Wow, she has an amazing ability to repackage playful words into something pleasing. What a positive mindset.
I found Melanie’s behavior quite amusing, but the other concubines didn’t seem to think the same way.
Especially Catherine, who looked at Melanie with narrowed eyes, expressing disapproval.
“Melanie, you do have a remarkable fashion sense.”
Rinel’s sarcastic comment was heard.
Here we go again.
I hinted at him to stop, but he seemed to have found something to tease Melanie about and pretended to be interested in her dress.
“Indeed, being a naturally stylish woman, you absorb the latest trends quickly.”
He patted his own shoulder and gave Melanie a thumbsup.
“I knew Your Majesty would approve!”
Melanie, showing off her exposed shoulder, sneered at Catherine with a cocky expression.
“Those who know the trend, eat more.”
At Rinel’s words, Melanie looked peaceful as if she had received a blessing at a shrine.
“Your Majesty, I heard you’re very busy today.”
I asked him as if probing.
“Not busy.”
That was a lie.
I knew that he had meetings from early in the morning, that his long meeting would extend over lunch, which he was planning to have with his subordinates.
He surely did not have the leisure to casually visit the Empress’s palace today.
Moreover, he would have known that I was dining with the concubines. And he dropped in without any notice?
This was strange.
“Actually, I’m busy.”
He changed his words again.
“You’re busy… But you had time to come all the way to the Empress’s palace?”
“I didn’t. That’s why I ran here to save time.”
His answer only confused me further.
Ah, that’s probably a lie… I thought.
But then…
“I thought I was going to die from shortness of breath, Your Majesty.”
The chamberlain interjected again, reinforcing Rinel’s words.
“Why would you go to the trouble if you’re busy…”
Before I could finish my question, he wore a hurt expression.
So I ended up asking with my eyes instead.
“I couldn’t properly say goodbye to the Empress in the morning and had to leave first.”
“Why so…”
Aware of the concubines listening to our conversation, I inquired discreetly.
“I felt guilty about leaving you alone in our bed.”
With a forceful voice, as if only the two of us existed in this place, he responded.
His words silenced my discreet inquiry.
Was I the only one concerned about the ears listening in the dining hall?
With the jealous eyes of the concubines bearing down on me, Rinel smiled at me even more affectionately.
“You could have told me later…”
I uttered dryly due to Rinel’s nonchalant yet embarrassing words in front of the concubines.
But he made a silly face and said,
“That ‘later’ is now.”
“Oh, yes…”
If His Majesty says so, it must be so.
I obediently nodded.
Seeing the corners of his mouth rising slightly, I had a bad feeling.
Is he going to say something else?
“Empress, there’s no need to be nervous. I’ve seen your face, so that’s enough.”
Contrary to my worry, he seemed like he really was just there to greet and then leave.
As the concubines sent him off with disappointed faces, he nodded towards them nonchalantly and turned around.
I watched him walk slowly out of the dining hall and sat back down with the concubines.
However, a few seconds later, Rinel returned.
“Why are you back, Your Majesty?”
Surprised by his reappearance, I asked.
He charged towards me quickly, replying.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t had dessert.”
At his words, both Catherine and I reached towards the dish placed roughly in the middle between us.
It was a dessert cake, piled high with strawberries and blueberries.
“Your Majesty, this cake is the tastiest dessert here. Have a bite before you leave.”
Catherine’s hand was faster than mine.
Her voice was even sweeter than the cake.
Rinel raised one hand, blushing enough to make me embarrassed.
“I’ll decline. I have a different dessert that I prefer.”
Although Catherine was the one who offered the cake, he answered, staring at my face.
Catherine did not back down, lifting another plate of cake in front of Melanie and asked him again.
“How about cheesecake then?”
Melanie also reached out simultaneously, but this time too, Catherine was faster.
“I don’t particularly care for things that are too rich. Be it food, or people.”
He muttered meaningfully, then glanced at me, maintaining a poker face, and smiled.
Why is he laughing? Why?
“Your Majesty, you have no time to delay. You must hurry and go.”
The master of ceremonies urged him on, holding a pocket watch in his hand.
Wait? I understand that he needs to leave quickly, but what does he mean by ‘do’ quickly?
“I was going to step out with the Empress for a moment, but……”
His gaze was unusual.
“You do not have time for that!”
The master of ceremonies stated firmly.
Rinel’s lips moved quickly, talking to Stian, then suddenly fell to mine without warning.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
“Uhm?!”
Unable to keep my balance due to his sudden kiss, I sank into my chair.
“Tastes good, as expected.”
His lips slowly moved away from mine, whispering.
Unable to keep my balance due to his sudden kiss, I sank into my chair.
After witnessing this spectacle, the ladies in the court covered their mouths with their hands.
I was the same.
Only, the difference between them and me was that instead of my hand, it was his lips that covered my mouth.
“Wha, what… what did you just do?”
“I ate.”
“…Excuse me?”
“My dessert.”
His bass voice sweetly echoed throughout the restaurant.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
