In the blink of an eye, the Emperor and Consort Ji entered Jingxin Pavilion together, while the rest of their attendants waited outside.
Xiao Heye took a step forward, bowing slightly as he saluted. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor reached out and patted Xiao Heye’s shoulder gently, speaking amiably. “No need for formalities, my dear minister. Please, sit.”
Only after Xiao Heye moved aside did the Emperor notice there was someone else standing behind him.
Su Tiyue lowered her head and gave a slight curtsy. “Your humble consort greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings.”
The Emperor frowned, finding the woman before him unfamiliar, as if he had rarely seen her before. He said, “Raise your head and let me have a good look.”
Hearing this, Su Tiyue slowly lifted her face, but her clear, bright eyes did not dare meet the Emperor’s gaze. Instead, she kept them lowered, silently fixed on the ground.
Looking at this delicate, youthful face, the Emperor began to feel restless. Yet at this moment, he felt somewhat annoyed. Circling Su Tiyue, he examined her carefully from head to toe before walking back in front of her and slapping his own forehead forcefully. “You… which palace are you from again? I actually have no recollection at all?”
Su Tiyue hesitated for a moment before replying, “Your Majesty, this humble consort is from Jinxiu Palace.”
“Jinxiu Palace?” The Emperor scratched his head, still unable to recall.
Su Tiyue did not dare look at him while speaking, and her words failed to get to the point. The Emperor’s expression grew somewhat displeased—his patience was not particularly strong.
Xiao Heye and Consort Ji, standing to the side, also noticed the change in the Emperor’s demeanor.
Xiao Heye said, “Does Your Majesty not remember? This is Consort Shu, Su Tiyue, daughter of Minister Su of the Ministry of Revenue. She entered the palace last year through ceremonial selection.”
The Emperor nodded. “Ceremonial selection? So that’s it…” No wonder he had no impression at all. If it was through ceremonial selection, then it made sense.
To put it bluntly, ceremonial selection involved the court choosing women from noble families based on strict criteria, the Three Bonds and Five Constants, to serve as consorts—women of exceptional condition and outstanding temperament. However, the Emperor was by nature unrestrained and preferred women who were alluring, voluptuous, and full of charm.
That said, the Consort Shu before him today was not bad either—graceful and intelligent, gentle as jade, with an added touch of tender, delicate charm.
Seeing that Su Tiyue kept her eyes lowered and did not dare look at him, the Emperor had no choice but to bend slightly, tilting his head to meet her gaze from below. Su Tiyue, noticing this, quickly turned her head away to avoid his eyes.
Controlling his temper, the Emperor whispered a command to Su Tiyue, “Beauty, turn around and let me have a good look.”
Su Tiyue knew she had no power to defy the Emperor’s command. She could only cast a pleading glance at Xiao Heye—her eyes sparkling, seemingly brimming with tears, though she held them back, not daring to let them fall.
Xiao Heye gave Su Tiyue a faint glance, helplessly spreading his hands and making a gesture of powerlessness.
Su Tiyue finally felt disheartened. Taking a deep breath, she slowly turned her head, her bright eyes meeting the Emperor’s gaze.
With such a stunning beauty standing before him, merely looking was far from enough to satisfy the Emperor’s desires. A mischievous, ill-intentioned smile filled his eyes as he said, “Hold out your hand.”
Su Tiyue clenched her fingers hidden beneath her cloak, but in the end, she obediently extended her hand, palm facing down and the back of her hand facing up.
Seeing her so obedient, the Emperor immediately beamed with joy, happily grabbing Su Tiyue’s fingers and rubbing them repeatedly in his palm. Su Tiyue dared not move recklessly, forced to watch helplessly as the Emperor’s slightly rough hands freely caressed her.
The pressure in his palm gradually increased, and the expression on his face grew increasingly lewd. With a slight tug of his arm, Su Tiyue was abruptly pulled forward, stumbling a large step toward the Emperor and nearly losing her balance.
Su Tiyue was so frightened she almost let out a scream, but she managed to hold it back. Her eyes reddened, and her small face turned deathly pale from fear.
The Emperor released her hand, but then his mouth slowly drew closer. He wanted to kiss Su Tiyue, to taste what those tempting pink lips were like.
Just as he was about to press against her, Su Tiyue mustered her courage and quickly turned her head, deftly avoiding the Emperor’s mouth.
The Emperor hesitated for a moment—it was the first time he had seen someone so afraid of him. Just as he was about to lose his temper, a refreshingly pleasant fragrance wafted into his nostrils… a familiar floral scent, but with his age, he couldn’t recall it immediately.
The Emperor sniffed and leaned toward her neck, asking Su Tiyue, “You smell so good… what is this fragrance?”
Su Tiyue took two steps back, putting some distance between them. “Your Majesty, it’s jasmine.”
“Ah, yes, I remember now. It is indeed jasmine—fresh and sweet, truly tantalizing.” The Emperor swept his gaze over her entire body once more and said, “So the beauty’s clothes are also embroidered with jasmine… I must be getting old and confused, unable to tell whether the fragrance comes from your clothes or your body. Why not take them off and let me smell?”
Hearing this, Su Tiyue felt her legs go weak, her entire body devoid of strength. She immediately knelt on the ground, pressing her smooth, fair forehead tightly against the floor, her voice trembling as she repeated over and over, “Your Majesty, forgive me, Your Majesty, forgive me…”
“What fault have you committed, my beauty? Rise, and I will surely cherish and dote on you…” As the Emperor spoke, he was about to crouch down and pull up the kneeling Su Tiyue.
Xiao Heye, who had been standing by the pavilion observing the situation, gave Consort Ji a faint glance and a meaningful look.
Consort Ji immediately understood, hurriedly stepping forward to grab the Emperor’s arm and cooing sweetly, “Oh, Your Majesty, Consort Shu clearly looks like an inexperienced young girl. Your eagerness must have frightened her, Your Majesty…”
Consort Ji gently threw herself into the Emperor’s embrace, her slender fingers stroking his wrinkled face. “Your Majesty, haste makes waste. The young girl doesn’t understand, and I fear she might spoil Your Majesty’s mood later.”
The Emperor was utterly captivated by Consort Ji, his eyes fixed intently on her half-exposed bosom.
Compared to Su Tiyue, for the Emperor, someone as alluring and seductive as Consort Ji was far more enticing.
Consort Ji smiled seductively, deliberately covering the snowy expanse of her chest with her hand. “Oh, Your Majesty, don’t look… really.”
The Emperor was utterly bewitched. “When did my beloved consort become so shy? If you’re disobedient, just wait and see how I punish you when we return.”
Consort Ji lightly tapped the Emperor’s chest and said, “You’re so annoying, but… I do look forward to Your Majesty’s punishment.”
In just a short while, the Emperor was coaxed into a cheerful mood by her. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s depart for Jingren Palace immediately.”
Before leaving, the Emperor did not forget to cast a meaningful glance at Su Tiyue, who was kneeling on the ground.
Xiao Heye lowered his eyes, his expression unchanged.
Only within the loose sleeves of his dark brocade robe did his fists clench and unclench, unclench and clench again. Watching the departing figure, he murmured, “Your Majesty, take care.”
Su Tiyue had been deliberately lured here by Xiao Heye, and now everything had unfolded according to his plan.
Indeed, the Emperor had taken a slightly different view of Su Tiyue.
Yet, Xiao Heye found himself unable to feel even a hint of joy.