Consort Le quickly came up with a plan.
"Your Majesty, don’t you think that Princess Yijia is already of marriageable age? Could it be that she has someone in mind?"
The Emperor responded, "You would have to ask Princess Yijia about that!"
He had heard that during the Lantern Festival, Princess Yijia received a precious lantern from Prince Rui at Huiquan Tower.
They had traveled to Nanjiang together and returned together, having met many times during this period. Could there be a clandestine affair?
Thinking of this, the Emperor felt it was necessary to test Yun Jinnian’s feelings towards Chu Yu.
"Then I will secretly ask her in a while!"
Consort Le smiled, her heart brimming with joy.
But as she watched Yun Jinnian walking in gracefully, clad in blue, her whole demeanor meticulous and free from any flirtations, she felt... something indescribable.
Yun Jinnian at this moment was truly a rare beauty on earth, meant only for admiration and not for desecration.
A stiff smile formed on her face.
Such a woman, why doesn’t she enter the palace? If she enters the palace...
No, Yun Jinnian must not be allowed to enter the palace. If she does, there would be no place for Consort Le.
She looked at the Emperor, noticing the deep, unexplainable meaning in his eyes as he gazed at Yun Jinnian.
Consort Le felt a chill in her heart.
She knew all too well that the Emperor was a lecher.
Thus, she understood the Emperor’s gaze towards Yun Jinnian held a ferocious desire to possess.
"Oh my, could this be Princess Yijia? She is truly beautiful!" Consort Le said loudly.
This snapped the Emperor back to reality.
Yun Jinnian stepped forward, "Your servant greets Your Majesty, greets Consort Le!"
"No need for such formalities!" the Emperor replied warmly.
From early on, he had thought Yun Jinnian was a beauty of the mortal world. He hadn’t expected her to become even more charming after a year.
Her once sorrowful appearance now seemed more rounded, embodying more fortune and gentleness.
She was even more pleasing to the eye now.
Such a dignified and submissive temperament was in stark contrast to Consort Le.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Yun Jinnian spoke softly.
She had expected to be scrutinized but this time felt like needles on her back.
"Take a seat!" the Emperor commanded, and Eunuch Hai immediately brought a stool over, placing it beside Yun Jinnian.
Yun Jinnian bowed in gratitude again before sitting down.
"Is your mother feeling better now?" the Emperor asked.
"Replying to Your Majesty, my mother’s health is mostly recovered!"
"Hmm, and matters outside the palace, are they settled?" the Emperor continued.
Yun Jinnian pressed her lips together, "Most matters are settled. I was thinking of tearing down the two large courtyards to plant medicinal herbs, which would benefit the people greatly!"
"Don’t you like the grand mansion your aunt gave you?" the Emperor was surprised.
"I do like it, but as a doctor, I should bring more blessings to those who are ill. One day, I had something to do in the Outer City and saw people who couldn’t afford medical treatment or medicine. My heart was moved. Having the Commandery Princess Residence is sufficient. If those two mansions could be torn down to plant common medicinal herbs and then given to those in need, it would be a wonderful thing. Your Majesty, what do you think?"
The Emperor was slightly taken aback.
He hadn’t expected Yun Jinnian to have such a magnanimous heart.
"It is indeed a good deed. By the way, have you visited the Princess Residence yet?"
"Not yet. I plan to visit it after giving thanks today."
"Ahahaha, then you should go and have a look. You might get a pleasant surprise!" the Emperor said, laughing heartily.
He wondered what Yun Jinnian’s thoughts would be when she saw those people?