The prince is more stable

Chapter 1005 The True Face
There were many concubines in the harem, but Zhao Xiaoqian never favored any of them.

He still lived with the same few wives and concubines he had known before.

Zhao Xiaoqian would certainly not claim to be devoted to one woman, after all, with seven or eight wives and concubines surrounding him, the scene had nothing to do with "devotion" at all, and he never thought that being amorous was a fault.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. That's how society was in ancient times. One husband with one wife and multiple concubines was written into the law.

In a patriarchal society, if Zhao Xiaoqian were to jump out and shout, "How dare you laugh at Yang Guo for not being devoted to love?" the men might not say anything, but Zhao Xiaoqian would surely be scorned to death by their gazes and die without a trace.

In this society, once you have a certain status, you will definitely have concubines; it's just a matter of how many.

If Zhao Xiaoqian had been even slightly more promiscuous, he would have ruined every single one of the concubines in the harem.

The reason he hasn't favored them yet is because Zhao Xiaoqian always feels something is missing.

What they lacked was the experience and growth they shared with Zhao Xiaoqian. What they wanted was the emperor's favor, not Zhao Xiaoqian himself.

It doesn't matter who the county magistrate is; what matters is that they must be the county magistrate's wives.

This inevitably made Zhao Xiaoqian feel a little uncomfortable.

Therefore, after Zhao Xiaoqian ascended the throne, he had no interest in these women in the harem. He simply kept them in the palace and supported them for free. He still lived his life with Di Ying and the others. In Zhao Xiaoqian's heart, Di Ying and the others were his true husband and wife and family.

However, among all the women in the harem, Xue Meiyun was an exception, leaving a deep impression on Zhao Xiaoqian.

Xue Meiyun is definitely an ambitious woman. She works very hard, like an indomitable dodder, firmly clinging to her own big tree, with the lifelong goal of sticking to him tightly.

Honestly, someone with this kind of perseverance would have been a company vice president long ago if they were in their previous life.

She was destined to achieve nothing in this world and could only make men her career. Even so, she would strive to become the most supreme woman in the world.

Xue Meiyun was different from Zhao Xiaoqian's other wives and concubines. She was ambitious and proud, and she didn't even mind showing her ambition and pride in front of him.

Because concealing one's ambition and arrogance is an extremely difficult task, and sooner or later it will be exposed. When the disguise is suddenly torn off, the true face revealed will be more detestable than ugliness, and at that time, she will lose everything.

Since that's the case, why not just be frank and tell Zhao Xiaoqian openly, "I want to be your woman. I'm approaching you with the intention of getting rich and powerful. My value goes beyond just my beauty. So, do you want me or not?"

Xue Meiyun stood timidly in front of Zhao Xiaoqian, and when Zhao Xiaoqian asked her a question, she simply covered her mouth and chuckled.

He knew the tricks of the trade, and she knew he knew them too.

Every time Zhao Xiaoqian strolled through the palace gardens, Xue Meiyun would deliberately create chance encounters, using her singing to attract him and leave a deep impression on him.

Zhao Xiaoqian had already seen through it all, but so what?

Just one question: Did the Emperor have a deep impression of her?

If it happens, her goal will have been achieved.

Whether the impression is good or bad doesn't matter. She has plenty of time to let the emperor get to know her. Even if it's a bad impression, she's confident she can turn it around and change it.

This demonstrates Xue Meiyun's ability and courage.

So many women in the harem were eyeing the Emperor, but they had no power to act on it. What they longed for was for the Emperor to seize their favor in a way that was like a raid on their homes.

They stayed in their own palaces every day, bathing and changing clothes at fixed times, putting on their most appropriate makeup, wearing what they thought were the most attractive clothes to the emperor, sitting quietly in their palaces until late at night, and then removing their makeup with a disappointed look. Day after day, the cycle continued endlessly.

Xue Meiyun would never be such a passive woman. Happiness and wealth are things that one must actively strive for.

She never believed in free lunches, so she constantly created chance encounters, used her singing to attract the official, actively flattered and befriended women like Di Ying, and spared no expense in sending the official birthday gifts...

Before entering the palace, she was also a young lady from an official family. To go to such lengths for a man, let alone say that she has lowered her status, if that man were the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, she would be willing to lower herself like this.

Today, Xue Meiyun appeared outside the Funing Palace. She had been standing there for more than an hour, and her legs were getting numb, but she still stood there without moving, waiting for a chance encounter that might not happen.

Now, she has finally gotten what she's been waiting for.

Zhao Xiaoqian knew what she was waiting for. She wasn't waiting for him as a person; she was waiting for an opportunity called "soaring to great heights."

Zhao Xiaoqian didn't mind. If both sides showed their cards, then they wouldn't compare the card values, but would purely rely on card-playing skills.

Xue Meiyun is undoubtedly a skilled worker at the mahjong table.

Her value lies in her stunning beauty, but Zhao Xiaoqian knows very well that she has another value: intelligence.

A smart woman is also a kind of value to a man, perhaps more valuable than so-called beauty.

The premise is that this man must have the ability to conquer her, subdue her, and use her for his own purposes.

Of course, she may have other values, but Zhao Xiaoqian has had little contact with her and hasn't discovered them yet. That's okay, there's plenty of time to discover them in the future.

They're all old foxes from Liaozhai; let's not even mention "accidental encounters." No one would create such an encounter outside the emperor's bedchamber—that's just plain stupid. It's more like a sasaeng fan waiting for their idol to steal his used underwear. "Is Your Majesty planning to go on an incognito inspection tour?" Xue Meiyun raised her eyebrows slightly, then quickly lowered them again.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked down at himself. He thought he looked quite good today. Zheng Chunhe had somehow found a set of purple casual clothes, paired with a silver jade belt, making him look exactly like a playboy who was out partying in broad daylight, the kind who was particularly wasteful.

“Ah, let’s go out of the palace for a stroll and observe the people’s conditions.” Zhao Xiaoqian nodded righteously.

Xue Meiyun's lips curled slightly as she whispered, "Your Majesty, I also wish to leave the palace with you to pray at the Xiangguo Temple. Would Your Majesty allow me to accompany you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian hesitated for a moment, but quickly agreed.

Although this woman is a bit of a green tea bitch, she's beautiful. If a man takes her out on the street, he'll feel very proud.

Don't think that emperors don't care about face. Emperors care about face more than ordinary people, especially when it comes to women.

"Go away!"

Xue Meiyun chuckled, her expression revealing a hint of joy and excitement, but she tried hard to suppress it, her eyes, like autumn water, were filled with excited ripples.

On his first incognito trip out of the palace with Xue Meiyun, Zhao Xiaoqian didn't seem to have any particular feelings and continued to wander around at his own pace.

This time when Zhao Xiaoqian left the palace, the security around him was much stronger. As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, he saw hundreds of Imperial Guards dressed in plain clothes. After greeting Zhao Xiaoqian, these hundreds of guards took their leave first, disappearing into the sea like drops of water.

I didn't see Chen Shou. Last time, he risked his life to protect Zhao Xiaoqian and was seriously injured. He is still recovering.

With Xue Meiyun by his side, Zhao Xiaoqian walked along the Imperial Street, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the common people and merchants passing by, and sometimes lingering on Xue Meiyun for a moment.

After leaving the palace, Xue Meiyun seemed to awaken a different personality. At this time, she appeared very cheerful and happy. She was interested in everything she saw and would always stop to observe for a while. If she found something she liked, she would even pay for it herself.

Before she knew it, the bags carried by the students behind her were already full of all sorts of odds and ends she had bought: food, decorations, and even so-called cultural relics unearthed last week, which were obviously fake.

Overjoyed, Xue Meiyun turned around unintentionally, only to see Zhao Xiaoqian looking at her with great interest. Xue Meiyun was immediately startled and began to secretly reflect on whether she had forgotten herself.

So she reverted to her delicate, shy, and pitiful demeanor, walked to Zhao Xiaoqian's side, and whispered, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Since I came to Bianjing, I have been living in the inner palace and have never left the palace gates. Today, I have finally come out, so it is inevitable that I am a little... undignified."

Zhao Xiaoqian hummed in agreement and said, "It's alright, that's how women are when they go shopping. It just goes to show that you're the epitome of womanhood."

Xue Meiyun pursed her lips and smiled softly without saying a word.

Zhao Xiaoqian continued, "Going shopping is understandable, but could you please stop acting all shy and pitiful? Your persona is a bit fake. Why not go back to your true personality? Anyway, you should have realized that I don't fall for the weak, delicate, and pitiful act. Why not change your persona?"

Xue Meiyun's face stiffened instantly. After a long while, she let out a soft breath and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. My personality... is indeed not like that."

"But if my true nature is revealed, I'm a little worried that His Majesty will be disgusted and displeased, and will never want to see me again..."

Zhao Xiaoqian raised an eyebrow: "You can give it a try; maybe I'll like it."

On the bustling street, Xue Meiyun and Zhao Xiaoqian stood facing each other, while the Imperial Guards stood guard around them, subtly surrounding them and separating them from the passersby.

After a long while, Zhao Xiaoqian was astonished to find that Xue Meiyun had changed.

Her facial features remained unchanged, and even her expression was the same, but Zhao Xiaoqian could clearly sense that Xue Meiyun had changed.

His features, which had remained unchanged, gradually became cold and arrogant, even carrying a hint of arrogance, as if he looked down on everyone and everything in the world with equal disdain.

Her gaze was no longer as weak and pitiful as before, but rather held a haughty condescension, as if she positioned herself as a deity. However, she showed no pity, but rather a superior attitude.

From being weak and pitiful, yet displaying sharpness, it only took a moment.

She had the same eyebrows and facial features, and she hadn't even changed her clothes or hairstyle, yet she had changed so much that her whole demeanor and aura were completely different.

Compared to the timid and gentle Xue Meiyun from before, she had become a completely different person, as if she had been possessed.

Zhao Xiaoqian stared at her in a daze, utterly amazed.

This woman is amazing!

Now, she is the real deal—a high-ranking official's daughter. That aloof, arrogant, and disdainful air is something no one who hasn't experienced it can fake.

Zhao Xiaoqian stared at her intently for a long time, then gently exhaled and said, "Xue Meiyun, is this the real you?"

Xue Meiyun immediately stopped her practice, reverting to her delicate appearance, and asked nervously, "Does the Emperor not like it?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Whether you are sharp and ambitious or weak and pitiful, I don't care. I only want to see the truth."

After a pause, Zhao Xiaoqian added, "Don't worry that I won't like it. I'm a very adaptable person."

"They have no principles whatsoever, they only care about looks."

(End of this chapter)