Chapter 123: Not a Good Sort

Hua Rong felt as if she had been struck by a paralysis spell; she could not move, sensing only the man’s aura drawing steadily closer. His refined, elegant fragrance, paired with his unparalleled, handsome features, carried a hint of intoxicating mystery that made one unable to help but fall into his sway.

"You—what are you doing?" Before she could finish, Jun Yeli’s tightly pressed lips suddenly seemed to be triggered by something, and he leaned down directly toward hers.

A richer scent swirled around them. A warm breeze swept past, causing the withered petals to sway gently. The suddenness of the contact caught her off guard. As his advances grew more intense, Hua Rong’s hands, driven by her own impulses, reached up to clasp his waist. There, amidst the wind, the two embraced and kissed among the flowers.

"Oh my heaven, this is just too romantic! Our Lady has finally come to her senses!"

"Great! Let’s see how those other women try to compete now!"

Several maids were hiding around the corner, even more thrilled than the couple themselves, barely able to suppress their beaming smiles.

As time drifted slowly by, the man gently lifted his head, his lips lingering with a sense of wanting more. Seeing Hua Rong’s slightly swollen lips, a flash of joy crossed his face. He suddenly scooped her up into his arms and strode toward the bedchamber.

Before she could even react, the door was kicked open with a bang. Hua Rong’s body jolted, and she felt herself pressed onto the bed. Because of his urgency, she landed hard, making her backside ache.

Hua Rong sat on the bed, dazed, her hands bracing against the quilt as she watched Jun Yeli hurriedly shed his robes. Her pupils trembled. "No, this has gone too far!"

Regaining her senses, Hua Rong stretched out her hands to push against his chest, exclaiming in a flustered panic, "Wait! I’m not ready yet! You promised you wouldn’t force me!"

Her mind was a blank slate when it came to this man; how could she entrust her entire life to him just because of a fleeting moment of infatuation?

Her sharp, clear cry shattered the ambiguous atmosphere. Jun Yeli instantly snapped out of his dazed state. He looked at the petite woman before him with hazy eyes—her fair skin flushed with a rosy hue, her cherry-like lips looking even more alluring, making him swallow hard involuntarily.

"Damn it, why is this woman so tempting?"

Jun Yeli felt his control slipping further, but seeing Hua Rong’s guarded, fearful expression, he couldn't bring himself to proceed. He gritted his teeth, swung his robes, and stormed out. A moment later, the door slammed shut with a loud *thud*. Hua Rong sat upright, still feeling dazed. "Did I just make him angry?"

He had left so abruptly that it left her feeling uneasy. A lingering sense of desolation washed over her, and she sat on the bed, at a loss.

The maids, who had been eavesdropping at the door, were startled and confused to see Jun Yeli storm out. "Your Majesty, why are you leaving? Aren't you and the Lady...?"

One of them gathered her courage to chase after him, but Jun Yeli only ordered coldly, "Take good care of her."

With those words, he vanished from the perimeter of the Xuanji Palace, leaving the maids completely bewildered.

"What on earth happened? Did the Lady do something to displease the Emperor again?"

Full of questions, they rushed into the room, only to find Hua Rong standing by the window, looking out with a melancholy expression.

"My Lady, what are you doing standing there? Weren't you supposed to be serving the Emperor?"

Su Xin hurried over, looking exasperated. After such a hard-won opportunity, to end up like this was truly frustrating.

Hearing this, Hua Rong turned her head, feeling too dejected to answer. She sighed deeply, leaning against the window frame to watch the back of Jun Yeli as he disappeared into the distance, before retracting her complex gaze. "I don't know what happened... perhaps it's because I... was not willing."

"What? Not willing!"

Her shocking words left everyone stunned.

"My Lady, what are you thinking? He is the Emperor! If you sleep with him and conceive the Emperor's child, you will be the mother of the nation!"

Bound by the mission of her family, Hua Rong naturally held that obligation. Su Xin spoke with such fervor that spit nearly flew onto Hua Rong’s face, causing her to step back in disgust. "Can you not be so excited?"

Even if she were to be with him, it had to be a matter of mutual consent. Hua Rong simply could not accept engaging with a man when her own mind felt like a blank void.

"Forget it, let’s take it slow. If the Emperor truly likes me, I believe he won't stay angry at me for long."

With that thought, Hua Rong dismissed the others.

By late that night, both Hua Rong and Jun Yeli lay on their respective beds, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. They were both thinking of each other, yet neither could bring themselves to lower their pride.

"This man is clearly arrogant and unreasonable, so why can I not get him out of my head? He must have cast some kind of curse on me..."

The more she thought about it, the more depressed she became. Hua Rong got up and wandered aimlessly along the corridor. The sparse moonlight, shimmering across the lake, stirred her heart. She sat in the pavilion, drinking wine alone.

It is said that one drinks to drown sorrows, yet the sorrow only grows deeper. Even in her drunken haze, the person she wished to forget only became more vivid in her mind.

*Clatter.*

The cup Hua Rong had set carelessly on the table rolled onto the ground. She looked back, ready to bend down to retrieve it, when a figure cast a shadow over her.

The man picked up the cup before she could and placed it in her hand. In the pale moonlight, Jun Ye Chen’s features appeared cold and handsome. Though his voice was gentle, it carried a touch of chill. "The moon over the lotus pond, a beauty before me—the Lady certainly has refined taste."

Hearing this, Hua Rong froze. "You—who are you?"

She did not recall Jun Yeli ever mentioning such a handsome man.

As soon as the words left her lips, Jun Ye Chen laughed unkindly. "It seems the Lady is drunk, to not even recognize me. I am the Second Prince. I once saved your life, after all."

Saying this, Jun Ye Chen sat down at the table without the slightest hint of politeness.

Hua Rong felt slightly awkward, but at the mention of "Second Prince," a flicker of memory surfaced. *The Emperor said this man is treacherous, two-faced, and not a good person. He told me to keep my distance from him...*