Upon hearing this, Mu Li and the others turned to look at Ting Shu. Ting Shu set down what she was holding and said indignantly, "Mistress, they are bullying us too much. Seeing that you still haven’t been summoned to serve after so long, they sent these steamed buns and pickled vegetables to dismiss us…"
Shan Wu looked at the unappetizing food and said with heartache, "Mistress has never suffered such hardship back at Mu Mansion. How can anyone eat this!"
Back at Mu Mansion, even if Mu Yuan disliked her, he had never deprived her of food, clothing, or shelter.
Aunt Wen Yue stepped forward and said, "Mistress, allow this servant to take some silver to make arrangements."
"Go ahead, Auntie," Mu Li nodded.
After a long while, Mu Li asked, "Chang Xiu, is tomorrow the twentieth?"
Chang Xiu thought for a moment, not understanding why her mistress suddenly asked this, but replied, "Yes, Mistress, tomorrow is indeed the twentieth."
Mu Li’s red lips parted slightly: "Excellent, the opportunity has come…"
The next day, Bishui Pavilion
The Beauty sat quietly in the pavilion, her beautiful eyes shifting like twinkling stars. A gentle breeze brushed her face, causing the light gauze of her sleeves to flutter and dance like drifting clouds.
"Mistress, it’s been so long, and His Majesty still hasn’t summoned you to serve. Aren’t you the least bit anxious?" Chang Xiu asked from the side, her tone tinged with worry.
Mu Li played with a peach blossom branch in her hand, speaking unhurriedly, "What is there to be anxious about? Chang Xiu, you must understand that the Emperor is the supreme ruler. Whomever the Emperor wishes to summon is whom he summons. How could we possibly influence that?"
Mu Li continued on her own, "Besides, who knows if the Emperor is even good-looking? What if he’s an ugly old man…"
"Mistress, nonsense! His Majesty is only twenty-six this year, in the prime of his youth. How could he be old?" Chang Xiu exclaimed in shock, glancing around and only relaxing when she saw no one nearby.
"I’m only fifteen, and he’s eleven years older than me. That’s old," Mu Li muttered.
Chang Xiu sighed helplessly, "Mistress, you mustn’t say such things in the future."
Just then, a butterfly flew over and landed on the peach blossom branch. The butterfly was pure white and exceptionally beautiful.
Mu Li’s gaze was inevitably drawn to it. She reached out a finger, and before she could even touch it, the butterfly, as if sensing her, landed on her fingertip, fluttering its wings as if to greet her.
"Chang Xiu, look! Look!" Mu Li’s delicate face lit up with a radiant smile.
From Jun Ji’s angle, he could perfectly see this lovely scene. The woman’s skin was like congealed cream, her willow-leaf eyebrows arched gracefully, and her cherry lips slightly parted. Two strands of hair at her temples swayed gently in the breeze, brushing against her face and adding a touch of allure.
Watching the woman’s innocent and carefree demeanor, Jun Ji’s thin lips curved slightly. But recalling her earlier remark about an "ugly old man," his expression darkened again. "Who is that?"
Li De, standing behind him, silently broke into a cold sweat for Mu Li. "Your Majesty, that is Noble Lady Mu from Qingzhu Small Courtyard."
"Excellent!" Jun Ji turned and strode away.
Li De hurried to catch up, thinking to himself that Noble Lady Mu had truly offended the Emperor. His Majesty was majestic and handsome—who in the entire Imperial Consorts' Palace would dare call him an ugly old man, even if given the courage?
Mu Li, thoroughly enjoying her time with the butterfly, caught a glimpse of a flash of bright yellow from behind the rockery in her peripheral vision. She smiled faintly—he had taken the bait.
Late at night, the Imperial Study
The man was reviewing memorials at the dragon-carved desk when Li De approached, leading two young eunuchs. One of them carried a large silver tray bearing the green-headed nameplates of the imperial consorts from the rear palace.
Li De smiled and inquired, "Your Majesty, which consort shall be summoned to attend you tonight?"
He had expected his master to summon Consort Rong or Consort Jin, or perhaps even Imperial Concubine Qing Wan, who was currently in high favor. To his surprise, the man replied without looking up, "Summon Noble Lady Mu."
Li De was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Noble Lady Mu to be remembered by the Emperor after just one day. He promptly responded, "This old servant will send someone to Qingzhu Small Courtyard to deliver the decree immediately."
Qingzhu Small Courtyard
Since Mu Li was merely a low-ranking Noble Lady, it was not Li De who came to deliver the decree, but his adopted son, Xiao Shunzi.
"Congratulations, Noble Lady! Please prepare quickly and follow this servant to Longchen Gong," Xiao Shunzi said with a beaming smile, which grew even wider upon seeing Mu Li’s face.
Everyone in Qingzhu Small Courtyard was overjoyed by the good news. Chang Xiu was the first to react, pulling a plump pouch from her sleeve and handing it to Xiao Shunzi, who accepted it with a pleased grin.
"Please wait a moment, Eunuch," Mu Li said.
Inside the chamber, as it was already late, Mu Li had already bathed. She applied a touch of lip rouge and some fragrant powder she had made herself before boarding the Phoenix Carriage of Spring Favor.
Longchen Gong
In the vast bedchamber, golden pillars stood around the room, draped with bright yellow curtains that wrapped around them. In the center of the curtains hung a carved white jade pendant adorned with ancient dragons and phoenixes.
As Mu Li gazed upon these symbols of status, her resolve to achieve her goal grew even stronger.
"Please wait here for a moment, Noble Lady. His Majesty will come once he finishes reviewing the memorials," Luo Mei, the head palace maid of Longchen Gong, said to Mu Li.
Mu Li turned and replied, "I understand. You may leave."
Outside the chamber door, Xiao Shunzi approached Luo Mei as she emerged and whispered, "Sister Luo Mei, Noble Lady Mu is truly beautiful."
Luo Mei glanced at him but, for once, did not argue. Having served in the palace for many years, she had to admit that no one could surpass Noble Lady Mu in beauty.
Even she, a woman, couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances, let alone the Emperor, who was a man.
Inside the chamber, Mu Li was captivated by a landscape painting hanging on the wall and didn’t notice the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. It wasn’t until a deep voice spoke that she was startled: "What is my consort looking at?"
Mu Li stiffened, then quickly turned and bowed. "Your humble concubine pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be at peace."
Jun Ji was dressed in a white inner robe, clearly having just bathed. "Rise. What were you looking at earlier?" He walked past her and sat directly on the dragon bed.
"Your Majesty, your humble concubine was admiring Master Ouyang’s painting. This 'Spring Stream Dwelling' is one of Master Ouyang’s masterpieces, long thought lost. That is why I was so captivated upon seeing it here today and failed to notice Your Majesty’s arrival. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness," Mu Li explained with her head bowed.
Jun Ji paid it no mind and instead asked, "When my consort sees me today, do I resemble the ugly old man you described?"
The man’s tone was perfectly normal, with a hint of teasing upon closer listening. Mu Li was taken aback and replied in a flustered tone, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Your humble concubine did not mean it. How could Your Majesty be an ugly old man? Your Majesty clearly possesses celestial grace."
To Jun Ji, her demeanor seemed rather endearing. He chuckled softly and asked, "Why don’t you come closer? Are you afraid of me?"
"No, nothing." She shook her head and walked toward the man on the dragon bed.
Before Mu Li could get close, the man reached out with his large hand, wrapped it around her slender waist, pressed her onto his lap, and held her in his arms.