Yan Luo stared straight at Jun Yulin, as if puzzled about something.
Jun Yulin’s fingers twitched slightly as he withdrew his gaze, his lips pressed into a faint line. Then suddenly, the little emperor’s voice rang out nearby, cold and indifferent, tinged with faint frustration and annoyance.
“What are you doing in the palace? If I recall correctly, no one is allowed to enter and exit the palace freely without permission.”
[*Ding*—Jun Yulin’s blackening value -3 (78/100)]
Yan Luo : ???
“Replying to Your Majesty, we are here with the Empress Dowager’s permission to remain in the palace.”
Well, that made the purpose perfectly clear.
Yan Luo’s lips twitched slightly as she looked at the bashful smiles of the boys before her. Her small body gave a subtle shiver.
[*Ding*—Jun Yulin’s blackening value +2 (80/100)]
Yan Luo: Are you insane or what?? (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
Can’t you just be normal?
Going up and down like this, her poor little heart would be tormented to death sooner or later.
She furrowed her brows slightly. In the end, she couldn’t say much and simply waved a hand.
“Since you were summoned by the Empress Dowager, I won’t say more. But remember, this is the imperial palace, so mind the rules. Don’t go wandering around at will.”
The young men clearly hadn’t expected such a response. Their expressions shifted slightly, but with Jun Yulin present, they didn’t dare let their thoughts show. They responded quietly and reluctantly took their leave.
Jun Yulin watched them leave with a cold gaze, then glanced at Yan Luo again. Seeing her already distracted and seemingly having forgotten all about those boys, he pressed his lips together and finally spoke.
“Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?” Yan Luo was just reaching up to hook a peach blossom branch when she heard his voice and glanced sideways.
In the light drizzle, the beauty beneath the peach blossoms… Jun Yulin’s expression shifted slightly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed, reluctant to look away.
“Your Majesty has only just turned eighteen. Still young. It would be best not to indulge too much in such matters.”
A complete vibe of a disapproving old bureaucrat.
Yan Luo blinked, held back for a moment, but eventually couldn’t resist responding.
“Didn’t Royal Uncle just advised me to enrich the harem? Why the sudden change of tune today?”
Jun Yulin, who had dug his own grave early on: …
Looking at him now, and recalling his earlier behavior, Yan Luo couldn’t help but have a bold thought rise in her heart.
She took a small step forward.
Jun Yulin’s expression didn’t change, but inwardly he was already scrambling for excuses to refute what he sensed might be coming—when suddenly, a delicate fragrance, laced with the scent of blossoms, brushed past his nose.
“Your Majesty…” But before the words could leave his lips, Jun Yulin’s pupils contracted slightly.
The girl’s delicate and slightly youthful face suddenly appeared very close before his eyes.
A few pink and white petals clung to her hair. She held two peach blossom branches in her hands, tiny pink buds just starting to bloom. Her eyes, reflected in the shower of falling petals, sparkled like starlight.
So beautiful and exquisite, that it made him want to hold her in his palm and keep her from the eyes of all others.
No one else could have her.
Suddenly, the girl smiled sweetly—more beautiful than all the blossoms raining down from the sky.
Jun Yulin didn’t move, and his expression barely shifted, but if one looked closely, there was a faint daze in his eyes.
The sound of his heartbeat seemed distant and close all at once, thudding repeatedly in his ears.
“Don’t worry, Royal Uncle,” she said softly. “I know what I should and shouldn’t do.”