In the blink of an eye, three months had passed since Ye Han arrived in Dongli Kingdom. Ever since she entered Fanghua Hall, she had done nothing but eat and sleep every day, with nothing to do, and the weight she had lost before had come back again.
“No Wi-Fi, no phone, no Korean dramas. How am I supposed to get through this life…”
Ye Han complained while cracking melon seeds, then looked at Bai Qing, who was lying on a rocking chair reading seriously, and asked, “What are you reading?” She strode over and snatched the book from Bai Qing’s hands, ＜Thirty-Six Schemes for a Noble Lady’s Love＞.
Bai Qing snatched it back. “I was getting into it.”
Ye Han said, “Where did you even find this? That title is seriously well chosen.”
“I had Yue Rong specially get it from the market outside the palace. I’ve got a lot more in my room. Want one?”
Ye Han shook her head in disgust. “No thanks. I’m not interested in reading novels. Besides, the writing here is so sloppy I get dizzy just looking at it.”
“What’s so great about this palace anyway? Why can’t you bear to go back?”
Bai Qing had just started to speak, “Because…” when Ye Han cut her off with a wave. “I know. You fell in love with the emperor, right? Yes, exactly. You’re just like those cheesy transmigration dramas, your heart stolen by some roguish emperor, and then you willingly stay behind to fight and scheme with the women of the harem. In the end, the emperor keeps being a two-timing jerk, spoiling whoever he feels like spoiling, and you end up dying of misery…”
Bai Qing: “I…”
Ye Han went on with heartfelt grief, “You… what am I even supposed to say to you… Look at how tragic your ending is. Why stay here at all? When we go back, I’ll find you a few more young hunks and let you pick whichever one you want. Just come back with me obediently…”
Bai Qing looked at Ye Han very seriously. “I didn’t fall in love with the emperor. I fell in love with… the emperor’s woman… the empress…”
Ye Han was shocked. “What! You’re cheating on the emperor…”
Bai Qing was so startled she hurriedly clamped a hand over Ye Han’s mouth, her face dark with exasperation. “Sister, this is the imperial palace. What if someone hears you!”
“You… you’re actually gay?”
She could hardly believe that this beautiful woman in front of her liked women too, just like she did. She felt an inexplicable surge of excitement.
Bai Qing said, “You’re the same as me, aren’t you?”
“!! How did you tell?”
“Because ever since you entered the palace, you’ve loved staring at those pretty little palace maids, flirting with them at every turn. You don’t even glance at the handsome young eunuchs. A eunuch looking at palace maids is normal, but I’m the only one who knows you’re a woman. What woman doesn’t look at handsome men and only looks at beautiful women, with hearts practically bursting out of her eyes? If you didn’t like women, that would be weird…”
Ye Han said, “Your analysis is spot on, but how can you like the empress… Even liking some ordinary consort would be better. She’s the emperor’s lawful wife, the mother of Dongli Kingdom…”
Bai Qing flicked her sleeve. “You think I wanted this? The first time I saw the empress, my heart was already hooked. After that, I just couldn’t control myself anymore.”
Seeing her so deeply in love, Ye Han started worrying whether that one million would still be hers.
Speaking of the empress, Bai Qing frowned. “And if I think of the empress, I think of the emperor. And when I think of the emperor, I remember that next month is his birthday. I still don’t know what to give him…”
Ye Han said, “What did you give him before? Give him something similar this year. Anyway, he has so many women, he probably doesn’t even remember what gifts you noble ladies gave him.”
“If only it were that easy. I’m just a noble lady, and my monthly allowance is only so much. In the past two years, I even borrowed money from Consort Jing and Noble Lady Yue to buy the emperor’s gifts. I still haven’t paid them back. I don’t have the face to ask them again this year…”
Only then did Ye Han realize how miserable Bai Qing had it. During this time, Bai Qing had been feeding and housing her so well, it seemed she really was treating her kindly. She should help share the burden too.
Ye Han’s mind turned. She patted her chest. “Leave this to me. I promise I won’t spend you a single coin, and I’ll make sure the emperor looks at your gift differently.”
Bai Qing raised a brow. “You’re not bluffing, are you? And it won’t cost anything?”
Ye Han put on a solemn face. “Please rest assured, Noble Lady. This servant guarantees the mission will be completed.”
It was time for another flashy display. Ye Han had Bai Qing get her a lot of wooden planks, paint, and a carpenter. She stood by and directed the carpenter on how to cut the planks, specifying the width and length down to the exact millimeter.
Yue Rong and several eunuchs gathered around Bai Qing. “Mistress, what is Eunuch Ye trying to make?”
Bai Qing shook her head. “I don’t know.”
After most of the day, all the planks were finally made into the lengths she wanted. Ye Han ran into the room and pulled up Bai Qing, who was still sleeping in late. Half-awake, Bai Qing mumbled, “What are you doing…”
Ye Han crouched down to put her shoes on. “Come help me out. Yue Rong and the others are already there. Only you’re missing…”
These past few days, Fanghua Hall had been bustling. None of the master and servants had a free moment, all running back and forth, and every servant from the other palaces who passed by would peek inside.
Three days before the emperor’s birthday, Ye Han’s gift was finally finished. Bai Qing and the others gathered around Ye Han full of anticipation. After nearly a month of hard work, they were finally going to see what the finished product looked like.
When the red cloth was pulled away, an exquisitely crafted DIY palace appeared before their eyes. Bai Qing’s eyes lit up. “Oh my god… It’s beautiful… We’re all amazing!”
Yue Rong and the eunuchs were also so shocked they could not look away. Though they had all helped, at most they had only done odd jobs, and the actual construction had basically all been done by Ye Han.
“Eunuch Ye really is clever with her hands…”
Ye Han felt a little smug. After all, her career in the modern world had been interior design, and she was no slouch when it came to hands-on crafts either.
On the emperor’s birthday, Bai Qing was eager to see the empress and wanted to talk to her more before the banquet began, so she went ahead with Yue Rong first. Ye Han and two little eunuchs carried the gift and slowly headed toward Anshou Palace.
“Sisters, your skin is so nice. How do you usually take care of it?”
The two little palace maids were praised like this and laughed until they were blooming with delight, reaching out to pinch Ye Han’s cheeks. “Eunuch Ye’s skin is really nice too, so soft and tender, just like a little girl.”
Ye Han also reached out and touched a palace maid’s face. “Not at all, sister’s skin is better. So fair and rosy, really beautiful.”
The two little eunuchs standing nearby were a little jealous and resentful. This punk Ye Han, relying on her looks, had no idea how many palace maids’ cheeks she had already touched.
Mu Xueyan happened to see this scene from afar, and her eyes were full of disgust. “A lecherous fool.”
Xiao Jinzi agreed. “Exactly. Flirting openly in broad daylight, it’s indecent.”
Ye Han was still having fun flirting and did not even know the consort had arrived. It was only when the two little eunuchs spotted her that they hurriedly knelt to pay respects.
Ye Han turned and saw the consort, and she dropped to her knees in fright as well.
“Well now, Eunuch Ye, you’re certainly in high spirits, flirting with palace maids too,” Xiao Jinzi said in a shrill voice, as if watching a show.
Ye Han did not dare answer. She could only lower her head as much as possible, praying inwardly, Hurry up and leave, hurry up and leave.
Mu Xueyan crouched down and ordered, “Lift your head.”
Ye Han raised her head, and the consort pinched her chin, curling her lips into a smile. “Does the floral scent on this concubine smell good?”
Now that she was this close, Ye Han could not stop herself from sneezing. For the sake of her life, she could only desperately hold it back and force out, with great difficulty, “It… smells… good…”
Seeing her face turn red from trying so hard not to sneeze, Mu Xueyan found it quite amusing and even tightened her grip, pulling Ye Han a little closer.
Xiao Jinzi suddenly felt that his mistress had a rather wicked sense of humor and felt a little sorry for that little Ye. Just then, the emperor’s birthday banquet was about to begin, so he hurriedly reminded her, “Your Grace, it’s almost time.”
Only then did Mu Xueyan let go of her and leave.
Inside Anshou Palace, the consorts from every palace had already arrived. It was a dense crowd, everyone dressed with painstaking originality, especially those who were not very favored. They had put in even more effort, hoping the emperor would notice them and restore his favor.
Ye Han could not help sighing. “The emperor sure is lucky. All these beautiful ladies are his.”
“The emperor arrives!”
“The empress arrives!”
After Ye Han finished paying respects, she looked at the empress sitting beside the emperor, a gentle and elegant beauty with faint dimples when she smiled. No wonder Bai Qing had fallen for her.
The banquet was only halfway through when Ye Han was already hungry. She gently tugged Bai Qing’s sleeve and gave her a look. Bai Qing understood immediately, took a piece of pastry from the table, and slipped it to her when no one was paying attention.
Ye Han ate too quickly and almost choked, letting out a hiccup. Yue Rong reminded her, “Eunuch Ye, keep your voice down.” Bai Qing, meanwhile, lowered her head and secretly laughed.
The interaction between the three of them was fully caught by the consort opposite them. It seemed this Noble Lady Qing rather liked him.
After the consorts had all presented their gifts, it was the noble ladies’ turn. Bai Qing, based on how long she had been in the palace, was first.
“I wonder what gift my beloved consort has prepared for me?”
The emperor, who was over thirty, had thick brows and bright eyes, a proper handsome man. When he spoke, Ye Han somehow thought he sounded kind of adorable.
“Your Majesty, this concubine has been preparing this gift for a long time. I’m sure Your Majesty will like it.”
As soon as the emperor heard that, his interest was piqued. “If my beloved consort is this confident, then I must see what good thing it is.”
Ye Han gestured for the two eunuchs to bring the item up. Seeing how huge the gift was, everyone craned their necks in curiosity.
“Your Majesty, please look.” Bai Qing lifted the red cloth, and a glittering golden palace instantly drew everyone’s eyes.
The emperor quickly walked up to Bai Qing, unable to hide his excitement. “You actually built my imperial palace. This is the most special gift I have ever received.”
Bai Qing bent to bow. “I’m glad Your Majesty likes it.”
The emperor was naturally pleased, and Imperial Decree Spoken: “Noble Lady Qing has won my heart. Confer the rank of Consort.”
Bai Qing knelt to thank him and did not forget to ask for a reward on Ye Han and the others’ behalf. “Your Majesty, over these past days the servants of Fanghua Hall have been a great help. Without them, this concubine would never have been able to make this gift.”
The emperor said, “Good. Reward them all.”
Ye Han happily clapped her hands in the corner. This meant she would get a lot of good things again. At the same time, Mu Xueyan’s gaze also came over and met hers for a few seconds. Ye Han quickly lowered her head and stood properly.
After the birthday banquet ended, Ye Han was chatting and laughing beside Bai Qing. Mu Xueyan walked ahead, and the laughter grated on her ears. She ordered Xiao Jinzi, “Go, call him over.”
Xiao Jinzi was a sharp man, and of course he knew exactly who his mistress meant.
“Eunuch Ye, the consort requests your presence.”
Bai Qing stepped in front of Ye Han. “May I ask, Eunuch Jin, what does the consort want with Little Ye?”
Xiao Jinzi said, “Oh? Consort Qing is quite protective of this servant. Whether our mistress has business with him is not something we servants can ask. Please follow me, Eunuch Ye.”
Ye Han looked blankly confused. Had she offended the consort?
Bai Qing pulled her aside. “Did you offend her or something?”
“I don’t think so. It’s just that today, on the way to Anshou Palace, I flirted with two little palace maids and she happened to see it. Could she be calling me over to lecture me?”
Xiao Jinzi urged, “Eunuch Ye, the consort is waiting.”
Ye Han said, “Coming, coming.”
Bai Qing watched her retreating back, a little worried. Mu Xueyan was famously not easy to deal with. She only hoped nothing would happen.