Chapter 37: Monster! I

…

When Zhang Chun came to her senses, Zhao Yu was already far away.

Pouting her lips, she stared dazedly at Zhao Yu's back, and after a long moment of reaction, she hastily wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, muttering angrily:

"Monster! I'm so young—even Empress Yuanyou wouldn't let me serve as a teaching maid—you'd actually dare lay hands on me!!!"

A flush spread across Zhang Chun's cheeks, intertwining with her inner shame and fury, making her expression extraordinarily complex.

After scolding Zhao Yu for a while, Zhang Chun licked her lips again:

"Is this what kissing feels like?"

A strange emotion surged within Zhang Chun—a sensation she had never experienced before, both unfamiliar and heart-stopping.

"Let me think carefully—what exactly just happened?"

"Did I respond at all?"

"…"

Zhang Chun's thoughts galloped like a runaway horse, beyond recall…

Long after, Zhang Chun finally emerged from that exquisitely wonderful feeling.

Her cheeks faintly flushed; she gently fanned herself, trying to dispel the heat within her heart.

Zhang Chun lifted her head to gaze at the sky, where a few white clouds drifted lazily, sunlight filtering through them to cast dappled shadows—all seemed so tranquil and beautiful.

Yet her inner heart churned like surging waves, unable to calm for a long time…

…

Kissing Zhang Chun into a daze gave Zhao Yu a great sense of accomplishment.

Even more satisfying to Zhao Yu was Zhang Chun's clumsy reaction—she was utterly inexperienced.

"Could this possibly be Empress Yuanyou's first kiss?"

"If so, Empress Yuanyou is way too conservative…"

Passing through the imperial garden, Zhao Yu arrived at the front courtyard of Cide Palace, where he met Zheng Xiansu, Wang Yisu, and the four teaching maids they had carefully prepared for him under the pretense of honoring the Empress Dowager.

The first maid wore a green-water palace robe, her shoulders sharply sculpted, her waist slender as bound silk, her skin like congealed fat, her breath like a hidden orchid, her beauty delicate and seductive without a trace of bone.

This maid was clearly meticulously adorned, evidently aiming to leave Zhao Yu with a profound first impression.

The maid's self-marketing succeeded—upon seeing her, Zhao Yu's scalp prickled, his bones turned to jelly; the heat he had failed to vent on Zheng Xiansu, Wang Yisu, and Zhang Chun was rekindled by her.

Seeing Zhao Yu interested in this maid, Wang Yisu pulled her forward and said to Zhao Yu: "Chuchu is my younger sister from my clan—I beg Your Majesty to show her kindness."

Wang Chuchu bowed gracefully and obediently to Zhao Yu: "Your servant greets Your Majesty."

After telling Wang Chuchu to rise, Zhao Yu gave Wang Yisu a look that said: "Rest assured, I will take good care of her."

Zhao Yu turned his gaze to the next maid.

This maid wore the most common palace hairstyle—the Chaotianji—but it did nothing to diminish her ethereal beauty; her expression carried a refined, gentle charm, approachable and serene, unadorned yet tranquil.

Zheng Xiansu drew her to Zhao Yu's side and said: "She is my adopted daughter, Pei Sui—steady, reliable, obedient, and well-behaved."

Zhao Yu immediately understood: this was Zheng Xiansu's appointed palace administrator—the chief female steward of the Wang Fu.

Zhao Yu studied the girl, who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen, and thought: "I never expected such a young girl would be entrusted with such high hopes by Empress Yuanyou."

But this also revealed the lack of depth in Zheng Xiansu's family background—otherwise, Zheng Xiansu would have followed Wang Yisu's example and seized this divine opportunity to insert one of her own talented young women to secure favor and power, rather than giving it to an adopted daughter with no blood ties.

Zhao Yu looked at Zheng Xiansu and thought: "No wonder—in history, though you dominated the harem, you had no support; later, to intimidate the other concubines, you were forced to adopt Huang Jingchen's scheme and claim kinship with Zheng Juzhong, a distant official."

In this era, men married primarily for political alliances or mutual benefit, bound by social rites and laws; husband and wife often behaved formally, treating each other with respectful distance.

But when taking concubines, the man chose freely—concubines were often more beautiful and possessed more appealing talents and temperaments, so emotionally, concubines held the upper hand.

Put simply: a wife's family usually held great power and aided the man's career—he must respect her; concubines, however, typically had no background but better matched the man's tastes—being with a concubine meant he could do as he pleased, even constantly psychological abuse her, and no one could interfere.

Thus, in some households, concubines knew the household's inner workings and the husband's temperament better than the newlywed wife—if the wife lacked strength or skill in management, the concubine could seize control of household affairs and even financial authority, leading to eternal chaos in the inner quarters.

Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu were both masters of harem politics—soft outside, firm within—such a scenario would never occur.

But conversely, because Zheng Xiansu's family lacked real power, if Zhao Yu did not strongly support her, one of his own maids or concubines might, relying on their seniority and prior service to him, obstruct her governance of the Wang Fu.

If Zhao Yu wished to avoid chaos in his household, he must firmly back Zheng Xiansu and help her establish sufficient authority.

Otherwise, even if Zheng Xiansu was highly capable, taking full control of the Wang Fu in a short time would not be easy.

On this matter of great principle, Zhao Yu was absolutely unambiguous—he directly told Pei Sui: "You shall serve as Shanggong. Before your lady enters the mansion, manage my household for her. All women in this house, whoever they are, fall under your authority. If anyone resists, punish them first, then report."

Zhao Yu had slept with many maids, but those maids were merely granted red or purple robes and shawls—none had even received a title; yet Pei Sui, who had not yet slept with Zhao Yu, was immediately granted the rank of Grade 5 Senior—a position that instantly elevated her above all others.

This also revealed Zhao Yu's high regard for Pei Sui's patron, Zheng Xiansu.

Upon hearing Zhao Yu's words, the heavy stone in Zheng Xiansu's heart lifted; a soft, grateful smile bloomed on her face.

Zheng Xiansu bowed slightly, her voice trembling with barely perceptible emotion: "Suisui, don't you thank Your Majesty for his grace?"

Pei Sui, calm and composed, bowed deeply and spoke in a clear, melodious voice: "Thank Your Majesty's grace! Your servant will spare no effort to manage this household well for Your Majesty and for Her Ladyship."

Wang Chuchu and the other teaching maid, including Ma Xiao Jiao, seeing Zhao Yu's staunch support for Zheng Xiansu, grew even more reverent toward her.

Next, Zheng Xiansu took the hand of the third maid and led her before Zhao Yu: "This younger sister is Guo Wei, cousin of Guo Ting, entered the palace in the eighth year of Empress Yuanyou, previously served in Consort Zhu's palace—she is Consort Zhu's trusted confidante, worthy of heavy reliance. Since childhood, she has studied Xiao Pipa and plays beautifully—someday, let her perform for Your Majesty."

Zhao Yu did not ask whether this was Guo Ting's placement or Zheng Xiansu repaying Guo Ting a favor—he simply looked at Guo Wei.

The woman had an extraordinarily beautiful face, naturally alluring phoenix eyes, wore a pink palace robe, and moved with the grace of willow branches swayed by wind—a rare beauty indeed.

Zhao Yu said to Guo Wei: "Come to my household without worry—I will treat you all equally."

Guo Wei bowed gracefully: "Thank Your Majesty."

Finally, only Ma Xiao Jiao remained; Zhao Yu turned to her directly.

Seeing Zhao Yu look at her, Ma Xiao Jiao forced a smile uglier than crying…

…

(End of Chapter)