Chapter 11: Tang Li Gong Bin

  As the crowd dispersed, I was left alone with Emperor Xuan Ling. My heart was racing slightly, and the warm breeze blew my loose hair onto my face, causing a tingling sensation. The emperor held my hand and walked silently forward, his footsteps quiet on the shallow grass. His hand felt slightly warm, and I could feel the rough texture of his palm. I didn't dare pull away, my face burning as if it were about to ignite, so I just kept walking with my head down. As I looked down, I saw a pair of soft, embroidered shoes at my feet, which I had made during my leisure time. The pale silver-white color was intertwined with rose-purple spring silk thread, forming delicate and thin petals that resembled the fragile heart I had when I first learned about the world. On the toe of the shoe, a pair of butterflies with wings spread wide were embroidered, with small, round silver beads on their antennae. As I walked, they seemed to be stepping on the lush green grass, making a soft rustling sound, as if lotus flowers were blooming along the way. The butterflies also seemed to be fluttering around my heart, causing it to beat rapidly and erratically. We walked for only a few dozen steps to reach the nearby Qilan Pavilion, but it felt like we had traversed a long and winding mountain path, leaving my legs feeling weak and sore.

  As I entered the pavilion, the Emperor's hand relaxed slightly, and I immediately hid my hands in my sleeves, feeling a layer of sweat on my palms. He stood before me with his hands behind his back, looking at me gently and saying, "That day, it was raining heavily, and I didn't intentionally stand you up." I didn't dare respond, but not answering the Emperor's words would be disrespectful, so I lowered my head and replied in a very soft voice, "Yes." He continued, "That day, I had already arrived at the Shanglin Garden when the Empress Dowager suddenly summoned me to the Imperial Consort's Palace for a gathering. I rushed over and ended up getting rained on and catching a cold that lasted several days."

  I was taken aback, clearly knowing that he had already recovered and was standing in front of me talking to me. I couldn't help but blurt out: "Is the Emperor much better?" After speaking, I felt embarrassed by my own foolish question, and my face turned red as I whispered: "Your servant is foolish."

  He smiled warmly and said: "Later I thought that since it rained so heavily that day and you were resting quietly, you certainly wouldn't have come out."

  "My voice was barely audible: 'I didn't stand you up.'"

  His eyes lit up suddenly and he exclaimed with joy: "Really? Then you must have been caught in the rain, are you hurt?"

  He asked me like this, and I felt both sad and happy in my heart. It was as if the gloom of the past few days had dissipated like thick fog in the sunlight. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. I didn't get wet in the rain, I'm fine."

  My head was almost bowed to my chest, the sparse embroidered flowers on my chest scratched against my chin with a slight itch. His right thumb wore a very transparent jade ring, green and calm like a quiet lake in a pool of liquid. Four fingers propped up my chin, forcing me to lift my head, only to see his eyes clear and sharp, staring straight at himself, those two pupils almost black and immeasurable, only seeing his own shadow and the apricot flowers blooming behind him like clouds. My heart was racing, I also felt the red color of the flowers reflected onto my cheeks, and involuntarily whispered: "How can Your Majesty deceive your subject?"

  The corners of his mouth rose, and the smile deepened: "If I had told you earlier, you would have been intimidated by my identity just like those concubines. How could you have dared to be so unrestrained with me, appreciating the zither and flowers with such ease?"

  I lowered my eyelids and stared at my embroidered shoes: "Your Majesty is teasing me, isn't he? He wants to see the joke of me not knowing etiquette."

  The emperor burst out laughing, laughed for a while, and then gradually restrained his smile, looking at me: "If I had revealed it earlier, you would only have been afraid of me, feared me, and fawned on me. That wouldn't be the real you." He turned around, leaned on the red railing, gazed into the distance, as if wanting to see through the layers of flowers, all the way to the depths of the sky. "I value you because of your nature. If you were no different from the other concubines, I wouldn't have taken our agreement seriously."

  I lowered my head and looked at the red corner of his robe, embroidered with intricate patterns in dark silk thread. His face turned red as he replied, "Yes." He then said, "My concubine is foolish, I didn't notice it at all."

  The emperor smiled slightly: "I deliberately kept it from you, how could I let you know. It's just that my sixth brother has been troubled, often being summoned into the palace and detained."

  I knelt down: "Your Majesty's mind is meticulous, and heaven has given you extraordinary talent. How can a humble subject like me understand?"

  He suddenly reached out and grasped my hand, asking: "Why is your hand so cold? Is it because you came out to get some fresh air?"

  "I'm not cold," I hastily replied.

  He grunted and said, "You've been out for a long time, I'll accompany you back."

  I was just about to say "no dare", he suddenly swept me up in his arms, I let out a soft cry of surprise, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck. The long skirt fluttered softly, like a butterfly's wings unfolding, dazzling for a moment. He smiled and said: "Walking is tiring, I'll carry you over."

  I was so frightened and didn't dare struggle, I just said: "This will bring criticism and make others gossip about the Emperor, your servant would never dare."

  The emperor smiled and said, "I'm fond of my favorite concubine, let others gossip as they please." A hint of a sly smile flashed across his face: "Besides, it's not the first time I've held you in my arms."

  I was so ashamed that I didn't dare to speak again, and could only shrink into Xuan Ling's arms, letting him hold me back to the palace. He and I were so close, pressed against his chest, with a faint unfamiliar fragrance floating on his body. Although it was extremely light, it seemed to emanate from within his bones, making one feel delightfully intoxicated. He wore a crimson robe with wide sleeves and gold trim, while my pale blue dress was gently blown up by the wind of Yongzhao Long Street, and the shallow green silk ribbons on my skirt softly fluttered against Xuan Ling's clothes, silently and quietly. Along the way, some eunuchs and palace maids saw this scene and hastily knelt down to pay their respects with three shouts of "Long live His Majesty", not daring to raise their heads but stealing glances. Xuan Ling's pace was neither fast nor slow, and in the wind, one could faintly hear the soft sound of my hairpins gently swaying and colliding on my head, as we walked along the corridor.

  Tang Li Palace, which has never been set foot by any man other than the imperial physician since I moved in, took on a different significance with the arrival of Emperor Xuan Ling. When the emperor carried me into this palace, which is usually closed to outsiders, all the eunuchs and palace maids who were sweeping the courtyard were startled and hastily knelt down to pay their respects. It was clear that Liuzhu had already informed everyone that I had been promoted to Pin, but no one expected my return to be so unexpected.

  Suddenly seeing the people I had been with every day, I felt both embarrassed and ashamed. I struggled lightly, but the Emperor didn't let me down, nor did he glance at them. He simply said "get up" as he carried me straight into the Yingxin Hall before putting me down on the ground. The Emperor glanced at the palace staff who had followed in, standing with their heads bowed and hands lowered, and asked indifferently: "When you were a noble lady, was it just these few people serving you?"

  "I humbly replied: 'I need to rest and recover, there's no need for so many servants to attend to me.'"

  "That's not right either. Who is the leader of the imperial guards and the female officials in charge of the palace?"

  "Your humble servant, Tong Li Palace's seventh-rank female official, Cui Tong Li, pays her respects to Your Majesty. I have come to report back to you that there is no head eunuch within the Tong Li Palace." The Emperor showed a hint of doubt, and Tong Li continued, "Originally, Kang Lu Hai was the head eunuch of the palace, but Consort Li took him away to do some chores."

  The emperor's face was slightly uncomfortable, and he said quietly: "This is also a small matter." He then said to me: "There is no leader or eunuch in your palace, it won't do. I will order the Imperial Household Department to select several experienced eunuchs tomorrow, you can choose one to manage things in your palace."

  I smiled and said: "It's not that troublesome. Why don't I let Xiao Yanzu, the little eunuch from my palace, take on this task first? I think he's still capable, so let him gain some experience."

  Xiao Yuanzi immediately knelt down and said, "I thank Your Majesty for your kindness and the young master for his recognition. I will definitely do my best to serve the young master well."

  The emperor smiled and said to me, "You're right, it's better that way, so the people from outside won't misunderstand your temperament." He also said to Xiaoyanzi, "Your young master appreciates you and gives you face, you must do a good job and not let your young master worry."

  Xiao Yu Zi hastily knocked her head three times and said loudly: "Yes, I obey your orders."

  The emperor said: "Now that you have entered the rank of imperial concubine, it's time to add a few more people. Tomorrow, let the Imperial Household Department select some people to come in and choose a few good ones to stay in the palace."

  I smiled and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, but it's up to you to decide."

  "The emperor said gently: 'You should rest early and take good care of yourself. I will come to see you again in two days.'"

  I followed him to the front of the palace gate, where a bright yellow sedan chair had been parked outside the palace. Several dozen palace maids, eunuchs and imperial guards stood like statues, only kneeling down to pay their respects when the Emperor emerged. I knelt down respectfully and said: "I bid farewell to Your Majesty."

  Watching that group of people disappear into the distance, the bright yellow color gradually fading away, only then did I return to the main hall.

  Everyone knelt down and congratulated me. Xiaoyuzi choked back tears and said: "Congratulations, young master. Young master has finally come to an end of his suffering and entered a life of happiness."

  Everyone's eyes were filled with tears, and I smiled and said: "Today is a good day, why cry?" And looking at Xiao Yanzu, he said: "Now you have grown up, you must be good at your job. You are still young, there are many things to follow Cui Shunren's example, don't just talk smoothly, learn to be steady."

  Xiao Yuanshu solemnly agreed.

  I said "I'm tired", and then ordered them to disperse.

  I stepped into the Western Warm Pavilion, and the hidden worries gradually surged up. Can I really avoid this tumultuous struggle in the palace? Or was it destined from birth that my lifelong partner would be the Emperor? The endless struggles within the palace truly make me fearful and give me a headache.

  I am very clear that from the moment the Emperor spoke out today, I am no longer the sickly and reclusive Consort Tang of Tongli Palace. It's likely that everyone in the harem knows by now that I have become the Emperor's new favorite, promoted to Pin before even serving in bed, and was publicly escorted back to the palace by the Emperor himself. I'm afraid it has already caused a stir among the six palaces, with everyone gossiping about it.

  However, I am not unhappy. The person I like is the only one in this world who loves me truly and openly, without having to suppress their feelings. But this love has dragged me into the endless struggles of the harem. Is this love worth it or not? Perhaps neither I nor Xuan Ling can help but want it, as he treats me with such kindness, and can I really bear to give him up? I once prayed "May we be together in heart, never parting until our hair turns white", yet my soulmate is the one person in this world who cannot be together in heart. There are too many choices and pleasures available for him to enjoy. As I gaze out at the spring scenery outside the window, my heart is a tangled mess.

  Just then, Mei Zhuang and Ling Rong walked in hand in hand. Mei Zhuang's face was full of joy, her excited face was red, she tightly grasped my hand and exclaimed with tears of joy: "Great! Great! Finally, the day to turn things around has arrived!"

  Ling Rong hastily bowed to me and said: "Greetings, Young Master of Guan."

  I hastily supported her and said: "What's going on? Don't be like this."

  Ling Rong smiled and said, "Mei sister is delighted to the point of madness, but I am still sober. Rules must not be abandoned, otherwise those who know will say that sister is magnanimous and does not bother with trivial matters, while those who do not know will say that I do not know what is good for me."

  Three people sat down hand in hand, and Huan Bi brought tea in and asked about their well-being. Mei Zhuang smiled and said: "Good, your young lady is pleased, and the slaves of this palace can also be considered to have made a name for themselves." Huan Bi smiled and thanked her before retreating.

  Ling Rong frowned and said: "Sister, how did you quietly become a concubine without anyone knowing, hiding it so well that not even a hint of wind was revealed."

  I smiled and said: "Good sister, I really don't know either. It's just that I happened to meet the emperor in the Shanglin Garden."

  Mei Zhuang joked: "The ancients said 'If not, then already, one cry surprises people', it's talking about you. I was sitting in the palace and heard the news, thinking it was a rumor."

  Ling Rong said with a smile: "It wasn't until the eunuch Li, who serves by the Emperor's side, brought down the imperial edict that we believed it. We hastily invited Sister Mei to come and congratulate you." Turning around to face Mei Zhuang, she said: "I told you so! We were indeed the first ones to arrive!"

  Meizhuang smiled and said, "The flower sign drawn that night indeed had some meaning to it, but wasn't it because you were favored?" Suddenly looking around, she lowered her voice and asked, "Has the Emperor visited you?"

  I couldn't help but blush, and Ling Rong's face also turned red. I lowered my head and scolded, "Sister, why are you asking like this?"

  "You're saying that there's nothing shameful about your own sister?" I shook my head. Mei Zhuang was astonished, "Really? You're not deceiving me?"

  My face flushed with shame, I said in a low voice: "Sister is ill, how can she serve in bed?"

  Mei Zhuang clapped his hands and said: "Your Majesty indeed values you highly! This unprecedented promotion without serving in the imperial bedchamber is probably rare since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty!"

  I didn't feel as delighted as Mei Zhuang had expected, and after a moment of silence, I said, "It's precisely because I haven't served in the bedchamber that I've been promoted to such an honor, this favor is too great, I'm afraid it might not be good."

  Ling Rong also frowned and said: "I'm afraid that secretly someone has already started to make a move."

  Mei Zhuang's expression changed slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, she said: "Now that you are deeply favored by the emperor, they wouldn't dare to treat you too badly. As long as your honor doesn't decline and you're careful in your actions, there won't be any problems." She then asked: "I heard that Yu Niangzi was suddenly demoted by the emperor to the lowest rank of palace maid, almost at the same time as your promotion edict was issued. Is there a reason behind this?"

  I sighed and said: "It was she who humiliated me with her words in the Shanglin Garden, which caught the attention of the Emperor."

  Mei Zhuang raised an eyebrow and sneered, saying: "Look at her arrogant appearance, even daring to insult a young master with a higher status than hers. She's truly asking for humiliation!"

  Ling Rong said with a smile: "This is even better. With her as an example, no one will dare to provoke sister again."

  I still worry: "If I accidentally offend him and lose his favor, won't it implicate the entire Zhen family?"

  Meizhuang grasped my hand, her expression serious. "At this point, I'm afraid it's not something you can avoid with just your own strength. You've already attracted attention, and if you try to escape now, in the future you'll only have the fate of being manipulated by others." She tightened her grip on my hand. "Besides, having the protection of the emperor is better than relying solely on yourself, isn't it?"

  Ling Rong patted my hand comfortingly and said, "Sister, don't worry, the most important thing now is to take care of your body and become a true Guifei."

  Meizhuang's eyes shone brightly as she nodded and said, "Ling Rong is right. As long as the three of us sisters are united in heart, we will definitely be able to stand firm in this harem."