"How did she end up being rescued by His Majesty?"Consort Wei narrowed her eyes. Something about the whole affair didn't sit right with her—it all felt a little too convenient.
"It was merely a coincidence, Your Grace," the maid answered respectfully.
Consort Wei sank slowly into her seat, her expression cooling as she mulled things over. If it was a coincidence, so be it. The Emperor might be taken with her for a while, but he always lost interest eventually.
She would wait.
After all, in this harem, no one had ever managed to outplay her. Let that so-called Consort Chen dance for now—her fall would be all the sweeter.
"And where is the second Miss Meng now?"
"She's been accepted into the Wei manor as the young master's concubine."
A sneer curled on Consort Wei's lips. So the precious little sister had become nothing more than a lowly concubine. That surely wouldn't reflect well on Consort Chen's so-called dignity.
"Host a banquet tomorrow," she instructed. "Invite Second Miss Meng to attend."
She couldn't touch Consort Chen directly—but venting her frustration on that concubine from the same household? That was fair game.
Meanwhile, in the Wei estate, Meng Wenxian was on her knees, painstakingly copying scriptures for Lady Wei.
Earlier that morning, she'd tried to flatter the household matron, hoping to bypass the official first wife—but instead of gaining favor, she'd ended up punished and assigned scripture copying by none other than the first wife herself.
Watching her beloved young lady suffer, the loyal old maidservant, Granny Shi, was nearly in tears. Back when they were at home, the girl's mother had to copy scriptures for the Empress Dowager. And now, the daughter was being tormented in another household. Could this all be karma…? The late lady's spirit, come to exact revenge?
"Miss, please endure it for now," Granny Shi whispered. "Once you win the young master's affection, that vicious first wife won't dare to treat you this way."
But Meng Wenxian's expression twisted bitterly at those words.
"He'll never love me," she muttered. "He... he..."
"He what?" Granny Shi urged anxiously. "Miss, speak clearly—"
Meng Wenxian clenched her eyes shut and confessed, "When we share a bed at night, he keeps calling out my sister's name."
Granny Shi paled instantly and rushed to clamp a hand over the girl's mouth.
"You mustn't say such things! Your sister is now a royal consort—His Majesty's woman. If anyone hears this, the Wei family could be accused of treason. We'd all be executed!"
Seeing her maidservant shake in fear, Meng Wenxian let out a cold laugh.
"That might be true for other families," she scoffed. "But the Wei family has the Noble Consort backing them. The young master even said—once His Majesty tires of my sister, he'll have the Noble Consort arrange for her to be smuggled out of the palace. By then, she'll be nothing, not even as favored as me."
Granny Shi stared, horrified. "Are they not afraid His Majesty will find out?"
"With the Noble Consort's protection? What do they have to fear? Even if they can't sneak her out, the young master could still force himself on her inside the palace. As long as the Noble Consort turns a blind eye, my sister won't dare make a fuss."
Granny Shi's understanding of court politics took a sharp turn. No wonder they say: better to offend the King of Hell than to provoke the Noble Consort.
"Then Miss," she advised quickly, "you must do your best to win over the young master. Seek a way into the palace, get close to the Noble Consort. If you can find a way to send your sister to his bed, the young master would be overjoyed."
Meng Wenxian's eyes lit up.
"You're right, Granny. If I can pull this off, the young master will finally see my worth."
That evening, Wei Quan stumbled drunkenly into the manor. As soon as he stepped through the door, Meng Wenxian flung herself into his arms, all soft curves and sweet fragrance.
"My lord," she purred, "since entering the manor, I've missed my elder sister terribly. Could you bring me into the palace? Just once—to see her."
Wei Quan sobered up instantly. At the mention of visiting Meng Wenyao, he perked up and grabbed her hand with enthusiasm.
"Excellent idea! We'll pay dear Consort Chen a visit—just you and me. But don't get jealous, alright?"
Watching his greasy, flushed face, Meng Wenxian nearly gagged. But she swallowed her disgust, gave a delicate laugh, and cooed, "Why would I be jealous? If I could see my sister every day, I'd be grateful to you forever."
Wei Quan laughed loudly, completely intoxicated—by wine, yes, but also by his own delusions.
"I'll make sure you're reunited soon enough. And when that night comes… the three of us together… hahahaha!"
Back at the palace, the Emperor and Meng Wenyao were about to dine.
But the sun was still high. Meng Wenyao glanced at the light outside and hesitated.
"Isn't it a bit early for dinner? I'm not too hungry yet, Your Majesty."
After all, once dinner was over… it would be bedtime. And after last night's ordeal, she was honestly dreading it.
[System: Don't worry, Host. It won't hurt tonight.]
"Maybe not, but it'll still be exhausting. I feel like my spine's about to crack."
[System: If you want a break, you could take the Conception Pill tonight. Once you're pregnant, you'll be excused from bed duty.]
"Except pregnancy takes a month to kick in. Even if I took it now, I'd still be stuck with him every night until then."
[System: …good point.]
And besides, it was too early to get pregnant. If she didn't secure the Emperor's affection first, someone like the Noble Consort might just snatch the child and raise it as her own. She'd end up nothing more than a royal broodmare.
Palace maids were already placing dishes on the table.
"Have a bowl of bird's nest to whet your appetite," the Emperor said, leaving no room for refusal.
Resigned, she picked up her spoon and began eating slowly.
"You're far too thin," the Emperor said, watching her intently. "If you keep serving me every night, your body won't be able to handle it."
The insinuation in his tone made her cheeks flush.
"Your Majesty," she asked carefully, "aren't there many other ladies in the palace? Do you truly only visit me?"
He gently took her hand, voice low and intimate. "Would you rather I didn't come every night?"
"Of course not," she replied with a coy smile. "But Your Majesty belongs to the entire harem. I wouldn't want to monopolize you and leave the others to pine away in loneliness."
He leaned over and kissed her cheek, indulgent.
"To me, there's only you, Yaoyao. Only you."
She rolled her eyes, playfully accusing, "I'm sure that's what you told every new concubine."
The Emperor put down his chopsticks and swept her into his lap in one sudden movement.
"You doubt me?" he whispered against her ear. "Didn't you feel how much I cherished you last night?"
Red-faced, she buried her face into his neck. "Your Majesty… there are still people here…"
The servants, recognizing their cue, quietly slipped away.
Eunuch Hua covered her mouth to stifle a chuckle.
Ruyi, clearly reluctant, looked back over her shoulder. "Shouldn't someone stay behind to serve Their Majesties dinner? I could—"
Eunuch Hua gave her a side-eye and pulled her away. "When we're called, we'll return. For now, you'd just be getting in the way."
As the others left, Ruyi blushed furiously and scurried after them.
In the Emperor's arms, Meng Wenyao shifted nervously. "Your Majesty, I really am hungry…"
The fear that he'd pounce on her again without letting her eat made her anxious. If she was going to survive the night, she needed energy first.
"What would you like to eat? I'll feed you myself."
He kept one arm locked around her waist, the other hand reaching for the table.
"I'll eat whatever Your Majesty picks for me."
Her smile was demure, her gaze shy and sweet. Playing the part of the gentle, yielding consort, she charmed the Emperor into momentary restraint. He plucked a piece of lamb and brought it to her lips.