Concubine Chu viciously criticized Jiang Xinyue, both directly and indirectly, but Jiang Xinyue acted as if she didn't understand, feeling as though the insults were merely hitting cotton.
Concubine Chu came fuming with rage and left with even more anger pent up inside her.
"Is the Young Lady alright?"
"What could possibly be wrong with me?" Jiang Xinyue leaned back on the couch, lounging lazily as she nibbled on delicious pastries from the table.
"Cough cough..."
As she was eating, she caught a whiff of a pungent herbal scent and covered her nose. "Where is that smell coming from?"
Shuang Jiang poked her head out from behind the waist-high bronze brazier in the shape of a qilin. Her face was smudged with soot. "Young Lady, we are next to the Lotus Pond, and summer is the peak season for mosquitoes. The Internal Affairs Department delivered these mugwort leaves to the Xihuo Palace for us. They're a bit damp, but at least we can use them."
The Xihuo Palace received these damp mugwort leaves only because Jiang Xinyue had been favored for a couple of days. Otherwise, they wouldn't have even gotten these poor-quality leaves.
Jiang Xinyue felt her throat was irritated and waved her handkerchief. "Stop burning them. What mosquitoes could there be during the day? Save it and burn it later when His Majesty arrives to fumigate the place."
Xi Que gave her a puzzled look. If the Young Lady herself couldn't stand the foul smell of these low-quality mugwort leaves, how could she let His Majesty endure it?
But then she realized that her reckless and guileless Young Lady had learned to subtly complain without leaving any evidence.
This was good. This way, she could go far in the palace.
In the Changxin Palace—
After the Emperor left, Concubine Li's expression instantly darkened.
The Emperor had clearly become disenchanted with Noble Lady Jiang, yet earlier at the meal, he brought over the palace regulations written by that vile woman, saying her writing would pollute Concubine Li's eyes, and told her to stop pursuing it.
Although his tone carried a hint of disdain, anyone could discern the underlying note of defense for Noble Lady Jiang.
"Layue, go and find out why His Majesty visited the Xihuo Palace today."
She understood the Emperor well. Once he had taken a dislike to a concubine, none of them had ever been able to rekindle his favor.
What exceptional quality did Jiang Xinyue possess?
This was something Concubine Li would never have the chance to know.
After all, only the Emperor could experience Jiang Xinyue's extraordinary skills in the bedchamber.
The Emperor had already mentioned that he would favor Noble Lady Jiang tonight, so the Palace Eunuch Office wouldn't be sending over the green head token anymore.
Before nightfall, a eunuch came to the Xihuo Palace with the announcement: "Tonight, the Noble Lady will be in charge of the candles in the Xihuo Palace."
Xi Que and Shuang Jiang were overjoyed, as if it were the New Year, and they eagerly began grooming and dressing Jiang Xinyue.
The previous owner of this body was also very attentive to her appearance, and the dressing table was well-stocked with fragrances, pomades, lip balms, rouge, and cosmetic pencils.
"No need for any of those." Jiang Xinyue dodged the heavily scented osmanthus hair oil. "And no elaborate hairstyles either. Just tie it up loosely with a jade hairpin."
She didn't apply any makeup to her face, only a light dusting of pearl powder for a smooth complexion. Then she applied a touch of fresh flower lip balm, giving her lips a subtle tint.
Compared to her pure, natural look during the day, her evening appearance in the candlelight made her seem more refined and alluring.
When the Xuanwu Emperor arrived, he saw a vision of an ethereal consort, wearing light garments that made her appear as if she might take flight at any moment. She held a palace lantern, standing outside the steamy palace gates with a gentle smile, welcoming his arrival.
The soft glow of the lantern accentuated her beauty, and even her loose strands of hair swaying in the breeze added to her captivating charm, drawing the Emperor's adoration even further.
The Xuanwu Emperor strode over, tenderly tucking a stray lock behind her ear. "Why torture yourself standing out here in this heat, my beloved? You should have waited inside."
Her delicate hands were hot to the touch, and her flushed cheeks warranted sympathy, indicating she must have been standing there for some time.
Jiang Xinyue lowered her head with a soft laugh, her plump, fragrant tresses brushing against the Emperor's chest like a fluffy kitten.
"Your humble consort knew Your Majesty was coming, so I didn't feel the heat at all. In fact, it felt refreshingly cool!"
The Emperor caressed the top of her head, feeling the alluring curves pressed against him, his throat tightening involuntarily.
His arms tightened around her waist, and Jiang Xinyue placed her hands on his chest, but her shoulders drew inward deliberately, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her deep cleavage as she pressed against him.
Their heated gazes met, the atmosphere thickening with desire. The Emperor's eyes burned with an aggressive hunger, and the scorching heat of his hands made Jiang Xinyue flush crimson.
Wang Dequan silently dismissed the palace attendants, leaving the pair alone to guard the door.
Once the room was quiet, the Xuanwu Emperor pounced like a ferocious beast, capturing her sweet lips in a searing kiss.
After a long moment, he finally released her lips, both of them panting heavily, a smoldering look passing between them.
Jiang Xinyue touched her swollen cherry lips, giving the Xuanwu Emperor an abashed glare that exuded coquettish allure, making him unwilling to wait any longer. In the flickering candlelight, passion consumed the chamber.
In the imperial harem, the concubines were all exquisitely beautiful, yet in the bedchamber, they were all alike, allowing the Xuanwu Emperor to dominate them absolutely. Over time, this grew tiresome and bland.
But Noble Lady Jiang was different!
She boldly directed the Son of Heaven, speaking with an audacity that quickened even the widely experienced Emperor's pulse.
This feeling was so novel, so thrilling!
He couldn't get enough, only wanting her to become more indulgent, revealing more tantalizing gestures and uttering more intoxicating words.
The romantic novels lied—the Emperor couldn't go seven times in one night, at most four or five times, but he made up for it with vigor and stamina.
It was unknown whether the Xuanwu Emperor, this virile stud, was as insatiable in the other consorts' chambers.
In later times, men envied the Emperor's fortunate life of nightly pleasures, but Jiang Xinyue felt the Emperor's existence was rather pitiful.
So many women in the palace, all waiting to be serviced by him alone, whether he desired them or not. To maintain the dynasty, he had no choice but to oblige them.
However, Jiang Xinyue didn't feel sorry for him at all.
As the saying goes, one must fulfill the duties of their position.
Just as she had now become a member of the Imperial Harem's army of courtesans, using every trick in the book to curry his favor and secure a life of luxury and privilege.
"Ahem..."
After the sumptuous feast, the Xuanwu Emperor cleared his throat softly, his hand pausing as he dressed. "Wang Dequan!"
"This servant is here."
Sounds came from outside the door as several eunuchs carried in hot water, pouring it into the bathtub behind the screen.
The woman on the bed had her eyes tightly shut, her butterfly-like long lashes fluttering slightly as her fingers clutched the bedding, too shy to open her eyes.
The Emperor chuckled softly, embracing her and placing her in the bathtub. Wang Dequan heard the gentle rippling of water as the Emperor spoke with commanding presence, "Have the Internal Affairs Department send some mugwort incense to fumigate the Xihuo Palace tomorrow."
Catching a whiff of the low-quality herbal scent in the air, Wang Dequan hurriedly nodded in assent.
His mind raced, wondering if he had somehow offended the formidable Noble Lady Jiang Xinyue to warrant such treatment.
