SFL Chapter 50

The concubines who prayed to leave the palace were mostly young. They were a little nervous when they first left the palace, but as time passed, they grew to enjoy life outside more.

Of course, not all concubines could let go and embrace this new life. There were concubines like Concubine Sun Gui who couldn’t forget the glory and wealth of the palace.

After all, no matter how well they did in the Daoist temple, it couldn’t compare to the comfort of the palace. They still wanted to return to the luxurious cage that had been created for them.

Due to their different perspectives, the concubines in the temple gradually divided into two groups. One group thought the outside world was better and didn’t want to return to the cold palace that made them feel physically and mentally isolated. During this time outside, they were able to re-experience the carefree days they once had in the women’s quarters.

Most concubines were well aware of their abilities and appearance, and breaking taboos was not something everyone would consider. Many of them had no intention of returning after leaving the palace, accounting for ninety percent of the concubines.

The other group, led by Concubine Sun Gui, consisted of concubines with outstanding beauty and ambition. They were very disdainful of the other group’s complacency.

However, considering that those people didn’t have a good time in the palace in the first place, they were considered fortunate to have left. But these concubines were different. The late emperor liked beauties and was willing to treat them well.

Concubines like Concubine Sun Gui, who were favored, had long been spoiled by the late emperor. They were not impressed by ordinary wealth and luxury, so they always stayed close to Concubine Sun Gui, hoping that if she returned, she would pull them along.

Even if Concubine Sun Gui felt repulsed in her heart, she would not refuse the olive branches extended by these concubines. After all, she was weak and alone outside, and she still needed the help of these “good sisters.”

She is a pragmatic person, aware that she may have lost the true heart of the emperor. She no longer harbors any jealousy but instead focuses on planning for herself.

However, little did she know that everything about her was being observed by Wang Huijun, who was in the palace.

When the palace servants reported the movements of those concubines outside the palace, a hint of complexity flashed in Wang Huijun’s eyes.

Who would believe that her beloved would sever her arm and ear, while another man who had nothing to do with her would allow her to personally control the situation outside the palace?

No, it’s not that he had nothing to do with her. After all, he is now the emperor, and she is his empress.

As the empress, she could not possibly be allowed to leave the palace and remarry like those concubines. From the beginning of her life in the palace, she was destined never to leave here again.

And she didn’t want to leave either.

After all, she was the only empress in the entire harem now. The empress dowager could not openly trouble her, and there were few in the world who could control her. There were no days more comfortable than these, not even compared to her days in the women’s quarters.

Thinking of this, Wang Huijun felt a complex mix of emotions towards Yun Jingli, who had given her the life she had now.

Comparing what Yun Jingli did for her now with what he did for her before…

Suddenly, Wang Huijun’s expression changed abruptly.

Yun Jingli was dealing with state affairs. As long as this emperor didn’t do anything foolish, the entire country would remain stable. And in the original work, the Wang family, who became powerful ministers, were diligently working for him now.

“Your Majesty,” Wang Huijun came to see him, her expression particularly anxious.

Upon seeing the rare look of panic on Wang Huijun’s face, Yun Jingli asked her, “What’s wrong?”

Wang Huijun took a deep breath, her body trembling slightly as she said, “Your Majesty, it seems like my memories are wrong…”

Because she couldn’t recall when she fell in love with Yun Jingli, this discovery frightened Wang Huijun.

“That’s quite normal,” Yun Jingli said.

“Normal?” How could it be normal?

Wang Huijun looked at Yun Jingli, waiting for him to explain.

Yun Jingli spread out a piece of white paper on the desk, drew a picture of a beautiful woman with a pen, and then wrote a background next to the picture. He then asked Wang Huijun, “What do you think the person in this picture is thinking?”

Wang Huijun frowned upon hearing this. “How could the person in the painting have thoughts?”

Delving into this question would be quite profound. Yun Jingli gave her a simple explanation, likening Wang Huijun to the person in the painting. The image he had just created was also a part of Wang Huijun.

For example, her 100% conquest progressed with the previous Yun Jingli.

Wang Huijun’s face turned red and then pale, finding it somewhat hard to accept that she existed like a person in a painting. Yun Jingli comforted her, saying, “You don’t need to doubt. The world you are in is real, and to you, they are not all illusions.”

For example, Wang Huijun’s natal family, the Wang family.

“In Your Majesty’s eyes, am I also like a person in a painting?” Wang Huijun asked Yun Jingli.

“I am already a part of it now, aren’t I?” Yun Jingli smiled.

“Will Your Majesty leave at any time?” Wang Huijun continued to ask.

“I will leave after this body dies of old age,” Yun Jingli did not deceive Wang Huijun.

As for why he told Wang Huijun these things? It was just a matter of time for Yun Jingli. After all, he would have to explain to Wang Huijun when he took her back.

Yun Jingli had not expected Wang Huijun to awaken midway. It seemed that there was still something to explore behind the 100% conquest progress.

Yun Jingli asked the system to send back this data to see if it would cause any harm to Wang Huijun.

As for whether he could capture Wang Huijun’s heart and eventually take her back, he never doubted it.

“Yes, Your Majesty will be Your Majesty for a lifetime,” Wang Huijun blushed slightly. Did this mean that Yun Jingli would be her husband for the rest of her life?

Wang Huijun did not expect the afterlife. At least for now, she didn’t have much expectation for Yun Jingli. However, her heart was slightly warmed by the certainty of Yun Jingli’s return.

Now the question was, although the emperor had not changed in the eyes of outsiders, how would they live their lives in the future?

Leaving aside other matters, bearing children for the royal family, and giving an explanation to the world were unavoidable.

After all, a child not only represented himself but also represented the stability of the country.

Even if Yun Jingli changed, Wang Huijun was not prepared to give the right of offspring to another woman.

Thinking about this, Wang Huijun suppressed her shyness and asked Yun Jingli what to do about this matter.

“If Zitong wants a child, you can call me to your palace at any time, or you can come to the imperial bedchamber,” Yun Jingli invited without hesitation.

This somewhat impatient attitude made Wang Huijun feel a bit uneasy. She subconsciously blurted out her doubts, “Does Your Majesty treat other women the same way?”

Yun Jingli was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, “Zitong manages the harem. Don’t you understand what kind of person I am?”

If he had real intentions, he wouldn’t have shut out those palace schemers.

Wang Huijun could naturally feel Yun Jingli’s special treatment of her, but she still found it unbelievable. What virtues or abilities did she have?

Not long ago, she had just learned the truth of the matter. At a time when she had no one to rely on, logically, Wang Huijun should have been very happy with Yun Jingli’s closeness to her. However, once bitten by a snake, one is afraid of even a piece of rope for ten years. Now, Wang Huijun didn’t dare to respond to Yun Jingli rashly.

Even though ripples of thoughts surged in her heart, Wang Huijun forcibly suppressed them and said, “In that case, I’ll leave the matter of offspring to Your Majesty in the future.”

As she said this, Wang Huijun’s face had already lost its blush, showing a serious expression as if discussing a matter of national importance.

Although the issue of imperial offspring was indeed one of national importance.

Wang Huijun had been in the palace for quite some time, and her figure had fully developed. With her increasing age, the pressure to have children would also increase.

Since she had confirmed that she had no problems, Wang Huijun naturally wanted to have a child to solidify her position and the stability of the country.

Yun Jingli looked at Wang Huijun, who only gave him a 10% favorability rating but was discussing the matter of having children with him seriously, and felt that he was still lacking.

At least he wouldn’t have children with someone he didn’t like.

Of course, this didn’t mean that Wang Huijun was a frivolous person. It was just that Yun Jingli’s status dictated this, and Wang Huijun only had this one option to choose from.

“By the way, Your Majesty, you don’t need to worry about those people in the future. I will help you deal with them.” After finishing the important matter, Wang Huijun added this sentence to Yun Jingli.

“That would be great.” Finally, he once again received the ‘care’ of the empress, and Yun Jingli was naturally very happy.

This time, Wang Huijun finally couldn’t hold on. Her ears visibly turned red with embarrassment.

Feeling the embarrassment rising in her heart again, Wang Huijun quickly got up and took her leave, looking somewhat like she was fleeing.

In the empress dowager’s palace, when the palace servants reported that the empress was once again guarding the emperor closely, the empress dowager felt a slight discomfort, but also a sense of relief. She said to the concubines, “The emperor and empress seem to have reconciled. I don’t have to worry so much about their affairs now.”

With that, the empress dowager set aside this matter and focused on playing mahjong with the concubines.

The concubines naturally understood and stopped bringing up related topics. After all, they hadn’t heard the empress dowager say anything about the emperor and empress’s affairs.

After returning, Wang Huijun didn’t make Yun Jingli wait long. After all, the women in the palace who were eagerly watching the emperor were reminding her of how sought-after Yun Jingli was. Even though Yun Jingli wasn’t by her side, he still made his presence felt in her ears.

She had always been quite jealous when it came to men she cared about, and she didn’t want to change this flaw, nor could she.

But Yun Jingli told her it was fine this way and didn’t want her to change.

Wang Huijun smiled, “Your Majesty might say that when I’m young, but when I’m old and gray, those words might not hold true.” She clearly didn’t take Yun Jingli’s words to heart.

Even though as the empress, she didn’t need to use her charm to please the emperor, she didn’t believe Yun Jingli would treat her like this for a lifetime.

“Then let’s make a bet and see if I can do it,” Yun Jingli smiled.

He said this seriously, not allowing Wang Huijun to easily evade. Wang Huijun felt a little flustered, but she also didn’t want to back down, saying, “Alright, I’ll wait and see.”

This was a bet that needed a lifetime to verify.

Until the bet was settled, no one could guess who the real winner would be.

At least that was how Wang Huijun felt.

In the harem, men were never considered lifelong partners for concubines.

Once, she had treated the emperor as her own partner, but it had ended in failure.

This time, she wouldn’t bet so easily.