Xie Changlin stopped and met those smiling eyes. His brows lifted imperceptibly, his gaze conveying only two words: “What do you want?”
Today he wore a white close-fitting brocade robe, similar to yesterday’s, with black cuffs that revealed his distinct, bony hands. Cranes were embroidered on his shoulders and chest, each in a different posture, strikingly beautiful.
How could there be such a handsome man in the world…
Jiang Wan’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. “Nothing, I just wanted to say hello…”
Xie Changlin gave a faint, indifferent tug at the corner of his mouth. “Your Majesty may go in. I have matters to attend to.”
Jiang Wan nodded obediently, her smile unwavering. “Alright, then I won’t disturb Your Eminence.”
She followed Li Dequan into the hall, lowering her head and curtsying respectfully to Huan Cheng.
Huan Cheng reclined on the couch, looking somewhat better than yesterday. After telling her to rise, he extended his hand. “Empress, you were wronged last night.”
Jiang Wan hesitated for a moment, then lightly placed her hand in his before smoothly sitting down beside his bed. “Your servant is not wronged. Is Your Majesty feeling better?”
As she spoke, she subtly tucked his hand back under the blanket and carefully smoothed the covers.
Huan Cheng was pleased, his narrow eyes fixed intently on Jiang Wan.
Although that man usually didn’t act like a decent person, his taste in women was first-rate—especially this time.
In high spirits, he lifted the corner of his mouth, his handsome face taking on a particularly frivolous smile. “I’m much better. Tonight, I can make up for the wedding night with the Empress.”
…That really isn’t necessary.
“Your Majesty should focus on recovering first. Your servant is in no hurry.”
“I am.” Huan Cheng pulled his hand out again, reaching to touch Jiang Wan’s face.
Jiang Wan leaned back slightly to avoid him, but he didn’t mind. Propping his head up, he added, “Or perhaps now would work?”
Suppressing her last shred of patience, Jiang Wan replied dismissively, “Is Your Majesty so impatient that you can’t even wait until nightfall? The wedding night should naturally be at night to be meaningful.”
With her coquettish glance, Huan Cheng felt a tingling sensation in his heart and, as if bewitched, agreed. “I can wait, I can wait. I’ll listen to the Empress.”
At that moment, Li Dequan brought in the medicine. Jiang Wan volunteered to take the bowl and, under Huan Cheng’s blatant gaze, fed him the medicine spoonful by spoonful.
“Why does Your Majesty keep staring at your servant?”
Jiang Wan didn’t even glance at his eyes, her tone perfectly normal. Little did she know that Huan Cheng was so infatuated that her words sounded utterly coquettish to his ears, making his heart flutter.
“I find the Empress so considerate, I adore her deeply.”
“Since Your Majesty is pleased, could you grant your servant a wish?”
“What wish does the Empress desire?”
“Your servant wishes to see Father.”
…
Jiang Wan emerged from Qian’an Hall, covering her mouth as she yawned.
This young emperor was easy enough to coax, but his lustful nature was too strong. Next time, she should keep her distance, or she might find it hard not to curse him a few times.
Forget it. Even though he was a puppet emperor, he was still the emperor. In the palace, she was currently in a worse position than this dead brat. She couldn’t afford to curse him.
She knew the rules well.
Jiang Wan strolled back, hoping she might stumble upon that lord by chance. Unfortunately, she didn’t encounter him, but she did run into quite a few palace consorts out for walks. Trying to remember their faces left her utterly confused, and in the end, she didn’t remember a single one.
“Next time, I won’t walk. It’s too much trouble.”
Qiaoqiao chuckled softly. “Is Your Majesty tired? We can switch to a palanquin now.”
“We’re almost there, no need to trouble ourselves.” Jiang Wan sighed, her eyes darting around. “Which palace does the Nine Thousand Years live in?”
“The Nine Thousand Years resides in Qu Palace, a separate palace near the Ceremonial Directorate.”
Jiang Wan nodded, already scheming in her heart.
At this moment, someone was waiting for her in Eternal Joy Palace—none other than Rong Qing, that fair-faced little eunuch.
Jiang Wan walked over with a smile. “Did the Nine Thousand Years send you?”
“His Eminence has instructed this servant to bring a governess, hoping Her Majesty will properly learn the palace rules.”
Jiang Wan: “…?”
Her face stung a little.
She asked Qiaoqiao, “Where did I break the rules today?”
Qiaoqiao felt somewhat guilty and thought for a moment. “Perhaps it was Your Majesty’s self-referential term…”
She had indeed said “I” once in front of Xie Changlin today.
But in all honesty, aside from that one slip, she hadn’t made any other mistakes! When interacting with the other consorts, she had consistently used “this palace.”
Xie Changlin was just picking on her.
Jiang Wan’s heart ached so much she lost her appetite.
“Your Majesty, please eat less. De Quan just came to deliver a message—tonight, you must prepare to attend the Emperor.”
“This is called turning sorrow into appetite!” she grumbled, stuffing another piece of meat into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out, much to the governess’s dismay.
“Your Majesty, did the governess before your entry into the palace not teach you dining etiquette? And one should not speak while eating…”
Jiang Wan was speechless.
As for attending the Emperor, she wasn’t worried for now.
The backlash she suffered yesterday wasn’t for nothing—the young Emperor would likely be ill for a few more days and wouldn’t have the energy so soon.
After dinner, Jiang Wan had no desire to deal with the messy affairs a queen was supposed to manage. Instead, she reclined on the chaise lounge and pulled out the storybooks Si Ming had given her. She hadn’t read much yet, and it was said some were even written by him.
Titles like The Tyrannical Emperor Lord Falls for Me, The Enchanting Little Peach Demon, and How Palace Intrigue Is Forged, among others.
His taste was truly peculiar.
But Si Ming surely had his reasons for doing this, likely wanting her to learn more. His intentions were worth encouraging… probably.
“…”
After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and picked up the book titled Sleeping with a Little Eunuch.
Xie Changlin was a little eunuch…
Then, under the strong condemnation of her conscience, she read most of it.
“Your Majesty, De Quan sent someone to say the Emperor has fainted again, so there’s no need to attend him tonight. He also asked if Your Majesty would like to serve at the palace hall tonight?”
Cai Chun’s sudden arrival made Jiang Wan feel like a thief caught red-handed. She covered the storybook with her hand. “Alright, this palace understands. But let the other sisters handle the serving duties.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will take her leave now.”
Fortunately, Cai Chun wasn’t as close to her as Qiaoqiao. She kept her head bowed respectfully and didn’t scrutinize her.
Otherwise, she would have noticed the Queen’s face was flushed red, almost dripping with blood.
The bold and unrestrained storybook in her hand wasn’t just a simple love story—it also shamelessly detailed how the two found pleasure, with descriptions so vivid and explicit…
Thinking that the male protagonist shared some similarities with Xie Changlin, Jiang Wan decided to study just a little more. Just a little.
“When a eunuch approaches a woman, he often enjoys caressing with his hands and nibbling with his mouth, tense for a while, until he breaks into a sweat and stops…”
By the final few pages, Jiang Wan’s pupils slowly widened, and she nearly threw the book away…
It even came with an erotic illustration!
So… so this is the kind of person you are, Si Ming!!