Chapter Seventy-Three: The Secret Base

Jun Yeli moved with utmost caution as he left, afraid that he might disturb the beauty cradled in his arms; even his breathing was deliberately shallow, not daring to make a single careless move. It was only after half an hour that he finally reached the summit of the mountain. He found a stone and gently laid her down, then, weary from the journey, he sat beside her.

His gaze wandered into the distance, as if he were engulfed in a sea of flames; the setting sun painted half the sky crimson, beauty so profound it evoked the feeling of standing at the peak of the world, surveying the mountains below—a scene as lovely as a painted scroll.

“Are you really not going to get up and look? Soon it’ll be too late.” Jun Yeli let his eyes rest lightly on Hua Rong beside him, who slept deeply and peacefully, her cheeks faintly flushed, exuding an irresistible allure. Unable to help himself, Jun Yeli leaned close, resting his head sideways on her body, his hand supporting him. The stone, neither too large nor too small, fit them both perfectly.

Perhaps sensing the unfamiliar proximity, Hua Rong opened her eyes. Confused from sleep, she was startled to find his face, magnified and clear, right before her.

“Ah! Why are you so close to me?” Her sudden alarm made it difficult to control her agitation. She hurriedly sat up, intending to question him further, but her attention was captured by the red glow in the distance.

She looked up. The sunset chased fiery clouds, a lone bird crossed the sky, making her feel as though she had stepped into a painting.

“Where is this place? How did I suddenly end up here?” Still groggy from her nap, Hua Rong’s mind was hazy, vaguely recalling the bumpy journey while she slept.

Jun Yeli slowly rose, bracing himself on the stone, and sat shoulder to shoulder with her, smiling as he said, “Didn’t you say the palace was dreadfully dull? That’s why I brought you here to enjoy the scenery. Our timing is just right.”

His words were casual, yet infused with a sense of beauty and longing.

She couldn’t help but glance at him again; his handsome face was illuminated by the sunset, making his features even brighter and flawless, as if by some stroke of fortune.

A soft gulp sounded, and Hua Rong’s expression turned slightly embarrassed. She quickly said, “Well, perhaps I’m just hungry! Yes, I must be hungry!”

She certainly couldn’t admit that his beauty was so captivating it unsettled her—how humiliating would that be? But unexpectedly, Jun Yeli immediately stood up and said, “Wait here while I fetch something for you to eat.”

“What? You actually prepared food?” Hua Rong was surprised, watching as he turned away without another word, not knowing where he was going. “What’s happening? Is this a picnic?”

Still, she had to admit the place was breathtaking. The entire imperial palace lay below, the greater part of the imperial city dazzling and radiant.

Being here was incomparable to merely imagining its splendor.

“Who would have thought that the vast land could be so beautiful? No wonder emperors throughout history have fought over it.” She smiled softly as a breeze swept by. The late hour brought a slight chill, making her shiver.

But in the next moment, a cloak was draped over her shoulders. Turning, she saw Jun Yeli holding two boxes of pastries, a plate of fruit, and something wrapped in oil-paper, its aroma rich and inviting.

“Where did all this come from? It smells wonderful!” Hua Rong swallowed, truly tempted by the scent.

“Eat first, I’ll explain it all to you.” He opened the oil-paper package, revealing a roast chicken, its juices glistening and its aroma irresistible.

He handed her the fattest drumstick, and Hua Rong, unreserved, accepted it. “Thank you, Your Majesty. If the chickens in my Xuanji Palace are edible, I’ll make roast chicken for you too!”

The atmosphere suddenly grew awkward; Jun Yeli’s lips twitched as he asked, somewhat pleadingly, “My lady, could I discuss something with you?”

“Just say it, Your Majesty,” she replied.

“Could you perhaps stop keeping chickens, ducks, and geese in your palace? Spending every day among such animals might diminish your status and bring unnecessary trouble…”

Everyone knew those creatures were relentless when it came to leaving their mark—perfuming the entire courtyard with their waste.

At his words, the air seemed to freeze. Hua Rong smiled awkwardly. “But I’ve grown attached to them. Surely Your Majesty wouldn’t send them all away?”

She was unwilling, of course. Since she could not enjoy the emperor’s favor, keeping animals for company was hardly unreasonable—was even this small right to be taken away?

Jun Yeli, however, had already made arrangements for her. “I’ve prepared a small villa near yours. Whatever you wish to keep or plant can go there, so your own quarters remain clean.”

He spoke earnestly, leaving Hua Rong incredulous. “What’s this? The emperor actually set up a place just for me to raise animals?”

The palace was sacred; she’d only ever seen consorts keeping pets, but chickens, ducks, and fish roaming freely—and living in such a fine villa?

“Your Majesty, you’re not joking? My place is already quite spacious…”

“It’s settled,” Jun Yeli interrupted, not letting her continue, and took a drumstick for himself, munching as he watched the sunset and enjoyed the feast, looking utterly content.

Seeing this, Hua Rong could not protest further. Yet the food was still warm, which struck her as odd.

“Your Majesty, where did you get all this? It’s such a high mountain—if you’d bought it in town, it would surely have gone cold by now. Was it freshly roasted?”

Jun Yeli nodded. “Yes, I discovered this place long ago, drawn by its beauty. So I built a cabin in the distance. Whenever troubled, I come here for peace—it’s my secret retreat.”

He spoke lightly, but the implication was astonishing. “If it’s your private domain, why bring me here? Was it because of what I said?”

He didn’t answer, but the tenderness in his gaze made her suspect so, his silence speaking for itself.

“What’s going on? This isn’t what I imagined would happen—everything seems to be growing more peculiar…” Hua Rong was bewildered, feeling as though fate was playing tricks on her.