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When Li Yunli opened her eyes, she felt clean and refreshed, without any discomfort.
It seemed that Yun Chu was quite skilled last night—careful, considerate, and making sure she didn’t feel any discomfort at all.
However, she was well aware that given those positions, he must have been exhausted.
She lowered her gaze, and sure enough, Yun Chu was curled up under the blanket, sleeping soundly.
His cheek rested against a soft pillow, and perhaps because he had turned over in his sleep, some strands of hair stuck to his face. His long eyelashes trembled slightly, making him look peaceful and serene.
He was so deep in slumber that even by the time morning arrived, he showed no signs of waking.
He was truly exhausted.
Li Yunli couldn’t help but smile. She got up and dressed, just as the maids came in with washing essentials.
She hadn’t intended to wake him, but the commotion of people entering was inevitably different from the quiet of a dream.
After freshening up, she saw Yun Chu rubbing his eyes and mumbling sleepily.
“You’re awake?”
She lowered her voice.
Yun Chu wasn’t fully conscious yet. He cracked one eye open, looked at Li Yunli, and propped himself up, trying to sit up in bed.
Li Yunli gestured with her hand, “It was quite late last night. Since you have nothing urgent today, sleep a little longer.”
Yun Chu immediately lay back down, without the slightest hesitation.
Li Yunli chuckled, “Are you very tired?”
Yun Chu, still lying down, shook his head but then stretched his arms out from under the blanket, pushed himself up again, and yawned to wake himself.
Li Yunli found it amusing—his hair was still unkempt from sleep, and he looked utterly defenseless, like a cat that had just taken a perfect nap under the sun.
He had truly worked hard last night.
She could feel it—his movements carried both a sense of flattery and a need to prove himself.
So he had been both gentle and strong, every action filled with eager seeking and deep cherishing.
Since Li Yunli had entered this world, this was the first time.
And in Yun Chu’s mind, this was also his first time in this lifetime.
For him, Li Yunli accepting him was a moment of joy.
That’s why he had been both cautious and full of love, making it last quite a while.
Seeing her expression now, he knew she was satisfied.
Yet even so, he refused to admit he was tired.
After resting against the bed for only a moment, Yun Chu got out of bed barefoot.
“Hey, the floor is cold.”
Before she could finish speaking, she saw Yun Chu, barely keeping his eyes open, reach out and hug her.
He was only wearing a thin inner garment, still carrying the warmth of being under the blankets. When he leaned in, he felt completely warm and cozy.
Resting his chin on her shoulder, he murmured, “Where is Your Highness going?”
His tone and actions were just like a clingy little cat not wanting its owner to leave the house.
Li Yunli sighed and rubbed his back, “We’ve been back in the capital for two days. There’s morning court today. If you’re up, put on some clothes, or you’ll catch a cold.”
“Oh.”
Yun Chu didn’t move his chin, only his head, before reluctantly letting go.
Li Yunli unconsciously smiled. Seeing that it was getting late, she said to the still-groggy Yun Chu, “If you’re still tired, rest a bit longer. I should be back before noon.”
“I won’t sleep anymore.” Yun Chu scratched the back of his head and pulled out his clothes. “Your Highness, come back early.”
“Got it.”
This was Li Yunli’s third day back in the capital and her first official return to court.
Technically, it was also her first time attending the morning court of the Chu Kingdom since entering this world.
The original owner of her body, despite her noble status, only attended court once a month for political discussions. Most major court affairs were reported to her in her own estate.
After Li Yunli arrived, she had gone on the Yongzhou mission almost immediately. So, all in all, this was her first time meeting all the officials.
She had already read extensively about the state of the Chu Kingdom in the original owner’s study and had met many key figures at the Bai Guo Banquet. She was confident she wouldn’t make any major mistakes.
Moreover, today’s main goal was to meet the young emperor, Li Han.
In order to counter her influence, the Empress Dowager had kept the boy under strict confinement for a long time. It wasn’t until Li Yunli entered the capital that his restrictions were eased.
Seeing him seated on the throne today marked the end of that power struggle.
That much was expected.
What she didn’t expect was another person’s presence.
She knew this man.
Although he hadn’t attended her Bai Guo Banquet last year, she had seen his face in her dreams.
He was the very uncle who had once opposed her in court after she rescued Yun Chu from prison following the fall of the Wei Kingdom—Prince Changling.
By all logic, Li Yunli had always believed that this uncle of hers utterly despised her.
Not only had he opposed her in court, but he also never associated with her at private gatherings. In fact, she had even found handwritten insults about him in the original owner’s notes.
During the morning session, she formally reported on her mission to Yongzhou, clearly outlining both achievements and shortcomings.
The moment she finished speaking, Prince Changling stepped forward.
Her instinct told her he was about to criticize her. She was already prepared for it.
But then—
Holding his wooden memorial tablet, Prince Changling bowed to the young emperor and instead lavishly praised her:
“Your Majesty, the esteemed Princess Nian’an has worked tirelessly and exceeded expectations. Not only has she completed her mission brilliantly, but she has also demonstrated great diligence, purity, and integrity. I request that Your Majesty bestow her a generous reward.”
Li Yunli blinked. Did she mishear that?
Prince Changling, the very man who had always opposed her, was now praising her and requesting a reward on her behalf? That alone was shocking enough. But “purity and integrity”?
She clearly remembered that when she had announced she would take Yun Chu as her consort, Prince Changling’s eyebrows nearly flew off his face. He had been the most vocal opponent, and his faction of officials had followed suit in denouncing her.
And now, all of a sudden, she was being praised?
Something felt off.
To her even greater surprise, many officials echoed his sentiments.
“I second that.”
“I second that as well.”
One after another.
As she was still reeling from the situation, an unfamiliar official even knelt down and proclaimed,
“The National Preceptor speaks the truth. The Princess Nian’an has returned with her soul restored—she is a blessing to our Great Chu! I second the motion!”
Li Yunli felt like something in her mind snapped.
So it was because of the divinations from the Bureau of Celestial Affairs again?
She recalled that the old National Preceptor had given her a favorable omen at the Bai Guo Banquet before she left the capital. Now that she had returned triumphant, everyone was taking it as fact.
She suddenly felt a bit dazed, even finding the whole thing absurd.
If not for the months of personal experience she had in this world, she might have thought she had traveled into a fantasy realm driven purely by mysticism.
She barely registered the exact details of the emperor’s reward. As she stood there, she found it increasingly difficult to tell what was real and what was not.
As morning court ended and she followed the crowd out, she was suddenly stopped by Prince Changling.
“Nian’an, wait a moment.”
Li Yunli took a deep breath before slowly turning back.
Prince Changling, smiling warmly, approached her. The sense of unreality surged again.
“Uncle.”
She forced a small smile and greeted him.
“You’ve just returned. I’ve prepared a banquet at my estate to welcome you. Come with me.”
Prince Changling invited her with great enthusiasm.
Li Yunli felt uneasy.
She politely declined, citing Yun Chu waiting for her at home.
But then—
“Oh, don’t worry. I already had someone invite your consort over. He’s at my estate now.”
Her expression changed instantly.