Dantai Ji’s gaze darkened. Without realizing it, he bent down and held the woman in his arms even more tightly, blankets and all. “Lanyue Pavilion is not safe. I fear something else may happen. Would Consort Cui be willing to come with Me to Liangyi Hall to rest?”
Liangyi Hall was where His Majesty usually handled state affairs, rested, and slept.
Had Eunuch Wang Zhong not personally escorted the assassin away, he would have been stunned to hear this. Liangyi Hall! It was the quietest place in the palace. Even the Empress was not permitted to linger there, much less stay the night.
But with Eunuch Wang Zhong away, there was no one present to express their astonishment.
Cui Huaiyin leaned into Dantai Ji’s arms and gave a small nod. “Thank you for taking me in, Your Majesty.”
Perhaps even Dantai Ji himself had failed to notice how peculiar his gaze had become.
Since His Majesty had spoken, Consort Cui naturally followed him to Liangyi Hall to rest for the night.
If Consort Cui had not insisted on putting on her clothes, His Majesty might well have carried her all the way to Liangyi Hall wrapped in her blankets.
The Emperor and Consort Cui traveled there together in a sedan chair.
They sat close beside each other in silence the entire way.
By the time they arrived at Liangyi Hall, it was already the end of the hai hour.
The palace servants had prepared hot water in advance to warm the noble lady and dispel the chill.
Cui Huaiyin bathed first, then put on her sleeping clothes and lay down on the imperial bed. She clutched the blankets tightly, a trace of fear flashing through her eyes.
Consort Chen. If nothing unexpected had happened, it had to be her.
Consort Chen wanted her dead, but Cui Huaiyin refused to let her have her way.
She still had Yaoyao, as well as her father, mother, and brothers...
She had to survive in the palace.
When Dantai Ji returned after bathing, he saw the woman sleeping peacefully on the bed.
She slept soundly, curled up with half of her gentle face exposed, making him reluctant to disturb her.
Dantai Ji stopped beside the imperial bed, lost in a momentary daze.
Usually, the bed was empty and silent. He had never seen a scene like this before.
That face, and this moment today...
Dantai Ji’s eyes suddenly darkened. He walked over quietly, lifted the blankets, and slipped inside. A heart-stirring warmth drifted into his nose.
It was this very fragrance that had nearly made him forget who he was and where he was. It had so thoroughly bewitched him that he had not reacted until the assassin was already approaching the bed.
Dantai Ji turned onto his side and gazed at the tender, pale face before him. Once again, his heart filled with an inexplicable feeling.
She had been frightened today. She needed a good rest. He must not act recklessly.
Dantai Ji quickly closed his eyes. Thinking about the memorials awaiting his attention finally quelled the restlessness in his chest, and only after a long while did he drift into sleep.
...
The next day.
When Cui Huaiyin awoke, she stared blankly at the magnificent Liangyi Hall before tentatively calling out, “Chenxiang.”
Chenxiang was indeed inside the hall. Hearing the sound, she hurried over, a basin and other washing supplies in her hands. Her eyes were filled with delight. “My lady, you’re finally awake.”
“My lady?”
Consorts below the second rank could not be addressed as “My Lady.” Cui Huaiyin was a Jieyu, a third-rank consort, and should not be called that. Moreover, they were currently in Liangyi Hall, His Majesty’s domain. If someone overheard such a breach of etiquette, they would surely be punished.
The joy on Chenxiang’s face was impossible to conceal. She smiled broadly at Cui Huaiyin and said, “Yes, my lady. His Majesty promoted you first thing this morning. You’ve been elevated to Zhaoyi of the second rank.”
Cui Huaiyin froze, her eyes filled with bewilderment and shock.
Yesterday, she and the Emperor had not... Although they had seen each other in their bare skin, the assassin had interrupted them, and they had not gone that far.
She had not even been favored by the Emperor, so how had she suddenly been promoted and become Lady Cui?
After arriving at Liangyi Hall yesterday, she had originally intended to make another effort. But while waiting, she had fallen asleep and had not been able to serve him.
Cui Huaiyin lifted the blankets and glanced at her intact sleeping clothes. There were some marks on her exposed skin, but those had been left in Lanyue Pavilion.
Still, being promoted was a good thing. Her father, mother, and daughter outside the palace would surely feel reassured when they heard the news.
Cui Huaiyin smiled unconsciously. Her brows curved, and her red lips lifted slightly, making her look like a painting.
Chenxiang was completely entranced.
But the beauty’s smile lasted only a moment before she hurriedly looked up and asked, “What time is it? Should I go pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress?”
Chenxiang quickly smiled and said, “My lady, there’s no need to hurry. After His Majesty rose this morning, he ordered Eunuch Wang Zhong to inform Her Majesty the Empress that you were unwell from last night’s fright and need not go to pay your respects today.”
Cui Huaiyin let out a breath of relief.
Only then did Chenxiang begin bustling about, washing her mistress’s face and arranging her hair.
As soon as she had placed the final hairpin, Lady Cui rose impatiently and asked, “Where is His Majesty? I should go thank him.”
“I don’t know either,” Chenxiang replied.
“Did His Majesty say when he would have us return to Lanyue Pavilion?”
“I don’t know, my lady. Didn’t you ask His Majesty last night?”
Naturally, Cui Huaiyin had not asked. She had fallen asleep and only just woken up.
Cui Huaiyin did not dare wander around Liangyi Hall. She stayed quietly in the rear hall and did not even dare casually touch the books on the desk.
After waiting in boredom for nearly half an hour, there was finally movement outside.
It was the Emperor.
Cui Huaiyin hurriedly stood up. When she saw the tall figure striding toward her, she quickly lowered her head and bowed.
“You may rise.” His cool voice rang out, and Cui Huaiyin felt him support her by the arm.
When she looked up, she saw that the Emperor’s expression was far from pleasant. There was even a faint trace of anger between his brows, though it did not seem to be directed at her.
“Why was no food served when Lady Cui rose?”
The servants attending in the hall all fell to their knees and begged His Majesty for mercy.
Cui Huaiyin had not expected the Emperor to reprimand anyone, but she said nothing.
Everyone in the hall held their breath. Even Chenxiang was so frightened that her entire body trembled.
Cui Huaiyin glanced at the Emperor’s cool, stern face, then tentatively tugged at his sleeve. “Have you eaten, Your Majesty?”
Dantai Ji’s body stiffened slightly. “Not yet.”
Cui Huaiyin tipped her head back and asked, “May I dine with Your Majesty?”
Dantai Ji’s eyes flickered. “You may.”
Eunuch Wang Zhong, who had been following at His Majesty’s side, hurriedly called out, “Someone! Serve the meal!”
Eunuch Wang Zhong secretly studied the Emperor before him. This version of His Majesty felt completely unfamiliar.
After dealing with the assassin yesterday, he had hurried back. When he heard that His Majesty had taken Consort Cui to Liangyi Hall to rest, his heart had jolted with alarm. He had thought that Consort Cui must truly have caught His Majesty’s eye. After all, staying the night in Liangyi Hall was an honor even the Empress had never received!
And that was not all. The moment His Majesty awoke this morning, he had promoted Consort Cui.
Consort Cui had entered the palace as a Jieyu, already a great mark of favor. Now she had been promoted again—truly, it was unprecedented.
And now, when Consort Cui had been neglected for even the briefest moment, His Majesty had not only noticed but had reprimanded the servants for it.
Eunuch Wang Zhong had certainly seen everything today. As he looked at Consort Cui—no, Lady Cui—she seemed to shine from head to toe. Her future in the palace would surely be limitless!
Cui Huaiyin and Dantai Ji sat down together for the meal. They sat close beside each other, the scene both strange and harmonious.
At first, neither of them spoke. They simply ate in silence. Finally, Cui Huaiyin was the first to break it.
“Your Majesty, I wonder whether the assassin from yesterday has been investigated?”
Dantai Ji’s brows drew together, and he glanced at Wang Zhong.
Having received the order, Wang Zhong hurriedly said, “Your Highness, that assassin was stubborn. We subjected him to severe torture before he finally admitted that he had intended to assassinate you last night. He also revealed that there was a tunnel in the side hall of Wangyue Pavilion, just large enough for a person to crawl through, allowing someone to enter the sleeping quarters without a sound and carry out the attack. As for why he wanted to kill Your Highness or who had ordered him to do it, he clamped his teeth shut and refused to say a word. Last night, while the servants were off guard, he actually bit through his own tongue and killed himself.”
Cui Huaiyin’s brows drew together as well, and her grip tightened around the chopsticks in her hand.
This was not the first time.
“Does Lady Cui have anyone in mind?” Dantai Ji suddenly asked.
Cui Huaiyin raised her eyes to look at Dantai Ji, concealing the trace of inquiry in her gaze with great care.
“My family has been in the capital for less than half a year. Though my father is an official of the court, he is only a sixth-rank official and has never entered the palace. We should not have offended any noble in the palace. I do not know why that person wanted to harm me, but whoever it was must possess considerable influence. They knew about the hidden tunnel in Wangyue Pavilion and were able to bring Eunuch Niu under their control. It could not have been someone from outside the palace.” She paused, then continued, “Before entering the palace, I knew only His Majesty. It was only yesterday that I met the other imperial consorts.”
At some point, Dantai Ji’s eyes had settled entirely upon Cui Huaiyin’s face, carrying an indescribable meaning.
The surroundings fell silent for a moment, leaving everyone inexplicably uneasy.
At last, Dantai Ji spoke. “Have you ever met Consort Chen?”
Cui Huaiyin tightened her hands and forced herself to calm down before replying, “No. Unfortunately, Consort Chen was ill yesterday and did not attend Empress’s Fengyi Palace to pay her respects, so I missed the opportunity.”
Then Cui Huaiyin added, “I have heard that Consort Chen is as talented and refined as an orchid, and that she is no less capable than any man. According to palace etiquette, should I pay her a visit?”
Dantai Ji asked, “You wish to see her?”
Cui Huaiyin patiently replied, “Naturally, I am curious. I only fear that I might disturb Her Highness.”
Dantai Ji gave Cui Huaiyin a deep look, then a warm smile curved his lips. “Since you are curious, then accompany me to visit Consort Chen.”
