The Emperor, with more men than women, made me his mistress.

After entering the room, Jin Chenyuan did not linger in the outer room, but went directly through the double-sided screen embroidered with landscape patterns into the inner room.

Inside the room, through the blue gauze curtains embroidered with floral and bird patterns, one could see the motionless figure still sleeping on the large bed.

Jin Chenyuan: ...

He was right; if no one woke her up, Yue Li would sleep until late morning.

At this moment, Jin Chenyuan became even more dissatisfied with the emperor. Wasn't this disturbing A-Li's sleep?

Why can't we talk about this after lunch?

That's way too hasty!

But since the emperor had summoned him, he really couldn't just refuse.

If he had rejected the emperor's words this time, and the censors found out, who knows how many more memorials impeaching him would have been placed on the emperor's desk.

He lifted the gauze curtain and looked at Yue Li, who was lying on her side, fast asleep.

Jin Chenyuan pulled Yue Li into his arms and tidied her messy bedding while saying, "Ah Li, Ah Li, wake up."

"What?" After opening her eyes and glancing at Jin Chenyuan, Yue Li closed them again, her voice thick with nasal tone, indicating her drowsiness.

"Get up, I'll have someone fetch water for you to wash up."

"I'm not fully awake yet, I want to sleep a little longer!" Yue Li said, turning to lie down on the bed.

Seeing Yue Li's lazy and reluctant-to-get-out-of-bed state, Jin Chenyuan felt quite helpless.

Let alone now when he's at a leisurely time, even before the emperor took over the court, when he was in power and was busy until the early hours of the morning, only able to take a short nap in bed before having to go to court, he never slept in this late.

"A messenger just came from the palace with an imperial edict, saying that the Emperor wishes to see us."

One sentence made Yue Li, who was about to fall onto the bed, pause, and immediately open her still somewhat drowsy eyes.

"What did you say?"

Is she still asleep?

Or was he just still half asleep?

Seeing Yue Li's disbelieving expression, Jin Chenyuan had no choice but to repeat, "Just now, someone from the palace came and delivered the Emperor's decree, saying that the Emperor wants to see us."

In an instant, the little bit of relief Yue Li had felt vanished.

"Why has the Emperor summoned us now?"

They're getting married in just a few days, and they already agreed yesterday that she'll move out of Prince Chen's mansion today and into her own courtyard to wait for the wedding day.

Thinking of what the Emperor did at the palace last time, Yue Li sat up straight and looked at Jin Chenyuan, saying, "A-Yuan, what do you think the Emperor will say then?"

Would he suddenly appear at this moment to stop her from marrying Jin Chenyuan?

Yue Li's expression was easy to understand, but at this moment, Jin Chenyuan did not comfort her.

Instead, she added fuel to the fire, saying, "I don't know what the Emperor will say. Maybe he'll stop us from getting married, or maybe he'll make some demands if we do get married?"

"Ah Li, if the Emperor prevents us from getting married and instead wants you to marry him and become the Empress, would you agree?"

After all, it was the position of Empress. Faced with such a temptation, Jin Chenyuan was unsure whether Yue Li would be tempted.

Looking at Jin Chenyuan, who was usually so domineering but now seemed somewhat insecure, Yue Li patted his shoulder and said, "What are you thinking? How long have I known you? How long have I known the Emperor? Between the two of you, I would never choose him."

Moreover, the Emperor did that to her without her permission. Anyone would be upset in that situation!

Now, the mere mention of the palace evokes a faint sense of aversion in her.

And what's so good about being an empress?

They were confined to the square palace every day.

If she wanted a powerful backer, Jin Chenyuan alone was enough; becoming empress was not her goal.

Looking at Yue Li's bright and cheerful face, and her earnest way of comforting him, Jin Chenyuan felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction, even though he had said those things on purpose.

Unable to resist any longer, he cupped Yue Li's cheeks and kissed her red lips.

Yue Li was still a little stunned by the sudden attack. After she came to her senses, she immediately wrapped her arms around Jin Chenyuan's neck and opened her red lips.

The kiss, imbued with his intense emotions, came to an end.

Jin Chenyuan held Yue Li in his arms, buried his head in her neck, and took a deep breath of the pear scent on her neck to calm his inner turmoil.

Yue Li nestled motionless in Jin Chenyuan's arms.

After a cup of tea, Jin Chenyuan stroked Yue Li's slightly messy long hair and said, "Shall I get Li Bao a new dress?"

"Ah."

Just then, Feng Chuan, who had heard the commotion inside, reported, "Your Highness, the hot water has been brought, and Feng Luo has also brought the Princess's dress."

Upon hearing the report, Jin Chenyuan first checked Yue Li's nightgown and found that she was dressed fairly neatly. He then called out, "Bring the things in."

"Yes."

At this moment, Jin Chenyuan had already helped Yue Li put on her silk stockings and embroidered shoes.

Upon seeing the items brought in, Jin Chenyuan did not let Feng Chuan and the others do anything. Instead, he directly picked up the newly made dress and put it on Yue Li.

Seeing this, Fengchuan and the others got used to it.

Not to mention that when the princess rested in the prince's room, they never allowed them to serve her by bathing or changing clothes.

Even when the princess was resting in the young prince's room, the young prince never asked anyone to take care of the princess's personal belongings.

She wore a green dress made of shimmering brocade, the dress using a gradient color technique, making the whole dress shimmer and glow.

As she walks, the hem of her skirt draws a graceful arc in the air, its varying shades of color resembling flowing lake water.

The tray even had matching hairpins and hair ornaments ready.

"This dress and the red flowing fairy dress you wore last time both look very good on A-Li. Later, have Feng Chuan go to the storeroom and get some different colors of shimmering brocade and moonlight brocade, and have the embroiderers in the clothing workshop make a set in each color."

"Yes, Your Highness." Feng Chuan knew that the following words were meant for him, so he immediately replied.

Upon hearing this, Yue Li felt somewhat helpless.

She noticed that both Jin Chenyuan and Shao Qi liked to have new clothes made for her or new styles of jewelry made for her, even though she had more clothes than she could wear and had so much jewelry stored in trunks.

At first, Yue Li tried to persuade them, but when she saw that it was no use, she simply let them be.

"Is A-Yue awake yet?"

Just as Jin Chenyuan placed the last hairpin into Yue Li's hair, Shao Qi's voice came from outside.

“I’m up, I’ll be right out,” Yue Li replied.

"Oh, then I'll wait outside."

Although Shao Qi entered the room, he did not step into the inner room.