Chapter 63: You Are Not Sincere

“Playing hard to get with me, are you?” Chu Mingheng paid no mind to whether she regretted her words or not—once something entered his ears, he would not let Lan Wu take it back.

He simply hadn’t expected Lan Wu’s appetite to be so large. Hosting her birthday banquet at Kongshan Garden and moving her to the main hall of Yilan Hall afterward were not enough; she even wanted to take his thumb ring to flaunt in front of the imperial concubines.

For a moment, his expression toward Lan Wu grew somewhat complicated.

If it were anyone else, they would know when to stop and be content with what they had. Who else was as greedy as Lan Wu?

Yet Lan Wu managed to make even her greed appear exceptionally adorable, making it impossible for others to refuse her.

Recalling how Lan Wu had cried before him in his dream, Chu Mingheng momentarily lost himself in thought.

Fine, let her flaunt it. It was better than having her cry.

Chu Mingheng reached out and removed the gold-inlaid jade thumb ring from his finger, gesturing for Lan Wu to extend her hand.

Lan Wu’s fingers were slender, so the ring fit snugly only on her thumb, ensuring it wouldn’t slip off loosely.

She lowered her hand, tilting her head slightly to confirm the ring wouldn’t fall before her eyes brimmed with joyful delight. She leaned in and kissed Chu Mingheng’s cheek.

“Your Majesty is so kind,” she murmured softly, her warm lips lingering against his skin. The atmosphere around them seemed veiled in a hazy, intangible yet alluring mist.

Just as Lan Wu seized the moment to slip away from Chu Mingheng, she had barely straightened up and landed on her feet when her slender waistband was caught, and she was pulled back into the emperor’s embrace.

Chu Mingheng was no saint. Having been seduced by Lan Wu and given her everything, he naturally expected something in return.

His palm was warm as it traced the contours of Lan Wu’s waist through her clothing, inch by inch.

Lan Wu’s waist was sensitive, and she had tried her best to keep this from Chu Mingheng. Yet, he had discovered it on their very first night.

“Since I’m so kind, Ah Wu, you’ll tie it for me to see tonight.”

He whispered softly, the hidden desire in his eyes concealed beneath lowered lashes, preventing Lan Wu from glimpsing the abyssal darkness of his longing—like ink dissolving in water, intertwined and inseparable.

After leaving the Imperial Study, Lan Wu hurriedly instructed her attendants to head toward Bì Wēi Lake, moving faster than a rabbit.

Her lip color had faded slightly, and Lian Qiao took out the lipstick she had brought, asking if Lan Wu wanted to reapply it.

Remembering how her lip color had faded—thanks to Chu Mingheng’s incessant kissing—Lan Wu felt a surge of annoyance. Kiss, kiss, kiss—was that all he knew?

She pinched her handkerchief. Without a bronze mirror nearby to check her reflection, she could only rely on Lian Qiao to help her reapply it.

“Don’t use too much.”

“Yes, Your Ladyship.”

It was already afternoon, and the imperial concubines had all gathered at Kongshan Garden. Only Lan Wu had yet to arrive, but she was in no hurry. On the small boat, she even instructed the boatman to slow down, enjoying the leisurely journey. By the time she arrived before the assembled concubines, her entrance was quite ostentatious.

No grand display was necessary—Lan Wu’s exquisitely beautiful face alone was enough to draw attention.

With an expression of feigned surprise and apology, Lan Wu offered a slight curtsy to the group. “This concubine pays her respects to all Your Ladyships.”

It was only a half-curtsy, a gesture brimming with audacity.

Consort Li had always disliked her. Seeing Lan Wu breach etiquette first, she couldn’t resist a sarcastic remark. “Sister Zhen truly seems unaware of palace rules. If it were anyone else, they’d be kneeling for hours to reflect on their behavior.”

Lan Wu straightened up on her own, a faint smile flickering across her charming and beautiful face. She glanced at Consort Li, inwardly clicking her tongue in admiration—she had known that coming here would inevitably invite someone’s provocation.

“Sister Consort Li is right. Who could be as strict with rules as Sister Consort Li, always quick to demand others kneel and reflect… One might almost think Sister came from the Shenxing Si.”

Lan Wu spoke with amusement as she found her seat. Unhurriedly, she sat down, extending her right hand to casually touch the hairpin in her bun, inadvertently revealing the jade thumb ring on her finger that did not match her status.

“You—” Consort Li frowned deeply, about to erupt in anger, but then she caught sight of the thumb ring on Lan Wu’s hand. Her expression froze, her pupils abruptly contracting—clearly, she recognized what it was.

Not only did she see it, but numerous gazes converged on Lan Wu, almost all recognizing the thumb ring.

“Since Sister Consort Li says this concubine lacks propriety, then this concubine naturally must obey. I wonder how Sister intends to correct me? This concubine finds this spot quite suitable. Where does Sister think I should kneel?”

“Should this concubine kneel toward Sister Consort Li, or toward Consorts Shu and Rou…?”

Lan Wu spoke with a gentle, smiling tone, her soft and unhurried voice tinged with thoughtfulness and feigned difficulty. Though she spoke of kneeling, she made no move to do so. Relying on Chu Mingheng’s backing, she was making quite a show, provocatively challenging others with veiled sarcasm.

A moment of silence fell around them.

No one truly dared to make her kneel. The half-curtsey she had performed earlier was already a sign of her respect, for she wore the Emperor’s thumb ring—a symbol of imperial authority—and thus naturally did not need to kneel before anyone.

If she were to kneel, everyone present would have to kneel as well.

Consort Rou’s gaze lingered on Lan Wu’s hand before she spoke up with a conciliatory smile: “Sister Zhen, you speak too seriously. Today is your birthday, a joyous occasion. His Majesty dotes on you, having specially given you this thumb ring. You should be happy. It was Consort Li who spoke out of turn earlier. Please do not take it to heart.”

Lan Wu’s eyes brightened as she turned slightly to look at her.

Consort Rou felt a sense of foreboding as soon as she saw that smile.

“Your words are fair, Your Highness. As for this thumb ring… this concubine found it beautiful, so His Majesty gave it to me.”

“His Majesty said this thumb ring carries the weight of an imperial decree.”

Lan Wu smiled as she addressed Consort Li: “Since Consort Rou says Consort Li spoke out of turn, then Consort Li should properly apologize to this concubine.”

No one would get off easy today—she was ready to “unleash her fury.”

Consort Li was so enraged she could barely catch her breath, glaring furiously at Lan Wu before turning her gaze to Consort Rou.

This hypocritical wretch, always seizing opportunities to play the good person—what did her mistakes have to do with her? How meddlesome!

With Lan Wu invoking the imperial decree, an apology was unavoidable.

Consort Li had no choice but to rise reluctantly, offering a slight curtsy to Lan Wu, her tone tinged with resentment: “This consort spoke carelessly. I hope Sister will not take offense.”

Lan Wu rested her cheek on her hand, her smile fading as she watched Consort Li’s curtsy with a leisurely gaze.

In her previous life, Consort Li had used the fact that Lan Wu had presented her to the Emperor to suppress her at every turn, even attempting to steal His Majesty’s favor. Lan Wu had cowered and avoided confrontation—when had she ever seen Consort Li as… aggrieved as she was today?

Good.

Very good.

This was how it should be—making sure no one dared to bully her again.

Lan Wu gently stroked the jade thumb ring, her smile growing more genuine.

Power truly is wonderful.

Then, she focused her gaze on Consort Li, shaking her head slightly as she said, “You are not sincere.”