The harem is too complicated; the empress, a lazy bum, wins by doing nothing.

Chapter 266 Making a Fool of Themselves

Just as she was about to reach the tree, Zhen'er rushed in from outside the Imperial Garden.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! This servant saw that His Majesty's uncle seems to be heading towards Kunning Palace."

Shen Qingwan, who was already terrified, felt a sudden tremor in her heart when she heard those words.

what?
emperor?

Shen Qingwan didn't care about anything else. She quickly put down the stone in her hand, took two steps towards Kunning Palace, and peeked out again and again.

Sure enough, there was a light, and a group of people were walking in the direction of the light toward Kunning Palace. The person walking at the front, although his face was not clear, was wearing a yellow robe, which could only be the Emperor.

So that person really was Emperor Yuanwu.

Shen Qingwan frowned deeply. He was about to reach the entrance of Kunning Palace, while she was still some distance from the entrance of the Imperial Garden. Even if she could fly, she wouldn't make it in time.

Especially since she was wearing palace maid's clothes at the time.

If it were anyone else in the palace, Su Tianhe could have stopped them, but the Emperor…

Finished!

At this moment, Shen Qingwan was filled with regret.

She herself was punished for her own actions, but I'm afraid this matter will definitely implicate everyone in Kunning Palace.

Although she had been living in the original owner's body for over a year, in this dynasty, it was not uncommon for servants to be punished when their masters made mistakes. But she was different. If others were punished because of her mistakes, her conscience would always be uneasy.

As Shen Qingwan pondered this, she quickened her pace.

The more anxious a person is, the more likely they are to encounter setbacks.

Shen Qingwan had only taken two steps when she tripped over a dead branch. After finally managing to remove the branch from her foot, she tripped over a pebble on the side of the path with her other foot, and this time she lost control and fell forward.

Originally, there wasn't enough time to return to the palace before Emperor Yuanwu arrived at Kunning Palace, but these withered branches and pebbles just had to deliberately go against her!

This is absolutely infuriating!
Just as Shen Qingwan was getting increasingly frustrated and on the verge of a breakdown, a strong and powerful arm pulled her back from the brink of falling.

Prince Rui?
The moment Shen Qingwan turned around, she quickly recognized who the man holding her in his arms was.

Prince Rui really is someone who doesn't come when he should, and shows up when he shouldn't. What an unlikable person!

Prince Rui looked down at her, his ink-black pupils reflecting her figure, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

Although he didn't say anything, a strange chill emanated from the depths of his deep, icy eyes, giving her a momentary shiver.

Shen Qingwan frowned deeply, inwardly cursing that she really had forgotten to check the almanac before going out, as she had encountered all sorts of bad luck tonight.

What exactly is going on with Prince Rui?

He usually appears gentle and polite, but now he looks furious with barely suppressed anger.

As the saying goes, every wrong has its perpetrator and every debt its debtor. She hadn't seen him for many days, and if she was in a bad mood, she should go and settle scores with the person who offended him. Why did she have to come out in the middle of the night to meddle in other people's business?
Shen Qingwan quickly stood up straight and gave him a push.

She didn't have time to argue with him about emotions that had nothing to do with her.

Shen Qingwan just wanted to get back to Kunning Palace as soon as possible, before Emperor Yuanwu, so as to prevent her servants from suffering.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be returning now." Before Shen Qingwan could finish speaking, she had already turned and walked towards the outside of the Imperial Garden. Emperor Yuanwu stared at her retreating figure, his gloomy face instantly darkening even further. In just a moment, he quickly regained his composure, caught up with her in a few steps, and grabbed her wrist.

Shen Qingwan's hurried steps suddenly stopped when she was grabbed by him. She became anxious, her expression immediately darkening. She forcefully shook off his hand and said, "Your Highness, please have some self-respect."

I?

In the moonlight, his eyes shone like cold stars as he silently gazed at the woman walking towards him.

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, as if he wanted to burn through a person.

In front of outsiders, Shen Qingwan referred to herself as "this palace" to him. Although she felt awkward, she couldn't break the rules.

When the two met by chance last time, she initially referred to herself as "this palace," but after a few sentences, she stopped using "this palace" and started using "I."

He thought that the rift between them had disappeared and that their relationship had become much closer.

It had only been a few days since they last met, and besides, it was just the two of them. Why did she address him as "this Empress" and deliberately hurt his feelings?

And what about that phrase, "Have some self-respect"?

"Self-respect?"

Prince Rui let out a cold laugh, his chilling voice squeezed out from between his teeth, sharp and piercing.

"You dressed like this, having a secret rendezvous with a hostage from an enemy country in the Imperial Garden late at night, and you still dare to talk to me about self-respect?"

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

Could this Prince Rui be a spy sent by Emperor Yuanwu, deliberately delaying her here?

What? Meeting secretly with a hostage from an enemy country in the Imperial Garden late at night?

Even if a prince is completely ignorant, he has at least read some books and can be considered well-read. Does he not even know what the word "private meeting" means?

Was she having a secret rendezvous with a fourteen-year-old boy here late at night?
Should he look at what he's saying?
"Your Highness, instead of wasting your time meddling in other people's business, you'd be better off going back to read a few more books. It's one thing for you to misuse words in front of me, but if you did it in front of others, you'd probably make a fool of yourself!"

"Making a fool of yourself?" Prince Rui shook his head with a laugh. "Could it be that this wasn't a private meeting, but rather a clandestine exchange of gifts here?"

Shen Qingwan was already furious upon hearing his words.

I thought he was ignorant and incompetent, but now he looks like he's practically illiterate.

She had an affair with a child.

It’s a pity he could think of that!

But this was not the time to argue with him. Shen Qingwan didn't have time to waste words with him. After speaking, she turned to leave, but was pulled back by Prince Rui again.

"Why are you leaving? Feeling guilty?"

Shen Qingwan was truly enraged this time. She originally didn't want to pay attention to him and just listened to him say a few unpleasant things, treating him as if he were sick. But this Prince Rui was relentless and kept blocking her from going back. What was he thinking?
“Prince Rui.” Shen Qingwan tugged at the corner of her mouth, but a sharp glint appeared in her eyes: “What exactly do you mean by stopping me from going back? I really have something to do today, and I really can’t argue with you here. Prince Rui is not young anymore. If you are really that free, why not ask the Emperor to grant you a marriage and let you take a few beautiful concubines so you can enjoy a night of bliss.”

"You want me to take a concubine?" Prince Rui said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly.

It's just asking him to take a few beautiful concubines, why are you so furious? Could it be...?