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墨書 Inktalez
"Ah..." Jiang Youlan opened her eyes for the third time, propping herself up with her hands and suddenly sitting up straight.
"What’s wrong, Consort Zhen?" A melodious voice came from above her, filled with concern. "If you’re tired, you should go rest."
— Again? And this time as a Consort?
Jiang Youlan felt a deep sense of helplessness. For a moment, she was speechless, only able to silently choke back her emotions. She stared at the tips of her shoes for several seconds before slowly lifting her gaze upward.
There sat a man and a woman above her. The woman was dressed in a bright red Palace Attire, adorned with peony silk flowers in her hair, exuding an air of elegance and nobility. As for the man...
The moment Jiang Youlan's gaze fixed on him, a surge of furious anger ignited within her!
Wasn't this the scoundrel who had killed her twice?
The emperor, seated above, was momentarily taken aback, seemingly unprepared for such an intense glare filled with rage. His eyes held a hint of contemplation as he met Jiang Youlan's gaze. He pressed his lips together but said nothing.
However, the Consort beside him was displeased and immediately wore a mocking expression. "It seems Consort Zhen is truly exhausted, forgetting even the most basic etiquette. How bold to stare directly at His Majesty! It’s quite an eye-opener for me."
As she spoke, the Consort gestured for the matron to step forward and take Jiang Youlan away.
Yet, to everyone’s surprise, the emperor suddenly raised his hand to halt their actions.
He descended two steps and stood firmly before Jiang Youlan, reaching out to pinch her chin and unceremoniously lift her face. "Do you know that just a few days ago, someone else looked at me with eyes strikingly similar to yours, fearless and defiant? I was so angered that I had her killed."
— Of course I know; that was how I looked at you!
Having died twice and suffered greatly, all of Jiang Youlan's emotions were suppressed deep within her heart. She maintained an expression of calm indifference on her face.
The Emperor's fingers gently brushed against her chin. After waiting for several seconds and seeing no reaction from her, a hint of disappointment flickered across his face, though his tone remained probing. "In the past few days, I've been thinking about what someone who dares to look at me with such eyes might do if they were not dead. Unfortunately, you are the Consort Zhen, and she is she."
Hearing this, Jiang Youlan felt that things were taking a strange turn. Without having time to think, she blurted out, "What if I am her? What can you do then?"
The Consort, sitting in her place with a rather displeased expression, took a deep breath upon hearing this and incredulously said, " Consort Zhen, when did you become so disrespectful? How dare you speak to His Majesty like that? Quickly return to the palace and reflect on your behavior!"
The Emperor raised his hand once more to signal for silence, but his gaze remained fixed on Jiang Youlan's face. His dark, deep-set eyes seemed to flash with a hint of confusion—or perhaps anticipation. " Consort Qiao, hold on."
He released his grip and took a step back, his sharp gaze seemingly capable of piercing through Jiang Youlan a thousand times over.
Jiang Youlan met his gaze defiantly but only caught a fleeting smile on the Emperor's face.
" Consort Zhen has neglected propriety; I decree that Consort Zhen shall serve in my chamber and burn night incense for one month."
"Ah?" Jiang Youlan tilted her head in surprise but inadvertently caught sight of Consort Qiao's suddenly furious and unwilling expression, as well as the Crimson Nails deeply embedded in the wooden armrest.
"Burning night incense? Burning night incense? I’ve become an eighteen-year-old little warrior," Jiang Youlan silently repeated to herself.
Five days later, Jiang Youlan resignedly removed the seemingly valuable Palace Attire and changed into a simple blue cloth jacket and Hu-style trousers. She donned deer-hide boots and carried a chamber pot as she walked along the quiet path of burning night incense.
After these few days, she finally understood why Consort Qiao had reacted the way she did.
According to the current dynasty's calendar regulations, the Emperor could visit his consorts' chambers for intimacy; however, due to the side hall next to the Emperor's chamber housing the memorial tablets of the late Emperor, it was deemed disrespectful for consorts to reside in the Emperor's quarters.
In simple terms, while it was acceptable for the Emperor and his consorts to interact in their own rooms, they were not allowed to engage in inappropriate behavior before the late Emperor’s spirit.
The current Emperor, due to this regulation, never allowed women into his chambers. However, to "punish" the Consort Zhen, he made an exception and designated a small room in the side hall of his palace for her to reside in.
Since the Emperor did not summon her to serve him at night, it did not technically violate the late Emperor's decree.
Though it was said she was there to prepare the night incense, the other Eunuchs serving in the Emperor's chambers did not require her assistance; she only needed to symbolically prepare the Emperor's incense.
Jiang Youlan, apart from preparing the incense once in the morning and once at night, found herself with nothing to do.
Sometimes, when boredom became unbearable, she couldn't help but ask the Emperor why he had added such a useless person like her to his court.
The Emperor skillfully sidestepped her question and replied with a hint of mystery, "Do you know where the Consort Zhen originally resided?"
"Where?"
"The Consort Zhen was originally a maidservant of Consort Qiao, living in Consort Qiao's separate quarters."
So what...
The Emperor posed one final question: "So would you prefer to serve me, or would you rather go back to serve Consort Qiao?"
Jiang Youlan was well aware of the oppressive and bullying tactics prevalent in the harem. In that moment, she clung tightly to the Emperor's leg and urgently pleaded, "Please let me stay!"
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