chapter 21

Zhuang Laoyan’s vision had yet to clear when her sedan suddenly shook. Once the strong eunuchs carrying the sedan had lowered it to the ground, said eunuchs and the palace maids escorting her all dropped to their knees.

So-called beautiful women weren’t only beautiful in appearance. So were their bearing and manner.　　

Feng Jin watched the woman in splendid attire sway as she rose from the sedan, her eyes moist and hazy. She seemed tipsy and silly, giving off a different impression than she did typically. 　　

“This concubine greets Your Majesty,” said Zhuang Laoyan, performing the full ceremony. Lifting her head in a slightly drunk manner, she caught the moment that the emperor approached. He reached out and held her hand. She staggered, but did not conveniently fall into the emperor’s chest. After swaying for a bit, she found her balance. However, she seemed to squeeze the emperor’s hand without realizing it.　　

If she had conveniently fell into his chest, it would seem fake. But what she had done just now would appear sincere to this emperor who had interacted with many women in the past. At this moment, Zhuang Laoyan’s mind was still clear even though her body did not look it. “Your Majesty, this concubine has acted without propriety.” 　

“Beloved concubine is drunk.” Feng Jin smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. “We naturally will not find fault in you.”

The woman in his arms shook her head. Poked his chest. “This concubine is not drunk. It’s Your Majesty that is moving too much. This concubine cannot see your honored self clearly.”

“Do you not normally see Us clearly?”

“Having a longer look is fine.” The woman shook her head again. Her tone now carried a trace of complaint. “This concubine has not seen Your Majesty for a few days.”

Oh my! This Chongyi Zhao was drunk to the point of forgetting propriety! The moment Gao Dezhong, who was standing behind the emperor, saw this kind improper scene, he quickly knelt. And so did the servants behind him. 　　

As his surroundings grew silent and still, Feng Jin suddenly broke out into a light laugh. He thrust an arm underneath the dazed beauty’s legs and lifted her in a princess carry. Then he spun on his heel and returned to his Imperial Palanquin¹. “Make for Taoyu Pavilion.”

At the start of this scene, Tingzhu and Yunxi had been sweating. Now, they let out a breath of relief, before rising to their feet and following along.

Right after the emperor princess-carried Zhuang Laoyan, she came to this conclusion: the scene in T.V. dramas where the male lead princess-carried the female lead was very reliable. She was surprised that an emperor who had enjoyed a luxurious life would actually carry person in such a way.

Pretending that she was reluctant to leave his embrace, she rubbed her cheeks on the imperial robes, dragons embroidered into the silk with golden thread. Even after experiencing many women, he still possessed a great body. This emperor should have worked hard to maintain this.

“Your Highness, word has it that the tipsy Chongyi Zhao met the emperor on her way back to her residence,” Lingsha said to Noble Consort Shu once she had chanced on those news, not wasting time. “The emperor has already arrived at Taoyu Pavilion.”

“Today is her birthday. That His Majesty paid her a visit is normal.” Su Ruzi held a pair of scissors in her hand, trimming the leaves and branches of the plant before her. “Tonight, perhaps the person who will have the hardest time falling asleep is the master of Linyue Pavilion.”

“What is the master of Linyue Pavilion even worth? Her background cannot compare to that of Your Highness. And she even copies Your Highness’ conduct and behavior. What a pity her version is inferior. In fact, it’s laughable.” Lingsha extended a hand to receive the fallen pieces of leaves and branches. “Your Highness is a noble consort. She is only a low-ranking noble imperial concubine. Now, even someone who entered the imperial palace for less than a year, Zhuang Laoyan, has passed her. In the future, let’s see how furious she’ll become.”

Su Ruzi possessed a noble background and even received the emperor’s favor due to her skill in dancing. Naturally, she would not have a good opinion of Noble Imperial Concubine Yan, who was also talented at dancing while possessing a humble birth. However, she also did not feel happy seeing Zhuang Laoyan, who like her, also had a decent background. She arranged the newly-trimmed flowers. “Zhuang Laoyan may not be an easy person to deal with.” A while ago, wasn’t that former Consort Yuan demoted because of her? A good Consort Yuan had actually been relegated to an Imperial Concubine Lin. Su Ruzi did not believe that Zhuang Laoyan had nothing to with it.　　

Snip! She had cut one too many branches. Su Ruzi handed the pair of scissors to Lingsha. “From now on, don’t look into what’s occurring at Taoyu Pavilion.” She glanced at the branch she had accidentally cut. The emperor did not like women with too many schemes. In some circumstances, if one were too in a rush, the result would not be flattering.

In Taoyu Pavilion, laying on the beauty’s bed with curtains separating them from the outside world, Feng Jin was unable to grasp the possibility that the woman before him would have schemes. As a man, at his core were the glimpses of an animal. However, because he was the emperor, he was unable to act on some of these urges. In his imperial harem, even if a woman had a humble birth, she would still be a talented person with good upbringing. Regarding the matters of the flesh, even if she were captivating, he would not act wild and boorish.

But together with the drunk Chongyi Zhao, he felt it would be different. A soft and flexible waist. Tender and smooth skin. Not to mention a heavy dependence on him and wholehearted love. All of these existed as a fire sparking his enthusiasm. During their session, it felt so hot. So tight. The beauty’s slim and long legs wrapped around his waist, wrapped around his soul.

After going through many rounds and positions, after being crazy with excitement, Feng Jin was finally satisfied, coming to a release. The beauty still had her arms wrapped around his waist. As if she were holding all that she had in her arms.

It had been a long time since he had felt this satisfied. Feng Jin brushed aside Zhuang Laoyan’s hair from her damp forehead. His gaze grew warmer. The other party still had blurry vision, and only hid her body with his chest, as if she did not want there to be even the slightest hint of space between their bodies. From her lips spilled the words “Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”

Feng Jin’s gaze softened. He reached out and patted the beauty’s back. The way one would pat the back of a sleeping babe.

“Your Majesty, I…” In her drunken words lay dependence and love. Although Feng Jin did not fully discern the meaning behind her mumbles, the fire in his heart grew brighter. He turned and pinned the beauty once more on the bed. What was wrong with occasionally letting go? Even though this woman used the pronoun “I” in front of him, even though this woman was not well-learned or the most beautiful in the harem, she gave to him what imperial concubines should not give the most.

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Come morning, when Feng Jin woke, the person in his arms was still fast asleep. Even if he moved her arms and legs, the other party had no reaction. Seeing the marks on her body, he pulled the covers over her, up to her neck, so that no one else could see his work.　　

Noticing some movement in the inner chamber, Gao Dezhong quickly brought a group of eunuchs to attend to the emperor, to help him into his robes and maintain his hygiene. When he saw that Chongyi Zhao was still asleep, he smartly gestured to the servants behind him to stay quiet. After paying respects to the emperor without a word, they approached to serve him.

A man who had been extremely satisfied in the matters of the flesh would be in great spirits. Although the sachet the servants had brought for him today was not of a scent he liked, he only told them to take it away, with not the slightest hint of displeasure.

Gao Dezhong dared not look at the beauty beyond the gauze bed curtains. He only glanced at the sachet the others were bringing away. And his heart relaxed. Gao Dezhong did not know who had been on duty today, that he actually made such a mistake. Who did not know that the emperor’s mood was especially bad during the summer? Thank goodness this wasn’t the case today.

Once Feng Jin had left the main chamber, he said to Tingzhu who was waiting outside, “Let your master sleep in. If she does not wake up in a while, let her know she is relieved of having to pay respects to the empress. Chongyi Zhao fell drunk last night. The empress is compassionate.”　

Tingzhu and Yunxi quickly knelt to thank the emperor in place of their master. Once the emperor had left, their faces bloomed with joy.

Zhuang Laoyan had enjoyed herself to an immense degree last night. The moment Feng Jin had left, she was already half awake. She took in the marks left by the emperor. Sighed with emotion. Looked like the most composed of men were akin to animals during the matters of the flesh.

She called for people to help her dress and bathe. Slipped into a clean blouse and a wrap-around skirt. Staring at the milky-skin beauty reflected upon the mirror’s surface, Zhuang Laoyan applied a flower print between her brows. A lazy yawn escaped her lips. She glanced at the bowl of tonic and eunuch had delivered. As she drank it, a smile graced her face. Then she received a handkerchief from Tingzhu and wiped her lips. “It should be about time to pay respects to the empress.”

“Master, just now the people from Jingyang Palace passed a message. Her Majesty, the empress, has said that since your honored self fell drunk last night, your honored self need not pay respects today,” said Yunxi softly after entering the chamber.

Zhuang Laoyan broke into another smile after she had heard those words. She gave her hand to Yunxi. “Let’s go.”

Once she had arrived at Jingyang Palace, Zhuang Laoyan performed the full ceremony of paying respects to the empress, making sure to do so in a well-behaved manner. Following that, the empress bestowed her gifts. Once Zhuang Laoyan had seen them, she knew that the empress was not unhappy with her.　　

“After thinking that you had fallen drunk last night, this palace relieved you of paying respects today. Who would have known you would still arrive? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?” The empress’ expression never changed from the usual dignified smile.

“Thanking Your Majesty, the empress, for the compassion. This concubine is fine. It was this concubine’s fault for drinking too much and has caused Your Majesty, the empress, worry. It is this concubine’s fault.” Zhuang Laoyan curtsied. “That Your Majesty is compassionate toward this concubine shows Your Majesty’s love. This concubine cannot because of Your Majesty’s care lose propriety.”　　

The empress only smiled. However, she still found much pleasure in Zhuang Laoyan’s words. After allowing her to sit, she heard the eunuchs announce Noble Consort Shu, Xiuyi Su, and Consort Rou’s arrival.　　

The empress’ gaze landed on the well-behaved Chongyi Zhao. This Chongyi Zhao, who had attended the emperor last night, arrived earlier than these three. Was it Chongyi Zhao who had arrived too early or was it these three who came late?

After a sip of tea, she felt that the tea sent by the Department of the Palace, the Mount Jun’s Silver Needle, was not as delicious as before.