The second day, early in the morning, Yu Yao had her black hair loose, just about to comb her hair when she realized that her peach hairpin was missing.
Searching around for a while without finding it, she finally gave up and thought that maybe one of the little palace maids had stolen it.
She randomly pulled out a jade hairpin to fix her hair that she had combed, then straightened it a bit, and went out to work.
In the Imperial Study!
In the Imperial Study, a faint smoke was rising from the incense burner by the desk. Yan Bei Chen held a scroll and for some reason, his mind unconsciously wandered to the scene he encountered last night.
"Fu An, go and check who went to the water pond south of the laundry bureau last night."
Yan Bei Chen's gaze fell on the scroll in his hand, and his side vision swept over the eunuch Fu, who was serving beside him, as he said coldly.
Standing aside like a log, Fu's face twitched slightly, wondering: why is the emperor looking for this out of the blue?
But then, he thought back to how the emperor had gone out alone last night, not allowing anyone to follow him. It seemed likely that he had gone to the pond south of the laundry bureau and had even met someone...
It was just an estimate that he couldn't really see at night, so he only wanted to check it out today when he thought about it.
Fu, thinking he had figured it out, moved forward with his foot and swished the dust in his hand. He respectfully said, "Servant obeys the command."
Yan Bei Chen's gaze drifted away from the scroll in his hand, and he casually tossed it aside, then said again, "Once you find out, bring the person here."
Fu bent down, bowing respectfully: "The emperor may rest assured, I understand."
It seems that the emperor must have met a beautiful woman last night. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said such words. But it's unclear which palace maid can catch the emperor's eye. It's a good fortune for her.
It's said that it's a palace maid and not a consort because if it were a consort, there would be no reason for the emperor not to know her.
Furthermore, consorts usually don't go to remote water ponds in the laundry bureau at night.
Fu's thoughts flickered, and he quickly withdrew.
Just as he was about to order someone to investigate the matter the emperor had entrusted, he encountered the dignified Consort Zhao entering through the door.
The collared, front-opening gown with gold threads and lotus petal patterns was exquisite. A red jade lotus hairpin with the same pattern was pinned on her head, adding a touch of elegance to her movements. This only made her charm and demeanor more alluring.
Under the gracefully arched eyebrows, a pair of slanted phoenix eyes glistened. Her gaze fell on Fu, smiling and asking, "Oh, Uncle Fu, where are you headed?"
Fu's eunuch was slightly taken aback but quickly regained his composure. He smiled, stepped forward, and respectfully bowed, "Your Majesty the Consort."
The Consort Zhao covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, glanced at him with a languid air, and said, "These formalities can be skipped. I see that you're walking briskly. Where are you heading?"
As a dignified figure, Fu the Eunuch quickly realized that the Consort was trying to glean information. As the head eunuch by the emperor's side, he naturally knew what could be said and what should not.
The Consort Zhao was extremely jealous. If she knew that the emperor had chosen a particular beauty, she might get jealous, and who knows what she might do in secret.
"Nothing much, the emperor has asked me to run an errand, so... I was just about to go and do it."
The Eunuch Fu looked at the Consort Zhao, his face beaming with a smile as he said.
It seemed to be said, but nothing meaningful was actually conveyed.
The Consort Zhao was well aware of Fu's character, and didn't expect him to reveal any useful information. Her question earlier was merely idle curiosity.
"All right, if you're not willing to say, I won't force you. Is the emperor inside?"
The Consort Zhao waved her handkerchief in her hand and quickly changed the subject.
Fu the Eunuch glanced at Jin Si, who was following the Consort Zhao, and saw that she was carrying a delicately decorated food box. He realized that it must be for the emperor to deliver soup.
One doesn't know why these consorts are so fond of sending soup for the emperor. He drinks it every day and must be tired of it by now.
Even, many of the soups sent by these consorts have ended up in the stomachs of these eunuchs.
Didn't see the eunuchs serving in front of the emperor, who were all flushed with health and had great vigor.
But as for Fu the Eunuch, he wouldn't say that out loud.
"If the emperor is here, should I inform the consort?"
Fu's gaze fell on the Consort Zhao's face, and he smiled again.
The Consort Zhao glanced at him and said, "No need, I'll go in myself."
She is not one of those little palace maids who are not favored. As a Consort of the Great Yedi Empire, she naturally has the right to enter and leave the Imperial Study freely.
Of course, this power is also granted by the emperor.
Fu the Eunuch, of course, was aware of this. Seeing the Consort Zhao say so, he didn't open his mouth to say anything more.
The two exchanged a few more polite words, and Fu the Eunuch quickly left.
Meanwhile, the Consort Zhao took the food box from Jin Si's hands, told her to wait here, and then entered the Imperial Study.
As Consort Zhao stepped inside, she saw the emperor sitting at his desk, his back resting against the dragon chair, holding a very ordinary peach hairpin in his hand, frowning and deep in thought.
Who knows what he's thinking about.
She frowned slightly, for some reason, she felt that the hairpin was somewhat familiar, but she couldn't remember seeing it anywhere else.
"What is Your Majesty thinking about, so deeply absorbed? You didn't even notice when your consort arrived?"
The Consort Zhao subtly glanced at the peach hairpin Night North Chao was holding, suppressed the jealousy in her eyes, and held the food box in her hand, walking towards him with delicate steps, her voice sounding charming as she said, "Your Majesty, may I trouble you for a moment?"
Upon hearing the sound, Yan Bei Chao tucked the hairpin back into his sleeve, raised his eyes to look at the Consort Zhao, hooked his lips into a smile, and in a gentle manner said, "Nothing much. How did my beloved come here?"
The Consort Zhao smiled with a seductive charm, her eyebrows and eyes full of allure. She gently placed the food box on the imperial desk and with beautiful eyes looked at Yan Bei Chao, saying in a tender voice, "I made this cup of mung bean soup myself. With the weather getting warmer, Your Majesty drinking it would be good for cooling off."
She spoke very smoothly, specifically mentioning that it was made by herself to leave a good impression on the emperor.
Yan Bei Chao naturally understood, glanced at her with a slight smile, and said, "Consort Zhao's kindness."
The Consort Zhao smiled even more seductively, being very attentive as she opened the food box, took out the mung bean soup, and gently placed it in front of the imperial desk, along with a spoon inside.
"Your Majesty, taste it and see how my skills are."
She blinked her eyes and looked at Yan Bei Chao sitting at the imperial desk with anticipation, giggling and saying.
Yan Bei Chao looked down at the mung bean soup in front of him, clear and bright, with a nice color. He nodded slightly, not refusing, and very generously took a sip.
"Very good." He said softly.
The taste was no different from that made by the imperial kitchens, and he knew at first sip that it was not made by Consort Zhao herself, but he did not expose her.
There aren't really that many women in the palace who cook by hand. The so-called 'handmade' is merely a command issued with a word.
It's the people under them who actually cook.
At most, they might add some sugar, but that's it.
Yan Bei Chao drank two sips and then stopped. It was only because of Consort Zhao that he even tried it; if it were anyone else, he probably wouldn't have touched it at all.
Yan Bei Chao casually placed the mung bean soup aside, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and looked at Consort Zhao with a gaze, "Love, you can go back first. I will go to your palace tonight."
The Consort Zhao, upon seeing that the emperor had only taken a few sips and then stopped drinking, was still somewhat displeased in her heart. However, upon hearing that the emperor would visit her palace in the evening, she smiled radiantly and displayed an expression of delight.
"Then Your Majesty must come to my Yaohua Palace tonight. Otherwise, I won't agree..."
As she spoke, her voice still had a lingering tone, her expression was soft and alluring, as if she were angry but also passionate. Her behavior was full of charm.
