Wow, this rough-around-the-edges pregnant wife is something else, she's incredibly ruthless!

Lying on the soft low couch, Zhou Yan's dark eyes were closed, while Xiao Ya's hands, which were not particularly fair, rested on the man's forehead.

The woman had learned some massage techniques from the village doctor when she was a child, which she combined with her not-so-light strength.

To be honest, the soreness in Zhou Yan's forehead did lessen quite a bit.

The room was quiet, and under the warm yellow light, the man's delicate and gentle features made Xiaoya momentarily lose herself in thought.

She had heard many rumors about this emperor.

Some say he was utterly depraved and murdered his uncle, while others say he is a living bodhisattva.

Regardless of the opinions expressed, Xiaoya sincerely felt that he was a benevolent ruler.

At least the people are not as hard-working as before.

……

Since that massage, Zhou Yan would visit Xiao Ya's courtyard every few days. The two treated each other with respect, only having a meal and chatting together.

But some people in the harem couldn't sit still.

On a sunny afternoon, Xiaoya, dressed in an orange cardigan and skirt, rested on a low couch in the courtyard.

After months of meticulous care, the woman's original fair and tender skin was finally revealed, along with a unique and gentle temperament.

To be honest, Xiaoya is very satisfied with her current life. The only thing she's not happy about is her younger brothers outside the palace.

I hope everything goes well for them!

While eating the juicy grapes in her hand, Xiaoya suddenly felt a strong urge to visit Wuyou Valley.

That place is now everyone's dream destination. I've heard it's incredibly beautiful, and the people who live there are free, happy, and blessed.

unlike her...

With a soft sigh, she composed herself, knowing she had already received more than enough.

Helping the maid beside her to sit up, Xiaoya originally wanted to take a walk in the courtyard, but then a eunuch trotted in.

He first bowed in greeting, and then said, "Lady, Consort Liu has arrived."

"Liu Jieyu?"

Xiaoya frowned slightly; she didn't seem to know this person at all!

Although Zhou Yan has nearly a hundred concubines, Xiao Ya has never met any of them, let alone gotten to know them, except for herself.

Seeing that her mistress didn't recognize her, the personal maid explained, "Consort Liu is the legitimate daughter of the current Minister Liu."

Upon hearing that she was the legitimate daughter, Xiaoya suddenly recalled the scene at the palace gate that day.

It can't be such a coincidence that the person she hit was her half-sister! Is this some kind of attack against her? Or...?

Xiaoya didn't involve Zhou Yan at all. The eunuch led him in, while she went into the main hall next door.

No sooner had I sat down than a woman barged in, her imposing manner not even having been served tea.

His arrogance and rudeness were so conspicuous that it made one frown, but thinking of her future, Xiaoya had no choice but to force herself to stand up and bow.

"I've seen it before... *slap*."

A loud slap echoed in the silent room, and Xiaoya felt a burning sensation on half of her face.

"You shameless woman, where did you get the audacity to seduce the Emperor?"

"A country bumpkin like you dares to compete with me for my affections? If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know how powerful I am, will you?"

Liu Jieyu angrily berated Xiaoya, her furious and exasperated expression utterly repulsive.

Xiaoya rubbed her swollen and burning cheeks, her anger ignited instantly, and she stared coldly at the woman who was half a head shorter than her.

Suddenly, he raised his right hand and grabbed her high-tied hair bun, while his left hand slapped Liu Jieyu's face without hesitation.

"Clap clap clap."

Several slaps in a row knocked out several of his teeth, and blood and foam accompanied his incoherent cursing echoed in the room.

No one dared to step forward and stop them.

Xiaoya is actually a woman of her word and ruthless; if you push her too far, she's capable of murder.

Liu Jieyu has clearly stepped on a landmine.

Ignoring his status and the consequences, he pinned the woman to the ground and beat her. His fists rained down on Liu Jieyu's soft, boneless body, leaving her covered in bruises within minutes.

In the end, he couldn't even utter a plea.

……

Hearing that the women in the harem were fighting, Zhou Yan felt annoyed and speechless. But when Zhou Fu said that Xiao Ya had been bullied, for some reason the man went to her courtyard with a stern face.

Although he didn't like him, at least he didn't dislike him.

As Zhou Yan walked along, he already knew that the person who had provoked him was Liu Jieyu, and the gloom on the man's face deepened.

Zhou Yan hurried into the house, thinking the person lying motionless on the ground was Xiao Ya. The man's face was frighteningly dark, and he was just about to call someone to help her up.

As a result, Xiaoya, who had just changed into a dress, came out from behind the screen.

Unlike her usual gentle and charming demeanor, she looked at him with an open and honest gaze.

It's as if they're saying, "I'm the one who hit them."

"Your Majesty, I have come to punish you in such a menacing manner."

“That’s right, I hit Consort Liu, but she started it and also insulted me.”

Looking directly into the man's dark eyes, Xiaoya calmly and confidently recounted the entire incident.

This includes Liu Jieyu saying that she had designs on Zhou Yan.

Hearing this, Xiaoya couldn't help but laugh. Come to think of it, Zhou Yan wasn't exactly her man.

How can you say it was seduction?

Zhou Yan waved for the people inside to leave, then glanced at Liu Jieyu, who was being carried away.

He had no idea that he, a talented man, possessed such great abilities.

The two sat down at the table, and Zhou Yan glanced at the red marks on Xiao Ya's face.

The man frowned slightly, then took out a bottle of ointment that he always carried with him.

He pushed Xiaoya in front of him and continued, "Remember to wipe it off tonight. Today's incident was not your fault, and I will not let it happen again."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

A flicker of surprise crossed the woman's eyes, but she silently accepted the ointment.

This is a rare and highly sought-after ointment from Wuyou Valley; I've heard it's extremely effective.

Although she wasn't too concerned about her injuries, Xiaoya didn't want to appear like this in public.

After chatting for less than fifteen minutes inside, Zhou Yan got up and left.

From then on, men rarely visited the inner palace, but Consort Liu never stepped into her courtyard either.

Xiaoya, however, turned misfortune into good fortune, being promoted from a talented woman to a concubine, and her monthly allowance increased from ten taels to thirty taels.

She was overjoyed that her younger brother outside the palace would finally have a better life.

Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye, and Xiaoya's life remains peaceful and quiet.

The Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and the courtyard, which has been bare for almost a year, is finally starting to have a lively atmosphere.

Sitting on a warm low couch inside the house, Xiaoya wore a light pink jacket with a beautiful white cloak over it.

A pair of slender, beautiful fingers were patiently cutting paper snowflakes, and her lowered eyes were full of peace and gentleness.

Standing under the eaves and looking at the scene before him, Zhou Yan felt a momentary stirring in his heart.

He seemed to understand the tender and passionate love Lu Chuan felt when he looked at Meng Tong.