The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

When the emperor and empress's palanquins landed in the Imperial Garden, the sun was just rising above the tips of the crabapple trees.

The numerous palace attendants, eunuchs, and guards who accompanied the emperor and empress silently retreated twenty paces away, centered on the emperor and empress.

With their backs to the two distinguished figures in the garden, they lowered their heads and eyes, creating a private space within the entire imperial garden that was only for them.

Xie Yanzhao held Shen Tinghe in his arms and sat down at the stone table.

He ran his palm over her once, feeling her cool touch, and then refused to let her touch him even a little bit more.

Xie Yanzhao: "It's cold. Yuan Yuan, why don't you sit on your husband's lap?"

Shen Tinghe didn't respond, only giving a lazy "hmm," her gaze falling on the flowerbed in the distance.

The flowers were in full bloom, in shades of gold, red, purple, and white, clustered together in layers.

The palace servants took excellent care of these flowers, each one precious, some even transplanted from the southern greenhouse, all for this autumn's bloom.

Shen Tinghe looked at it, but her eyes were somewhat indifferent.

Even the best scenery has been seen by now that I've been in the palace for so long.

But then two butterflies flew by.

One is red, and the other is emerald green.

The red one is the Red Swallowtail, while the emerald green one is rarer—the Blue Swallowtail.

The scales on its wings are like gold dust; when the sun shines down on them, they shimmer and swirl, like a small piece of flying jade.

Shen Tinghe's eyes lit up instantly.

She patted Xie Yanzhao's shoulder, all her previous laziness gone: "Brother, put me down quickly, I want to see that!"

Xie Yanzhao buried his face in the crook of her neck, his nose touching her delicate, white skin, his eyes closed as if he were half-drunk with aged wine.

She always had a very faint fragrance about her, not from perfume, but from her skin, warm and soft.

Xie Yanzhao inhaled deeply, completely captivated.

Shen Tinghe patted him, and he suddenly opened his eyes.

Those usually clear and calm eyes now seemed somewhat lost in thought.

It was as if he was about to faint from his sweet fragrance.

Shen Tinghe ignored him and jumped to the ground.

Xie Yanzhao didn't move, remaining seated in the same spot, his gaze following her retreating figure.

Shen Tinghe stretched out her hand, her fingertips reaching for the two lingering butterflies.

Hong hesitated for a moment, then walked around it.

The emerald green leaves fell and gently rested on her fingertips.

Xie Yanzhao just stared at her like that.

As the sun began to slant, its rays filtered through the trees, casting a faint glow around her.

Shen Tinghe stood among the flowers, her smile radiant, the vibrant blossoms serving as a backdrop to her beauty.

At that moment, she resembled a true goddess.

Xie Yanzhao was somewhat mesmerized by what he saw.

This is his personal little goddess.

He was the only one to be ferried across.

Geriletu finally managed to sneak out of Xingqing Palace today.

The palace of Dazhao was like a maze. She wandered around and accidentally stumbled into the imperial garden.

From afar, one could see that a large number of people had gathered here.

Imperial guards, eunuchs, and palace maids.

The one who could must be the Emperor of the Great Zhao Dynasty to have such a grand display.

Geriletu couldn't wait to see him.

"Princess, please stop."

A sword hilt lay across her.

Geriletu suddenly stopped. The guard in front of him had a cold face and looked straight ahead, like an expressionless iron statue.

"His Majesty and the Empress are in the Imperial Garden; no one may disturb them."

Your Majesty the Empress.

Geriletu was momentarily dazed. She peered through the layers of people and saw Xie Yanzhao.

She had seen him in a portrait. But no matter how skillful the painter's hand was, he could not capture that noble and refined air.

Geriletu followed his gaze.

A woman stood by the flower bushes, her back slender and graceful, her moon-white blouse gleaming softly in the autumn sun.

She couldn't see her face, only that she slightly raised her hand, with a bright green butterfly resting on her fingertip.

Geriletu turned his gaze back: "Since you know I am Princess Mengqi, you know I am here for a political marriage, and also as His Majesty's concubine. You dare to stop me, aren't you afraid of regretting it later?"

The guards were not threatened.

"Princess, please return."

Geriletu clenched her fists. She had finally made it this far; when would she get another chance?

She took a deep breath and shouted:

"Your Majesty! Geriletu requests an audience with Your Majesty!"

The voice was clear and sharp, suddenly piercing the tranquil autumn light of the Imperial Garden.

The butterfly on Shen Tinghe's fingertip fluttered up and disappeared into the depths of the flower bushes in the blink of an eye.

"Why--"

Shen Tinghe looked in the direction of the sound.

Not far away, a woman dressed in foreign attire was stopped by guards outside the circle.

She frowned. Her period had lasted for three days, and she was already feeling tired. It was rare for her to have any interest in playing around for even a short while, and now even that interest had been ruined.

She looked away and glanced at the person behind her, her lips unconsciously pouting slightly.

"elder brother……"

The voice was soft and gentle, sweet with a hint of grievance.

Xie Yanzhao never once looked in that direction.

He stood up and took two steps to her side, then reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Xie Yanzhao noticed that her eyebrows were drooping and her whole face showed displeasure.

"Brother sent someone to find the butterfly, and Yuan Yuan wasn't angry."

Shen Tinghe looked up at him: "I want the emerald green one. The one that flew away just now."

Xie Yanzhao: "Okay. Find one of every color and keep it in a glass cup for Yuan Yuan to see."

She was slightly satisfied, rested her chin on his shoulder, and snuggled softly against him.

Xie Yanzhao put his arm around her and walked towards the sedan chair.

He then raised his eyes, glanced in that direction, and casually waved his hand.

The guards, following orders, dragged the man away.

A very perceptive eunuch stepped forward and covered Geriletu's mouth.

Sweet fragrance wafted from the warm pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Xie Yanzhao sent someone to make Shen Tinghe's favorite milk rose syrup, which cheered her up a little.

He pulled her back into his arms, slipped his hand under her clothes, and gently massaged her lower abdomen through the thin inner garment.

Shen Tinghe nestled contentedly against his chest: "Brother, was that Princess Monchi just now?"

Xie Yanzhao continued working.

"Why are you bringing her up? She won't be hanging around you anymore."

Shen Tinghe looked up at him: "General Ye hasn't captured Meng Qi yet, brother, don't go too far."

Xie Yanzhao lowered his head and touched her forehead with his lips.

"It's nothing. To Yigule, this younger sister is nothing more than a pawn."

He paused, then suddenly bit her earlobe and gently rubbed it.

"Unlike my Yuan Yuan, who is the little wife that my brother cherishes dearly."

Shen Tinghe shuddered and shrank back.

"Brother, it itches..."

She tried to hide, so he chased after her. The soft, fragmented laughter inside the warm room was warmer than the autumn sun outside the window.

Unlike the harmonious atmosphere in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Geriletu had just finished kneeling as punishment in the Imperial Garden and was being helped back by his maid.

During that brief moment outside the Imperial Garden, she couldn't even finish a single sentence.

The man didn't even glance at her.

He simply embraced the woman in his arms and turned to leave.

That casualness and nonchalance sealed her fate.

The maid, her eyes red, helped her to her feet.

Geriletu's face was filled with malice: "How dare the Emperor of Dazhao treat me like this!"

"Isn't he afraid that Monkey will start a war?!"

The maid dared not answer.

Geriletu then thought of the glimpse she had just seen of the woman.

I initially thought she was a woman who rose to the position of empress because of her family background, but I never expected her to look like this...

"A scourge to the country and its people, utterly alluring! She's clearly no good!"