Emperor Jingxi held Awu’s hand and led her to his temporary palace.
Although it was called a temporary palace, it was actually just a modest villa, a place where he occasionally stole moments of leisure.
Thus, he had no reservations about bringing her here.
He had enough patience and interest to slowly win over this young lady, so he decided to settle her in this place first.
As Awu entered the villa, she immediately noticed the ivy-covered walls, with a row of sword orchids and pines at the base.
Beside the steps grew rue grass, lush and green, creating an elegant atmosphere.
Emperor Jingxi:
“This place is rather humble, I’m afraid it may not befit you.”
Awu quickly replied,
“My lord, you jest. I do not feel slighted at all.”
As they spoke, she followed him up the steps and into the room.
Before she could take a closer look, the man beside her said,
“You shall rest here.”
Awu, hearing this, realized something and asked,
“Then, what about you?”
Emperor Jingxi did not answer but instead made a gesture, and a male servant hurried in.
Awu was slightly startled to see a man.
In the past, when she was with the Crown Prince, she had never encountered any men, as the Prince did not allow outsiders to see her.
She instinctively looked to Emperor Jingxi for help.
The Emperor sensed the dependence in her gaze.
A young lady, newly arrived in an unfamiliar place, seeing an unfamiliar man, could only look to him for reassurance.
Emperor Jingxi:
“Awu, this is Futai. If you need anything, just let him know.”
Awu was somewhat bewildered.
She didn’t understand what was happening but could only nod in response.
Emperor Jingxi instructed Futai,
“Take good care of the Fifth Lady.”
Fifth Lady?
Awu didn’t know where this title suddenly came from, but at this moment, she could only silently listen.
Futai, hearing this, quickly responded with a smile,
“Yes, my lord. I shall obey.”
Then, turning to Awu, he respectfully said,
“Fifth Lady, I am Futai. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to command.”
Awu noticed that Futai’s voice was somewhat high-pitched, reminiscent of the duck she had raised as a child, which made her feel a bit more at ease.
She nodded softly and said,
“Thank you.”
Emperor Jingxi then left.
Awu leaned against the window lattice, watching his retreating figure.
He had the grace of a phoenix and the bearing of a crane, walking with both pride and ease.
She knew this man was no ordinary person.
It seemed she had found a protector.
But he left without looking back, and a bittersweet sense of loss filled her heart, as if she had been abandoned once again.
Father and brothers at sea, the neighbor’s brother , her deceased mother, the treacherous Lu Yunjian, the affectionate Crown prince, Nie San-so many people had come and gone, all leaving her in the end.
But she quickly told herself that it was nothing, just a man.
A man of a fleeting night, even if he had taken her body, so what?
The dalliance between men and women was like a boat passing through water, leaving no trace.
If she didn’t care, it would leave no mark on her heart.
At least, for now, this man had provided her with shelter, allowing her to enjoy food and warmth.
It was an exchange.
Just then, Emperor Jingxi suddenly stopped and turned back to look at her.
When their eyes met, Awu’s heart skipped a beat.
She turned her face away, no longer looking at him.
It wasn’t really what she meant, but in this man’s eyes, it might seem like she was reluctantly longing for him.
Seeing Awu like this, Emperor Jingxi’s lips curved into a slight smile.
He mouthed the words,
“Tomorrow, I will come to see you.”
The man finally left, and Awu’s heart was stirred by the faint smile he had given before departing.
She vaguely felt that the man already saw her as his possession, a rare treasure that he owned.
Meanwhile, Futai was quite attentive, smiling and introducing the villa in detail.
Awu listened in a daze, finding Futai’s voice somewhat suspicious.
His habitual smile even made her wonder if she had fallen into some brothel, and perhaps Futai was the pimp of a pleasure house!
Surely not…
As she pondered this, a physician arrived, followed by three young female doctors and several maids who came forward to attend to her, intending to undress her.
Awu was initially confused, but as they began to remove her embroidered white silk robe, she realized that the physician not only intended to check her pulse but also to examine her entire body.
She was surprised and gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her delicate body barely concealed by the ornate garments.
However, they were insistent.
Futai, standing by, chuckled and advised,
“Fifth Lady, it must be done. Rest assured, the attendants will be gentle and not dare to offend you.”
Hearing this, Awu felt a moment of confusion, and her fingers loosened.
The exquisite brocade skirt fell open, and Awu lay on the couch, the yellow canopy shielding her from outside view.
The maids and female doctors surrounded her, performing various checks.
At times, she felt pain, furrowed her brow, and let out low cries.
The two female doctors paused at her fragile sounds, their faces turning slightly red.
They had worked in the palace, routinely examining the women of the harem.
Some of the delicate ones would cry out or become shy at the slightest touch, and while they didn’t say it, they inwardly disdained such behavior.
But this woman before them evoked only pity.
They had never seen such a woman, tender as water, delicate as jade, her skin flawless and translucent.
When she softly cried out, even they, as women accustomed to seeing all kinds of bodies, felt their hearts race inexplicably, even feeling a sense of reluctance.
However, this was a woman favored by the Emperor, and they dared not be careless.
They steeled themselves and carefully examined her, asking Awu a few questions.
Awu was filled with uncertainty.
Back then, when Lu Yunjian wanted to present her to the Crown Prince, he had also arranged for female doctors to examine and nurture her.
Could it be that this seemingly noble man harbored similar intentions?
But she dared not ask more and had to answer.
When the doctors asked about her fertility, she naturally concealed her past.
As they questioned her, they also applied simple ointments and bandages to her scrapes and bruises, massaging certain acupressure points.
Their technique was unknown to her, but with their gentle kneading, Awu felt a mix of soreness and numbness, almost crying out.
She bit her lip in shame, trying hard to hold it in.
After some time, she felt something slowly flow out of her.
Awu’s fingers clenched the brocade bedding.
She understood that this was what the man had left inside her.
He must have been concerned that she might conceive his child.
Clearly, this man, who seemed caring and considerate, was actually guarded at heart.
After all, it was a chance encounter, a fleeting affair, a wild indulgence for a man.
Finally, the maids left, and the female doctors departed.
Awu lay weakly on the brocade bed.
She felt uneasy, as if everything around her was ephemeral, as if the slightest movement would send her tumbling from the clouds.
She kept her eyes open, staring, until she finally yawned and slowly fell asleep.
But her sleep was restless, filled with bizarre dreams.
One moment, she was being forcibly captured by Lu Yunjian; the next, she was being cuddled and soothed by the Crown Prince; then, she was being menaced by fierce deities in a Taoist temple.
The Crown Princess, the Empress, and even Song Lingguan all appeared in turn, like ghosts haunting her.
Terrified, she tried to escape, but before she could react, she stepped into thin air and fell off a cliff.
Her feet jerked violently, and she abruptly opened her eyes to see the golden embroidered gauze canopy with plum blossoms beside her.
The gauze canopy swayed gently under the glass lantern, casting a shimmering light like a dream.
Outside the canopy, there was a faint, elegant fragrance.
She moved slightly, startling the two maids who hurried over and softly asked,
“Fifth Lady, do you need anything?”
Awu was dazed for a moment before shaking her head, signaling for them to leave.
She was tired and didn’t want to speak, just wanted to lie quietly for a while.
She finally sank back into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Emperor Jingxi rose early.
After a brief wash, he practiced martial arts in the mountains.
The Great Hui Empire was founded on horseback, and its founding Emperor was skilled in various martial arts.
He left a decree that his descendants must learn martial arts, so the princes of Great Hui practiced diligently from a young age, mastering archery, swordsmanship, and firearms.
Emperor Jingxi had been strong since childhood and excelled in martial arts.
The Nanqiongzi peak reached into the clouds, with lush trees all around.
The morning air was fresh, and Emperor Jingxi, amidst the morning mist and green bamboo, performed a set of vigorous and agile moves, startling birds and shaking the grass.
Accompanying Emperor Jingxi in his martial practice was Fang Yue, a Dragon Guard Commander who was only twenty-three years old, robust and tall.
Today, he wore a golden cap and a martial outfit, practicing with the Emperor.
After several rounds, both were slightly out of breath and sweating.
At that moment, Futai subtly gave Fang Yue a look.
Fang Yue immediately understood.
As a Dragon Guard Commander, even though he was not on duty last night, he dared not be careless with such a significant event.
He had already conducted an overnight investigation and was fully aware of the Emperor’s activities in the hot spring the previous night.
Futai’s look made it abundantly clear.
The Emperor’s health was of utmost importance and could not be taken lightly, especially now that he was outside the palace.
Last night’s sudden indulgence with a woman, repeated several times, must have taken a toll on his body, and it had also delayed his rest.
During the morning practice, even though the Emperor was in his prime and showed no signs of fatigue-in fact, he seemed even more spirited-his attendants and subordinates had to be extremely cautious and not let their guard down.
Thus, after the set of martial arts, Fang Yue feigned a misstep and retreated, ending the practice.
He then clasped his fists and smiled,
“Your Majesty’s martial skills are becoming more refined. I am ashamed.”
Emperor Jingxi also ceased his movements, raising his hand to take the towel prepared by the attendant.
He casually wiped the thin sweat from his forehead and chuckled,
“Fang Yue, you seem preoccupied today.”
Hearing this, Fang Yue felt embarrassed, knowing that the Emperor had seen through him.
He hastily smiled and said,
“Your Majesty, I did not rest well last night, so my stamina is lacking today.”
Emperor Jingxi did not press further.
He understood his subordinates’ concerns and the cautiousness of his close attendants.
As long as it was harmless, he let it be.
In truth, after his encounter with the woman last night, perhaps due to the intense pleasure, he had slept well and felt refreshed this morning, even more spirited than usual.
But such intimate matters were naturally not for outsiders to know.
He suddenly recalled the events of last night with the woman, her pitiful eyes appearing before him, feeling deeply captivating and endlessly.
At this moment, the attendant Furu, observing the Emperor’s ambiguous expression, felt uneasy.
Standing cautiously by the side, he hesitated to speak.
Emperor Jingxi paid no heed to Futai, lowering his eyes and meticulously wiping his slender fingers before casually tossing the towel to an attendant.
Furu hurriedly presented a tea cup, and Emperor Jingxi methodically took a sip.
The autumn air was thick with dew, and the tea was warm, cool, and mellow.
At this time, Fang Yue stepped forward to await instructions.
After the martial practice, he too had broken a sweat.
To avoid appearing disrespectful before the Emperor, he quickly tidied up before returning.
He was originally from a modest family, selected as a Dragon Guard candidate at twelve and personally chosen by Emperor Jingxi at fifteen to join the Dragon Guards.
Over eight years, he had risen step by step to his current position, standing by the Emperor’s side, ready to serve, even accompanying the Emperor on travels and hunts.
As Emperor Jingxi sipped his tea, Fang Yue took the opportunity to remind him of the breathing techniques for the autumn morning.
The Great Hui court had many health and wellness practices, with physicians, Taoist masters, and imperial chefs each responsible for aspects like dietary regulation, medicinal tonics, and meridian massage, which also included daily morning exercises and breathing techniques.
The Emperor’s health was paramount, ensuring the well-being of the people, and the attendants spared no effort in their care.
Currently, Emperor Jingxi was practicing the Taoist breathing method, following Zhuangzi’s teachings on nurturing the body.
After a round of breathing, Emperor Jingxi offered tea to Fang Yue, who bowed respectfully, took the cup, and carefully drank, covering it with his sleeve.
Then he said,
“Although I have practiced martial arts since childhood, I have also heard the ancients say that spring tea is bitter, summer tea is astringent, but autumn dew tea is the best to drink.”
Emperor Jingxi:
“Autumn dew is auspicious, collected in a tray and boiled into syrup, it can prolong life and stave off hunger. Now, in late autumn, is the perfect time for white dew.”
He then instructed Furu beside him,
“Take some of the white dew sent from the south a few days ago and give it to Commander Fang.”
Furu naturally complied, and Fang Yue quickly knelt to express his gratitude.
White dew tea was seasonal, and while it could be found in the market, the tribute sent to the palace from the south was undoubtedly of a different caliber.
Emperor Jingxi was benevolent and generous, often rewarding those around him with gifts, a mark of his favor.
When attendants received such gifts, they would casually mention at gatherings that it was a royal bestowal, bringing them great honor and face.
At this moment, Emperor Jingxi said,
“Speak.”
The Emperor did not look up at Furu, but having served by his side for so long, Furu understood that the command was directed at him.
Having held back for so long, Furu finally had the chance to speak,
“The chief maid of the Empress, Xiangyin, seeks an audience with Your Majesty, saying she has an important matter to report.”