Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 503 Children are just tools to compete for favor

Chapter 503: Chapter 503 Children are just tools to compete for favor freёnovelkiss.com

Jun Yuyan finished his tea and then realized that the hall was empty.

Chun Tao and Hong Yi had both left, and there was no sign of Murong Jiu.

However, those two were always by Murong Jiu’s side, so she should still be inside the hall.

Walking further in, he indeed saw a graceful figure, partially hidden behind a screen, which only intensified one’s curiosity.

"Your Majesty, please don’t come in yet, I’m changing my clothes."

Murong Jiu spoke hurriedly, speeding up her movements and becoming more flustered.

When she had returned, her clothes had been stained with pollen, and since Zhijin and Zhiyu would be coming soon, she decided to change her clothes, and she had specifically not asked Hong Yi and Chun Tao for help, not anticipating that Jun Yuyan would arrive so quickly.

"It’s not as if I haven’t seen you before, Empress, what are you shy about?"

Jun Yuyan said, thick-skinned as he moved forward. Behind the screen, Murong Jiu, in her haste, had tied her sash incorrectly. Her shoulders, half exposed and pale like fresh snow, bloomed like a flower waiting to open. He cleared his throat and carefully tied the sash properly for her, helping her dress properly.

Even though they were an old married couple, Jun Yuyan made no other move, and Murong Jiu’s cheeks still turned red.

Murong Jiu was thinking to herself that Jun Yuyan was quite the gentleman at the proper times, when suddenly she was lifted into the air, as he gathered her into his arms and they both sat down on the Noble Consort’s couch.

"Let me down quickly, what if Zhijin and Zhiyu see us?"

"Let me hold you for a while, Empress, Wang Yingluo’s mannerisms really make me sick," Jun Yuyan said, not even wanting to recall them.

Perhaps Wang Yingluo believed her acting was superior, but to him it seemed overly affected; all that affected bashfulness and tearful looks like a rain-drenched pear blossom—he didn’t see any of that, only grease.

It was as though he could see through Wang Yingluo’s exterior to an ugly, twisted soul.

He wasn’t fond of lying—after all, he was a man of his word—and in the presence of Wang Yingluo, he had to carefully choose his words, neither making actual promises nor allowing her to see his perfunctory demeanor, which was more exhausting than leading troops into battle.

Only in the presence of the Empress could he dispel the gloom in his heart.

Murong Jiu couldn’t help but chuckle; she adjusted her position to sit more comfortably.

"But today wasn’t without its gains. We saw how she controls others. Kai Xuan really seemed quite dazed."

Kai Xuan was naturally sent by Murong Jiu. The Consort Dowager Qi was busy arranging Cining Palace at the time, with only Wang Yingluo there; there was no worry of frightening Consort Dowager Qi, as that would be unfilial if she fell and got hurt.

The reason for sending Kai Xuan was actually to test Wang Yingluo.

Before this, they were unaware of Wang Yingluo’s ability to control animals.

It was only because a few days ago Wang Yingluo had made inquiries about Kai Xuan, so they deliberately let him appear before her, not expecting to discover such a surprising gift.

"How is Kai Xuan now?" Jun Yuyan asked.

Murong Jiu replied, "Kai Xuan understands human nature, not like ordinary animals. If it were another animal, there might have been some effect, but Kai Xuan is fine."

As she spoke, she called out to Kai Xuan. The giant snow wolf walked in with a graceful gait, its eyes holding the indifferent dominance of the king of all beasts looking down upon the world.

Kai Xuan walked in with an aloof air, indifferent to Jun Yuyan, and only wagged his tail twice when he approached Murong Jiu, rubbing his head against her waist. Unlike a wild beast, he resembled a large dog more than anything.

This creature also played favorites; out of sight, out of mind, so Jun Yuyan hurriedly asked Murong Jiu to send it out.

An animal was still an animal and could not converse with people; naturally, it couldn’t describe its feelings when Wang Yingluo used her power.

But through this occurrence, they would be prepared, and they also felt relieved.

"""

It was clear that Wang Yingluo wasn’t sitting idly by, using her powers in silence; she needed to take out the necklace, shaking it around while speaking.

As the two conversed, Jun Yuyan felt like time was passing too quickly, as if he had just arrived, and nearly two sticks of incense had burned down.

He had come to "rouse his troops and assign blame" and couldn’t stay long.

"Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. Zhijin and Zhiyu will be here soon. When they arrive, Wang Yingluo will just think I’ve purposely let the kids come over to cool your anger. Since you’re fond of the children, naturally, you’d want to save face for them and stay a while longer, right?"

At these words, Jun Yuyan’s laughter resonated from his chest.

"I was missing the children anyway; if Wang Yingluo found out, she might be so angry her face would contort. But I need to assign more men to protect Zhijin and Zhiyu, lest that woman resorts to unscrupulous methods."

Murong Jiu also laughed.

"The men you’ve assigned are enough; no need to assign more. If you add more, there won’t be room to stand in the shadows."

"With you and the children, no amount of caution is too much. Even though we saw Wang Yingluo’s abilities today, who knows if she has more secrets; still, it’s better to be safe."

Murong Jiu nodded: "Your Majesty, rest assured, we won’t give her a chance to get close to Zhijin and Zhiyu. Don’t worry; the Little Wolf Cub is guarding them now, sensitive to the slightest rustle of the wind or grass."

Jun Yuyan was naturally reassured, or else he wouldn’t have deliberately provoked Wang Yingluo.

Without full confidence, he wouldn’t risk his family.

Soon enough, the two children arrived.

Jun Yuyan happily played with the two little ones for nearly half a Shichen before leaving reluctantly.

When the news reached Wang Yingluo, she tore her handkerchief to shreds.

"Using children as a tool in a rivalry for favor, Empress Murong is no different."

She laughed coldly, feeling utterly displeased.

Although that wolf had been chased out of the palace by the Emperor, he had stayed in Kunning Palace for over an hour; Murong Jiu would surely pull that trick again in the future.

But it was a relief that the Emperor planned to visit the military camp for a few days, and even if Murong Jiu wanted to find someone, she couldn’t find the Emperor.

After calming down for a few days, he would see that Murong Jiu was deliberately using the children to vie for favor, acting like the kind of woman he loathed most in his heart.

That very afternoon, Jun Yuyan headed to the military camp.

This camp was stationed several dozen li outside of Capital City, not too far away, but with strict discipline. Wang Yingluo had wanted to follow, but after asking Eunuch Li, she learned women were not allowed to enter and leave freely.

However, there was one exception: Murong Jiu.

Previously, during a time when Jun Yuyan’s life hung in the balance, it was Murong Jiu who entered the military camp and stabilized the troops’ morale.

Moreover, most of the supplies used by the Great Yan army were provided by Murong Jiu’s merchant convoy, so these soldiers recognized only Empress Murong in their hearts.

Even if Jun Yuyan gave her permission to go, she feared she would face difficulties.

Furthermore, these soldiers were under General Fu’s command, and the three Fu brothers held important positions in the camp.

If she went, she might face hostility as soon as she arrived on site.

Still, Wang Yingluo wanted to go because if the Fu family laid a hand on her, Jun Yuyan would pity her even more, thereby distancing himself from the Fu family.

But Eunuch Li’s words quelled her intentions.

"The Empress is your biggest concern, my lady. With His Majesty away, the Empress rules the harem, and she will surely take this opportunity to move against you. If you seize this chance, perhaps you could bring down the Empress once and for all."