Chapter 29: Regaining Favor, A Different Sentiment

Xuan Ming Palace.

A refined man stood by the window, his expression shadowy and unreadable. Kneeling beneath the hall was a woman dressed as a palace maid.

“Has Consort Shen shown any signs of impropriety?”

The woman’s voice was soft and expressionless: “Report to Your Majesty, there is nothing unusual.”

Lai Xi, standing aside, saw the Emperor wave his hand and gave a signal. The palace maid quickly left.

The Emperor remained still, maintaining his inscrutable demeanor. After a while, he smirked: “Consort Shen really does have remarkable luck.”

Lai Xi stood respectfully nearby, eyes lowered, saying nothing. The Emperor had suspicions about Consort Shen, but no evidence had been found from either the Empress Dowager’s side or the Inner Guards, proving her innocence.

Sometimes, when luck comes, it cannot be stopped, and Consort Shen was a case in point.

“Perhaps I am indeed too suspicious. Lai Xi, how is Consort Shen’s health?”

Lai Xi understood immediately that the Emperor was considering summoning Consort Shen for the night.

“Your Majesty, Consort Shen has recovered well. She stopped taking medicine two days ago, and reportedly the red rashes have completely faded.”

The Emperor nodded. Whether Consort Shen was innocent or not, her actions had coincidentally aligned with his intentions.

Thinking of General Song, the Emperor sneered coldly.

Yan Lie would return soon, and the Song family would probably no longer enjoy peace and stability. Those who wavered in their stance should be removed from the political stage early.

A flash of coldness passed through his eyes, soon replaced by calmness.

“Proceed to Ting Yu Pavilion.”

This time, the Emperor came to Ting Yu Pavilion without prior notice, seemingly wanting to see her more authentic side. The pavilion was brightly lit. Originally, those within Ting Yu Pavilion knew this well, and now that Consort Shen was favored, others also knew she preferred brightness and vivid colors, so the pavilion was always illuminated even at night.

The young eunuch at the door stumbled in surprise upon seeing the Emperor’s arrival, quickly knelt down to kowtow, and then hurried to go inside to report. However, with a glance from the Emperor, Lai Xi immediately stopped him.

Watching the Emperor stride into the inner chambers with his attendants, the young eunuch at the door silently prayed that the mistress wouldn’t say anything disrespectful.

Inside the outer chamber, Tao Er was tidying up when she saw the Emperor arrive with Lai Xi. Before she could kowtow, she was stopped.

The sound of running water came from the inner room, indicating that Consort Shen was bathing.

She seemed to be in a good mood, humming a little tune, the melody accompanied by the water sounds, oddly enchanting. The Emperor was about to enter the inner chamber.

Inside came Jin Xin’s voice: “My Lady, please don’t do it yourself. Let me and Apricot do it.”

He paused.

Then came Consort Shen’s sweet and coquettish voice. He hadn’t noticed it before, but today he realized how charmingly seductive her voice actually was.

“These physicians are so unreliable. Why did they say I couldn’t bathe during the treatment? Look, I haven’t bathed for nine days. Fortunately, the Emperor hasn’t come, otherwise touching me would have left little gray flakes. How embarrassing that would be.”

A giggle was heard from inside.

Tao Er at the door twitched her lips, silently praying that her mistress wouldn’t say anything inappropriate. But the more she worried, the more carelessly her mistress spoke inside.

“Please, My Lady, stop joking. Isn’t this for your quicker recovery?”

Consort Shen’s voice was soft but defiant: “I’ve been reading medical books all day. Don’t think you can fool me by saying I know nothing. The books didn’t say anything about not bathing during treatment.”

Upon hearing this, the Emperor raised his eyebrows slightly.

Inside, Jin Xin’s voice sounded helpless: “My Lady has been reading medical books for over half a year and still can’t distinguish herbs.” There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

Apricot added: “My Lady only uses them to fall asleep, so there’s no need to distinguish them.” There was a faint smile in her words.

Truthfully, the two palace maids’ words were somewhat overstepping. However, senior palace maids close to their mistresses were usually more familiar, so it wasn’t considered a serious offense.

Consort Shen didn’t take it seriously either. She acted like a young girl with a touch of coquettish indignation: “You two wicked girls are making fun of me again. If you keep teasing me, I’ll punish you by making you bathe with muddy water.”

A giggle escaped the Emperor’s lips. Indeed, she was quite childish.

Hearing noises outside, the people inside the inner chamber changed expressions.

Jin Xin and Apricot hurried out to kowtow.

The Emperor waved his hand, ignoring them, and headed straight for the inner chamber.

Jin Xin couldn’t help but speak up: “Your Majesty, My Lady, My Lady…” She was unsure how long the Emperor had been listening and worried about the dirty bathwater.

The Emperor understood her meaning but didn’t take it seriously.

When he entered, Consort Shen had already put on a thin robe, her hair wet, and water droplets covering her neck, clearly showing her haste.

Seeing her still half-dressed, the Emperor lifted a strand of her hair.

Consort Shen was about to kneel to kowtow but was stopped by the Emperor.

“There’s just the two of us. Forget the formalities. Come here, let me see how much mud you’ve washed off…” He pretended to go check.

Consort Shen’s face turned red like a sunset. She tightly hugged his waist, refusing to let him take another step, murmuring: “Your Majesty, you’re teasing me.”

Suddenly, she was lifted forcefully, spinning around, and both of them had already fallen onto the bed.

Her wet hair splashed onto the Emperor, and she spoke with embarrassment: “Don’t, Your Majesty. My hair is still wet. Let me dry it first before serving you…”

Even as she spoke, she noticed the Emperor’s expression was different. Following his gaze, she gasped. She was wearing only a thin robe, and when he threw her onto the bed, her two small breasts were exposed, their pink tips even redder than her cheeks.

She hurriedly tried to pull her clothes up but was stopped by his grip. He held both her wrists with one hand above her head and used the other to untie her robe. Instantly, she was completely exposed.

“Have you missed this after so many days without intimacy?” At this moment, like any ordinary man, he enjoyed teasing women.

Consort Shen widened her eyes, wondering what nonsense he was saying.

His large hand reached down, slightly forcing her legs apart, staring intently at her private area.

This behavior truly displeased Consort Shen. Her small, fair feet kicked restlessly, trying to escape his control. Seeing that she still resisted despite not having been intimate for several days, whether it was for playfulness or not, the Emperor felt an inexplicable sense of oddity in his heart.

Perhaps every man secretly harbors a desire to occasionally take a woman forcefully.

He hastily pulled down his undergarments and thrust into her.

Then came a storm of passion.

Consort Shen didn’t know why he was like this again. She merely bit her lip, enduring his stormy advances.

At merely thirteen, and having just begun to receive the Emperor’s favor, her body was naturally tight. The Emperor thrust in and out without mercy, and soon she began to shed tears. Their intimate encounter only increased his pleasure.

It was a feeling of conquest.

He didn’t know how long he had been at it, but it must have been over an hour when he finally reached deep inside her, holding her nipple in his mouth and thrusting deeply.

At this point, Consort Shen had been bruised and marked all over. She couldn’t understand why the Emperor suddenly became so rough. Though she felt anger, she could only endure.

Naturally, the Emperor didn’t stay. Seeing that she made no move to rise, lying on the bed with large tears still on her face, he felt a perverted satisfaction. He pulled a thin blanket over her body, called Lai Xi to tidy up briefly, and was about to leave.

Suddenly, he approached the bed again: “Little girl, don’t pretend to sleep. I can see your eyelashes trembling.”

Consort Shen inwardly scoffed but reluctantly opened her eyes.

She pouted and complained: “Why does Your Majesty like to tease this humble concubine more and more? I have no strength left, and I was afraid of angering you, so I pretended to sleep.” She spoke with such audacity that the Emperor couldn’t help but pinch her little face.

The Southern Qin valued slimness, but this little girl had a plump face. Thinking of something, his hand moved to her full curves.

This part was also plump. She truly had a seductive body.

Although the nation valued slimness, he didn’t favor extremely thin women, which was why Consort Li wasn’t as favored as people thought. The Emperor preferred women with curves, as it made the bedchamber pleasures more satisfying.

“You become bolder as I show you more affection. Not only do you not rise to serve me, but you also lie to me.” His hand continued to caress her.

His movements were far from gentle. Consort Shen noticed the finger marks left on her body and protested with a pout, “I’m not lying. I’m truly exhausted. Your Majesty doesn’t realize your own strength…” She shot the Emperor a coquettish yet reproachful glance.

Though her words were disrespectful, the Emperor was in an excellent mood. After all, every man enjoys being the best in such matters. Seeing the little girl reduced to this state pleased him even more.

Lai Xi, summoned to assist, stood by the door, head lowered, trying to make himself invisible. He secretly thought: No wonder Consort Shen has been promoted step by step—it’s precisely because of this kind of boldness.

Such an approach was likely novel to the Emperor, making it all the more exciting.

Everyone believed the Emperor cherished the late Empress and preferred gentle and delicate women, but they didn’t realize that imitating a tiger might result in resembling a dog. Being gentle and delicate wasn’t something everyone could pull off.

Whether intentionally or naturally, Consort Shen had indeed taken a unique path.