Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 479: Undermining Our Own Foundations

Murong Jiu had realized that Jun Yuyan’s skin had become thicker and thicker.

Previously, he still maintained his dignity, but now he had actually taken the initiative to suggest staying over.

He even made excuses for himself, "It seems that the fragrance in the Empress’s palace has a calming effect. Whenever I lie down alone in Qianqing Palace, I find it hard to fall asleep, but as long as I come to the Empress’s palace, I always feel sleepy."

Speaking of fragrances, Murong Jiu’s body naturally emitted an exotic fragrance, which after sweating even seemed to stimulate desires—something Jun Yuyan had always found hard to control himself around before. freewёbnoνel.com

Murong Jiu blushed slightly as she recalled these scenes, but she said, "Exactly because my palace is fragrant, if you also stay here at night, wouldn’t you carry the scent too? By then, Wang Yingluo would know just by smelling you."

He climbed the walls at night, not staying long, and by morning the scent would dissipate.

"I would return to Qianqing Palace in the morning for a bath and change of clothes!"

Jun Yuyan, having finally steeled himself to speak up, did not want to give up because of this.

Every day he climbed the wall, he could only stay for a while, and always pretended he had something to discuss with the Empress, but during the day, even when he attended court, his mind was full of his Empress. There wasn’t enough time to cultivate a relationship.

In fact, enduring for half a month had already been his limit.

He was just afraid that the Empress would find it too abrupt.

Murong Jiu certainly didn’t think it was abrupt. She understood Jun Yuyan too well. Besides, she hadn’t lost her memory; she and Jun Yuyan were originally the closest of spouses. She was only worried that Jun Yuyan would feel awkward because he no longer had the memories of their time together.

Hearing the urgency in Jun Yuyan’s voice, she chuckled and then nodded with a smile under his tense, expectant gaze, "Alright then."

She, too, wanted to be closer to him.

A smile broke across Jun Yuyan’s handsome face as he said, "I’ll sleep in the side hall next to yours, I certainly won’t disturb your rest."

"Ah?"

Murong Jiu had thought he intended to share her bed, but taking things slow and gradually progressing wasn’t bad either.

When Jun Yuyan saw her expression, he immediately regretted his words, thinking he had made a mistake—he had thought the Empress’s agreement was reluctant, so he had considered sleeping in the side hall first, to foster affection. Little did he expect the Empress to think he meant the same bed!

Was it still timely to regret now?

Just as he was about to speak, he heard Murong Jiu say, "I’ll have Chun Tao tidy it up in a moment. It’s stored with Zhijin and Zhiyu’s toys and clothes; sometimes they nap here. But I’ve been sick recently and feared the children might catch my illness, so I haven’t let them come over."

Upon hearing this, Jun Yuyan quickly said:

"I’ve only watched them from afar, not daring to get too close. I’m even more cautious with them, not knowing what abilities Wang Yingluo still has, I can’t let her feel that the children could become a threat to her."

"I understand." Murong Jiu smiled, knowing he was explaining to her, "You used to love them the most; how could you bear to put them at risk?"

Jun Yuyan realized he didn’t need to explain; the gentle woman before him could fully understand him.

This comforted him, his drifting heart seemed to return to a peaceful harbor.

"Wait another two days until I stop coughing, then I’ll have the nanny bring them over."

"Okay!" Jun Yuyan nodded, then added with some self-reproach, "I’ve been too irresponsible as a father."

"How could that be? Don’t think like that. When they are older, they will understand you."

"These days won’t last much longer."

He said to Murong Jiu, as if also speaking to himself.

He did not like Wang Yingluo and felt disgusted by her, yet he had no choice but to feign deep affection. Every time Wang Yingluo pulled on his sleeve, he wished he could have that garment burned.

However, the garments in the palace were exquisitely made and made from expensive materials; they could not withstand being burned and wasted daily. Thus, he wore the same few clothes back and forth, waiting for the matter to end before burning them completely, thus minimizing waste.

He did not want to lock up Wang Yingluo and severely torture her, but if there was Wang Yingluo, what would he do if Zhao Yingluo and Li Yingluo appeared next time?

This heresy had to be investigated thoroughly for one to be at ease.

That night, Jun Yuyan moved into Kunning Palace, but Qianqing Palace also maintained a facade of being inhabited, watched over by the Hidden Guard.

Wang Yingluo did not return to the palace today. Jun Yuyan had deliberately arranged for someone to lead her to watch plays and listen to operas, to see circus shows, and listen to storytelling. By the time Wang Yingluo realized, the palace gates were already locked, and she, believing herself to be favored, thought staying out overnight was not inappropriate, especially since Eunuch Li was with her.

Jun Yuyan also deliberately had someone inform Consort Dowager Qi of this matter.

Consort Dowager Qi disliked licentious women the most. Knowing that Wang Yingluo was so distracted watching male performers sing that she forgot to return to the palace, she was naturally displeased.

However, these were trivial matters. During dinner with Murong Jiu, a densely written piece of paper was presented to them.

Murong Jiu put down his chopsticks and leaned over to look at it with Jun Yuyan.

Jun Yuyan’s thoughts were immediately drawn back to her. Although his eyes were on the paper, he did not comprehend a single word written on it.

His mind was a whirl of confused thoughts.

Murong Jiu quickly finished reading.

Wang Yingluo left the palace today, perhaps in a good mood. Coupled with the freedom outside the palace, her speech was bolder and more casual.

All of Wang Yingluo’s words and actions were recorded. Here, those selected were the more abnormal ones.

She was critical everywhere, her most frequent topic of conversation was backwardness.

Yet, she was fascinated by everything new. She crazily made Eunuch Li pay for her purchases, most of which were jewelry and fabrics, particularly fond of exquisitely crafted gold ornaments, unlike ordinary young girls who preferred lighter jewelry made of gems and jade.

When encountering noble ladies at the jewelry stores, she would deliberately vie for the items others fancied. When the other party became angry and confronted her, she would have Eunuch Li step forward to explain her status. She seemed to relish seeing the shocked looks on others’ faces, enjoying when others approached her submissively to appease her.

She tirelessly enjoyed this for an entire morning while shopping in these stores.

Yet, the currently hottest colored glaze store in the Capital City was completely dismissed by her. Upon entering, she merely labeled the items as "glass" and looked down on them.

From this, it seems that these man-made art crafts might be improved in the future, increasing production, only then becoming something that Wang Yingluo would disdain.

The rarer and more expensive it is, the same principle applies everywhere.

In the future, gold will definitely be more expensive.

However, since ancient times, gold and silver have always been solid currencies.

Wang Yingluo also specifically visited the shops opened by Murong Jiu and met Manager Chai.

She seemed to know about Manager Chai and went there as if she had heard of him. She spoke with him briefly and told Manager Chai that she could make him a world-renowned merchant, immortalized for centuries.

She was even digging into his own turf.

Suddenly, Murong Jiu, resting his chin in his hand, said,

"Hmm, what if we let Manager Chai switch sides to hers?"