Lin Yu took a deep breath, as if trying to draw in all the air around her into her lungs, then slowly exhaled.
She gently closed her eyes, continuously encouraging herself in her mind: "Come on, Lin Yu! You can definitely do this!
It's just an emperor; what’s there to be afraid of? He won't eat you..." These words echoed in her mind like a spell, helping her gradually calm the heart that felt like it was about to leap out of her throat.
To successfully orchestrate what seemed like a chance encounter with the emperor, Lin Yu had put in a great deal of effort and thought.
She began preparing early, rummaging through her wardrobe to find the long-preserved pale pink palace gown.
The fabric was of the highest quality, soft and smooth to the touch;
the exquisite embroidery was nothing short of breathtaking—peach blossoms bloomed vividly at the hem, as if they might shed their petals at any moment.
When Lin Yu carefully donned the gown, she instantly transformed into a captivating vision, resembling a peach blossom fairy blooming on a branch in spring.
Moreover, she had specially chosen several delicate pink silk flowers to adorn her hair.
These flowers were small yet elegant, swaying gently with her light steps like colorful butterflies dancing in the wind, adding an extra touch of enchanting charm to her appearance.
As for her face, she had meticulously applied makeup.
The subtle makeup was just right—not overly bold and striking, yet far from plain and unremarkable.
A fine layer of foundation evenly covered her skin, making her already fair complexion appear even more translucent;
a light sweep of soft pink eyeshadow at the outer corners made her eyes look brighter and more spirited.
With a natural rosy hue on her lips, it perfectly accentuated her innate beauty.
Once everything was ready, Lin Yu gracefully approached the mirror and examined herself closely.
Before her stood a figure that was tall and graceful, exuding elegance in both attire and demeanor, captivating anyone who laid eyes on her.
She couldn't help but nod in satisfaction, a confident smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Hmm, not bad at all! With my appearance today, I could easily enchant countless young men. Even an emperor from ancient times, well-versed in the world, would surely be captivated by me."
Hehe, after all, he has never encountered a woman as stunning as I am! With this thought, Lin Yu felt increasingly light-hearted and joyful, filled with anticipation and longing for the upcoming "chance encounter."
Her figure was enchanting, her steps light and airy, radiating an undeniable confidence as she strode out of the cold and eerie palace.
Each step she took seemed to carry a firm resolve and hopes for the future as she marched purposefully toward the Imperial Garden.
According to confidential information provided by the system, the Emperor would be visiting the vibrant Imperial Garden today to enjoy its beauty.
As clever and perceptive as Lin Yu was, she would certainly not miss such a rare opportunity.
She had meticulously planned what appeared to be a chance encounter but was actually a deliberate arrangement, eagerly hoping to showcase her charm before the Emperor and leave an indelible impression on him.
"Hehe, let me personally take charge and give you a lesson on what it means to truly have ‘a smile that can captivate a hundred hearts’!" Lin Yu mused to herself, her lips curling into a sly yet enchanting smile.
Upon entering the Imperial Garden, she was greeted by a breathtaking scene filled with vibrant flowers competing for attention.
Various blossoms bloomed in vivid colors—red like fire, pink like dawn, white like snow—transforming the entire garden into a dazzling paradise that was simply mesmerizing.
Lin Yu strolled leisurely through the sea of flowers, occasionally pausing to bend down and inhale the fragrant blooms, savoring the beauty and tranquility that nature generously offered.
However, despite her seemingly relaxed demeanor, she remained vigilant, her beautiful eyes discreetly scanning her surroundings for any signs that might lead her to the Emperor's whereabouts.
As time passed, Lin Yu had wandered for quite a while in the vast imperial garden, yet she still had not caught a glimpse of the Emperor.
"What's going on? Why hasn't the Emperor appeared yet? Could it be that the intel provided by the system is flawed?" Lin Yu couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt, her delicate brows furrowing as she began to reassess the situation.
Just as she was on the verge of giving up and heading back, she suddenly caught sight of a group of palace maids and eunuchs approaching from a distance, surrounding a figure like stars encircling the moon.
The person was clad in a resplendent bright yellow dragon robe, intricately embroidered with vivid five-clawed dragons that seemed to come alive.
A dazzling golden crown rested firmly atop their head, accentuating an extraordinary and imposing presence. Just one glance revealed that this individual must hold an immensely noble status.
"Could it be... that this is His Majesty?" Lin Yu speculated inwardly.
Her heart raced suddenly, pounding like a small drum in her chest. Even her breathing quickened slightly, as if the very air around her had grown heavy.
Lin Yu dared not show any signs of negligence; she quickly adjusted her slightly disheveled attire and made an effort to straighten her posture, striving to present herself with utmost elegance and grace.
After all, she was about to meet the ruler of the nation!
At that moment, a loud and resonant shout suddenly rang out, "The Emperor has arrived!" The sound struck like thunder, causing a buzzing sensation in everyone's ears.
Soon after, the tall and majestic figure of the Emperor finally appeared in Lin Yu's line of sight.
Lin Yu felt her heart racing wildly, as if it were about to leap out of her throat.
At the same time, a wave of warmth surged to her cheeks, instantly turning her originally fair face a shade of crimson.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but her frantic heart remained restless.
Gathering her courage, Lin Yu slowly raised her head and cautiously directed her gaze toward the Emperor. In that instant, their eyes met, and Lin Yu felt a jolt in her chest.
The Emperor's eyes were deep as the ocean, revealing a hint of coldness that seemed capable of seeing through all things in the world and piercing into the depths of one's soul.
In that moment, Lin Yu felt like a small and helpless prey, firmly locked onto by an experienced hunter. The overwhelming sense of being unable to escape made her feel extremely uncomfortable; she didn't even know how to position her hands and feet.
She forced a smile, wanting to greet the Emperor, but found that her throat felt as if it were blocked by something, leaving her unable to utter a single word.
The Emperor merely cast a brief glance at her before shifting his gaze away and continuing forward.
Lin Yu stood frozen in place, feeling as though she had been doused with cold water from head to toe.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
Snapping back to reality, she hurriedly chased after him.
"Your Majesty, I..."
She was about to speak when the chief eunuch beside the Emperor interrupted her.
"Consort Lin, the Emperor is admiring the flowers. Please do not disturb him."
The eunuch's voice was sharp and grating, making Lin Yu feel uncomfortable all over.
"But..."
Lin Yu wanted to say something more, but she was met with a fierce glare from the chief eunuch.
Reluctantly, she closed her mouth and stood there helplessly, watching the Emperor's figure grow more distant.
"Sigh, it seems this 'chance encounter' plan has completely failed."
She sighed, her heart filled with disappointment.
"Ding! Host's low emotional state detected. Comfort task issued: eat a piece of osmanthus cake. Task reward: 1 point."
The system's notification suddenly rang out, bringing a glimmer of comfort to Lin Yu.
"Osmanthus cake? Where can I find osmanthus cake?"
Lin Yu's eyes brightened as she suddenly remembered that there was a pavilion in the Imperial Garden that specialized in serving snacks.
"Never mind, I'll just go have a piece of osmanthus cake first!"
She turned and walked towards the snack stall, hoping that delicious food could soothe her wounded heart.
Just then, she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Consort Lin? What are you doing here?"
Lin Yu turned around and saw the Emperor standing behind her, looking at her with a puzzled expression.
"Ah! Your Majesty!"
Lin Yu was startled; she hadn't expected the Emperor to appear here so suddenly.
"I... I was just taking a stroll," she explained in a flustered manner.
"Oh? Is that so?"
The Emperor looked at her with a half-smile, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"Yes... yes,"
Lin Yu's heart raced even more; she felt like a child caught doing something wrong, unable to meet the teacher's gaze.
"I see you seem quite disappointed," the Emperor suddenly said.
"Ah? No, how could I be disappointed?" Lin Yu hurriedly denied.
"Is that so? But I can't help but feel that you are waiting for someone," the Emperor continued to probe.
"I... I'm not waiting for anyone," Lin Yu's forehead began to sweat.
"Oh? Is that so? Then why do I get the impression that you are actually waiting for me?" The Emperor leaned closer, whispering in her ear.
Lin Yu felt her heart race faster; she could even sense the warmth of his breath.
She lifted her gaze to meet the Emperor's handsome face, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Your Majesty..."
She was just about to speak when the Emperor suddenly interrupted her.
"Alright, I have matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."
With that, the Emperor turned and walked away, leaving Lin Yu standing there, staring blankly at his retreating figure.
"Sigh, it seems this 'chance encounter' plan not only failed but was also seen through by the Emperor," she lamented, feeling a wave of helplessness wash over her.
Wait a minute, did the Emperor just say he thought she was waiting for him?
Could it be… he had actually noticed her all along?
A spark of hope ignited in Lin Yu's heart.
Perhaps this 'chance encounter' plan hadn't completely failed after all?
She gazed in the direction the Emperor had gone, her eyes filled with determination and confidence.
"Lin Yu, you must keep pushing forward! You can definitely win the Emperor's favor!"
She clenched her fists, cheering herself on.
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