Chapter 66: Qinghe Takes the Empress's Place

Morning.

Chu Yan woke up with the warm, fragrant body of a woman nestled in his arms. Her skin felt exquisite to the touch, and her dark, disheveled hair was buried against his chest.

Beside him lay another pretty palace maid, still fast asleep.

Chu Yan stroked Yuanchun's soft hair, recalling the taste of her from the previous night. Should he say she truly lived up to her reputation as one of the Golden Hairpins of Dream of the Red Chamber? It was somewhat intoxicating.

At first, Yuanchun had covered her face, shyly hiding herself away. Everything she did was strictly by the book, following the instructions of the palace wet nurses—she was under no circumstances to make a sound easily.

Moreover, she had been terrified, her body trembling slightly.

After Chu Yan teased her for a while, kissed her, and slowly guided her, Yuanchun gradually let go. Held tightly in his arms, she began to murmur softly.

It wasn't until later, when she was forced to call Baoqin to assist her, that Chu Yan was truly satisfied.

"Tap, tap."

An eunuch outside the door began to knock softly, indicating that the time had come to remind the emperor to rise.

Before Chu Yan could move, Yuanchun emitted a soft moan and slowly woke up. Seeing Chu Yan with a gaze still lingering with indolent charm, she seemed startled and hurriedly sat up, using her snow-white arms to shield her chest.

After a long moment, she finally recovered her wits.

"Your Majesty..."

Flushed bright red with embarrassment, Yuanchun sat kneeling on the bed, using both hands to cover her fair, tender body.

Chu Yan looked at her with amusement, reached out to pull her back into his arms, pressing her breasts firmly against his chest, and lowered his head to kiss her. "Was Yuanchun well last night?"

"This concubine... was well."

Too shy to recall the events of the previous night, Yuanchun kept her eyes tightly shut, her cheeks flushed like intoxicating wine. Every alluring trick she had experienced was entirely new to her.

Naturally, she had been well.

At this moment, she felt better than ever before. Although exhausted, both her body and soul were satisfied. The oppression and anxiety of the past were completely swept away, and right now, she only wanted to rest against His Majesty's chest.

The eunuch's knocking sounded from outside again. Jia Yuanchun snapped out of her reverie, opened her eyes hastily, and looked at Chu Yan. "Your Majesty, it is time to get up."

"This sovereign will rest for another quarter of an hour!"

Chu Yan called out directly toward the outside. The knocking eunuch hurriedly withdrew, which also woke Baoqin, who was sleeping to the side.

Chu Yan casually pulled her into his embrace as well.

Women who had just been favored particularly cherished these few moments of morning warmth.

"Your Majesty..."

Yuanchun's body and mind gradually relaxed. Pressing her face against Chu Yan's broad chest, she closed her eyes once more.

At this moment, it felt as though she had truly married—no longer merely entering the palace to become a consort, but gaining a husband.

The quarter of an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Chu Yan got up, and Yuanchun moved to rise and serve him as well, but Chu Yan stopped her. "There are so many palace maids waiting outside; why must you force your weak and aching body to wait on me? Rest well and prepare to leave the city with me tonight."

Yuanchun spoke softly, "This concubine thanks Your Majesty for your consideration. In my heart..." Blushing deeply, she could not finish her sentence.

Chu Yan smiled, ruffled her hair, and stepped out into the inner chamber to summon the palace maids for his bath.

The sound of splashing water filled the air as the Prince of Qian bathed.

Baoqin hugged the quilt to her chest and smiled secretly. "Did My Lady see just now? Your Majesty's face and chest are covered in your rouge marks~"

Yuanchun blushed furiously and remained silent, but suddenly remembering something, she looked down at herself.

Sure enough, she was covered in them as well.

Baoqin whispered with a smile, "Only last night did My Lady learn what it feels like to be a favored consort. His Majesty is truly a supreme dragon!"

"Do not put on such a seductive air!"

Unable to bear the teasing, Yuanchun reproached her, "You too have received His Majesty's favor now. If one day you are elevated to a consort and leave my side, remember my words: the inner palace requires more than just contending for the emperor's affection; one must also be virtuous and wise. Otherwise, who knows how the other consorts will curse you behind your back? How will you guard against their open hostility and hidden daggers?"

Only then did Baoqin slowly sober up.

Having received grace for the first time last night and learning that the two dancing girls had already received titles, she had become somewhat carried away.

"My Lady, why did I not receive a title?" Baoqin asked quietly.

Yuanchun immediately covered her mouth, warning her with a stern glare.

Baoqin obediently closed her mouth, knowing that if these words spread, she would certainly face punishment.

Whether the emperor bestowed rewards depended entirely on a single thought. For ministers or consorts to actively demand rewards was a grave crime.

After Chu Yan left, Yuanchun finally got up. Zhaorong and Lady Cai of the Changchun Palace entered the inner chamber with palace maids, and upon seeing the lingering marks of the Prince of Qian's favor on her body, they were all startled.

Seeing that Baoqin bore the same marks, they were even more astonished.

The new emperor was truly so vigorous and formidable!

***

Jia Yuanchun returned to the imperial quarters.

The news that she had accompanied Empress Zhang and the Prince of Qian for a banquet last night and stayed overnight in the Linjing Hall spread like wildfire, soon reaching the ears of Noble Consort Wu and Noble Lady Zhou.

Noble Lady Zhou was anxious beyond measure.

Noble Consort Wu, however, maintained a calm expression. "Just two days ago, you were the one saying you wanted the empress to wait on His Majesty so you could hide for a night. Why are you so impatient today? The virtuous and virtuous consort was also granted her title by His Majesty."

The two had not originally been on good terms, but after sharing the same bed for three nights and finding themselves in the same situation as former dynasty consorts, Noble Lady Zhou had come to chat and pass the time.

"Hmph~" Noble Lady Zhou said, "If it were only about attending to him in bed, I wouldn't be anxious; there will always be times when she cannot endure His Majesty's favors... But His Majesty said he is going to have her leave the city tonight to attend the banquet as well!"

She had originally thought that summoning the empress and the virtuous consort to pour wine was an humiliation, but who could have known it wasn't? They were summoned to pour wine simply because he wanted to favor them!

Noble Consort Wu thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Since His Majesty did not summon you, do not act on your own accord. While His Majesty's temperament is easygoing, he will not tolerate you making a fuss."

"How am I making a fuss? I am merely having someone relay a word to His Majesty!"

Noble Consort Wu made no reply.

Noble Lady Zhou ultimately did not dare to go. Yet, unexpectedly, an eunuch hurried over to report, "My Lady, Princess Qinghe has left the inner palace and gone to find the Prince of Qian!"

"Ah!"

"What is the princess going there for?"

Both were astonished. The eunuch hastily replied, "This slave does not yet know. I only saw the princess emerge from the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and leave through the Qianqing Gate."

"Go and find out at once!"

After a long while, the eunuch returned to report, "My Lady, there is news. The princess is going to accompany the Prince of Qian out of the city tonight along with Lady Xianide!"

Even the usually composed Noble Consort Wu could no longer sit still.

The Prince of Qian had not summoned Princess Qinghe to accompany him, but the princess had managed to go out and find him, persuading him to let her join them.

Such methods and capability in contending for favor were already no less than those of a favored consort, yet Princess Qinghe had not even served in his bed yet.

The eunuch added, "I heard it said that the princess volunteered to take Empress Zhang's place in attendance!"

Noble Lady Zhou chuckled drily. "No wonder the princess requested to accompany him. So that was what she had in mind... She is truly a naive girl who has yet to leave the boudoir."

Noble Consort Wu, however, did not smile.

Princess Qinghe was innocent, gentle, and kind-hearted, which was why the Prince of Qian was not angered. If anyone else had taken the initiative to beg to accompany him, the Prince of Qian would likely have grown annoyed.

***

In the blink of an eye, evening arrived.

Xia Shouzhong came to report, "Your Majesty, Consort Yuan and Princess Qinghe have arrived!"

"Send them in."

Without lifting his head, Chu Yan remained busy. Having worked all day, he finally had time to read the letters sent by the Jia family that morning.

There were two letters. The first was written by Xue Baochai, detailing down to the minutest detail the measures she, Baoqin, and Daiyu had taken after managing the household, along with the reactions of the Jia family members.

It also included the thoughts of the young ladies from the Shi and Wang families regarding whether to stay or leave. According to Baochai's guess, the majority of the young ladies were willing to remain.

The second letter was much shorter, written by Baoqin. First, she mentioned that she had become a manager and asked for Chu Yan's opinion on whether she was permitted to do so. Second, she took it upon herself to grant Li Wan's son, Jia Lan, his request for paper.

"Xue Baochai, Xue Baoqin..."

Only then did Chu Yan remember there were two Xue sisters!

No matter; having one more person manage things did no harm. It was said that Baoqin was even more beautiful than Baochai and Daiyu, though he did not know if it was true.

Xue Baoqin was not among the Twelve Beauties of Jinling; in other words, she was not destined for a tragic fate.

Yet since Chu Yan had marched into the capital, the destinies of everyone in the Dream of the Red Chamber had been rewritten by his hands!