How dare you!? 成何体统

Chapter Five: A Night Meeting with Prince Duan

Yu Wanyin hesitated for a moment and then gently said, "Mr. Dan, you don't need to do this. We're in this together, and I'll help you to the end."

Xiahou Dan: "."

Xiahou Dan said nothing more, just waved his hand, "I still have some memorials to review. You should go back."

Yu Wanyin took a few steps, then turned back, feeling that his posture exuded a sense of desolation.

Xie Yong'er was sewing a new sachet when An Xian, the emperor's chief eunuch, came with a message, "The emperor has summoned you to his bedchamber tonight. Prepare yourself."

Xie Yong'er was stunned. Ever since Yu Wanyin rose to power, Xiahou Dan had not summoned anyone else. Her first reaction was that something had happened to Yu Wanyin. She sent a maid to gather information and learned that Yu Wanyin's father had been demoted, and she herself had fallen out of favor.

Xie Yong'er inwardly scoffed, thinking that emperors are indeed heartless. Yet, she was annoyed at the idea of having to submit herself to this heartless emperor.

This period of private interactions had already made her develop feelings for Xiahou Dan. However, this brilliant chosen one did not fall in love with her as she had imagined but remained elusive and ambiguous.

She was already feeling depressed, and this imperial decree made it worse. Just then, a maid announced, "Consort Yu is here."

Yu Wanyin sat in the hall with a troubled expression, looking like she had been through a lot. Xie Yong'er casually asked about her father, to which Yu Wanyin tearfully responded, "I've always said that we are all just floating weeds in this palace, unable to control our own fate. Sister Yong'er, I heard you are to attend the bedchamber tonight?"

Here it comes, thought Xie Yong'er. Was this going to be a palace intrigue? Unexpectedly, Yu Wanyin's next words were, "You must be feeling very distressed right now."

Xie Yong'er: "..."

Xie Yong'er was almost moved. She had to repeatedly remind herself that these characters didn't understand her true intentions and were just acting.

Yu Wanyin, noticing all the changes in her expression, continued, "Listen to me. If something in the bedchamber tastes strange, don't drink it."

Xie Yong'er: "Why would you say that?"

Yu Wanyin whispered, "Do you know why, over the years, the emperor only has one son? The Empress Dowager pressures every concubine to drink a contraceptive potion. When the time comes, pretend to drink it and find a way to pour it out. Otherwise, you'll never conceive the emperor's child..."

I'm definitely drinking it, thought Xie Yong'er.

The Empress Dowager's head maid received orders to make Yu Wanyin take the contraceptive medicine. The recipe for this forbidden drug was complicated, with some ingredients that couldn't be openly acquired. Fortunately, the head maid wasn't new to this task and soon had a packet of the drug ready. All that was left was to mix it into tea or soup for the concubine to drink, ensuring she couldn't conceive for at least a year.

But she never got the chance.

Yu Wanyin now took her meals and tea in the Consort's Hall, which was more heavily guarded than the emperor's bedchamber, making it impossible to get close.

The head maid was fretting when she heard the news: Yu Wanyin had left the Consort's Hall and was heading to the emperor's bedchamber.

Wasn't it Xie Yong'er's turn to attend to the emperor tonight? Going there now to seek favor was foolish, especially since the emperor was already tired of her and wouldn't want to see her.