Ning Wanwan had been living in the limelight lately. With the pregnant Chan Meiren confined, there was no opportunity for her to plot any palace schemes against Ning Wanwan. The Imperial Concubines from every palace flocked to curry favor with her, allowing her to finally enjoy the treatment of a favored consort from ancient times.
But now, a major problem awaited her: once her body had recovered, she would be required to serve the Emperor in bed.
Ning Wanwan was distressed. Although she loved reading smut, she had no practical experience and had never even been in a relationship. Tsk, she didn’t love the Emperor; she simply couldn’t bring herself to share a bed with him.
When night fell, Ning Wanwan paced anxiously in her Bedchamber. Her personal maid, Lüqiu, asked in confusion:
“Your Ladyship, what’s wrong?”
Ning Wanwan’s incomparably beautiful face was scrunched up as she said anxiously, “What should I do? Pei Jinxu will be here soon. What excuse can I use this time to avoid sleeping with him?”
“Your Ladyship doesn’t want to serve the Emperor?” Lüqiu was even more bewildered. Didn’t Her Ladyship used to wish for His Majesty to come every day? Could she have really become a fool after falling into the water?
Then again, this was a good thing. None of them had to suffer anymore, and she had even become more generous to them after the incident.
Just as Ning Wanwan was about to say something, a eunuch’s squawking voice announced Pei Jinxu’s arrival.
Pei Jinxu was also somewhat puzzled by Ning Wanwan’s current attitude, but he didn’t let it show on his face. He maintained the appearance of a gentle husband, doting exclusively on Ning Wanwan.
The two sat on the edge of the bed. Pei Jinxu asked her what was wrong, but Ning Wanwan found it difficult to answer. She had always used the excuse of poor health to put him off before. What could she use now?
“Your Majesty, I feel like my mind hasn’t been very clear since I fell into the water. I’ve forgotten many things…”
“I can tell.” The man’s gaze darkened, his deep eyes holding an unyielding tenderness.
Ning Wanwan was momentarily stunned. What had he figured out?
“Ever since you fell into the water, you no longer call me ‘Pei-lang,’ nor do you take the initiative to seek me out.” After speaking, he let out a soft sigh and flicked Ning Wanwan’s full forehead with his long fingers.
“Could it be that your brain was really addled by the fever?”
“Ah!” Ning Wanwan couldn’t help but cry out in pain, tears welling up in her eyes. She looked at him with a resentful, coquettish glare.
A dark glint flashed in Pei Jinxu’s eyes before he began to gently rub Ning Wanwan’s cheek.
Ning Wanwan was speechless. Big brother, it’s my forehead that hurts!
“Have you forgotten everything about our past?” the man asked, his thin lips pressed together lightly.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I didn’t mean to,” Ning Wanwan said, pouting her delicate red lips, her voice soft and sweet. “Please give me some time. Let me remember everything before I love Your Majesty properly again, okay?”
As if I’ll ever remember. That’s impossible in this lifetime. After all, the original owner is already dead. The one here now is Niuhulu Wan!
“Then what does Wanwan want?” Pei Jinxu asked.
Ning Wanwan feigned a look of troubled forbearance. After a moment of thought, she said, “Why don’t Your Majesty visit my other sisters for a while? Wanwan can no longer bear children since falling into the water, and Wanwan is still in pain over it. Wanwan cannot extend the imperial line for Your Majesty, but Wanwan cannot be so selfish as to monopolize Your Majesty. I only hope that my other sisters can give birth to an imperial heir in my stead.” As she spoke, she even feigned sorrow and shed a tear.
Pei Jinxu thought she was suggesting he go to Chan Meiren’s palace and comforted her, “I do not mind Guifei’s condition. In my heart, Guifei is the most important.”
“If Guifei wants a child, once Chan Meiren gives birth to the imperial prince, I will have the child brought to your palace for you to raise. How does that sound?”
“Huh?” Ning Wanwan was a little dumbfounded. Why was she being asked to raise someone else’s child?
“What is it?” The man’s sharp brows furrowed slightly.
“No, I mean, wouldn’t that be inappropriate? It would be too unfair to Chan Meiren,” Ning Wanwan said with a sheepish smile.
“Heh,” the man sneered. “To be adopted under Guifei’s name is this child’s good fortune. She should be happy about it.”
Meanwhile, far away in Jixiang Palace, Chan Meiren: