Yu Yao spent a whole day idling away in the courtyard.
After the evening meal, she lazily lay in the courtyard, admiring the scenery and secretly pondering whether Emperor Jing would send someone to look for her.
Indeed, not long after, a chubby little eunuch named Xiao Fuzi walked into her courtyard, dressed in the standard eunuch attire and walking with small steps.
His round face with small eyes slit into a fine seam, he gently waved his broomstick, a hint of ambiguous smile on his face, said: "Miss Yu, the emperor asked you to move to your bedroom. The emperor has been waiting for you for a long time. Please prepare and go there."
Yu Yao slowly stood up and politely replied, "Please wait a moment, Grandfather. I'll get myself ready and go right away."
Xiao Fuzi stood there still and politely said, "There's no need, your servant will wait here. Please, miss, hurry up."
She nodded slightly and turned back to the house.
The candlelight inside gently flickered, casting a warm atmosphere.
She carefully inspected herself in the copper mirror, gently stroking her hair, and confirmed that her makeup was perfect before following Xiao Fuzi to the imperial bedchamber.
She stepped into the palace, a waft of dragon whale incense hit her face, mixed with faint incense, making her heart flutter involuntarily.
As her foot crossed the threshold, suddenly a force from behind struck her, embracing her person in an embrace that was both domineering and gentle.
She was startled, her instinct was to struggle, but she quickly realized who it was and a pleased smile appeared on her lips.
"Your Majesty, what is this..."
"Yu Yao feigned surprise, but her voice contained a hint of coquettish reproach, her demeanor of reluctance and welcome was just right."
Jing Emperor Rong Yuan laughed softly, his laughter seemed to penetrate the heart, with endless temptation and doting.
"Knowing but asking, what do you think I want to do?"
As he spoke, he gently exerted more strength, throwing her entire body onto the soft and spacious dragon bed, and followed closely behind, pressing on top of her.
"Your Majesty..."
She reached out and gently pushed against his chest, hesitating to speak, her eyes containing both shyness and a hint of flirtation.
She lightly bit her lip, like a flower bud about to bloom, her behavior was just right, but incredibly provocative.
Rong Yuan laughed softly, his deep peach eyes with charming smile, very hot, as if able to melt the person.
He raised his chin slightly, a playful smile curving on his lips, "Little witch, weren't you rather bold last night? Now you're shy."
Yu Yao's rosy cheeks became even more vivid, her fingers curled around the collar of the man's clothes, her voice soft and coquettish: "Your Majesty, last night... it was the moonlight that was too captivating, it enchanted the heart."
She effortlessly untied his robe, the collar was open, revealing the snowy white and sturdy muscles, as well as the beautiful mermaid line.
Her fingertips gently glided over Rong Yuan's neck, like a light rain brushing over the petals of spring flowers, with endless temptation.
Rong Yuan's eyes became deeper and deeper, he gently grabbed her wandering hand and pulled her closer, their breath intertwined together, the air was filled with an indescribable sentiment.
"Such a witch, your seductive means, even if half were used on the emperor, would not be able to be seen in silence and land the fate of being forced to die with the emperor."
Yu Yao's eyes flickered with a complex emotion upon hearing Emperor Jing mention the late emperor, but she quickly masked it.
Instead of teasing him, she hooked her arm around the emperor's neck and coquettishly declared, "Your Majesty, let bygones be bygones. Now, Yao'er's heart belongs only to you."
Rong Yuan watched her eyes filled with affection, listened to her words, and though he knew she was only being compliant to survive and saying flattering things, it didn't prevent him from feeling happy in his heart.
He smiled and gently kissed her forehead, saying tenderly, "Since you are the woman of the emperor, the emperor will naturally not neglect you. After the mourning period, the emperor will give you the appropriate position."
He had no concerns that someone would recognize Yu Yao's identity.
The woman has always been silent in the palace of the empress, and has used flower pollen to conceal her appearance for years. It is unlikely that many people can recognize her.
As for the people in the Taihe Hall, they are very discreet, and he has already given the order; no one dares to spread the truth.
Yu Yao listened to his words and her beautiful eyes flashed with surprise.
This was already an imperial promise, and she was happy at the moment.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, you are so kind to your servant."
She happily cupped Rong Yuan's handsome face and kissed him, very active.
Rong Yuan was delighted by her sudden outburst of passion, "You little thing, so enthusiastic today."
As he spoke, he leaned down and kissed her in response.
The candlelight flickered, casting a glow on the couple on the dragon bed, as if they were a pair of ducks swimming together.
The coffin of the late emperor had been lying in state in the palace for 7 days. The solemn and heavy coffin was intricately carved with beautiful patterns, each line and texture seemed to tell the achievements and majesty of the late emperor.
On the day of the funeral, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, a sense of solemnity enveloped the entire palace.
Eunuchs and palace maids in mourning attire, their heads bowed, moved gracefully and slowly through the palace.
Emperor Jing was dressed in mourning robes, wearing a white mourning hat, his expression solemn.
He led the imperial family, officials, and military personnel to the great hall where the coffin of the late emperor was placed.
As the ritual official's chants and shouts, the funeral ceremony unfolded slowly.
The immense coffin was slowly lifted, the late emperor's face covered by layers of brocade, appearing solemn and distant.
Yu Yao wore a mourning dress and stood among the crowd, looking at the past that was about to be sealed forever with complex eyes, her heart filled with a mix of emotions.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, scattering a few fallen leaves, and the air had a touch of gloom.
The coffin bearers moved forward slowly, in a grand procession, leaving the palace and heading to Dongling for burial.
At the back of the funeral procession, there were about twenty to thirty coffins, all containing concubines who had been forced to die by burial.
They would also be buried at the same time.
Yu Yao stood at a high point in the imperial city and watched from afar, her heart filled with a sense of relief.
If she hadn't come through at the perfect moment and made a desperate effort, she might have ended up in the same coffin as those concubines of the late emperor.
As the funeral procession faded into the distance, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to linger in the air.
She sighed softly and turned back to her own courtyard.
In the following days, the palace was particularly quiet due to the emperor's burial.
Emperor Jing still did not assign Yu Yao any specific tasks, merely allowing her to rest in the courtyard every day.
But at night, someone would be sent to take her to the emperor's bed.
The entire mourning period of 27 days, except for the days when she was on her menstruation, and stayed in the courtyard to rest, she was required to attend to the emperor every night.
Yu Yao sometimes couldn't help but think, how can this man have so much energy; he must not be afraid that he might die in a woman's womb one day.
Before long, the mourning period had passed, and the usually somber palace harem began to become lively again. The concubines were all dressed up and waiting for the emperor to turn their cards.
This month, the emperor had been well fed by Yu Yao and his interest had not waned; they were in the midst of a passionate affair, so there was no time or interest to favor the harem concubines.
But after such a long mourning period, not to favor the concubines would arouse suspicions.
At night, the head of the ceremony house eunuch came to the imperial bedchamber of Emperor Jing with green-lacquered plates.
Behind him followed a dozen young eunuchs, each carrying a tray filled to the brim with green-lacquered plates of the harem concubines.
The eunuch kept his head low, carefully saying, "Your Majesty, these are the green-lacquered plates of the concubines in the harem, please let Your Majesty choose."
Emperor Jing was intimate with Yu Yao in the bedchamber when he heard the voice of the ceremony house eunuch. He frowned slightly and his face showed a hint of impatience.
He lazily leaned back against the dragon bed, sweeping his gaze over the eunuchs.
Yu Yao saw this, and obediently withdrew from his embrace, tidying her disordered hair.
Her eyes flashed with cunning, and she coquettishly chuckled, "Your Majesty, it's been a long time since the last favor, and I'm sure the concubines in the harem are eagerly waiting. Please choose one."
She said so, gently pushing against Emperor Jing's arm.
Emperor Jing chuckled and reached out to grab her chin, "Little witch, if I really choose one, will you be jealous tonight?"
