novelaction Chapter 428 will be added starting next week (from the beginning).
Chapter 428 will be added starting next week (from the beginning).
Xue Ruanruan looked at Murong Xun with complex emotions. This Murong Xun, though a favorite of the Emperor, who knew how many schemes he harbored in this deep palace? Xue Ruanruan bit her lower lip and slowly asked, "Your Highness, what brings you here today?" Murong Xun's lips curled into an enigmatic smile. "I heard that Consort Xue recently received jewels as a reward from the Emperor, so I came to see them." Xue Ruanruan's heart tightened, but her face remained smiling. "They're just some mundane things. If Your Highness likes them, please take them." Murong Xun stepped forward and gently lifted her chin. "I don't care for these things. What I care for is you, my beauty." Xue Ruanruan's heart... Startled, yet feigning composure, Xue Ruanruan said, "Your Highness is joking. Ruanruan is but a lowly palace maid; how could she possibly catch Your Highness's eye?" Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a sharp voice: "The Emperor has arrived!" Both Xue Ruanruan and Murong Xun were startled. Xue Ruanruan quickly pulled away from Murong Xun's hand, straightened her clothes, and knelt down with him to greet him. The Emperor strode in, his gaze sweeping over the two of them. He chuckled, "Oh, my arrival has indeed interrupted your refined pleasure." Xue Ruanruan panicked and hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty misunderstands. The prince merely came to see the jewels bestowed upon him by Your Majesty." Murong Xun also cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have indeed come for this matter." The Emperor's lips curled slightly, but his expression remained unreadable. "Is that so? I don't think it's that simple." Xue Ruanruan felt a chill in her heart, wondering what the Emperor meant by those words. Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, the Emperor suddenly burst into laughter, "Enough, enough, I was just passing by today, I have nothing else to do. You may continue." With that, he turned and left. Xue Ruanruan and Murong Xun breathed a sigh of relief. Xue Ruanruan wondered to herself whether the Emperor's actions were genuine indifference or a test. A barely perceptible glint of malice flashed in Murong Xun's eyes; the undercurrents within the palace seemed to have only just begun. Murong Xun quickly released Xue Ruanruan and straightened his clothes. Xue Ruanruan hurriedly knelt and bowed, silently praying that the Emperor's sudden appearance wouldn't make things worse.
With border supplies critically low, Xue Ruanruan looked anxiously at Murong Xun after the emperor left. Murong Xun whispered, "Don't worry, the emperor won't easily harm me." But Xue Ruanruan remained uneasy.
At this moment, an urgent secret report was delivered to Murong Xun. After reading it, Murong Xun's expression changed. "The border is in dire need of food supplies. If we do not provide timely assistance, we may face a major defeat." Xue Ruanruan's heart tightened. This was a matter of national survival.
Murong Xun pondered for a moment, then said to Xue Ruanruan, "I need to go to the palace to meet the Emperor about this matter. You can stay here and rest assured." After saying that, he hurriedly left.
Xue Ruanruan paced back and forth in the room, her heart filled with worry. She knew there must be some hidden agenda behind this, perhaps another power struggle.
Several hours later, Murong Xun returned, his expression grave. He told Xue Ruanruan that although the Emperor had agreed to provide supplies, he had ordered Murong Xun to escort them personally. Xue Ruanruan understood that the Emperor was testing Murong Xun. Murong Xun, however, sneered, "I'll go this time. Let's see who has the last laugh." Thus began an even more intense struggle over border supplies and court power.