The queen turned her head and smiled lightly, "Sister, dont decline, since the palace has rewarded you with it, then its yours."

  Su Jingxiang had no choice but to bow and thank him.

  The Empress Dowager looked at the Queen giving Su Jing a stern warning, she thought it was amusing, if she wanted to assert her authority, then so be it.

  "The other day, His Majesty sent over a lot of fabric. I thought the colors were too gaudy, so Ill give them to my sisters today."

  All of these are just flattery, but they all mean that the empress is ageless and still young.

  Huizhu took out the fabric she had prepared early in the morning, "Only I will decide, this water-red flower soft satin is just right for Su Mei, shes young and pretty, what more could be suitable?"

  Su Jing felt that she must have really offended the Empress, as every sentence was not forgotten to pull hatred towards her, and just from the gaze of others looking at her, it could be seen.

  "In a few days, it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival, also on the 15th. All of you sisters should follow me to Cining Palace to pay respects. Especially for those new sisters who have just entered the palace," the Empress said after taking a sip of tea.

  Everyone should be like this.

  This was still Su Jings first time entering the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, who had been a devout Buddhist for many years and only received visits from the Emperor and his consorts on the fifteenth of every month.

  They entered the palace just after the fifteenth and now its almost a month already.

  In a few days time, it was suddenly the day to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

  Su Jing got up early and went to Kun Ning Palace earlier than usual.

  She didnt arrive early, there were already many people there.

  Zong Zhengjin was not greedy, and with the new additions to the palace, there were only about forty or fifty concubines in total, which really wasnt a lot.

  "Sister Su, youre here so early too," Ling Mei said as she walked over, with a warm and intimate tone.

  Newly entered the palace, some of the named people had already finished serving in bed, He Lian Lingyu was also promoted from Chang Zai to Mei Ren, but "Ling" was not her title, just because her surname was a compound surname, so others called her "Ling".

  Su Jing slightly raised the corner of her mouth, "Yes, I slept early yesterday and got up early this morning."

  "Thats natural, Su Mei doesnt need to attend to the Emperor, so she can sleep early," said Gui Ren.

  The Emperor went to her Crystal Pavilion last night.

  Shangguan Mei, although a noblewoman, had a title and was naturally one rank higher than Su Jings.

  Su Jingxi did not get angry and smiled lightly, "Sister Qi is right."

  Todays meeting is with the Empress Dowager, who is also the maternal great-grandmother of Shangguan Waner. She naturally wouldnt be foolish enough to provoke her.

  Shangguan Mei hummed in satisfaction and walked away with her head held high.

  "Sister, why bother..." Ling Mei Ren seemed to think it wasnt worth it, with a helpless expression.

  Su Jingxiao snorted inwardly, but her face remained calm. "Sister is right, its just that Im a nobody with no power, what can I do?"

  "Sister, isnt there still the Emperor..." The words stopped at this point, without saying more.

  Su Jing let out a sigh, her tone melancholic, "I havent seen the Emperor for several days now."

  This is true, since that day, Zong Zhengjin has never come to Zuixiang Pavilion, only two days have passed.

  Before she could say another word, the Empress emerged and said, "All of you sisters follow me."

  Followed all the way to Cining Palace, almost circling half of the imperial palace.

  Those in high positions have sedan chairs to ride in, while those in low positions are like Su Jings swift steps - they can only rely on walking.

  Moreover, even if they came, those of lower status had no opportunity to enter the palace, but stood outside and gave a courtesy call to the empress dowager by kowtowing, unless summoned by the empress dowager, they would have the opportunity to enter the inner palace.

  Su Jingxiao and others were standing outside, almost all newcomers in the palace were there, of course, except for Shangguan Waner.

  Half a quarter of an hour later, a eunuch came out and announced: "Her Majesty summons Imperial Noble Consort Li, Noble Consort Ning, Guifei An, and Guifei Su to attend her."

  Su Jingxiao didnt understand why the Empress Dowager wanted to see her, but she still tidied up her appearance and followed Mu into the palace.

  The four of them knelt on the ground and paid their respects, "Your humble servants wish to pay their respects to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, may Your Majesty live for a thousand years, a thousand years, and a thousand more."

  "Good child, get up," a gentle voice came from above, "lift your head and let me take a look."

  The Empress Dowager wore a deep purple gold-embroidered dress with a phoenix pattern, her hair styled in an imperial coiffure, only adorned with two jade pins, her eyebrows and eyes benevolent, seemingly from daily Buddhist devotion, giving off a very calm and peaceful aura.

  Although already in his forties, he looked as if he were still in his thirties, and there was no resemblance to the Emperor between his eyebrows.

  "They are all good children, I will give you these few gold bangles with inlaid gems, may you soon give birth to a royal heir and continue the imperial lineage."

  "The concubine thanks Empress Dowager Cixi for her reward," she kowtowed in gratitude.

  The empress dowager nodded, then turned around, "Empress, you should also pay attention to this. The emperor is not young anymore and its time for him to have an heir. With only two princesses, its a bit too thin. Whoever gives birth to the child, you will be his legitimate mother."

  Its both a warning and a comfort at the same time.

  The queens heart was bitter, "I understand, I will certainly advise the emperor well and let the imperial physician take good care of my sisters bodies, striving to give birth to a prince as soon as possible. I believe that the empress dowager will hear good news soon."

  The empress dowager smiled with satisfaction upon hearing this. "You all heard that, whoever gives birth to a son for the emperor, I will personally oversee her promotion."

  Everyone should be like this.

  Su Jing answered with a smile on her face, but in her heart, she thought otherwise. She was still young and it was too early to bear children, which would be unfavorable for both the child and her own body.

  So she has been secretly avoiding pregnancy all this time, even if she wants to have a child, at least for another year or two.

  There are few children in the palace, and even fewer who grow up. She is now of too low a rank to raise her own child, let alone protect him.

  Returning to Zuiyunwu, Su Shunian was seen standing at the door, along with several other eunuchs and palace maids. Su Jing changed her expression and smiled as she entered.

  "Concubine wishes the Emperor good health," Su Jing curtsied and bowed.

  Zong Zhengjin was infected by her smile and also hooked up the corner of his mouth, "Get up."

  Su Jing walked over and squeezed onto a couch with him, "Your Majesty has been waiting for a long time?"

  Zong Zhengjin shifted slightly to the side, "Not long."

  "Is His Majesty here to dine with his concubines?" Su Jing blinked her eyes.

  Zong Zhengjin furrowed his brow, he had actually only walked to a nearby place and suddenly came up with the idea to come to Zuìyún Wù, seeing that she was not where he should be going, he just moved his body and sat back down.

  Waiting for her for a while wont hurt, he thought, and wanted to see her.

  Su Jing pinched her lips and pulled at his hem, "Your Majesty..."

  She had long known that he especially liked her lip-biting action, and occasionally being a bit overbearing, he wouldnt pursue it.

  As expected, Zong Zhengjin picked her up and put her on his lap, "If you want me to accompany you, you have to bring something in exchange."

  Su Jing furrowed her brow, slightly raised her hand, and gently stroked the dragon pattern on his robe with her slender fingers, saying anxiously, "But all of my servants are the Emperors."

  "Whats up?" Zong Zhengjin smoothed out her messy hair in front of her forehead.

  Su Jing nodded with a hint of a smile, her pearly whites barely visible, "Yes, from top to bottom, inside and out, everything belongs to the Emperor."

  Almost word for word, deliberately emphasizing the pronunciation.

  "Hmm..."

  Zong Zhengjin couldnt take it when she innocently and naively said those ambiguous words, in broad daylight, without expecting her to be so bold.

  After a long time, he let go of her, "Fei Er, I..." and pulled her hand down.

  Su Jings eyes suddenly welled up with tears, staring at him with wide eyes, and her hand had just touched his before quickly withdrawing it. "Your Majesty, what can be done about this..."

  "Ah..."

  Zong Zhengjin picked her up and walked towards the bed, originally intending to tease her, but unexpectedly she asked him softly, "Whats good?"

  Dazzling starlight in her eyes, cherry lips kissed by him were bright and juicy, charming and seductive, teasing but ending up being enticed instead, my heart beats with an inexplicable tenderness.

  "Your Majesty, its daytime..." Su Jingyi tightly grasped her own collar, struggling.

  Occasional resistance can even more arouse a mans most primitive desire, Zong Zhengjin saw that her collar had been pulled very low by him, revealing her full breasts, and he tore off the last cover.

  "Dont be afraid, no one will know."

  Since he said so, Su Jing naturally didnt resist anymore. A little struggle can arouse a mans conquering psychology, but too much is equivalent to pushing this man out of your bed.

  Especially since this man is also the emperor.

  Daytime has its own fun, Zong Zhengjin had never tried doing this kind of thing in the daytime before, the light is stronger and its clearer to see.

  Gazing intently at the small face of the woman beneath him, watching her unfold layer by layer under his body, every gesture and movement was because of him, this wonderful feeling cannot be described in words.

  "Is it time yet? Wait for me..."

  Speed up the movement under the body, frequently straighten and send, finally, all released.

  Zong Zhengjin lay on her body, calming down the lingering excitement, "Are you afraid, Huier?"

  Su Jing panted softly, "Will Your Majesty protect me?"

  Zong Zhengjin looked at her without speaking, and the two of them were locked in a stalemate for several seconds. Seeing the loss in the eyes of the person below him, he finally said, "I will protect you, as long as you behave."

  Su Jing pretended not to understand his implicit meaning, smiling sweetly, "Ill be good, Your Majesty wants to protect me, wants to come and rescue me like last time, and also reward me with food."

  "Good."

  Zong Zhengjin shook his head, indeed still a child, every day thinking about nothing but eating and drinking.

  "If you want to eat, then serve again."

  …………

  After two people had been busy for a long time and had lunch, Zong Zhengjin returned to the Zi Chen Hall.

  Su Jingxi didnt worry either. Since he said no one would know, then no one would know. Even if someone found out, they wouldnt dare say anything. After all, who dared to offend the Emperor?

  The Emperor stayed in Kunning Palace tonight.

  On the first and fifteenth of every month, the Emperor would follow the rules and stay overnight in the Kunning Palace.

  However, the queen saw that the person who was already lying on his side with his eyes closed as if he had fallen asleep looked very helpless.

  Who knows, the Emperor has long since stopped touching her, and although he comes to Kun Ning Palace every month, they sleep in separate beds.

  No skin relation, where did the child come from?

  Since when did they become so estranged? Sleeping in the same bed but having different dreams has seemingly become a habit.

  A thread of new love, a thousand threads of old hatred.