"What?" Startled by the sudden exclamation, two individuals quickly descended from their positions. Empress Mei quickly dressed herself, with Liu Hairui following closely behind, and they emerged one after the other.
"Ah, Empress Mei, you truly enjoy a good fortune, bathing in broad daylight?" Consort Li entered with a sashay, her face filled with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, and a palpable tension was evident in her voice: "How is it? Is it because His Majesty has been favoring me lately that you seek the service of a eunuch to attend to your bath?"
"Consort Li, what a delightful spirit you have, visiting me like this!" Empress Mei greeted her with a forced smile, as they exchanged pleasantries with a handshake that masked the undercurrents of rivalry. Liu Hairui couldn't help but notice the beauty of Consort Li; her face was breathtakingly beautiful, and her figure was equally captivating. Even the blind could sense the sweet fragrance she exuded and hear the enchanting softness of her voice. Her eyes, her smile, her gestures, every part of her seemed to speak volumes. Her figure was full yet her waist was slender, and the way she moved was uniquely graceful, stirring the hearts of most who beheld her. Her ankles were delicate, and her feet were mesmerizing, such that one could believe many would gladly be trampled by them. But her most captivating feature was not her face or figure, but the mature charm she exuded. It was no wonder that the emperor, despite having a harem of beauties, favored Consort Li alone.
At this moment, however, Liu Hairui could not afford to be too absorbed in observing the beautiful Consort Li. He knew she would eventually be his, but for now, he needed to understand her intentions. Seeing the servant he had struck earlier standing behind her with a dramatic expression of pain, Liu Hairui guessed that she had come to seek retribution and to intimidate Empress Mei. If Empress Mei defended him, Consort Li might accuse her of favoritism and possibly report to the emperor, but if she did not, his life could be at stake. With these thoughts in mind, Liu Hairui stepped forward from behind Empress Mei, approached the servant he had struck, and slapped him again, exclaiming angrily, "You dare to come here?"
"Master, master, you must protect your servant! He hit me again," cried the servant, dramatically falling to his knees. "Master, he wants to take my life!"
"How dare you, Hairui, strike my servant right in front of me? What is your punishment?" Consort Li's face turned ashen with anger.
"In response to Consort Li, I was merely disciplining your servant on your behalf. This unworthy creature deserved the punishment," Liu Hairui bowed and said, "I was merely doing a good deed."
"Explain yourself, when did my servant become yours to discipline? Seize him and execute him at once," Consort Li's face was filled with rage.
"Wait, is Consort Li truly the kind who abuses the emperor's favor to act recklessly? Do you really think you can control everything in the harem?" Liu Hairui blocked the advancing guards with his hands, and said with a bitter smile, "If that's the case, then it would be worth it for this servant to lose his life here."
After speaking, Liu Hairui looked up and stared at Consort Li's attire. In the palace, the clothing worn by the consorts was usually quite revealing, as the emperor enjoyed watching his consorts display their charm in front of him. He also liked seeing them dressed in a way that was convenient for intimate moments. As he lifted his gaze, Liu Hairui inadvertently fixed his eyes on Consort Li's ample bosom, which was symmetrical and formed a deep valley between them, a result of their compression. This was a feature exclusive to women. Upon closer inspection, one could see the red cloth wrapping around her, its bright color igniting every cell within Liu Hairui, causing a rapid and intense reaction. He imagined stripping Consort Li bare and forcefully asserting his dominance over her...