You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

At this moment, he was not wearing a crown, his black hair was tied up high, and he was dressed in a neat riding outfit, which was completely different from his majestic and solemn demeanor in the court or his calm and sharp demeanor in the harem. There was a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, but his expression was bright and spirited.

Accompanying him in the football game were two imperial guards and a dashing young man in a finely dressed, light blue riding outfit with fur trim. He moved with great speed and followed closely beside the emperor, clearly possessing excellent football skills, and attempted to intercept the ball several times.

"Your Majesty, please accept this!"

A guard passed the ball from the side, and Duanmu Qingyu turned to meet it, his toes lightly hooking the ball so that it stuck firmly to the side of his boot.

The boy immediately closed in, but Duanmu Qingyu suddenly smiled, feinted, and dodged the two players in succession, dribbling the ball straight to the goal...

Raise your foot and unleash a powerful shot!

Piju darted into the net like a shooting star.

The eunuchs standing on the sidelines and the people in the audience booths couldn't help but cheer loudly.

Duanmu Qingyu casually wiped his forehead, panting as he laughed. His smile, reflecting the winter sun, exuded the carefree joy of youth. His fair face, radiant with energy, was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, making his entire face seem to be gilded and sparkling.

Chu Nianci silently drooled over the golden figure running freely for a moment, then looked up and saw Shen Lanbing standing beside him, already turned into a jade statue.

Then a cheer erupted.

The boy spun around and retrieved the ball, wiping his sweat as he said, "Your Majesty's ball skills are superb; I'm finding it increasingly difficult to keep up."

Duanmu Qingyu raised his chin at him, his smile still lingering: "Why be modest, Bai Qing? Your footwork has improved quite a bit."

The young man clasped his hands in a fist salute and laughed loudly, "It was Your Majesty who was being lenient with me!"

Amidst the laughter and chatter, Duanmu Qingyu's gaze inadvertently swept towards the sidelines, meeting Chu Nianci's gaze. His smile remained, and he merely nodded slightly before turning back to the competition.

Chu Nianci watched the running figure quietly, thinking: So even His Majesty has moments like this, running without any calculation, simply indulging in unrestrained joy. Perhaps this unrestrained and exuberant demeanor is his true nature.

Seeing the emperor lost in thought, the young man in blue followed his gaze and also spotted Chu Nianci and Shen Lanbing.

Seeing that they were dressed in neat and elaborate palace attire, with light purple pleated skirts underneath, while everyone else in the room was dressed in smart riding clothes, only the two of them were dressed solemnly, he couldn't help but raise his long eyebrows and a hint of mischief flashed in his peach blossom eyes.

He stepped on the ball with his toe, suddenly turned around, stared at them for a few seconds, a smirk playing on his lips, and then kicked the ball sharply towards them...

With a "thud," the leather ball flew straight at them.

Shen Lanbing was slightly taken aback, but Chu Nianci's expression remained unchanged.

She was a skilled Cuju player when she was in Yangzhou, and often played Cuju with her uncles.

He immediately raised his foot to meet the ball, caught it steadily, and then nimbly spun around and kicked the ball back with a "thud".

Her beautiful twirl, her light purple skirt billowing gracefully, resembled a newly opened lotus flower.

The boy had intended to play a little trick on the boy, but to his surprise, the ball was kicked back steadily. He paused for a moment, then, still not satisfied, kicked it back again.

Chu Nianci caught the ball smoothly and bounced it several times. The ball rose and fell lightly on her instep without falling.

The two stared at each other for a moment, the atmosphere slightly tense.

A look of amazement gradually rose in the boy's eyes.

Only then did he notice that she was wearing a palace dress of the rank of a low-ranking concubine, and realized that she was one of His Majesty's concubines... With such beauty and such ball skills, she must be quite favored by the Emperor.

Upon seeing that it was a palace concubine, the surrounding guards all lowered their heads, stepped back a few paces, and turned away.

At this moment, Duanmu Qingyu also stopped what she was doing, took the cotton towel handed to her by Jingxi to wipe her sweat, looked at Chu Nianci, and then gave a bright smile.

This smile drew the attention of all the palace maids on the sidelines, who all glanced over discreetly.

Shen Lanbing's fair cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head with a delicate, rosy radiance.

Chu Nianci gently touched her hand through her sleeve and pulled her to bow to Duanmu Qingyu.

The people of Daxia are open-minded, and the daily life in the palace is not bound by rigid rules, which is why she dared to bring Shen Lanbing here to relax.

I just didn't expect to meet a foreign man here.

"Hui Changzai's ball skills are quite good," Duanmu Qingyu said with a smile, not minding that they hadn't stood up yet. "I didn't expect you to be such a good player."

Upon seeing this, the young man immediately bowed to Duanmu Qingyu: "Since a beautiful lady has come to visit, this humble subject shall take his leave."

As Chu Nianci stood up, she glanced at the young man... He was about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in brocade robes and jade belt, tall and elegant, with handsome features, especially his pair of amorous peach blossom eyes, which looked at people with deep affection. He was already a rare good-looking man, but unfortunately, standing next to Duanmu Qingyu, who was known for bringing disaster to the country, he was still slightly inferior. If this young man was like a finely carved piece of jade, then the emperor was a natural masterpiece.

Duanmu Qingyu was in a good mood at the moment and called out to him, "Yun Chen, don't go. Wait here for a while. Play another game with me later."

Chu Nianci felt a slight tension in her heart... Yun Chen, she had heard these two names in her previous life.

Bai Yunchen is the grandson of Grand Commandant Bai Zhanling and the elder brother of Consort Bai.

His presence here at this time is detrimental to his plans.

At that time, this person will definitely help Consort Bai. However, she thought that she had only dug a little deeper into Consort Shu's affairs. Even if she continued to investigate, she might be able to find Consort Shu herself.

My mind gradually calmed down.

Upon hearing this, Bai Yunchen bowed and stepped aside.

Duanmu Qingyu casually tidied his loose hair behind his ear, and waved to the two beauties with a charming and elegant air.

Chu Nianci pulled Shen Lanbing to her feet, and Duanmu Qingyu walked closer, asking with a smile, "When did you arrive? I didn't even notice."

Chu Nianci turned her head and smiled: "Your Majesty is so dashing, I was mesmerized."

Seeing the sweat on his forehead and the slight flush on his face from exercise, she gently reminded him, "Your Majesty has just recovered from a cold; you must take care of your health."

"I'm busy reviewing memorials and working on official documents all day long. It's rare to have even half a day of leisure. Although Hui'er is dressed simply today, she has a unique charm." Duanmu Qingyu smiled and shook his head, then turned to Shen Lanbing, "Lady Lan's attire is very elegant today."

Shen Lanbing blushed slightly and lowered her head gently, saying, "Your Majesty is teasing me."

Chu Nianci raised her handkerchief to cover her face and chuckled: "With beauties visiting every day, how can it be considered arduous work? It should be called adding fragrance to the room."

At this moment, a palace maid came over carrying a cloak and a sachet. Seeing the opportunity, Chu Nianci took them first and pretended to casually tie them around Duanmu Qingyu's waist.

She used her sleeve to conceal it, secretly slipping the sachet Shen Lanbing had given her inside, and was about to tie it on...

"Did you make this?" Duanmu Qingyu had already noticed it, his gaze falling on her hands. "Your skills have improved in just a few days."

Chu Nianci paused, then raised her face and smiled sweetly, "Your Majesty is wise... This was actually embroidered by Consort Lan, who asked me to present it to you."

Duanmu Qingyu took the sachet and examined it closely: "The embroidery is quite good, Lan'er, did you make it?"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty made this in your spare time." Shen Lanbing blushed and stammered a little.

She hadn't seen Duanmu Qingyu for a long time, and although she had a lot to say, she didn't know how to begin.

I felt both excited and worried.

Finally, Chu Nianci said gently, "Your Majesty, Consort Lan has missed you terribly since she last saw you."

Shen Lanbing's face turned even redder.

Duanmu Qingyu glanced at Chu Nianci and thought to herself that the two must have a very good relationship.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have brought her along. Didn't she know that this would allow someone else to take her place?

Is she magnanimous, or just too naive?

Duanmu Qingyu looked into her bright and cunning eyes and thought that if she were naive, then he had misjudged her.

Thinking this, he casually gathered the sachet into his palm. "But the one I'm wearing is the one you gave me the other day. Keep this for now and wear it tomorrow."

Chu Nianci deliberately leaned closer, took a light sniff, and said in a drawn-out tone, "It really is my sister's thoughtfulness... It smells so good."

Duanmu Qingyu did not answer, but only glanced at the two sachets and then grasped the one in her hand as well.

Seeing this, Bai Yunchen raised an eyebrow, narrowed his peach blossom eyes, and interjected with a cupped hand: "With two beauties by your side, tenderness during the day and fragrance at night, you have the blessing of having two wives. Your Majesty is surrounded by beauties on both sides. This humble subject is extremely envious."

That's a rather blunt way of putting it.

That was a bit abrupt.

Chu Nianci, being an experienced person, didn't think much of it.

Shen Lanbing blushed instantly, turned away, and was about to leave.

Chu Nianci grabbed her, and smiled at Bai Yunchen with a clear face, "This lord must be enjoying the blessings of having two wives, he certainly knows how to make fun of people."

I remember that Bai Zhanling valued his eldest son very much. Bai Yunchen was almost twenty when he got married and is still unmarried.

She said that to embarrass him.

"This... I am not yet married," Bai Yunchen said awkwardly.

Duanmu Qingyu glanced sideways and chuckled, "It seems I've spoiled you too much. Shall I bestow two beauties upon you tomorrow?"

Bai Yunchen was so frightened that he quickly begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, let alone two, even one would be too much for me to bear. My wife is not yet settled at home, and if I go back, my father will surely scold me for leading Your Majesty astray. If the Empress Dowager finds out, she will reprimand me even more. I would never dare to accept such a double blessing."

Duanmu Qingyu smiled elegantly, gently stroking his dark hair on his robe: "What's wrong with a few words of reprimand? Even if I slap you from both sides, you'll have to endure it. After all, the blessing of having multiple wives is a gift from me..."

"Your Majesty, please spare me..." Bai Yunchen was so shocked that he was about to kneel down.

"Brother Qingyu..." Consort Shu said coquettishly as she walked quickly from the audience corridor.

Her slender figure was wrapped in a stunningly shiny mink cloak, her dress was gorgeous, her almond eyes were slightly raised, her charm was sharp and charming, and her gaze swept over the two of them indifferently, her expression arrogant.

She immediately noticed the exquisite sachet in Duanmu Qingyu's hand. She had already overheard most of the conversation, and jealousy instantly arose on her pretty face.

"Oh, the flowers on this sachet are so exquisitely embroidered. Lady Lan has excellent craftsmanship."

Shen Lanbing quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. I only embroidered it casually in my spare time. If Your Majesty doesn't mind, I will embroider one for you another day."

"How dare I accept your things?" Consort Shu refused verbally, but the jealousy in her eyes was almost overflowing. "Your Majesty, please take this back and grind it into pieces to make shoe uppers..."

Her long almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze cold and unsettling.

She found the woman who publicly competed with her for favor utterly repulsive.

Seeing that Consort Shu was so openly jealous, Duanmu Qingyu only raised an eyebrow at her, her brows showing displeasure... Consort Shu immediately lowered her head, not daring to meet her gaze, nor daring to speak carelessly anymore.

Suddenly, faint sounds of singing and dancing drifted from afar, followed by the clear, crisp sound of a Qiang flute.

"It sounds like the Hu Xuan dance." Duanmu Qingyu frowned slightly, flicked the hem of his robe, and walked towards the source of the music.

After passing through the long corridor, Taiye Pond comes into view.

A gentle breeze caressed the lake, reflecting the waterside pavilions and covered bridges like a painting. All around was tranquility, with only the wintersweet blooming in the cold by the pond, its subtle fragrance drifting in the air.

After walking through a long corridor, you'll find that Taiye Pond connects to Mirror Lake.

A gentle breeze caressed the lake, the snow-covered corridors resembled rainbows, and the elegant pavilions reflected the ice.

Winter plum blossoms quietly bloom by the pond, their subtle fragrance wafting in the air.

Just as they were about to head towards Plum Grove, they heard a rapid drumbeat coming from deep within the plum forest, followed by the melodious sound of a Qiang flute.

Duanmu Qingyu was wearing arrow sleeves, so Chu Nianci could see at a glance that he was clenching his fists tightly, forcibly suppressing his anger.

Shen Lanbing frowned slightly, puzzled, and asked, "In the inner garden of the palace, in the quiet Plum Grove, who would dare to play such barbarian music?"

Unbeknownst to others, she had been reading His Majesty's poems these past two days, including the line: "You lie buried beneath the spring, your bones turned to dust; I remain in this world, my head covered in snow."

There must be someone His Majesty wishes to mourn hidden in this plum grove. How could they be so bold?

Chu Nianci was secretly delighted. Following the sound, she saw a section of bright red sash fluttering in the wind like flames.

Beneath the high pavilion overlooking the water in Meiwu, one could see Consort Bai dressed in a red Hu-style robe and wearing small boots, surrounded by several palace maids.

A palace maid with her hair styled in a high bun personally beat a hu drum. The faster the drumbeats, the faster the red-clad woman in the center spun.

Bai Pin spread her arms and turned her waist, her skirt fluttering, her whole body like a burning red flame. With the sound of the drum, she spun faster and faster, her toes seemingly not touching the ground, only blooming a dazzling light and shadow in place.

Accompanied by the clear and melodious sound of the flute, and with the fluttering of their robes, it seemed as if they wanted to sweep the entire garden of quiet snow into a lively swirling motion.

Upon closer inspection, everyone realized that it was Consort Bai dancing with her palace maids.

"How dare you..." Consort Shu narrowed her bright eyes and suddenly shouted.