Chapter 104: Volume 1, Chapter 104: Charming Favorite

Prince Qi frowned. "Mother, Dai'er hasn't done anything wrong. She is wholly devoted to me. If she knew anything about a matter this important, she certainly wouldn't keep it from me."

Consort Ming spoke dismissively. "If you don't harden your heart and force her to extract information from Di Yue Nu, then when the Crown Prince ascends the throne one day, you and I will both have to forfeit our lives. By then, what could Rong Dai do for you? At a time of life and death, you're still caught up in romantic sentiments — you've truly disappointed your mother!"

Seeing her son's expression darken, Consort Ming softened her tone slightly. "Besides, she did her utmost for you today. When you ascend to a high position another day, you can bestow a consort title upon her as compensation. But if you and I have no tomorrow, what good end could your Dai'er possibly meet?"

Prince Qi was clearly persuaded and gave a slight nod. "I understand, Mother."

"That's more like it." Consort Ming nodded in satisfaction. "This time, your father's encounter with an assassin caused a drastic change in his temperament. He's now suspicious of everyone. Egged on by the court officials, he wants to establish a new government office. No matter what, this new office must not fall into the Crown Prince's hands. You must stop it."

"I know. I'm already working on this." Prince Qi nodded. "I've joined forces with several court officials to submit a memorial to Father. Even if we can't change Father's mind, at the very least we won't let him hand the matter of the new office to the Crown Prince."

"In any case, you must do your utmost on this matter. It would be best if you could seize control of the new office yourself." Though Consort Ming knew the odds were slim, she still held out hope. "Since your father began taking those elixirs, he's placed great trust in those few Daoist priests. Try to see if you can establish a connection with them."

Prince Qi frowned slightly, clearly displeased with those Daoist priests. "If bribing them is discovered, the consequences would be endless. Besides, what great use could bribing them serve? Father merely likes their pills — he wouldn't easily trust them in other matters."

"Not now, perhaps, but hard to say about the future." Consort Ming couldn't help recalling how, some days ago when His Majesty stayed overnight at Guanju Palace, his appearance behind the bed curtains at night had been somewhat frightening.

Whether those elixirs could prolong life was debatable, but they did make one remarkably aroused during intercourse. Consort Ming knew that those Daoist priests, in pursuit of wealth and glory, had likely mixed some aphrodisiac into the pills.

It was from then on that Consort Ming understood why His Majesty had become increasingly reckless in his behavior. How long he could keep this up was uncertain, but before that point, she had to pave the way for her son.

Consort Ming looked at her son, her expression turning stern. "No matter what you think in your heart, you must do it. You must bring those few Daoist priests under your control."

Prince Qi looked at his mother's stern expression, fell silent for a moment, then said, "I understand, Mother."

Consort Ming picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked at her son. "Those who aim to achieve great things do not fuss over trivialities. Those Daoist priests may not have much ability, but at a crucial moment, a few words of advice before your father could work wonders. In the struggle for imperial power, it's kill or be killed — there is no path of retreat. You're soft-hearted now, but if you end up imprisoned in the future, will others be soft-hearted toward you?"

Prince Qi finished the tea in his hand and rose. "I'll take my leave now."

"Go ahead." Consort Ming nodded in satisfaction.

As soon as Prince Qi left, Consort Ming put away her gentle expression, sneered in an instant, and thought of Liu Yingying, then of the Empress. Did the Empress truly think she had no way to deal with her?

Consort Ming entered the bedchamber, took out a palm-sized brocade box from a hidden compartment in the bed, and opened the gold clasp. Inside was a mutton-fat jade vial. She tilted it gently, and a vermilion pill rolled out.

Her jade-white fingertips held the vermilion pill, turning it slightly. After a long moment, Consort Ming gave a soft laugh, placed the pill into a white jade cup on the table, and returned the brocade box to its original place.

Carrying the jade cup in her right hand, she walked out. Bai Zhuo was just coming in carrying a food box, set the box on the table, and bowed as she reported, "Your Ladyship, the ginseng soup is here."

After saying this, Bai Zhuo opened the food box, then stepped aside.

Consort Ming stepped forward and gently tipped the red pill from the jade cup. That streak of red fell into the jade-white ginseng soup.

Closing the food box again, Consort Ming looked at Bai Zhuo. "Let's go."

Bai Zhuo acknowledged, stepped forward to pick up the food box, and followed behind Consort Ming out of Guanju Palace.

The Daoist temple in the northeast corner of the imperial palace was especially bustling today. People coming one after another to seek an audience with His Majesty were endless, yet none managed to see his face. Only Consort Ming, carrying ginseng soup, walked right in.

Bai Zhuo stood guard outside the door. The sound of water and soft panting alternated from within the room, occasionally interspersed with His Majesty's hearty laughter and Consort Ming's coy murmurs.

Bai Zhuo lowered her head slightly. She knew today's matter had succeeded.

At this moment, the room was in disarray. Water from the white jade bath overflowed all over the floor. Consort Ming wore only a layer of light pink gauze. Her figure remained perfectly proportioned, and having borne a child, her curves were all the more seductive.

The emperor gripped her waist, thrusting vigorously. If one looked closely, one could see that his face bore an unusual flush, the veins at his temples throbbing intermittently. Gone was the handsome elegance of his youth — he was now nothing more than a man grown stout from excessive indulgence in food and lust.

Consort Ming slowly closed her eyes, feigning enjoyment. Only when the emperor finally let out a low roar and collapsed spent upon her, motionless, did she exhale slightly. In an instant she put on another face, laughing softly. "Your Majesty is truly as vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger, no less than in your prime."

Though the emperor had already spent himself, that deep-seated itch still hadn't faded. His hands roamed up and down Consort Ming's body, and hearing her words pleased him even more.

For some reason, he seemed especially spirited today. The dragon beneath him appeared to be rising again, trembling yet not fully rigid, which inevitably left him somewhat frustrated and irritable.

At the sight, Consort Ming's jade hand slowly slid down from the emperor's chest, and she leaned down with it. A drape of red gauze enveloped their figures, and the emperor's breathing suddenly grew heavy and deep…

In Fengyi Palace, the Empress heard that Consort Ming had entered the Daoist temple and hadn't come out for half a day. Her face darkened like still water, and her mood sank to the bottom of a lake.

That fox!

The Empress had a vague feeling that this matter would likely end in failure again. She didn't know what tricks Consort Ming possessed that could make His Majesty so endlessly fixated on her.

The sky gradually darkened. It wasn't just the Empress who was in a poor mood — there was also Rong Luoge in the Dong Gong.

Before the curfew, Han Xinglan hurried back cloaked in the night, bringing news that was not good.

"Hu Dachuan has escaped. Di Yue Nu's whereabouts are unknown."

Rong Luoge rose to her feet at these words. She walked to Han Xinglan and looked at him. "When did this happen?"

"At the hour of Xu."

That was an hour ago. Rong Luoge instinctively grabbed Han Xinglan's hand. "Someone must have helped them. Could they have another backer in the capital?"

Otherwise, after curfew, who could evade the patrolling soldiers and smuggle someone away?