Chapter 25 Sleeping Naked

No matter how noble a woman may be, after the death of her husband, she must carry herself in mourning, shrouded in grey sorrow. She cannot wear bright, beautiful silk, cannot laugh too freely, nor indulge in lively whims. She must be still—still in appearance, in heart, and quietly removed from the vibrant world of blossoming flowers.

Shouning Palace is just such a place, secluded in a remote corner, cut off from the world. Ever since her niece was married into the imperial harem and helped seize the phoenix seal, the empress dowager within issued a decree forbidding anyone from disturbing her—especially Ji Ye, her son, the emperor. The reason given was that his filial devotion might distract him from state affairs, though she would occasionally summon her youngest son, Prince Ning, her favored-niece the Imperial Consort, and Lady Kang of the county. Observers could not help but speculate that the affection between the emperor and his mother was cold and superficial, performed only for outsiders.

Ji Ye remained silent. On the first and fifteenth of every month, and on the empress dowager’s birthday, he would come to kneel and pay his respects, rain or snow, never missing a single day. Whenever he received tributes of rare delicacies or fine silks, he would send generous gifts to her. How could anyone accuse him of lacking filial piety? Rumors withered before they could take root.

The bamboo grove was dense, the midday sun casting dappled light on the ground. Following the custom of Shouning Palace, the Imperial Consort left her attendants outside the grove and walked in alone. Glancing around, she felt a chill—the surroundings were cold and gloomy, and goosebumps prickled her skin. Though she had visited Shouning Palace many times, each time she passed through the thick, sun-blocking bamboo path, a shiver ran through her, for reasons she could not say.

A sudden pain in her chin jerked her from her thoughts. Her face twisted with anger as she broke into a run, fury surging within her, threatening to burst from her belly. Since entering the palace as Imperial Consort, she had never suffered such humiliation.

You little wretch, Yu Daidai, just you wait! I swear I will not rest until I avenge this insult.

Shouning Palace stood at the end of the bamboo grove, its brass-studded vermillion gate tightly shut. But the Imperial Consort knew that loyal old eunuchs guarded the entrance at all times—she merely needed to knock the door knocker three times.

"Open up, quickly!"

Usually, she arrived and departed quietly, knowing her aunt, the empress dowager, disliked disturbances. But not today. Today, she would cry and make a scene. Her aunt loved her dearly; surely she would not ignore her suffering. The more pitiful she appeared, the angrier her aunt would be, and the more she would defend her.

Suppressing her rising satisfaction, she wept, "Open the door! Aunt, save me!"

The vermillion gate opened with a clang after three knocks, and a squinting, pockmarked old eunuch poked his head out. Seeing the Imperial Consort’s disheveled state, he exclaimed, "Your Highness, what has happened?"

She shoved him aside, crying, "Move! Don’t block me—I must see my aunt!"

With a loud wail, she rushed straight toward the main hall with its yellow tiles and red walls. The old eunuch panicked, chasing after her and shouting, "The Imperial Consort is here! The Imperial Consort is here!" as if Lü Xiangjun were some fierce bandit descending from the hills.

Shouning Palace was not large, its buildings modeled after the picturesque rivers and bridges of the southern provinces. The empress dowager did not reside in the spacious main hall, but in a waterside pavilion beside the pond.

The pavilion, with its carved eaves and intricate beams, exuded poetic beauty, much like the tenderness of a young woman’s expression. Though it was bright midday, the doors of the pavilion were tightly shut. Lü Xiangjun, distracted by her own troubles, noticed nothing amiss. She crossed the stone bridge and began to cry, calling out, "Aunt, save me! That Yu woman is too outrageous, she doesn’t respect the Lü family at all. And cousin, cousin is simply detestable..."

"Stop right there!" came a sharp voice from within the pavilion, followed by sounds of confusion.

"Aunt, are you all right? Did you fall? Don’t worry, your niece is injured, but it’s not serious," said Lü Xiangjun, concerned.

"You reckless girl, who told you to barge into my pavilion? You have no manners at all. Is it because I’ve spoiled you too much? Get out!"

Her tone was furious. Already angry from her humiliation, the Imperial Consort was now chastised by her beloved aunt; her pride flared. She banged on the door, crying, "How can you scold me, Aunt? Do you know how badly I’ve suffered? Instead of defending me, you scold me. I might as well not live!"

The carved door was flung open from within. The Imperial Consort felt her vision blur, and with a loud slap, her face burned.

"You hit me!" she said, incredulous, staring at the old woman before her—hair disheveled, eyes alluring, lips red.

"I meant to hit you, you unruly thing!"

"Aunt, I am your own niece, the Imperial Consort."

"You may be the Imperial Consort, but I am the Empress Dowager." Her brows eased slightly, as if the slap had calmed her.

She pulled her to the lotus pond, her demeanor returning to serene elegance. "Speak—what mess have you made that you need me to clean up?"

Lü Xiangjun rubbed her aching cheek, tamped down her anger at the empress dowager, and hurriedly recounted the events in the imperial garden. Clutching the embroidered butterfly sleeve of the empress dowager’s thin spring robe, she sobbed, "What is she, to dare occupy cousin’s bedchamber? Who does she think she is? Am I dead? I can’t stand her arrogant, bullying ways."

With her beloved elder, she poured out her heart, a far cry from the proud, shrewd face she showed to the Noble Consort.

"You are too reckless," the empress dowager mused after a moment.

"Aunt, the harem belongs to the Lü family—how can that Yu girl lord over us? Are you afraid of her?" She snorted. "Of course you are. You gave up my rightful position to her back then, and now you’re handing over authority of the six palaces. It wouldn’t surprise me at all."

"Enough," the empress dowager glanced at her, "You needn’t provoke me with your words. You want me to stand up for you—how could I refuse? But you’re truly unreasonable. Even a rabbit bites when cornered, let alone a cat backed by a tiger. If you want to deal with that fool, why dirty your own hands and give Ji Ye a handle against you? You’re not even a tenth as clever as your mother."

"Aunt..." Lü Xiangjun stamped her foot in shame and anger.

"Very well, I’ll go deal with this for you, you troublemaker." The empress dowager flicked a lock of hair behind her ear, her eyes cold, lips tilted. "I’ve been withdrawn too long—Yu must think I fear them. The true mistress of the Great Yan harem must bear the Lü name."

"Thank you, Aunt." Lü Xiangjun brightened, her brows easing.

When the aunt and niece arrived at Ganquan Palace, only a few low-ranking maids guarded the front hall; the garden behind was crowded.

After a round of knocking, a loose floorboard in the waterside pavilion was pried up, revealing a pale pink incense cake, faintly fragrant.

Daidai, hanging on Ji Ye’s arm, pinched her nose. "Clean it up quickly. I can’t stand the smell right now." She stroked her flat belly, leaned against Ji Ye like a boneless kitten, looking up at him seriously. "Until I have the baby, I want to keep pure and abstinent. That means no... you know, what we did last night."

She frowned, snuggling even closer, sighing.

"Can you stand still?" Ji Ye, unable to push her away, resigned himself to letting her cling, afraid she’d twist and fall, so he wrapped his arm around her waist helplessly.

He’d always said—of all the harem, only Yu Daidai could truly leave him powerless.

Before, he could coax her; now she was stubborn. Tell her to stand still, she’d agree, but still burrow into his arms. He had no doubt that if she were a cat, she’d perch on his shoulder; if a snake, she’d coil around his neck to sleep.

How could she be so lazy? Not a single ounce of bone in her.

Yu Hai, wrapping half the incense cake in a kerchief, handed it to Ji Ye, his face grim. "Your Majesty, this incense is made from the fluid secreted by female snakes during mating. I often compete and study fragrances—there’s no mistake."

Ji Ye glanced at the imperial snake king Daidai had tied to a branch, recalled how all the harem had been sprinkled with realgar powder except Ganquan Palace, and understood immediately.

He had been reluctantly holding Daidai’s waist, but now his heart softened, and he gently stroked her to comfort her. "Yu, I will give you a proper explanation."

Yu Hai shook his head, affectionately patting Daidai’s head, magnanimous. "As long as the mistress is safe, that’s enough. I’ll find a way to explain to my brother."

The more Yu Hai spoke thus, the more ashamed Ji Ye felt. "I will give Daidai a proper explanation."

Daidai glanced at Yu Hai, knowing full well who he was, and began to fret, biting her finger—how should she treat these blood relatives of Yu Daidai? They all seemed so fond of her.

Her mind was always a little muddled; now it was full of Ji Ye. Adding more was almost too much. Ah... being human was troublesome. Everyone was surrounded by so many people, tangled in endless relationships, grudges and passions that made her uneasy.

From the lake, several eunuchs emerged, dripping. Qiuyun hurriedly asked, "What did you find?"

"Reporting to the palace mistress, the sluice is loose—it can be pried open by hand. Anyone good at swimming can come and go freely."

Qiuyun felt a chill. If so, how could Ganquan Palace be safe? Perhaps last time the mistress was poisoned, someone entered through this channel, sneaking up while Xiaji was napping. The more she thought, the more fearful she became, and rushed to report to Ji Ye.

Daidai said, "I already knew—how else did the snake get in?" She looked at everyone as if they were fools. For a snake demon who’d always lived in the wild, knowing her surroundings was only natural.

Ji Ye smacked her forehead, "Why didn’t you say so?"

"If I wanted to leave, I could use this way too."

Can’t you be less candid, my dear niece?

Yu Hai looked at Daidai, speechless.

"You really are... fine, fine, I’ll deal with you later." Ji Ye threatened softly. Realizing the lake connected directly to the city moat, he felt uneasy.

Thank goodness it was discovered early. If one day his empress disappeared, he’d have nowhere to cry. He ordered angrily, "Seal the sluice immediately!"

Yu Hai chuckled, subtly reproaching, "Your Majesty, the mistress’s palace has so many loopholes."

Ji Ye awkwardly rubbed his nose, cleared his throat, "The cleaning here should be done—Yu, come have lunch with me."

Yu Hai, knowing the matter involved many palace secrets, bowed, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but I have many memorials to sort. Please grant leave to return to my office."

"Very well." Ji Ye was only too glad to see the old fox gone, hastily ordering the head eunuch to escort him.

As Yu Hai departed, the empress dowager and her niece arrived at the back garden.

Ji Ye led Daidai and the assembled maids and eunuchs to bow and greet the empress dowager.

"Is your health well, Mother?" he asked, smiling politely after the formalities.

"So vulgar," Daidai said, wrinkling her nose at the old woman.

"What did you say?!" The empress dowager’s eyes snapped wide, severe and sharp.

"Stinks to high heaven," Daidai pinched her nose.

"Empress, you are insolent! Guards, seize this woman who has affronted me, shown no respect, acted recklessly, and is viciously jealous!"

"Yes, ma’am!"

The empress dowager’s people were formidable.

Ji Ye lifted his lip coldly, stepped forward to block his mother’s predatory glare, and looked her in the eye, mocking, "Mother, before punishing the empress, let me first investigate the poisoning case in Ganquan Palace and the snake riot in the serpent garden."

The Imperial Consort’s aggressive gaze faltered, and she lowered her head.

The empress dowager’s pupils contracted, her lashes flickered, and she lowered her eyes. "Each matter must be judged separately."

"I am a man who distinguishes merit and blame. I had intended to execute all suspicious maids and eunuchs in Ganquan Palace to settle it quickly. But since you’ve been disturbed, Mother, I’ll take half a day to thoroughly sort out the matter."

"Ji Ye, your wings have grown strong—you ignore your mother now? Were those ritual bows and gifts to Shouning Palace merely empty gestures? Ji Ye, I carried you for ten months and suffered to bring you into the world. Is this how you repay your birth mother, who raised you with such effort?"

"Never. My filial devotion is sincere. But Mother, some things I can overlook, some people I must protect. In all that has happened recently, you know the truth. I understand your concern for your niece, but I cannot indulge it. Mother, mercy brings peace; the choice between harmony and mutual destruction lies with you."

Daidai could not follow the cryptic exchange between mother and son; she simply disliked the old woman, who seemed like a wicked spirit from Black Mountain.

"I’m sleepy. Let’s go nap," Daidai yawned.

"Ji Ye," the empress dowager sighed, instantly donning the face of a loving mother. She wiped Ji Ye’s brow with a fragrant handkerchief, though no sweat was present. "Everything I do is for you. I know you’re dissatisfied with your empress, which is why I instructed Xiangjun..."

Ji Ye suddenly tightened his grip on Daidai’s hand and lowered his eyes.

Realizing her slip, the empress dowager shot Daidai a cold look and changed the subject. "Enough—look after your own affairs. Xiangjun, let’s go."

"Aunt, is that all?" the Imperial Consort protested.

"Silence."

The sun climbed higher, the light grew harsher. Ji Ye shielded Daidai with his sleeve, smiling as if nothing were amiss. "Let’s return to your chamber. I’ll nap with you."

Schemes and manipulations were useless with Daidai. Her mind’s warehouse had only just opened a single door.

A thousand-year-old demon, awake for one year and asleep for three hundred, muddled and distracted, she thought only of one thing—having a child for fun.

Why she was obsessed with having a child was simply on a whim.

She was used to picking up sesame seeds and dropping watermelons, then searching for winter melons after losing the watermelons. She had never fixated on anything, always guided by passing interest.

Behind the bed stood a deep blue mother-of-pearl screen, purely decorative. Daidai climbed onto the bed and pushed it aside, directing Qiuyun and Chunmo, who had come to help her undress. "This is no good—throw it out. If I smell it too long, I’ll get irritable and lose my temper."

Ji Ye, in the midst of removing his dragon crown, turned in astonishment.

Qiuyun, ashamed and distressed, knelt with a sob. "I am useless, failing to notice anything."

The palace treasures were managed by the Bureau of Rarities—meaning by the Noble Consort.

"Daidai, are you jumping at shadows?"

He had always believed his harem was cleaner than his father’s. But in barely half an hour, he’d been slapped in the face again and again, left burning with embarrassment.

The chief eunuch came in to remove the screen, and Daidai threw out the blanket she’d used the previous morning, clapping her hands before settling down. She undressed herself, smiling, "Now it’s good. I’m going to sleep."

Seeing others still in the room, Qiuyun hurried to draw the bed curtains.

Ji Ye gave Li Fuquan a few quiet instructions, took a deep breath, and got into bed. Pulling aside the curtains, he was startled by the vivid, enticing scene before him. He inhaled deeply, feeling a twinge in his lower back, tempted to flee, but said, "Daidai, no licentiousness in broad daylight." In truth, he wanted to shout, Yu Daidai, you’re out to take my life!

But since Daidai was now the victim, and he could not punish the suspects, he could only soothe her gently.

"Sleeping is sleeping, day or night. You’re so fussy—hurry up."

She leapt naked into his arms, and Ji Ye caught her, both tumbling into the soft bedding. The fragrance filled his nose. Ji Ye closed and opened his eyes, steeling himself. His martial training had left his palms callused, and he grasped Daidai’s breast, sharp and firm, swallowing hard. He thought, well, back pain be damned, better to face this than hear Daidai demand justice.

"Tickles," Daidai laughed, rolling in his arms, but refused to let him touch her. She grabbed his restless hand, licked it, her moist, soft tongue sending his mind spinning. He sighed, his resistance gone, and cupped Daidai’s chin to kiss her.

Her eyes bright, she wrapped her arms around his neck, accepting his kiss. But when Ji Ye tried to go further, Daidai pouted, "No, not until after I have the baby. Now, sleep."

She closed her eyes, snuggled into his shoulder, and promptly drifted off.

Her smooth, fragrant body in his arms, Ji Ye could only look, not touch. He wiped his face and endured quietly.

He would never admit he had misunderstood her intentions.

Drawing the scented quilt over their entwined bodies, Ji Ye sighed softly, murmuring, "Where will this child come from?"