He asked you to serve him in bed and become his concubine, how did you manage to win his heart and s

This can also be considered a type of transaction.

Li Ruolan didn't think there was anything wrong with using the Li family's money to gain their favor.

Her mother had told her that men have a weakness, and they tend to fall in love with every woman they meet. To win their hearts, she had to make them unable to leave her.

She wrote a letter to the Li family, asking for their support.

After receiving news from the Li family, she became even more unscrupulous, showing no fear even when facing Consort Su.

My confidence comes from my maternal family, of course.

Consort Su was able to act with impunity in the harem. Could she say that it wasn't because of the support she received from her brother?

It was a pity that Mu Xiaoci did not stay overnight, saying that he had not yet finished reading the memorials, but he would come to see her again tomorrow.

Li Ruolan originally didn't want to release the person, and even thought about getting closer to the Emperor, but Mu Xiaoci patted her head and told her to be patient.

"I will see you again tomorrow, so what's the rush?"

"Your Majesty, I just can't bear to part with the Emperor."

"My dear consort, you must be more sensible. The Empress Dowager prefers simple attire. When you visit tomorrow, try your best to make her feel comfortable. I will accompany you."

He was being pestered, so he could only say a few more words to reassure Li Ruolan.

In the other party's eyes, this was tenderness. Having received the emperor's caresses, Li Ruolan finally loosened her restraints on him.

Just before leaving, she hugged his arm, tiptoed, and kissed the corner of his lips.

"Your Majesty, I will always wait for you, I will always be yours..."

Such tenderness was something even Mu Xiaoci had never seen before.

He pursed his lips, did not push the other person away, but simply responded softly.

To be honest, such tenderness is the last thing that should happen in the palace.

He cannot belong to one woman alone, and it is even more impossible for him to devote all his attention to Li Ruolan.

The imperial harem is similar to the imperial court; what he wants is for the other person to be forever loyal to him, and even to give him the best of everything out of love for him.

He was a plunderer, not a giver.

He would never truly open his heart to any woman and treat them differently.

After much deliberation, he still pulled away from Li Ruolan's hand and told her to be patient with him.

"Of course I know what my beloved is thinking, and my beloved should also know what I am thinking. I will not let you down."

This was the first time he had said these words to Li Ruolan, and she was truly moved. The moment she finished listening, her eyes became watery.

She wouldn't even let go of his sleeve, just looking at him with such a pitiful expression, silently begging him to stay.

The clock outside rang, a reminder that midnight was approaching, and also a reminder to Mu Xiaoci that he had to leave.

He also had his own plans, what he should do and what he shouldn't do, and even tonight he had to handle an urgent memorial, so as not to focus all his attention on the concubines in the harem.

"Once this matter is over, I will spend my time by the side of my beloved."

He raised his hand again and rubbed Li Ruolan's head before finally gaining his freedom and stepping out of her palace.

It has to be said that it's quite difficult to refuse a woman.

He has to put in extra effort even to go out with a woman who knows how to be charming and coquettish.

Richard was already waiting outside. He had almost sent the eunuchs to prepare things for Mu Xiaoci's bedchamber service, thinking that Mu Xiaoci wouldn't come out tonight.

Seeing Mu Xiaoci come out, still fully dressed, he was somewhat surprised and immediately greeted him with a smile.

"Your Majesty, are you returning to the Dragon Palace?"

"Otherwise? Richard, you've been getting more and more long-winded lately."

Having grown up together, Mu Xiaoci couldn't possibly misunderstand the sarcasm in Richard's words.

She also knew that he didn't actually have much desire for the concubines to spend the night with him. Most of the time, he was just doing what he was supposed to do, including symbolically choosing to spend the night with new concubines when they entered the palace.

Try to treat everyone equally, but also be impartial.

As the number of women in the harem grew, Mu Xiaoci also had his own worries.

With endless affairs of the previous dynasty, how can returning to deal with matters of the harem not increase one's workload?

He preferred to ignore it, focusing on his duties as a monarch and letting them fight it out.

He generally doesn't want to interfere in things that aren't excessive, just like what Consort Su did today. As long as the reason is sufficient, he will turn a blind eye.

But now that Li Ruolan has come with benefits, he can also step in to control the situation.

Be the one in control, not the one being controlled.

Without saying anything to Richard, Mu Xiaoci turned and left, only to see the palace maid in the room ahead.

Yunxi brought over a food tray with Eight Treasures Cake and tea, which were specially prepared for Richard.

The timing was perfect. They correctly guessed that Mu Xiaoci would be focusing on the imperial court these days and would not indulge in lust. It was a fact that he would definitely leave, so they arranged this chance encounter.

She started pretending.

First, he retreated in a panic, then lowered his head and whispered, "Your Majesty."

Richard had a good impression of her these past two days, and seeing her in such a state, he went up to her and waved.

"You must bow when you see the Emperor."

"This servant...this servant is guilty! Long live the Emperor! I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

She was actually bowing now. Her voice was sweet and innocent, and although her tone was flustered, it was strangely pleasant to hear, making her seem weak and vulnerable.

The word "slave" caught Mu Xiaoci's attention. He frowned, paused as he was about to walk forward, and turned to look at Yun Xi.

"Who are you?"

"I am Yunxi, a palace maid serving Consort Lan of Yaoguang Palace. I have just met Your Majesty."

The voice changed again, becoming more panicked, and even the last syllable trembled.

He doesn't seem like the kind of person who would dare to climb into the emperor's bed.

But Mu Xiaoci felt a sense of familiarity. He took three steps at a time and walked up to her, looking down at the palace maid kneeling in front of him.

"Raise your head."

The body in front of me trembled slightly, then hesitated to lift its head, its hands so nervous that the food plate wobbled.

Richard gritted his teeth in anger and quickly stepped forward.

"Raise your head now, you palace maid, do you want to die?"

After uttering the word "death," Yunxi pretended to have no choice but to look up at him, gritting her teeth and with red eyes.

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong."

Her face was ordinary, but her eyes shone brightly, like starlight. Now, with tears welling up in her eyes, she looked even more pitiful.

Mu Xiaoci was first struck by those eyes, but after looking them over, he felt that the person was somewhat unfamiliar.

As far as he could remember, he had never seen this face before.

This kind of appearance is so striking that you might not even notice it in a crowd; it's the kind of common look you'd forget after just one glance. Most of the palace maids in the entire palace look like this, so it's hardly anything special.

He didn't even notice the disappointment flash across his face, nor did he leave. He looked at the food on her plate and asked again.

"What is this? Where should it be sent?"

"Oh, Your Majesty, this is mine."

Before Yunxi could speak, Richard had already stepped forward to claim it.

"Yunxi's Eight Treasure Cake is delicious. I ate a whole plate of it last night. Your Majesty, you came to Consort Lan's place again today, so it must have been prepared for me."

The pastries reminded Mu Xiaoci of something, and he picked up a pastry that Richard had mentioned was delicious, then smelled it.

"Did you do this?"

"Your Majesty, it was this servant who did it." Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible unless you got very close.

Mu Xiaoci sneered, tossed the pastries back, and asked again, "Then, did you make the plum blossom cakes yesterday too?"

"The food prepared for His Majesty is naturally made by the imperial chefs. How could a servant of my status dare to overstep my bounds?"

She lowered her head even further, her voice trembling with tears, "Your Majesty, it's only early autumn, and the plum blossoms haven't even bloomed yet. How could I possibly make these things?"

That last statement is indeed true.

Upon hearing this, Mu Xiaoci's gloomy expression softened considerably. "You seem to know quite a bit. Did you also send over today's lotus seed soup?"

This was certainly not a compliment, but rather another test.

Li Ruolan kept her head down, continuing to feign a look of fear. "It's my fault. I heard from Consort Lan that His Majesty has been busy with state affairs lately and hasn't had time to rest properly. So I specially went to the Imperial Kitchen to choose a cooling midnight snack. It was my own idea, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

At this, he was so frightened that he couldn't lift the tray in his hands, and he hurriedly kowtowed and begged His Majesty for forgiveness.

In the palace, it is a major taboo to beat or punish palace servants at will, and the emperor should not do such things, lest the news spread outside the palace and he be branded as a tyrant.

Being bullied by servants is already a sensitive issue, and seeing Yunxi act this way, Richard quickly stepped forward to speak.

"The Emperor isn't some man-eating monster, you don't need to panic."

"Enough, stop putting on these acts in front of me."

He kicked away the food plate in front of him, bent down, grabbed Yunxi's chin with his hand, lifted her face, and made her look at him.

"Do you know that here, trying to fathom the Emperor's mind is a capital offense?"

As he stared at her, Yunxi met his gaze. The instant their eyes met, tears welled up in her eyes, and she appeared even more pitiful and vulnerable.

She looked at him, gently placed her hand on his, and parted her lips slightly:

"Your Majesty, I didn't..."

The voice sounded so much like the woman who appeared that night. Mu Xiaoci was even more surprised that when she simply raised her hand to put it on his arm, he subconsciously couldn't bear to use force.

What's happening right now is definitely not a good sign!

As if sensing something, he forcefully shook off his hand.

The force was so great that Yunxi didn't even have time to react before being pulled and pushed to the ground.

Even the way she fell was carefully chosen; even in her palace maid attire, her graceful figure was still accentuated.

Over the years, she has been forced to practice seductive dances every day by her instructors, making her figure more supple than other women.

In addition, Li Ruolan was worried that she wasn't getting enough nutrition, so she supervised her daily feeding of supplements, which made her even more curvaceous than her elder sister.

Such a figure is captivating; even Richard, the eunuch, instinctively covered his eyes upon seeing it.

Good heavens! What on earth happened?!