Jiang Yuan led Qi Daiyu downstairs.
Quan Fuhai and others were already waiting in line to offer congratulations, each bowing and raising the trays in their hands high.
The trays were covered with red cloth, making it unclear what was on them.
"Go and take a look." Jiang Yuan gave Qi Daiyu's hand a little push.
Quan Fuhai immediately presented a small rod.
"Consort Hui, these are all treasures His Majesty personally selected, each one is extremely precious!"
Qi Daiyu's curiosity was thoroughly piqued. She lifted a red cloth with the rod to see a lotus hairpin resting on the tray.
She thought of the hairpin Jiang Yuan had taken from her. But that one was just the most ordinary kind, not even finely crafted.
This one, however, had a stem intricately woven from gold wire, and the lotus flower on top was carved from a single, massive ruby, nearly half the size of a palm! A gemstone of such size was truly rare.
Qi Daiyu picked up the hairpin. It was surprisingly heavy in her hand. Could the body be made of solid gold?
How much silver would this be worth!
She looked back at Jiang Yuan.
Jiang Yuan tilted his chin up slightly. "Last time on the lake excursion, didn't you lose your hairpin? This is my replacement."
Others might find it strange why the Emperor would replace a lost hairpin, but Qi Daiyu understood perfectly well what Jiang Yuan meant.
He had taken her hairpin, and now he was giving her back an even more precious lotus hairpin, deliberately mentioning the lake trip to remind her when that hairpin had been "lost."
This man! Qi Daiyu couldn't help but blush.
The lotus hairpin was indeed beautiful and priceless. Feeling delighted, she said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
She then went to look at the other items.
There was a warm jade pillow, butterfly-wing gauze, brocades and fine silks, calligraphy by famous masters—every item was exquisite.
As she looked at each one, Quan Fuhai would explain its origin, with Jiang Yuan occasionally adding a comment.
For instance, when she saw the famous calligraphy, he said, "Your handwriting still has room for improvement. This will be good practice."
"......"
For the sake of these treasures, Qi Daiyu decided not to argue with him.
Suddenly becoming wealthy must feel like this. Qi Daiyu was overjoyed, and the way she looked at Jiang Yuan seemed to sparkle.
This wasn't an emperor; this was the God of Wealth!
Because of these rewards, even when Jiang Yuan showed no intention of leaving after dinner, Qi Daiyu didn't mind in her heart.
If attending to the Emperor at night always came with such generous gifts, she could learn to accept it.
Moreover, as a grown woman, once she got past the psychological hurdle, she didn't find the act itself repulsive.
As for how to get past that psychological hurdle...
Did she really have a choice?
After dinner, the two of them took a walk on the terrace to aid digestion.
Jiang Yuan wanted to finish reading that book, hoping to find more detailed descriptions of the Tang emperor's civil and military prowess.
Unfortunately, he was likely to be disappointed, as that character's role later on was practically non-existent.
He read his book but wouldn't let Qi Daiyu move about freely. Instead, he held her firmly in his embrace, enjoying the pleasure of her soft, fragrant warmth.
Unable to move and feeling drowsy after the meal, Qi Daiyu grew sleepy and drifted off into a hazy slumber.
When she woke again, the moon was high in the sky.
She had been awakened by heat. She dreamed she was a monkey pinned under a volcano, with snakes on the mountain that kept biting her. They would dare to return even after she chased them away. This time, they were especially outrageous, not only biting her but also coiling around her neck, making it hard to breathe.
But upon waking, she found Jiang Yuan covering her lips, her outer garment half-removed.
"Mmm... Your Majesty!"
Jiang Yuan looked at her upon hearing her voice. "Awake?"
His voice was hoarse and rough. He kissed her again.
Qi Daiyu had no choice but to accept it. A large hand slid into her hair, cradling the back of her neck. Warm breath lingered between their mouths and noses. Both their bodies were burning hot, especially when the hand at her waist moved, making Qi Daiyu flinch from the heat, yet also stirring an indescribable thrill.
It was a summer night in August, unbearably hot.
Qi Daiyu felt sweat on her skin, making it sticky. She wanted to push Jiang Yuan away, but as she raised her hand, it only gave him an opportunity.
The hand in her hair withdrew and grasped her hand, guiding it downward.
Qi Daiyu's eyes flew open wide. She tried to struggle by lifting her leg, but was firmly restrained.
She leaned close to Jiang Yuan's ear, whispering urgently, "We can't..."
"Why not?" Jiang Yuan paid no heed.
The corners of her eyes turned red. "Last time was on the boat, but this time is..." She couldn't say it.
"This time is where?" Jiang Yuan deliberately teased her.
Seeing she was on the verge of tears, he coaxed, "Appetite and lust are part of human nature."
But not here on the terrace!
"Someone might see..."
"They're not here," Jiang Yuan said. How could he let anyone see or hear? "You fell asleep, so I had them withdraw, forbidding any disturbance." Quan Fuhai had long since taken everyone away.
Only then did Qi Daiyu realize the courtyard was utterly silent.
While she was distracted, Jiang Yuan had already positioned himself between her legs.
"Mmm—"
She was too tense, forcing Jiang Yuan to help her relax with slow, firm caresses, occasionally pressing forward.
The moonlight was hazy, shining on the palace lanterns around the pavilion, their light reflecting onto her face, casting a rosy glow.
Jiang Yuan was mesmerized. As he felt her tremble, he sank deeper but lifted his upper body to watch her.
He watched her bite her lip, her soft moans turning into sobs, then the sobs turning into attempts to flee, only to be pulled back by a pair of hands.
They started lying down, but at some point, they were sitting up.
Their outer garments remained intact, but beneath was a mess.
Jiang Yuan thought she must be a seductress from those stories; otherwise, how could she tempt him so?
That night was too intense, so much so that Qi Daiyu dared not recall it afterward. She only remembered finally being carried downstairs by Jiang Yuan. And that man was too exhilarated, not letting her off even afterward.
It wasn't until they were both utterly exhausted that they fell into a deep sleep.
The consequence of such indulgence was that when the Eldest Princess visited the next day, Qi Daiyu dozed off several times.
To the point where the Eldest Princess earnestly admonished her: "Consort Hui, Mother Empress says if you don't sleep well at night, you won't grow tall!"
Qi Daiyu: "..." She covered her face with her hands.
Qi Daiyu keenly sensed that the Emperor's attitude toward her had changed somewhat.
This change was evident on a broader level: whenever the Emperor bestowed gifts upon the harem, she would always receive a share—something that hadn't happened before.
On a more subtle level, the Emperor would often send his eunuchs to inquire about her meals, collect her calligraphy practice results, or... urge her for the next part of "Journey to the West"...
Setting aside the last point, these subtle changes gave the feeling that the Emperor had you in mind.
After all, to have the Emperor personally inquire and show concern was treatment reserved for a favored consort!
And this point was noticed by more than just Qi Daiyu. During the routine morning greetings to the Empress, the other consorts began looking at her differently.
Concubine Shu was particularly evident.
"Lately, Consort Hui seems to have quite captured the Emperor's favor. Who would have thought that someone who was once bedridden could enjoy such honor and favor today? It's truly surprising," Concubine Shu said with a light laugh.
Consort Hui was once bedridden? The newer consorts were very surprised; they naturally knew nothing of these past events.
"By the way," Concubine Shu added, "I recall that back then, Consort Hui injured her waist. I wonder if it has completely healed? For a woman, the waist is most important. If it is damaged, I'm afraid it could hinder one's ability to bear children. His Majesty dotes on you; it would be wonderful if you could have a son or daughter. If Consort Hui is concerned, perhaps I could have Physician He, who is most skilled in this area, examine you for you?"
She stared at Qi Daiyu's waist, her eyes initially holding a malicious smile, but then they were stung by that slender, delicate waist—after giving birth to the Eldest Prince, her own figure was not as well-proportioned as before. She had managed to slim down with great difficulty, but if she ate a little more on usual days, she would gain weight again. Her waist was still slender now, but it could not compare to how it was in the past.
"What Concubine Shu says makes sense, Consort Hui. If you haven't fully recovered, you must be very careful!" Ye Qiong said with concern.
Even Qin Saizhu's eyes held a trace of worry.
They, the old-timers, all knew how severely Qi Daiyu had been injured back then.
Qi Daiyu had no choice but to reply, "Thank you for your concern, Concubine Shu. However, your servant is quite alright. The physician said normal activity is not a problem." Where was there no problem? Her waist was perfectly fine.
In this current body, aside from the inherent weakness from the womb, there were no other illnesses whatsoever.
And that inherent weakness just meant a slightly lower immunity and some deficiency of qi. With extra care usually, it didn't really hinder anything.
"As for children, your servant is not in a hurry. Such matters should be left to nature." As she said this, a faint, barely perceptible look of desolation appeared on her face.
But the hall was full of shrewd people; naturally, no one missed it. For a moment, their thoughts varied.
Could it be that Consort Hui's injury from back then ultimately hinders childbearing?
That would actually be a good thing!
Even Concubine Shu felt a sense of relief in her heart. Now that the Empress was pregnant, if Qi Daiyu also became pregnant, the influence of the Empress's faction would become unprecedentedly powerful. She absolutely did not want to see such a situation arise.
Qi Daiyu took the opportunity to glance at the Empress.
Back when she had just recovered, the Empress had Doctor Xia examine her. The Empress was the one who knew the condition of her body most clearly.
She had intentionally hinted at having a physical impediment, and she didn't know what the Empress thought.
Seeing a hint of a smile in the Empress's eyes, Qi Daiyu felt at ease in her heart.
As for having children, she still wasn't considering it now.
Having gotten a sense of the situation, Concubine Shu temporarily let Qi Daiyu off, her gaze sweeping to another person, her brows slightly furrowing.
"Consort Nie, what is wrong with you?"
Everyone looked over.
They saw Nie Zhiyu's face was deathly pale, and her forehead was covered in sweat.
The Empress asked with concern, "Consort Nie, are you unwell?"
Nie Zhiyu stood up. "Empress, your servant..."
"Ah! Consort Nie, you... you have blood on you..." Consort He covered her mouth and exclaimed sharply.
They saw bloodstains on Consort Nie's skirt and her seat.
Everyone was stunned. Had Consort Nie gotten her monthly courses?
Concubine Shu's frown deepened, feeling this was inauspicious. She was just about to speak when she saw Nie Zhiyu's body sway, and she collapsed.
This... could menstrual pain cause someone to faint? Amidst everyone's astonishment, the Empress had already ordered people to carry Nie Zhiyu to a side chamber and summoned a physician.
When the physician arrived and delivered his report, it left everyone dumbfounded.
"Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress, Consort Nie has had a miscarriage... the child was not preserved."
Consort Nie had a miscarriage? But when was Consort Nie ever pregnant?
Everyone was bewildered.
Even the Empress was momentarily lost for words before asking the physician, "How long was Consort Nie pregnant?"
"Your Majesty, less than two months. This humble official brought the records. When Consort Nie had her routine pulse check last month, the pregnancy pulse was not yet evident. Consort Nie herself likely was not aware of the matter."
Judging by Consort Nie's appearance earlier, it seemed she indeed hadn't known she was pregnant.
"Then how could she have miscarried for no reason?" Since the Imperial Hospital had no record, naturally outsiders wouldn't have known about Consort Nie's pregnancy either, so it couldn't be attributed to foul play. How could she have suddenly miscarried today?
"Your Majesty, Consort Nie's pregnancy was inherently frail from the start..." The physician bowed his head almost to the ground. An inherently frail fetus, with the mother unaware of its existence, could naturally lead to a miscarriage.
The Empress was speechless.
Everyone else also looked at each other.
This, this was truly...
