#53Your Majesty, you took the initiative last night.
AI Model: gemini-2.5-flash
Chapter 53 Your Majesty, it was you who took the initiative last night.
At this moment, Zhao Ying also had a do-or-die mentality.
Now, Shen Yulou was his only hope.
His mother, Consort Qing, being sent to the Cold Palace, was a huge blow to him.
However, if his leg could be healed, there would still be room to salvage everything.
He vividly remembered how much Emperor Ren had favored him back then, the appreciative gaze, and the gentle words.
Later, after his leg broke, Emperor Ren's regretful and disappointed eyes pierced Zhao Ying's heart like daggers.
He dreamed of his broken leg recovering.
Now, Shen Yulou had given him hope.
This was his lifeline, so if the Noble Consort dared to force her way in today, Zhao Ying would truly kill her.
The Noble Consort looked at the murderous Zhao Ying, and a desire to retreat arose in her heart.
After a moment of hesitation, she said,
"This Consort is also here to capture a traitor. Since His Royal Highness believes there is no traitor inside, then so be it."
After speaking, the Noble Consort quickly left with her people.
It would be troublesome if the Empress returned and saw them.
Zhao Ying stood at the entrance for a while.
Soon, the Empress returned furiously, having heard about what happened on the way. She was extremely enraged.
The Noble Consort was too bold; she was practically shitting on her head!
This time, she would definitely teach her a harsh lesson!
Returning to the entrance, seeing Zhao Ying, the Empress's expression softened slightly.
"Greetings, Imperial Mother."
The Empress was somewhat surprised. Before, Zhao Ying would not speak to her, but now he was so polite and even helped her guard the main gate.
If it weren't for Zhao Ying today, it would have been troublesome if the Noble Consort had broken in.
Could it be that Consort Qing's downfall made Zhao Ying want to seek her patronage?
If Zhao Ying truly thought that, the Empress would not refuse.
She had no sons of her own, which always put her at a disadvantage.
If she had a prince by her side, even if he wasn't her biological son, it would be greatly beneficial to her.
"Zhao Ying, I heard about Consort Qing's matter. You are still young. If you need any help, come find Imperial Mother.
Although you are not my biological son, I have watched you grow up since childhood. Imperial Mother can support you in the future."
Zhao Ying politely said, "Thank you, Imperial Mother!"
After Zhao Ying left, the Empress returned to her sleeping quarters.
Seeing Shen Yulou lying on her pillow, holding one of her undergarments and sniffing it, the Empress's pretty face immediately flushed red.
"Shen Yulou, you are quite leisurely. Do you know what a mess it is outside because of you?"
Shen Yulou smiled, "Your Majesty, it's not my fault either. I was forced."
The Empress snorted coldly, snatched back her personal clothing, and threw it aside. Leaving Shen Yulou here was truly the biggest mistake!
The Empress tightly closed the door to her sleeping quarters, forbidding anyone from entering.
"Shen Yulou, now tell me about the Noble Consort's weakness."
Shen Yulou said, "The Noble Consort has a lover in the court. I once stumbled upon them meeting in private."
The Empress's eyes immediately lit up, "Where? Who is it?"
Shen Yulou said, "Your Majesty, I cannot say. When His Majesty wakes up and I am safe, I will tell you."
The Empress's expression darkened, "What do you mean? You don't trust me?"
"Yes."
"..."
The Empress was speechless. This fellow was truly direct enough.
"Shen Yulou, this Consort is taking a huge risk by sheltering you. Is there no trust at all?"
Shen Yulou said, "I also trusted the Noble Consort back then, but she turned around and tried to kill me. There's nothing I can do; I don't trust anyone now."
Shen Yulou had seen through it. None of these women in the palace were easy to deal with.
One second they would be polite to you, and the next they would find someone to kill you.
Even with the Empress, with whom he had already slept, he dared not be careless.
If the Empress learned the secret and then had Shen Yulou killed, he would have nowhere to cry.
The Empress said, "Alright, you said His Majesty will wake up in these two days. I will give you time. Tonight... tonight you will sleep here. You go over there."
The Empress's bed was quite large. Shen Yulou was arranged by the Empress in a corner, with the two of them at opposite ends, separated by a quilt, which felt somewhat like being worlds apart.
The Empress closed her eyes but couldn't fall asleep for a long time.
Too many things had happened these past few days. She wondered what Emperor Ren would be like when he woke up.
If she could eliminate the Noble Consort, this major hidden danger, then today's efforts would not be in vain.
In the middle of the night, the Empress had that shameful dream again.
"Minister Shen, be a little gentler..."
This time, the dream was remarkably vivid, as if it had truly happened.
The Empress bit the quilt, not daring to make a sound. After being tormented for over half an hour, she fell into a deep sleep again.
Early the next morning, the Empress was awakened by her biological clock.
When she woke up, she felt sore all over, but the thing she was resting her head on was incredibly warm and comfortable. She held onto it tightly, unwilling to let go, and unwilling to wake up.
Something was wrong!
The Empress suddenly opened her eyes.
She saw Shen Yulou, bare-chested, holding her. She was lying in his arms, intimately close.
And the Empress's clothes were gone, with the after-effects of last night's passion still lingering.
The Empress felt her scalp tingle, and only then did she realize that last night was not a dream at all, but Shen Yulou taking advantage of her while she was asleep to... The Empress was about to shout, but she quickly came to her senses. She was furious and suddenly bit Shen Yulou's arm.
"Damn it!"
Shen Yulou was sleeping soundly when this Empress, like a dog, almost made him jump up with one bite.
Shen Yulou sat up, looking at the deep teeth marks on his arm, feeling a bit speechless.
"Your Majesty, why such a heavy bite?"
The Empress said through clenched teeth, "Shen Yulou, you are getting more and more presumptuous. What did you do to me?"
"Your Majesty, you were the one who initiated it last night."
"You're spouting nonsense! Would this Consort initiate anything with you?"
"Really, last night you were even talking in your sleep, saying that the Emperor was impotent, that you never felt satisfied, and that only with Minister Shen was it truly pleasurable..."
The Empress's face was flushed with shame, "Shut your mouth! This Consort would never say such vulgar things! Shen Yulou, get out tonight, get out! Your death has nothing to do with this Consort!"
Shen Yulou was speechless. He had said yesterday that women were fickle. It was right not to trust the Empress.
The Empress sat up, about to get dressed, and noticed Shen Yulou staring at her body.
The Empress whispered,
"Turn around!"
Shen Yulou was helpless. They had already done it, what was there to be afraid of by looking?
A moment later, the Empress was dressed, having regained the demeanor of the mistress of the Inner Palace.
"This Consort is going to see the Emperor. You be careful."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
The Empress glared at him, called Bai Yu, and walked out of Kunning Palace.
It was strange, but when she had just woken up in bed, she felt sore all over.
But now, walking out of the palace, with the sunlight on her, the Empress felt refreshed and indescribably at ease.
The Empress remembered something, her cheeks slightly flushed, and asked,
"Bai Yu, when I was sleeping a few days ago, did I ever say anything else in my dreams?"
Bai Yu's expression was strange, "Your Majesty, I dare not say