Author's Note: Hello, my dear reader! Sorry for the one-week break in posting - will resume updating as per normal soon, so if all goes well you can look forward to at least 3 chapters a week! Thank you for the support, and please add this novel to your collection if you want to follow Lanqi's journey in the Forbidden City!
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Her cries were not heard in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. After spending the entire afternoon there, Lanqi naturally went on to spend the night with the Emperor, too.
However, despite sharing Xuanye's bed for the night, the two of them merely talked through the night. Xuanye told her about his life in the imperial court, while Lanqi waxed lyrical to him about the lovely sights she had seen beyond these palace walls during her childhood. Both of them felt pleasantly surprised by what the other told them.
After they got tired of chatting, the two of them fell asleep. Xuanye seemed to have no thoughts of consummating his relationship with Lanqi, while Lanqi herself didn't care much for it either.
Hence, in the records kept by the Imperial Household Department, there was no mention of the fact that despite sharing the Emperor's bed for two nights in a row, Lanqi was still a virgin.
This would usually have made Lanqi the laughing stock of the entire palace, because it meant that a concubine had completely fallen out of favor with the Emperor. Lanqi would have led a very hard life in the palace in the future. However, even after the two nights, Xuanye continued demanding her presence by his side. The two of them resembled a pair of husband and wife as they made their way around the palace.
Besides, Xuanye seemed very fond of lavishing expensive gifts on her. Even the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager began to follow in his footsteps—the Grand Empress Dowager frequently gifted delicacies to the Palace of Accumulated Purity, while the Empress Dowager sent over scrolls upon scrolls of Buddhist scriptures she had copied out herself.
Although Lanqi was merely a First-Class Female Attendant, everyone could tell that she was the most favored concubine in the Forbidden City.
Despite the troubling storm that was starting to swirl up around Lanqi without her knowledge, she kept her head and remained calm. She only had one goal in mind, which was to serve the Emperor as well as she possibly could. Other things, such as the influence she was starting to wield over the Six Palaces, were of no importance to her.
One day, after staying up late reading a book, Xuanye had to attend the imperial court meeting with only four hours of sleep. After working the entire morning and afternoon, he was so tired that he had no appetite for lunch. After taking a few sips of the congee Lanqi made, he went back to his seat under the window and started reading a few memorials miserably. As the afternoon sun beat down on him, Xuanye felt his eyelids drooping and fell asleep almost immediately.
At that moment, Lanqi stepped into the room with a cup of tea for him. Seeing how tired Xuanye was, she felt sorry to wake him up. Instead, she pulled a blanket snugly around him and sat down next to him. As she gazed at his peaceful expression as he slept, she felt her heart leap with joy.
For the last few days, they had been getting along splendidly with each other. Xuanye was very busy, but he always found the time to teach Lanqi how to write.
He scolded her fiercely when she messed up, but planted an ecstatic kiss on her forehead whenever she did well.
However, the Emperor still hadn't touched her yet. First-Class Female Attendant Bu felt very worried when she heard about this from Lanqi, but Lanqi couldn't care less herself.
Xuanye's eyelashes were long and thick. Lanqi felt rather sorry that hers weren't as nice as his. Noble Lady Hui's eyelashes were luscious, and coupled with her bright round eyes, they made her stand out immediately in a crowd.
Lanqi couldn't help but feel a little miserable at her own plainness. As outrageous as it sounded, a woman's worth was inextricably tied to her looks. Thus, Lanqi had been paying more attention to her looks of late.
She leaned closer to Xuanye. Feeling a little mischievous suddenly, she reached out to touch his eyelashes. Just as her fingers were going to brush his eyelashes, Xuanye's eyes flew open. Before Lanqi could retract her hand in shock, he had grabbed hold of her hand tightly.
Lanqi's face was white as sheet. The Emperor was known for many things, including his quick temper.
Before she could open her mouth and beg for forgiveness, however, Xuanye pulled her into his arms. His face was only inches from hers now. In a low, salacious voice, he whispered, "First-Class Female Attendant Wu, what do you think you're doing in broad daylight?"
"Your Majesty, it's my fault!" Lanqi still hadn't detected the look of lust in Xuanye's eyes. When she did, it was too late—Xuanye suddenly lunged forward and pressed a kiss to her lips. As their tongues clashed against each other's and Xuanye's hand snaked around her thighs, Lanqi finally realized what was going on. She let out a low moan that only agitated Xuanye further. He flipped her around and pressed her down on the bed, undoing her buttons as he did so. In a gentle voice, he crooned, "I'll treat you well, I promise..."