Chapter 42: Feng Moheng Seeks an Audience

Quan Minghe and Shen Yuling were lost in their passionate embrace within the Weiyang Palace.

Meanwhile, Feng Moheng was frantic, having searched high and low for Shen Yuling without success.

He had meticulously scoured every corner of the Taiji Palace grounds, but his efforts proved futile.

The Taiji Hall was located within the imperial palace’s front court.

A large-scale search for someone within this area required the Emperor’s permission.

Therefore, as soon as the banquet ended, Feng Moheng rushed to the Weiyang Palace, eager to seek an audience with the Emperor and plead for permission to search for his wife.

Li Ming, the Emperor’s trusted servant, was about to refuse the request for the Prince of Lingyang to enter the Weiyang Palace, considering the Princess was currently with the Emperor.

However, he was merely a servant, unable to make such a decision.

He had to consult the Emperor first.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Prince of Lingyang seeks an audience.”

Li Ming, with a heavy heart, reluctantly reported the request.

The tangled web of relationships between these three individuals was truly awkward.

Having served the Emperor for years, Li Ming never imagined such complex and thorny relationships would involve the Emperor.

Hearing the words “Prince of Lingyang,” Shen Yuling was startled.

She quickly removed Quan Minghe’s hand from her eyes.

Almost instinctively, she rose from Quan Minghe, moved to the edge of the bed, and placed her feet on the footrest.

Her expression was one of panic.

Quan Minghe leaned back against the headboard nonchalantly.

He reached out with his right hand and wrapped it around Shen Yuling’s slender waist, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Where are you going?”

Quan Minghe raised an eyebrow slightly.

Was she afraid?

Shen Yuling turned her head to look at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

She spoke urgently, “Hide!”

“Didn’t you say you wanted the Prince of Lingyang to see how intimate we are?”

A knowing smile played on Quan Minghe’s lips.

He didn’t know if she was serious when she said that.

But.

Quan Minghe had taken her words seriously.

He had initially planned to come up with an excuse to send Feng Moheng to a different palace, then have Shen Yuling under him in a room separated by only a wall. He envisioned her reaching the peak of pleasure amidst a mixture of joy and fear.

He also intended to inflict a blow on Feng Moheng’s already wounded heart, caused by his impotence.

Quan Minghe still couldn’t fully accept that his woman was another man’s wife. If not for his reluctance to tarnish her reputation, why would he endure this hardship?

However, tonight, he was drugged, and his plans were foiled.

Unexpectedly, Feng Moheng had come to him.

Quan Minghe tightened his grip, pulling Shen Yuling closer to his chest.

Shen Yuling was stunned.

This…

She had said she wanted Feng Moheng to see their intimacy, but it couldn’t be so straightforward, with the three of them facing each other in the Emperor’s bedchamber!

Seeing her reluctance, Quan Minghe’s possessiveness surged within him.

At the banquet earlier.

He watched Feng Moheng and Shen Yuling appear as a couple, receiving praise from Liu Zhaoyi for their perfect match.

He felt a suffocating sense of frustration, but he couldn’t express it.

He was the Emperor, how long had it been since he felt this kind of frustration?

Initially, he thought Shen Yuling was incredibly bold, daring to let Feng Moheng witness their intimacy without fear.

Quan Minghe narrowed his long, narrow eyes.

He instructed Li Ming, “Let him in.”

Li Ming was taken aback.

What did the Emperor just say?

Let the Prince in?

This… What does it mean?

Was the Emperor planning to make this public?

To directly seize his nephew’s wife?

Although Li Ming was filled with confusion and shock, he dared not question further.

He could only respond, “Yes.”

Shen Yuling hadn’t even had time to react before Quan Minghe pulled her back onto the bed.

“Clothes!”

Shen Yuling exclaimed, pointing to the scattered clothes on the floor, a testament to their passionate encounter.

If Feng Moheng saw her discarded clothes on the floor, there would be no way to conceal their actions.

Quan Minghe calmly instructed Li Ming, “Send a maid in to tidy up.”

Li Ming went out and called for the maids. After they swiftly cleaned the Emperor’s bedchamber, restoring everything to its original state, he adjusted his expression, appearing calm and composed, before leaving.

“Your Highness, the Emperor has granted you entry.”

Feng Moheng nodded.

As he entered the room.

Quan Minghe was leaning back against the headboard, looking relaxed.

Shen Yuling pretended to be afraid, burying herself under the covers, leaving only her head exposed.

Since Quan Minghe wanted to play, she would play along.

Wasn’t he just trying to see her shame and embarrassment?

This must be the kind of unique thrill men enjoyed.

Shen Yuling sneered inwardly.

But she continued to act terrified.

After all, Feng Moheng wouldn’t dare look inside.

Feng Moheng kept his head bowed.

His eyes dared not wander, for this was the Emperor’s bedchamber, a place of solemnity and grandeur, not allowing for any disrespect.

“Your humble servant greets Your Majesty.”

“Rise.”

Quan Minghe spoke in a low voice, his imperial authority radiating.

Hearing the Emperor’s voice, Feng Moheng felt a sense of unease.

As a man himself, how could he not detect the hint of desire in those words?

The Emperor was just now…

The timing of his arrival seemed a bit off. But…

“It’s so late, what brings you here?”

“Your Majesty, my wife left the Taiji Hall during the banquet, saying she wanted to get some fresh air. But she hasn’t returned yet.”

Feng Moheng’s words were filled with worry.

“I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to send a guard to help search for her.”

Hearing the word “wife,” Quan Minghe unconsciously pursed his lips.

His eyes darkened.

He reached out and pulled Shen Yuling, who was curled up in the covers with her back to him, towards him.

Feng Moheng, still looking down, dared not raise his eyes, even though a thick bed curtain separated them.

But he could clearly hear the rustling sounds.

The Emperor’s Taiji Palace had never been entered by any concubine.

Furthermore, the Emperor’s birthday had never involved summoning any concubine for an overnight stay.

The fact that there was a concubine in the Emperor’s bedchamber today, could it be that there was a new, highly favored concubine in the harem?

It seemed that a mysterious and highly favored Concubine Shen had recently emerged in the harem.

Could the one in the Emperor’s bedchamber now be Concubine Shen?

If it was indeed her, then the Emperor truly doted on her.

The rumors were not unfounded.

Quan Minghe’s gaze fell upon Shen Yuling, who was blushing and covering her mouth, glaring at him with her beautiful eyes, due to his touch.

“The Prince of Lingyang’s wife is missing in the imperial palace. But it’s late at night now, and a large-scale search might cause unnecessary panic.”

Quan Minghe deliberately spoke to Shen Yuling, emphasizing the word “wife” with a particular tone.

Hearing the Emperor’s words, Feng Moheng realized that his request was being denied.

He felt a surge of anxiety.

Yuling was always a sensible person, it was impossible for her to disappear in the imperial palace without reason.

He was afraid that…

Liu Zhaoyi might take advantage of the situation to harm her.

Feng Moheng knew Jingyi’s jealousy towards Shen Yuling.

Back in the Prince’s residence, no matter how much Jingyi tried to stir trouble, she couldn’t cause much damage.

She would merely compete for things, feigning helplessness and pity in front of him, or resorting to petty tricks like accusing Shen Yuling of having impure intentions.

But now they were in the imperial palace.

Liu Zhaoyi held sway over the harem, and she was Jingyi’s elder sister.

If Jingyi instigated Liu Zhaoyi to target Yuling, it would be completely beyond his control.

“Your Majesty, Yuling is visiting the imperial palace for the first time, she’s not familiar with the layout, she wouldn’t just wander around. I suspect she…”

Before Feng Moheng could finish his sentence.

Suddenly.

“Hmm…”

Shen Yuling, due to a certain action of Quan Minghe’s, instinctively covered her mouth and let out a soft sound.