Zhaoyang Palace was a palace specially built by Emperor Chen for Consort Zhao. It was extremely luxurious, and many of its decorations were even in the style of an empress. For example, walls covered with pepper mud and carpets painted with phoenixes could all be found in Zhaoyang Palace.
Under Empress Li's deliberate promotion, everyone inside and outside the palace knew that Consort Zhao, despite being disfigured, did not restrain herself at all and was extremely arrogant and domineering, practically a demonic concubine.
Her reputation is terrible.
Li Langhuan looked at herself in the mirror, smiled, touched the scar that ran across her left cheek, and hummed a Kunqu opera tune.
"The people of Jinping are too fond of this fleeting beauty—" Li Langhuan sang, swaying back and forth on the chaise longue. Suddenly remembering something, she called over a palace maid, "Liu'er, what is the little eunuch I brought back last time doing today?"
Liu'er was an orphan girl whom Li Langhuan had rescued in the Southern Barbarian lands. She respected Li Langhuan the most. Upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "Thanks to Your Majesty, his leg was saved. He is cleaning the courtyard right now."
A few days ago, Li Langhuan went to Consort Shu's palace with a sword in hand. After making some harsh remarks, she felt a little unsatisfied, so she went to the Imperial Garden to relax. She happened to see a concubine punishing a young eunuch, so she helped him out.
She's happy when others are unhappy.
Li Langhuan's lips curled up, and the right half of her beautiful, flawless face looked radiant in the rare winter sunlight: "Go and bring him here."
Liu'er readily agreed.
Soon, the young eunuch arrived at Li Langhuan's bedroom and respectfully prostrated himself on the ground: "Your Majesty."
Li Langhuan tilted her head and suddenly laughed: "Aren't you afraid of me? They are all afraid of me, why aren't you?"
Liu'er's heart skipped a beat—her mistress had a bit of hysteria, though it wasn't very serious, but now she looked like she was having an episode.
If the Empress were to fall ill, very few people could cure her.
"Your Majesty is kind-hearted, this servant is not afraid." The little eunuch spoke, and surprisingly, he had a clear and pleasant voice. It seemed that he had not been castrated for long, and his voice had not changed.
Li Langhuan laughed so hard he almost fell over, as if he had heard a joke.
No matter how bright the winter sun is, it is cold and dim. Just then, a cloud blocked most of the sunlight, and when it shone on Li Langhuan's face, he looked like a demon.
Liu'er was startled and wanted to go up to help Li Langhuan, but Li Langhuan stopped her with a smile: "What's your name?"
The young eunuch replied respectfully, "My name is Qin Ye, also known as Rihua Ye. After entering the palace, everyone calls me Xiao Yezi."
Li Langhuan stopped smiling. After a moment of silence, she suddenly said, "Raise your head."
Qin Ye obediently raised his head, revealing a handsome but pale face.
“Tell me, what do you want?” Li Langhuan’s dark eyes were fixed on Qin Ye. “The day I saw you, there was hatred in your eyes.”
Qin Ye's eyes flickered slightly, then she lowered her gaze and said, "This servant only wishes to serve Your Highness now."
There was a hint of piety in her voice. Li Langhuan laughed, her voice hoarse: "They all say I am a demon concubine. If you serve me, you will probably have to go to the Asura Hell with me."
Qin Ye paused, then said with a smile, "Then I will follow Your Majesty to the Asura Hell."
...
A light snow began to fall again in the morning. As Qiao Xiuyu walked out of the palace, she overheard several palace maids gossiping.
"Have you heard? Little Ye Zi caught His Majesty's eye yesterday and has now been given the job of serving him with writing materials!"
"Oh, what little leaf? That's Eunuch Qin!"
"Yes, yes... Consort Jing punished Eunuch Qin a few days ago. Who would have thought that Eunuch Qin would have such good fortune? I heard that Consort Jing went to His Majesty's place and made a scene, but instead had her title stripped."
Qiao Xiuyu frowned—this Emperor Chen is truly muddleheaded, ordering a eunuch to serve him with writing materials. Doesn't he know that the previous dynasty perished because of the eunuchs' abuse of power?
Forget it, what does it matter to the prince of Northern Zhou what happens to Southern Chen? He just wants to get back to Northern Zhou as soon as possible and discuss marrying He Yang with his father and mother.
Sigh, when things get chaotic in Southern Chen, he'll have to protect the county princess.
Thinking this, Qiao Xiuyu's face immediately lit up with joy, and she couldn't wait to get into the carriage and return to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
When he arrived at the residence, it was exactly the time that Shang Shaoyan usually got up.
Shang Shaoyan was applying floral decorations to his forehead, picking and choosing, unsure which one to pick.
Qiao Xiuyu arrived at the courtyard gate at this moment and sent someone to announce his arrival.
Shang Shaoyan paused for a moment as she picked out the hairpin with her slender hands, then smiled and said, "Let him in, he can help me choose one."
Soon, Qiao Xiuyu walked in somewhat awkwardly—this was his first time entering a woman's boudoir.
Moreover... he has a certain fondness for Yang.
Yes, only a few.
He completely forgot that he had just been thinking about how to marry Shang Shaoyan.
Just then, Shang Shaoyan stood up, bringing with him a warm, fragrant breeze. Qiao Xiuyu froze, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet.
Shang Shaoyan didn't think much of it. She noticed the pastry box in Qiao Xiuyu's hand and blinked, "You bought pastries?"
Qiao Xiuyu cleared her throat and nodded as calmly as possible: "Yes, I bought it for you."
Shang Shaoyan's eyes lit up with surprise: "Hey, let's put it down for now. We can bring it with us on the boat this afternoon, okay?"
The last "ya" carried a hint of coquettishness, gently tickling Qiao Xiuyu's heart. His ear tips turned slightly red, and he pursed his lips: "Okay."
Shang Shaoyan was satisfied. She didn't even notice her subtle coquettishness. She tugged at Qiao Xiuyu's sleeve and pointed excitedly at the various floral ornaments on the table: "Young Master Lu, please help me see which one is the prettiest?"
Qiao Xiuyu looked at the young woman sitting in the chair, looking up at him. He barely managed to resist the urge to keep staring and quickly focused his gaze on the floral decorations on the mahogany dressing table.
He was choosing carefully, without the slightest impatience. Shang Shaoyan secretly glanced at him and saw his eyelashes tremble slightly and his black hair hanging down beside his temples. His heart suddenly started beating a little faster.
She turned her head away somewhat awkwardly, her voice unconsciously softening: "Have you made your choice?"
Qiao Xiuyu smiled and picked up a peach blossom-shaped hairpin with her slender, well-proportioned fingers: "This one is pretty."
He turned his head to look at the smiling woman, his heart stirred slightly, and he personally applied the brow brush to her forehead. His fingers accidentally touched her delicate skin, and he quickly withdrew them as if he had been burned. He smiled and said, "Her face and the peach blossoms complement each other."
Shang Shaoyan felt his face getting hot and scolded, "Don't recite poetry nonsense, this isn't a good sentence."
Qiao Xiuyu paused for a moment, then chuckled, "You think Cui Hu and that woman didn't end up together?"
Shang Shaoyan then realized that her words sounded like a woman's lament, and secretly spat three times, saying that it was not auspicious and did not suit her status.
She was about to say something when she saw Qiao Xiuyu gazing intently at her, his clear voice filled with laughter: "When spring comes, let's go see the peach blossoms together, okay?"
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