Yu Yao of course was not asleep, listening to the words of the dog emperor outside, she smiled coldly in her heart.
She lied on the bed, pretending not to have heard.
But she turned over deliberately, making some noise.
The Jing Emperor heard the movements inside and knew she had not yet fallen asleep and was still angry.
"Yaoer, I know that today you have been wronged. The servant in the Imperial Kitchen has already been punished by me. I have also sent you the sea cucumber. You should not be angry anymore."
The Emperor Jing's voice carried a hint of rare flattery as he spoke gently outside the palace.
Yu Yao cursed in the room, "That dog emperor acts like he's doing something grand, but he's first-rate at flattering women."
She lifted the corners of her mouth in a mocking arc, but opened her mouth to speak, just with a voice that carried a note of tears.
"Emperor, you can leave now. Today's incident has chilled the heart of this subject completely. This subject thought that with a dragon descendant in her womb, she would have some importance in the emperor's mind, but who knew..."
At this point, she deliberately sniffled a few times, letting her voice trail off in fits and starts.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor Jing became even more anxious, "Yaoer, the position you hold in my heart is different from others. Today's incident regarding the Imperial Kitchen was my negligence. I should not have allowed those servants to treat you in such a disrespectful manner."
"Emperor, have your lapses been few?"
Yu Yao raised her voice slightly, "Now that you're bewitched by that ShuGui Consort, what am I to you? And what is this child in my belly?"
Don't think she doesn't know. The dog emperor hasn't been very quiet at night recently, coming over to the ShuGui Consort to enjoy some wild fun.
Jingdi's face turned green and white as he heard Yu Yao's scolding from outside the door.
As the emperor, how many times had he been so scolded by others? Especially in this palace, his own concubine has mercilessly exposed his amorous affairs.
"Yaoer, don't speak nonsense any more. My matters are not something you can fabricate like that."
Jingdi's voice carried a hint of anger.
In her heart, however, Yu Yao felt no fear. She continued crying and saying, "Emperor, how dare I fabricate something about you? In this palace, who doesn't know of your amorous habits? I am just sad that I am pregnant and should receive the emperor's care, but the emperor is captivated by the ShuGui Consort and cannot even obtain a piece of sea cucumber from the Imperial Kitchen for me."
Jingdi took a deep breath, trying to control his anger, "Yaoer, I have already said that it was the fault of the Imperial Kitchen slaves, and I have punished them. As for the ShuGui Consort, it's just a play between us. You are the one who truly matters to me."
"Playing along?"
Yu Yao sneered coldly, "The emperor's skill in playing along is truly impressive. The ShuGui Consort goes to extreme lengths to win favor, yet the emperor still indulges her. In this apricot blossom palace, I watch every day as the emperor showers her with love and affection. Who can understand the pain in my heart?"
To be honest, the dog emperor is the most disgusting male lead she has ever encountered.
If it weren't for the fact that she still needs to bear this man's child, she would have left long ago.
Jingdi fell silent for a moment. He knew her words were harsh, but they were not entirely without reason.
He sighed and softened his tone, "Yaoer, I know I have neglected you recently, but I have realized my mistake now. Please open the door, and I will make it up to you properly."
Yu Yao secretly calculated in her heart. She knew that she couldn't push the dog emperor too hard, or it might backfire.
So she softened her voice a bit, but still with a hint of grievance: "Emperor, this subject's heart is now very unsettled and does not want to see anyone. Please return, Your Majesty. This subject wants to be alone for a while."
The Emperor Jing stood outside for a while, knowing that it was impossible to get her to open the door today.
He whispered a sigh and helplessly said, "Yaoer, you rest well. The emperor will visit you tomorrow."
After speaking, he took Luo Xiang and a group of eunuchs and palace maids away slowly.
Inside the room, as the sound of Jingdi's footsteps faded into the distance, Yu Yao's tears vanished instantly, replaced by coldness and mockery.
Liu Li immediately opened the door and entered the room, "Madam, your performance here is truly impressive. You have him firmly under your thumb. However, what should we do next?"
Yu Yao smiled gently, "Of course, tomorrow we will continue to keep the dog emperor outside the door."
Liu Li listened to Yu Yao's words and her expression showed concern, "Madam, is it really not problematic to keep the emperor out every day? After all, the emperor's patience is limited as well."
Yu Yao shrugged indifferently, "Liu Li, you don't have to worry. This subject will take care of it herself."
The dog emperor is sickened. She will leave the palace with the child and travel the world to enjoy the mountains and waters once the child is born and she completes her confinement period.
After all, the system's task is just to bear the child of the dog emperor.
Once the child is born, the task of this world will be completed.
If it wasn't for the baby being so young and not ready to leave immediately, she would probably leave as soon as the child was born.
The night sky draped like a vast black silk cloth, heavily weighing down upon the Yong'an Palace.
Inside the palace, the candles flickered uncertainly in the night wind, their shadows danced between the exquisite murals and carved pillars, as if they were being casually toyed with by an invisible hand.
The ShuGui Consort sat on a soft mattress inside her palace, her face extremely unwell.
She had no idea about what happened in the Imperial Kitchen today.
It was only when she heard that the emperor had punished the slaves in the Imperial Kitchen and had them degraded to serve in the XinZhuKu as slaves that XiangJu went to inquire about what had happened.
Only after asking did she realize that it was related to her.
It turned out that it was because her own palace slave, Xiao Shunzi, had taken the sea cucumber from the Concubine Qin, and this somehow ended up in the emperor's ears.
The emperor had a huge fit in the Imperial Library, not only punishing the people from the Imperial Kitchen but also giving away her own sea cucumber to Concubine Qin.
What does this mean? This indicates that in the emperor's heart, Concubine Qin's importance is not ordinary.
She bit her lip, and it was a lie to say she wasn't feeling envious.
But she didn't have time to feel jealous now. The emperor did not bestow a favor on her tonight, but instead went to the Apricot Blossom Palace.
The ShuGui Consort paced back and forth in her palace, like a wild beast trapped in a cage, "XiangJu, do you think the emperor is angry?"
XiangJu quickly consoled her, "Madam, please don't worry. The emperor is just showing extra care to Concubine Qin because she is carrying the emperor's heir. Your position in the emperor's heart is still very high."
"Humph, what do you understand?"
The ShuGui Consort glared angrily at XiangJu, "I am just a concubine. How can I compare to the importance of a dragon child?"
She still had some self-awareness; she was afraid that the emperor would cold-shoulder her from now on, and her heart was filled with fear and panic.
Later, she ordered XiangJu to call the little slave who had gone to take the sea cucumber from the Imperial Kitchen today.
Xiao Shunzi was a eunuch from Yong'an Palace, in charge of fetching ingredients.
Because the ShuGui Consort was extremely favored, there were many people who kowtowed to Yong'an Palace, and Xiao Shunzi could not help but become overbearing and imperious.
Xiao Shunzi knew that he had caused a big mess and trembled nervously in front of the ShuGui Consort.
As soon as he entered the room, he "thud" fell to his knees on the ground and trembled like leaves in the wind.
The ShuGui Consort glared at him, her eyes full of anger, and her voice cold as the wind of a winter night: "You cursed slave, do you know what mischief you've caused? Where has your arrogance gone? You're trembling like a quail now."
Xiao Shunzi was kowtowing and crying, "Madam, please forgive me. Madam, please forgive me. At the time, I only thought that you always like to eat sea cucumbers and there was only one piece in the Imperial Kitchen. So I wanted to get it back as quickly as possible for you. I had no idea it would cause such a big mess."
The ShuGui Consort was so angry that she stood up, walked over to Xiao Shunzi, and slapped him across the face, "You stupid idiot. How could you think that things in the palace are as simple as you imagine? Concubine Qin is carrying the emperor's heir and already has some weight in the emperor's heart. Your actions have made the emperor feel that this concubine is bullying her. Do you want to see her dead?"
How much cost did she pay to maintain her favor? And yet, this dog slave had nearly destroyed all her efforts with just one move.
Xiao Shunzi's face instantly swelled up, and he didn't dare to touch it. Instead, he kept kowtowing, "Madam, please calm down. The slave only spoke a few words. It was because the eunuch from the Imperial Kitchen wanted to curry favor with Yong'an Palace that he gave the sea cucumber to me."
Upon hearing Xiao Shunzi's words, the ShuGui Consort was so angry that she gave him a harsh kick, "Do you dare to argue? Go and kneel outside the hall. You are not allowed to get up without my order."
Xiao Shunzi was stumbled over by the kick, but dared not say anything. Instead, he had to obey and knelt down on the cold ground outside the hall.
The ShuGui Consort sat on a soft mattress, massaging her temples, and was in great distress of mind.
She was well aware that her current situation was dire. The emperor's attention to Concubine Qin had made her feel a strong sense of crisis, and she had to find a way to win the emperor's heart back.
So, she instructed XiangJu, "XiangJu, go and inquire about the emperor's current situation."
Concubine Qin was pregnant, so the emperor couldn't sleep there at night.
It's estimated that he won't stay for long.
After accepting the order, XiangJu quickly dispatched someone to inquire.
The slave who was sent to investigate came back quickly and said that the emperor had returned to the TAIHE Hall.
Upon hearing this, the ShuGui Consort was delighted and, with a twist of her thoughts, she came up with a plan.
She carefully selected a thin, translucent silk garment embroidered with delicate peach blossom patterns, as if it were the gentlest touch of spring that had yet to bloom.
However, her thoughts were far more complicated than the peach blossoms.
She brought out a vibrant red sash, skillfully wrapping it around her body, which both concealed the spring color and hinted at an unspoken allure.
As the night deepened, the ShuGui Consort held a delicate palace lantern and went to the Taihe Hall.
Outside the Taihe Hall, the eunuchs on guard were used to her various tricks and could only bow their heads respectfully and dare not speak.
Inside the hall, Emperor Jing sat stiffly on the dragon throne, his brows betraying a trace of fatigue and disturbance.
Upon hearing that ShuGui Consort wanted to see him, he couldn't help but feel a ripple of emotions in his heart. There were both fond memories of past pleasures and growing irritation with the unexpected guest tonight.
"Let her in."
The Emperor Jing finally sighed, his voice tinged with a bit of helplessness.
The ShuGui Consort pushed open the door and entered, her light silk flowing, the red sash swaying lightly. She walked into the hall with an almost ritualistic grace.
Hearing the sound, he slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on the ShuGui Consort. Upon seeing her attire, a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes before returning to his usual aloofness.
"ShuGui Consort, it's late at night. What business have you come for?"
The Emperor Jing's voice was low and imposing, devoid of any emotion.
The ShuGui Consort executed a proper imperial etiquette.
After that, she gracefully took a step forward, moving to the side of Emperor Jing, and in a soft tone said, "Your consort knows that Your Majesty is troubled by trivial matters today. She has come to accompany Your Majesty and wishes to share Your Majesty's worries."
Her words were gentle and sincere, but she did not mention the sea cucumber incident. It was clear that she was deliberately avoiding the sensitive topic.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing's lips curved into a barely perceptible cold smile, "ShuGui Consort is indeed considerate. However, how can your worries solve the emperor's troubles?"
His tone carried a hint of sarcasm, clearly indicating that he was well aware of ShuGui Consort's intentions.
Upon hearing this, ShuGui Consort quickly adjusted her emotions and gently unbuttoned the corner of her outer robe, revealing the red sash wrapped around her body. However, she did not fully reveal it, expressing her intentions in a subtle way.
"The ShuGui Consort knows she has made a mistake and wishes to transform her body into a source of comfort. She only hopes that the emperor will smile and forget his troubles."
Emperor Jing put down the pen in his hand and his gaze fell on ShuGui Consort once more, this time looking at her with greater attention.
The beauty of ShuGui Consort was something he had never denied. At this moment, she appeared even more beautiful, with a trace of deadly temptation.
If it were any other day, he would be in high spirits and spend the night indulging in a romantic tryst.
But now, he felt no mood for it, even feeling a bit weary.
He stood up, slowly walked towards ShuGui Consort, and extended his hand, not to undo the sash, but to gently press on her shoulder. With a heartfelt tone, he said, "ShuGui Consort, you must understand that what I seek is not merely pleasure, but understanding and companionship. You may bring me physical pleasure, but you will never truly understand my heart."
The ShuGui Consort's face instantly turned pale upon hearing this.
She had never imagined that her position in Emperor Jing's heart was so fragile.
She bit her lip, struggling to hold back her tears, and said, "Your consort knows she has made a mistake. She is willing to correct herself and learn how to become the person that Your Majesty loves. Please, Your Majesty, give your consort an opportunity."
She knelt at Emperor Jing's feet and reached up to pull his robe down, intending to remove his underpants.
The Emperor Jing knew what she was trying to do. His expression was complicated, and he stepped back, his robe corner being gently pulled away from ShuGui Consort's hand.
He sighed and said, "ShuGui Consort, you may return. I am tired and need to rest."
Upon hearing this, ShuGui Consort felt a sense of loss and some sorrow in her heart.
But she dared not linger any longer; she obeyed and withdrew.
