Li Yue Shu's attitude naturally softened towards Qin Mo Yuan's only living relative.
"The previous incident happened rather abruptly. If there was any impoliteness, I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
"You are the person closest to A Yuan's heart. Why be so formal with me!" the Emperor said with emotion. "On the way here, A Yuan was telling me not to startle you."
"Looking at you, who dared to charge into Guanzhou alone, you don't seem like someone easily startled. A Yuan truly cherishes you."
Hearing his words, Li Yue Shu unconsciously turned her gaze to the person beside her.
Qin Mo Yuan wore a faint smile, seemingly unconcerned by his actions.
Li Yue Shu's lips curved, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
She met the Emperor's teasing gaze squarely and produced the coiled dragon jade pendant from her sleeve.
This was the pendant the Emperor had intended for her to use in Guanzhou to rescue Qin Mo Yuan. Now that he was safe, the jade pendant should rightfully be returned.
However, she had never intended to return it.
As he saw the jade pendant in her hand, the Emperor reached out to take it, but Qin Mo Yuan's voice suddenly intervened, "Since it was given by Imperial Brother, A Shu should keep it."
The Emperor turned his head in surprise.
Qin Mo Yuan remained calm, "As this is our first formal meeting, Imperial Brother should give a gift."
Li Yue Shu still held the coiled dragon jade pendant, her expression unchanged.
This jade pendant symbolized the Emperor's status. Given as a reward, it represented supreme honor, capable even of serving as a life-preservation token.
Li Yue Shu was not particularly interested in such things. However, in the later plot, this coiled dragon jade pendant was to be bestowed upon Li Xiang Ru, and it had helped her numerous times. Thus, Li Yue Shu was determined to prevent this from happening.
Therefore, on their journey back from Guanzhou, she had already discussed with Qin Mo Yuan their plan to intercept the coiled dragon jade pendant at the source, thus cutting off Li Xiang Ru's opportunity to earn merit by saving the Emperor.
The Emperor, unaware of their machinations, nodded immediately upon hearing Qin Mo Yuan's request, "Since A Yuan has spoken, then I shall bestow this coiled dragon jade pendant upon you."
The Emperor looked kindly at Li Yue Shu, "However, as the person A Yuan fancies, a meeting gift cannot be so perfunctory. When you return, I shall have Cao Zhuang deliver a gift to your royal residence."
Li Yue Shu's eyes brightened. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
As she spoke, she took out a small box from her sleeve. "A Yuan mentioned bringing me to meet his family, so I personally prepared a small token of my appreciation. I hope Your Majesty will like it."
The Emperor had not expected a gift from her and was curious about its contents.
Despite his curiosity, the Emperor, out of courtesy, did not open it immediately, instead happily tucking the box into his sleeve.
Li Yue Shu offered no further explanation, as she had included instructions within the box.
As Emperor, he was certainly not lacking in treasures. Li Yue Shu had therefore gifted him a batch of her hand-refined life-saving pills, further improved according to the medical texts left by Ji Mo Bai.
As long as there was still a breath of life, these pills, while not capable of resurrecting the dead, could at least prolong life and provide opportunities for rescue.
After receiving the gift, the Emperor quickly ordered the finest tea to be prepared and began to inquire about the stories of Li Yue Shu and Qin Mo Yuan over the years.
Hmm…
Had anyone ever seen a reigning Emperor in his majestic dragon robes acting like a gossip?
Li Yue Shu certainly had. His demeanor was exactly like hers when she chatted about gossip with Xiao Yu.
Even as she sat in the carriage leaving the imperial palace, Li Yue Shu's mind was filled with the Emperor's "I ship it!" expression.
She looked at Qin Mo Yuan with an indescribable expression. "Your Imperial Brother… has he always been like this?"
Qin Mo Yuan pursed his lips, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "I didn't expect him to be so talkative either."
His Imperial Brother today was indeed a little different from usual.
Li Yue Shu raised an eyebrow, quite speechless.
…
After meeting the Emperor, Qin Mo Yuan stayed to discuss matters with him, while Li Yue Shu went to find Shen Yi Min.
She had missed his birthday previously and now had to make up for it with a birthday cake.
At that moment, Shen Yi Min was in Consort Rong's palace. Both he and Consort Rong were pleasantly surprised by Li Yue Shu's arrival. Consort Rong even personally came to greet her.
Li Yue Shu quickly took her arm and subtly felt her pulse.
Li Yue Shu's brow furrowed slightly as she looked at Consort Rong.
The latter, sensing the touch on her wrist, smiled gently at her. Her rosy complexion gave no indication of someone who was near death.
Seeing this, Li Yue Shu understood her intention.
Consort Rong's body was too frail to be bedridden and energetic. This was clearly the result of taking medication that artificially sustained her.
Her body was already at its limit. While the medicine made her appear normal now, it was consuming her already dwindling lifespan.
However, Consort Rong was clearly willing.
Li Yue Shu could roughly guess her thoughts.
She did not want the last memory her child had of her to be that of a sickly person lying in bed, on the verge of death.
Consort Rong, her face full of smiles, clasped Li Yue Shu's hand. "I thought you were going to leave the palace immediately. What brought you to my place?"
Li Yue Shu slowly withdrew her hand. "I missed A Min's birthday before, so I've come today to give him his cake."
With that, she took the food box from Ying Xin behind her and opened it, revealing the cake she had prepared in advance.
Upon seeing the contents of the food box, Consort Rong's eyes lit up, and she noticeably swallowed.
Seeing this, Li Yue Shu quickly instructed Ying Xin to set down the food box and take out the cake.
At the table were only Li Yue Shu, Consort Rong, Shen Yi Min, and Mo Lian. Compared to the lively gathering of over twenty people in Tong Mu County, today was considerably more subdued.
However, for those present, it was an extremely heartwarming scene.
Li Yue Shu stayed at Consort Rong's place for quite some time, to the extent that both Qin Mo Yuan and the Emperor came to find her.
As dusk began to fall, Consort Rong, though reluctant, could not keep her in the palace and could only watch Li Yue Shu leave with longing eyes.
The Emperor stood beside her, and seeing her look of deep reluctance, he smiled. "Since you entered the palace, I haven't seen you look so vibrant in years."
Sensing that they had matters to discuss, Shen Yi Min and Mo Lian bowed and took their leave, leaving the two of them alone.
Facing the Emperor alone, Consort Rong's smile faded, and her demeanor became respectful yet distant. "Your Majesty has known for a long time that my disposition is not suited for the confines of this deep palace, has he not?"
The Emperor lowered his gaze to her, exuding an aura of authority, completely devoid of the warmth and kindness he had shown Li Yue Shu and Qin Mo Yuan.
He studied Consort Rong's face for a long time before speaking, "I was also deceived in the matters of that year. Rong'er, do you still blame me?"
Consort Rong kept her head bowed. "Your Majesty acts according to your own principles. I dare not presume to comment."
The Emperor remained silent, his gaze fixed upon her.
Consort Rong covered her mouth and coughed lightly. "Cough, cough! Your Majesty, I am feeling unwell and fear I cannot attend to Your Majesty any longer."
The Emperor was not foolish; he clearly understood her veiled dismissal.
A faint smile touched his lips. "After all these years, you are still the only one who dares to chase me away."
Consort Rong continued to keep her head bowed, as if she had not heard his words.