Chapter Seventeen: An Untimely Appearance

Hua Rong, thick-skinned, edged closer to Jun Yeli, occasionally glancing back at the chaotic scene behind her. The commotion was comparable to the bustle of a busy street—everyone seemed to abandon decorum in an instant, as if no one cared about the consequences of drinking.

“Um… The weather was nice today, so I thought I’d have some hotpot to ease my recent stress, and then… then this happened…” As Hua Rong spoke, her words became increasingly incoherent, unable to weave a plausible story any further. Usually, her little schemes were carefully prepared in advance; who could have predicted a surprise inspection today?

Now, everyone was doomed in one fell swoop. Not only was Hua Rong in trouble, but she had also implicated a whole group of innocent palace maids. She looked at Jun Yeli’s inscrutable expression, unable to discern whether he was pleased or irritated.

Still, the mighty emperor, seeing such disorder in his harem, was unlikely to show any mercy. Hua Rong looked worriedly at the naïve maids behind her, took a deep breath, lowered her head, and bit her lip as she spoke, “Your Majesty, I was the one who organized this; it has nothing to do with them. If you must punish someone, let it be me.”

Though she dearly wanted to preserve her own life, Hua Rong could not bear to drag these innocent girls down with her. Life in the palace was hard enough; a little mutual understanding went a long way.

With a resolve as if facing death, Hua Rong couldn’t help but struggle for one more chance. “I have a small request—anything is fine, as long as you don’t kill me…” Her voice faded, her humble demeanor pitiful in the extreme. She had only eaten some hotpot—surely that wasn’t worth losing her life? The price of this meal was far greater than she had imagined!

Hearing this string of excuses, Jun Yeli, who had remained silent for a long time, finally shifted in his seat. “Have them all leave!”

If they lingered in front of him any longer, Jun Yeli doubted he could keep his composure. At his words, Hua Rong saw a glimmer of hope and quickly turned to instruct the maids, only to see them, arms linked, bow in unison at a full ninety degrees. “We shall take our leave, wishing Your Majesty and Lady Rong a joyful time together!”

Whether intentional or not, their words felt somehow inappropriate. What did they mean by “joyful time together”? Even if tonight was joyful, by tomorrow, rumors would spread and turn this place into a battlefield. Ten lives wouldn’t be enough to survive the torment of the other women.

Jun Yeli’s lips twitched, but for once his face showed no anger, and he even seemed pleased with their parting words. “At least they know how to say something agreeable,” he murmured, though his tone was hard to decipher.

“What nonsense are they spouting? Nothing about this is normal!”

“What’s on your mind—are you unhappy about my arrival?” Jun Yeli lowered his gaze to the enigmatic Hua Rong, his deep eyes seeming to pierce her heart, seeking her true thoughts.

Hua Rong shook her head vigorously. “No, not at all. May I ask, Your Majesty, what brings you here today?”

Jun Yeli was momentarily speechless. He himself didn’t know why he had come in such a hurry, nor why he was so lenient in the face of such chaos. It was as if some urge compelled him to see Hua Rong without delay.

To play music with her under the moon, to share his melancholy with her…

There were so many things he wanted to do, all inexplicably linked to this woman.

“What’s happening to me?”

Jun Yeli had never felt such urgency for any woman before. It was as if being apart from her meant losing his soul.

“Your Majesty, what are you thinking?” Hua Rong called several times before finally bringing his wandering spirit back.

Jun Yeli clasped his hands behind his back and cleared his throat. “Nothing. What were you doing?”

He glanced at the hotpot behind her, its steam rising and rich aroma filling the air. He’d come in haste and hadn’t yet eaten.

Following his gaze, Hua Rong turned to look at the hotpot. Inspiration struck her—she flashed a flattering smile, tugged at Jun Yeli’s arm, and led him to sit before the bubbling pot.

“Your Majesty, this is a new recipe I’ve developed. It’s called ‘Mandarin Duck Hotpot’—it can be meat or vegetable, mild or spicy, and the sauces can be tailored to your taste. It’s absolutely delicious. Would you like to try it?”

Having just provoked Jun Yeli, Hua Rong hoped to make amends with this hotpot—perhaps there was still a chance to redeem herself.

Jun Yeli, swayed by Hua Rong’s enthusiastic sales pitch, couldn’t help but feel intrigued. “Is it really as magical as you say?”

“Words won’t suffice—you should try it yourself,” Hua Rong said eagerly, preparing a new bowl for him. She scooped out a few pieces of meat, dipped them in sauce, and waited for them to cool before presenting them to Jun Yeli. “Your Majesty, please try it—it’s truly delicious!”

Seeing her earnestness, Jun Yeli parted his lips, taking the meat she offered.

The first sensation on his tongue was a hint of spice, followed by the rich flavor of the meat—a taste so exquisite it nearly took his breath away.

“This… This is actually quite good!” Jun Yeli’s eyes lit up. He had tasted all manner of delicacies, with elaborate presentations and pretentious names, yet nothing compared to the inspired simplicity of this hotpot.

“Your Majesty, is the spice level suitable? I tailored it specifically to your preferences!” Hua Rong said proudly. “With everything so perfectly prepared, surely you can’t find fault with me now?”

Jun Yeli paused, his expression suddenly still. “How did you know my preferences?”

This question stumped her. Before entering the palace, her family had done plenty of research to help Hua Rong win the emperor’s favor, sparing no effort.

How should she answer without giving him the wrong impression—that she was currying favor?

After a moment’s hesitation, Hua Rong forced a smile. “I heard it from Lady Wen. She also said Your Majesty likes vibrant red roses!”

Whatever the case, crediting someone else seemed safest.

Upon hearing this, Jun Yeli looked a little forlorn. “So that’s it. Still, it’s impressive you remembered Lady Wen’s words and used them to please me.”