Yu Yao knelt on the ground, her heart racing like a fawn, but she struggled to maintain an outward calm.
She raised her gaze and met Rongyuan's eyes, deep as the night, which seemed to conceal endless allure and playfulness, causing her heart to accelerate involuntarily.
"Your servant knows that I have committed a great sin, but I humbly ask Your Majesty to listen to my words."
She took a deep breath and slowly spoke, "I had no intention of disturbing the holy carriage, but I truly seek a path to survival. The late emperor's will decreed that all unborn offspring in the palace must be sacrificed at death, and although I am in the harem, I have never been favored, nor do I have offspring at my side. Faced with death, how can one simply wait passively for it to happen?"
Rongyuan's eyebrows flickered with a look of surprise, and the smile on his lips deepened slightly.
He slowly walked to her side, bending down, and his gaze almost level with hers. There was a touch of leisurely elegance in his demeanor, but also a hint of freedom and playfulness.
"Madam Yu's words are indeed sincere," he said, "but within the harem, which woman is not as transient as a floating mallow? If you possess such courage, why did you not strive for favor earlier, and why have you ended up in this situation today?"
Her heart tightened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure, looking back at Rongyuan with clear eyes: "I know that I am still quite attractive, but I have never used that to vie for favor. In the harem, I merely wish to settle down and make a living. However, fate has played its tricks on me and brought me to this point. Today, seeing the emperor, I dare to ask with all my courage, willing to use the strength of my remaining years to assist Your Majesty in atoning for today's crimes."
Rongyuan stood up straight, looking down at her from a higher position, and his deep eyes seemed to be able to see into one's heart. "Madam Yu, do you know that disobeying the late emperor's will, even for me, Your Majesty, requires great caution."
Yu Yao's eyes twinkled with a captivating charm, sensing a growing interest in her beauty from Emperor Jing. This is evident in the several times he playfully teased her.
He pondered within his heart, why not take this opportunity to fan the flames a bit more, hoping to find a sliver of hope.
She gently bit her lower lip, causing a faint blush to appear on her face, subtly putting on the appearance of pitiful and helpless.
"That's exactly what the emperor has said," she dared to assert, "I indeed have no talent, but my physical appearance is still somewhat pleasing. However, I dare to think that even if I serve with my beauty, if it can win the emperor's mercy and allow me to be spared from the sacrifice required by the late emperor's will, that would be my fortune. I do not seek to be favored above all others in the harem; I only wish to be by your side as a humble maid, serving you day and night, in order to repay your kindness of not killing me."
Rongyuan's lips curved into a playful smile. He reached out and gently tilted up her chin, closing the distance between them instantly. The air around them was filled with an indescribable ambiguity and tension.
"Madam Yu is indeed wise to recognize the proper time and act accordingly," he said, "but the harem of the emperor has three thousand beauties, each one a perfect face. What qualifies you to be kept by my side?"
Yu Yao felt the temperature from Yongyuan's fingertips, though her heart was filled with alarm, she tried hard to remain calm. She slightly tipped her head up, looking at him with sincerity.
"I know my own qualities are comparable to that of a reed or willow, far inferior to the beauties within the harem. But I am willing to offer my heartfelt sincerity and use my clumsiness and diligence to ease the emperor's burdens. If the emperor requires someone by his side to grind ink and add fragrance, I am willing to perform like a loyal servant; if the emperor feels weary, I can also play the zither for him to relax. My aspirations are modest, only desiring a place in this deep palace where I can live in peace."
Listening to her words, Rongyuan's gaze was complex.
He released his hand, stepped back a few steps, and his gaze wandered over her body as if he were considering something.
"Madam Yu, do you know that by keeping you here, it is against the late emperor's will, and I will bear great pressure and risks."
Yu Yao knelt lower, her voice filled with sincerity and seriousness, "I understand, Your Majesty's kindness, I will remember it in my heart. I am willing to serve Your Majesty for the rest of my life and swear to never leave. As for the late emperor's will, I believe that Your Majesty will have wise decisions, able to comply with the ancestors' laws while also showing compassion for the innocent women of the harem."
Rongyuan remained silent for a moment before slowly opening his mouth, his voice carrying a subtle hint of tenderness.
"Very well, Madam Yu. Since you have such determination, I shall grant you this chance. You shall stay by my side and serve as a maid. However, you must remember that within this deep palace, danger lurks at every turn. If you wish to remain unscathed, you must be careful with your words and actions, leaving no room for any lapse in attention."
Yu Yao was overjoyed, feeling as if the weight on her heart had finally been lifted. She immediately kowtowed to express her gratitude.
Oh, thank goodness, this hardship has finally passed.
As the night descended, the moonlight trickled in like thin threads into the sleeping quarters of Taiping Hall, imbuing the golden and jade-filled palace with a gentle veil of silver.
The candlelight flickered within the hall, casting a tense yet exceptionally beautiful profile upon her face.
She wore simple, unadorned garments of plain color, without the glistening jewels and ornaments that would typically enhance her appearance. This modest attire only served to accentuate her pristine and ethereal beauty.
Rongyuan didn't say anything else to her; he walked to the table, sat down, and began to go through the pile of letters waiting to be read.
At the beginning of his reign, there were many things to be organized in the court, making it the busiest time.
Yu Yao, being very perceptive, moved forward to grind the ink, her movements gentle and precise, producing ink of just the right consistency for writing.
Watching this, Rongyuan dipped a brush in the ink, and then began to write on the document. A look of approval shone in his deep eyes.
Not only does she have an outstanding appearance, but her skills in grinding ink are also very good. Such a woman with both beauty and talent should not be hidden away without being noticed in the harem of the emperor. It is truly strange.
"Which year did you enter the palace?"
While he was going through the documents, he couldn't help but ask.
She froze in her movements, then continued grinding the ink, lowering her gaze in respectful submission and said, "Your Majesty, I entered the palace in the 25th year of Jianyuan."
As she is now a maid to Emperor Jing, she has changed from using "Your servant" to "maid" out of self-submission.
Emperor Jing Rongyuan's eyebrows twitched slightly, understanding her reasons for avoiding favor.
In the 25th year of Jianyuan, her father, the emperor, was exactly 55 years old, and he was already aging. Therefore, she naturally did not wish to bear his children.
He remembered something, his eyes narrowing slightly with a hint of curiosity as he looked at her. "I'm curious," he said, his gaze on her, "with such an outstanding appearance, how have you managed to remain unnoticed in the harem?"
For this question, he genuinely wanted to know the answer.
In the harem, women with exceptional beauty are either favored concubines or those who meet a tragic end.
Unless they use special methods to conceal their beauty so that they go unnoticed.
Yu Yao's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure and lowered her head in a soft voice, "Your Majesty, at that time, I just used some rouge to make my complexion paler and deliberately kept my demeanor submissive and dressed simply. As a result, I avoided being noticed."
"So it is."
Rongyuan smiled lightly, "You are indeed wise, but in my presence from now on, there is no need to conceal yourself anymore."
She nodded slightly, answering, "Yes, Your Majesty."
She never intended to hide her beauty in the first place, so why bother using a beauty filter?
After a while, Emperor Rongyuan finished going through the documents, stood up, stretched his arms in a yawn, and his expression showed a hint of fatigue.
"I'm a bit tired today," he said, looking at her, "Come with me and serve me in the bath."
After speaking, he turned and went to a side hall.
Yu Yao raised an eyebrow. This man wants to take a bath?
She smiled faintly and followed him obediently.
Throughout the way, several maids in Taiping Hall secretly glanced at her several times with unfriendly expressions.
She pretended not to notice and continued to follow Emperor Jing behind, arriving at the side hall.
As she stepped into the bathroom, the hot springs formed a misty vapor, with flowers floating on the surface, emitting an enchanting fragrance.
Emperor Jing also did not want others to serve him, leaving her here alone.
Yu Yao was very composed; serving the emperor in his bath was something she considered quite ordinary.
She followed the instructions, beginning to prepare the bathing necessities for the emperor, moving with great care and yet demonstrating a natural skill in doing so.
Rongyuan removed his imperial robe and stepped into the pool. The ripples in the water highlighted his slender and muscular physique, complemented by his chiseled features.
Turning to face her, his deep, beautiful peach blossom eyes held a hint of mischief. "Come here, help me take off my clothes."
She walked over, her face flushed with embarrassment, and carefully untied his belt. His clothes slowly fell off, leaving him completely immersed in the warm water.
She stood by the pool, her gaze unabashedly scanning the man.
He had a sword-like brow and bright eyes, his peach blossom eyes filled with emotion, his lips often smiling. His figure was long and strong, his demeanor unrestrained, and in every movement and gesture, there was an undeniable charm.
Looking intently at someone, the eyes are filled with spring and affection.
No matter whether it's this man, the respected emperor, or any ordinary man, he would still be incredibly attractive.
He is like a divine beauty in a painting, every movement and gesture revealing his seductive charm.
Although this man is quite a womanizer, this physical appearance is indeed quite attractive.
