Chapter 3

Jiang Xinyue was utterly exhausted. She had stayed up all night copying palace rules and now felt too tired to even move a finger after all her exertions.0

The Emperor called for another tub of water and bathed the limp Jiang Xinyue, washing her body.0

The woman's skin was as fair as snow, smooth and delicate. As he washed her, the Emperor could not resist his desires.0

The Emperor's hands rested on Jiang Xinyue's sides as he moved closer, but she pushed against his chest, softly protesting: "Your Majesty, no more, this concubine cannot bear it..."0

What could be more arousing for a man than those words?0

Jiang Xinyue, the noble concubine, still did not understand men very well.0

But it was precisely her innocence and naivety that made her so alluring, provoking the Emperor into further intimate activities with her.0

Only when Jiang Xinyue was nearly fainting did the Emperor dry her body, dress her, and carry her back to the bed to rest.0

The woman's steady breathing showed she was soundly asleep. Wang Dequan did not dare look around carelessly when summoned by the Emperor.0

"Do not record today's events in the books. I will overturn Jiang Xinyue's token tonight before making any record."0

Wang Dequan glanced up, unable to avoid admiring Jiang Xinyue.0

"Yes, is Your Majesty leaving now?"0

"Yes, to dine at Concubine Li's Palace."0

Glancing at the sleeping Jiang Xinyue, the Emperor's gaze fell on the palace rules laid out on the small table beside the bed.0

He paused in his step. "This handwriting of Jiang Xinyue's..."0

Wang Dequan looked and nearly wished to gouge out his own eyes.0

He wished for eyes that had never seen Jiang Xinyue's writing.0

The Emperor laughed. To the kneeling Xi Que, he said: "Half of these palace rules have already been copied. I will take them to appease Concubine Li, so your mistress need not copy any more."0

No need to waste such fine paper and ink.0

Even a dog writes better calligraphy than her.0

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration. This servant conveys the mistress's gratitude."0

"Wang Dequan, go to my storage and fetch two jars of premium healing ointment. Jiang Xinyue's knees are quite injured."0

"Yes, your humble servant obeys."0

Their Emperor was a willful master who loved and hated clearly. Those he loved, he let live. Those he hated, he wished dead.0

Just yesterday, he felt Jiang Xinyue was uncultured and had offended Concubine Li, planning to send her to the Cold Palace. Yet today, his attitude was completely different.0

No other concubine had regained favor as swiftly as Jiang Xinyue after the Emperor's disfavor.0

Jiang Xinyue could be considered the first to be restored to grace in this harem.0

After the Emperor left, Jiang Xinyue immediately opened her eyes and sat up in bed.0

All at the Xihuo Palace were delighted - when the mistress gained favor, her servants benefited.0

In the palace, servants were loyal to one mistress only. Other palace mistresses did not want used goods, so yesterday they had worried that if their young mistress lost imperial favor, they might be sent to toil at the Laundry Bureau.0

Who could have foreseen this reversal of fortunes?0

One could never be sure of rise and fall, glory or disgrace in the palace until the very last moment.0

"Young Mistress..."0

After closing the door, Xi Que could not help but ask: "How did you know the Emperor would pass by the Lotus Pond today?"0

Stretching languidly as she rose from bed, Jiang Xinyue yawned with a confused look. "I did not know the Emperor would come. I only wished to pick a few lotus flowers to put in a vase."0

As soon as the words left her mouth, a eunuch's voice came from outside: "Noble Concubine Jiang, this servant delivers fresh lotus flowers as instructed by His Majesty."0

Shuang Jiang welcomed him in, found an empty vase for the lotus flowers, and rewarded the eunuch with a purse of silver pieces before sending him away. She then carried the vase over. "Mistress, look at these beautiful flowers."0

Jiang Xinyue had gone to great lengths to obtain them - how could they not be beautiful?0

She truly did not know if the Emperor would come to the Lotus Pond. But that morning, a palace maid from the Changchun Palace passed by the Xihuo Palace and said that Concubine Chu was ill and wished to see the Emperor. She went to request the Emperor to visit on her mistress's behalf.0

Concubine Chu was a beauty prone to illness. She would summon the Emperor seven or eight times a month, and in eight summons, the Emperor would answer one.0

From the Changchun Palace to the Heart-Nurturing Hall, or from the Heart-Nurturing Hall to the Changchun Palace, one had to pass the Lotus Pond in front of the Xihuo Palace.0

Jiang Xinyue gambled on that one-in-eight chance, and luckily her wager paid off.0

Could she be said to have made her mark in history for seducing a chaste Emperor in broad daylight?0

Probably not.0

The Emperor did not even allow the Palace Eunuch Office to record the incident.0

It was fortunate they did not record it, or the entire harem, even the dogmatic ministers of the previous dynasty, would have condemned her as a calamitous consort ruining the nation.0

They say serving beside an Emperor is like keeping a tiger, but Jiang Xinyue found the Emperor easier to please than the VVIPs she had known in modern times.0

As long as she indulged his whims and satisfied him in bed, was he not quite considerate?0

Outside, the rain pattered on the banana leaves. She could only pray that Concubine Chu did not truly fall severely ill and come to make trouble for her.0

"Young Mistress, Concubine Chu from the Changchun Palace has arrived, saying she took shelter here from the rain while out viewing the lotus flowers."0

Well, there it was - speak of the devil!0

"Welcome Concubine Chu and I will join you once I am dressed."0

In the main hall of the Xihuo Palace —0

Concubine Chu's maid Hong Xi pouted: "Your Ladyship, this Concubine Jiang is too much. She knew the Emperor was coming to see you at the Changchun Palace but still dared to intercept him halfway. We must give her a taste of her own medicine, or else..."0

The beauty in crimson palace robes raised her hand to silence her. "Thunder and rain are both Heaven's gifts. Who the Emperor wishes to see or favor is the Emperor's business, not for a lowly maid like you to comment on."0

Hong Xi's face turned deathly pale as she knelt. "This servant knows her error."0

This was the scene that greeted Jiang Xinyue as she entered - she could not tell if Concubine Chu was disciplining her maid or issuing a warning to her.0

But Jiang Xinyue still paid her respects properly. However, as Concubine Chu was occupied with her maid, she did not acknowledge her at first.0

Jiang Xinyue's already injured knees suffered further strain from the prolonged kneeling. She could feel her legs trembling and feared she might collapse if Concubine Chu did not allow her to rise soon.0

"Since you know your mistake, rise then!"0

Concubine Chu gave Hong Xi an indifferent glance, then seemed to remember Jiang Xinyue. "Noble Concubine Jiang, why are you still kneeling? I was disciplining my maid, not you. How pitiful, quickly take a seat."0

Jiang Xinyue rolled her eyes inwardly but replied with humility: "It is my fortune to receive guidance from Her Ladyship Concubine Chu."0

"Ah yes, she was well-trained by the Imperial Noble Consort."0

Concubine Chu smiled and said to her, "I see that you've become much more composed these days. That's good, but you must maintain this composure. Don't let down Concubine Li, who has guided you."0