Meiren Lin pursed her lips and shook her head. “Forget it. I’ve eaten too much lately; I can hardly dance anymore.”
Gu Ningning “regrettably” said, “That’s a shame. Your Highness was talking to me about it yesterday. If you could dance in front of Your Highness, you would surely win His favor.”
Meiren Lin smiled shyly, not taking the matter to heart.
Meiren Zhou loosened her grip on the handkerchief, a faint smile curling the corners of her lips.
The others chatted casually for a while longer before Yun Secondary Consort announced she needed to check the accounts, signaling everyone to disperse.
After all, continuing the conversation would mean staying for dinner, which Yun Secondary Consort had no intention of sharing with the sisters while they made dumplings together.
Once everyone had left, her personal maid, Lv Zhu, finally spoke.
“Recently, Zhaoyi Zhao and Meiren Zhou have been scheming behind our backs again.”
Yun Secondary Consort wore a dark green outer robe today. Her face was round and wealthy-looking, her eyebrows fine, exuding an air of dignified elegance.
Although she was only a Secondary Consort and required formal greetings, Shen Que secretly acknowledged her influence. She treated herself as the Mistress of the Household within the Eastern Palace.
Shen Que had previously been too lazy to manage the inner court. He had spent his early years fighting abroad and had only returned to the capital in recent years as His Highness the Crown Prince. With the officials each harboring their own ambitions, he focused on consolidating his own power.
Now he saw that Yun Secondary Consort, though ambitious, could tolerate someone like Gu Ningning—a complacent, unmotivated person. Considering she had protected Gu Ningning multiple times, he allowed it.
A trace of mockery appeared on Yun Secondary Consort’s face. “Let them fight for now; sooner or later, we’ll deal with them.”
The storms within the Eastern Palace had little to do with Gu Ningning. She was currently taking Xiao Tao back to Chaoyan Courtyard for a meal and some rest.
Her primary rule at work: never exert effort when you could slack off.
Working hard to earn a salary wasn’t real profit—it was merely what was owed. True gain came from slacking off while still receiving pay.
She had been working leisurely until evening when the music at the gate roused her.
Stretching and yawning softly, she heard Xiao Tao’s indignant voice.
“Meiren Zhou really knows how to scheme, dancing in front of our gate late at night.”
“It’s only because you told Meiren Lin that Your Highness wanted to see the spinning dance. She came to compete for favor, without realizing that it was meant for you. Why does she join the fun?”
Gu Ningning, still groggy, leaned against the cushion. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her watery eyes hazy, her demeanor lazy and languid. Xiao Tao stared in awe, only to be startled when the beauty suddenly spoke in a soft voice,
“There’s a thin patch of ice at our courtyard gate. I saw it this morning and purposely didn’t have the servants clear it.”
Xiao Tao was puzzled. A moment later, a loud “plop” came from outside the gate.
Then came Meiren Zhou’s shriek: “Ah! My foot! My foot! My foot!”
“Beauty, quickly stand up and see!”
“Ah! Your ankle is swollen! Quick! Call the Imperial Physician!”
Xiao Tao looked at Gu Ningning with admiration. “Maid-Concubine even predicted this! You left a patch of ice for Meiren Zhou, so she can’t compete for favor!”
“…” Gu Ningning thought: Not exactly.
The ice was meant for Shen Que, who usually came late at night. She had hoped he would step on it, maybe even break a bone, and never come by again. But Meiren Zhou was too annoying, so she preemptively used it on her.
After all, she was a seasoned cannon fodder in the workplace. Meiren Zhou, a rookie cannon fodder, had no chance against her.
She lay back, waiting for Shen Que, only to be surprised that Shen Que didn’t come—only his personal eunuch, Chang Yue, appeared.
The day was cold, and Chang Yue still had snow on him. He bowed to Gu Ningning and spoke cheerfully,
“Today Your Highness has many affairs and will return late, but cannot bear to leave Maid-Concubine behind. So I am here to escort Maid-Concubine to wait for Your Highness.”
“Your Highness specially instructed Maid-Concubine to dress nicely.”
Though Chang Yue spoke politely, Gu Ningning immediately understood: Shen Que was busy working late but still wanted… well, so she was to dress nicely and wait for him at his office, making the return trip a certain kind of journey.
Every day, either being played with or on the way to being played with.
Gu Ningning felt truly depressed this time.
Shen Que finished his affairs near the end of the Hai hour. As expected, a carriage waited outside the Eastern Palace for him.
He drew back the curtain to find Gu Ningning sitting at the table, idly counting the beads on her bracelet. The carriage was too warm, so she had removed her outer robe, revealing the Shi Liu-colored gauze dress underneath.
The dress was thin and semi-transparent. Xiao Tao had added a subtle lining to prevent it from being too revealing while still accentuating her allure.
Shen Que’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he stepped onto the foot pad of the carriage. Gu Ningning, noticing him, hurriedly rose to her feet and saluted. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Her lashes drooped slightly, her cheeks flushed. Shen Que naturally assumed it was shyness, stepping forward to pull her into his arms.
“Why are you so obedient today? Wearing such a beautiful dress waiting for me?”
He was 1.85 meters tall, trained in martial arts for years, with hard arms and chest. She, barely over 1.6 meters, felt especially delicate in his embrace.
Gu Ningning couldn’t say the dress was Xiao Tao’s doing, so she pressed her small hands against his chest and said, “I wore it because Your Highness likes it.”
Shen Que’s mood lightened. The little beauty was soft and delicate, dressed so enticingly. He lowered his head and kissed her red lips.
His kiss was forceful and insistent, continuously seeking the sweetness between her lips and teeth.
Gu Ningning finally understood the breathless sensation described in novels.
His kisses were like tea, rhythmic and steady.
Tea: ton ton ton ton ton.
Kissing: chuot chuot chuot chuot chuot.
She could only feign shyness, her soft voice trembling as she pleaded,
“Your Highness, don’t be so rough… have mercy on this concubine…”
Her voice, tender and slightly coquettish, stirred Shen Que further. His gaze darkened, his hoarse voice asking, “Ningning, did you miss me during the day?”
Of course, she hadn’t; she had been busy with palace intrigues. She only replied evasively, “I did…”
Shen Que saw through the small lie, but it was only a casual question. He bent down to kiss her ears and neck.
His breath was scorching against her skin. Gu Ningning knew resistance was futile, so she…
His hand reached for her collar, pressing lightly but firmly.