Jiang Wan quickly waved her hand, signaling the frightened, tearful Qiaoqiao and the others to leave.
Xie Changlin glanced at her and snorted coldly, “Your Ladyship nearly died twice today, yet you still have time to worry about others.”
Jiang Wan began to fawn and act cute again, giggling, “Dying at the emperor’s hands isn’t worth it, but if Your Eminence truly wants my life, I would gladly offer it.”
Hearing this, Xie Changlin narrowed his eyes, let out a soft scoff, and said nothing more. He applied a warm towel to Jiang Wan’s neck. Though his movements weren’t gentle, they weren’t rough either.
The overlapping red marks on her fair skin, left by two different grips, were somewhat shocking to see.
Jiang Wan closed her eyes comfortably, tilting her head back with an innocent smile. “Can Your Eminence stay tonight?”
Xie Changlin: “…”
“If Your Ladyship wishes to experience the joys of intimacy, there are plenty of well-equipped men in the palace for you to choose from. Failing that, even the emperor could serve.”
He spoke indifferently, then crouched down to apply ointment to Jiang Wan’s knees.
Jiang Wan pouted slightly, showing a girlish charm. “What kind of talk is that, Your Eminence? I merely wanted to tell you that if you ever desire it, I would be more than willing.”
Seeing that Xie Changlin ignored her, she leaned in a little closer. “It seems like you’ve been taking care of me these past few times. It makes me feel a bit embarrassed.”
“Your Ladyship hardly looks embarrassed.”
After finishing with the ointment, Xie Changlin stood up, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and coldly remarked, “Rest well. Don’t run around these next few days.”
Then he left without looking back.
After the figure in red departed, Qiaoqiao and the others rushed into the hall, wailing, “Your Ladyship, are you alright?”
Jiang Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, patting Qiaoqiao’s head. “What could possibly happen to me? I’m perfectly fine.”
“Qiaoqiao, you little crybaby, you’re just like Cairen Chu.”
Qiaoqiao sniffled, unable to hold back her tears. “Your Ladyship, you didn’t see it. Your Eminence dealt with those servants in Qian’an Hall in the blink of an eye. It was terrifying…”
The chilling, ghostly aura thick with killing intent sent shivers down her spine—it was truly a lifelong shadow.
Xie Changlin wasn’t just silencing them; he was venting his anger.
In the end, those people were implicated because of her.
Jiang Wan could handle death, but she couldn’t bear the thought of people dying because of her. She had already sent Cai Chun to handle their aftermath, ensuring they weren’t discarded in a mass grave by the Ceremonial Directorate. She also arranged compensation for their families.
That was all she could do.
After the warm compress, Jiang Wan coaxed Qiaoqiao to go rest and went to bed early herself. Her tense body finally relaxed completely.
Truth be told, she wasn’t fearless.
She was just good at pretending.
If she died, she’d have to return early. Having spent a thousand years cultivating to get here, if she accomplished nothing, wouldn’t that be a total waste?
With that thought, Jiang Wan slowly drifted into sleep and began to snore.
Over the next few days, she stayed in the palace without going out, quietly studying account books. Chu Suian visited several times, each time bringing homemade meals and pastries. She also accompanied Jiang Wan in embroidery and paper-cutting, and the two grew even happier together.
It was said that Huan Cheng was no longer bedridden and attended court every morning. Jiang Wan didn’t know if he accomplished anything, but at least someone was sitting on the dragon throne in the court.
Most importantly, at night, he mostly summoned the previously favored concubines and didn’t bother Jiang Wan at all.
The leisurely days lasted for over half a month before the Mid-Autumn palace banquet arrived in the palace. Huan Cheng summoned Jiang Wan, and as the empress, she had to take full responsibility.
Jiang Wan agreed, but as she was about to leave, Huan Cheng called her back again.
Since the last incident, their rare meetings had been strictly business, with no more arguments. Instead, there was a sense of mutual respect, almost like a polite distance between them.
Huan Cheng wasn’t quite used to seeing her without her claws out, and today it was even more pronounced. On a whim, he flashed a mischievous smile and said, “Empress, I heard you’ve been practicing dance since childhood. I wonder if I’ll have the pleasure of seeing you perform at the palace banquet?”
“Dream on.”
Knowing he couldn’t go a day without being annoying, Jiang Wan retorted without hesitation. “All the court officials will be attending. What would it look like if I, the empress, danced? If Your Majesty has nothing better to do, I can arrange for performers from the Music Bureau to entertain you.”
Ah, that familiar feeling.
Huan Cheng also felt like he was sick in the head, because he actually enjoyed seeing that impatient and disdainful look on her face—so vivid and real, unlike any other woman in the palace.
His eyes narrowed slightly, his smile unwavering. “Empress, how about dancing a piece for me right now?”
Jiang Wan’s lips twitched. She glanced at Li Dequan, then performed a perfunctory curtsy. “This consort will return to her palace. Your Majesty should rest well.”
What did she know about dancing? Although she had once followed a little flower fairy and practiced for a few days, if she were to dance now, it would be utterly embarrassing.
On her way back, she ran into Consort Ning. After chatting for a bit, Consort Ning suddenly brought up, “This consort heard Her Majesty is preparing for the Mid-Autumn banquet? If there’s anything this consort can help with, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Jiang Wan instinctively wanted to decline, but seeing her hesitant expression, she asked, “Does Consort Ning perhaps have a good idea?”
Consort Ning smiled charmingly, her red lips parting slightly. “If Your Majesty doesn’t mind, this consort has been practicing dance since childhood and can help lighten the burden by contributing a performance.”
Oh, so she wants to perform a dance.
“Then I’ll leave it to you. Prepare well.”
Jiang Wan was more than happy to oblige. From personnel to dishes, every step of the process, including the performances, had to be handled by her personally. Since this was her first time handling such an important task, she was bound to be overwhelmed and dizzy with work.
Rong Qing came to deliver a message, saying the Ceremonial Directorate would fully cooperate.
Jiang Wan was in a good mood as soon as she saw him. “What has Your Eminence been busy with these past few days?”
Rong Qing, who seemed clever yet honest with his fair complexion, always answered Jiang Wan’s questions directly or indirectly, no matter what she asked.
His perceptiveness was top-notch.
Just like now, he lowered his head with a smile and replied respectfully, “Lord of a Thousand Years has left the palace. The tea cakes Your Majesty sent these past few days, this servant has also had someone deliver to His Eminence.”
Jiang Wan slipped him a handful of silver. “Thank you for your hard work, Little Rong.”
Rong Qing smiled obsequiously. “This servant is only doing his duty. Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty.”
“Little Rong, you must inform me as soon as His Eminence returns.”
It had been quite some time since she last saw Xie Changlin, and she missed him terribly.
Rong Qing’s smile deepened. “This servant certainly will.”
After seeing Rong Qing off, Jiang Wan stretched lazily and went back to handling the palace banquet preparations.
The next day, the Music Bureau brought many musicians for Jiang Wan to choose from, men and women alike, each more beautiful than the last.
Jiang Wan glanced at the male musicians who were even more beautiful than women and couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, “Such stunning beauty.”
Director Yang grinned from ear to ear, proudly asking the musicians to step forward and introduce themselves.
“Guanchu, Lingmu, and Mingzhe from the Music Bureau pay our respects to Your Majesty.”
Jiang Wan looked at Guanchu, who resembled a cold and elegant young master stepping out of a painting—with lips red as rouge, teeth white as jade, brows and eyes like a painting, a man with feminine features, every frown and smile as gentle as the spring waters of Jiangnan.
She couldn’t help but swallow.
Then she heard Director Yang introduce that these few were skilled in music, while most of the other female musicians excelled in dance.
“Guanchu, what instrument are you skilled in? How about playing a tune now?”