Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 492: Drawing Closer to Death

Wang Yingluo almost laughed in frustration.

Not domineering by nature?

Even she, a person from the future, knew that Jun Yuyan in his lifetime had only Empress Murong as his wife. Although Jun Yuyan was a man of deep feelings, as an ancient woman, if she had not tenaciously monopolized her husband, how could it be possible for Jun Yuyan to not have several concubines?

As an emperor, countless women yearned for his bed. It was impossible for Jun Yuyan to guard against it every time; certainly, it was Murong Jiu’s intolerance of others that left the harem empty.

Moreover, she had heard more than once from Consort Dowager Qi complaining about Murong Jiu, accusing her of hindering the imperial family from spreading its branches and not tolerating any grit in her eyes.

Consort Dowager Qi even hinted that she should become pregnant sooner to secure her favor with the birth of a royal son.

To this, she sneered.

She was now at her most beautiful age, a perfect time to grow her affection with Jun Yuyan. If she truly became pregnant, wouldn’t that push Jun Yuyan towards other women?

Jun Yuyan was in his prime, how could he abstain every day? Now he was recovering from a serious illness and lacked desire, but that might not be the case after some time. Once a man tasted the forbidden fruit, it would be hard to stop.

By then, she would be carrying a big belly, her figure distorted, and after childbirth, she would need to nurse, leading to sagging, which was even more unattractive.

She had seen countless pristine women become disfigured by childbirth. Exercise could shape the body, but sagging was irreversible; one had to have surgery to fix it if it occurred.

Her body was currently eighteen years old, with a narrow pelvis; childbirth would definitely be tortuous. It would be better to wait another two years for her body to be fully developed before having children.

Moreover, she had enough confidence to occupy Jun Yuyan’s heart completely within the next two or three years.

But unexpectedly, Murong Jiu couldn’t keep her composure and had started to fight with her for favor.

It was indeed laughable.

So the Empress Murong described in the history books as uncompetitive and broad-minded was after all just a pitiful and ridiculous woman who would stop at nothing for favor.

At this moment, Wang Yingluo had no more historical regard for Murong Jiu and even thought it was good that Murong Jiu was impatient, as the more she targeted her, the faster Jun Yuyan would grow tired of her.

Without a third party, how could she demonstrate the strength of her relationship with Jun Yuyan?

With these thoughts, Wang Yingluo sniffled and lowered her head, saying:

"Your Majesty the Empress, you are mistaken, I feel no grievance. I am just an ordinary village girl, how dare I feel aggrieved before you and His Majesty. Your love for each other is deep, I am just an outsider, I should not disturb you both, I shall leave now!"

As she spoke, she curtsied and turned to leave, tears slipping from her eyes just as she turned.

She saw Jun Yuyan’s anxious expression and Murong Jiu’s furrowed brows, her hands clenched tightly on her clothes to contain her anger. A cold sneer filled her heart, Murong Jiu, the more you target me, the longer His Majesty will console me, you are still too green to compete with me!

As expected, no sooner had she run out of the pavilion than Jun Yuyan left Murong Jiu behind to chase after her.

Wang Yingluo’s lips curled up, but more tears welled up in her eyes.

Jun Yuyan caught up with her in a few steps, blocking her path, and said to her:

"Ah Ying, you misunderstood. I just happened to see the Empress and wanted to ask her a few things, there’s nothing more between us!"

Wang Yingluo wouldn’t listen, "I am the most insignificant woman in the palace, rootless and transient like duckweed. How could I meddle with His Majesty and the Empress? You are husband and wife, with children of your own. I am merely seen as a third party by others! It would be better for His Majesty to let me go home, at least I have the love of my father and brothers!"

"Ah Ying, don’t speak in anger, don’t you understand my intentions?"

She understood, but she still had to act petulantly.

Sniffling, with red-rimmed eyes, she looked up at Jun Yuyan, "Brother Yan, do you think I’m not good as well? The Empress may dislike me, but for Brother Yan, I can bear the infamy. But if even you, Brother Yan, think like the Empress, finding me to be unreasonable..."

"I know you’re not being unreasonable. You’re kind-hearted and intelligent, a rare good woman in this world. Ah Ying, I apologize for the misunderstanding."

The Emperor had already apologized in a subdued voice, and Wang Yingluo, aware that too much was as bad as too little, quickly said, "I don’t want your apology. I was just feeling a bit uncomfortable seeing you touch the Empress’s hair. In the end, it’s my fault. You are the ruler of a nation, how could I be angry with you?"

Her understanding and reasonable attitude truly moved Jun Yuyan, making his expression grow even warmer.

"Just now, I was only trying to pick a leaf out of the Empress’s hair. She had previously supported the court with her frail body, and I respect her for that, but it wasn’t as you thought."

Hearing this, Wang Yingluo felt a bit displeased inside. A woman, what is there to respect.

Many a love gradually stems from guilt.

She was a bit worried that Jun Yuyan, out of this bit of guilt, wouldn’t depose Empress Murong Jiu.

But on the surface, she nodded and said, "So it was like that. It really was a misunderstanding on my part. I’m sorry, Brother Yan, I’m just too sensitive. Plus, we haven’t seen each other for over half a month, and I was worried that you would forget about me and fall in love with someone else."

"That will never happen, my heart can only accommodate one person,"

Jun Yuyan said looking at her, his expression revealing no flaws.

Being watched by his deep and gentle eyes, Wang Yingluo met his gaze, but she was the first to lower her head, her face flushed with shyness.

Her heart was brimming with sweetness, like a little deer in chaos.

Anyone watched by such a handsome and distinguished man would find their heart aflutter.

The hands that Jun Yuyan kept behind his back clenched tightly together.

"You haven’t eaten yet, have you, Ah Ying? Come dine with me,"

With her face still red, Wang Yingluo nodded and reported a few dishes, "I want these dishes. The last time we changed chefs, I didn’t get to eat them, and I’ve been thinking about them ever since I left the palace."

"Oh? There’s been a change of chefs in the palace?"

Jun Yuyan pretended not to know and continued before Wang Yingluo could subtly blame Empress Murong, "No wonder I’ve felt that the recent meals are more to my taste."

With that said, the words Wang Yingluo wanted to say were stuck in her throat. If the Emperor was satisfied with the chef, she could no longer voice her dissatisfaction.

However, turning her head and seeing the Empress still standing in the pavilion, gazing in their direction from afar, Wang Yingluo’s mood lightened again.

She said, "Her Majesty the Empress is watching us. She won’t be angry if I dine with you, Brother Yan, will she?"

Without even turning his head, Jun Yuyan replied indifferently, "As the Empress, how could she lack the magnanimity to tolerate others? You need not worry about it."

The corners of Wang Yingluo’s mouth turned up, growing even more triumphant.

After dining together in Qianqing Palace, she excitedly talked to Jun Yuyan about her recent inventions.

Besides strong liquor, papermaking technique, printing technique, soap, and mahjong, she had also invented cement and a method to refine coarse salt.

In truth, all she needed was to provide the ideas, and Lou Zixi along with her two capable "assistants" would implement them.

Cement had already been successfully created, the materials were simple: limestone, clay, and iron ore.

With the current Emperor backing her, iron ore, which was inaccessible to the commoners, was a trivial matter for her; the Emperor would grant her all the convenience she needed.

So cement was quickly produced, and in the future, it could be used to build strong and durable houses, moving beyond the use of bricks and mud.

This time, Jun Yuyan genuinely laughed from the bottom of his heart.

However, Wang Yingluo had no idea that once her usefulness ran out, it might be the time of her demise.

"Brother Yan, when will you announce that these inventions come from me?"