Feng Yi’s gaze met Song Yunzhao’s while looking down at her from above. He caught the unease, anticipation, and faint worry hidden in her eyes.
Then, he saw her lower her head slightly, a bit awkwardly, and slowly rest against his chest. From her ears to her neck, a blush spread.
That hazy red seemed to seep into Feng Yi’s heart. In that moment, he felt emotions he had never experienced before surging within him. Instinctively, he held his breath, his fingers curling into a fist, the slight pain from his nails digging into his palm bringing him back to reality.
Song Yunzhao thought to herself—she had gone this far. If the Emperor still didn’t make a move, she couldn’t possibly take the initiative to undo his robes. That wouldn’t do. It would compromise her maidenly modesty, and if the Emperor ever grew displeased with her in the future, he might recall her actions as improper.
But if he continued to do nothing, what should she do?
Her mind raced, but before she could come up with a plan, she suddenly found herself falling backward. When she came to her senses, she realized Feng Yi had pinned her onto the bed.
The Emperor was quite something—he had just “bed-pinned” her!
With his unparalleled beauty and this sudden move, Song Yunzhao’s face turned completely red…
Feng Yi noticed her staring at him, stunned and motionless, her tear-streaked eyes still glistening. Their gazes intertwined, and he saw her cover her flushed face with both hands.
Feng Yi’s mood instantly brightened.
He gently removed her hands, their eyes meeting once more. This time, Yunzhao didn’t look away. She suppressed her maidenly shyness and held his gaze steadily.
In that moment, Feng Yi saw that her eyes held only him.
With a wave of the Emperor’s hand, the bed curtains fell, and the soft light enveloped them. Song Yunzhao felt it was time. She wrapped her arms around the Emperor’s neck, tilted her head slightly, and pressed her red lips gently against his.
That kiss seemed to break some kind of spell. Feng Yi’s breathing grew rapid as he lowered his head and captured her lips…
The light flickered, the bed curtains swayed slightly, and after a long while, Feng Yi’s voice emerged from within the canopy. “What is this?”
Song Yunzhao exclaimed in surprise, “Oh no, how did that get here? It’s nothing, nothing.”
“Let me see.”
“No.”
“Let me see.”
“How can you look? This was given to me by my aunt…”
Song Yunzhao’s voice was cut off as the item was snatched away. She covered her face, refusing to acknowledge him.
Feng Yi hadn’t intended to take it, but the more Song Yunzhao refused, the more curious he became.
When he opened it, he found… a “fire prevention diagram”[mfn]Probably referring to an erotic image/s. In the past it was assumed that the God of Fire was a woman. When she got angry she set things on fire, so people put erotic paintings near their books. If the maiden god saw them, she would be embarrassed and leave instead of causing trouble[/mfn]!
The awkwardness was palpable.
Feng Yi felt so embarrassed he thought he could dig out an entire palace with his bare hands.
Meanwhile, Song Yunzhao let out a long sigh of relief. At least he had discovered it. The “fire prevention diagram” had indeed been secretly placed among her gifts by her aunt during her visit to the palace.
When she first saw it, she was shocked and quickly hid it, not daring to let the palace maids see.
It wasn’t until today that she remembered it. The Emperor was known for his cleanliness. The book had mentioned that even as a prince, he had no palace maids to teach him such matters. After becoming Emperor, it was even less likely anyone would bring it up.
Of course, the book didn’t detail everything. After all, censorship was strict—anything below the neck was cut. One moment it was night, and the next, it was morning.
Song Yunzhao didn’t know how the Emperor spent his wedding nights in the book, but she was determined that he wouldn’t look back on tonight as an unpleasant experience.
To preserve the Emperor’s dignity, she deliberately hid the “fire prevention diagram” her aunt had given her deep under the pillow. As expected of the male lead, the Emperor found it.
What followed was only natural. Song Yunzhao simply needed to close her eyes and feign shyness. The Emperor could take the lead, and she wouldn’t utter a single objection. She was determined to give him the ultimate experience and the most beautiful memory.
Moreover, Yunzhao hadn’t just perfected her makeup—her inner garments were carefully chosen as well. Her slender waist was cinched tightly, wrapped in pink fabric, with two blooming peach blossoms embroidered at the chest.
The more brazen she was outside, the more gentle and shy she became within the canopy. Soft and delicate, seemingly fragile, how could she not captivate Feng Yi?
Outside the hall, Meng Jiuchang stood guard. It was his first time at Wangyou Palace. Zhang Maoquan had accompanied the Emperor the previous night, but Meng Jiuchang, feeling uneasy, used the excuse of waking the Emperor early to arrive in the middle of the night.
What could Zhang Maoquan do?
He had no choice but to smile and welcome him. Meng Jiuchang, with a sly grin, said, “Chief Zhang, you’ve worked hard through the night. Go rest early; I’ll take over here.”
Zhang Maoquan wouldn’t agree. If he left, all the credit for guarding the night would go to Meng Jiuchang. Only a fool would do that.
“I appreciate Chief Meng’s kindness, but His Majesty instructed me to wake him at the appointed time. I wouldn’t dare delay His Majesty’s affairs,” Zhang Maoquan replied lightly, making it clear he saw through Meng Jiuchang’s scheme.
Meng Jiuchang: …
Realizing Zhang Maoquan wouldn’t budge, Meng Jiuchang stopped arguing and stood outside the hall. Zhang Maoquan couldn’t possibly drive him away.
Zhang Maoquan was furious but helpless. That shameless dog was becoming more brazen by the day.
Feng Yi heard the call to wake and opened his eyes. He paused, realizing this wasn’t his familiar dragon bed. Then, as if recalling something, his face flushed.
He remembered how awkward he had felt the first time last night. Fortunately, Yunzhao didn’t know anything, allowing him to muddle through without embarrassment. The second time, however, was much better, which boosted his confidence.
Turning his head, he saw Yunzhao sleeping soundly. Held in his arms, her cheeks were slightly damp with sweat, a few strands of hair clung to her face. Her small face was soft and pink. At that moment, Feng Yi remembered that Yunzhao was still quite young.
Carefully, he tried to withdraw his arm. But as soon as he moved, Yunzhao slowly opened her eyes. Her usually dark gaze now carried a hint of confusion as she looked up at him, dazed.
Feng Yi, caught in her gaze, simply stared back. Their eyes gradually merged.
As Yunzhao regained clarity, she suddenly pulled the quilt over her head. Feng Yi, seeing her reaction, couldn’t help but laugh, his earlier discomfort dissipating.
“Rest a bit longer. I need to attend court,” Feng Yi said, checking the time as he sat up.
Yunzhao, still groggy from sleep, thought to herself—while the Emperor might be inexperienced in wedding nights, some theories couldn’t apply to him. Her poor waist—it was nearly broken. She was genuinely exhausted and had no energy left.
No wonder he’s fit to be the male lead—he excels in every way.
Having performed her role all night, Song Yunzhao knew she couldn’t slip up at the very last moment. She peeked her small head out from the quilt, her wide eyes rolling about as she glanced at the Emperor, wearing an expression as if she wanted to speak but was too shy to do so.
Feng Yi saw her looking like a timid little rabbit and immediately said, “What do you want to say?”
Song Yunzhao lightly coughed and, lowering her voice, replied, “I didn’t expect Your Majesty to rise so early. I overslept.”
As a concubine, it was her duty to wake earlier than the Emperor and take on the responsibility of rousing him.
Feng Yi, however, didn’t think much of it. When he’d spent nights in other palaces, it was always Meng Jiuchang and the others who woke him. Casually, he said, “It’s fine. You… were tired last night. Keep resting.”
Song Yunzhao looked at the Emperor’s faintly reddened face with suspicion. Oh my, what a profit she’d made! This shy young Emperor would likely be a rare sight in the future.
A delighted smile appeared on Yunzhao’s face. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s consideration. I shall comply.”
With that, Song Yunzhao promptly lay back down to sleep—she was truly exhausted.
Besides, if the Emperor were to visit often in the future, there was no way she’d get up early every day to be the perfect, diligent concubine. Being a naturally lazy person, she was determined to stick to her persona and never waver.
Feng Yi, seeing her close her eyes as soon as she lay down, rubbed his nose before turning to leave.
In the outer hall, Meng Jiuchang arrived with his attendants to serve the Emperor. Everything from robes to shoes was prepared.
Zhang Maoquan had a nagging feeling he’d forgotten something—ah, the Emperor’s dragon robe!
Meng Jiuchang diligently assisted the Emperor in dressing, while Zhang Maoquan refused to be outdone, bringing water basins and towels to help the Emperor wash.
Feng Yi didn’t concern himself with their minor rivalry. Those who served him closely couldn’t be allowed to unite too strongly—otherwise, they might collude to deceive their Emperor.
On the way to Taiji Palace, Feng Yi instructed Zhang Maoquan to deliver rewards to Wangyou Palace later in the day. Remembering Yunzhao’s financial struggles, he even added a box of silver for her.
Listening to this, Meng Jiuchang frowned slightly. The rewards for Wangyou Palace were starting to rival those given to the three main consorts in the past. Moreover, the specific instruction to wait until later clearly showed the Emperor wanted to avoid disturbing Noble Concubine Song’s rest.
No wonder Zhang Maoquan had been making frequent visits—he’d realized the Emperor’s growing interest. Meng Jiuchang’s thoughts began to stir.
At Taiji Palace, the Emperor attended court.
Meanwhile, at Wangyou Palace, Song Yunzhao only rose once she’d had her fill of sleep. She didn’t want to move at all, now truly believing the Emperor lacked experience. All those books spoke of the joy of mutual affection, but she felt nothing of the sort—just exhaustion and soreness.
Hearing the commotion, Xiang Xue and the others entered with smiling faces to serve her. Yu Momo led the maids in tidying up the bedding, causing Yunzhao’s face to flush again.
As a modern person, even after living in ancient times for so many years, she was still unaccustomed to others seeing her private affairs. But she also knew she couldn’t refuse—what was she going to do, wash the linens herself?
Left with no choice, she thickened her skin and pretended not to see as Yu Momo, beaming with joy, carefully folded the “bridal handkerchief” and placed it in a box.
At this thought, she suddenly remembered a plot hole in the book.
In the story, the Emperor never truly spent the night with his consorts. Then how were the “bridal handkerchiefs” from the first night presented?
And another thing: for example, after last night, when a bath was required, Anshun had to bring people to prepare hot water, and Xiang Xue and the others also had to rotate shifts to provide fresh clothes.
Consort Shu and the others might be able to deceive outsiders, but could they really fool their own palace servants?
That was certainly impossible.
So, it was clear that the three consorts must have maintained absolute control over their palace staff to keep any whispers from leaking out.
She also thought about how, in the book, the Emperor, to maintain appearances, would bathe every time he stayed overnight at one of the three consorts’ palaces. He might not have done anything, but he sure put on a convincing act.
However, Song Yunzhao believed the author hadn’t carefully considered these details when writing. With so many eyes in the palace, how could such a secret be kept for two years? And in those two years, not a single consort in the palace became pregnant—surely the court officials would have had suspicions?
She needed to think this through carefully. At this thought, her gaze instinctively shifted to her own abdomen.
The Emperor hadn’t given her any contraceptive medicine, and her heart skipped a beat. She didn’t want to have a child too soon. Her position was still unstable, and she might not be able to protect the child.
But if a child did come, she would have to work even harder to climb the ranks.
After breakfast, Song Yunzhao leaned against the couch by the bed, absentmindedly reading a book. She was still uncomfortable and didn’t feel like moving. Leaning like this felt just right.
“Master, Chief Zhang is here.”
Song Yunzhao froze. What was Zhang Maoquan doing here at this hour?
“Invite him in,” Song Yunzhao said as she adjusted her posture and straightened her attire.
Soon, Zhang Maoquan entered. “This servant greets Noble Concubine and comes bearing rewards as instructed by His Majesty.”
Rewards?
Oh, how she loved that.
Zhang Maoquan conveyed the Emperor’s decree and had the rewards carried in, filling an entire table.
Song Yunzhao’s eyes lit up. Oh, she had forgotten—there were always rewards after the first night.
After expressing her gratitude to the Emperor, she rewarded Zhang Maoquan and had Yu Momo see him out.
Xiang Xue and the others surrounded their mistress, showering her with blessings and good wishes. Song Yunzhao reached out to touch the shimmering silks and glanced at the two boxes of jewelry suited for her, along with a box of silver. The Emperor’s generosity left her immensely satisfied.
Shi Zhu and the others began cataloging and storing the rewards in Wangyou Palace’s treasury.
When Yu Momo returned from seeing Zhang Maoquan off, she was beaming. “Since there’s no Empress in the palace and Imperial Noble Consort has passed away, there’s no need for you to wake early to pay respects. However, other palaces may later send gifts to congratulate you on serving His Majesty.”
Song Yunzhao nodded slightly. “Handle these matters as you see fit, Momo.”
The gifts sent by each palace were delivered by their stewards or palace maids, so there was no need for Song Yunzhao to receive them personally. Yu Momo was sent to handle the formalities.
Sometimes, Yunzhao didn’t quite understand this kind of etiquette—it stabbed at her heart and others’ hearts alike. What was the point?
As expected, the three consorts were the first to send their congratulatory gifts, followed by other palaces in succession. The three consorts’ gifts were all jewelry, while the other palaces’ gifts varied. Everything was recorded in a register, as Yunzhao would have to reciprocate these gifts later.
While flipping through the register, she noticed that Lu Zhixue’s gift to her was a bolt of silver-gray silk. The corners of her mouth twitched. How bold of her—on such a joyous day, she sent something silver and white, bringing nothing but bad luck.
Seeing Yunzhao’s displeasure, Yu Momo said, “Master, you shouldn’t take it to heart. Many eyes are on you now. If you let this bother you, it may harm your reputation and make you the target of criticism.”
Yunzhao replied, “Momo, I disagree. Lu Zhixue isn’t from an insignificant background—she’s the legitimate daughter of a powerful family. How could she not understand social etiquette? She’s clearly doing this on purpose to disgust me.”
Xiang Xue chimed in, “Concubine Lu is truly overstepping. She keeps targeting you again and again.”
Shi Zhu nodded in agreement. “If Master overlooks this incident, she will only grow bolder in the future.”
Qing Feng, carrying tea into the room, heard this and said softly, “Master, being too confrontational might damage your reputation.”
Shi Zhu glanced at her. “I know you’re naturally cautious, but have you considered the current situation? This is Master’s first time serving His Majesty, and among the new concubines, she’s the first to receive this honor. Concubine Lu is only being bold because her family background is superior to Master’s. If Master lets this slide, it’ll never end.”
Song Yunzhao watched the debate with amusement, finding it rather interesting. Internally, she agreed with Shi Zhu. People like Lu Zhixue only learned their lesson after being humiliated.
Previously, Lu Zhixue’s offenses were mere verbal slights, offering no tangible evidence. But this time, it was different.
Seeing Yunzhao’s expression, Yu Momo carefully considered her options before suggesting, “Master, why not let me return the gift to her?”
Returning the gift would certainly be a strong statement.
Yunzhao looked at her and said, “Momo, you truly are a kind-hearted person.”
Yu Momo smiled awkwardly and sighed. “Perhaps I am a bit cautious.”
“I know you mean well,” Yunzhao said with a smile.
Relieved, Yu Momo listened as her mistress continued, “But my personality is such that I thrive on confrontation. If Concubine Lu slaps me in the face like this, how can I just let it slide? Otherwise, everyone will think I’m easy to bully, and I’ll become a stepping stone for all.”
Yu Momo, realizing she couldn’t change her mistress’s mind, thought for a moment and said, “Master, why not involve Chief Zhang in this matter?”
After all, Yunzhao couldn’t confront Lu Zhixue directly. Zhang Maoquan had been making frequent visits to Wangyou Palace, and Yu Momo wasn’t blind to his intentions. If he had ulterior motives, he might as well lend a hand.
Yunzhao found this suggestion agreeable and smiled. “In that case, I’ll trouble you with this matter.”
Yu Momo nodded promptly. “I’ll handle it right away. Shall I take the silk with me?”
“Go ahead,” Yunzhao replied without hesitation.
Once Yu Momo had left, Shi Zhu said, “If Chief Zhang helps us with this, I’ll make him tea the next time he visits Wangyou Palace.”
Xiang Xue glared at her. “Don’t create unnecessary trouble. We need to be careful with people serving the Emperor.”
“What’s there to fear? It’s just tea, not poison.”
Xiang Xue: …
Qing Feng, listening from the side, stifled a laugh as she placed a teacup near her mistress. She then said, “The bureaus have been diligent this time, sending us a fresh batch of tea. Master, would you like to try it?”
Song Yunzhao thought to herself—everyone craved favor and power.
Previously, the bureaus had tried to pressure her. Now, seeing her meteoric rise, they were quick to curry favor.
Outside Taiji Palace, Zhang Maoquan dismissed Yu Momo, carrying the bolt of silk into a side hall and casually placing it on a table. Glancing at its silver-white color, he couldn’t help but scoff.
The silk was indeed of exceptional quality and rare. The silver-white hue was achieved by weaving real silver threads into it, making it shimmer brilliantly under sunlight.
But what’s the use of beautiful, expensive silk? On someone’s joyous day, you deliberately send white[mfn]The traditional color of mourning[/mfn]—aren’t you just cursing them?
Concubine Lu, yes, she’s the daughter of the Minister of Personnel.
What a coincidence—this very Minister has been collaborating with Grand Tutor Qin, stirring up trouble in court these past few days. The memorials to impeach Song Nanyong (Song Yunzhao’s uncle) were piling up like snowflakes. Without the Ministry of Personnel’s influence, could this have happened so conveniently?
The Emperor was already dissatisfied with Minister Lu, and now his own daughter provided the perfect handle against him. Was this raising a daughter or raising a foe?
If it hadn’t been for the perfect timing, Zhang Maoquan might not have agreed so readily to assist in this matter.
A heaven-sent opportunity like this couldn’t be ignored—his ambition to climb higher wouldn’t allow it.
Zhang Maoquan waited patiently for the court officials seeking an audience to leave before carrying the silk into the hall.
Feng Yi was massaging his temples while reading memorials, his expression dark. Military expenses for the year would increase by another 10%. These corrupt officials—did they think they could control him by holding the military budget hostage? Dream on!
“Your Majesty.”
Feng Yi raised his head in annoyance, giving Zhang Maoquan a pointed look but remaining silent.
Zhang Maoquan’s heart skipped a beat. Clearly, the Emperor was in a bad mood—how fortunate he had arrived at just the right time. He began, “Yu Momo from Wangyou Palace just reported something to me.”
Hearing “Wangyou Palace,” Feng Yi’s expression softened. “Is there something wrong with Noble Concubine Song?”
Zhang Maoquan’s eyes gleamed. Even with the Emperor in a foul mood, the mention of Wangyou Palace had improved his tone. This proved his earlier decision wise. Without delay, he relayed the matter in full detail, making sure not to exaggerate.
When he presented the silk, he deliberately stepped into the light, letting the glaring silver-white color catch the Emperor’s eye.
Feng Yi’s expression darkened. Concubine Lu. He recalled—Lu Shiqi’s daughter. His lips curled into a cold sneer.
“Relay my decree. Concubine Lu has shown insubordination; dock her salary for three months and confine her for one month.”
“As you command,” Zhang Maoquan replied, startled. He hadn’t expected the punishment to be so severe, indicating how much the Emperor valued Noble Concubine Song.
Feng Yi’s face remained stern, but after a long pause, he let out a faint scoff. Then, turning to Meng Jiuchang, he instructed, “From this year’s newly tributed silk, select some brightly colored ones to be sent to Wangyou Palace.”
Meng Jiuchang immediately bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Meng Jiuchang and his team proceeded to the Emperor’s private storage, where the newly tributed silks were piled high. They selected more than a dozen bolts in vibrant colors befitting Noble Concubine Song’s status and personally delivered them.
Meng Jiuchang didn’t mind running this errand—it was clear that with the current favorable winds, this concubine was destined to soar.
Sometimes, luck struck unexpectedly. Noble Concubine Song came from an ordinary family, ranking at the bottom among the new consorts. Who would’ve thought she’d catch the Emperor’s eye?
Not only was she the first to spend the night with him, but she even managed to provoke the Emperor into scolding and punishing the daughter of Minister Lu. News of this, when it reached the front court, would surely stir up waves. And the inner palace wouldn’t remain peaceful either.
Song Yunzhao, receiving yet another set of rewards, felt dumbfounded. After giving Meng Jiuchang a generous pouch as a token of thanks and sending him off with a broad smile, she turned around—and her face darkened.
Great, she had wanted to use the Emperor to vent her frustration, and in return, she had attracted a massive wave of animosity.
She realized the “dog Emperor” was someone who absolutely never suffered a loss.
After all, they had shared a spring night—was there a need to be this heartless?
Forcing a smile, Song Yunzhao found herself unable to maintain it. She could already foresee how the women of the harem would view her as their number one enemy now that Lu Zhixue had been punished.
This cannon fodder role of hers was now dazzlingly radiant.
Did Yunzhao freeze because she thought the emperor sent medicine to prevent a pregnancy?
Anyways thanks for the chapter !!
I think that you’re spot on!!