Chapter 378: Chapter 373: Imperial Concubine
"It’s all because the palace maid talked too much, Ying Chun, why don’t you go down now?" Qiao Qingyue scolded, then leaned gently against Ji Fei, "Your Majesty, it’s really alright, what harm does this make? Besides, I already have plenty of nephrite jade, missing this year’s isn’t too much of a concern."
Ji Fei felt deeply distressed upon hearing Qiao Qingyue’s reasonable speech: "It’s my fault for mistreating you. I still have some treasures in my private stash. I’ll have An Fu bring them to you immediately."
"An Fu, go fetch those two pieces of Jade locked in the chest from my private stash."
An Fu hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, are you referring to the two pieces that the Imperial Concubine wanted, and you did not grant her?"
"Did the Imperial Concubine ever ask me for them?" Ji Fei asked dubiously.
An Fu explained with a smile: "Your Majesty, you must have forgotten. When you quelled the rebellion in the Southern Province, you acquired those two pieces of superior water-green Jade. Back then, the Imperial Concubine desired to make a pair of bracelets with that Jade, but you awarded another piece with slightly lesser water-green quality."
Ji Fei pondered for a while but still could not remember, and looked at Qiao Qingyue’s face apologetically: "In that case, send that piece of green jade to the Imperial Concubine and send the Purple Jade to Xianyue Pavilion."
"Chee!"
"Qingyue, I’m sorry, I cannot confront the Imperial Concubine right now, so I have to appease her. However, the color of that green jade is too rich, you probably wouldn’t like it anyway, Purple Jade suits you more." Ji Fei explained this way.
Qiao Qingyue’s heart was bleeding, how could she know whether she liked it without seeing the item in front of her? What does it mean by ’the color is too rich’? As far as she knew, the greener the Jade, the more valuable it was, and even the rare Purple Jade was only a foil in front of high-quality green Jade.
Yet, she had no choice but to feign magnanimity: "How could I not understand the intentions of Your Majesty? However, I still hope that one day Your Majesty will no longer be controlled by others."
"That day will come." Ji Fei patted Qiao Qingyue’s shoulder and held her deeply in his arms.
It was another tumultuous night of passion, but Qiao Qingyue was somewhat uneasy. The Emperor looked so robust, but why did he falter at the crucial moment?
Qiao Qingyue couldn’t precisely articulate this feeling, lest the Emperor think she was insatiable!
After a hurried conclusion, both of them went to sleep separately; not just Qiao Qingyue, Ji Fei felt the same way. Why was he able to be satisfied with the Imperial Concubine, but he couldn’t perform well with Qiao Qingyue? Was it because she was too passive?
Ji Fei turned his back in frustration, blaming it on Qiao Qingyue. They both used the same spices and perfume oils from the palace, so why didn’t Qingyue’s fragrance smell as good as the Imperial Concubine’s? Why wasn’t her skin as smooth either?
But Qingyue was the one he truly loved; how could he disdain her for such reasons?
But the body’s instincts could not lie; the more Ji Fei closed his eyes, the more uneasy he felt, always feeling empty and unsettled.
Neither of them slept well that night, and their intimacy the next morning wasn’t like before. Some things change gradually over time; though subtle, quantitative changes will eventually lead to qualitative changes.
"An Fu, you are a eunuch, you might see things more clearly. Tell me, have I truly fallen for the Imperial Concubine?" After the morning assembly, Ji Fei, resting against the chair, suddenly asked.
An Fu cautiously approached: "Your Majesty, since you ask this of your servant, it shows that the Imperial Concubine holds a special place in your heart."
Is that so? Ji Fei silently asked himself.
An Fu tentatively asked: "Does Your Majesty often think of the Imperial Concubine when with other ladies? Are you happier and more relaxed with her?"
As An Fu continued questioning, Ji Fei’s certainty grew; he was astonished to find it was indeed true!
Although he also often thought of Qingyue, whenever he was with her, he felt as if he was on guard, tensely hoping not to upset her.
But when he was with the Imperial Concubine, he felt at ease; she arranged everything for him, and he didn’t have to worry about anything. Moreover, he was at his bravest when he was with her.
So, was this the sign that he was falling in love with the Imperial Concubine?
But how could he fall in love with her? Ye Family had already threatened him, and he had already decided to use her, to sacrifice her!
"An Fu, do you think there will be a good outcome between me and the Imperial Concubine?" Ji Fei suddenly asked while deep in thought.
An Fu, scared, his voice lowered, "Why would Your Majesty ask this? You are the most honorable Emperor under the heavens, and she is the Imperial Concubine whom you personally appointed. As long as you wish it, of course, there will be a good outcome."
Listening to An Fu, Ji Fei suddenly realized, yes, he was the Emperor, wasn’t it all up to him to decide? The Ye Family was indeed a threat to him, but not the Imperial Concubine; she had married into the Imperial Family and had nothing to do with the Ye Family, so whatever happens later wouldn’t involve her.
Ji Fei suddenly burst into laughter: "An Fu, who would have thought that, though you’re a eunuch, you still have such a quick mind."
An Fu’s body stiffened, then he smiled subserviently: "Your Majesty’s praise is too great, this servant dares not accept it."
Once he understood his own feelings, Ji Fei no longer held back when dealing with Ye Qiu, and a huge wave of rewards entered Changchun Palace.
Xianyue Pavilion’s Qiao Qingyue felt jealous upon hearing this, when would she be able to openly have all of this?
But soon, her grandfather said he was already collecting evidence of the Ye Family’s traitorous plans. Eventually, everything would become hers, currently, it was merely a formality to go through the motions at the Imperial Concubine’s place.
"You’re saying my concubine aunt is seriously ill?" In Yonghe Palace, Lady Wang Yaning clenched the letter in her hand.
"We have no grievances or grudges, there’s no need to lie to you." The person in black spoke accordingly.
Wang Yaning stared intently, "We didn’t know each other in the past, so why would you help me carry this message?"
The woman in black chuckled, but her eyes were unusually cold, "Because I have a vengeance against Mrs. Wang."
"Who are you exactly?" Wang Yaning pressed on, "How do I know you won’t turn against me in the future?"
"Don’t you remember me? Sister." The woman in black lifted her veil; she was equally beautiful, with features resembling Wang Yaning’s, except for a scar on her left face that marred her beauty.
"Wang Yaqing!" Wang Yaning exclaimed, "You’re still alive!"
"To seek vengeance against that woman, of course I’m still alive," Wang Yaqing said sinisterly.
"What about elder brother? He..." Wang Yaning inquired further.
"Elder brother is dead." Wang Yaqing’s eyes were very dim, "How could our great Lady allow an illegitimate son to be above her own son?"
"Then why don’t you seek direct revenge against her?"
"Is it fun to just kill her directly? Destroying her hopes is the true revenge—she wants her daughter to be the Empress, her son to become the Imperial Uncle, right? I just won’t let her succeed." Wang Yaqing’s eyes shone brightly, filled with vengeful light.
"Think carefully, do you also want your concubine aunt to die a humiliating death like mine?"