Chapter 3
The palace maid helped Qi Yu put on her waist sash, and Qi Yu casually pointed to a waist ornament.
After she finished putting on the amulet, Aunt Jinrong asked, "Would Your Highness like to take a stroll around Zhaoyang Palace?"
Qi Yu held Jin Rong's hand and shook her head: "This matter is not urgent, Aunt. Can you tell me about Li Chang?"
"He is gentle and meticulous. I think he is no different from others. But before entering the palace, Little Li was always very cautious when mentioning Li Chang. Is there any reason for this?"
Jinrong thought for a moment and said, "Little Li is just an ordinary eunuch in the palace, while Eunuch Li Chang is His Majesty's favorite. Most of the things His Majesty doesn't usually handle are entrusted to him. Besides, Li Chang is also His Majesty's mother's man. He served His Majesty when His Majesty was still a prince. When His Majesty left the palace to go to his fiefdom, he took Li Chang with him, which shows His Majesty's trust in him. Li Chang's attitude, to a certain extent, represents His Majesty's attitude in the harem."
"His Majesty's birth mother?" Qi Yu asked in confusion.
Aunt Jinrong sighed, "Your Majesty is young and has never been to the capital. Perhaps you don't know that the current Empress Dowager is not His Majesty's biological mother, but the only surviving concubine of the late Emperor when His Majesty suppressed the rebel king. Because His Majesty's birth mother, the Holy Mother Empress Dowager, had benefited from this concubine, His Majesty made her Empress Dowager after ascending the throne, which is the current Empress Dowager."
"Your Highness has been granted the title of Imperial Concubine and will need to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager tomorrow."
Qi Yu then asked, "Aunt, what kind of person is the Empress Dowager?"
"The Empress Dowager is a kind and compassionate person. Your Majesty need not be afraid. The Empress Dowager has a very good temper. Before, when the harem was without a mistress, the Empress Dowager felt bored and could only invite Lord Pei's wife to the palace to keep her company. There was never any news of anything displeasing the Empress Dowager. I suppose the Empress Dowager would like Your Majesty to come."
Qi Yu simply smiled.
The Empress Dowager wasn't just bored; she was clearly creating an opportunity for the Emperor.
The Empress Dowager was not the Emperor's biological mother. Whether it was for the sake of having a future grandson who would be her nominal grandson, or to comply with the Emperor's wishes and make her position as Empress Dowager more secure, her thoughts about the Emperor's fondness for his concubines would only coincide with Li Chang's.
Qi Yu then pestered Jin Rong to talk for a long time.
Thus, it was learned that the Empress Dowager's surname was Feng. Empress Dowager Feng's father was originally just a county magistrate, but as his daughter became Empress Dowager, the Feng family was naturally promoted all the way. However, since the emperor had only recently ascended the throne, no matter how much Feng's father was promoted, he was still serving in a local position.
Empress Dowager Feng was able to escape that disaster thanks to the secret passage in her palace. Although it was a dead end, she managed to hide inside and wait for Wu Shiyan to lead his troops back.
"Does Zhaoyang Palace have such a secret passage?" Qi Yu looked into the palace.
Aunt Jinrong found it amusing: "It's not in Zhaoyang Palace. We servants, who stayed in Zhaoyang Palace, were also curious and searched for it but couldn't find it."
Speaking of Zhaoyang Palace, it brings up an old story. Jinrong said, "Zhaoyang Palace was the residence of the Holy Mother Empress Dowager. When the Holy Mother Empress Dowager was a concubine, she lived here for a period of time. After she was made empress, she moved to Jiaofang Palace. Since then, Zhaoyang Palace has been vacant."
Qi Yu pulled Jin Rong to sit on the couch, but Jin Rong declined. Knowing that Qi Yu was curious about everything, she continued, "The Empress Dowager was much younger than the late Emperor. The late Emperor had many children, and Your Majesty was the seventh among them. Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager passed away suddenly from an acute illness not long after becoming Empress, and the seventh prince also left the capital."
His early death allowed him to escape the rebellion of the king; whether that was fortunate or unfortunate is unknown.
When Wu Shiyan was a prince, he had no wives or concubines. After he ascended the throne, he did not select any consorts. These beauties were the first time Wu Shiyan had been made empresses and consorts.
In addition, the rebel king stormed into the capital and killed most of the princes and grandsons. Wu Shiyan had no brothers or princes, and only a young princess named Wu Shiyun who had just come of age.
Therefore, the relationships within the harem were quite simple.
Aunt Jinrong said, "Princess Yunping has reached the age to leave the palace and build her own princess residence."
After clarifying the identities of the key figures in the palace, Qi Yu's smile became much more relaxed.
She was only burdened by two powerful figures: the Empress Dowager and Wu Shiyan.
As they chatted, dusk fell. Qi Yu nodded, and dinner was served in a continuous stream, filling the entire large table.
There was meat, vegetables, soup, and dessert—a very generous spread.
After Qi Yu finished eating, she distributed the remaining food to her close palace maids under Jin Rong's guidance.
She tasted every dish, using four or five chopsticks for some and only one for others. Because of the palace maids serving the food, the dishes were not disturbed and looked as if they had just been served.
With Jinrong's explanation, Qiyu understood that the palace servants' meals were regulated each month. They didn't eat meat every meal, nor were they as refined as they were. The dishes that the imperial chefs prepared for the concubines were rare delicacies for these palace servants, which they could not usually afford to eat.
Therefore, she didn't need to feel that so much food was a waste, nor did she need to feel that leaving the food for the palace servants after she had eaten it was an insult to them.
Jinrong carefully noted down Qi Yu's favorite foods and asked, "Your Majesty, what about His Majesty?"
Qi Yu glanced at the sky. Today had been delayed for too long. By the time they finished their meal, it was already dusk, and candles had been lit in the palace.
But it's not as bright as natural light, making it inconvenient to do anything.
She rubbed her eyes: "His Majesty will not be coming tonight. Please come with me to wash up."
Jinrong was initially worried when she heard this, but seeing no change in Qi Yu's expression, she felt relieved and realized that she had been worrying unnecessarily.
His Majesty lives a secluded life in the deep palace and is not very interested in state affairs. Even if he has concubines, it is perfectly normal that he does not come to the harem.
But this is the first day since the Empress was conferred the title of Imperial Concubine, so it would be unreasonable for her not to come.
His Majesty's actions clearly show his affection for the Empress; otherwise, he wouldn't have promoted her from a mere concubine to a Noble Consort.
The Imperial Concubine was second only to the Empress, and could hold power in the palace and oversee the six palaces.
Jinrong gestured for a palace maid to come forward and serve Qi Yu: "This servant will go and prepare what Your Highness will wear when she meets the Empress Dowager tomorrow."
Qi Yu nodded.
After Qi Yu left, Jin Rong took a palace maid to prepare clothes. Meeting the Empress Dowager was no small matter, and the clothes had to be carefully scented with incense to ensure they were fragrant but not cloying.
She has to keep an eye on it herself.
Qi Yu sat down in front of the bronze mirror. The palace maid removed her hairpins, combed her hair, and used a wet cloth to wash away the makeup from her face little by little.
Just then, a commotion came from the outer hall, and a palace maid happily entered to report: "Your Majesty, His Majesty has arrived!"
A look of confusion flashed across Qi Yu's eyes.
The palace maids beside her tensed up and grabbed their tools to quickly apply a light makeup to Qi Yu.
Qi Yu pressed down on one person's hand: "No need, this is fine, come out with me."
Qi Yu led the palace servants to welcome Wu Shiyan.
Wu Shiyan was dressed in a black robe, but it wasn't very thick. Qi Yu couldn't tell whether he was afraid of the cold or not.
She stepped forward with a smile: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
Wu Shiyan nodded and stepped into the sleeping quarters.
Qi Yu followed behind him. After entering the bedchamber, she saw Wu Shiyan looking towards the bed, so she turned to the palace servants and said, "You may all leave now."
The palace maid in Zhaoyang Palace said "yes" and left.
Several palace servants, who had been brought by Wu Shiyan, lowered their heads even further upon hearing this.
Only the emperor's orders could command them.
Seeing this, Qi Yu looked at Wu Shiyan with a troubled expression.
Wu Shiyan didn't know why he came tonight. From the moment he saw Qi Yu's smiling face, he didn't know what to say and could only remain silent. When he saw the bed, he was truly stunned.
He touched the ring on his hand, and before he could figure it out, he saw Qi Yu waving away the palace servants, so he said, "You may all leave."
The palace attendants in front of the emperor withdrew.
Qi Yu saw the palace maids close the door to the sleeping quarters and then looked at Wu Shiyan.
He remained standing there, seemingly lost in thought.
It wasn't surprising that Wu Shiyan would come tonight. He intended to make her his favored concubine, and if she didn't come on the first night, then this favor would be undeserved.
However, as the male lead, he must save his first time for the female lead, while she, as the female supporting character, must maintain a distance from him even if they are in the same room.
So that Wu Shiyan could later use this excuse to say: Nothing happened between me and her!
There was only one bed in the bedroom. Although the bed was big enough, if Wu Shiyan spoke first, she might have to sleep on the floor.
After all, he is the emperor. Even if she doesn't have nine generations of relatives, she still has to be careful.
After careful consideration, Qi Yu spoke with a serious tone, her voice slow and soft: "Your Majesty, this morning when I entered the palace, I met a lady who had left from the Empress Dowager's residence. I noticed that my appearance is remarkably similar to hers. If we spend little time together, I think it would be easy for us to mistake each other for one another."
Wu Shiyan's deep gaze fell on Qi Yu, staring at her intently.
Qi Yu felt no fear, but she avoided Wu Shiyan's gaze and continued, "That lady wore a married woman's hairstyle, so she must have a husband... If I was able to enter the palace and gain His Majesty's favor because of that lady's kindness, then I would only feel gratitude and would not dare to covet His Majesty's position. If His Majesty comes to Zhaoyang Palace tonight not out of reluctance, but to save face for me, perhaps we should sleep in separate beds?"
She saw Wu Shiyan's hand quietly clench and then slowly release. His breathing remained steady throughout.
She knew she had made the right bet.
As soon as she finished speaking, Qi Yu looked up, her eyes wide with genuine sincerity, and gazed expectantly at Wu Shiyan.
It's as if they've been scheming and plotting, but their ultimate goal is simply to get the kitten to sleep in the bed.
Wu Shiyan's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. Ignoring the long speech he had just given, he asked, "What do you mean by sleeping in separate beds?"
Qi Yu immediately perked up. She went to the bedside, knelt on the bed, and used a long quilt to divide the bed in two, placing quilts on both sides.
A pink brocade quilt embroidered with butterflies was specially placed in the bed.
Qi Yu got off the bed and became obedient again: "That's how it is, I'll sleep in the bed."
Wu Shiyan didn't think Qi Yu was honest at all; he could tell just by looking at her relaxed and carefree demeanor.
However, this is quite rare. A large number of people are trembling and speechless in front of him, unable to speak or walk properly.
Even Zhao Wanyi, when facing him, would raise all her cold thorns and almost never look him in the eye.
He could hardly discern the meaning in Zhao Wanyi's eyes.
Wu Shiyan nodded: "That's good."
Whether we head back now or discuss where to sleep later, it all seems incredibly troublesome.
That's fine.
Wu Shiyan stopped worrying about it.
Qi Yu smiled and suggested, "It's late. Shall I call in a palace maid to help Your Majesty change your clothes?"
"No need, I'll do it myself."
Qi Yu left her seat to Wu Shiyan while she went behind the screen to change into her nightgown. When she came out, Wu Shiyan was already sitting on the bed. He looked even taller and bigger in his nightgown, with a large frame, but with well-proportioned flesh, so he wasn't bad-looking. When he wore the loose robe, he looked thin because of his height, but he wasn't actually thin, and he was probably quite strong.
His features were somewhat deep-set, and his gaze was sharp. Qi Yu had never seen Wu Shiyan smile, which was probably why he looked so gloomy.
Qi Yu turned off the lamps on the lamp stand one by one, leaving two for illumination, and then went around Wu Shiyan to get into bed.
She covered herself up before softly saying, "Your Majesty, please rest in peace."
Wu Shiyan also lay down.
It was the first time he'd had someone around him, and even though they were quite a distance apart, he still felt he wouldn't be able to sleep.
The soft breathing around him gradually became regular, and Wu Shiyan closed his eyes without realizing it, sleeping soundly through the night.
A note from the author:
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