…
Pei Tingyue had never felt a night so difficult to endure.
Her small face was flushed and burning hot, the corners of her eyes damp and red, tears continuously disappearing into the gold silk soft pillow.
Amidst helpless drifting, she mustered a shred of rationality and pushed weakly against the man’s waist and abdomen: “Your Majesty… is bullying me…”
Her strength was feeble, only managing to tickle him instead.
The desire in Xie Chen’s eyes deepened. He looked down at her and said in a low voice, “Now it’s bullying you? I see Tingyue doesn’t miss me much, otherwise why would you say such things?”
Seeing she couldn’t push him away, Pei Tingyue could only withdraw her snow-white lotus root arms, using them to cover her eyes instead. Her delicate voice was broken by the impact: “I do… I do miss you… but… but…”
“Wuwu…”
Pei Tingyue stammered “but” for a long time without completing her sentence, leaving only soft sobs and a dazed expression.
She could no longer endure it.
Seeing her like this, Xie Chen curled his lips in satisfaction.
He shouldn’t be the only one losing control.
He moved aside the arms covering her eyes, pinned them above her head, and leaned down to say, “No buts.”
…
In the end, Pei Tingyue lay powerless on the bed, curled up and weeping softly without end.
After coaxing her for a few words, Xie Chen got up to bathe.
After he left, the attending palace maids entered the hall and cautiously asked through the curtain: “Cairen, shall we assist you to wash up?”
With others present, Pei Tingyue felt too embarrassed to continue crying. She stifled her sobs and spoke tremulously, “I’ll go in a moment. You may withdraw first.”
“This…” The maids hesitated. If their mistress didn’t bathe, they couldn’t tidy the bed.
The lead maid tilted her head, signaling the others. Understanding, they stood properly to the side and waited.
When Xie Chen returned to the hall after freshening up, he saw the head maid of Chengming Hall kneeling to apologize. “Please wait a moment, Your Majesty. We will tidy the bed immediately.”
This situation was unprecedented.
Xie Chen asked indifferently, “What is it?”
The lead maid glanced toward the bed. “The Cairen hasn’t risen to bathe yet. We dare not rush her.”
Xie Chen also looked in that direction. Behind the curtain, faint movements and subtle sounds made his brow twitch.
Was she still crying?
“Return later.”
Xie Chen waved his hand to dismiss the maids.
He walked over slowly, lifted the curtain, and sat by the bed.
Only then did he discover his little consort biting her lip with tear-filled eyes, her expression full of boundless spring charm, her body still trembling faintly.
She looked thoroughly loved.
Xie Chen rarely reflected on himself.
He had indeed been too rough tonight. It was his fault.
Thinking this, he gathered her into his arms, gently patting her back and soothing her softly.
Pei Tingyue, completely unclothed, felt shy being held like this. She struggled slightly, her voice thick with tears and trembling at the end, “Pinqie’s body is dirty…”
“Mm.” Xie Chen replied, tightening his embrace. “I don’t mind.”
Pei Tingyue lifted her face, somewhat embarrassed. “Pinqie wishes to bathe, but I have no strength…”
Xie Chen looked down at her.
The messy marks covering her body, her slightly swollen red eyes, and the bruised knees.
His heart softened a little. After pondering for a moment, he still didn’t say “I’ll have the maids assist you.”
He thought for a while, sighed helplessly, and said, “I know. Rest a while longer, and I’ll carry you there.”
Since he was the one who had reduced her to this state, he didn’t mind serving her once.
Seeing that she had improved, Xie Chen draped a garment over her, carried her to the bath, and resignedly attended to her.
Back in the chamber, the palace maids had already remade the bed. Xie Chen laid her on the inner side and applied some ointment to her knees.
Pei Tingyue obediently nestled in his embrace, allowing him to tend to her. From an angle he couldn’t see, she curved her lips into a sly smile.
She couldn’t have endured the entire night for nothing.
Though thoroughly exhausted, she wasn’t actually too weak to move. Her earlier display had been entirely feigned—all to make the emperor break his rules for her.
Where there was a first time, there would be a second.
If the emperor could yield in such trivial matters today, he would indulge her even more in the future.
The next day.
Pei Tingyue looked at the soft sedan before her and turned to ask, “Eunuch Liang, what is this?”
Liang Yao bowed slightly and smiled. “By His Majesty’s order. When the emperor attended court this morning, he instructed me not to accompany him but to go to the Internal Affairs Bureau and fetch this soft sedan. He said that since you’ve just recovered, you shouldn’t overexert yourself. Taking this sedan to pay respects will make it much easier for you.”
Pei Tingyue was somewhat surprised.
She narrowed her eyes as she studied the soft sedan.
What was the emperor’s intention with today’s gesture?
Was he still setting her up for a fall?
As she pondered, scenes from the previous night surfaced in her mind—the emperor patiently washing her, smoothing her dark hair, and applying medicine to her wounds.
It could be said he had stooped to conquer.
No. It wasn’t about setting her up.
Pei Tingyue dismissed that thought.
The emperor had countless ways to elevate and then destroy her. There was no need to treat her kindly while simultaneously using her.
If that wasn’t his intention, then he was genuinely…
Considering her well-being!
At this realization, Pei Tingyue smiled silently, her heart filled with complex emotions.
Though the emperor still harbored no true affection for her, at least he showed some tenderness.
Noticing her prolonged silence, Liang Yao tentatively called out, “Cairen?”
Pei Tingyue suddenly snapped back to attention. Gazing at the soft sedan, she couldn’t suppress a sweet smile. “Please convey my gratitude to His Majesty. I will personally come to thank him when I have the opportunity.”
Liang Yao naturally agreed.
Having the soft sedan indeed saved effort. Before she knew it, they had arrived at the gates of Fenghua Palace.
Yun Shu lifted the curtain and helped Pei Tingyue alight.
The palace consorts who had come to pay their respects were astonished to see her emerging from the soft sedan.
After all, the palace hierarchy was strict—only those who held the position of a palace mistress were entitled to a jiaonian.
For her, a mere Cairen, to arrive by sedan was truly exceeding her station.
Though the consorts watched with envious eyes, they also remembered how the emperor had broken the rules for her.
With such overwhelming favor and influence, none dared to comment, fearing Pei Tingyue might engage in pillow talk against them.
Pei Tingyue had anticipated this reaction.
She knew arriving by sedan would cause quite a stir, yet she hadn’t refused this gesture.
Her purpose wasn’t merely to provoke jealousy among the consorts. What she wanted was for them to recognize the emperor’s “special” treatment toward her.
This would make them hesitate, too cautious to make any rash moves.
Pei Tingyue stepped into Fenghua Palace.
Having missed several days of paying respects, Empress Cui showed extreme concern upon her arrival, questioning her in detail and bestowing valuable rewards.
Pei Tingyue naturally expressed gratitude and accepted them.
The lower-ranking consorts didn’t dare to say anything, but Consort Xian (Xie) remarked with mild sarcasm, “Cairen Pei is truly remarkable—winning both the emperor’s favor and the empress’s affection.”
Pei Tingyue deftly parried the comment without leaving any opening.
Over the next few days, the emperor either rested alone or summoned Pei Tingyue for Shiqin.
During this period, Pei Tingyue stood out prominently in the Imperial Harem, monopolizing the emperor’s favor like a lone blossom in full spring.