Bai Wutong nodded blankly, "This concubine understands."
Zhang Chengyan could see clearly that she had no idea what he meant. But it was better that way; ignorance kept things clean. In this inner court, there was precious little that remained clean.
Just then, a sharp, angry shout echoed from the end of the path. "You blind fools! Consort Rong is coming this way, and you dare to block her path?"
Bai Wutong’s face turned pale, and without a second thought, she ducked into the flower bushes, hiding behind the rockery. She didn't forget to grab her basket with her, clutching it tightly.
Watching this, Zhang Chengyan couldn't help but laugh. This Beauty Bai was certainly timid. Very well, he decided, he wouldn't make her come out; there was no need to invite gossip from the Empress Dowager, which would only make life difficult for the girl.
A moment later, several figures appeared. Jin Weige walked with a grand air, her vermilion gown trailing behind her, her head adorned with extravagant gold hairpins. She was supported by two palace maids, with several others trailing in her wake. Before she even arrived, a heavy, cloying fragrance wafted over.
Observing her pomp, Zhang Chengyan’s brows furrowed. Every time he saw Beauty Bai, she was always alone, charming and delicate. But Jin Weige always brought this overwhelming entourage, which inexplicably irritated him.
Spotting him, Jin Weige’s face lit up with joy, and she hurried forward. "This concubine greets the Emperor."
After performing her courtesies, she stood up immediately and, acting with practiced affection, linked her arm through Zhang Chengyan’s. "Your Majesty, you haven't visited this concubine in such a long time. Now that there are so many new sisters, have you forgotten about me?"
"I have not." Being the woman he had loved most in his youth, Zhang Chengyan softened his tone. "Even when you were confined, did I not visit you?"
"I knew the Emperor still held this concubine in his heart." Jin Weige had always been bold; seeing that there were no outsiders around, she leaned the weight of her upper body against him.
Zhang Chengyan had practiced martial arts since childhood and was physically robust, but caught off guard by her sudden shift in weight, he was forced to step back. He reached out to steady her, only to feel a thick, fleshy softness against his hand. "Stand up straight!"
Why hadn't he noticed before that Jin Weige had become so heavy? Her waist, too, was wider than before. When he had held Beauty Bai earlier, she had felt as light as a swallow. Jin Weige remained oblivious to the fact that Zhang Chengyan was already comparing her to another woman.
"Your Majesty, how can these flowers here compare to those at Yaoguang Palace? I personally made your favorite pastries. Tonight..."
Looking at her, Zhang Chengyan recalled the moments they had shared in the past. She had been locked away for two months and seemed to have behaved herself. Perhaps it was time he spent a night at her palace.
Suddenly, a soft, light touch grazed his hand. He jerked his head down. A small hand withdrew at lightning speed.
"Your Majesty, what are you looking at?" Jin Weige asked, sounding somewhat dissatisfied when he didn't respond. "I know you said you wouldn't favor any concubine for seven days, so we won't stay the night. But if the Emperor would just stay a little longer, this concubine would be satisfied."
The soft sensation touched his hand again. It was that same small hand, but this time, it was much bolder, sliding directly into his palm, hidden from view by the flowers beside them.
Jin Weige reached out with her plump hand, her long, sharp-tipped nail guards looking exceptionally slender, and tapped his chest affectedly. "Your Majesty, I just wanted you to taste the new pastries I made."
Zhang Chengyan, who had been somewhat moved moments ago, lost all interest the moment he saw those guards. If such ornaments were on Beauty Bai’s hands, perhaps it would be a different, more beautiful sight.
"No. Go back first; I have matters to attend to."
Jin Weige’s expression shifted, and she could no longer maintain her delicate, coquettish smile. She looked displeased. "Your Majesty, it will be the end of the year in just over two months. Have you forgotten what the Imperial Astrolabe Bureau said?"
In Yongshou Palace, the Empress Dowager nagged him. Now, out here, Consort Rong was nagging him too. Every day, all he heard in his ears was talk of an imperial heir! For the sake of an heir, he was forced to visit those unsightly women night after night! And now, the whole world knew he had no offspring!
"Enough!" Zhang Chengyan was already frustrated by the war in the Southern Frontier, and his anger flared. "Leave!"
"Your Maj—" Jin Weige tried to retort, but Jiayue quickly pulled on her sleeve. "My Lady, please, you shouldn't always go against the Emperor!" Even the deepest affection could be worn thin by a ruler. Jin Weige’s pride in her favor was excessive, and if she kept this up, she would inevitably lose the Emperor’s heart.
Zhang Chengyan didn't want to hear another word. He turned his back, his gaze falling upon the flower bushes where the pale pink figure was vaguely visible. "Are you not leaving yet?"
"Your Majesty, this concubine will take her leave. I will wait for you tonight."
With that, Jin Weige left with her retinue, holding her chin high, as if to display the confidence that belonged solely to a favorite consort.
Once they had gone, Bai Wutong emerged like a small cat. She pouted, brushing the petals and leaves from her clothes.
Watching her delicate, soft demeanor, Zhang Chengyan felt his frustration fade. "I thought you were very timid. Why did you dare to hold my hand? Weren't you afraid Consort Rong would discover you?"
"This concubine was afraid," Bai Wutong replied, looking up while still clutching a petal in her hand. "But I felt even worse for you, Your Majesty. You finally have a moment of rest. If you broke your word and went to another concubine, the Empress Dowager might force you to visit the inner court every day again."
Zhang Chengyan raised an eyebrow. The other concubines only ever tried every trick to get him into the inner court; none of them would ever say such things. "And if I came to visit you, would you be unwilling?"
"If it were after seven days, this concubine would naturally be willing," Bai Wutong said, tilting her head slightly, her gaze downcast and her eyelashes trembling, looking more pitiful and moving than ever. "But for now, I am unwilling. I only wish for Your Majesty to have a good rest."
Whether her words were true or false, Zhang Chengyan’s mood improved significantly. "I must go. I will have Wang Decai send you some jasmine flowers later. No need to pick them here; the sun is too harsh, and your skin is so delicate—if you were to damage it, how could I favor you?"
Bai Wutong twisted around, blushing with shyness. Zhang Chengyan chuckled before turning to leave.
She stood on her tiptoes, watching until his figure disappeared, then immediately pulled a pink sachet from her sleeve and threw it deep into the flower bushes.
When she had reached out earlier, it wasn't just to keep the Emperor away from Jin Weige; it was to ensure that Jin Weige’s people would notice something. Those people were not fools; they knew she was with the Emperor, so they wouldn't dare make a scene right then. Jin Weige’s temperament, however, was unpredictable.
As soon as she was sure they were gone, she stepped lightly and quickly left the area.
Moments later, Jin Weige returned with Jiayue.
"Jiayue, did you really see someone here just now?"
"It is absolutely certain, My Lady. You know my eyes; I saw a figure in there, though I couldn't see it clearly." Jiayue stepped forward, parted the bushes, and immediately spotted the sachet on the ground.
"My Lady, look at this!" Jiayue presented the sachet as if it were a treasure, her face filled with hatred. "I don't know which concubine was hiding here to meet the Emperor in secret! The Emperor said he wouldn't visit the inner court for seven days, and already someone is being disobedient! If the Emperor hadn't been here, I would have dragged her out myself!"
Jin Weige snatched the sachet, her long nail guards piercing through the embroidered orchid. "Find her! You must find that bitch for me! Daring to seduce the Emperor right under my nose—I will tear her to pieces!"