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Chapter 8
Lotus lamps glowed at the four corners of Changchun Pavilion's walls. Gu Han was led by Lu Yu into the bedchamber, their bodies so close she could almost feel the warmth radiating from his palm. Her heart raced uncontrollably, heat rising to her cheeks.
The Imperial Kitchen was always perceptive, knowing Changchun Pavilion would attend to the Emperor tonight, they had prepared and delivered the evening meal early. Compared to yesterday, tonight's spread was exceptionally lavish and abundant, exceeding what a Talented Lady's rank warranted. They must have accounted for His Majesty's presence as well.
Gu Han discreetly lowered her eyes to glance around. His Majesty had been holding her hand without letting go, and he hadn't reproached her for arriving late to receive him. Yet his expression remained particularly inscrutable, making it impossible for Gu Han to discern what he was thinking.
Unable to figure it out, she simply stopped trying.
After receiving word from the Bureau of Palace Attendance, Gu Han had been occupied with preparations and hadn't yet eaten her evening meal. But seeing His Majesty lead her straight into the inner chamber, she cast an imperceptible glance at the dinner laid out in the outer hall.
She had no choice but to abandon any thought of eating.
While Gu Han was lamenting the waste of the evening meal, in a palace some distance from Changchun Pavilion, at Rongcui Hall—
Lady Miao sat before a rosewood round table carved with longevity plum blossoms. The dishes before her had long ceased steaming, yet she still hadn't picked up her chopsticks. After a long while, a palace maid entered with light, careful steps and spoke slowly:
"My lady, His Majesty, has already entered Changchun Pavilion."
Lady Miao's cool expression finally stirred. She lowered her eyes, said nothing, then picked up her wooden chopsticks and mechanically took two bites, regardless of whether the food had gone cold.
Xia Qiao quickly stopped her, her voice full of concern: "The food has gone cold, my lady. Even if you're upset, you need not torture yourself like this!"
The other servants had long since withdrawn. Lady Miao bit her lip almost imperceptibly. Xia Qiao had served her since childhood and naturally knew her mistress felt wronged, but her lady had a stubborn temperament, she rarely displayed such vulnerable emotions.
Xia Qiao couldn't help saying: "Everyone says His Majesty encountered Talented Lady Gu in the Imperial Garden today. Who knows what methods she used to make His Majesty visit her tonight? How could she possibly compare to the bond between you and His Majesty, my lady?"
Lady Miao pressed her lips together tightly. After a long moment, she said coolly:
"If Talented Lady Gu has earned bedchamber service, that's her own capability. It has nothing to do with me."
But what truly wounded Lady Miao was that His Majesty had chosen today of all days to visit Talented Lady Gu, completely disregarding how others in the harem would view her tomorrow.
She had known His Majesty since childhood, and her girlish affection had long ago transformed into love. Entering the palace this time, she held the highest rank among the new consorts. She had assumed His Majesty still remembered her.
Yet in less than two days since entering the palace, Consort Miao had discovered she couldn't discern what His Majesty was thinking at all.
Her eyes held a trace of bewilderment. That young prince who used to frequently visit the Grand Tutor's residence had long since become an unfathomable emperor.
Talented Lady Gu was oblivious to others gossiping about her. She was so nervous her cheeks flushed red. The servants in the inner chamber had already withdrawn. She placed both hands on the man's waist sash, and being overly nervous, her fingers trembled several times before she managed to untie it.
The man looked down at her, allowing her flustered nervousness, yet offering no assistance whatsoever. Gu Han didn't dare raise her head. A deep blush spread from her cheeks down her neck, making her eyelids flutter.
Bold as Gu Han was, she had never been this close to a man before. She remembered what her mother had told her before entering the palace, that His Majesty was also a man, and when together privately, she shouldn't be too reserved.
So when it came time to help His Majesty remove his inner garments, Gu Han timidly raised her eyes with a somewhat imploring look, her voice soft and slightly hoarse:
"Your Majesty..."
Lu Yu lifted his eyelids to glance at her. The woman was encountering such matters for the first time and was extremely shy. Lu Yu had intended to patiently watch what she would do, but unexpectedly, the woman suddenly called out to him softly.
When their eyes met, Lu Yu's gaze darkened for an instant. He pinched her fingertips and suddenly pulled her closer.
The red candles in the chamber flickered and burned. When Gu Han fell onto the bed, she couldn't help clutching at His Majesty's open robe, her fingertips unconsciously grazing the man's neck, inadvertently adding a trace of urging, intimate meaning.
In her nervousness, Gu Han had no idea what she was doing. She vaguely sensed His Majesty seemed to pause for a moment. The next instant, he leaned over her, and Gu Han's body trembled lightly. She could only tilt her head back weakly, exposing her slender neck.
*****
Having indulged excessively the night before, Lu Yu woke rather late today.
Outside, the sky had not yet fully brightened. Lu Yu stirred slightly and immediately became aware of someone in his arms. His drowsy mind instantly cleared. Lu Yu lowered his eyes to look, the woman's eyes were tightly closed, sleeping deeply, her face seemingly still bearing tear stains.
The scenes from last night gradually returned to him. Lu Yu imperceptibly raised an eyebrow.
Last night had gotten rather intense. In the latter half of the night, the woman had forgotten all about propriety, sobbing as she pushed at him, intermittently begging him to stop.
Lu Yu lifted his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. As rationality returned and he caught sight of the woman's pitiful state, he experienced a twinge of conscience. He didn't wake her, instead shifting her out of his embrace. When Liu An entered to attend to him, he cast a pointed look in his direction.
Liu An paused, carefully hiding his surprise.
Having served His Majesty for so many years, Liu An had gained some understanding of him. He knew His Majesty's look just now meant to keep the noise down. His Majesty was not one to cherish and protect tender feelings, any affection was built up over time. This Talented Lady Gu had only just served in the bedchamber, yet she had already earned a measure of His Majesty's consideration.
Truly remarkable.
Liu An took note of Talented Lady Gu, knowing she would at least enjoy favor for some time. However, he didn't dare glance even once toward the bed curtains.
Jiu Si and Jiu Nian were naturally present as well. They exchanged glances, momentarily uncertain whether they should wake their mistress, but with His Majesty there, they didn't dare act rashly.
A quarter-hour later, Lu Yu finished dressing. He glanced at the two anxious maids and said indifferently:
"Let your mistress rest well. She need not attend morning greetings today."
Jiu Si started in surprise and quickly knelt to express gratitude.
Gu Han slept very deeply. When she was finally disturbed awake, she was still somewhat muddled and couldn't quite orient herself. Through the haze, she heard Jiu Si and Jiu Nian's conversation:
"...Perhaps we should just let our mistress continue sleeping. His Majesty already said..."
Gu Han didn't catch what Jiu Si said after that, but the words "His Majesty" jolted her awake. Gu Han opened her eyes, and the glaring warm sunlight made her raise her hand to shield them. With this movement, Gu Han's expression changed slightly.
Her entire body felt as though it had been run over by a cart, the pain was considerable.
Especially her lower body, both sore and aching, making Gu Han draw in a sharp breath.
Last night's experience made Gu Han thoroughly understand that their emperor was not at all a considerate person. Suddenly, Gu Han thought of Consort Miao from yesterday. Apart from looking slightly fatigued, she had shown no other signs.
Gu Han hadn't thought much of it yesterday, but now she couldn't help feeling a measure of admiration.
Her stirring immediately drew attention. Jiu Si lifted the bed curtain and said with relief: "My lady has finally awakened."
Gu Han glanced at the water clock in the chamber and breathed a sigh of relief, it wasn't yet time for morning greetings. She scanned the chamber; His Majesty had long since departed. She had been mentally prepared for this and didn't think anything of it. She weakly raised her eyes to look at Jiu Si:
"What were you two fussing about?"
Jiu Si and Jiu Nian exchanged glances, then told her clearly and completely everything that had happened while she was still asleep.
Jiu Si immediately noticed the marks on her mistress's body. Before she could feel embarrassed, she was alarmed by the exhaustion on her mistress's face and said with distressed sympathy: "My lady, why not sleep a bit more? His Majesty said you need not attend morning greetings today."
Jiu Nian interrupted her: "Don't give foolish advice."
Jiu Si huffed and turned her head away without speaking.
Gu Han was supported into a sitting position by Jiu Nian. She glanced at Jiu Si and said softly, lowering her eyes:
"At yesterday's morning greetings, the Empress mentioned that His Majesty had also excused Consort Miao from attendance."
So His Majesty had said such things to who knows how many people, but there were very few who dared take him at his word.
Jiu Si froze, not having expected this twist. She felt sorry for her mistress, but she wasn't stupid. She immediately fell silent and stopped suggesting her mistress continue resting.
When Gu Han rose, she finally saw the red and purple marks on her body. Noting her red-faced, head-lowered servants, Gu Han's earlobes flushed crimson. She could only pretend not to notice.
She had Jiu Nian find a high-collared palace gown to change into, then applied some powder, finally concealing the marks.
Gu Han glanced at the time. Not daring to delay any longer, she hurried toward Kunning Palace for morning greetings.
Author's Note:
Gu Han: Not following the script!
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Here are the ranks of imperial consorts:
- Empress (皇后 Huánghoù) — Head of the Imperial Harem
- Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵妃 Huáng Guìfēi) — Rank 1
- Noble Consort, Pure Consort, Virtuous Consort, Worthy Consort (贵妃、淑妃、德妃、贤妃 Guìfēi, Shūfēi, Défēi, Xiánfēi)** — Senior Rank 1 (The Four Consorts, with Noble Consort as the highest)
- Consort (妃 Fēi) — Junior Rank 2
- Bright Deportment, Bright Countenance (昭仪、昭容 Zhāoyí, Zhāoróng) — Senior Rank 3
- Cultivated Deportment, Cultivated Countenance (修仪、修容 Xiūyí, Xiūróng) — Junior Rank 3
- Noble Lady (贵嫔 Guìpín) — Senior Rank 4
- Imperial Concubine (嫔 Pín) — Junior Rank 4
- Beauty (美人 Měirén) — Senior Rank 5
- Talented Lady (才人 Cáirén) — Junior Rank 5
- Precious Grove (宝林 Bǎolín) — Senior Rank 6
- Imperial Woman (御女 Yùnǚ) — Junior Rank 6
- Palace Maid (宫女子 Gōngnǚzǐ) — Senior Rank 7
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