Su Mingyu curled her lips at the King of Yu and said, "I only hurriedly learned yesterday evening that today is Your Highness's birthday. I didn't have time to prepare anything, so I'll just play a tune for Your Highness."
Hearing Su Mingyu say this, the onlookers immediately burst into thunderous applause.
The King of Yu also wore a faint smile on his lips. "It doesn't matter. I like this gift of yours very much."
A bold fellow down below heckled, "Who would have thought that there's such a beautiful and talented beauty beside the King of Yu? Why haven't we seen Your Highness bring her out before? Are you afraid others will take a fancy to her?"
The King of Yu was quite pleased with the flattery. He curled his lips and said, "Mingyu is rather timid and introverted. She generally doesn't like to come out."
"Clearly, Your Highness wants to hide her away!" That person gave a naughty laugh, which made everyone burst into laughter. The atmosphere in the banquet hall was just right, and the King of Yu looked extremely flushed.
By the end of the banquet, it was already late at night. Su Mingyu, with a sleepy face, greeted the King of Yu's friends before returning to her own courtyard.
Just as she was about to enter her room, suddenly a strong hand reached out from behind and hugged her.
Su Mingyu was startled. Just as she was about to resist, she heard the King of Yu's cold voice, "I like today's gift very much."
Su Mingyu forced herself to suppress her disgust. "Your Highness, it's getting late. I'm a bit sleepy and want to go to bed. Can you let go of me?"
The King of Yu didn't move and still hugged her. "I really didn't expect this."
Su Mingyu pursed her lips and tried hard to control her expression so as not to look too ugly. "What do you mean, Your Highness? Since I've already promised to stay by your side, I'll find a way to accept you. Today is your birthday, so of course I have to prepare a gift for you."
Hearing this, the King of Yu felt warm inside, as if his heart was stuffed with sun - dried cotton, extremely comfortable. "Thank you..."
Saying this, the King of Yu turned Su Mingyu's body around so that she was facing him. "Since you've said today is my birthday, can I ask for one more gift?"
Su Mingyu looked at the King of Yu's obviously drunken face and pursed her lips without saying a word.
It was not clear whether he was really drunk or just overly excited because of today's events. Seeing that Su Mingyu didn't say anything, the King of Yu thought she had agreed. So he reached out and grabbed Su Mingyu's chin, aiming at her thin lips and about to kiss her.
Just as his lips were about to touch Su Mingyu's, she tilted her head and avoided the kiss.
The King of Yu looked at Su Mingyu suspiciously. "What's wrong?"
Su Mingyu pointed at her belly. "I'm still pregnant. You've been drinking. Don't get so close to me. It's not good for the baby in the future."
Hearing the word "pregnant", the King of Yu sobered up a bit.
He lowered his eyes and glanced at Su Mingyu's belly. Then he suddenly let out a few soft laughs. Then he suddenly bent down and said to Su Mingyu's belly in a doting and expectant tone, "Little one, come out quickly. I can't wait anymore."
Su Mingyu subconsciously took a step back, putting some distance between them. "Your Highness, it's already late. I'm really sleepy. Can I go and rest?"
The King of Yu looked up at Su Mingyu. In the moonlight, Su Mingyu did look rather pale. The King of Yu nodded. "Go ahead. Have a good rest."
Su Mingyu gave a soft "mm" and then turned around to enter the room, closing the door behind her.
Perhaps she was really tired. When Su Mingyu woke up, it was already noon the next day. She rubbed her throbbing head. Just as she was about to ask someone to prepare some food for her, she saw a familiar figure sitting in the courtyard.
Su Mingyu didn't resist as she used to. Instead, she walked straight over and sat down opposite the King of Yu. Before the King of Yu could say anything, Su Mingyu said, "Your Highness got up so early? How's your health?"
The King of Yu, who was putting food on Su Mingyu's plate, was stunned. Usually, she avoided him like the plague. But today, not only did she come over on her own initiative but also showed concern for him. This really made him a bit unaccustomed.
"I'm fine..."
Su Mingyu naturally ate the food the King of Yu had put in her bowl. She looked at the King of Yu suspiciously. "Why do you have such an expression? Didn't you rest well?"
The King of Yu raised his eyebrows. "You've changed too much recently."
Su Mingyu didn't even lift her eyelids. "If you don't like it, I'll just go back to the way I was before."
"That's not what I meant..." The King of Yu looked at Su Mingyu and pursed his lips. "Although you've said that you'll get along well with me from now on, this change seems a bit too sudden."
Su Mingyu put down her chopsticks and looked up at the King of Yu. She said seriously, "Since I've made a decision, being indecisive is not my style. If you really become the emperor, my child and I will need your protection even more. So it's my strategy to curry favor with you before you get tired of me."
It wasn't exactly a nice thing to say, but Su Mingyu said it so straightforwardly that it somehow added a bit of sincerity to her words.
The King of Yu sized up Su Mingyu with his dark eyes, as if trying to understand her thoroughly.
Su Mingyu wasn't nervous at all. She just sat there. After a long time, the King of Yu suddenly curled his lips into a smile. "Being decisive in doing things is indeed your character."
Su Mingyu raised her eyebrows. "So Your Highness doesn't suspect me anymore?"
"I still need to observe." Although the King of Yu said this, the wariness in his eyes and his gestures was significantly reduced.
Seeing this, Su Mingyu just raised her eyebrows and didn't say much.
In the next few days, Su Mingyu always appeared obedient to the King of Yu. Her docile and obedient appearance made the King of Yu fall in love with her.
So every day when he returned from the court, the first thing the King of Yu did was to go back to the mansion to find Su Mingyu.
Because Su Mingyu had behaved well these days, the King of Yu allowed her to stroll around the entire mansion. So when she was free, Su Mingyu would also admire the flowers in the courtyard.
"You're quite at ease." Wu Yurou looked at Su Mingyu, who was reading a book in her courtyard, and was a bit incredulous.
Su Mingyu looked up at her. "If being nervous were useful, then what would we need military strategies for?"
Looking at Wu Yurou, Su Mingyu gave Xia Mian a look, and Xia Mian understood and sent everyone away.
When everyone had left, Wu Yurou's face became even uglier. "I did as you taught me, and the King of Yu has indeed taken the bait."
"But..." Wu Yurou bit her lower lip. "He said he'll take action soon, so he wants us to bring the troops here."