“Fool!” Liang Yao’s heart surged with towering waves of fury. Gnashing his teeth, he leaned in close, “How dare you presume to fathom the Emperor’s mind?!”
Tears welled up in the corners of Liang An’s eyes from the pressure. Closing his eyes, he trembled as he spoke, “The Emperor has summoned Consort Pei again… I thought…”
Liang Yao sharply rebuked him, “You thought! You thought! That was nothing but your own cleverness! Do you truly value your life so little that you dare interfere in the Son of Heaven’s affairs?”
Young and inexperienced in such major confrontations, Liang An was completely enveloped in terror and regret. He ultimately couldn’t hold back his tears: “Gandi… I won’t dare anymore… I won’t dare anymore…”
Liang Yao was so angry it made his teeth ache: “If not for your usual filial piety toward me, I wouldn’t have stepped into this muddy water!”
Liang An could only sob uncontrollably.
Seeing his pitiful state, Liang Yao resentfully released his grip on Liang An’s collar. After slightly adjusting his own appearance, he carefully pushed open the hall door.
Two quarters of an hour later.
Liang Yao arrived at the punishment room carrying bone-chilling coldness. Perhaps from excessive urgency, his voice carried slight panting, “How many strikes have been administered?”
The chief eunuch of the punishment room gave a meaningful glance, and the executing eunuch halted his movements. Then the chief eunuch personally came forward to greet him, flattering: “Chief Supervisor, sixty-seven strikes.”
“We heard you went to plead for mercy, so we’ve been striking slowly.”
Seeing his adopted son’s chest still rising and falling, Liang Yao felt a heavy weight lift from his heart. He glanced sideways at the chief eunuch,
“This favor, I shall remember. There’s still a vacancy for Zhangshi Taijian in the Imperial Tea Room. You shall assume the position tomorrow.”
Hearing this, the chief eunuch was so delighted his whole body itched. The Tea Room had always been the most lucrative position, especially those connected to the Yushan Kitchen – this was truly substantial good fortune.
He smiled obsequiously, not forgetting to promote his own trusted subordinates, “What about these two executing eunuchs…”
“They go too!”
“Thank you, Eunuch Liang!”
After dispensing favors, Liang Yao’s gaze fell upon the long bench. His adopted son, who had been beaten to the point of barely breathing, seemed to have heard his voice and was struggling to lift his head while clutching the bench.
Liang Yao’s heart suddenly softened, all thoughts of teaching his adopted son a lesson vanishing. He passed a meaningful glance: “Imperial decree: Liang An has served inadequately. Eighty cane strikes.”The chief eunuch understood perfectly, carelessly going through the remaining dozen or so strikes.”
After the punishment was completed, Liang Yao dismissed everyone, leaving only father and son in the punishment room.
Liang Yao walked to the long bench and crouched down, brushing aside his adopted son’s sweat-drenched hair, “Now you’ve tasted bitterness, haven’t you!”Liang An tried to move his bloody and mangled buttocks, but the pain made him shiver violently, ‘Gandi, I was wrong.'”
Liang Yao sighed helplessly, “You’re my son. As your father, I naturally know what you were thinking.”
“You thought that since the Emperor summoned Consort Pei twice consecutively these past two days, both having her stay overnight at Chengming Hall and promoting her rank, the Emperor must favor Consort Pei.”
“Added to today, when the Emperor was so furious during court, yet Consort Pei merely accompanied him for a while and that anger completely dissipated – he even ate more during breakfast.”
“You thought this might be a second Consort Liang (Shen).”
“So you boldly asked the Emperor whether, when Consort Pei bathes tonight, that infertility-causing Liangfen should be omitted.”
“Xiao Anzi, your Gandi is correct, isn’t he?”
Liang An, red-eyed, didn’t dare respond. A scene repeatedly appeared in his mind.
That was after he spoke. The Emperor slowly lifted his gaze, looking at him indifferently without saying a word, yet frightening him so much that his liver and gallbladder felt shattered, forcing him to kneel and beg for mercy.
At that moment, he finally understood the phrase Gandi often said.
The Emperor’s majesty is unfathomable.
Liang Yao frowned and said, “An’er, do you know the reason you brought this fatal disaster upon yourself?”
Liang An struggled to lift his head. “Didn’t Gandhi say it was because I was too clever for my own good, trying to gauge the Emperor’s heart?”Liang Yao shook his head, speaking meaningfully, ‘It’s never understanding the Emperor’s heart that brings disaster—it’s misunderstanding it wrong!””
In the dark, foul-smelling torture chamber, only a single white candle provided light. In the utter silence, the wick suddenly crackled, the sound mingling with the howling wind and snow outside.
Liang An’s eyes widened abruptly, a bone-chilling cold surging from his feet through his entire body, making him tremble uncontrollably.
Ignoring his shock, Liang Yao continued, “While you recuperate from your injuries, take some time to think about where you went wrong.”
Chengming Hall.
Outside, the rustling sound of falling snow grew louder. Pei Tingyue allowed the palace maids to bathe her.
The warm water dispelled the chill in her limbs, and she closed her eyes contentedly.
“The Emperor said earlier that he still has government affairs to attend to. May I stay a bit longer?”
The head maid replied, “Since His Majesty is in no hurry to summon you for the night, you may soak as long as you wish, Cairen.”
Reassured by the answer, Pei Tingyue relaxed and enjoyed herself.
She only reluctantly left when her delicate skin began to wrinkle.
Entering the bedchamber, she found it completely empty.
Pei Tingyue sat on the bed for a while, but when there was still no movement, she lost all patience and boldly made her way to the Imperial Study.
Sure enough, a figure was seated behind the desk.
“It’s so late, Your Majesty. Aren’t you going to rest?”
Xie Chen looked up from the documents, his sharp features softening considerably at the sight of her charming figure. “Tingyue, what brings you here?”
Pei Tingyue walked over to his side, lies readily flowing from her lips. “Your Majesty has been gone for so long. Your concubine missed you terribly.”
Xie Chen pulled her into his embrace. “We just saw each other, and you already miss me again?”
Pei Tingyue nodded earnestly, her delicate face serious. “Yes.”
To emphasize her point, she even gave a solemn nod.
Xie Chen was amused by her expression, then pointed to the thick stack of memorials. “Then what should we do? I still have so many government affairs to handle.”
Pei Tingyue rolled her eyes inwardly. If he had so much work, why summon her? Wasn’t that just pure torment?
But she showed no dissatisfaction, instead obediently following his lead. “Then your concubine will keep you company.”
She wrapped her arms around the man’s neck and settled into a comfortable position in his embrace.
Xie Chen suddenly heard a clear, crisp sound. Following the noise, he saw a pair of exceptionally fine jade bracelets adorning her wrist.
“Are these the ones I bestowed upon you?”
Pei Tingyue smiled sweetly, extending her hand for him to see. “Your concubine put them on immediately. Do they look beautiful?”
Her wrist was as fair as snow, her hand as delicate as scallion jade. The jade bracelets added a luminous glow, enhancing her radiance.
Xie Chen replied without hesitation, “Beautiful.”
Pei Tingyue’s smile widened. “If Your Majesty finds them beautiful, it is your concubine’s good fortune.”
Pei Tingyue clung to him a while longer, but when he remained unmoved, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. This man was truly difficult to seduce!
But on such a snowy night, she couldn’t let this trip go to waste.
At the very least, she had to succeed in seducing the beauty before her—otherwise, it would be such a loss!
Pei Tingyue took a deep breath and prepared to unleash her ultimate move.
Her jade-like fingers slowly hooked onto the Panlong Jade Clasp as she tilted her head and spoke in a soft, sticky tone: “Are you truly not coming back to my bedchamber with your concubine?”
If her previous words had been subtle hints, this was now a blatant seduction.
Xie Chen felt the tickling sensation at his waist, his eyes darkening: “The Moon-Listening Ceremony is tonight. Are you this impatient?”