Chapter 283: Imperial Favor (3)

Her sister was taken away by Lou Xiyan, and with his careful care, she was very relieved. Recalling Lou Xiyan's furious appearance that day, Qingfeng was very curious: what would he do? It was obvious who had done it, but the other party was the Empress Dowager, the Emperor's own mother. What did he want to do? And what could he do?

Suddenly losing the mood to enjoy the scenery, Qingfeng's steps quickened. The two returned to the Qingfeng Palace. Xia Yin was arranging lunch. Seeing them return, Xia Yin stepped forward and whispered, "Concubine, a message came from the Zhengyang Palace saying the Emperor will come to have dinner with you tonight. This servant has already ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare."

"Hmm, do what you need to do. No need for lunch; I want to take a nap."

Xia Yin breathed a sigh of relief. This Master was different from others. According to past experience, the Emperor's arrival didn't necessarily make her happy. Xia Yin looked up and replied, "Yes." Her eyes inadvertently saw the silk Fuling was holding, and Xia Yin's heart jumped violently, her face turning pale. Fortunately, Qingfeng and Fuling had already entered the room.

Xia Yin covered her chest lightly and retreated quietly.

As soon as the lamps were lit, the Imperial Kitchen delivered dinner one after another, filling the long square table. Before long, the sharp shout of the eunuch also came from afar, "The Emperor has arrived."

When Yan Hongtian stepped into the Qingfeng Palace, the slender figure was already kneeling in the courtyard to receive him, "Long live the Emperor, long live, long live."

"Rise." Holding her hand to help her up, Yan Hongtian teased, "I thought you were used to receiving me with closed doors."

Qingfeng pouted and smiled, replying in a low voice, "If the Emperor likes it, this concubine would be very happy."

Yan Hongtian laughed. Recently, he had been exhausted by the celebration, and the feeling of having someone to bicker with was not bad.

"Serve the meal." Yan Hongtian looked a bit tired today and didn't say much during the meal. Qingfeng picked up food for him while saying, "This concubine went to visit Consort Hui today and found that Consort Hui's embroidery skills are superb. So, this concubine discussed it with her and decided to work together to contribute an embroidery painting as a congratulatory gift for the celebration. I will draw the design, the Silk Weaving House will rush to make it, and Consort Hui will provide guidance from the side. Emperor, what do you think?"

"Of course that's good. It's rare for you to have such a mood." Yan Hongtian said to Gao Jin behind him, "Gao Jin, issue an edict ordering the Silk Weaving House to provide ten people to be at Feng'er's disposal."

"Yes."

He called her "Feng'er" very naturally, but Qingfeng felt as if her heart had been hammered. Only her most beloved family members used to call her that. Today, hearing it from Yan Hongtian's mouth was truly disgusting. Suppressing the annoyance in her heart, Qingfeng replied in a low voice, "Thank you, Emperor."

Yan Hongtian was so sharp; naturally, he felt Qingfeng's dissatisfaction. Picking up a piece of pastry and sending it to her lips, he smiled, "Feng'er, eat more."

He was doing it on purpose! Qingfeng glared at him, and Yan Hongtian laughed even more happily. Fuling served hot tea at the right time, resolving the undercurrents between the two. Yan Hongtian took a light sip. At first, it felt slightly astringent, and then a sweet and moist feeling sprouted from the root of the tongue, with an endless aftertaste. The soup color was bright yellow-green, and the leaves were emerald green and uniform. Different from any tea he had drunk before, Yan Hongtian asked curiously, "What tea is this?"

"The Master saw that the Emperor has been working hard for state affairs recently, so she specifically asked this servant to prepare this calming tea."

Yan Hongtian looked up. The young woman was holding the tea tray, standing quietly to the side, her plain face calm, quite a bit of temperament. Yan Hongtian smiled at Qingfeng, "You actually hid such a clever girl. It's rare that even someone as picky as you can be served by her; she should be rewarded well."

Qingfeng took the opportunity to ask, "What is the Emperor planning to reward her with?"

"What is your name?"

Fuling responded in a low voice, "This servant is called Fuling."

"I will reward... Fuling with a promotion to female official, ranked fifth grade, effective immediately." Yan Hongtian said it as if it were just a casual remark, but Fuling's face turned pale. She immediately knelt down and said urgently, "Fuling wouldn't dare."

Qingfeng was also stunned by Yan Hongtian's sudden reward, but seeing Fuling's face as white as a sheet and Gao Jin's frowning look, she couldn't help but be puzzled. The Emperor promoted a female official; why did they need to be so terrified?

Qingfeng didn't know the status of female officials in Qiongyue. Fuling had been in the palace for ten years and naturally knew better than anyone. Female officials in Qiongyue had ranks. Shui Xin and Xiao Yu were the highest-ranking female officials in the palace, ranked fourth grade, only slightly lower than the ministers of each department. Throughout the dynasties, there were not many female officials in the palace. Even Wu'er, who had served Consort Hui for many years, was only promoted to female official last year, also ranked fifth grade. For so many years, no maid by a concubine's side had ever been promoted to female official, let alone someone like her who had been a low-level maid for many years.

Qingfeng rarely saw Fuling lose her composure like this. Just as she was thinking about whether to decline this reward, Yan Hongtian suddenly leaned over, a wicked smile on his lips, and whispered provocatively in her ear, "What, you don't want my favor now that you want to gain power in the palace?"

Hiss—

After saying that, Yan Hongtian even bit her earlobe. Qingfeng gritted her teeth secretly and said loudly, "Fuling, why don't you thank the Emperor for his great kindness." This was also fine. There were many things she didn't trust others with and needed Fuling to handle. Having the title of female official would make it easier for her to do things in the future. After all, everyone in this palace was a sycophant who fawned on the powerful and bullied the weak.

Since things had come to this, Fuling took a deep breath, calmed her mood, and knelt to thank him. "Thank you, Emperor, for your grace. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live."

"You may all withdraw." Yan Hongtian waved his hand, and the palace servants retreated cleanly.

Qingfeng thought he had something to say to her, but Yan Hongtian picked her up, walked toward the inner room, and placed her on the bed.

This... it was only just past 7:00 PM!

She could hear the footsteps of the maids and eunuchs outside the courtyard and the sound of them talking in low voices. Qingfeng stared at Yan Hongtian in embarrassment. He was leaning on his side, looking at her with leisure. This was also the first time Qingfeng had the opportunity to look directly at his face so quietly. His sword-like brows reached his temples, but unfortunately, they were always furrowed. His black eyes were as bright as stars, but unfortunately, they were too deep. The shadows under his eyes made him look a bit tired, and his thin lips were moist, but unfortunately, they were always tightly pursed...

"Have you seen enough?" The deep voice came from the lips she was staring at. Qingfeng coughed lightly and replied, "You are very tired today."

Before Qingfeng's words fell, Yan Hongtian suddenly leaned down, their lower bodies pressed together hotly, and Yan Hongtian's deep voice sounded again: "I still have the strength to want you."

Qingfeng's face flushed to the roots of her ears. Discussing this problem with a man was very stupid, especially a man like Yan Hongtian. Qingfeng turned her head away and stopped talking. Yan Hongtian didn't move for a long time. Qingfeng turned back to look at him strangely, and those black eyes were full of teasing laughter. Qingfeng was annoyed and reached out to push him away, but the hand around her waist tightened suddenly. Yan Hongtian hugged her from behind, and the deep male voice came from her neck, "Don't move."

Qingfeng's body stiffened. After a long time, the man behind her had no movement again.

Qingfeng called out in a low voice, "Emperor?"

"Yan Hongtian?" The steady breathing was his response to her.

He... fell asleep? Qingfeng tried to struggle a few times, but the large hand across her waist made her unable to move, and finally, she had to give up. Annoyed, she kicked him twice while he was asleep. Couldn't he sleep in his Zhengyang Palace?

And the man she thought was already fast asleep turned over as if unintentionally, pressing her under his body.

So heavy!

Qingfeng wanted to cry but had no tears.

The night was deep. The eunuchs and maids on night duty in the Yilan Palace still stood straight, guarding the courtyard dutifully, not daring to have a trace of fatigue, just because the candlelight in the Empress's room was still on.

"What exactly is the Emperor thinking!" An angry low shout sounded in the inner room. Xin Yuening really couldn't understand. A few days ago, the Emperor ignored Qingfeng, and a few times he flipped Qingfeng's tablet, the Emperor didn't go over. Now, he had stayed in the Qingfeng Palace for seven consecutive nights. Even when the Emperor favored Zhen Zhen the most, he hadn't been like this. Even the little maid by Qingfeng's side was actually promoted to female official. The Emperor had never favored a woman like this. What charm did Qingfeng have?

Xin Yuening paced back and forth anxiously. Shui Xin stood quietly in front of the screen, continuing to report Qingfeng's recent situation, "Qingfeng has been going to the Lingyun Palace to keep Consort Hui company every day these days, and only leaves at noon."

Xin Yuening stopped and said urgently, "What are they doing together?" She had originally wanted to use Qingfeng to frustrate Zhen Zhen's spirit, but who knew they would actually get together.

"Writing poetry, painting, playing Go, and tasting tea."

Xin Yuening snorted coldly, "Such leisure and elegance? Qingfeng wants to team up with Zhen Zhen against me!" Glaring at Shui Xin, who was standing quietly to the side, Xin Yuening said urgently, "Think of a way for me! One Zhen Zhen is enough, and now another Qingfeng comes. Lou Xiyan is obsessed with marrying Qing Ling. Qingfeng has Lou Xiyan as a backer, is favored by the Emperor, and has teamed up with Zhen Zhen. Where will there be a place for me in this palace in the future!"

Xin Yuening was furious, and Shui Xin advised in a low voice, "Master, no need to be angry..."

Before Shui Xin could finish speaking, Xin Yuening, hearing her cold tone, became even more annoyed and shouted loudly, "How can I not be angry! The most fatal thing is, if she conceives the dragon seed..." The more she thought, the angrier Xin Yuening became, glaring at Shui Xin and scolding, "It's all you! You should have gotten rid of her early on. Now there wouldn't be so many scruples!"

Shui Xin was used to Xin Yuening's scolding. Her clear eyes dimmed, but she quickly returned to calm and replied softly, "Master, don't be impatient. A child isn't something that can be conceived just by saying so. And Qingfeng being close to Consort Hui is not necessarily a bad thing. Master can kill two birds with one stone."

Xin Yuening's phoenix eyes lit up, and she said urgently, "How to kill two birds with one stone?"

Shui Xin stepped forward slightly and whispered in Xin Yuening's ear, "Master can..."

Listening to Shui Xin's words, Xin Yuening's expression changed several times, looking both worried and excited. Biting her lips lightly, Xin Yuening lowered her voice and replied, "Good! Do it! You go prepare. But be careful and cautious about this matter; don't let a single mistake happen."

Shui Xin nodded gently and replied, "Yes."

Xin Yuening was in a great mood, her face slightly flushed with tension and excitement. Taking a deep breath, Xin Yuening couldn't suppress the corners of her mouth from rising. If this could be done, she could get rid of both of them at once!

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 284 =====