This day finally gave Yuan Chun an opportunity.
While Lin Yun was reviewing account books in a side hall of Kunning Palace, she deliberately said to Yuan Chun beside her, "I'm a little tired. Go to Yangxin Hall and tell the Emperor that he doesn't need to wait for me for dinner. I want to take a short rest."
The palace fan in Yuan Chun's hand fell to the ground with a "thud." She hurriedly picked it up, her heart pounding like a drum.
This is the first time in ten years since I entered the palace that I have had the opportunity to meet the Emperor alone!
"This servant will go right away." She forced herself to remain calm and bowed, but her voice trembled slightly.
Lin Yun glanced at her, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Go on, be careful on the road."
As Yuan Chun left the palace, her pace quickened until she almost jogged.
She had to return to her own room first, where Lady Wang had secretly sent in rouge and face powder, as well as a light pink gauze palace dress.
"Finally, this day has come..." Yuan Chun murmured to herself in front of the bronze mirror, her fingers trembling as she untied her old-fashioned hair bun that had been styled for many years.
The woman in the mirror was twenty-six years old. Fine lines had appeared at the corners of her eyes, but after careful makeup, her former radiance could still be seen.
She changed into new clothes, and her skin, faintly visible beneath the sheer fabric, shimmered like pearls in the candlelight.
In her letter, Lady Wang said that this was the latest style from Jiangnan, and even the ladies in the palace might not have it.
Yuan Chun practiced her most beautiful smile in front of the mirror, thinking, "The Emperor will definitely notice me..."
She recalled the advice in Baochai's letter: to display her talent casually, but not too deliberately; to be gentle and tender, but not frivolous.
The outline of the Hall of Mental Cultivation appeared particularly majestic in the twilight.
Yuan Chun took a deep breath outside the palace and straightened her clothes.
Upon seeing her, Su Peisheng frowned slightly: "Isn't this Lady Jia? What brings you here?"
"Chief Eunuch Su," Yuan Chun curtsied, her voice so gentle it could melt water, "Her Majesty the Empress has ordered me to convey a message to the Emperor."
Su Peisheng looked her up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on her unconventional attire, but ultimately said nothing: "The Emperor is currently reviewing memorials; please wait."
Inside the palace, Emperor Yongzheng frowned as he looked at the Northwest military report.
The remnants of the Dzungar Khanate were causing trouble on the border again. He rubbed his temples and drew a sharp red mark on the memorial with his vermilion pen.
"Your Majesty," Su Peisheng said softly, "Lady Jia from Kunning Palace has arrived, saying that the Empress sent her to deliver a message."
Without even looking up, Yongzheng said, "Summon them."
Yuan Chun gracefully entered the hall, and as she knelt to pay her respects, she deliberately let her collar slip slightly, revealing a section of her snow-white neck: "This servant greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
"Rise." Yongzheng, still staring at the memorials, asked, "What does the Empress want?"
Yuan Chun did not get up immediately, but crawled two steps on her knees and stopped at Yongzheng's feet: "Her Majesty said that dinner does not need to wait for her. She is a little tired and wants to rest for a while." She looked up, her eyes filled with unspoken feelings.
Yongzheng then looked up and saw a heavily made-up face and an inappropriate outfit. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
This palace maid looks familiar; she seems to be from the Empress's palace... She's not young, so why is she behaving like this?
"I understand. You may leave," Yongzheng said coldly, his gaze already returning to the memorial.
Yuan Chun, however, was unwilling to step down.
She bit her lip, then suddenly reached out to pour tea for Yongzheng, her sleeve brushing against the emperor's hand: "Your Majesty works tirelessly day and night; you should also take care of your health..."
Her voice grew softer and softer, carrying a subtle allure.
Yongzheng slammed the memorial shut, the sound startling Yuan Chun.
"Which palace are you from? What's your name?" Yongzheng narrowed his eyes and finally looked at her directly.
Yuan Chun was overjoyed and quickly said, "This servant is Jia Yuan Chun, a lady-in-waiting in the Empress's palace. I have been in the palace for ten years..."
She deliberately brought up the number of years she had been in the palace, implying her grievances at not being favored by the emperor for many years.
"Jia Yuanchun..." Yongzheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered something, "Could she be Jia Zheng's daughter from the Rongguo Mansion? Daiyu's cousin?"
"It is indeed this servant." A glimmer of hope flashed in Yuan Chun's eyes; the Emperor actually knew about her background!
Yongzheng sneered, "I remember you were only sixteen when you entered the palace, so you should be twenty-six now. The Empress is kind and keeps you by her side, but instead of being grateful, you..."
His gaze swept over her unconventional attire, the unspoken message clear.
Yuan Chun's face turned pale instantly, and she hurriedly kowtowed: "This servant wouldn't dare! This servant only..."
"Step back." Yongzheng's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. "I will pretend today's events never happened."
Yuan Chun trembled all over and staggered out of the palace.
A gust of night wind blew, and she was startled to realize that her back was soaked with cold sweat.
That evening, Emperor Yongzheng summoned Lin Yun to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
As soon as Lin Yun entered, she saw the emperor's gloomy face and, feigning ignorance, asked, "What troubles Your Majesty?"
"Yun'er," Yongzheng interrupted her, "what's the story with that palace maid you sent today?"
Lin Yun blinked: "Yuan Chun? Didn't she pass on the message? I did indeed tell her..."
"She was dressed like a courtesan from a brothel, and knelt at my feet saying she wanted to 'serve' me."
Yongzheng sneered, "Where did she get the audacity?"
Could it really have been arranged by Yun'er?
Lin Yun feigned surprise, pretending to be just learning the news. After a moment of silence, she sighed softly and sat down beside Yongzheng: "She is Daiyu's cousin. She entered the palace early but never received the emperor's favor. Now that she's older, she must be getting anxious..."
"Does being anxious mean you can disregard palace rules?" Yongzheng slammed his teacup down. "If it weren't for your sake, I would have..."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
