TJAIP Chapter 34

Dressed in a plain, long-sleeved robe and a light blue top, she held a jade cup filled with steaming tea.

Feng Jin gazed at the tea cup before him, wisps of steam curling into the air. Floating within the clear liquid were delicate green tea leaves, their faint fragrance reaching him before he took a sip.

Enjoying tea after dinner while watching a beautiful woman serve it was a pleasure. And if the woman’s movements were elegant and graceful, it was an even greater delight. This was the first time he realized that his Zhaochongyi brewed tea so well. Even if her technique had been lacking, her poised and refined demeanor made up for it.

Lifting the cup to his lips, he took a small sip. The fragrance lingered in his mouth, leaving behind a delicate aftertaste. With a soft smile, he looked at Zhuang Luoyan. “The tea you brewed is truly fragrant. It deserves to be called a beauty’s tea.”

Zhuang Luoyan listened to the rain pattering outside and chuckled. “Your Majesty is teasing me. This rain has been falling for days now, but at least it has relieved the summer drought. The farmers won’t have to worry about water shortages for planting rice.”

Feng Jin set down the teacup and smiled. “You seem to know quite a bit about farming.”

“Not really,” Zhuang Luoyan replied modestly. “I was simply bored and read a few books about agriculture to pass the time. I don’t know much about poetry, but I find those miscellaneous texts rather interesting.”

“That’s not a bad thing,” Feng Jin remarked. He suddenly stood and walked toward her before bending down and scooping her into his arms. Caught off guard, Zhuang Luoyan instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Your Majesty!” she gasped, realizing once again that she did not fully understand how the emperor’s mind worked. The way he thought was entirely different from ordinary people.

“On a night like this, did you think we would just sit here drinking tea?” Feng Jin said, carrying her toward the inner chambers. It was his first time visiting Xihe Palace since she had moved in. The furnishings were elegant yet not overly extravagant, exuding a warmth and comfort that made one feel at ease.

He reached for the only jade hairpin adorning her hair and gently pulled it away. Her dark locks cascaded down like a flowing waterfall, framing her face with an effortless charm.

True allure was not in deliberate seduction but in those unintentional moments of shyness and grace. Zhuang Luoyan watched as the emperor’s gaze darkened, his intent unmistakable. With a playful smile, she hooked her arms around his waist. As a consort, she had her duties, and when the moment called for effort, she would certainly do her best.

The emperor was undeniably vigorous in bed. Initially, Zhuang Luoyan had wondered if he might be all show and no substance, but she now had to admit that the imperial palace’s top-tier tonics were truly effective.

However, since the emperor did not frequently summon concubines to his chambers, she had no idea if he was just as tireless with others. If he wasn’t, then she could at least take pride in holding some special charm.

Outside the door, Gao Dezhong had already instructed the servants to prepare bathwater. Though it was raining, it was still summer, and His Majesty would undoubtedly need to bathe after exerting himself. It was best to have everything ready in advance.

As the emperor rose to bathe, Zhuang Luoyan pretended to be asleep. When he lifted her into the bath with him, she realized that a strong and capable man had many advantages.

Perhaps it was the perfect water temperature or the emperor’s surprisingly skilled touch while washing her hair, but before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, when she woke up, the emperor was still beside her. Without opening her eyes, she scooted closer to him, subtly expressing intimacy. To her surprise, he responded by wrapping an arm around her waist.

She did not get up to help him dress. Instead, she sat on the bed and watched as he left, rubbing her slightly sore waist afterward. Once he was gone, she indulged in a little more sleep before getting up to freshen up.

Life in the palace was comfortable in many ways, but the most tiresome part was the daily morning greetings to the empress. She could only imagine how exhausting it must be for the empress as well—having to see all the delicate and demure concubines parading before her every morning, unable to show any displeasure.

“Master, how should we arrange the small kitchen in our palace?” Yunxi and Tingzhu assisted Zhuang Luoyan with her dressing, unsure of how to proceed.

“We’ll use our people,” Zhuang Luoyan replied, selecting a white jade hairpin for Tingzhu. “Just remember—when preparing meals, do not exceed the status of a Chongyi. Other than that, I trust you to use your discretion.”

The news that His Majesty had granted Xihe Palace its private kitchen had already spread through the harem. Each concubine had her thoughts on the matter, but none dared to voice objections. After all, this Zhaochongyi had an air of mystery about her. If she truly had divine favor, would opposing her bring disaster?

And given how well the emperor treated her, who could say there wasn’t something more to it?

In the grand harem, aside from the empress, the most powerful woman was undoubtedly Noble Consort Shu. However, she was not the type to be blinded by imperial favor. When she heard about the emperor’s treatment of Zhaochongyi, she did not feel jealousy—only curiosity.

The emperor seemed to favor Zhaochongyi, yet he did not summon her as often as himself, Noble Consort Shu, or Xu Zhaoyi. He did not disregard her either, treating her with unexpected attentiveness.

Carefully selecting a few jade hairpins, Noble Consort Shu stood up. No matter what, if this Zhaochongyi had truly won the emperor’s heart…

“Your Highness, Su Xiuyi has arrived,” a maid announced.

“Let her wait outside. I’ll be out in a moment.” After one last check in the bronze mirror to ensure her makeup was flawless, Noble Consort Shu walked out.

As soon as Su Xiuyi saw her, she immediately stepped forward. “Cousin, I heard that last night, the emperor not only summoned Zhaochongyi but also granted her palace a private kitchen.”

“The emperor’s affairs are not for us to discuss,” Noble Consort Shu said coolly, casting her cousin a pointed glance. Su Xiuyi looked embarrassed and fell silent.

“Do not forget what should and should not be spoken about,” Noble Consort Shu added.

Lowering her head, Su Xiuyi murmured, “Yes, cousin.”

Meanwhile, in Jingyang Palace, the empress sat at the head of the hall, maintaining a perfect smile as one by one, the concubines entered to pay their respects.