Aluo smiled through her tears, looking at him as if seeing the shadow of him slightly raising his eyebrows at her in the imperial study years ago.

“Let them come along too.”

She gestured toward the group kneeling on the ground. “Enjoying alone is not as good as enjoying together. Wine needs many people to drink it with proper spirit.”

Hearing her plea for mercy, everyone immediately expressed their thanks. Even Zhuque, who appeared somewhat cold and aloof with her head and face tightly wrapped, spoke in response. However, there wasn’t much joy on anyone’s face. Aluo was somewhat displeased, but Baihu found it rather strange and made eye contact with Qinglong. Qinglong shook his head.

Lian Yu looked over and spoke lightly: “Since Consort Gu requests it, then let’s all go together. After finishing the wine, you can come back and kneel – it won’t be too late.”

“This palace isn’t lacking people to command. You have plenty of time – take it slowly. I’m not in a hurry.”

Hearing him relent, everyone’s faces showed some joy, but after hearing him finish, they looked at each other dejectedly and resignedly followed behind.

“What did they do wrong? Kneeling for a day in this weather would cost someone half their life.”

As the two walked, Aluo frowned lightly and spoke in admonishment.

“They,” Lian Yu laughed once, noncommittal, “did more than they should have.”

Seeing him speak with icy coldness, Aluo fell silent. She assumed it was about official business. Having already pleaded for them and done her part, she was unwilling to ask more about things that would trouble him.

The wine cellar was built deep within the palace, adjacent to the original underground ice cellar. Previously when Aluo fell from her horse, she injured her waist. Since the cellar was cold, though Lian Yu brought her here, he wouldn’t let her enter, fearing she’d catch cold. He had the cellar-managing eunuchs do the work instead. With the imperial presence, several cellar-managing palace servants didn’t dare slack off and immediately respectfully recorded what wines the consort wanted and went in to select them.

Outside the cellar was a pavilion area. Mingyan Chu thoughtfully had someone bring hand warmers. Aluo also feared the cold somewhat, holding the hand warmer and nestling in Lian Yu’s embrace while waiting.

Lian Yu’s expression remained somewhat fierce, his lips slightly pressed together. Looking at him from his embrace, Aluo could only see his jawline sharp as a blade, extremely cold and stern.

Aluo assumed he was troubled by the Murong family matter. Since Mingyan Chu and the others weren’t speaking, she also didn’t talk much. Later, the Court of Judicial Review fire case would be where she could act. He didn’t interfere in harem politics – she understood the priorities clearly. In any case, he was considerate toward her, frequently touching her hands to see if she was cold.

Her lips curved slightly as she enjoyed this most precious favor under heaven, also weighing the rather mysterious Zhuque nearby. This person should be much beloved by Lian Yu, with an arrogant attitude. She instinctively disliked her and would need to see how to deal with her sooner or later. Just as she was pondering this, several people suddenly emerged from nearby.

It was Murong Chen leading Wei Wuxia and palace maids.

Aluo’s eyes flickered slightly. Lian Yu showed no change of expression, nodding lightly: “Chen’er, are you here to get wine or do you have business with me?”

Murong Chen approached with Wei Wuxia, paid their respects, and smiled: “This subject (this commoner woman) greets Your Majesty.”

She understood in her heart – Marquis Murong Jing had erred before. Lian Yu stripped his title and confined him to his mansion, yet ultimately didn’t take his life. It was Marquis Murong Jing’s pride and arrogance that led to his suicide. Lian Yu, mindful of her lost father and considering Xiao’an, treated her no less than before. Feng Suzhen had also married Quan Feitong as wife. She still had hope of being favored, but this Aluo being granted official position and palace titles made her the primary enemy.

Though Xiao’an’s relationship with Lian Yu was currently strained, she had also instructed her to grasp this cousin’s heart. She naturally understood – after all, whether brother Murong Ding could gain power depended on him. Besides, she truly loved Lian Yu.

She didn’t dare ask about Lian Yu’s whereabouts, but she had instructed palace servants to carefully observe this Aluo’s movements. So when word came, she immediately came over.

Aluo rose to curtsy to Murong Chen. Before Lian Yu, she never competed with Murong Chen. She knew in her heart that in Lian Yu’s mind, Murong Chen was far inferior to herself. Why should she compete? What she needed to do was… guard against her.

“Consort Gu is too kind.” Murong Chen said indifferently, then smiled slightly to Lian Yu: “Today Wuxia came to the palace to see this subject, so I came to get some wine.”

With a close friend visiting, she could speak more smoothly.

“Mm,” Lian Yu nodded, his gaze lingering on Wei Wuxia, “Madam Chao has entered the palace – she should indeed be treated with good wine.”

As he spoke, he personally helped her sit down, then said to Wei Wuxia: “Madam Chao, please sit as well.”

His eyes were like deep water, showing nothing unusual, even giving full courtesy. Yet Wei Wuxia felt the emperor’s gaze was extremely sharp, like a sword tip that could see through one’s innermost thoughts. Moreover, she truly had matters on her mind, inevitably feeling somewhat frightened.

“Whatever you need, have the servants select it. Don’t enter the cellar yourself – catching cold wouldn’t be good, and I would feel distressed.”

But Lian Yu’s attention didn’t seem to be on her. His eyelids barely lifted to glance at her before he turned to speak with Murong Chen.

Murong Chen’s heart sweetened as she pointed toward the wine cellar ahead: “Then this subject will have someone select a few jars of fruit wine. Without fresh fruits available this season, I’m quite craving them.”

She pointed to the newly built wine cellar, not the original ice cellar. Speaking of this wine cellar, it was a mysterious place. From its construction, Lian Yu had ordered that this cellar not be opened. All palace residents still used the original cellar.

At the time, Murong Chen hadn’t minded, knowing Lian Yu’s nature loved cleanliness – perhaps he simply disliked sharing wine and fruits with others. But just now she had seen this wine cellar was locked, with palace servants entering to select wines for Gu Xiluo. This wine cellar seemed exclusively opened for Gu Xiluo. Jealous and resentful, she spoke directly.

Lian Yu didn’t answer. He even took the teacup from the table and personally poured her hot tea, but said nothing. He held the teacup and extended it toward her, those slender, pale fingers appearing so elegant yet strong and powerful.

Before all his trusted subordinates, palace servants, Gu Xiluo, and her friend Wei Wuxia, he seemed to slap her across the face. She knew Gu Xiluo was his first love, but was his love for her so deep that he couldn’t even share a cup of wine with her?!

Her heart grew half cold, momentarily forgetting to disguise herself as she stared at him blankly.

“Your Majesty, this subject wishes to drink wine from the new cellar.” Having been pampered since childhood, even Lian Yu yielded to her three parts, so she forgot to disguise herself. Her face revealed anger and disappointment as she stared coldly at Aluo, her hatred completely exposed.

Aluo lowered her eyes slightly, wisely remaining silent.

Wei Wuxia was somewhat shocked, momentarily at a loss.

Seeing she hadn’t taken the cup, Lian Yu showed no embarrassment, only gently setting down the tea cup: “The wine there isn’t suitable for you. You wanted fruit wine – only the old cellar has that.”

“What if this subject changes her mind and wants to drink other wine?” Murong Chen smiled coldly, the words escaping her lips.

This counted as defiant speech, yet Lian Yu wasn’t angry. His lips even curved slightly: “Chen’er, changing one’s mind and changing one’s habits isn’t a good thing. Everything in this world ultimately falls into suitable and unsuitable. Taking unsuitable things sometimes brings not only no benefit to oneself, but harm. Just like I’m considering whether I should let your brother regain control of the Murong family’s military power. The deputy generals have old grudges with him, and now none are close to him. They’d rather follow Huo Chang. Of course, with Marquis Huo absent now, I hope to apply pressure and at least give him one-third of the soldiers for training. As for the rest, whether to entrust him with greater responsibility, we’ll discuss later. But at least, brothers gain nobility through sisters, sisters through brothers – you should understand this principle.”

“I do this for your sake as well. Because I believe this is suitable. But Chen’er seems not to understand this principle of suitability.”

He sighed softly, then said no more, only lightly tapping the tea bowl with his finger: “This tea is quite good. Will elder sister drink it or not?”

Murong Chen’s face went deathly pale, then flushed red. In an instant, her gaze shifted through rage, pain, surprise, fear… countless emotions.

Having grown up in the palace after all, she quickly took the tea cup and drank the tea in several gulps, then knelt down: “Thank you, Your Majesty, for the tea. This subject has understood this principle.”

Lian Yu hummed in acknowledgment and personally helped her up: “It’s just a cup of tea. What is Chen’er doing?”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Murong Chen’s eyes reddened, “this subject suddenly doesn’t want wine anymore. I’ll take my leave with Wuxia first.”

“Go ahead. I’ll find you tonight.”

Lian Yu’s gaze was gentle, as if he hadn’t just spoken such harsh words.

Murong Chen was both shocked and delighted, nodding before preparing to leave with Wei Wuxia.

Aluo felt slightly dizzy with happiness. Lian Yu had pressured the Murong family and protected her. This undoubtedly came from political considerations – he preserved military power for himself while granting benefits to Murong Chen. But it was also a warning to her: don’t trouble Gu Xiluo anymore, or he would intervene. This intervention would mean the complete downfall of the entire Murong family.

Under the table, she quietly reached out and grasped Lian Yu’s hand.

How could Murong Chen not understand? Her heart was a mix of emotions as she secretly gritted her teeth, knowing she must win Lian Yu’s heart to defeat this woman surnamed Gu. At this moment, she heard Wei Wuxia, who was also frightened by Lian Yu and trembling slightly, pointing ahead and crying out in shock: “Li Huaisu, how are you here? Didn’t you… didn’t you get married yesterday?”