The night was already deep, but Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang) and Situ Chuanqiong, locked in an embrace, were both stalling for time, waiting for the other to bring up the matter of sleeping together that night.
Xiao Wenqiang naturally didn't want to. She didn't want to be touched by that scumbag Situ Chuanqiong. However, to complete her mission, she couldn't outright refuse; she had to be more subtle.
In fact, Situ Chuanqiong was also internally conflicted, for he remembered promising Leng Yuanxiang that he would never touch another woman besides her. Even if this woman was his Empress, whom he had legally married and welcomed with a grand procession, it was still not permitted.
It was just that the Empress tonight was truly captivating. Leaning against him so pliant and boneless, her eyes downcast and teary, placing such infinite trust in him – it was a sight rarely seen in the past.
Just as the two little figures within Situ Chuanqiong's mind were arguing, with the one representing reason struggling and about to compromise with the one representing desire, there was another knock on the door.
"Your Majesty, Chunyue from Consort Leng Yuanxiang's palace requests an audience, saying she has an urgent matter to discuss with you!" Wang You announced, gently tapping on the door.
Hearing Leng Yuanxiang's name, Situ Chuanqiong felt a sudden wave of embarrassment, as if he had been caught. He quickly pushed Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang) away, touched his nose, and stood up to reply, "What is it? Let her come in and speak!"
Chunyue entered the inner chamber with her head bowed, not daring to look around as she walked. Upon reaching the door of the Imperial Study, she knelt with a thud and paid her respects, "Your servant greets His Majesty."
"Rise! Quickly tell me what has happened to your mistress?" Situ Chuanqiong knew it was not good for the Empress, but he couldn't help but show concern for Leng Yuanxiang in front of her.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, my mistress has been unhappy every day recently, unable to sleep at night, and often has nightmares. After waking up startled today, she has been crying, saying her heart aches, and that she has lost His Majesty..." As Chunyue spoke, she looked up and suddenly realized that the Empress was also present, and she choked up.
Situ Chuanqiong glanced at Chu Yulan (Xiao Wenqiang). "Lan'er, it is already late today. Why don't you go back and rest first!"
Xiao Wenqiang was relieved internally, but she had to pretend to be reluctant. She shot Situ Chuanqiong a resentful look before replying, "This concubine obeys. It is indeed late. Your Majesty's health is still not fully recovered, so please also rest early and do not overexert yourself."
"I understand, Lan'er, do not worry. And the Zi Cao Gao that Lan'er prepared, I like it very much." Situ Chuanqiong then turned his gaze aside. "Wang You, the night is deep. Please personally light the way and escort the Empress back to Kunning Palace."
"Your servant obeys." Wang You bowed his head, accepted the command, and smiled at Xiao Wenqiang, "Your Ladyship, please!"
Xiao Wenqiang bowed to Situ Chuanqiong one last time before following Wang You out. Chu Li, who had been anxiously waiting at the door, knew that her mistress's plan for sleeping over tonight was likely ruined as soon as Chunyue arrived.
As Xiao Wenqiang gradually walked away, she could faintly still hear Chunyue's voice continuing to speak.
There was no conversation for a long while, and after walking in silence for a long time, Wang You saw that they were alone and spoke softly, "Your Ladyship, please do not be sad. His Majesty's attitude towards you has improved greatly. Take your time, and things will get better."
Xiao Wenqiang was stunned for a moment, then understood that Wang You was comforting her, fearing she would be upset about failing to stay overnight. "Eunuch Wang, I am fine. It's just that I didn't realize it before, but today I see that His Majesty is quite concerned about Consort Leng Yuanxiang!"
Situ Chuanqiong's exclusive favor towards Leng Yuanxiang was subtly shown in the early stages of the novel "Transmigrating to Fall in Love With You." On the surface, he loved the original host, the Empress, the most. Even after Chu Yulan was sent to the Cold Palace, Situ Chuanqiong outwardly displayed his deep sorrow, which led the original Chu Yulan to be the target of jealousy from various factions within the harem, eventually leading to her death by fire.
Therefore, when Xiao Wenqiang now pointed out Situ Chuanqiong's hidden feelings, Wang You's eyes widened in shock. As the Emperor's trusted chief eunuch, he had some idea of which consort His Majesty truly favored the most.
Although Situ Chuanqiong tried his best to conceal it, sneaking to Leng Yuanxiang's Jinle Palace each time, he couldn't fool Wang You! However, Wang You knew that His Majesty had his own reasons for doing this, so he dared not speak out and even helped to cover it up.
Now that the Empress had suddenly said this, he was also struggling internally. After much deliberation, he finally replied, "Your Ladyship, who His Majesty likes now does not mean he will always like that person. This servant only recognizes you, Your Ladyship, as the Empress. You must not lose your composure!"
"Thank you, Eunuch Wang, I understand." Xiao Wenqiang looked at Wang You. "But Eunuch Wang, in this vast harem, why am I the only one who sees through this? The other consorts all thought I had the sole favor of His Majesty before! We can't let them continue to misunderstand, can we?"
"Your Ladyship speaks wisely. This servant knows what to do now." Wang You had essentially sided with the Empress.
That night, Situ Chuanqiong did go to Jinle Palace. They talked about something inside, and the result was a period of intimacy after a night of passion, restoring their usual closeness.
"Are you still going to confine me? Do you really plan to keep me locked up for half a month!" Leng Yuanxiang said, gently tapping the chest of the man beside her with her finger.
Situ Chuanqiong caught her playful hand and said dotingly, "Little Xiang'er, I just wanted you to calm down! I didn't really intend to lock you up."
"Then I want to go out tomorrow! I'm going crazy locked up in here!" Leng Yuanxiang pouted and whined.
"Alright, alright! Tomorrow... no, now... I will release your confinement now. As long as you don't doubt my feelings for you anymore, can you trust me more?" Situ Chuanqiong pinched her cheek.
"Then you can't be so fierce to me like last time!" Leng Yuanxiang stated her conditions.
"Alright! I'll listen to you. Little Xiang'er, the night is short, let's not waste time..." With that, the man flipped over and descended upon her again...
The next morning, Situ Chuanqiong slept in. Although Wang You was a eunuch, he couldn't enter the consort's chambers, so he repeatedly knocked on the door from the outside to urge him.
Situ Chuanqiong sat up in a hurry, covered the still soundly sleeping Leng Yuanxiang with the quilt, and then got out of bed.
Wang You handed the dragon robe to the palace maids serving in Jinle Palace and said to Situ Chuanqiong, "Your Majesty, the time is a bit rushed today, so this servant took the liberty of bringing your court attire directly. Please forgive me."
As the palace maids helped him change, Situ Chuanqiong replied, "You did well! If I had to return to Yangxin Hall to change today, I would have been late for court. You did it for my own good, and I know it!"
"Thank you for Your Majesty's generosity!" Wang You said. Seeing that the palace maids were fumbling with the waistband, he finally bowed his head and stepped forward to help.
With Wang You's assistance, Situ Chuanqiong managed to make it to court on time that day.