Return of the Pearl

Yangxindian

Xiao Yun stayed in this quiet place for the whole afternoon. Her face was flushed with a special shyness, just like the gorgeous sunset in the sky. However, time passed quietly and night gradually fell. However, Qianlong did not let her go back to her own palace as she had hoped. Instead, he took her hand and led her to stroll towards the imperial garden.

The moment they stepped into the Imperial Garden, the moonlight sprinkled on the ground like water, as if covering the entire garden with a layer of silver gauze. The air was filled with a faint floral fragrance, which was the fragrance emitted by various flowers in the night. Qianlong and Xiao Yun walked side by side, and their footsteps were particularly clear in the silent garden.

Qianlong gently put his arm around Xiao Yun's waist, and her heart couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. They stopped by a lake, the shimmering water reflected the bright moon and twinkling stars in the sky.

Xiao Yun raised her head slightly and looked at the bright moon hanging high in the sky. Her heart was filled with emotion. There was a hint of intoxication in her eyes, as if she was attracted by the beautiful moonlight and couldn't extricate herself.

Qianlong looked at Xiao Yun affectionately, his eyes full of tenderness and love. He gently raised his hand and brushed away a strand of hair from Xiao Yun's forehead. His movements were as gentle as if he was protecting a precious treasure. Xiao Yun felt his gaze, and the blush on her cheeks became more obvious. She lowered her head shyly, not daring to look at Qianlong.

In the imperial garden, they admired various flowers together. Those gorgeous flowers looked even more beautiful under the moonlight. Xiao Yun couldn't help but reach out and gently touch a blooming flower, feeling its softness and fragrance. Qianlong looked at her with a smile, his eyes full of pampering.

They enjoyed their dinner in this beautiful imperial garden. The exquisite dishes were placed on the beautiful dining table, complementing the surrounding scenery. Qianlong and Xiao Yun sat opposite each other, savoring the delicious food while admiring the moonlight and beautiful scenery.

At this moment, the whole world seemed to belong to only the two of them. They were immersed in this wonderful time, forgetting all their troubles and worries.

Qianlong's interest was completely ignited in this imperial garden. He took Xiao Yun and enjoyed the joy in this wonderful world with rainy sky, singing birds and fragrant flowers. They were surrounded by flowers, and the flowers around them bloomed brilliantly, as if cheering for their joy. The air was filled with bursts of floral fragrance, which was a mixture of various flowers and made people intoxicated.

The young eunuchs hurriedly pulled the curtains to surround Qianlong and Xiao Yun. Although they kept a certain distance from them, they could still vaguely hear laughter and chatter coming from inside the curtains. These sounds echoed in the silent night like a cheerful piece of music.

Xiao Luzi was secretly complaining on the side. He had listened to this for a long time during the day. Now the emperor was still so energetic, which made him feel helpless and admired.

Xiao Luzi was well aware of his responsibilities. He quickly adjusted his mindset and showed great foresight. He hurriedly ordered his men to prepare more hot water for the Emperor and Concubine Xiao to use after their enjoyment.

Although Xiao Luzi's face was a little tired, his eyes revealed his concern and loyalty for the emperor. He stood quietly by, always paying attention to the movements in the curtain, ready to provide the emperor with everything he needed.

Qianlong and Xiao Yun were completely immersed in the atmosphere of happiness among the flowers. Qianlong's face was filled with a joyful smile, his eyes were full of love, and he hugged Xiao Yun tightly.

Xiao Yun snuggled shyly in Qianlong's arms, her face flushed as pink as a peach blossom, and her eyes sparkled with happiness.

Sometimes they hugged each other and laughed, sometimes they whispered, as if the whole world belonged to them alone. Their movements were gentle, and every subtle movement was filled with deep affection for each other.

On this moonlit night, Qianlong and Xiao Yun were enjoying themselves in the imperial garden. Their figures blended with the surrounding beauty, forming a beautiful and moving picture.

The flowers looked even more gorgeous and charming under the moonlight, as if they were blessing their happiness. The entire imperial garden was immersed in joy and romance, making people intoxicated and unable to extricate themselves.

Qianlong's behavior in the imperial garden spread throughout the harem like a gust of wind. When the queen heard about it, the little hope she had for Qianlong was completely shattered.

She originally thought that the emperor would restrain himself. After all, as the king of a country, he should know how to restrain himself and show propriety. However, the reality was so cruel that she was greatly disappointed. Unexpectedly, the emperor not only did not restrain himself, but became even more outrageous, completely disregarding his own identity and image.

She frowned, her heart full of doubts and confusion, "Has he even given up on his reputation?" She murmured to herself, her voice full of resentment and disappointment. She couldn't understand why the emperor indulged himself so much. Could it be that he was really so bewildered by Xiao Yun that he lost even the most basic sanity?

The queen's eyes became dim and she slumped powerlessly in the chair, as if all her strength had been drained away in an instant. The emperor's ridiculous behavior kept appearing in her mind, and the pain in her heart surged like a tide. She felt as if she was in darkness, unable to see a glimmer of hope and unable to find any way out.

The queen's dignified and beautiful face was distorted by anger. Her eyes were full of rage, as if they were about to spit out fire. She suddenly threw the teacup in her hand to the ground. The sound of broken porcelain echoed in the palace, as if the anger in her heart was roaring. Then, she smashed the other porcelain on the table one by one. The crisp cracking sound seemed like the painful cry in her heart.

She paced back and forth in the palace, muttering to herself, "Could this Xiao Yun be the reincarnation of a fox spirit? He actually has such charming means to seduce the king!" The scene of Qianlong and Xiao Yun in the Hall of Mental Cultivation kept appearing in her mind, which made her even more furious. She gritted her teeth, clenched her fists, and dug her nails deep into her palms, as if she wanted to vent all the resentment in her heart.

The Empress' heart was filled with suspicion and distrust. She began to wonder if Xiao Yun had used some other tricks. Otherwise, how could she have caused the Emperor to lose his usual composure and demeanor? She felt that Xiao Yun must have used some sorcery or some unorthodox means to make Qianlong so obsessed with her.

The more the queen thought about it, the angrier she became, and the more unwilling she felt. She felt that as the queen, she had the emperor's favor taken away so easily by a little concubine.

In this angry mood, the queen's body trembled slightly, her face was pale as paper, fine beads of sweat seeped out of her forehead, and her eyes revealed deep despair and helplessness, as if the whole world was against her.

The air in the palace seemed to be frozen, filled with an oppressive atmosphere that made people breathless, and the queen's angry figure looked particularly desolate and sad in this oppressive environment.