The beauty, fragrant and delicate, was flushed like a flower, her pupils shimmering with a feverish glow that made one’s mouth dry and throat inexplicably constrict. She spoke softly.
“Why has Su Xue come?”
“Your servant greets His Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years.”
Ye Su Xue suppressed the burgeoning desire within her, wave after wave of agitation surging. The moment her eyes fell upon the handsome man lounging lazily on the soft couch, she yearned to transform into a famished wolf and pounce.
However, her remaining shred of reason cautioned her against such a drastic action. His Majesty detested dissolute women.
“Rise, come and sit. What is it today?”
The Emperor spoke with concern. Ye Su Xue rose, unable to bear the tempestuous surge within her any longer. She quickly walked over and sat down beside the Emperor.
Inhaling his intoxicatingly pure and mellow scent, she couldn’t help but slightly close her eyes, letting out a soft, cat-like purr. Her delicate, jade-like hand lightly touched Shangguan Yao’s chest, and she spoke with utmost charm.
“Your Majesty, you haven’t spent time with Su Xue for so long. Su Xue misses you.”
That tender, soft murmur, coupled with the touch of her smooth, silk-like jade hand, was something few men could resist.
But this was Shangguan Yao’s sore spot. The mere thought that despite his desire, he could not exhibit his masculine prowess, caused his expression to darken, his eyes to become cold and indifferent. With a wave of his hand, Ye Su Xue was flung away, falling to the ground.
“Bold! To come to Jingfu Palace and attempt to seduce me?”
A righteous reason, yet only he knew his own rage. He wished he could kill to vent his frustration. If not for his impotence, he wouldn't have pushed away such a tender beauty.
Upon seeing the Emperor’s anger, Ye Su Xue panicked. She quickly kowtowed, “This servant deserves death. Your Majesty, spare this servant.”
Though she confessed her guilt, her eyes boldly and ardently fixed on the Emperor. Tears misted her eyes, filled with plaintive longing. Had His Majesty grown to dislike her? He wouldn't even touch her. Would she forever be relegated to an empty boudoir?
“Scram.”
Shangguan Yao showed no pity, becoming even more enraged. This was a helpless fury.
“Your Majesty?”
Ye Su Xue began to cry, her slender hands uncontrollably tugging at her collar. Her body felt as if it were on fire, her cheeks burning even hotter, a flush of crimson spreading across them.
Shangguan Yao, belatedly noticing the unusual circumstances, moved. His tall, imposing body approached. He squatted down and lightly touched Ye Su Xue’s cheek.
The searing heat undeniably stimulated his hand; it was far beyond ordinary warmth. Naked desire flickered in his pupils. All of this indicated…
Ye Su Xue had been drugged.
Why had someone drugged Ye Su Xue? It was clearly to humiliate him. This precisely proved that the person who had drugged him was hidden within the imperial palace. Not only had they drugged him, but they had also drugged his consorts. Who exactly was this person?
Shangguan Yao abruptly straightened, his entire being enveloped by a storm. The storm of his pupils churned with surging waves, and a cold killing intent permeated the entire study.
Alas, the drugged woman was oblivious. She had fallen into a state of semi-madness, clinging tightly to Shangguan Yao’s leg and rubbing against him. This brought Shangguan Yao even greater humiliation. His body stiffened, and he glared coldly at Ye Su Xue.
At this moment, Eunuch Ting’s voice sounded from outside the study door: “Your Majesty, Consort Lu wishes to see you.”
Inside the study, Shangguan Yao heard Xiao Tingzi’s words from outside, along with Ye Su Xue’s writhing moans on the floor. His inner rage was thoroughly ignited. His face was frosty, his pupils bloodshot, yet a smile played on his lips, a smile as sharp as an ice blade in February.
Good, very good. It seemed that person had not only drugged Ye Su Xue but also other consorts in the palace.
He was determined to catch them, tear them apart, and ensure they never found peace in this life or the next.
Shangguan Yao harbored his fierce thoughts, his eyes sinister. His resonant voice boomed, “Guards, throw Concubine Shuyuan Ye Su Xue into the Cold Jade Pool. She is not to come out for two hours.”
Outside the study, Xiao Tingzi, having received the order, hurried in with several young eunuchs. They looked into the study and saw the Shuyuan Consort, her clothes dishevelled, curled on the floor, panting intermittently like a small beast caught in heat.
Meanwhile, the Emperor was immaculately dressed, appearing unmoved, his expression sinister and extremely grim.
While other eunuchs might not have understood, Xiao Tingzi, as the Emperor’s personal eunuch, knew some of the inside story. However, it was best to pretend ignorance in such matters, lest he bring trouble upon himself.
“Your Majesty.”
Xiao Tingzi spoke cautiously, his body slightly bowed in respectful anticipation.
Shangguan Yao cast a cold glance, his bloodthirsty gaze sharpening as he commanded again, “Concubine Shuyuan’s conduct is improper. Throw her into the Cold Jade Pool for two hours. Furthermore, any consort who comes tonight is to be thrown into the Cold Jade Pool; they are not to come out for two hours.”
Xiao Tingzi, having received the order, waved his hand, instructing the eunuchs behind him to act. They quickly carried Concubine Shuyuan out.
Outside the hall, Consort Lu was also sent into the Cold Jade Pool along with her.
The Cold Jade Pool, as its name suggested, was originally used for summer relief from the heat. A natural cold spring flowed beneath it, making the water temperature different from elsewhere, hence the name Cold Jade Pool.
Unexpectedly, it was now being put to use. On this snowy winter day, the Emperor was sending people into the Cold Jade Pool, explicitly ordering them to stay for two hours.
Whether they would survive after two hours depended on fate. Although Xiao Tingzi sympathized with these beautiful women, he dared not disobey the Emperor’s decree.
The Cold Jade Pool was already covered in a layer of ice. The eunuchs broke several holes in it with stones and tossed Concubine Shuyuan and Consort Lu into the water.
By the poolside, cries continued unabated. The palace maids and eunuchs attending their masters felt heartbroken for their mistresses and fearful for their own futures.
Thus, they wept with great sorrow…
The north wind blew, and the snow drifted, blanketing everything in white. Those submerged in the pool soon found it unbearable.
The heat from the Love-Making Powder, coupled with the icy water of the pool, created a torturous cycle of cold and heat, causing several people to tremble and weep in misery.
Consort Shu, Ye Su Xue, was not like the others. As she regained consciousness, her first thought was to call for help.
“Yue Mei, quickly go to Changxin Palace and request an audience with the Empress Dowager. Her Highness will surely save us!”
Yue Mei, jolted back to reality, wiped away her tears. Seeing her master’s pale face and chattering teeth, she quickly nodded and dashed away…
On the large tree outside Jingfu Palace.
Yun Xiao swung her legs, smiling with extreme delight. Her eyebrows were as beautiful as a painting, her mood uplifted, and even her tone of voice was as pleasant as a yellow oriole’s.
“Wan Wan, isn’t this very amusing?”
Her words sounded mischievous. Wan Wan rolled her eyes, huffing. She couldn’t help but plead, “Master, it’s so cold outside. Let’s go back.”
“Alright,”
Yun Xiao nodded. She had enjoyed the spectacle and received Shangguan Yao’s gift. She might as well go back for a warm beauty sleep. With that thought, the two prepared to descend the tree.