Chapter 367: Chapter 362: Imperial Concubine
That feeling of dissatisfaction returned once more; Ji Fei had thought that when he was with Little Moon, it wouldn’t be the same hasty end as it had been with Consort Hui and Consort Wang. However, reality slapped him hard across the face. He was certain there was nothing wrong with his body, but he could not find that same exhilarating satisfaction he got when with the Imperial Concubine.
After the first hasty conclusion, aside from the pain, Qiao Qingyue’s body was somewhat stiff, entirely different from the wedding night she had imagined. Was it because she was too inexperienced?
Looking at Ji Fei’s somewhat stunned and blank expression, for some reason, Qiao Qingyue felt a pain in her heart as if pricked by a needle. No, she must not leave the Emperor with any bad impression.
Qiao Qingyue, enduring the shame and discomfort in her body, gently leaned on Ji Fei’s shoulder, her tone carrying a hint of grievance: "Emperor, am I a disappointment to you?"
Ji Fei was brought back to his senses by Qiao Qingyue’s words. He embraced her back, kissing her at the top of her head with pity: "No, it’s my fault. Recently, state affairs have been too onerous, and I’ve been concerned about the disaster victims who have lost their homes." As he continued, his face grew flush with heat; this was the first time he ever lied to his Little Moon, and he felt an overwhelming guilt.
After Ji Fei gave this explanation, Qiao Qingyue almost imperceptibly sighed with relief. She truly believed him, confident that no one in the entire harem could rival her in figure, appearance, or talent. Moreover, she and the Emperor had been in tune with each other over the years. It had not been easy for the two of them to come together, and she believed the Emperor would never fail her—Qiao Qingyue was confident in her own capabilities.
After calling for water once, although both Ji Fei and Qiao Qingyue felt some regret, neither had the thought to try again, afraid that the more they attempted, the more disappointed they would become. The two embraced and went to sleep.
"Oh my, isn’t this Consort Wang?" Today was the first day of the month, the day when it was customary to pay respects to the Imperial Concubine and Empress Dowager Wang. Lady Wang Yaning waited early in the morning on the path that Wang Yajing had to take, her words laced with arrogance and mockery.
"Paying respects to Lady Wang." Wang Yajing took a deep breath and performed the salute with suppressed frustration.
But Wang Yaning had no intention of letting her up, instead she walked around her once: "Oh my, I thought that as the Wang family’s legitimate daughter, you would be made a Noble Consort. But who would have thought you’d only be a concubine? I heard it’s been a month since you entered the palace and the Emperor has only visited your chambers once?"
Wang Yajing lowered her head and gritted her teeth as she whispered, "Wang Yaning, don’t go too far, don’t forget who is your support and who is your enemy, do you really need to be so foolish?"
Wang Yaning sneered: "What of it? Wang Yajing, don’t think that just because you’ve entered the palace, your mother can torment my aunt at will. You really think I don’t get news from home! Tell your mother, however she torments my aunt, I will torment you in the same way."
Wang Yajing was startled; Wang Yaning had always been a vain and brainless fool, how did she come to have knowledge of the family’s affairs?
Seeing Wang Yajing’s expression, Wang Yaning grew furious. Indeed, the person had not lied to her. At first, she didn’t believe the letter personally written by her aunt, but now she did. The Wang family had sent her to fight for the Emperor’s favor in Prince Wang Mansion, but after she gave birth to the Second Prince, they still treated her merely as a stepping stone for Wang Yajing, thinking of giving the Second Prince to Wang Yajing? They would have to see if she would agree!
Wang Yaning had never felt as angry as she did in this moment. Knowing she wasn’t the smartest, she had always heeded the Empress Dowager and her family’s advice. And what had been the result? When the Emperor’s position was not yet secure, she had been a test stone, and now that the Emperor had succeeded, they wanted her to step aside for Wang Yajing?
Where in the world were there such good things?
Doesn’t anyone stand by my side? Then I might as well listen to that person’s advice and stir up this muddy water even more. I am the birth mother of the Second Prince, and as long as I don’t commit any taboo, no one can do anything to me!
"Wang Yaning, what exactly do you want? Have you forgotten how Aunt punished you by confining you last time?" Wang Yajing threatened.
Wang Yajing’s gaze flickered, just as she was about to say something, two groups of people approached.
"Greetings to Lady, the mother of Eldest Prince." It was Fang Pin who had come; today, she dressed up specially, her beauty not falling short compared to the sisters Wang Yaning and Wang Yajing, and with the Eldest Prince in tow, her aura was even more vibrant.
"What’s the matter? Consort Wang seems to be looking quite unwell!" Fang Pin said with a hint of schadenfreude.
"Fortune to Sister Fang Pin, fortune to the Eldest Prince." Wang Yajing bowed respectfully, her expression returning to normal, "Sister Fang Pin is mistaken, my sister and I were just reminiscing."
"Is that so? Then it must have been my mistake!" Fang Pin would love for the two sisters to start a squabble, as one was the birth mother of the Second Prince, and the other was the legitimate daughter of the Wang family, both posing the greatest threat to her aside from the Imperial Concubine.
"Eh? Isn’t that Yue Zhaoyi? Why is she walking down that path?" From afar, she watched Qiao Qingyue’s cold and lonely figure, and inexplicably felt a twinge of dislike in her heart, as if everyone else was a mere mortal while she alone was like a Fairy.
"Sister, aren’t you leaving yet? It wouldn’t be good to delay paying respects to the Imperial Concubine." Wang Yajing timely said, her tone slightly cold.
At this moment, Wang Yaning, no matter how uncomfortable she felt inside, had no choice but to leave. She silently vowed that should anything untoward happen to Aunt, she would never let Wang Yajing off lightly.
"Greetings to Imperial Concubine Lady, wishing you boundless peace and prosperity." According to ancestral rules, concubines below fourth-rank were not eligible to come and pay respects, so those who appeared in Changchun Palace today, aside from old acquaintances like Lady, Fang Pin, and Consort Zhang, were just the newly favored Consort Hui, Consort Wang, Yue Zhaoyi, and Lin Cairen.
A month had passed, and all the new concubines had taken their turns in the imperial bedchamber. Consort Hui and Yue Zhaoyi had the most, each twice, but Consort Wang and Lin Cairen received the most rewards in their enfeoffment. Therefore, it was hard to tell whom the Emperor favored the most, but to outsiders, it appeared he was equally benevolent to all.
However, in the past month, even though Ji Fei frequently spent the night in the chambers of the new concubines, after each summoning for the bedchamber service, he would send back a large amount of gifts to Changchun Palace, as if he felt guilty towards Ye Qiu. Thus, Ye Qiu remained the biggest threat to all the concubines in the palace.
Ye Qiu wore a treasure-blue palace dress today, and with the weather growing colder, she had a circle of snowy white fox fur around her neck, which made her fair skin look even more clear and alluring. Both the new concubines and the old ones were somewhat enchanted by her, while also feeling an increasingly heavy sense of crisis.
"All rise." Ye Qiu said languidly, her voice crisp and pleasant. After everyone had taken their seats, she raised her eyebrows slightly, "Just now, a messenger from Cining Palace reported that the Empress Dowager is unwell and has instructed that all my sisters need not come to pay respects. Lady and Consort Wang, as Empress Dowager’s nieces, you two will represent everyone and visit her later!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yaning and Wang Yajing stood up and performed a bowing ceremony: "Understood."