Chapter 25: Charm

Chapter 25: Charm

As soon as the eunuch announced his arrival, the Emperor lifted the curtain and strode in.

Surprised, Jiang Hui, after greeting him, led the slightly displeased Emperor to sit by the rosewood table and personally rolled up her sleeves to brew tea for him.

She scalded the celadon belly cup, brewed it with Mengding's misty tea leaves soaked in morning dew, gently skimmed off the tea foam with the lid, sealed the pot, divided the tea between cups, and finally, holding the teacup with both hands, presented it to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, what brings you to Yao Hua Palace tonight?" Jiang Hui's voice was gentle.

Xiao Sheng picked up his misty tea, took a light sniff, his eyebrows relaxing before he said, "I came to see how Hui'er and her child are doing."

Hearing this, Jiang Hui laughed softly, playfully saying, "I thought, with so many beauties welcomed into the palace, it would take some time for Your Majesty to remember an old acquaintance."

Though her words hinted at jealousy, they were spoken in a teasing tone, making it hard to discern her true feelings.

Xiao Sheng put down his tea cup, took Jiang Hui's hand, and sighed deeply, "Does Hui'er know what I encountered today?"

Curious, Jiang Hui asked, "What did Your Majesty encounter?"

"On my way back from paying respects at Ci Ning Palace, just on the path to Chang Chun Palace, I encountered two lost maids, one swinging so high at Tai Ye Pool that she swung right in front of me at Bao Lin, and two punished talents kneeling..."

Before he could finish, Jiang Hui couldn't help but laugh, her usually somber expression completely softening. It took a while for her to stop laughing under the emperor's gaze.

She reverted to her old way of addressing him, "Third Brother's charm is as compelling as ever, undiminished from the past."

"Hui'er," Xiao Sheng played with Jiang Hui's slender fingertips, said helplessly.

"Then why didn't Your Majesty proceed to Chang Chun Palace?" Jiang Hui asked again.

"There was a minor detour on the way, but it shouldn't have been enough to disrespect the Empress Dowager, especially since Zhao Ru Yun resides in the Hanzhang Hall of Chang Chun Palace."

Xiao Sheng didn't elaborate further. After listening to a piece of music, he held Jiang Hui close, and what followed was a passionate encounter, too intimate to detail.

The next day, coinciding with a court assembly, Jiang Hui got up early to attend to the emperor before heading to Feng Yi Palace in a shoulder carriage.

Having ascended to the throne just half a year ago, the newcomers in the palace were well aware of the Empress’s favoritism. However, firstly, there weren't many consorts in the palace to begin with, and secondly, during her time in Chu Xiu Palace, the Empress neither punished the palace maids as harshly as Xu Xiu Yuan, nor did she personally manage affairs like the Empress Dowager, proving that seeing is believing.

Until yesterday, many of them had vied for the emperor's favor with their beauty and charm. Yet, the emperor, leaving behind such dazzling beauties, still went to Yao Hua Palace, making the newcomers truly realize the weight of the Empress's favor.

This was the first time for the newcomers to pay respects at Feng Yi Palace since entering the palace. From today onwards, only those of a rank above the sixth grade or favored by the emperor would have the privilege to pay daily respects to the Empress.

Consequently, as the eunuch announced their arrival, numerous gazes turned towards the entrance of the hall.

It was still early in the day; as the palace maids drew the curtains, the Empress, bathed in the morning light, approached gracefully, her every detail subtly scrutinized from head to toe.

Jiang Hui was accustomed to this, having been the subject of such envy and jealousy since her days as the unwed Princess Anning.

Today, she dressed simply, yet her attire was made of recently gifted fine sharkskin silk, a fabric exclusive to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and herself. Her skirt, flowing like rippling water, seemed to shimmer with every step; her jade-colored shawl trailed behind her, fluttering with her movements. A jade-embellished hairpin, shaped like a butterfly amidst flowers, adorned her simple cloud bun, accentuating her ethereally beautiful face, a sight that surely pricked the eyes of many.

"Your Highness, this concubine pays her respects to the Empress."

The high throne was still empty, and the consorts and concubines, according to their ranks, paid their respects to Jiang Hui, their overlapping voices creating a lively scene.

"Rise," Jiang Hui briefly scanned the crowd and walked towards the first seat on her left.

A young palace maid served tea in Feng Yi Palace. Jiang Hui took a sip and then heard Xu Xiu Yuan opposite her strike up a conversation.

"Yesterday, Haitang entertained me with a joke. I found it so amusing. I wonder if Your Highness has heard it?"

The whispering of the consorts and concubines gradually ceased, and Luo Meiren, sitting in a lower position, couldn't resist glancing up at the renowned Empress, captivated again by her elegance. She thought to herself, 'No wonder... The once Princess Anning, now Empress Jiang, so favored, yet so modest. Perhaps the emperor prefers such a woman?'

Her thoughts racing, she then heard the Empress speak softly, her voice clear as a ringing jade, "What joke?"

Xu Xiu Yuan, holding a silk handkerchief, smiled and slowly glanced over the newcomers seated below, before saying, "It's about a wealthy household that recently took in several concubines. Before they could even settle in, they eagerly sought out their master, only to be punished and made to kneel before the servants by the lady of the house..."

She hadn't finished speaking when she burst into laughter again.

Jiang Hui was surprised; today, Xu Xiu Yuan had also learned to insult indirectly. It seems the two talents punished yesterday had crossed her path. However, this analogy of the lady of the house...

Among the newcomers, apart from Min Jieyu, who had a cushioned seat, the rest had to make do with embroidered stools. Hearing Xu Xiu Yuan's words, a woman in a Xiang-colored, pomegranate-patterned skirt stood up. It was Sun Manyun, who boldly challenged, "Lady Xu Xiu Yuan, yesterday Wan Cairen and I were merely enjoying the flowers at Tai Ye Pool as we reside in the same palace. You punished us without reason, and now you fabricate such stories. Even if what you say is true and we are mere newcomers, does that make you the lady of the house?"

Her audacity brought a sudden silence to the hall. Even the dim-witted Wan Cairen, Feng Pingping, was panicked enough to tug at Sun Manyun's skirt.

"You, you!" Xu Xiu Yuan was caught off guard by the retort. Seeing Sun Cairen's defiant gaze and Wan Cairen's tearful, beautiful face, she was reminded of yesterday's incident at Tai Ye Pool where the emperor favored Wan Cairen over her. Fuming with anger and mumbling "Wan Cairen" under her breath, she sat down resentfully, not daring to claim the title of the house's mistress.

Jiang Hui chose to ignore this drama, maintaining an indifferent face as she leisurely sipped her tea.

With the Empress absent and the favored consort Jiang Hui acting cold and indifferent, no one dared to speak further, let alone console Xu Xiu Yuan. After a while, a pleasant voice broke the silence—