Upon returning to the West Wing Chamber, the imperial physician was already waiting at the door.
Song Shutang followed behind the emperor, feeling somewhat uneasy. Her leg did ache a bit, but she hadn’t mentioned it with the intention of seeing a physician…
Watching the broad back striding ahead of her, she hesitated, unsure how to speak up. Why was this different from what she had imagined?
The last time Song Shutang fell ill, Shun Fu had only summoned an obscure junior physician. Today, however, it was the Chief Physician of the Imperial Medical Academy who awaited her.
This made Song Shutang even more embarrassed. Sure enough, after the physician stroked his graying beard and examined her intently for a long while, he cautiously concluded:
“There is nothing serious. It may be due to exhaustion; more rest should suffice.”
Pei Hengyu gave a slight nod, then shifted his gaze to the woman’s head. Seeing her flushed with embarrassment, her head nearly bowed to her chest, he understood.
Once the physician left, only the two of them remained in the room. Song Shutang sat on the edge of the bed and slowly lifted her eyes:
“This servant did not lie to you.”
She carefully chose her words, “Today, Consort Li summoned this servant to Wuchao Hall.”
“Did she bully you?”
Unexpectedly, before Song Shutang could finish, the emperor interjected.
He had thought that his attitude the previous night would have made Consort Li restrain herself. Yet today, she had still summoned her alone?
Pei Hengyu looked at the woman’s delicate face, and a surge of displeasure rose within him. She was someone of the Imperial Presence; there was no reason for outsiders to look down on her.
Song Shutang shook her head. Such petty tricks seemed too childish to mention. “Consort Li is the master.”
Consort Li was the master, and she was a servant. Therefore, no matter what happened, even if she was bullied, she could not say anything.
The emperor’s expression grew colder. The woman was clearly speaking the truth—in the palace, masters were masters, and servants were servants. This was an unbridgeable chasm. Yet the calmer her demeanor, the more his anger swelled.
“Song Shutang.”
He rarely called her name in such a tone. She was startled, her body trembling involuntarily.
“You are someone of the Imperial Presence.”
His words remained cold and stern, but a clever person could read the deeper meaning. Song Shutang understood the emperor’s implication.
She was someone of the Imperial Presence. From now on, if similar incidents occurred in the rear palace, she could simply refuse to go.
The woman’s thoughts were written all over her face—from her earlier grievance, to her fright just moments ago, to her current overwhelmed gratitude—all laid bare.
His anger was swiftly soothed. He extended his hand, his intention obvious.
Song Shutang’s dark lashes fluttered slightly as her gaze fell upon those large hands. His skin was a warm, dark tone. The hand was slightly tilted, with long, slender fingers and distinct knuckles. She placed her delicate hand in his, feeling the warmth and the slight roughness from the calluses on his fingertips.
With his support, Song Shutang stood up.
He was exceptionally tall. Only now, as she stood, did she realize she barely reached his shoulders. Looking up, she caught sight of his throat, which moved slightly as he swallowed.
She raised her eyes, and her gaze suddenly fell into his pitch-black pupils, deep as an abyss. As if bewitched, she rose on her tiptoes and leaned in.
A delicate fragrance first filled his nostrils, followed by the soft, moist touch of the girl’s pink lips against his tense, blade-like jaw.
The contact was brief, then she pulled away.
Memories from that night’s dream suddenly surged back. What was enchanting was not only the dream but also this sudden, fleeting heartbeat.
The dynamics shifted. The hand that had earlier helped her up now slid beneath her slender arm, wrapping around her waist and pulling her forcefully against him.
A startled gasp escaped the woman’s lips, only to be swallowed by him as he pried open her shell-like teeth. His breath invaded, entwining with hers, chasing and then merging into one.
Song Shutang’s body stiffened at first. Though bold in spirit, she was timid in practice. Her earlier attempts at testing the waters were no match for his rhythm, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Sensing her inexperience, Pei Hengyu slowed his movements. His palm slid upward to caress the prominent butterfly bones of her back, their slight trembling enough to reveal the turmoil within their owner.
His large hand stroked gently, offering comfort.
His rhythm eased, guiding her along.
Only when he felt the woman in his arms grow calmer did he resume, intensifying his advances until she softened, leaning weakly against his chest.
“Heh.” He tilted his head back half a palm’s distance to take in her expression. Her slightly parted lips, red and swollen from panting, drew a soft chuckle from him.
“Your Majesty!”
She had a natural talent for discerning Pei Hengyu’s moods, easily detecting the mockery in that laugh.
A woman’s blush clung more naturally to her cheeks than any rouge, and her coquettish protest was equally intoxicating.
Pei Hengyu admitted that in that moment, gazing at the flush on her profile and the pink hue of her ears, he felt himself sinking.
Her □□ held an irresistible allure for him.
And her earlier initiative had pleased him greatly.
Warm breath cascaded down as he lowered his head once more, capturing her rosy lips with precision.
“Your Majesty.”
Along with Lu Ping’s voice came the sound of knocking, interrupting the movements within the room.
Song Shutang pressed her hands against his chest, pushing him away slightly.
Pei Hengyu pulled her closer, turning so his back faced the door. His tall, broad frame shielded her petite form and disheveled hair.
“What is it?” His voice was slightly hoarse and tinged with impatience.
Lu Ping paused, his hand on the door, then obediently withdrew it. Bowing his head, he said:
“Your Majesty, Cairen Kang has awakened and wishes for Your Majesty to visit her.”
His voice grew softer as he spoke, belatedly realizing he might have chosen the wrong moment. But with Cairen Kang now pregnant, he dared not dismiss her request.
The mood had been shattered, leaving no desire to continue. Pei Hengyu reached out to adjust her slightly disheveled clothing, casually tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Without a word, Song Shutang instinctively took two steps back and curtsied:
“This maid respectfully bids farewell to Your Majesty.”
His expression cooled, but he said nothing, turning to leave the room.
Lu Ping waited outside. As the door opened from within, only Pei Hengyu emerged.
Just as Lu Ping prepared to glance inside, a kick landed on his shin. “Ouch!” He hopped on one foot, rubbing his leg, his gaze naturally snapping back.
“Looking at what?”
Lu Ping shook his head. “This servant is blind, truly blind.”
“Are we leaving or not?”
Only after the Emperor had left the West Wing Chamber did Song Shutang realize her legs had long gone weak. Leaning against the table, she barely managed to stand.
She closed the door, trimmed the last bit of the oil lamp’s wick, and plunged the room into complete silence and darkness before returning to her bed.
Slowly, she curled her body into itself, hands resting over her chest—
the same sleeping posture she had adopted every day in the Yeting.
Only her heart raced uncontrollably.
/
By mid-February, the Candidate Maidens entered the palace, gathering at Chufang Palace to uniformly learn the various rules and etiquette of the court.
At the same time, the Empress Dowager returned to the palace.
That day, the Emperor and the Empress, along with the entire imperial harem, gathered behind the palace gates to welcome the Empress Dowager’s phoenix carriage.
This was also Song Shutang’s first time seeing the Empress Dowager. The current Empress Dowager had been the Virtuous Consort of the late Emperor and was rumored to have been unfavored.
She had originally assumed that someone who was unfavored yet managed to raise a prince in the palace and rise to the rank of Consort must appear stern and formidable.
But from a distance under today’s sunlight, it was not so.
The Empress Dowager wore a dark purple palace gown, her face adorned with the warmest of smiles. After exchanging a few words with the Empress and the Emperor, Song Shutang saw the Empress Dowager beckon Consort Zhen to step forward as well.
Among the many consorts and concubines standing behind the Emperor and Empress, the Empress had originally been positioned to the left of the Emperor. Now, with Consort Zhen stepping forward to stand on the Emperor’s right, it formed a rather intriguing arrangement.
However, none of the masters seemed to notice. Unable to hear what the Empress Dowager said, Song Shutang only saw Consort Zhen take two steps forward and support the Empress Dowager’s arm. It wasn’t until they reached Fuxi Palace that she returned to her place behind the Emperor and Empress.
Upon returning from Fuxi Palace, Pei Hengyu once again buried himself in the Imperial Study.
Song Shutang stood nearby grinding ink, her mind preoccupied with what she had witnessed that morning, deep in thought.
The Emperor and Empress appeared deeply devoted, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. However, upon deeper reflection, she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Lost in thought, Lu Ping entered, followed by Shun Fu, who carried numerous scrolls in his hands.
These were the portraits of the twenty Candidate Maidens who had entered the palace yesterday to learn the rules.
Lu Ping said, “As per Your Majesty’s previous decree, the Empress has selected several outstanding Candidate Maidens. She requests Your Majesty’s review.”
The primary purpose of the Imperial Selection was to enrich Pei Hengyu’s harem, and appearance was naturally a key factor. After all, an unattractive candidate would only taint the imperial gaze.
Pei Hengyu raised a hand to rub his temples. “Have they been sent to the Empress Dowager?”
Lu Ping replied that the Empress Dowager had already reviewed them. Without elaborating further, she had singled out the second legitimate daughter of the Hubu Vice Minister, praising her as elegant and dignified.
Song Shutang watched as Pei Hengyu gestured, and Shun Fu unrolled one of the scrolls, laying it flat on the imperial desk.
Standing while grinding ink, she could easily glance down and see the portrait on the scroll. After looking, she instinctively turned her gaze toward Pei Hengyu.
He maintained his usual expression, his eyes drifting faintly over the portrait. After a brief pause, he said calmly, “Approved.”
Song Shutang dared not look again after just one glance. The palace painters were renowned masters, and their portraits were not exact replicas but bore a ninety percent resemblance.
The legitimate daughter of the Vice Minister, described by the Empress Dowager as elegant and dignified, appeared to Song Shutang as nothing more than “ordinary.”
Beneath single eyelids lay a flat nasal bridge and slightly thick lips.
Pei Hengyu pointed out a few more, glanced at their portraits, and issued his orders directly.
Lu Ping and Shun Fu departed, leaving only Song Shutang inside.
Pei Hengyu leaned back into the dragon throne behind him, displaying a rare hint of weariness.
“Your Majesty.”
“Would you like this servant to massage you for you?”
Since the incident in the West Wing Chamber that day, she had grown bolder and had come to understand Pei Hengyu’s moods.
Like now, his subdued demeanor. Though he hadn’t spoken a word and his expression remained unchanged, Song Shutang could sense it.
She set down the inkstick, rose, and walked softly to his side. Her cool fingers gently pressed against his temples.
Her touch was gentle, the pressure just right. The familiar fragrance she always wore lingered in the air, bringing a sense of tranquility in that moment.
Pei Hengyu closed his eyes, his thin lips parting slightly. “You’ve learned this?”
His lips were exquisitely shaped, clean and sharp. With his eyes closed, she allowed herself to gaze at them a few moments longer, unhindered, and replied softly:
“Auntie Cui often suffers from headaches as well. She has been extremely kind to me, and I had no way to repay her, so I taught myself this skill.”
She was referring to Cui Wenshu, the head maid of the Yeting. The Emperor remarked:
“Her headaches are an old ailment.”
The afternoon sun was lazy, filtering through the lattice windows to spill lazily into the study, falling upon both of them.
They continued in this manner, question and answer, with Song Shutang occasionally sharing more about her experiences in the Yeting. She did not complain; instead, she made even the most ordinary little incidents sound particularly amusing.
Pei Hengyu felt considerably more relaxed, though he couldn’t tell whether it was due to the comfort of her massage technique or the gentle softness of her voice.
In the end, he simply leaned back in his chair, eyes lightly closed, drifting into a shallow slumber.
Song Shutang stole a glance, slowly withdrew her hands, then quietly left, carefully closing the door to the Imperial Study.
Lu Ping was waiting just outside, about to speak when Song Shutang raised a finger to her lips and softly shushed him.
“His Majesty has fallen asleep,” she said.
Lu Ping was surprised—this was not the Emperor’s usual time for rest.
The two of them took a step back to the side. Lu Ping gave Song Shutang another look. “Why are you hesitating to speak even in front of me?”
Song Shutang smiled somewhat sheepishly. “Nothing escapes you, sir.”
Lu Ping: “If you have something to ask, go ahead.”
Since Song Shutang had come to serve in the Imperial Presence, his duties had lightened considerably. With her by the Emperor’s side, His Majesty’s temper had noticeably lessened.
“Are the Emperor and… the Empress Dowager… not on good terms?”
She lowered her voice, her question simple and direct.
Lu Ping’s previously relaxed expression grew serious. Even his slightly stooped posture unconsciously straightened a bit, and his gaze at Song Shutang took on a more scrutinizing tone:
“Why would Miss Song ask such a thing?”
Song Shutang then smiled and added her reasoning for the question:
“This servant noticed that His Majesty seemed in low spirits earlier. I’ve only just begun serving in the Imperial Presence and am unaware of many matters. I’m just afraid that if I’m not careful, I might inadvertently displease His Majesty again.”
“Ah.” So that was it. Lu Ping’s wariness diminished slightly. It wasn’t just him who had noticed the Emperor’s low spirits.
“This matter… well, it’s a long story.”
He glanced around, ensuring no one else was nearby, then took a step forward, his tone growing more earnest.
“I don’t know the specifics of what happened. It’s just that, for many years now, the Emperor has not been close to the Empress Dowager.”
Although Lu Ping trusted Song Shutang, matters concerning the Emperor were not something he could speak of freely.
But his willingness to say this much was already quite sufficient. Song Shutang thanked him. “That gives this servant some understanding.”