Return of the Pearl

Qianlong looked at the queen coldly. She said nothing and just knelt there quietly. Qianlong frowned, revealing deep displeasure.

"What? You have nothing to do but come here to see how loving Yun'er and I are?" Qianlong's words pierced like an ice cone, instantly igniting the queen's already angry, jealous and unwilling mood.

The Queen raised her head, her eyes filled with grief, anger, and determination. She suppressed her emotions and said, "Your Majesty, you are the Emperor. The harem should be treated equally and not favored by one person. Moreover, this is against the ancestral etiquette and laws. As the Queen, I have the responsibility to advise and remonstrate with you. Please reconsider your decision."

Qianlong's expression remained unchanged after hearing the empress's words. His eyes were as cold as ice, and his words made the empress feel as if she were sinking into an ice cellar. "Empress, I have no interest in the other concubines in the harem. I only want this one person. I know what you have done, and you know it too. If it weren't for the fact that the empress could not be easily deposed, do you think you could still be in this position? So, stay in my place and don't meddle in things that are not your business.

Also, Ziwei is my daughter, aren't you overreaching? Don't forget you have a child too, karma is a cycle, are you really not afraid?"

The queen never expected that the emperor would actually tear apart the last layer of window paper between them and discuss these things openly. Her body trembled slightly, and her heart was filled with shock and fear. She couldn't believe that the emperor would say these words to her so bluntly. It made her feel as if the whole world had collapsed.

Qianlong's words made the queen's thoughts fly. She began to speculate on Qianlong's intentions. Was he really going to take action against his twelfth prince? She didn't dare to think further, and her heart was filled with helplessness and despair.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the imperial study was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe, as if even the air had frozen. The empress's originally dignified face became distorted and hideous, and her eyes revealed deep despair and unwillingness. Qianlong stood there, his posture upright, but he exuded a terrifying majesty and indifference. Everything around them seemed to be still, and only their figures seemed particularly abrupt in this silent space.

For a moment, the atmosphere was so stagnant that it seemed as if time had stopped. There was silence all around, and no words or sounds were heard for a long time.

At this moment, Xiao Yun thought that the conversation between Qianlong and the queen had ended, so she gently opened the door and walked out slowly. Her long hair like a waterfall was not combed and fell casually on her chest. She was barefoot, and her white soles stepped on the ground, and she was not wearing shoes.

Seeing Xiao Yun like this, the Empress's anger and resentment reached a peak. She felt that this was clearly due to the Emperor's excessive favor. She cried out in her heart: Why is the heaven so unfair? Why does she receive such favor from the Emperor? I, the Empress, have never enjoyed such treatment. I have managed the harem for him, working tirelessly, but I have never received a single bit of his attention or love. And how could this Xiao Yun deserve the Emperor's undivided love? What is so special about her? Is I really inferior to her?

And the moment Qianlong saw Xiao Yun coming out, his aura seemed to have undergone a miraculous transformation in an instant, from the chill of winter to the warmth of spring.

A smile as gentle as the spring breeze bloomed on Qianlong's face. That smile seemed to be able to melt the ice and snow, making people feel like they were basking in the warm sunshine. He walked as lightly as if he was walking on the clouds, and walked to Xiao Yun as quickly as the spring breeze and drizzle. Then, he stretched out his strong arms and hugged Xiao Yun tightly in his arms, as if he was hugging the most precious treasure in the world.

Qianlong said with concern: "Why are you not wearing shoes again? The ground is cold, don't catch a cold, or I will be the one who feels sorry for you." His voice was full of endless concern and love, which made people feel warm in their hearts.

Xiao Yun saw that the Queen was still beside her, and a trace of embarrassment suddenly appeared on her face. A trace of panic flashed in her eyes as clear as autumn water, and she said softly: "I... I forgot."

After hearing this, Qianlong showed a helpless smile on his face. He shook his head lovingly and said, "Forget it. I'll have someone lay carpets in the Hall of Mental Cultivation later so that you don't forget." His words were full of tolerance and love for Xiao Yun, as if he was willing to do anything for her as long as she was happy.

The queen's heart was filled with pain and jealousy. Her eyes became dim and tears welled up in her eyes. She thought of Queen Fucha. Even when Queen Fucha was alive, she had never received such meticulous care from the emperor.

At this moment, she truly understood that although the position of queen was honorable, if the emperor did not have her in his heart, it was just a shell with no substance, and it was really just a position in name only.

At this moment, the silence in the Yangxin Palace was so depressing that Xiao Yun's bare feet left shallow marks on the ground. Her hair fluttered gently in the breeze, complementing her slightly shy expression.

Qianlong hugged Xiao Yun tightly, his eyes full of love and cherishment, while the queen stood aside, her face haggard, her eyes full of loss and resentment. The complex emotions intertwined on her face made people feel pity, but unfortunately Qianlong was indifferent.

The entire Hall of Mental Cultivation seemed to be immersed in an indescribable atmosphere, and everyone was experiencing a magnificent emotional struggle in their hearts.

Qianlong embraced Xiao Yun tightly in his arms, completely ignoring the Empress's presence. He seemed to pay no attention to the Empress's feelings. In front of the Empress, he even reached out and picked up the cakes on the dragon table and gently offered them to Xiao Yun's mouth. "Yun'er, try it. You just used up so much energy. You need to replenish your energy so that we can continue tonight."

At this moment, if it were just the two of them, perhaps the scene would seem somewhat romantic and warm, but the Queen was still standing by, and all this made Xiao Yun feel a little shy. She buried her head deep in Qianlong's arms, gently pounded his chest with her fist, and murmured, "Be careful." Qianlong couldn't help laughing when he heard it, and then very carefully fed the cakes into Xiao Yun's mouth bit by bit.

The queen stood there like a forgotten outsider, facing the emperor's obvious disregard. This made her most uncomfortable, sad and disappointed. She felt that her life as a queen was really frustrating and cowardly.

Finally, the queen could no longer bear it and, suppressing the pain in her heart, asked, "Your Majesty, can I return to the palace now?"

Qianlong didn't even raise his head, continuing to focus on the movements in his hands. His eyes were filled with tenderness, but his words were icy cold. "Empress, no matter what the reason, you trespassed into the Imperial Study without my permission. I punish you by making you copy Buddhist scriptures a hundred times. Go back and calm down. Don't say anything you shouldn't be involved in, and don't interfere in things you shouldn't do."

The Queen understood Qianlong's warning and took it to heart, but the resentment and unwillingness in her heart surged like a tide. She looked at Xiao Yun sitting in Qianlong's arms with resentment, wishing she could tear her into pieces. But she also knew that she could not act rashly now. After all, Xiao Yun was the apple of the Emperor's eye, and she could not compete with her.

In this huge Yangxin Palace, there is a depressing atmosphere. The queen looks so lonely and isolated, and her heart is filled with endless bitterness and helplessness. The deep love between Qianlong and Xiao Yun forms a sharp contrast with the queen's pain. All this makes the queen feel extremely desperate.