Chapter 363: Chapter 358: Imperial Concubine
When Ye Qiu said these words, even she almost got goosebumps. Her voice was indeed too seductive, yet it was crisp and pleasant to the ear, not at all repelling, but instead made people unconsciously agree with what she said.
Ji Fei seemed as if his soul was about to be hooked away. He affectionately took hold of Ye Qiu’s hand, his face revealing a foolishly enamored smile: "Alright, I’ll go with you."
Ye Qiu indeed achieved her goal. Although she kept telling herself that the Emperor was just acting, Qiao Qingyue still couldn’t help feeling intense jealousy. When would she be able to openly walk alongside the Emperor and receive the envious glares of others?
"The Emperor and the Noble Consort make a perfect pair!" The girl with the somewhat profound facial features exclaimed with a look of admiration. In that moment, Qiao Qingyue’s spirits sunk even lower, to the point where she could barely maintain the calm smile on her face.
After the two most important people of the flower appreciation banquet left, there was no reason for the remaining people to stay. They returned to Chuxiu Palace with feelings of anxiety or disappointment.
"Why are you blocking my way?" Wang Yajing, on her way back, looked displeased at the well-dressed Wang Yaning blocking her path, scoffing inwardly at her for having no class, for sticking whatever expensive thing she could find onto herself.
Wang Yaning held her head high, looking at Wang Yajing with a sneer: "How brazen, a mere Concubine dares to not pay respects upon seeing me?"
Feeling the gaze of the other Concubines around her, Wang Yajing nearly gritted her teeth in anger: "Wang Yaning, don’t you forget your place."
"My place? I am the Lady granted by His Majesty himself, mother to the Second Prince," Wang Yaning said with pride.
In broad daylight, a rankless Concubine like Wang Yajing indeed should offer her respects to a first-rank Lady. She kneeled down in humiliation, eyes filled with icy malice: "Wang Yaning, Aunt will not let you off."
Indeed, Wang Yaning feared that Empress Dowager Wang would trouble her. However, she steadied herself with the thought that she had the Second Prince by her side, which gave her quite a confidence boost. And to make Wang Yajing kneel before her, even if she were scolded by her Aunt, it was worth it!
"Hmph! Wang Yajing, do you think you are still in the manor?" Wang Yaning said to Wang Yajing in a low voice, "You and your mother could have never imagined that my aunt and I would have our day."
"Miss Wang is disrespectful to me, so let her kneel for half an hour as punishment!" After Wang Yaning lightly uttered these words, she walked past Wang Yajing. The fury in Wang Yajing’s heart intensified.
She kept consoling herself that all this was temporary and that one day she would make Wang Yaning’s death an unworthy one.
"Qiu’er, aren’t you tired? Let’s rest in the inner chamber!" Perhaps it was Ye Qiu’s voice that was too enchanting, even Ji Fei, who despised her very much, called out her pet name.
The desire in Ji Fei’s eyes was very clear, yet Ye Qiu had no intention of tending to him. She sat properly in her seat and poured herself a cup of tea, saying in all seriousness: "It’s noon, have the meal brought up first, I am hungry."
Ji Fei felt a bit of regret, but he accommodated her wishes: "Indeed, your health is most important."
Ye Qiu couldn’t be bothered to answer him, contently sipping her tea while lowering her gaze.
But Ji Fei didn’t seem interested in tasting the tea. He stared at Ye Qiu without batting an eyelid, his eyes tender as if he wanted to melt her into his heart.
"Chirp." Suddenly, a Hua Mei bird flew to the window. However, its call was different from the usual Hua Mei. The bird’s black beady eyes spun around, and then it flew onto Ye Qiu’s shoulder.
"Where did this Hua Mei bird come from?" Ji Fei asked with displeasure.
"It’s one I’ve raised," Ye Qiu replied, gently stroking the little Hua Mei bird’s feathers and smiling at it.
For a moment, Ji Fei was once again lost in Ye Qiu’s smile, yet he was fiercely jealous that the smile wasn’t meant for him.
Suddenly confused, he shook his head. How could he have such strange thoughts? Why would he be jealous of a Hua Mei bird?
But he has no idea that the painted bunting bird also dislikes him intensely right now. A mere mortal daring to covet its owner? Back in the day...
Huh? What about back in the day?
The painted bunting bird, transformed from Little Golden Crow, fell into deep thought.
"It’s quite nice to have a little bird for amusement." Hearing that Ye Qiu raised the bird herself and seemed to like it a lot, Ji Fei made this remark, apparently to curry favor with her.
Ye Qiu silently checked the favorability level Ji Fei had towards her in the "Conquer Emperor" System, and it had actually skyrocketed to ninety at this moment! These skills were just too powerful, but once Ji Fei moved a bit further away from her, that favorability would deflate rapidly.
Since Ji Fei stayed in Changchun Palace for his meal today, the food was much richer than usual, yet he didn’t have much of an appetite. Watching Ye Qiuxin eat heartily yet slowly, he felt somewhat anxious inside, not understanding why he just wanted to hold Ye Qiu in his arms, to talk to her, to be intimate with her.
Ye Qiu, on the other hand, was neither hasty nor slow. The Imperial Kitchen’s cooking was excellent, and there were a few extra fresh dishes today, so she ate a little more than usual, not worrying about overeating.
Having finished eating, it was time to rest, Ji Fei thought, and then he dismissed the Palace Attendants serving them.
At this moment, Ye Qiu said, "Isn’t the Emperor busy with state affairs recently? Today’s morning has already been delayed; shouldn’t Your Majesty return to review the memorials?"
Is she urging me to leave now?
Ji Fei felt a little hurt inside, and at the same time, he blamed himself. Had he been neglecting her these last two months?
"I know I’ve been neglecting you recently. I swear I won’t do it again." Ji Fei hugged Ye Qiu and promised.
"Your Majesty, under the bright daylight, do you intend to break the ancestral rules?" Ye Qiu chuckled softly as she wriggled out from his embrace and walked to the side, then coaxed him gently, "You are the Emperor, and I am your personally honored Imperial Concubine. Is daytime really necessary when any other time would do? Does Your Majesty want me to be censured by the Imperial Censor?"
Hearing the aggrieved tone in Ye Qiu’s voice, Ji Fei grew anxious: "That’s not what I meant."
Resting against him, Ye Qiu laughed lightly: "Then, Your Majesty, please don’t pressure your concubine during the daytime, alright?"
Facing Ye Qiu’s Skill "Voice Like a Pearl", Ji Fei was almost ready to agree to whatever she said, even though he was itching to act, he still held back.
"Wait and see how I deal with you tonight." Ji Fei pinched Ye Qiu’s nose indulgently and said.
Ye Qiu smiled softly with her eyes downcast, then walked aside to play with her Little Golden Crow.
"Qiuqiu, I don’t like him. Is he your husband? He’s not worthy of you," Little Golden Crow spoke earnestly.
"It’s just a task," Ye Qiu communicated with it telepathically.
"Phew! That’s a relief," Little Golden Crow heaved a sigh, then it became puzzled again, "But Qiuqiu, why do you need to complete the task?"
"I don’t know either. The System told me to do so."
"Who is the System? Who dares to force you? You are..."
But who are you again? Little Golden Crow got confused again. Ye Qiu sighed; it seemed that who she was wasn’t a simple matter.