Xining Year 4.
Rear Hall of Changle Palace.
It was early spring. Clusters of crabapple blossoms bloomed in the courtyard, painting the sky with brilliant rouge as far as the eye could see—a breathtaking sight.
By the window sat a slender figure hunched over a Huanghuali writing desk, scribbling furiously.
“Baolin, you should rest for a while. You’ve been copying these scriptures all afternoon.”
As dusk gradually fell, a palace maid approached with tea.
Only after a long while did Pei Tingyue finally lift her head from the desk. Gazing at the stack of scriptures before her, she sighed with relief,
“Finally finished!”
She picked up the teacup and took a small sip, her thoughts drifting far away.
Three days ago, she was still an overworked employee grinding day and night. Who would have thought that after a single night’s sleep, she would transmigrate into a book!
This novel was a grand female-led palace intrigue story she had stayed up late reading, titled The Empress’s Power Over the Palace.
In the original work, the male lead Xie Chen ascended the throne at a young age, becoming the Xining Emperor. This ruler was profound in thought and formidable in skill.
To consolidate his court and pacify the borders, he brought several noblewomen into his harem.
Though he possessed three thousand beauties in the rear palace, the emperor reserved all his tenderness for one person alone—the original female lead, Consort Liang Shen Yuyao.
The two had known each other since childhood and gradually developed mutual affection through their interactions. After Shen Yuyao entered the palace, she enjoyed unparalleled favor, outshining all others.
But this was the rear palace—the most fiercely contested place in the world under heaven. The emperor’s such favor placed Shen Yuyao in opposition to all the other consorts.
Amidst the treacherous currents of palace intrigue, she lost a son and nearly succumbed to unbearable grief.
Yet, after all, she was the female lead. Shen Yuyao did not wallow in despair. Instead, she quietly retreated for two years before reemerging in the palace. Through repeated trials, she grew continuously, eventually becoming a powerful empress.
When Pei Tingyue had read this grand female-led novel back then, she found it incredibly inspiring.
But now, she felt none of that inspiration, because she had transmigrated into the cannon-fodder palace consort who shared her name and was destined to die soon.
In other words, she had only a few days left to live!
Misfortune truly knocked on misfortune’s door—she was utterly doomed!
In the book, the original host’s role was that of a shield deliberately elevated by the emperor to protect Shen Yuyao, who had lost her child, and to draw the attention of the other consorts!
Under the emperor’s deliberate manipulation, the original host was placed at the forefront of danger.
But the foolish original host, unaware of her true situation, was blinded by this false affection. She managed to offend the entire rear palace, successfully attracting all the hostility.
Her eventual fate was predictable: framed by others, she died in the cold palace with unclosed eyes, her corpse left unattended.
“Ah!”
Thinking of her tragic future ending, Pei Tingyue sighed.
What was even more headache-inducing was that she had transmigrated at the precise moment when the original host had just become the shield. Although the original host had only recently gained favor, she was troublemaker enough to offend many in the rear palace in a short time.
These hundred copies of scriptures were her punishment for offending the high-ranking consort Lin Zhaorong.
The original host hadn’t even finished one copy, but poor Pei Tingyue, having just transmigrated, had spent three full days writing before she finally finished. Her hand was nearly numb with pain!
Suppressing the faint resentment in her heart, Pei Tingyue began to strategize seriously.
Since she was here, she must plan accordingly.
Her transmigration into the book was already a fixed reality. She couldn’t just sit back and await death, allowing events to unfold and repeating the tragic ending.
She wanted to live well!
Not only that, but she also intended to climb step by step to the top of this magnificent golden palace!
Pei Tingyue’s eyes flickered with determination as a plan formed in her heart.
Right now, the female lead was keeping to herself. This period was especially crucial for her.
She needed to seize this opportunity to deepen her relationship with the emperor!
After sorting out her thoughts, Pei Tingyue turned directly to the palace maid beside her: “How many days has it been since the Emperor last summoned me to attend him?”
“Replying to Baolin, it has been six days.”
Pei Tingyue nodded slightly and murmured softly, “It should be soon.”
Six days without a summons was quite a long time—it didn’t match the frequency expected for a “shield” like her.
If her guess was correct, the Emperor would summon her within the next two nights.
Attend him… Pei Tingyue silently chewed over the term in her heart, a flicker of anticipation gleaming in her eyes.
This was the male lead of the novel—his looks and figure surely wouldn’t be bad.
She was actually a little excited about sleeping with a man this time.
Pei Tingyue: ( _ )
Just after finishing her evening meal, a eunuch from the Office of Palace Affairs came to announce that the Emperor had summoned her to attend him that night.
Following the rules for low-ranking consorts attending the Emperor, Pei Tingyue was carried to the side hall of Chengming Hall. After bathing and dressing up, she was led to the bedchamber.
At the entrance to the bedchamber, the palace maids and eunuchs all bowed and withdrew.
Pei Tingyue steadied her emotions, reached out to part the bead curtain, and stepped inside slowly.
The inner chamber was dimly lit, with only a few palace lanterns casting flickering candlelight. Occasionally, a wick would crackle softly.
Pei Tingyue walked around the screen and saw a tall figure lying on the bed.
The man was dressed in a Black Dragon Robe, reclining lazily on his side with one hand supporting his head and the other holding a scroll. Most of his face was hidden in shadow, making it difficult to see clearly.
Pei Tingyue glanced briefly before lowering her head and performing the proper salute from memory: “Your humble consort pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless fortune and peace.”
After a moment, a cold, deep voice came from the bed: “Rise.”
Pei Tingyue slowly stood up and boldly looked toward the bed. The man had set down the scroll in his hand, revealing a handsome and noble face.
His eyebrows were sharp as swords, his nose bridge high and straight, and his thin lips pressed together lightly. Those dark eyes were like a deep, cold pool—unfathomable and devoid of any discernible emotion.
Truly worthy of being the male lead—absolutely stunning.
Pei Tingyue couldn’t be more satisfied with the Emperor’s appearance.
As she studied the Emperor, he also looked at her, a flicker of surprise crossing his usually emotionless eyes.
The woman before his bed wore only a thin robe, a snow-white belt accentuating her graceful and alluring figure.
With her dark hair, red lips, shimmering eyes, skin as fair as congealed fat, and brows curved like a new moon, she was unbearably captivating.
Even though he had seen her just a few days before, the feeling was entirely different. Xie Chen felt a sudden spark of interest. He beckoned and said in a deep voice, “Come here.”
Pei Tingyue obediently sat at the edge of the bed, bowing her head in silence.
Xie Chen pinched her delicate, small chin and studied the lotus-like face before him intently.
The red mole at the corner of the woman’s peach-blossom eyes was exceptionally alluring in the flickering candlelight, carrying a mesmerizing charm.
A slight itch stirred in Xie Chen’s heart, his gaze deepening. He gently rubbed his thumb over the corner of her eye in an intimate manner and said, “I heard you offended Lin Zhaorong a few days ago and were punished to copy scriptures?”
Pei Tingyue glanced at the slender, jade-like fingers near her cheek, resisting the ticklish sensation as she looked pitifully toward the bed. “Yes.”