Chapter 346: Chapter 346
The benefits weren't something one could immediately experience, but the beauty was truly breathtaking!
However, this Consort Chen indeed lived up to the rumors—aloof in temperament and not someone easy to approach. Just look how long it had been; aside from occasionally responding to Imperial Consort Yi beside her, she spent most of the time merely watching the lively scene.
Yet even with this somewhat weary expression, she remained stunningly beautiful enough to dazzle the eyes.
The Eldest Young Master was even more affected, holding his wine cup absently for who knows how long, only snapping back to reality when reminded by a eunuch nearby.
It wasn't until the sound of the imperial carriage arriving came from not far away that everyone hurriedly rose to welcome His Majesty.
No matter how interesting the opera performance might be, it became rather dull on such occasions. In the end, after a boring evening banquet, An Ning hadn't seen much excitement, but she had consumed quite a lot of wine in her stomach.
Even if it was fruit wine, it still contained some alcohol content. By the time she returned, An Ning was already slightly tipsy.
Seeing her , Imperial Consort Yi, who was closest to her, unconsciously took a sip of clear tea, barely suppressing the breathtaking visual impact.
She suddenly felt that His Majesty's composure was quite impressive...
"I wasn't aware that A-Ning had such hobbies?"
What hobbies? Dressing too beautifully and stealing the spotlight?
She had just stepped out of the waterside pavilion when someone brought her here.
Too lazy to bother with this person's inexplicable sarcasm, An Ning poured herself a cup of hot tea by the light of the glazed lamp nearby and said casually:
"Since they've already described me as some reincarnated seductive consort, shouldn't I satisfy their expectations?"
"Or perhaps, Your Majesty, you feel that my appearance confirms the rumors about your fondness for beauty, damaging your illustrious reputation?"
"Or... hmm... maybe you'd prefer people outside to think that what Your Majesty truly values is my talent!"
Speaking of this, An Ning herself laughed first, perhaps affected by the alcohol, her unrestrained arrogance clearly visible between her brows and eyes.
Like mist containing charm, radiant and dazzling, yet carrying an indescribable purity.
Like an immortal untouched by worldly dust, yet also like a naive, innocent young demon.
Completely disregarding the increasingly heavy gaze from across, she finally rested her chin on her hand and pondered for a moment:
"Actually, that's not entirely wrong!"
"After all, compared to appearance, you do seem to favor my abilities more... ouch～"
Accompanied by a sudden jolt of the carriage, before An Ning could react, she was pulled into an obviously warm embrace.
Feeling the continuous warmth beneath her, after a moment of silence, An Ning suddenly couldn't help but bury her face against his shoulder and chuckle softly:
"That... putting aside other matters, you're really quite good at enduring, huh..."
And quite good at pretending.
Thinking of how he had maintained perfect composure during the earlier banquet, An Ning clicked her tongue lightly in her heart.
The next day, Qianqing Palace
When An Ning woke again, it was already approaching noon. Outside, palace servants who heard the movement skillfully came forward to attend to her, bringing with them a brand new qipao.
"His Majesty is still in the next room discussing matters with the ministers and probably won't be coming over for a while. Would Your Ladyship like to have the meal served?"
After she finished washing up, the palace servant cautiously approached.
Feeling her completely empty stomach, An Ning decisively nodded. After eating and drinking her fill, she finally boarded the palanquin to return.
Unbeknownst to her, not far away, seeing clearly the direction the sedan chair was heading, Suo'etu, who had just left Qianqing Palace after the meeting ended, unconsciously narrowed his eyes and turned to look at the Crown Prince beside him:
"Your Highness, if this servant recalls correctly, His Majesty has been discussing matters with the ministers since Chen Hour this morning until just now. Logically speaking, he shouldn't have had time to summon any consorts, right?"
Which meant, this consort had been staying in His Majesty's bedchamber until now.
Most importantly, yesterday was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Although there's currently no empress presiding over the central palace, given His Majesty's usual emphasis on rules, he would mostly sleep alone in Qianqing Palace, or at worst, stay with the Imperial Noble Consort at Jingren Palace.
Now things seem different from before.
"Your Highness, could the person in that sedan chair just now be the recently favored Consort Chen, who's said to have made His Majesty frequently break precedents?"
Recalling last night's scene, Suo'etu's gaze deepened.
"I've heard she was harmed soon after entering the palace and cannot conceive. I wonder if it's true or false?"
"Uncle!" Hearing this, Yinreng couldn't help but frown and unconsciously raised his tone as he said:
"This is the Emperor's private matter. Uncle, you'd better not concern yourself too much with it!"
Besides, even if she were truly pregnant, so what? He was the legitimate son of the central palace, the crown prince—would he need to fear a so-called younger brother who hasn't even been born yet?
Moreover, this consort's mother has no backing whatsoever and is herself of Han ethnicity.
If he had to worry even about this, Uncle's tolerance would be far too narrow!
Recalling what he witnessed last night, Yinreng's gaze couldn't help but grow momentarily distant.
Besides, Consort Chen's mother truly possesses celestial beauty, radiant and peerless—isn't it normal for the Emperor to favor her?
Who doesn't appreciate beauty? Just looking at her brings exceptional comfort to the heart.
"Your Highness, it's not that this servant is worrying unnecessarily, but that woman is really..."
Too exceptionally beautiful!
Suo'etu thought to himself.
Actually, even before last night, despite the rampant rumors outside, as the Crown Prince's uncle, Suo'etu hadn't paid much attention to this so-called favored consort without any foundation.
For people like them, power and status are the foremost priorities in life.
Beauty is merely a pastime for leisure moments.
But since last night, after seeing this woman with his own eyes, everything had become completely different.
No matter how wise His Majesty is, he's still a man.
Throughout history, haven't there been plenty of rulers who stumbled over this?
There have been precedents before of what can happen when an emperor becomes willful.
Moreover, with that woman, it's no longer just a matter of exceptional appearance. To be honest, as a privileged minister born into wealth and holding great power for years, Suo'etu had encountered no shortage of beauties over these years.
If not a thousand, then at least eight hundred!
But never had there been one who could compare to last night's Consort Chen.
They say true beauty lies in the bones, not the skin. In his view, there's something about her that's even more captivating than her face.
Thinking of this, Suo'etu shook his head heavily, adopting a grave tone:
"Your Highness, you're still young and don't understand these matters, but as someone who's been through it, Uncle can tell you clearly—that level of temperament and appearance, I'm afraid there isn't a single man in this world who could truly resist it..."
"Look at how His Majesty has been frequently breaking precedents lately, isn't that proof?"
I've heard she's also exceptionally intelligent. Since she took over palace affairs, even I have rarely been able to send messages through.
That shows how capable she is!
A peerless beauty alone might not be fearsome, but combined with intelligence, it becomes different.
If she truly cannot conceive, then having such a favored consort would be excellent for Your Highness the Crown Prince—one could even consider befriending her appropriately. But if by any chance, or if she ever considers adopting...
Suo'etu's eyes narrowed:
She must be nipped in the bud early on.
However, after he finished speaking, he noticed Yinreng's expression had become particularly strange. After looking him up and down for a moment, Yinreng finally said in a rather cold voice:
"Uncle, Consort Chen's mother is someone the Emperor trusts and values highly—she is absolutely not someone others can covet or gaze upon with desire..."
Unaware that last night's events had sparked various thoughts in certain people, that evening, while An Ning was in a drowsy state, she suddenly faintly heard the person beside her say something.
It seemed to be... southern tour, wait, southern tour...
In almost an instant, An Ning quickly sat up from the bed: "Jiangnan! Your Majesty, you just said Jiangnan, right!"