Chapter 364: Chapter 359: Imperial Concubine
Ji Fei had agreed not to touch Ye Qiu during the day, but he didn’t leave Changchun Palace and seemed determined to stay overnight.
"Lady, the bath is ready," Qing E happily announced. Although the Emperor has been visiting the Imperial Concubine frequently over the past two months, he didn’t favor her even once. Now that new concubines have entered the palace, who knew what could happen next? It was best for the Lady to conceive as soon as possible.
Ye Qiu understood why the palace maids were excited, although she herself was indifferent. However, she didn’t plan to tell them about it. If Ji Fei wanted to stay overnight, let him stay; after all, she wasn’t really going to serve him anyway, and right now she still needed the honor he provided for her endeavors.
That night, Ye Qiu stayed awake, but Ji Fei lying beside her with closed eyes seemed very excited, his face unusually flushed - it was unsure what he dreamt about.
"Your Majesty, it’s time to get up and attend court," Ye Qiu called softly from beside his bed.
"What time is it?" Ji Fei asked groggily.
"It’s 5:45 AM."
"Then it’s time to get up." Ji Fei’s voice sounded slightly exhausted, and there were dark circles under his eyes, but his eyes gleamed with excitement as he spoke to Ye Qiu, "beloved princess, you must be tired from last night too, you don’t have to wake up this early in the future."
With a shy smile, Ye Qiu said, "Your Majesty is teasing me again."
Struggling to get up, Ji Fei fondly pinched her hand, expressing his regret as he went to wash and dress with the help of the palace attendants.
Changchun Palace was festive today. It wasn’t long before the entire harem knew the Emperor had spent last night at the Imperial Concubine’s quarters and sent generous gifts early in the morning.
In Chuxiu Palace, Qiao Qingyue stood in front of a camellia tree, its pink-purple flowers torn woefully apart by her.
He had promised her, promised that he would favor no one else before her elevation, but he broke his promise.
The atmosphere around Qiao Qingyue turned even colder, and the other concubines distanced themselves further from her.
Her days in Chuxiu Palace had been neither good nor bad. To avoid suspicion and ostracism, Ji Fei deliberately didn’t give her any preferential treatment, while Qiao Qingyue always maintained a cool, aloof demeanor that made almost everyone think she was just going through the motions.
She couldn’t just sit by and do nothing. During a quiet afternoon, Qiao Qingyue managed to pass a handkerchief to a little eunuch that Ji Fei had mentioned before. The handkerchief had nothing but a moon embroidered on it.
This handkerchief soon reached Ji Fei’s hands, and at that moment, he regretted favoring Ye Qiu the previous night even more. How could he have been so impulsive and uncontrollable?
Ji Fei imagined Qiao Qingyue looking dejected after hearing about his night with the Imperial Concubine, and he felt immensely guilty.
"An Fu, any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate?" Ji Fei did not believe he was bewitched by Ye Qiu; he’d rather believe she used some special drug or method to confuse him.
"Your Majesty, this servant has inquired with the palace maids around Imperial Concubine and the Palace Bureau attendants, and there’s nothing unusual," An Fu answered respectfully.
Hearing this, Ji Fei frowned deeply, suspicious, "Then do you think it could be some form of witchcraft..." He stopped halfway, immediately dismissing the idea. After the witchcraft debacle in the previous dynasty led to a massive purge in the harem and signs of dynastic decline, this dynasty strictly banned such practices. Even Taoists and Monks were suppressed. There was no way for the Imperial Concubine, who had absolutely no contacts in these forbidden arts, to be involved.
"Your Majesty, have you ever considered that you might have feelings for the Imperial Concubine?" An Fu ventured cautiously.
"How is that possible?" Ji Fei instinctively denied it.
An Fu saw Ji Fei’s unhappy expression and timely shut his mouth, thinking that those involved are often confused and oblivious while the bystanders can see clearly. Is the Emperor not deeply fond of the Imperial Concubine as he ponders over her day and night?
Although Ji Fei denied what An Fu said, he started to have doubts in his heart. He knew well that he only used Ye Qiu, and that his beloved was his Little Moon. How could he have feelings for Ye Qiu?
He shook his head, feeling that it would be wiser to see her less until he figured out the peculiarities about Ye Qiu.
"Sister." Ye Mu was on duty today, and after his shift, he came to Changchun Palace as per Ye Qiu’s wish.
"What exactly did you find out? Grandfather said he understands your intentions and told you not to worry too much." There was no one else around today, so Ye Mu straightforwardly voiced his deep concern.
The family initially did not agree to their sister marrying the man who was then the Second Prince, but she was smitten and adamant to marry none but him. The Ye Family, having only this daughter, could only pamper her. When they saw that the Emperor treated her well and she appeared happy, the Ye Family felt reassured. Even when the Second Prince got involved in the struggle for the throne, they helplessly supported him.
But why would his sister, who has always protected the Emperor, suddenly warn him to be wary of the Emperor?
Ye Qiu gave a self-deprecating smile, though her face showed no sign of sadness, "I just found out that the Emperor is a man of great ambition. To him, it seems our Ye Family poses too great a threat."
Ye Mu furrowed his brow, seeming to not understand Ye Qiu’s words, "Sister, do you want Father to relinquish military power?"
"Why would you think that?" Ye Qiu stared at him speechlessly.
Ye Mu looked a bit innocent. Hadn’t it always been like this? Whatever was good for the Emperor, his sister would try every means to achieve it.
"What if I said I want to start a rebellion?" Ye Qiu said, gazing into Ye Mu’s eyes.
"Sister, are you joking..." Ye Mu’s words were cut short as he gazed into Ye Qiu’s serious eyes and suddenly fell silent, "Did you really mean what you just said?" His voice turned hoarse, then nervously looked around, fearing someone might hear them.
"No one will hear us," Ye Qiu affirmed confidently, her gaze sharp, "If men can be Emperors, why can’t women? I will prove it to everyone."
"What do you need me to do?" Ye Mu didn’t ask her reasons or plans, his first reaction was to support her.
Ye Qiu looked at him and chuckled lightly, "Don’t be too nervous, this is just a thought of mine. You just need to relay this to Grandfather, and do nothing else for now, not even tell Father or Uncle."
Ye Mu was silent, looking at Ye Qiu, but then felt a mix of excitement and pity.
The excitement stemmed from his sister preparing to undertake a great endeavor, and the pity from the thought that the Emperor must have wronged her deeply to cause such a drastic change in her demeanor.
Ye Mu went back and relayed the matter to his grandfather as instructed by his sister, but all his grandfather said was: I know. He then went back to taking care of his pony.
"Grandfather, aren’t you worried about Sister?" Ye Mu asked anxiously.
In Ye Xing’s murky eyes, a glint of sharpness flickered, "Once your sister was the smartest among all the children, although she became foolish for a while, fortunately, she has finally come to her senses."