Yu Wenrui stretched out his hand to cover his face.
He knew that to blame this person now was just to misdirect his anger.
The root of all evil was actually himself.
The atmosphere in Prince Xian’s Mansion had become inexplicably tense.
The servants, one by one, were frightened, afraid that even a slight mistake in their duties might lead to severe punishment by their infuriated master.
Various luxurious garments and dazzling jewelry were delivered to Gu Shengyin’s courtyard, accompanied by hard-to-please maidservants.
There was also a nanny who taught her all the rules.
Gu Shengyin was indifferent to everything, no longer curious and kind-hearted like when she had first entered the mansion.
Indeed, this demeanor better matched the image Yu Wenrui described as "cold and aloof, disinclined to meet strangers."
True to his word, Yu Wenrui had not appeared since that night.
Half a month later, on His Majesty’s Longevity Festival, Prince Xian presented a stunningly beautiful woman.
His Majesty was overjoyed, personally commending Prince Xian for his respectful and filial demeanor, setting an example for all princes.
This had been Yu Wenrui’s initial intent.
His father, the Emperor, was a hedonist who cared only for pleasure, and his greatest love was beautiful women.
He had once joked at a palace banquet, "As the Supreme Lord of the World, it’s a pity that I cannot possess a truly breathtaking beauty."
Yu Wenrui had taken these words to heart, and upon seeing Gu Shengyin, he had formed this plan.
The night Gu Shengyin was sent to the palace, the light in Yu Wenrui’s study stayed on all night.
The next day, news spread that the Emperor had favored the beauty that very night and had decreed her the title of Consort.
Upon hearing the news, he couldn’t hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood.
However, in reality, throughout the night, Gu Shengyin had merely cast a small spell on the Emperor, allowing him to spend the night cuddling a blanket, immersed in a blissful dream.
The favored beauty in the palace gained even more favor, to the extent that the Emperor would even skip the morning court for her.
It was widely rumored among the common people that Consort Li was a celestial being reincarnated from heaven, descending to the mortal world moved by the Emperor’s deep affection.
Yu Wenrui’s favor with the Emperor grew day by day, and the powers granted to him increased accordingly.
His methods were decisive and ruthless, and after lying dormant for many years, he quickly gained control of the court situation in a short span.
Yet, despite being poised to rejoice, he grew thinner each day, and everyone close to him knew there was a knot in his heart he couldn’t untie; that knot was the joyously favored Consort Li in the palace.
Yu Wenrui had encountered Gu Shengyin once in the palace.
She was dressed in splendid palace attire, her face adorned with delicate makeup, her expression proud and cold—it was impossible to see any trace of her former self.
Upon seeing him, she did not even deign to give him a glance but passed by with a swirl of fragrant wind, without any hint of reluctance.
An unknowing follower by his side remarked, "Isn’t Consort Li also your junior sister? Isn’t her current status achieved through your effort? Now that she has gained power..."
The rest of the sentence was cut short upon seeing his terrifying expression.
Yes, she had given all this to herself.
It was only natural for her to hate him.
Yu Wenrui couldn’t help but cover his chest again, ever since that day, he had mysteriously developed a heart disease. Although many Imperial Physicians had examined him, none could find the cause; yet every attack felt as though his heart was splitting open.