Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Xu Yanheng’s eyes froze for a moment, and the surroundings seemed to fall silent with the sound of the wind. His dark hair wound around his knuckles, accompanied by an indescribable, subtle itch.

After a long while, Xu Yanheng lowered his hand and said, “Since I promised you, naturally I shall come.”

Chu Qingwan only believed these words partially, but it did not stop a flicker of joy from appearing in her eyes. She looked fixedly at Xu Yanheng, and anyone could see her mood brighten.

Consort Su clenched her handkerchief tightly as she watched this scene unfold.

Qing Li quietly steadied her, lending support, her worried gaze subtly fixed on her. Yet, Consort Su could not find the words to comfort her.

The meeting between Consort Su and Xu Yanheng was a coincidence, but today being her birthday was no lie. She had never expected Xu Yanheng to walk toward Chu Qingwan without the slightest hesitation.

She thought... at the very least, upon hearing the news, Xu Yanheng would feel some compassion toward her.

But there was nothing.

Consort Su always knew that the ranks of concubines in the harem were ever-changing; she reminded herself to stay calm about it. Yet when Xu Yanheng truly chose to approach another before her eyes, she realized in truth that the emperor had no pity for her at all.

Chu Qingwan’s gaze passed over Xu Yanheng and met Consort Su’s eyes.

They shared the same palace, and Consort Su was the consort she saw most frequently. True to the palace’s assessment of her, Consort Su was gentle and kind. For the first time, Chu Qingwan saw no emotion on Consort Su’s face.

In the moment their eyes met, Chu Qingwan instantly understood there was an inevitable barrier between them.

She also heard Consort Su’s quiet voice—today was Consort Su’s birthday.

But so what? Just because it was Consort Su’s birthday did she deserve to be supplanted and become a laughingstock by the next day?

Chu Qingwan lowered her eyes, hiding the chill that flickered within them.

She gripped Xu Yanheng’s sleeve hard, causing the fabric to crease. Her knuckles turned white, yet she refused to release.

Xu Yanheng noticed but did not question the small gesture. Instead, he took her somewhat cold hand in his and spoke softly in the night, his voice gentle:

“The night is cold, be careful not to catch a chill. Let’s go.”

With that, he paid no mind to Consort Su behind them and led Chu Qingwan toward the Jade Qiong Garden.

As for Consort Su’s birthday?

Every woman in the harem had a birthday. Did they all expect him to celebrate with them?

Having grown up in the palace, Xu Yanheng was the least inclined to believe in coincidences. When in a good mood, he would entertain the little schemes his subjects concocted to please him.

But Consort Su had mistimed her appeal.

She had also overestimated herself.

When Chu Qingwan and Xu Yanheng turned to leave, she glanced back at Consort Su, who remained rooted in place. The moment Chu Qingwan withdrew her gaze, she couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

Living in the same palace, with Consort Su’s rank still above her own, if Consort Su intended to make things difficult, Chu Qingwan knew her days ahead wouldn’t be easy.

She knew well how to overcome such a predicament.

A low, mocking laugh drifted over:

“Walking with a distracted heart—aren’t you afraid of falling?”

Chu Qingwan gathered her composure, lowering her head. Her voice was soft but clear enough for Xu Yanheng to hear:

“With the emperor here, surely the emperor will protect me.”

Her words seemed both a reply to Xu Yanheng’s question and a pointed remark.

Xu Yanheng raised a brow. Was she flattering him?

Behind them, Consort Su lingered long enough to draw Qing Li’s concern:

“My lady?”

The lanterns at the palace corner dimmed one by one, and silence settled as the commotion faded with Xu Yanheng and Chu Qingwan’s departure.

Qing Li looked up at the sky, feeling a dull melancholy. Perhaps autumn had truly arrived; tonight was so cold.

Consort Su shivered, listening to the distant watchman’s bell beneath a thinning moon and sparse stars. Her voice was barely audible:

“What time is it?”

Qing Li’s nose pricked with emotion. She swallowed back a sob, afraid her feelings would infect her mistress. Taking a deep breath, she feigned calm:

“…It is the hour of the boar.”

Unable to hold back, she urged softly:

“My lady, let us return. I will prepare longevity noodles for you. Do not linger here.”

She added:

“Today is your birthday. You must be happy.”

Life was long ahead; how could one remain trapped in the past? If her mistress could not come to terms, how would she endure the long days in the palace to come?

After a long silence, the Jade Qiong Garden grew still. At last, Consort Su turned away.

She looked toward the Changchun Pavilion, still unreturned, where palace maids held lanterns, waiting. Though Changchun Pavilion was brightly lit, it felt unusually desolate.

In the Jade Qiong Garden, as soon as Xu Yanheng entered the inner hall, he glimpsed the sumptuous dishes arranged on the yellow pearwood table and a separate food box set aside.

Song Xia swiftly brought out the lotus seed porridge inside.

Xu Yanheng almost smiled again but held it back.

Lotus seed porridge was nothing special.

Any discerning person could see his words at noon had been a subtle message to Chu Qingwan that he would come to the Jade Qiong Garden tonight.

If she didn’t understand, so be it. But she did, and in that moment laden with intimate undertones, he instructed Wei Ziming to make ready and enter the harem before nightfall.

The lotus seed porridge was merely an excuse; he didn’t even like lotus seed porridge.

But when someone took his words seriously, who wouldn’t enjoy that feeling?

Chu Qingwan was not entirely naïve—Xu Yanheng himself doubted that—but her intentions were always just right, making him feel she was a content companion.

Whether Chu Qingwan’s actions were calculated or heartfelt, Xu Yanheng didn’t care.

If so, it meant she was clever, and he was happy to be around clever people.

He came to the harem to relieve boredom, not to fill himself with misery.

With this thought, Xu Yanheng’s initial plan to just taste the porridge lightly vanished. After finishing the bowl, he put down his wooden chopsticks and leaned back leisurely, waiting for her.

Chu Qingwan, who had stayed up waiting to dine with Xu Yanheng, had already expended much emotion. She was hungry, knowing she could never guess Xu Yanheng’s preferences, so she focused on filling her stomach.

Catching his glance as he stopped eating, she had no choice but to lower her chopsticks as well.

Xu Yanheng raised a brow: “Finished eating?”

Chu Qingwan nodded slowly, her cheeks flushed, avoiding his gaze.

“Is the emperor... preparing to bathe?” she asked hesitantly.

Xu Yanheng was unhurried. He nodded deliberately, the meaning heavy in his words: “That’s fine.”

Chu Qingwan felt there was something behind his words but couldn’t grasp it. What could be wrong with bathing? She set her doubts aside.

When the attendants brought in the bath barrels, she and Xu Yanheng entered the cleansing chamber together. After Wei Ziming and the palace servants withdrew, Chu Qingwan belatedly realized something was amiss.

She stared at Xu Yanheng, her face burning like fire, her voice stammering:

“Emperor...”

Xu Yanheng raised his eyes, seemingly puzzled by her demeanor:

“What’s the matter? Wasn’t this your request?”

Her face flushed fully. She swore the “bath” she meant and the “bath” Xu Yanheng meant were not the same thing!

As she stepped into the bath barrel, she couldn’t help but cry out softly. Perhaps out of embarrassment, her voice was low, but ironically, the more subtle, the more enticing.

A small red mole adorned her earlobe. When the skin at the ear’s root flushed red, it seemed to merge with the mole itself. Xu Yanheng appeared particularly fond of this feature, nibbling and lingering slowly, torturously.

A sensation both painful and ticklish surged like a tide.

Water splashed faintly, dampening a section of the screen. Chu Qingwan covered her eyes, unable to hold back her quiet sobs.

When it came to this, she seemed to have no control.

Suddenly, her body tensed sharply, fingers damp and sticky. Someone chuckled softly.

Heat rose from her head. Unable to restrain herself, she buried her face in his arm, too ashamed to look up.

Damn it!

*******

The next day, when Chu Qingwan struggled to open her eyes, dawn had already broken.

She sat up sharply, her waist aching painfully, causing her to sigh softly. Finally fully awake, the memories of last night returned, and she buried herself in the embroidered quilt, too ashamed to face anyone.

She remembered having no strength left, watching helplessly as Xu Yanheng lifted her up, then called in the other palace servants.

The mess on the floor had not escaped their notice.

Chu Qingwan’s toes curled together. She covered her face, muffling her silent cries; she had no face to show anyone!

Hearing the noise outside, someone hurried in—Chi Chun. Known for her meticulous care and ability to clean up messes, even she now looked embarrassed, coughing lightly before grabbing her mistress, who was crouched like a frightened quail.

She suppressed a laugh as she reminded her:

“My lady, the hour of greeting the emperor is nearly here.”

There was no room for Chu Qingwan to remain embarrassed. Taking a deep breath, she sat up as if nothing had happened. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nong Qiu and the others already inside the hall, Nong Qiu beaming.

That was one thing, but Chi Chun and Song Xia also couldn’t hide their joy.

Blinking in confusion, Chu Qingwan asked, “What’s going on? Why are you all so happy?”

Chi Chun had meant to wait until her mistress was ready to tell her, but hearing the question, she could no longer contain herself and bowed deeply:

“I congratulate my lady. Before leaving, the emperor ordered that the beautiful lady be well rested and instructed us not to disturb her.”

She repeated “beautiful lady” twice.

Even the slowest-witted Chu Qingwan realized what had happened. Her eyes brightened as she sat up fully: “A beautiful lady?”

Chi Chun smiled broadly: “Yes, my lady from now on holds the rank of Beautiful Lady.”

Chu Qingwan was genuinely surprised. She had not expected to be promoted so swiftly, especially since she had only lain with the emperor twice since entering the palace.

As for Chi Chun’s admonition that she rest well, Chu Qingwan barely paid it any mind.

When everyone went to the Palace of Morning Greeting to pay respects, she could not stand apart. She did not have the confidence of Consort Yu.

Still, a promotion in rank was always a cause for happiness. No matter how composed she was, Chu Qingwan could not remain entirely calm and smiled:

“Inform the servants to double their monthly wages this month.”

With their mistress’s promotion, joy spread throughout the Jade Qiong Garden. As soon as Consort Su stepped out of Changchun Pavilion, she heard the cheers and glanced toward the Jade Qiong Garden, her eyes darkening slightly.