Chapter 12: The Night of Serving the Emperor

Chapter 12: The Night of Serving the Emperor

Promotion

If the Emperor summons for the night, the Fengluan Spring Grace Carriage will first take the concubine to the hot springs, where she will bathe and burn incense. Afterward, she will change into light makeup before being sent to the Emperor's Taiji Hall.

The rules for serving the emperor had already been thoroughly understood during the training in the Yeting Palace.

But at that time, she was still young and could only half-understand. Even after pondering these rules in recent days, Su Jiaojiao still felt nervous about what was to come.

The dynamics between men and women are different from mind games; it's the ebb and flow of emotions, the entanglement when passion takes over.

Having never experienced anything like this, Su Jiaojiao felt a bit anxious.

She emerged from the misty hot spring, her long, sleek black hair falling loosely down her back. Her delicate feet stepped on the jade steps, and she gently called out, "Nanny."

Hearing her, the nanny at the door entered, a proper smile on her face. "Allow me to assist you, my lady," she said.

Su Jiaojiao smiled softly and offered her hand.

Her hands, freshly soaked in the petal-filled hot spring, were soft and supple, glowing under the bright candlelight. The nanny wrapped her in thin silk, remarking with admiration, "My lady has such beautiful hands, like jade."

Su Jiaojiao shyly smiled, biting her lower lip without speaking.

Among the duties in the palace, serving the Emperor is considered one of the most prestigious. Every concubine who goes to serve the Emperor is delighted, and the nannies, who attend to the Emperor, are always eager to please.

The nannies are highly perceptive, treating each concubine with courtesy, knowing that by the end of the night, the lady before them might have gained the Emperor's favor.

Their compliments to Su Jiaojiao were genuine, and it was also a gesture of goodwill toward this new concubine. She graciously accepted their kindness, earning the nannies' favor, and receiving a few tips from them was an added bonus.

Wrapped in thin silk, Su Jiaojiao sat in front of the bronze mirror and gazed at her reflection. Her eyes, misty from the steam, sparkled, her cheeks flushed, and she looked both pitiable and flawless.

She gently asked, "Nanny, you usually serve the Emperor so diligently. When you apply my makeup, don't worry too much—just make sure there are no mistakes."

The nanny was flattered by her respectful tone and immediately responded, "Oh, my lady, you mustn't. Even if you weren't serving the Emperor tonight, you are still a proper selected rank. How could a humble palace servant like me deserve such honor?"

The nanny gently placed a hand on Su Jiaojiao's shoulder, studying her face in the mirror. "My lady is stunning," she observed thoughtfully, "with skin as smooth as cream. Heavy makeup would only cover your natural beauty. A light touch, a slight enhancement, will be enough to make you appear both pitiable and endearing."

Su Jiaojiao shyly smiled and nodded. "I'll follow your advice."

With Su Jiaojiao's approval, the nannies discussed briefly and began applying fragrant cream and makeup.

Concubines are often arrogant, treating palace servants with a condescending attitude even when being polite. The nannies, having served in the palace for years, are accustomed to wealth and might not truly care if offered money.

After years of serving as slaves, who wouldn't want a bit of respect?

Su Jiaojiao offered that respect.

Having spent a lifetime in the palace, their skills were masterful, and the makeup they applied was even more refined than what Yu Ying could achieve.

When it came time to dress, Su Jiaojiao was about to stand up to put on the nightgown required for serving the Emperor, but a nanny standing beside her smiled, gently pressing her hand. "My lady, you won't need to wear this today," she said cryptically.

Puzzled, Su Jiaojiao watched as the nanny clapped her hands twice, and a maid entered, carrying a brocade box.

The two nannies stepped forward and unfolded the garment from the box, displaying it to Su Jiaojiao. At first, she was confused, staring at the dress for a moment before her face flushed with embarrassment.

The dress was a half green and half purple sheer silk gown, shimmering like starlight when unfolded, far bolder than the usual nightgown. The candlelight made the fabric glow, as if sprinkled with stars.

At a glance, it looked like the ethereal attire of a fairy from a book, but upon closer inspection, it was undeniably seductive.

She was so embarrassed, asking in a low voice, "What is this..."

The maidservant helped her dress, then lowered her voice and smiled kindly. This is a special honor bestowed by His Majesty, an unprecedented one among the new concubines. You ought to serve His Majesty well.

The Fengluan Spring Grace Carriage carried Su Jiaojiao from the hot spring to the Tai Chi Hall. The rear hall was quiet, with only the faint sound of the wind.

The palace door let out a "creak——" as it shut, leaving Su Jiaojiao alone in the vast hall.

According to the rules, she should have gone and lain on the dragon bed, waiting for His Majesty to finish his official duties in the front hall. But since it was her first time in the Tai Chi Hall and there was no one around, Su Jiaojiao wasn’t in a rush to lie down on the bed. Instead, she walked lightly and looked around at the decorations.

The roof of the Tai Chi Hall was much higher than those of the rear palaces. Su Jiaojiao looked up and saw layers of overlapping curtains and gauze crisscrossing, seeping into the bottomless darkness in the dim light, giving her a sudden sense of infinite smallness.

The furnishings in the hall were not excessive, but each piece was exquisitely crafted and placed with great skill. Step by step, Su Jiaojiao went deeper, passing through layers of gauze curtains, when a calm and unhurried voice came from the innermost dragon bed: "Come here."

Su Jiaojiao was startled, not realizing that His Majesty had already been waiting for her, and she felt a bit of apprehension about her own carelessness.

She immediately changed her demeanor and quickened her pace, walking through the curtains to come to stand before Shen Huai. At that moment, the shimmering gauze behind her floated up with the breeze, like a dream.

Su Jiaojiao bowed to Shen Huai, her delicate face half-lowered, revealing a length of snow-white neck, and looking further down, at the alluring scenery that Shen Huai had intentionally arranged.

Before Shen Huai, Su Jiaojiao knelt, a pear blossom fairy, a forest spirit, a beauty he could not forget. When she knelt before him, she was even more captivating than when he had seen her during the day.

This dress was tailor-made for her, and now it looked perfect.

What about the fairy? Now she had fallen into his hands.

Shen Huai stared at her for a long time before swallowing and chuckling softly, "Come to me."

With a timid gesture, Su Jiaojiao looked up, her face red as she glanced at His Majesty. Just as she was about to rise, he pulled her forcefully, and she, like a butterfly in the wind, could not help but fall into his embrace.

Unlike that time in the pear grove on the dragon carriage during the day, when nothing had happened, except sitting in His Majesty's arms.

This was the night of the imperial bedchamber, and she and the emperor were face to face, skin to skin. She felt her breath grow hot, and her heart began to pound with nervousness.

Shen Huai's long, slender fingers touched her lips, tapping twice with an ambiguous meaning. His eyes were deep, filled with an emperor's undisguised desire. Su Jiaojiao was truly blushing this time, like a soft kitten curled up in His Majesty's arms, helplessly clutching his lapel.

The curtains on the dragon bed were pulled down by Shen Huai, but unlike when Zhu Chongyi served, he did not extinguish the candles. Instead, he let the candles burn, looking down at Su Jiaojiao's delicate and shy beauty.

Late at night, the dew was heavy, and the maids at the door had changed shifts. The blushing sounds in the hall had just subsided. The maids who were to clean up for His Majesty and the concubine were about to enter the hall when the candles inside were extinguished, and Cai Shan whispered, "No need to go in."

His Majesty was in high spirits today, and extinguishing the candles meant he did not want to be disturbed. It seemed that there would be another favored new concubine in the palace...

The next day, Shen Huai woke up early for the court session.

Su Jiaojiao was still sleeping in his arms, her eyes red at the corners, with faint tear marks.

Looking at her pitiful sleeping face, Shen Huai unconsciously felt good. He lazily smiled, rubbed her soft lips, and then got up from the bed.

Last night was her first night, but he couldn't control himself and had been rough with her. It was strange, the more Su Jiaojiao whimpered and cried, the more he wanted her to cry harder, something he didn't feel with other women.

When she woke up today, she would inevitably suffer some pain.

Shen Huai was served to wash and dress, and he glanced back at Su Jiaojiao on the bed, saying indifferently, "Enfeoff Su as a beauty, she does not need to pay respects to the empress today."

Cai Shan smiled and said, "Su Jiaojiao is truly blessed. This servant thanks Your Majesty on her behalf."

The maids finished preparing Shen Huai's appearance, and just as he was about to go to court, Su Jiaojiao on the bed moved slightly and let out a soft "hiss."

Shen Huai, with his keen hearing, naturally heard it. He didn't stop or look back, just said indifferently, "I remember there are hibiscus cream and shimmering brocade from Yinzhou in the treasury. Have the Imperial Medical Bureau prepare jade skin cream and send them all to her."

Author's note:

Shen Huai: Being human and yet not being human.