By the time Xiao Chenglan entered the bedchamber, Jiang Yingli had already bathed and retired to bed.
Hearing the announcement from outside, she scrambled up in a flurry.
Clad in simple attire, her soft sleeping robe clung to her graceful figure. Her cascading black hair, slightly disheveled from having just risen after rolling about on the bed, gave her a somewhat dazed appearance.
Xiao Chenglan walked into the chamber, lowering his gaze to look at her.
"Isn't it a bit too early to be asleep at this hour?"
Standing too close, the hem of Xiao Chenglan's black and gold dragon robe brushed against the back of Jiang Yingli's hand, making it itch. She subtly scratched it, withdrawing her hand, and respectfully explained, "This Concubine felt somewhat weary today, so…"
Xiao Chenglan noticed her covert little gesture, a flicker of amusement in his eyes, yet he bypassed her and went straight to sit on a chair.
Leaning forward, one hand resting on his knee, he looked at Jiang Yingli with leisurely composure.
"I spent the entire day selecting consorts and didn't feel weary."
"Besides, the hour of Xu is when the Office of Imperial Affairs flips the plaques."
Why did his tone sound somewhat resentful?
Jiang Yingli pondered inwardly and suddenly realized.
Xiao Chenglan was reminding her that she had made another mistake.
This was not Prince Su's residence where she could sleep whenever she pleased. As a palace consort, she naturally had to be on standby every night to attend the bedchamber!
Even if His Majesty did not come, she still had to be prepared.
Jiang Yingli bit her lip, contemplating that since it was only a minor error, yielding and admitting fault was the best strategy.
Survival Rules for a Slacker Palace Consort, Rule Two: Admit mistakes quickly, maintain a soft attitude.
Thus, she turned around, gazing at Xiao Chenglan with innocent, clear eyes, and said softly, "Your Majesty, this Concubine was so drowsy that my mind was not clear, and I did not await Your Majesty's arrival. But this Concubine already knows her mistake and begs Your Majesty to forgive me."
Xiao Chenglan looked at her for a moment, then extended his hand toward her. "Come here."
Jiang Yingli immediately rose and walked over. When she was just a step away from Xiao Chenglan, she was suddenly pulled into his embrace by his large hand.
Forced to sit on Xiao Chenglan's lap, her small frame nestled within his broad arms and chest.
Xiao Chenglan's scorching hands caressed her lower back. Jiang Yingli looked up, meeting his gaze.
His eyes were always deep and coldly serene, like a dark, unfathomable lake. Only at times like these would they stir with different emotions.
Having shared a bed for several years, Jiang Yingli instantly understood Xiao Chenglan's intention.
Her ears flushed slightly red, but recalling the words of the bedchamber matron, she pressed her small hands against his chest and whispered:
"Your Majesty, this Concubine has not yet learned the rules for attending the bedchamber. I fear I might offend Your Majesty."
In the past at the prince's residence, such matters were casual, just the two of them inside the bed curtains, like an ordinary couple.
Today, the bed in the palace was twice as large as the one in the prince's residence, with soft silk drapes hanging, and the bronze lamps outside shining brightly.
It was vastly different from before.
The matron who taught her the rules had not yet covered this part.
Hearing her words, Xiao Chenglan looked at her, his fingertips caressing the back of her neck for a moment, then he picked her up and carried her toward the bed.
"If you haven't learned, then do as before."
He had intended to say, if you haven't learned, then don't learn. But for some reason, he changed his mind.
In such matters, learning a bit more could not hurt.
Jiang Yingli, however, was filled with trepidation: "Your Majesty! How could Your Majesty possibly… serve this Concubine?"
Xiao Chenglan pressed her delicate white waist into the brocade quilt, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Otherwise, shall I personally teach you how to serve?"
"Then… then let's not, I'll wait for the matron to teach me…" Jiang Yingli's face flushed crimson as she obediently lay down in the soft bedding quilt.
Seeing her docile, Xiao Chenglan gently stroked her slightly tousled, soft hair and said in a low voice:
"Study well, understand?"
Jiang Yingli nodded eagerly, "Mm."
Xiao Chenglan leaned down, kissing her slowly and deliberately, before finally using his lips to undo the thin undergarment string beside Jiang Yingli's collarbone.
Having shared a bed for four years, Xiao Chenglan knew everything about Jiang Yingli.
The Jiang family had treated her poorly. When they first met, she was emaciated, like a sickly kitten. He had kept her by his side and nurtured her for four years.
Now, Jiang Yingli was healthy and well-proportioned, the weight she had gained distributed perfectly, her jade peaks high and full.
Indeed, he had not failed her, cherishing her endlessly.
Previously, considering Jiang Yingli's young age, he had allowed her to stay in the residence for a year before bestowing his favor upon her.
Now, Jiang Yingli was nineteen, at the most beautiful peach and plum years of a woman's life.
The baby fat of her youth had faded from her face, replaced by an indescribable sense of delicate elegance between her brows. Every smile and frown was as radiant as a flower.
Just looking at her made his heart burn.
……
Jiang Yingli lay weakly on Xiao Chenglan's chest, drowsily hearing him say to her:
"In half a month, the new selections will finish learning the rules and enter the palace. You shall deliver the admonitions on my behalf."
Jiang Yingli instantly became much more awake.
She had voluntarily requested a demotion to avoid standing out, so why did Xiao Chenglan insist on making her the target? Although she was the only consort in the palace, there was still the Empress Dowager—she could deliver the admonitions too.
Jiang Yingli looked at him and tentatively whispered, "Your Majesty, this Concubine is only a Jieyu. Among the new selections, there are those of higher rank than this Concubine. Wouldn't it disrupt the hierarchy if this Concubine were to deliver the admonitions?"
"Then I would have promoted you to Zhaoyi, but you refused."
Xiao Chenglan's words were flat, as if merely spoken in passing.
But Jiang Yingli noticed his expression was somewhat tense, not very pleased.
Indeed, he still thought her ungrateful. This debt would surely be settled with her sooner or later.
Jiang Yingli rubbed her cheek against the muscles of Xiao Chenglan's chest like a kitten, softly saying, "Your Majesty, how could this Concubine refuse? The Zhaoyi is the head of the nine concubines. This Concubine feels her experience is still shallow and her virtue unworthy of such a position."
Xiao Chenglan habitually stroked her hair as she moved. "Right now, you are the only palace consort in the palace. Delivering admonitions to the newcomers can only be done by you. Although you are merely a Jieyu, you represent me. No one would dare to question it."
These words left no room for refusal.
Jiang Yingli had no choice but to agree, though she felt somewhat aggrieved inside.
Even if someone did question it, could she possibly go and complain?
Never mind, never mind. The newcomers had just entered the palace. Even if there were troublemakers, there likely wouldn't be fools who stirred up trouble on the very first day.
After resting a while longer.
Jiang Yingli gently pressed her palm against Xiao Chenglan's chest, her face flushed as she said:
"Your Majesty, it's time to call for water to be brought."
Xiao Chenglan stirred but did not call for water. Instead, he lifted her with one arm, drew back the curtain, and stepped down from the bed.
The two walked through the layers of sheer gauze hanging in the hall, the candlelight casting their shadows upon it, creating an ambiguous and dreamlike scene.
Jiang Yingli's heart skipped a beat—this direction seemed to lead toward the bathing pool.
Could it be that Xiao Chenglan wanted to take a thorough bath?
But if he called for attendants, a crowd of palace servants would surround the bathing pool. How could she possibly get used to that?
Jiang Yingli wrapped her arms around Xiao Chenglan's neck. "Your Majesty, this Concubine would rather bathe alone in the bathing tub."
She heard Xiao Chenglan let out a light, ambiguous chuckle.
"Didn't you say the bathing pool is very large? We should at least try it, or else it would be a waste."
————＞
A brief interruption, with the attached rank table:
Above standard rank: Empress
Honored rank: Imperial Noble Consort
First rank: Noble Consort
Second rank: Virtuous Consort, Kind Consort, Pure Consort, Moral Consort
Deputy second rank: Consort
—The above may refer to themselves as "your subject and concubine" (臣妾), while those below are collectively referred to as the Nine Concubines (九嫔) and refer to themselves as "concubine" (嫔妾):
Third rank: Zhaoyi, Zhaorong, Zhaoyuan
Deputy third rank: Xiuyi, Xiurong, Xiuyuan
Common third rank: Chongyi, Chongrong, Chongyuan
—The above may refer to themselves as "this palace", hold principal positions, and reside in main halls (those below reside in side halls, with the female lead as an exception):
Fourth rank: Jieyu
Deputy fourth rank: Guiren
Fifth rank: Meiren
Sixth rank: Cairen
Seventh rank: Liangren
Eighth rank: Baolin
Common eighth rank: Cainü
Note: The ranks are referenced similarly to official positions but are a mix of improvisation and fabrication, based on my own setting—no need for in-depth research.
Note: 1. In the early stages, the male lead will visit others' palaces to maintain balance, but later he will exclusively favor the female lead, making her the most beloved in the empire! The palace intrigue revolves around supporting characters and the male lead, while the female lead wins effortlessly.
Purity: Even when the male lead visits others' palaces, he selects people for work-related purposes, not for attending the bedchamber—plausible and not forced. (Honestly, once you read it, you'll see the extent of the male lead's obsession with the female lead makes it impossible for him to have anything with others.)
Later, there will be a reborn female supporting character—not purely ancient in setting, but the plot involving her is minimal.
Not perfect characters: Both the male and female leads are somewhat abnormal, with mutual afflictions and mutual love obsession (key point!).