Attend the Emperor?
That's right!
Today is the day Zhang Wanyin arranged for her to attend the Emperor for the first time!
And she didn't just trip and hit a pillar on her own; it was Chun Xu, a second-class palace maid serving Zhang Wanyin, who intentionally tripped her!
She still remembered that on this night, because of the large bump on her head, the Emperor did not favor her, which led to the entire harem mocking her!
They said she had a face of peerless beauty in vain, as she couldn't even keep the Emperor's attention when he was right in front of her!
They also said that a concubine's daughter is just a concubine's daughter; even with the support of a Noble Consort, she was still not fit for the stage!
At that time, she was only sixteen, having just been brought back to the Capital City by the Marquis's Estate, and she hadn't even finished learning etiquette!
She did not understand the malice of human hearts, let alone the rules of survival in the harem! Even palace maids and eunuchs could point fingers at her, and some even refused to give her food!
She had no choice but to beg Zhang Wanyin. Zhang Wanyin comforted her on the surface; not only did she not blame her for being useless, but she even helped her secure another opportunity to attend the Emperor!
It was also because of that time that she developed immense trust and reliance on Zhang Wanyin, truly believing that this elder sister, who had never liked her, had developed pity and affection for her because she entered the palace at such a young age!
However, it was all just her scheme!
To make her lose favor, to make her feel the indifference of the world, and then to show kindness so that she would be devoted to her!
……
"Little Master, what are you thinking about? Are you still feeling unwell?" Qing Ning held a silk handkerchief, wiping the red swelling on her head, her heart aching so much she almost cried.
Qing Ning was an orphan girl that Zhang Wanrou had saved in the Beijing Suburbs when she returned to the capital. She was selling herself to bury her father and was being teased and humiliated by others; Zhang Wanrou could not bear it, so she insisted on having her bought.
She had not been with Zhang Wanrou for long, but she was extremely loyal to her!
But in her previous life, before she gave birth, Qing Ning suddenly slipped into the water and drowned!
She was heartbroken for a long time and even suffered complications with her pregnancy because of it.
Now that she thought about it, before Qing Ning died, she said some very strange things, mostly probing her attitude toward her elder sister.
And when she spoke many good words about her elder sister, she noticed that Qing Ning's expression looked very ugly.
She asked her what was wrong, but she said it was nothing... The next day, she was gone.
Now that she thought about it, Qing Ning must have discovered something at the time, which was why she was silenced!
And the person who silenced her definitely had something to do with Zhang Wanyin!
Her expression darkened slightly, and she held Qing Ning's hand, whispering, "I am fine, Qing Ning. Go and get me some things! Be quick!"
There were only a few hours left before she was to attend the Emperor, and she had to eliminate the large bump on her head before then!
Qing Ning looked at her mistress's demeanor, a trace of doubt appearing in her eyes.
Why did it feel like the Little Master was a bit different from before?
While Qing Ning went out to prepare the items, Zhang Wanrou stood by the window of the side room, looking at the majestic and noble main palace in the distance, her eyes filled with vigilance and indifference.
Zhang Wanyin, you didn't expect this, did you? I have lived once more!
This time, I will return the pain you inflicted upon me in my previous life twofold!
The position of Noble Consort—you can hold it, and so can I!
Two quarters of an hour later, Qing Ning returned with the things she needed.
Panax notoginseng, combined with frankincense and myrrh; she ground these medicinal herbs into a fine powder, added yellow wine, and then applied it to the affected area.
In less than an hour, the swelling on her forehead had faded, leaving only a faint mark.
Finally, she poured a large bowl of yellow wine and gulped it all down.
"Little Master, you cannot drink alcohol!"
Qing Ning hurriedly snatched the porcelain bowl away, but it was already too late; she had already finished the wine.
Qing Ning was so anxious she was about to cry: "Little Master, you... you have never drunk alcohol before. If you get drunk while attending the Emperor later and offend His Majesty, what will we do?!"
Zhang Wanrou patted her shoulder gently, comforting her: "Don't be afraid, I have it in my heart!"
In her previous life, she had served the Emperor several times and knew what he liked and what he disliked, so she naturally would not displease him!
After all, in this deep palace, he was the foundation of her survival!
Soon, the eunuchs preparing for the night's service filed in.
After the decree was passed, someone immediately sent Zhang Wanrou to bathe, use incense, comb her hair, and apply makeup.
Finally, she was sent to the Department of Imperial Records, stripped of all her clothes, and after being inspected by the eunuchs, she was wrapped in red silk and sent into the Emperor's bedchamber.
Emperor Xiao Wenyi, at the age of sixteen, used iron-fisted methods to reclaim the power of personal rule from the Empress Dowager. For ten years, he had been diligent in governing and kind to the people, reducing taxes and corvée labor, allowing the people to rest, which caused the national strength of Great Jing to grow at a visible speed.
Later, he opened up border trade, promoted the people's livelihood and economy, and simultaneously strengthened the military to guard the borders.
He was now twenty-six years old! In the ten years he had been in power, Great Jing's national strength had flourished and was invincible!
Even half a year later, he led his imperial carriage to personally conquer the Southern Frontier, recovering the three cities and nine pools that Great Jing had lost during the Yuanhua era!
As an Emperor, Xiao Wenyi was a sagacious and holy ruler without a doubt!
But as a husband, he was actually derelict in his duties!
He managed the outer court very well, but in the harem, he allowed Empress Jiang and Zhang Wanyin to fight; during this time, who knows how many women were swallowed by this deep palace!
And he never asked!
Thinking about it, even if she gave birth to a child and died, he would not be moved in the slightest, right?
In her previous life, she craved his favor and his true heart, to the point that she was used and toyed with by Zhang Wanyin without knowing it. In the end, not only did she not win this man's heart, but she also incurred his hatred and disgust!
Therefore, in this life, she would no longer seek that illusory love.
Zhang Wanrou lay on the dragon couch, thinking about all the events of her previous life, and only when the quilt was lifted by someone did she return to her senses.
Looking at the person who had arrived, she hid all the emotions in her heart, and a look of shyness appeared on her face.
Because she had drunk wine, her skin and cheeks showed a faint pink, like peach blossoms after the rain, delicate and dripping.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty..."
The young girl's voice carried a unique sweetness and charm, and combined with that look of shyness, it finally made the man in front of her ignore the anomaly on her forehead.
Xiao Wenyi looked at the half-exposed, pink, and delicate skin, and his throat tightened slightly; a strange sensation also arose in his lower abdomen.
"Wanrou, that is indeed a good name."
He sat on the edge of the bed, his slender fingers lightly brushing over her pink arm; the delicate touch made a trace of surprise appear in his eyes.
He had never seen such smooth and soft skin, as white as snow, with a faint pink showing through the white. Lowering his head slightly, he could even smell a special fragrance.
It was not the incense usually used when attending the Emperor, but a kind of extremely elegant and special fragrance he had never smelled before.
Zhang Wanrou lowered her eyes slightly, her face turning even redder, "Does Your Majesty know Wanrou's name?"
He nodded and hummed; after all, she was the Noble Consort's younger sister, and since the Noble Consort had greeted him, how could he not know?
However, he was truly surprised that this Zhang Wanrou was such a charming and sweet girl. Her pair of clear, large eyes were cleaner and purer than the streams under the snow-capped mountains.
A blush appeared on Zhang Wanrou's face, and she said with pleasant surprise: "I didn't expect that someone like Your Majesty would also know your subject's name."
"Someone like me... what kind of person am I?"
Zhang Wanrou thought seriously: "No, Wanrou said it wrong; Your Majesty is not a person!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Xiao Wenyi's expression sank instantly, and a chilling aura radiated from him.
Zhang Wanrou was so scared that she immediately crawled out of the quilt and knelt down: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your subject was wrong! Your subject should not have listened to the storytellers outside, saying that you are a dragon flying in the sky, a god standing in the nine heavens..."
"Wanrou was truly wrong, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
She kowtowed forcefully, the sound of the bed board and her skull colliding making a thumping sound.
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