The bright moon hung at the edge of the sky, sending a sliver of clear light in from outside the window, illuminating the lingering tenderness within the room.
Time slipped away bit by bit, and the moonlight shifted, until the girl beneath him had completely softened into a pool of water, exhausted and fast asleep. Only then did Xiao Wenyi, still insatiable, call for water.
By this time, the hour for attending the Emperor had long passed, and Cheng Fang had reminded him several times from outside, but he had completely cast it to the back of his mind.
Xiao Wenyi got up to use the water, and Cheng Fang entered the bedchamber, ordering those below: "Send Talent Zhang back."
Hearing this, Xiao Wenyi paused and raised his hand, saying: "Do not bother her. Let her rest here for a while."
A look of surprise appeared on Cheng Fang's face, but he hid it well, only whispering a reminder: "Emperor, this is against the rules."
Xiao Wenyi waved his sleeve, unconcerned: "It is just a little extra rest. Send her back before dawn."
Cheng Fang bowed his head in agreement and quickly exited the bedchamber.
The hot water was prepared. After he had used it, he wanted to return to the couch to continue sleeping, but looking at that small, palm-sized face, covered in sweat and exhaustion beneath the brocade quilt, he did not know why a sense of guilt rose in his heart.
It was her first time attending to him, and he had taken her so many times; he feared she had not just fallen asleep, but had fainted.
Enough!
He lifted the brocade quilt, scooped up the naked girl, and ordered: "Bring a clean bed."
The palace maid serving outside heard this and immediately changed the imperial couch to a clean bed with fresh brocade quilts. Then, they saw the Emperor carrying Talent Zhang into the bathing barrel!!
Everyone hurriedly lowered their heads, pretending not to see.
Such great favor! One could not find another like it in the entire harem! It seemed that yet another favored concubine was about to be added to the harem!
In her exhaustion, Zhang Wanrou only knew she had been carried into the water, scrubbed roughly a few times, and then picked up again. A chill washed over her, and she wanted to open her eyes, but found she could not!
Finally, she fell into a deep sleep.
In her hazy consciousness, the man's palm covered her chest once more. She whimpered, covering his hand with her own, and murmured: "Brother Yi, no more, it hurts... Let Rou'er sleep for a while, just a little longer..."
Soon, the woman's breathing became even, and the strength in her hand dissipated slightly.
Xiao Wenyi chuckled, a trace of helplessness flashing across his face.
Yes, what had come over him? Why did he feel like he could never get enough when holding this body?
Also, what did she call him?
Brother Yi...
Since when were they so close?
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In the main hall of Yonghe Palace, a set of fine white jade tea sets crashed to the floor, shards scattering everywhere.
"What did you say?!"
"Zhang Wanrou attended the Emperor? She hasn't returned yet? Does that mean she is staying overnight at the Emperor's place?!"
Zhang Wanyin's hair was disheveled, and her eyes were filled with unspeakable gloom and jealousy.
"Did I not have someone ruin her appearance? With such a large red envelope, how could the Emperor let her stay the night?"
Nanny Wang whispered a word of advice: "Empress, this Talent Zhang is your half-sister after all. Perhaps the Emperor is just showing you respect by letting her attend to him!"
A flash of ruthlessness crossed Zhang Wanyin's eyes. "Even so, how could the Emperor let her stay the night?!"
She had entered the palace many years ago, and even though the Emperor favored her greatly, it was only that year when she took a sword strike for him that she had the chance to stay the night in the Emperor's bedchamber!
But now, that little slut Zhang Wanrou, who had done nothing for the Emperor, why did she deserve such an honor?
"Empress, in fact, isn't this exactly what we wanted to see?"
"Once Talent Zhang becomes pregnant, you can use the excuse of her needing to nurture the fetus to cut off the Emperor's chances of seeing her. The Emperor has never been passionate; once time passes, he will naturally forget about Talent Zhang!"
"When Talent Zhang gives birth to a Prince, we can make her die in childbirth. By then, the Emperor will surely entrust the child to your care, remembering the sisterly bond between you!"
"In this way, you will have both favor and a Prince to support you. Are you still afraid you won't be able to defeat the Empress?"
Zhang Wanyin's slender fingers clenched tightly until they turned white.
"Yes, endure for a moment to gain decades of glory. What does it matter if I let that little slut enjoy a few days of splendor?"
"I hope that little slut gets pregnant on the first try. As long as she carries the dragon seed, she will never be able to go to the Emperor again!"
At this moment, the palace maid Chun Xu reported from below: "Empress, Talent Zhang has been sent back!"
It was not yet dawn, but it was close.
Zhang Wanyin suppressed the anger in her heart and said: "Go, take good care of the Talent. Do not let her touch water, put several pillows under her hips, and do not let her get up unless necessary!"
A look of panic and hesitation appeared on Chun Xu's face as she stammered: "Empress, it is said that the Talent used water while at Funing Palace..."
"What?!"
"Bastard! Who gave her the courage to use water at Funing Palace?"
"If this affects her ability to conceive, can she bear the responsibility?!"
"Let's go to the side room! I want to see if she did it on purpose!"
Just as Zhang Wanyin stood up, Chun Xu lowered her head and said: "Empress, it was, it was the Emperor who personally carried her to use the water!"
Zhang Wanyin froze in place, her eyes filled with disbelief: "What did you say? The Emperor personally carried her to use the water?"
Chun Xu lowered her head even further, her body retreating two steps.
Not only that, but the Emperor had personally washed the Talent's body...
She dared not say this! At least, it could not come from her mouth, or she would surely be punished.
Zhang Wanyin collapsed onto the Noble Consort's couch, her voice trembling, "How is that possible?!"
"The Emperor has always been perfunctory about such things. Even with me, he never said he would..."
Bitterness, like thick, acrid medicine, dissolved in her heart. She did not know why, but a flash of panic suddenly crossed her mind, as if she had made a wrong move...
Seeing this, Nanny Wang hurriedly stepped forward to comfort her, "Empress, for the sake of the child, you must endure!"
"That Yatou is young and beautiful after all. I suppose it was the act in bed that pleased the Emperor, which is why he made an exception!"
Zhang Wanyin was not comforted at all; she only felt more stifled.
She had also entered the palace at sixteen. Why could Zhang Wanrou win the Emperor's favor with her youth and beauty, while she had to risk lifelong infertility just to get the Emperor to look at her slightly differently?
"Empress, do not worry. Since she has already attended to him, just do not let her see the Emperor in the days to come!"
Zhang Wanyin glanced at her, "You make it sound simple. I can stop her from seeing the Emperor, but can I stop the Emperor from coming to find her on his own?!"
A flash of malice crossed Nanny Wang's face as she smiled: "Empress, are you muddled with anger? Whether a woman in the harem is favored depends entirely on the Emperor's heart. Tell me, if the Emperor were to see her arrogant and domineering appearance, would he still like her?"
As a Noble Consort, was it not simple to use a few small tricks to make Zhang Wanrou do things that would make the Emperor dislike her?
A cold, sharp smile appeared on Zhang Wanyin's face. Having been in the harem for many years, how could she not understand the subtext?
"Yes, she can make the Emperor like her, and I can make the Emperor dislike her!"
"As for her belly, if she doesn't conceive on the first try, I will beg the Emperor to favor her once more!"
"And if she still doesn't... there is no need to keep such an unpromising belly!"
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