approach, Nian Sulan gasped as he fiercely grabbed her wrist and spoke through gritted teeth.
"Do you not know what trouble you've caused!?"
"Ah, Cousin Yu, it hurts so much! The way you're holding Su Lan is really painful..."
Hearing Leng Junyu's words, Nian Sulan felt a mix of confusion and unease. After all, the expression on Leng Junyu's face was terrifying; his fierce gaze seemed as if he wanted to devour her whole.
Not to mention the grip on her wrist was so strong that it felt like he might crush her hand.
Even the Empress Dowager, witnessing this, immediately grew anxious and exclaimed, "Yuer, let go of Lan'er’s hand! Do you want to break it?"
Seeing her beloved niece in such pain made the Empress Dowager's heart ache, and she hurriedly urged Leng Junyu to release his grip.
However, at that moment, Leng Junyu's expression was violent and shrouded in darkness, as if a storm was about to break.
Le Yao Yao realized at once that someone was about to face serious consequences!
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