Alan watched helplessly as the pastries disappeared into Xiao Changning’s stomach. Her heart was in her throat until, after the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Xiao Changning showed no signs of discomfort, and only then did she finally relax.
Eunuch Feng sent word that Bixia would be arriving tonight.
Alan’s heart instantly blossomed with joy. Among the maids serving in the rear palace, there was no greater happiness than seeing one’s own mistress favored.
Without favor, there was no path to survival—not only for the mistress but also for these maids. In the palace, flattering the powerful and trampling the weak was everywhere.
Back then, when the Empress had ordered her to come to Weiyang Palace, she had been unwilling. But now, looking at it, it wasn’t so bad.
Alan glanced at Xiao Changning, who was lazily basking in the sun. “Your Highness, Bixia is coming tonight. Aren’t you going to prepare?”
Xiao Changning, who had been lost in thought, lifted her eyes to look at her. “What is there to prepare?”
“If he wants to come, let him come. If he finds me neglectful, he can just leave. I never begged him to stay.”
With that, Xiao Changning stretched lazily, her gaze drifting toward the distant rockery.
Alan listened to her words. They made sense, but there was an indescribable strangeness in her mistress’s reaction.
The moon quietly climbed the treetops. It was already late autumn, and the begonia leaves in the courtyard had fallen, leaving only bare branches swaying in the moonlight.
Murong Yao dismissed all the palace attendants and gleefully wrapped his arms around Xiao Changning, stealing kisses from her from time to time.
Xiao Changning, who hadn’t yet fallen asleep, abruptly turned over and knelt on the bed, her tired eyelids blinking. “Bixia, your consort has not yet fully recovered from the cold.”
“I already said, I don’t want to inconvenience Bixia. You should rest in the palaces of the other sisters.”
“It was Bixia who insisted on staying with me.”
Xiao Changning puffed out her small chest, her sharp tongue running on relentlessly. “But now you’re sneaking around, making it impossible for me to sleep properly.”
As she spoke, layers of grievance crept into her tone.
Murong Yao turned on his side, propping his head up with one hand while the other restlessly reached for Xiao Changning’s hand. “I suffered a great grievance today.”
“?” Xiao Changning was puzzled. “Bixia is the ruler of the nation. Who would dare cause you grievance?”
“If such a person truly existed, wouldn’t Bixia have had them executed long ago?”
Murong Yao pinched her soft little hand, pouting. “My heart aches.”
His eyes brimmed with grievance, like a pitiful abandoned puppy begging for its master’s forgiveness.
Xiao Changning’s mind was in turmoil. Looking at him like this, was he perhaps talking about her?
She pulled her hand back and turned her back to him, feeling both angry and speechless. What was she supposed to do with such a shameless, infuriating person?
Should she just hit him?
If he got angry or annoyed with her, he might directly banish her to the cold palace.
Hehehe… wouldn’t that be the good life she wanted?
Just as she was lost in thought, Murong Yao took advantage of her distraction, pulling her tightly into his embrace and greedily inhaling the fragrance on Xiao Changning’s body.
Xiao Changning struggled a couple of times but found herself held even tighter. After a while, she gave up and let Murong Yao do as he pleased.
But just as his rough fingers brushed over Xiao Changning’s shoulder, she quickly spoke up, “Bixia, you mustn’t!”
“I, I…”
Xiao Changning’s head felt like it was about to explode. She scrambled for an excuse and stammered, “Um, how about Bixia waits another two days?”
Hearing this, Murong Yao’s face took on a bitter expression, his suppressed voice whispering by her ear, “Changning, I’ve already waited over half a month.”
“Earlier, you were exhausted from the journey, so I was considerate. A few days ago, you caught a chill, and I waited again.”
As he spoke, he leaned closer to Xiao Changning. “I can’t take it anymore. If I wait any longer, I might go mad!”
Xiao Changning flusteredly deflected, “The harem has many consorts. You won’t go mad.”
“I don’t want to touch them!”
Murong Yao seemed to have a sudden, irrational thought. “Is it because I have so many palace consorts that Changning is dissatisfied?”
He immediately said earnestly, “Tomorrow, I’ll dismiss them all, send them off to temples to serve the Buddhas.”
“No! That’s not what I meant.”
“I…” Xiao Changning panicked and thought of an excuse. “I’m not feeling well.”
Murong Yao didn’t believe it at all. His voice carried a mix of temptation and coaxing. “Changning, I’ll be gentle. Just a little bit, okay?”
Xiao Changning gasped for breath heavily. Her first time offering herself was for the sake of Nanxiao’s people, but deep down, she knew very well she didn’t like him and was repelled by him.
At this moment, she regretted immensely. After finishing dinner earlier, when Murong Yao said he would accompany her, she should have firmly sent him away!
She had clearly stalled for half the night, hoping to tire him out so he’d just sleep soundly.
But… she failed.
Seeing Xiao Changning silent, Murong Yao’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice as he tentatively tested her boundaries.
Almost instinctively, she slapped Murong Yao across the face, but the moment she did it, she regretted it!
Because she saw Murong Yao’s suppressed, restrained gaze instantly transform—bright as stars, staring at her like a hungry wolf eyeing its prey.
Three big words flashed through Xiao Changning’s mind: I’m doomed!
That night, Murong Yao called for water again and again.
…
The next day, Murong Yao unusually canceled the morning court session. However, the women in the harem had little to do, and any bit of news would spread like wildfire.
Murong Yao favored Xiao Changning so blatantly; naturally, she would be resented.
Although Murong Yao protected her, hidden arrows were hard to guard against. Those proud young ladies from official families—who among them would truly stay docile and obedient?
By the time Murong Yao got up and left Weiyang Palace, the sun was already high in the sky.
He pushed open the door to the Imperial Study and saw only one person wearing a deep blue palace gown, her hair tied in a simple bun.
Hearing his footsteps, Empress Jiang Yuzhou lifted the corner of her mouth, set down the memorial she had been holding in front of her face, and looked at him with a smile, her gaze falling on the faint slap mark on Murong Yao’s cheek.
Jiang Yuzhou propped her chin on one hand, teasing, “Well, look at you, all shameless.”
“Did Guifei Mei Mei slap you?”
“But this time, it should be considered good, right?”
Murong Yao didn’t respond, feeling quite pleased with himself. He lifted his robe and sat opposite her, pouring and sipping tea on his own.
He took a light sip. “The tea is fragrant.”
Jiang Yuzhou gently tossed the memorial in her hand onto the table, rolling her eyes at him in exasperation. “I think it’s not the tea that’s fragrant.”
Just as the two were bantering, a series of hurried footsteps approached.
Qin Feng pushed the door open anxiously, his face full of worry. “Your Majesty, a servant from the manor has come to report that the master is gravely ill. Please return quickly to see him.”
Jiang Yuzhou sprang up abruptly, his voice filled with shock. “My father is ill?”
“What kind of illness is so urgent? Wasn’t he perfectly fine just a few days ago?”
Murong Yao stood up. “Don’t panic yet. The Prime Minister has always been in good health—he will surely pull through safely.”
“I will send an imperial physician to accompany you back to your residence.”
Jiang Yuzhou nodded, then hurriedly left the palace.