Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 97: Serving in the Bedchamber

   Wei Yingluo slowly opened her eyes.

Her limbs felt weak and limp, as though she were floating on clouds. After a while, her mind gradually cleared, and she looked around to assess her current situation.

This was a clean room. She lay on a bed with two thick quilts beneath her. A kang stove burned warmly beside her, filling the room with spring-like warmth.

“Yingluo, you’re finally awake.” Several palace maids gathered around. One held a towel, another carried hot tea. Wei Yingluo didn’t dare accept or drink anything. She watched them warily: “Where is this place? Why am I here?”

“This is one of the side chambers in Yangxin Hall,” a palace maid replied with a smile, her eyes carrying a trace of envy. “Yingluo, you walked through the heavy snow for four whole hours. His Majesty showed mercy and pardoned your offense.”

The moment Wei Yingluo heard it was a side chamber, she immediately flipped off the bed without another word and rushed toward the door.

“Hey, where are you going?” The maids hurried to block her.

“Hasn’t His Majesty already pardoned me?” Wei Yingluo suppressed the unease and anxiety in her heart and said, “I need to return to Changchun Palace.”

The two maids exchanged a glance and burst into giggles.

Maid: “Even if you want to go back to Changchun Palace, you can’t go looking like that—you’ll frighten Her Majesty the Empress!”

Wei Yingluo looked down at herself. Indeed, she was in a wretched state—covered not only in snow but also mud. The heat from the kang had dried it all onto her clothes. When she leaned in closer, there was a strange, unpleasant smell.

Maid: “We’ll help you wash up and change clothes, then do your hair again. Come!”

Wei Yingluo hesitated at first, but the maids pulled her firmly behind the screen.

The water in the bath tub was neither too hot nor too cold. One maid constantly tested the temperature with her hand; if it cooled even slightly, she called for someone to add a scoop of hot water, keeping the water at exactly the same warmth.

The maids helped Wei Yingluo bathe her body and wash her hair. A horn comb was drawn gently from root to tip, and finally a light fragrance oil was applied, leaving her hair glossy black with a faint scent of gardenia.

Once she was fully washed, dressed, and adorned, Wei Yingluo looked at the mirror they handed her and couldn’t help frowning: “What is the meaning of this?”

The unease in her heart seemed to be gradually turning into reality. Just look at what the mirror reflected: a gold-inlaid butterfly hairpin, Zhenzhu-style earrings, a winter robe embroidered with a hundred butterflies flitting among flowers. This was absolutely not the attire of a palace maid—it was the proper dress of a mistress of the palace.

The two maids exchanged smiles and spoke in unison: “Congratulations, Yingluo!”

Before Wei Yingluo could react, the two quickly left and locked the door behind them.

Wei Yingluo panicked and rushed straight to the door: “Open the door! Open it quickly! What are you people doing?!”

She pounded on the door for a long time, but not even a crack budged. Finally, gritting her teeth, she lowered her body and slammed upward with all her strength—only for the door to suddenly swing open from the outside. Caught completely off guard, she stumbled forward and fell right into a man’s arms.

This sensation… it was unmistakably the same person who had held her when she fainted earlier.

Wei Yingluo slowly raised her head. She never could have imagined it would be him:

“Your Majesty…”

Hongli looked down at her, a flash of amazement passing through his eyes.

Wei Yingluo was a beauty. Even dressed in a palace maid’s robes, she stood out among the crowd of maids, instantly drawing attention. Yet the palace was never short of beautiful women, and Hongli had never considered himself someone easily swayed by feminine charms. But today, at this moment, his mind was filled entirely with the conversation he had earlier with the Empress.

“Your Majesty, are you truly insisting on breaking off this marriage without any personal motives?”

   “What personal motives could I possibly have!”

   “Perhaps… Your Majesty has taken a liking to Wei Yingluo and wishes to keep her for yourself.”

   “Your Majesty…” Wei Yingluo’s puzzled voice pulled him back from his memories.

Hongli blinked. Only then did he realize that, at some point, his right hand had already risen to gently caress her cheek—tenderly, almost reluctantly.

Wei Yingluo seemed startled by his touch. She quickly stepped back several paces and raised her hand to remove the earring from her right ear:

“Your Majesty, please forgive me. The palace maids must have given me the wrong clothes and jewelry. This servant will take them off at once!”

She hurriedly removed the earrings, bracelets, hairpins, and rings. Then she suddenly noticed how unnaturally quiet the room had become. Cautiously glancing toward Hongli, she saw that he had, at some unknown moment, seated himself in a chair, one hand propping up his chin as he watched her.

“What’s wrong?” he said lightly. “Go on.”

No way… Wei Yingluo clutched the front of her robe with one hand and swallowed hard.

All the jeweled hairpins and ornaments had already been removed and placed on the table. The only thing left on her body was this single garment…

Hongli tapped his fingers on the tabletop: “Weren’t you going to change? Why have you stopped?”

Wei Yingluo gripped her robe even tighter: “This servant’s original clothes are all soaked through. I dare not offend Your Majesty’s presence.”

After a brief silence, Hongli suddenly said: “Come here.”

Bound by the order, Wei Yingluo could only grit her teeth and take a tiny step forward.

Hongli frowned: “I said come here.”

Warily, Wei Yingluo edged one more step closer—only to be suddenly yanked forward by Hongli until she stood right in front of him.

As if unwilling to bear the irritation alone, Hongli stared at her for a long moment before abruptly asking:

“The Empress said I’ve taken a fancy to you. What do you think?”

Wei Yingluo’s heart pounded wildly—not from being moved, but from sheer fright. Forcing a smile onto her face, she replied:

“Your Majesty must be joking. The rear palace is filled with beauties, a riot of purple and red. This servant is crude and ignorant—nothing more than a roadside wildflower. How could I possibly dare to tarnish Your Majesty’s eyes!”

Hongli studied her carefully. His gaze made every hair on Wei Yingluo’s body stand on end. Suddenly, he laughed:

“Upon careful reflection… a garden full of flowers blooming together makes for true spring. I’ve grown tired of obedient, gentle beauties. Having one prickly little thorn like you around would actually be quite interesting.”

Wei Yingluo was shocked: “Your Majesty!”

Hongli: “What? You’re unwilling?”

Wei Yingluo felt goosebumps rise all over her body. Wherever he had touched her itched as though caterpillars were crawling across her skin. She used every ounce of willpower not to shove him away, managing only a strained smile:

“Your Majesty, this servant only wishes to stay by the Empress’s side. Why must you, for a momentary whim, damage the affection between you and Her Majesty? Besides… besides, you are the Emperor, possessing the wealth of the four seas, broad-minded and magnanimous… and also…”

Hongli’s lips curved slightly: “And also what?”

Wei Yingluo said anxiously:

“Your Majesty, with a single imperial decree you could summon the most peerless beauties in the realm—plump like Lady Huan or slender like Lady Yan, all varieties available! I guarantee every one of them would be gentle and perfectly to your taste. Why must you force someone unwilling? It only diminishes your dignity!”

Hongli scoffed with icy disdain.

“It seems you’re unwilling.”

Wei Yingluo answered decisively:

“How can a house sparrow flock with a phoenix? This slave knows her own place!”

Hongli pondered for a moment.

“‘Thinking of the vastness of the Nine Provinces—surely it is not only here that beautiful women exist.’ I am the Emperor of Great Qing, master of the Nine Provinces. The beauties of the entire realm are mine to choose from. Why would I force an unwilling woman? There is no pleasure in it at all!”

Wei Yingluo was just about to feel relieved when suddenly her body lightened—she was lifted horizontally into someone’s arms.

Hongli sneered:

“Were you hoping I would say exactly that?”

He carried her to the bed and placed her down, then knelt on one knee beside her. Leaning over, his upper body pressed down like a mountain collapsing, making it hard for Wei Yingluo to breathe. The moment she turned her head aside, she felt his lips lightly brush her earlobe. Warm breath poured into her ear as he smiled and said:

“Let me tell you—I find forcing a woman for the first time particularly interesting! The more unwilling you are, the more I want to possess you!”

With that, he gently pecked her ear.

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