Jin Yang, who was standing outside the West Warm Pavilion, couldn't help but glance sideways when he heard the official's loud laughter inside.
This is quite rare. The Emperor has been troubled by the affairs of the previous dynasty lately, and today, having finally had some free time, his good mood has been ruined by Consort Fu. Isn't it rare for the Emperor to be like this now?
After the official finished laughing in the West Warm Pavilion, his fingers, which had been resting on Huo Qinghe's earring, suddenly moved to her chin, and he couldn't help but caress her delicate touch.
It truly resembles snow, yet also the milk cakes served in the imperial kitchen at night—it's simply irresistible.
Because her chin was being pinched, Huo Qinghe had to tilt her head back slightly, but her bright eyes remained lowered.
They look extremely docile.
Pei Yuanhui chuckled again: "So you think you're Huo Er? What's wrong with me calling you Little Huo?"
That tone is like teasing a cat.
Huo Qinghe's lowered eyes seemed to be filled with tears. She trembled slightly, and even her beautiful voice was trembling: "This concubine can do nothing."
She had just taken a step forward, and the emperor followed suit, but now she suddenly took several steps back.
It felt like punching cotton.
This left Pei Yuanhui wondering whether to say it was boring or something.
He knew perfectly well why Xiao Huo had entered the palace. He let go of her hand and loosely wrapped his arms around Huo Qinghe's slender waist.
This meant there was no more to say, and tonight was not the time for conversation.
The waves swirl and roll, just as the rain and dew begin to fall.
The candlelight outside was still on. Huo Qinghe haphazardly pulled up the bed curtains, making the room a little darker, but also more enchanting.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pinched her slender neck with his burning palm. Huo Qinghe trembled from the heat. When she lowered her eyes, the official's other hand was already hooking the delicate rope of her undergarment. In the dim light, his large hands appeared exceptionally long.
Her heart clenched instantly, her expression unchanged, but the hand gripping the silk quilt tightened, and her eyes began to mist over: "Your Majesty..."
Her soft, delicate voice was enough to melt anyone's heart.
Pei Yuanhui hummed in response, finally looking directly into Huo Qinghe's eyes.
He doesn't like looking at people when doing this kind of thing, so as not to spoil the fun, since he's never really interested in it anyway.
The flickering lamplight illuminated the beautiful woman, whose tearful eyes were blurred by the candlelight, giving her a pitiful and endearing appearance.
But apart from these, there were no other annoying sentiments.
Pei Yuanhui suddenly bent down, and the delicate rope that had been holding Huo Qinghe's undergarment was completely pulled off. He stared at Huo Qinghe, something flashing in his eyes, whether it was amusement or something else, it was hard to tell.
Huo Qinghe seemed completely unaware. Like a lotus flower newly touched by rain and dew, she raised her head in a daze as the official approached, revealing a red mark on her neck that the official had pinched earlier. The mark was pink and white, adding to her allure.
She raised her head and snuggled against the official's chest as if seeking comfort, her red lips brushing against the side of his forearm.
Now it was a perfect match, with curtains overlapping and a scene of vibrant passion.
...
The Emperor was satisfied tonight, and he called for water twice in the West Warm Pavilion until the second watch of the night.
When Huo Qinghe was helped by the palace maids to the clean room to bathe, she was already exhausted. When she returned to the West Warm Pavilion, the messy bed had already been cleaned up and was no different from when she arrived.
However, no official was seen.
She was helped onto the bed, but did not lie down immediately, instead slightly bending her knees.
A palace maid said, "Lady Huo, please rest. His Majesty does not usually stay in the West Warm Pavilion; he has already returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
It was a long-standing custom for concubines to be kept in the West Warm Pavilion after being summoned to the emperor's bedchamber, so there was nothing unusual about it, especially since the emperor was not present.
"If Madam Huo needs anything at night, she can ring the bell, and we servants will keep watch outside."
Huo Qinghe then noticed the jade bells tied to the bed curtains, which were not there before.
She cleared her throat before speaking: "Thank you for your trouble."
The palace maids naturally said they dared not. They bowed, and when they extinguished the candle flames, the candle blossoms were startled. In the end, they all quietly withdrew.
Only Huo Qinghe remained inside the West Warm Pavilion.
Despite feeling somewhat unwell after her bath, Huo Qinghe slowly lay down on her side, reflecting on whether there had been anything inappropriate in her conversation with the official.
To gain favor, a pretty face alone is certainly not enough.
She would find it difficult to sleep in the West Warm Pavilion, at least for tonight. She didn't know if she would have to serve the Emperor when dawn broke, or if the new concubine, who had been summoned to the Emperor's bedchamber, would have to pay her respects and receive instructions from the Empress the day afterward.
It was nearly midnight, and Huo Qinghe couldn't sleep much longer anyway.
She mustered her strength and listened intently to the sounds outside. It was almost dawn, and the sky was still dimly lit when she could hear the footsteps of palace maids and eunuchs.
Huo Qinghe waited a while before propping herself up and shaking the jade bell.
"Is Lady Huo awake?" A palace maid called from outside. A moment later, they came in carrying a copper basin and other items. Huo Qinghe also saw Green Locust, but she didn't know when she had arrived.
The tray that Green Locust was holding contained Huo Qinghe's clothes and jewelry, which she had brought.
Huo Qinghe slipped on her shoes and got off the bed: "Help me go and attend to His Majesty first."
The palace maid hurriedly said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has already returned to Funing Palace. His Majesty has always disliked being served by others, and it is always Eunuch Jinyang who serves him. We servants will help Your Highness with your washing and dressing."
Huo Qinghe nodded slightly in relief, and Lü Huai simply lent a helping hand from the side.
It was not yet Chenshi (7-9 AM) when Huo Qinghe came out of the West Warm Pavilion. She had not eaten breakfast, and her calves were still trembling slightly when she stepped out of the West Warm Pavilion.
"My lady, last night I went to Xianfu Palace. Lady Yi said that you should go to pay your respects to the Empress and receive her instructions today, and then go to Xianfu Palace to speak." Green Locust said in a low voice after making sure no one was around.
Huo Yiyun is really in such a hurry, isn't she? Why is she calling her over in such a rush? Is she trying to interrogate her about what happened between her and the official last night?
I didn't notice anything unusual from the Emperor's attitude last night.
I still need to meet Huo Yiyun in person to find out what she's really up to.
...
As dawn broke, the curtains in Kunning Palace swayed gently, and the palace maids began to move.
The Empress rose.
When the palace maid reported that Consort Huo had come to pay her respects, Empress Xue was having breakfast. She was eating Zhenjun porridge, and as soon as she took a bite, she frowned slightly: "It's so sweet it's sickening."
Kong Qing, who was serving nearby, quickly waved his hand to signal the servants to leave: "The eldest princess has been fond of this these past few days. The servants are making wild guesses, it's really..."
Empress Xue drank a cup of tea, feeling refreshed: "Princess, please eat less of these sweet things. Little Huo is more obedient than her sister, please come in."
The palace maid responded and left.
A short while later, Huo Qinghe respectfully entered the room to pay her respects.
Hearing the greeting, Empress Xue's gaze fell on Huo Yiyun's face, as if she were recalling the domineering and unyielding Huo Yiyun from their time in the Prince's residence.
A gentle smile graced her face: "It's kind of you to come so early. Get up quickly. I've heard that Consort Yi often calls you to speak. Come to me."
Huo Qinghe stepped forward, displaying a caution and timidity that Huo Yiyun lacked: "This concubine will serve Your Highness."
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