"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace." Consort Jing knelt down with her head bowed and performed a proper kowtow to Emperor Yuming.
Emperor Yuming walked to her side and personally helped her up. "Didn't you catch a cold a few days ago? It's windy today, why did you come out? Get up quickly."
Consort Jing smiled gently and virtuously, lightly pushing away Emperor Yuming's hand. Instead of getting up, she shook her head at him and said, "Thanks to Your Majesty's dragon aura, my illness has almost completely healed."
Emperor Yuming was not annoyed when she pushed him away. He simply looked her over carefully and was surprised to find that she was dressed so formally. "My dear consort, are you... going to hold a banquet?"
"I haven't worn this outfit in a long time, and I just felt like trying it on on a whim," Consort Jing said with a slight smile. "Your Majesty, does it look good?"
Emperor Yuming nodded, "It's very beautiful. It reminds me of the day you were conferred the title of Consort. It seems to be quite similar to this."
He remembered correctly; Consort Jing wore this very dress on the day of her investiture. What he didn't recall was that she had also worn the same color dress when they first met.
He said that even ordinary women have such a gentle and charming temperament, and asked if she would be willing to return to Beijing with him.
At the time, she didn't know who he was; she just found the way he reached out his hand to her very charming, and unconsciously placed her hand in his palm.
By the time she realized it, she was already his.
When he first entered the palace, he spent almost every night in her chambers, and every day he would see her wearing this color dress. He said she looked beautiful in this color, gentle and charming.
So she chose this title when she was officially appointed, but he had already forgotten what he had said. In his eyes and heart, there was only Consort Qin.
Consort Qin was a charming and graceful woman, with a personality completely different from her own.
If she was as gentle as water, then Consort Qin was as passionate as fire.
The women in the harem each had their own strengths and weaknesses, and there were countless others like her. Regardless of their true nature, they all appeared to be dutiful and respectful on the surface.
But Consort Qin was different from them. She was always so graceful and charming, like the blazing sun, dazzling yet captivating.
She remained quiet for the first few months after entering the palace, seemingly unwilling to serve the emperor. Emperor Yuming did not force her, but turned and left her palace, coming instead to his own palace.
However, from then on, Emperor Yuming visited her palace every day, doing nothing but staying for several hours at a time. Her favor with the emperor likely began from that time.
Pulling herself back to reality, Consort Jing smiled slightly at Emperor Yuming, "Your Majesty has a truly excellent memory."
No one dislikes being praised, and emperors are no exception.
Emperor Yuming laughed heartily and reached out to help her up, saying, "You are weak, why are you always kneeling? Get up quickly."
Consort Jing smiled and shook her head. "Your Majesty, I have come today to ask you something."
Emperor Yuming paused for a moment, "My beloved consort, please speak freely."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Consort Jing smiled. "I wish to go to the royal temple for quiet meditation and to pray for Your Majesty and the people of Dayu. I hope Your Majesty will grant me permission."
After these words were spoken, the hall fell slightly quiet.
She retreated without any sense of propriety. Emperor Yuming slowly withdrew his hand, frowning as he looked at her. "You're going to the royal temple? Why?"
"Your Majesty, I wish to pray for Your Majesty and the people of Dayu, and do my part in this small way. I hope Your Majesty will grant me permission."
"Why the sudden decision to go on a retreat? Did something happen?"
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