After Eunuch Zhao left, the Virtuous Consort finally could not hold back her fury. She grabbed the teacup beside her and hurled it to the floor.
All the palace maids and eunuchs inside the hall immediately knelt, terrified that she might vent her anger on them.
Seeing Nanny Li’s signal, Yunlu had no choice but to step forward despite fearing she would be dragged into trouble. “Please calm your anger, Your Ladyship.”
As expected, the Virtuous Consort kicked her to the ground. “How do you expect this palace to calm down!?”
Yunlu endured the pain and knelt again, but the Virtuous Consort still couldn’t quell her anger and kicked her once more.
“Did this palace tell you to move!?”
Nanny Li quickly stepped forward. “Your Ladyship, it is not worth damaging your health.”
Because Nanny Li was her wet nurse, the Virtuous Consort did not strike her.
“Why would His Majesty suddenly punish this palace!?” the Virtuous Consort roared in frustration.
Nanny Li comforted her softly, “Your Ladyship, please don’t be upset. Allow this servant to investigate.”
“Go find out!” the Virtuous Consort ordered.
“Yes, Your Ladyship.” Nanny Li let out a quiet sigh of relief and withdrew from the hall.
“Get out—all of you!”
Hearing this, the maids and eunuchs hurried out, afraid of further punishment.
Yunlu clutched her chest and walked out quickly, feeling wronged yet unable to speak a word.
That night, the Phoenix Carriage of Favor arrived at the gates of Chengqian Palace.
Lu Jingning was helped onto it, prepared to go to the Qianqing Palace for the night.
Upon arriving, dedicated nannies led her to bathe.
“Please allow us to prepare your bath, my lady,” they said respectfully.
They cleansed her with petals and fragrant oils. Seeing her flawless figure, they praised, “My lady’s figure is of the finest quality. You will surely bear a child.”
“Thank you for your kind blessings,” Lu Jingning replied modestly.
After bathing, she was wrapped in blankets and carried into the hall.
She crawled from the foot of the dragon bed into the covers and quietly waited for Xiao Jingheng.
In just a moment, she heard footsteps. She obediently lay still and closed her eyes.
Xiao Jingheng sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking her face.
“Your Majesty…” Lu Jingning called softly and sweetly.
Seeing her like this, delicate and pitiable, Xiao Jingheng felt even more tender toward her and ordered the lights extinguished.
When he lay down beside her, Lu Jingning grew nervous, clutching the blanket tightly, her voice barely audible.
“Your concubine… your concubine doesn’t know how to serve in bed. I’m afraid I will upset Your Majesty. Why don’t… why don’t you turn over the Virtuous Consort’s plaque instead?”
Moonlight filtered through the window lattice, softening her pale little face and making her look even more fragile.
Xiao Jingheng gently lifted her chin, his eyes warm and resolute. “I want you. Don’t be afraid—I will teach you.”
He brushed away the loose strands on her forehead, his movements as gentle as if he were handling the most precious treasure in the world.
Lu Jingning’s eyes flickered with panic and shyness, yet slowly melted under his tenderness. The atmosphere in the hall grew warm and intimate.
Xiao Jingheng was careful with her, afraid she would hurt.
Lu Jingning took the initiative to kiss him, whispering shyly, “Your Majesty…”
In the next moment, she was enveloped by Xiao Jingheng’s embrace, his breath surrounding her.
Lu Jingning knew clearly: the man before her was the ladder that would carry her to the peak of glory. She must hold onto him tightly.
Xiao Jingheng felt her body drawing him in, making him unable to stop.
…
When everything ended, palace maids came to wipe both of them clean.
According to custom, after serving in bed, Lu Jingning should have been carried back to Chengqian Palace.
“Let Lady Lu stay in the Qianqing Palace tonight,” Xiao Jingheng instructed.
Lu Jingning was surprised. Only the Empress was ever kept overnight at the Qianqing Palace.
After the maids left, only the two of them remained.
“Does it hurt?” Xiao Jingheng asked with concern when he saw her flushed face, thinking he had been too rough.
“It’s fine… please don’t ask anymore, Your Majesty.” Lu Jingning was too shy to look at him and turned away.
Xiao Jingheng pulled her into his arms and found her eyes turning red.
He thought he had accidentally hurt her. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
“No… it’s just that being held like this reminded me of Auntie…” Lu Jingning’s tears fell uncontrollably.
Xiao Jingheng gently wiped them away. “Don’t cry. I’m here with you.”
But unexpectedly, Lu Jingning cried even harder.
Xiao Jingheng grew flustered. “What’s wrong?”
“Your Majesty, please don’t be so good to me… I’m afraid that one day you won’t care about me anymore. If that happens, I’ll be so sad…”
Xiao Jingheng was stunned. He had only shown her a little tenderness, and she was this moved?
Lu Jingning cried as she spoke. “Since I was young, only Auntie ever treated me well. Everyone else was cold to me. But you—you are the ruler of a nation, yet you treat me so gently…”
“I’m really scared that one day Your Majesty will no longer treat me this way. If that happens… I would rather Your Majesty never be so good to me, so I won’t hurt so much later.”
Hearing her words, Xiao Jingheng held her tightly, wiping away her tears.
“Don’t cry, silly girl. I will always treat you well. I will always love you.”
He knew the women of the harem loved him only because he was the emperor.
But Lu Jingning… she shed tears simply because he treated her differently.
Her sincerity was rare—so precious in the palace.
From now on, he would cherish her and protect her all his life.
“Really, Your Majesty?” Lu Jingning stopped crying and looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Xiao Jingheng gently pinched her cheek and told her firmly, “Of course. From today on, I am your support. Whoever dares bully you—I will punish them.”
Lu Jingning was stunned, unable to believe his words.
Xiao Jingheng looked at her pityingly, unable to imagine how she had been mistreated and belittled in the past.
But from now on, under his protection, no one would dare disrespect her.
“I swear I will love Lu Jingning for a lifetime, treat you well for a lifetime. If not, may heaven strike me down with lightning.”
Lu Jingning quickly covered his mouth with her hand. “I believe Your Majesty. But I don’t want to hear you say anything that harms you.”
Xiao Jingheng was moved even more. He softly said, “When it’s just the two of us, you don’t have to call yourself ‘your concubine.’ You can call yourself ‘I.’ Do you understand?”
Lu Jingning noticed he had stopped calling himself “Zhen” before her. Had he already fallen for her this quickly?
But a man’s words were deceptive. Xiao Jingheng was only acting on impulse—she must not let down her guard. She needed to make him love her so deeply he could never pull away.
“I understand… Your Majesty.”
Xiao Jingheng gently held her hand, affection shining in his eyes. “I still don’t know your childhood name.”
“Zhaozhao,” Lu Jingning answered.
“Zhaozhao… such a lovely name. Then, from now on, call me Arui, just like a normal husband and wife. All right?”
Lu Jingning’s cheeks turned pink. She shyly nodded. “A… Arui.”
Xiao Jingheng smiled and held her as they fell asleep, sharing a peaceful night.
(End of Chapter)