Consort Li’s emotions swung between extremes.
The high came from Consort Xi actually speaking well of her before the Emperor.
The low came from realizing it would have been better if she hadn’t spoken at all.
She struggled to contain herself but ultimately failed: “Your Majesty, this humble consort has something to say.”
Seeing she truly couldn’t hold back any longer, Xie Zhihang permitted her to speak.
“During the Autumn Hunt, this humble consort doesn’t wish to remain in the palace. I too wish to accompany Your Majesty. As for Consort Xi…” Consort Li wanted to say Consort Xi could go wherever she pleased—it had nothing to do with her since they neither interacted nor had any grievances. But being more emotionally intelligent than Yun Jiao, after considering the Emperor’s intentions, she put on a smiling face: “If we can both go to the Autumn Hunt, this humble consort will surely take good care of Consort Xi. Actually, I would very much enjoy having her company!”
She had discerned the Emperor’s conflicted feelings—he desperately wanted Consort Xi to accompany him yet was too proud to admit it. In the harem, there were rarely absolute enemies. Though the “Emperor” was a unique resource, “imperial favor” could be divided many ways. As long as she could join the Autumn Hunt, she and Consort Xi could immediately become as close as sisters.
Her meaning was clear—she wanted to form an alliance with Yun Jiao.
Understanding this, Consort Wei’s expression immediately changed.
She resented Consort Li’s ability to bend without breaking, while envying that she had someone influential in the palace who could help her.
“It seems you get along well with Consort Xi,” Xie Zhihang said.
“The jade bracelet Consort Xi wears was given by this humble consort, though it’s not the finest quality.”
Consort Li’s remark about it not being the best was modest.
Any greeting gift from a consort naturally couldn’t be too shabby. Even if it wasn’t her most frequently worn piece, it was still a respectable jade accessory—not inexpensive.
Xie Zhihang turned to look and indeed saw a jade bracelet on Yun Jiao’s wrist. He nodded: “The quality is somewhat lacking, yet Consort Xi wears it without removing it. It seems you and Consort Li are quite compatible?”
Yun Jiao: “This is the best bracelet among all my possessions.”
I really don’t understand you imperial second-generation types and your jewelry standards.
Xie Zhihang raised an eyebrow: “When you perform well in accompanying me, I’ll reward you with a complete set of jadeite hair ornaments.”
Since the time of Emperor Hao Tian and Empress Rui Wu, Yan Chi had grown exponentially stronger, laying a prosperous and powerful foundation for descendants. This cultivated in the new Emperor a character of generous rewards towards court officials—if you want people to work, you must provide sufficient silver. Without adequate compensation, ministers would focus on earning money rather than performing duties, making substantive work impossible. He wasn’t afraid of people having desires, as long as he could satisfy them.
Yet to this day, Xie Zhihang still hadn’t probed Yun Jiao’s desires.
If it were just about steamed meat with rice flour, he didn’t believe it.
Yun Jiao turned to look at Consort Li, intending to say she was perfectly content with the jade bracelet she’d received. But when her gaze shifted over, she was met with Consort Li’s smiling yet pleading expression, as if silently begging—whatever you say, don’t involve me, please.
Seeing Consort Xi still hesitating, Consort Wei and Xu Guiren gritted their teeth in frustration.
What was she waiting for to agree?
Pushing her luck!
However, seeing her continued reluctance, the Emperor thought for a moment and said: “If you’re concerned about travel inconveniences, you can ride in my carriage both going and returning. Once we arrive, I’ll arrange a tent for you. How does that sound, Consort Xi?”
Xie Zhihang thought that if Yun Jiao still refused, this immortal maiden might genuinely dislike going out.
Unexpectedly, Yun Jiao agreed quite readily.
So readily that he began to doubt whether all the previous time rewinds had been imaginary.
Xie Zhihang observed her more closely.
After three rounds of dishes had been served and fruits were presented, Xu Guiren placed a perfectly round and large orange on a porcelain plate before Yun Jiao.
Yun Jiao politely said, “Thank you, but I’m not particularly fond of oranges.”
A moment later, Xue Ya stepped forward and peeled the orange for her.
Yun Jiao exclaimed with delight, “Thank you! How did you know I like oranges?”
…
Xie Zhihang suddenly felt uncertain.
Perhaps the celestial maiden truly disliked the poor travel conditions?
But he couldn’t fathom what scheme the celestial maiden had in mind by descending to the mortal realm. In many tales where scholars develop romantic relationships with spirits or celestial beings, the moment one party reveals the truth, the other would often depart sorrowfully. Not wanting to arouse her suspicion, Xie Zhihang couldn’t promote her rank too quickly and risk criticism from the court.
While he was lost in thought, others could only think—
So the Emperor likes this kind of demeanor?
Quite unexpected.
After the meal, Xie Zhihang didn’t linger long at Xianfu Palace.
Having persuaded the celestial maiden to accompany him to the Autumn Hunt, he needed to return to Qiankun Palace to review memorials.
Consort Wei was in a daze. Because she had a princess, even though the Emperor no longer favored her, she still had frequent opportunities to see His Majesty. Thus, she understood the Emperor’s temperament better… The late Emperor’s sons were all outstanding, and Xie Zhihang had to work harder than his brothers to stand out among them. Therefore, he was the least inclined to indulge in pleasures among them—he neither avoided hard work nor was obsessed with beauty. He treated his favored consorts with some kindness but never excessively doted on them. His behavior toward Consort Xi was unprecedented, so Consort Wei regarded Consort Xi with added caution.
“I intended to arrange dishes for the two consorts, yet Consort Xi ordered me around without the slightest hesitation,” Xu Guiren remarked sarcastically to Yun Jiao as soon as the Emperor left, having experienced less and thought less deeply.
Yun Jiao replied, “You’re blocking my maid.”
“If you’re not doing it on purpose, then you’re truly ignorant of social graces?”
Yun Jiao looked troubled and gave an answer Xu Guiren hadn’t expected:
“One can’t forgo Imperial Cuisine just for the sake of social graces!”
Just as Xu Guiren was about to say more, Consort Wei coldly cut her off with a “Let’s go.” Xu Guiren left reluctantly, glancing back repeatedly.
Watching the two leave Xianfu Palace, Li Pin invited Yun Jiao to the main hall.
“Sister Li Pin…”
“Please, I should be calling you sister. That really scared me to death earlier,” Li Pin said, still shaken.
Yun Jiao remarked that this wasn’t proper and might invite gossip.
“Then let’s each address the other as we please. You call me sister, and I’ll call you sister.”
To be honest, Yun Jiao didn’t understand where the Emperor’s attentiveness came from either. She had only attended him once—she hadn’t demonstrated remarkable skills in the bedchamber, nor had he spoken any sweet nothings. Thus, the Emperor’s considerate care for her was shrouded in mystery.
She shared these thoughts with Li Pin.
Li Pin was astonished upon hearing this!
“The Emperor treats you as if you’ve been destined for three lifetimes! And I’ve long heard that the Emperor prefers intelligent women, which you aren’t exactly.”
As for beauty, Li Pin herself, who had earned the title “Li” (beautiful), possessed stunning looks. Thus, she believed the Emperor wasn’t one to be swayed by mere appearances.
Yun Jiao disagreed, “My intelligence just isn’t obvious—great wisdom appears as foolishness.”
Li Pin would rather believe she outshone every woman in the harem.
“You never asked before?”
“I thought the Emperor would have forgotten me by the next day. It didn’t seem important anyway.”
In this lifetime, having a healthy body was already enough for Yun Jiao. She had no intention of wasting time on life’s four useless questions—Does he love me? How much does he love me? Why does he love me? And what exactly does he love about me?
If a man treated her well, she accepted it; if he treated her poorly, she avoided him.
No resistance, no initiative, and most importantly, no responsibility.
“Next time you see the Emperor, why not ask him? Judging by how he treated you today, he probably wouldn’t mind if you asked directly.”
Out of gratitude for the jade bracelet Li Pin had gifted her, Yun Jiao agreed.
Li Pin: I think this girl is foolishness posing as wisdom… (Please read this line silently in your heart)