Lin Yun stared at Yongzheng's retreating figure, unable to come back to her senses for a long time.
The warmth of his palm still lingered on her fingertips, and she could still feel the burning sensation on her lips.
My heart was pounding like a drum, making my eardrums ache.
She subconsciously smoothed her disheveled clothes, only to realize that her hairpin had slipped off at some point, and her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall.
"Miss!" Xiao Tao's voice suddenly came from outside the door, tinged with panic.
"What happened to you? Your hair and clothes are all messed up!"
She ran to Lin Yun's side in three quick steps.
His gaze swept over his master's flushed cheeks and slightly swollen lips.
Somewhat confused and bewildered, he stared at Lin Yun.
Lin Yun avoided her gaze and quickly walked out of the hydroponic room: "I'm going back to my room to rest for a while. You can tidy up here first."
Back in her room, Lin Yun closed the door and leaned against it, letting out a long sigh.
She slowly walked to the bronze mirror and looked at herself in it.
Her eyes, full of affection, were like shimmering autumn waters; in the flow of her gaze, one could almost glimpse the brilliance of the Milky Way. Her dark eyebrows, like distant mountains shrouded in verdant green, were naturally thick without being painted.
Her nose was delicate and straight, and her lips were naturally red, with a slight upward curve resembling a newly blossoming cherry blossom.
Her long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, reflecting the candlelight and shimmering like satin.
A few strands of hair fell beside her alabaster cheeks, making her skin appear even whiter than snow, with a faint hibiscus hue.
The most striking feature was the small cinnabar mole at the corner of her eye, like a red plum blossom fallen in the snow, adding a touch of vibrant color.
Her skin was as smooth and lustrous as jade, and under the dim light of the bronze mirror, it even shone with a warm glow like mutton fat.
With the blessing of the spiritual spring water, such beauty would make not only men drool, but even women would drool. No wonder the emperor lost control so much today.
She covered her still burning cheeks, her mind filled with the image of Yongzheng's deep eyes.
As he leaned closer, his breath almost brushed against her ear, his deep voice filled with suppressed passion: "Yun'er, I love you, what about you?"
"Crazy... Absolutely crazy!" she murmured, but it was unclear whether she was referring to Yongzheng or herself.
She never thought of entering the palace, much less becoming the emperor's woman.
But if she refused, how could she face those unquestioning eyes?
She bit her lip, then suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh: "At worst, I'll just date him. Yes, just date him, no responsibility!"
The moment this thought crossed her mind, she felt a little relieved.
I'm not going to think about things that aren't going to happen. That's it. Time to wash up and go to bed.
---
The Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City
Yongzheng pushed open the vermilion-lacquered, carved palace doors, and Su Peisheng immediately helped him remove his cloak. "Your Majesty, the people from the Imperial Household Department have been waiting for quite some time..."
He spoke cautiously, catching a glimpse of the lingering smile on his master's lips out of the corner of his eye, and secretly marveled.
"Summon them," Yongzheng gave a brief order and walked straight to his desk.
"Your Majesty, this humble servant pays his respects." The eunuch from the Imperial Household Department knelt on the steps, holding a silver tray with neatly arranged green plaques on it.
Yongzheng's gaze swept over the names, then paused on the name "Lin Xiadong." A vague thought flashed through his mind, and he raised his hand to flip over the plaque: "Her it's her."
Su Peisheng's eyes widened—this was the first time in nearly two months that the Emperor had summoned someone to serve him in bed!
Upon seeing this, the eunuch quickly announced loudly, "His Majesty has summoned Consort Lin to serve him tonight!"
The news caused an uproar in the imperial harem.
Lin Xiadong was just an insignificant concubine who had never been summoned to the palace in the two years since she entered it, but today she has actually gained the emperor's favor.
The palace maids and eunuchs gossiped about it, while the other concubines were filled with jealousy and hatred.
When Lin Xiadong received the message, she was embroidering, and the needle suddenly pricked her finger.
Ignoring the beads of blood seeping out, she abruptly stood up: "Really?"
After receiving an affirmative answer, she felt as if all her bones had been removed from the couch, then suddenly sprang up.
"Quick! Prepare the fragrant bath! Find that moon-white nightgown! And the rose oil we got last year—"
The entire side hall immediately descended into chaos.
The young palace maids carried copper basins and scented soap, moving back and forth, while the older nannies rummaged through chests and cabinets looking for clothes.
Lin Xiadong was soaking in a bathtub filled with flower petals, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to leap out of her chest.
After a while, she was wrapped in a brocade quilt and carried into the Hall of Mental Cultivation by eunuchs, where she was placed on the dragon bed.
Yongzheng slept inside, with his back to her.
"Your Majesty..." she called out timidly.
Yongzheng slowly turned around, his gaze falling on her face.
Lin Xiadong's cheeks flushed under his gaze, and she lowered her head and whispered, "This concubine will serve Your Majesty to bed."
After a moment of silence, Yongzheng suddenly asked, "Your surname is Lin?"
Lin Xiadong was taken aback, then quickly nodded: "Your Majesty, my surname is Lin and my given name is Xiadong."
Yongzheng's eyes darkened slightly, but another face appeared in his mind.
He closed his eyes, trying to concentrate, but his body didn't respond.
Lin Xiadong waited for a long time without any movement. She secretly looked up and found that the emperor had a furrowed brow and a strange expression.
"Your Majesty..." she approached cautiously.
Yongzheng suddenly opened his eyes and said softly, "Step back."
Lin Xiadong was struck dumb, her face turning deathly pale instantly: "Your Majesty, have I done something wrong?"
Yongzheng did not explain, but simply waved his hand: "Someone, escort Consort Lin back."
Upon hearing the commotion, the eunuchs entered, wrapped the bewildered Lin Xiadong back into the brocade quilt, and carried her out.
---
Yikun Palace
"Crack!" The teacup shattered on the floor. Consort Nian, gripping the corner of the table, almost dug her nails into the sandalwood: "That Lin family woman!"
Nowadays, even when the emperor summons someone to serve him in bed, he insists that the person's surname be Lin.
"Your Majesty, please calm down." The head palace maid, Emerald, quickly knelt down. "She is just a minor noblewoman. Even if she gains favor, she can never surpass you."
"What do you know!" Consort Nian sneered. "How long has it been since the Emperor visited the harem? Yet today he chose someone surnamed Lin!"
She suddenly turned to her trusted eunuch, "Go and find out where the Emperor went today."
Lin Yun tossed and turned until the third watch of the night before finally drifting off to sleep.
In her dream, someone stroked her hair and whispered "Yun'er".
Just as she was about to turn around, she saw countless women in palace attire emerge from the mist, the leader holding a phoenix crown, her smile chilling:
"Now that you have won the Emperor's favor, why don't you enter the palace to keep your sisters company?"
Startled, she sat up abruptly in bed.
The sky outside the window was just beginning to brighten, and the morning light shone through the curtains into the room, casting a soft glow.
She put on a coat and prepared to get up.
Then Xiao Tao came in quietly: "Miss, Guard Wang has something to report. He said a letter from our hometown has arrived."
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