Chapter 358: Chapter 353: Imperial Concubine
"Your Majesty, it’s getting late. Would you like to visit the harem?" An Fu asked cautiously, glancing at the sky.
Ji Fei paused from reviewing the memorials, rubbed his temples with a headache, and with a gentle clasp of the wallet at his waist, he closed his eyes and said, "No need. Send someone to reply to the Imperial Concubine, telling her I was occupied with state affairs today."
"As you command!"
"Lady, the eunuch from Yangxin Hall said His Majesty has rested there tonight after growing tired from reviewing memorials."
"I know."
Ye Qiu, attended by palace maids, removed her makeup, bathed, and went to bed indifferently as she explored this "Conquer Emperor" system. Although the system no longer had intelligence, it still retained the basic initial setting upon entry.
On the left column of the system, the achievements she had already obtained were listed: Skin like Jello, Charming Eyes, Aroma Invading the Senses, and Voice Like a Pearl. On the right, the progress of the conquest was displayed. She found that Ji Fei’s current affection points towards her were 20. Ye Qiu sneered to herself, a Favored Concubine? Not even reaching the pass mark! But this also confirmed that the Emperor had indeed no real affection for her, only utilitarian use.
This system also has a store where you can exchange the Emperor’s affection points for store items, but looking through them, Ye Qiu saw they were all items used in women’s palace conflicts, such as Fetus Protection Pills, Fertility Pill, Fake Pregnancy Pill, Illusion Pill, and so on.
Huh, this Illusion Pill seems interesting—once taken by someone, it can produce the delusion of having been bedded? The system really does consider everything!
But thinking about it makes sense, not every Emperor is handsome and dashing. What if one encounters an ugly and disgusting Emperor, and the task-taker can’t stomach it? With this Illusion Pill, there’s no need to worry.
Ye Qiu was satisfied with this discovery; she had been worried about how she would serve in bed in the future! This Illusion Pill was indeed suitable for her current situation.
Having resolved a major concern in her heart, Ye Qiu slept well through the night.
Today, without needing to greet formally, Ye Qiu slept in. Just after waking up, the palace maid Xue Juan told her that her younger brother Ye Mu had come to visit.
The Ye Family was an aristocratic military family. Now her father Ye Xiuting, her uncle Ye Xiuming, her elder brother Ye Cheng, and her cousin Ye Ke were all stationed at the border. Her grandfather, having aged, was granted the title of Lord by the new Emperor and resided mainly in the capital, accompanied by Ye Qiu’s young brother Ye Mu, who held the position of a guard before the Emperor.
"This humble servant pays respect to the Imperial Concubine Lady," said Ye Mu. The men of the Ye Family were not in the habit of taking concubines; Ye Cheng, Ye Qiu, and Ye Mu were all born to mother Ye Mu, a woman from Jiangnan with a beautiful appearance. Her looks were not inherited by Ye Cheng but rather passed to Ye Qiu and Ye Mu, even surpassing her beauty. However, Ye Mu was a man, tall and sturdy, not at all effeminate but instead remarkably handsome, often rated as the foremost amongst the four most eligible bachelors in the capital.
"Why such formality with family?" chuckled Ye Qiu lightly, quickly bidding him to be seated.
Ye Mu revealed a brilliantly handsome smile, "Ceremony must not be abandoned. Sister, did you call me here today for a particular reason?"
"Nothing important, I just wanted to inquire about the family, how is grandfather’s health?"
"All is well, except that the old wound on his left leg aches a bit when it rains."
Hearing this, Ye Qiu frowned, "How come after all these years, his old wound is still troubling? Later I will have the Imperial Physician go back with you to take a look."
Ye Mu did not refuse Ye Qiu’s kindness but just sighed, "It’ll just be some prescriptions to replenish energy and strengthen the body, as you know, grandfather hates drinking those."
"It’s still better to have it checked. By the way, since Ah Wang died, has grandfather taken to raising any other dogs?"
Ye Qiu suddenly changed the subject, and Ye Mu replied seriously, "No, grandfather now prefers raising horses."
"It’s good to raise horses. Dogs become arrogant and lose all sense of measure when pampered too much. Horses are gentle and lack the power to attack."
"Sister is right." Ye Mu’s eyes flickered, and with one look at Ye Qiu, he understood her meaning.
Ah Wang was a dog previously raised by the Ye Family. It was vicious and powerful, and Grandpa Ye was quite fond of it. But after raising it for a year, it bit one of the servants in charge of the dogs, leading Grandpa Ye to order it to be put down.
Although the Ye Family are not dogs, in the eyes of the Emperor, they are dogs that work for him, and like Ah Wang, they are dogs that bite. Is Sister suggesting that His Majesty is now wary of the Ye Family and looking for an opportunity to punish them?
Ye Mu drank a cup of clear tea, keeping the information passed to him by Ye Qiu deep in his heart.
"What are you discussing so joyfully?" Ji Fei appeared suddenly from the next room with a smile.
"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Your concubine pays respects to the Emperor, may Your Majesty live in peace and prosperity."
The siblings both got up and bowed to Ji Fei.
"We are family, why be so polite? Please, take your seats." Ji Fei said with a warm and friendly smile, even personally helping Ye Qiu up.
Ye Qiu bowed her head and chuckled lightly. It was exactly this pretense that deceived her in her previous life, leading to her family’s downfall.
"Mu and I were just discussing the new colt Grandfather has been raising," Ye Qiu said with a light and pleasant smile, sitting beside Ji Fei according to his lead.
Hearing Ye Qiu’s voice, Ji Fei was momentarily entranced. Why did the voice of the Imperial Concubine sound so pleasant? And this fragrance, was it a new spice from the palace? It smelled so good! And the touch of her skin, how did it become so much smoother in just a couple of days?
Ji Fei couldn’t help but take a deep breath, his hand that would usually have let go of Ye Qiu after assisting her remained clasped. His heart fluttered, and following Ye Qiu’s lead, he asked: "Oh? Since when is Duke Ye fond of raising horses?"
Respectfully, Ye Mu replied: "To answer Your Majesty, it’s the Ferghana horse that was brought back from the border recently that has given birth to a colt, which Grandfather adores and has been taking care of personally."
Upon hearing this, Ji Fei burst into laughter: "Duke Ye really is like that. I recall in past years, when he was at the border, he once exchanged heated letters with Father Emperor over a few horses! I remember the stables in the Imperial City have also welcomed a few new colts recently. Why not send some to Duke Ye to accompany his little colt?"
"Then on behalf of Grandfather, I thank Your Majesty. He will be very pleased."
"Duke Ye has great merits to our dynasty; these are trivialities indeed." Ji Fei laughed heartily, but his gaze drifted off as he looked at Ye Qiu, "It’s getting late. My beloved official should head to your post."
Ye Mu glanced at Ye Qiu and, seeing her reassuring expression, bowed and said, "Your servant takes his leave."
Once Ye Mu left, Ji Fei dismissed the palace maids and eunuchs attending to them. He pinched Ye Qiu’s soft hand and deeply inhaled, asking, "What kind of perfume is my beloved using? It smells so good?"
Ye Qiu suppressed her impatience and chuckled lightly: "There’s no special perfume; it’s just that the palace has been decorated with more fruits recently."
Ji Fei smelled again and realized: "I knew there was a natural and fresh scent! The concoctions from the Palace Bureau are always too pungent. My Lady’s method is much better."
"If the Emperor likes it, then it’s good."