An Lingrong recuperated for seven or eight days, and her ankle had healed completely. During this time, the Emperor visited from time to time to dine with her. The sour jealousy wafting through the harem was so thick it could be tasted; she feared the other women would tear her to pieces. More importantly, she worried about the Emperor’s patience; she lacked Zhen Huan’s face to keep him waiting for a month—seven or eight days was already his limit.
After lunch, people from the Imperial Household Department arrived, accompanied by an instructress. They were all smiles. "Congratulations to you, Minor Master, congratulations."
Baoying pulled out a heavy purse of silver and handed it to Eunuch Xu. An Lingrong nodded slightly at the instructress, her face flushing crimson with effort.
An Lingrong was well-versed in the art of serving the Emperor in bed. In her previous life, she had tried every trick in the book, even having the Emperor commission an oversized bed just to accommodate her. Each time she served him, she would be left exhausted, only to be mocked with the praise, "Rong'er truly knows the rites." The memory stirred a sense of resentment within her.
Coming back to her senses, she reminded herself that this was her first time in this body; appearing too calm would be suspicious. She forced herself to blush, putting on a look of profound shyness.
Inside the Huixia Pavilion of the Western Wing, An Lingrong looked at the jade-pot spring flowers sent from the flower workshop. The young eunuch claimed they were a congratulatory gift from the Empress. An Lingrong seemed to realize something. In her previous life, she had trembled during her first night and remained a virgin, which she had attributed to her own nervousness; she hadn't realized there was a trick involving these flowers.
She cast a cold glance at Baojuan. She had forgotten about this pawn planted by the Empress.
An Lingrong kept her expression neutral. "Since it is a gift from the Empress, Baozhu, take these flowers to the veranda to get some air. Tend to them carefully."
Baozhu hurried to place the flowers on the veranda. Inside the hall, Baojuan was brushing An Lingrong's hair. "Minor Master, why move such fine flowers outside? Do you not like them?"
An Lingrong watched Baojuan through the bronze mirror. In this new life, she hadn't caused her any trouble. After all, Baojuan had protected her when she first entered the palace, and they had relied on each other in this lonely, cannibalistic harem. She simply had her moved to the outer hall. She hadn't even used a loyalty charm on her, wanting to see how this life would unfold. An Lingrong closed her eyes. "The Empress is benevolent, but I fear the flowers will wilt from the stuffiness in the hall. Once they have adjusted to the air in Yanxi Palace, let Baozhu move them to the table in the main room."
Hearing this, Baojuan relaxed; at least the Minor Master hadn't figured it out. Baoying, standing behind, quietly observed Baojuan’s every move, finding her behavior strange, and decided to keep a close watch.
At dusk, the instructress helped Lingrong bathe. While combing her hair, she prepared to apply hair oil, but An Lingrong refused. The oil was greasy and far from refreshing; she had learned her lesson in her previous life. Noble Lady Wan had won the Emperor's favor by appearing as natural as a lotus rising from clear water.
Undressed, An Lingrong's skin was not only fair but as delicate and smooth as a peeled egg. Her raven-black hair was incredibly supple, held only by a single green jade hairpin.
The instructress nodded in satisfaction, pocketed a generous bag of silver, and whispered some advice: do not make noise during service, do not harm the Imperial body, do not be overly clingy...
An Lingrong listened patiently. "Serving" in such a wooden, lifeless manner was exactly why she had lacked favor before. She had won him over by offering the Emperor novel and stimulating experiences. Though she appeared to listen obediently, her mind was already elsewhere.
Wrapped in her quilt, An Lingrong emitted a faint scent of lilies—fresh, elegant, and subtle. She had taken a "body-scent pill" to create this fragrance, which could only be detected at close range and intensified with body heat. The lily scent, combined with the "e-li" incense from the bedchamber, had aphrodisiac properties. Before coming out, she had secretly dabbed some of the incense onto her neck. An Lingrong curled her lips; she would give the Emperor an unforgettable night.
When the moon hung in the center of the sky, the Yangxin Hall was brightly lit. The Emperor was still reviewing memorials. Checking the time, he set down his brush and walked to the side hall. He entered quietly. An Lingrong had been waiting for a while, and the warmth of the heated floor had made her drowsy.
The Emperor, dressed in yellow sleepwear, slowly approached and sat on the edge of the bed. Finding the drowsy An Lingrong amusing—no one else had ever felt sleepy while waiting to serve him—he gently brushed her cheek with his prayer beads.
An Lingrong jolted awake. Her sleepy haze vanished, replaced by water-bright eyes that stared at him with a hint of panic. The Emperor felt his throat go dry. Seeing him motionless, An Lingrong used the voice she had been taught by Yixiu—a voice similar to that of Chunyuan—and lowered her head shyly. "Emperor."
The Emperor felt a rush of heat. He leaned down, burying his face in the crook of her neck. "You smell so fragrant." He began to explore every inch of her skin, his hands marveling at how smooth and delicate she was, caressing her curves.
An Lingrong shivered at his touch. Her face turned crimson, and she feigned shyness as she reached out to pull him closer. "Four Brother."
In the dead of night, the candles flickered, and the temperature in the room rose steadily. The Emperor coaxed her to call him "Four Brother." A flash of mockery crossed An Lingrong’s eyes, but she complied. "Four Brother."
The lily scent grew stronger, goading the Emperor to demand more and more. The candlelight cast their intertwined shadows against the thin silk curtains, inseparable and entangled.
Outside, Su Peisheng heard the commotion within and sighed to himself: The Emperor hasn't been this unbridled in a long time. This Minor Master An is likely to rise in status. He whispered a warning to the young eunuchs: "Not a word of what happened tonight. Guard your heads."
If the rest of the harem or the Empress Dowager were to find out, not only would Minor Master An suffer, but he would likely be in trouble as well.
Time and time again, the Yangxin Hall called for water three times. This body was new to such things, too tender and sensitive to withstand the intensity, and An Lingrong eventually drifted into unconsciousness.
The next morning, the eunuchs serving the Emperor entered. Seeing he was still asleep, Su Peisheng quietly stepped forward to wake him.
The Emperor woke instantly, feeling more rested than he had in ages. As he washed, he instructed Su Peisheng, "Keep it quiet. Cancel the morning greeting for Noble Lady An today." With that, he left.
Su Peisheng hurried to nod, gave instructions to Xiao Xiatzi at the door, and chased after the Imperial palanquin.
After the Emperor left, An Lingrong opened her eyes. With a raspy voice, she called for Baozhu. Baozhu said happily, "Minor Master, the Emperor just promoted your rank to Noble Lady, and he ordered that you should rest and do not need to attend the morning greetings."
Baozhu helped her dress in the palace gown she had brought that morning. Seeing the dense patches of purple and blue on An Lingrong's body, especially the signs of the night’s intensity, Baozhu blushed. "The Emperor is... he certainly worked you hard, Minor Master."
An Lingrong found Baozhu's reddening cheeks amusing. She sat before the bronze mirror, looking at her flushed complexion and the alluring charm in her eyes. The innocence of a girl just initiated into the mysteries of love was perfectly balanced with a subtle, feminine seductiveness—a blend that left one yearning for more.
The mottled bruises were not because the Emperor was rough, but because her skin was simply too delicate. An Lingrong reassured her, "It's fine, just apply some ointment. We must hurry to the morning greeting."
"But the Emperor just told Eunuch Su to exempt you from the greeting," Baozhu said, puzzled, though her hands moved quickly to style An Lingrong's hair.
An Lingrong glanced at the eunuchs standing outside the gate of Yangxin Hall. "The Emperor is showing me concern by exempting me, but the rules of serving the Emperor cannot be broken. Besides, the Empress is benevolent; one must not be disrespectful."
An Lingrong smirked at the young eunuch she saw slipping out from behind the door. If she truly skipped the greetings, that would be arrogance born of favor, and it would likely lead to the Emperor's disgust. She had low status and an unremarkable family background; if she lost his favor, no one would care if she vanished overnight.
For now, she had to lie low, cling firmly to the Emperor’s favor, and secure a place in his heart so that the others would dare not touch her.
An Lingrong headed quickly toward the Jingren Palace, arriving half an hour early. The autumn air was cold, and a thin layer of frost coated the morning flowers. Eunuchs stood guard, and palace maids moved with practiced efficiency.
An Lingrong waited at the entrance for a while. When Jianqiu saw the First Class Attendant An arrive, she had Huichun receive her while she went to the inner chamber.
"Your Majesty, the First Class Attendant is waiting in the side hall."
Yixiu rubbed her forehead. "She arrived so early? It seems she is clever. I only wonder if she has the spine to compete."
After a while, the others arrived one by one. An Lingrong paid her respects to everyone. Even Consort Hua arrived early, intending to assert her dominance, only to find An Lingrong sitting quietly upon entering. An Lingrong immediately stood up to greet her. "Greetings, Consort Hua."
Consort Hua looked at An Lingrong’s nourished complexion and the lingering look of spring in her eyes, snorted, and cursed under her breath: *Vixen.* She dismissed her coldly.
"Her Majesty the Empress arrives!" Jiang Fuhai flicked his whisk behind the screen. Hearing this, everyone knelt. "Greetings, Empress. May you have ten thousand years of peace."
The concubines spoke in unison. The Empress sat on the couch, watching the scene with satisfaction. She smiled, "Rise, sisters."
"Thank you, Empress." Everyone sat. An Lingrong stood again to perform the full three-bows and nine-kneels ritual. Yixiu looked at her with satisfaction.
After the greeting, the Empress spoke, though her smile didn't reach her eyes. "First Class Attendant An—no, Noble Lady An, rise. The Emperor sent word that he has promoted you and exempted you from morning greetings. Your heart is truly sincere; it is touching that you would come to greet us so soon after your first night."
The other concubines were displeased. Noble Lady Cao felt a surge of resentment; she had only been promoted to Noble Lady after bearing a princess. To think An Lingrong was promoted after just one night. It was clear she lacked the Emperor's favor, and poor Wenyiyi suffered for it.
Noble Lady Xin felt even worse; she had borne a princess and suffered a miscarriage, yet after all these years since the Prince's manor, she was still a First Class Attendant, now being surpassed by a newcomer.
An Lingrong listened to the needle hidden in the Empress’s silk. She looked at the other concubines, stood up, and replied softly, "The Emperor’s favor is generous, but offering greetings is my duty. I do not find it tiring."
Yixiu laughed. "No wonder the Emperor likes you. You know when to advance and when to retreat. I hope you cherish this favor, and sisters, you must all work harder."
An Lingrong noted the Empress’s attempt to stir trouble and glanced at Consort Hua, who was indeed staring at her with blazing fury.
"We thank you for your guidance, Empress," the concubines replied in unison.
Then, idle chatter began. Consort Li sneered, "Noble Lady An, you usually stay indoors. How did you happen to bump into the Emperor and receive such unparalleled favor?"
An Lingrong raised her eyes. "I heard that morning dew is good for one’s health, so I went to collect some. I happened to run into the Emperor, and then..." She left the rest unsaid, and everyone knew what she meant.
Jealousy simmered. Cao Qinmo turned her gaze to the haggard Noble Lady Shen, who sat to the side. "Noble Lady Shen, why do you look so haggard while Noble Lady An is basking in favor? Are you perhaps feeling bitter that you didn't sleep well?"
Noble Lady Shen replied sternly, "I was simply late looking over the account books yesterday. Noble Lady An’s favor is a joyous occasion. Why would I feel bitter? I should congratulate her on her promotion."
Everyone present was a schemer. They scoffed inwardly at Noble Lady Shen’s haughty air. *Those who know think you are a Noble Lady; those who don't might think you are the Empress. A concubine should know her place. Where does she put the Empress?* Noble Lady Shen didn't understand her own position.
An Lingrong nodded her thanks but said nothing more.
"Noble Lady An, you should focus on your health. You look so frail; I fear the Emperor’s interest is merely a passing whim," Consort Hua said sarcastically.
An Lingrong feigned a blush and replied timidly, "Thank you for your concern, Consort."
The Nian family was at the height of its power. If she truly crossed paths with them now, she would be discarded in an instant, and there would be no one to hear her cries. An Lingrong decided to commit to the image of being frail and unambitious, waiting for the perfect moment to strike a lethal blow.
Seeing An Lingrong acting like a soft persimmon—answering whatever she was asked and looking fragile—the others found her unthreatening and lost interest.
Seeing this, the Empress decided to end the gathering as the hour grew late.
Back at Yanxi Palace, the Huixia Pavilion was bustling. Baoying was busy recording the rewards.
Seeing An Lingrong return, she put down the ledger and helped the Minor Master into the inner hall. "The Emperor sent many rewards: a pair of ruyi ginkgo earrings, a pair of jade hairpins, a delicate floral hairpin, a pair of ruyi peony vases, a set of four treasures of the study, a bolt of snow silk, and three bolts of glistening brocade."
"And the Emperor specifically instructed that you must open this one yourself." She brought out a box.
An Lingrong turned her gaze to the box, crafted from fine purple sandalwood, inlaid with gold thread, and carved with vivid plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum patterns. It was incredibly precious.
An Lingrong took it and opened it with a *click*.
Inside lay a silver hairpin adorned with a trailing trumpet creeper flower. The flower was so lifelike it seemed to breathe—passionate and unrestrained—with colorful beads hanging as tassels. It swayed gently with every movement, vibrant yet elegant.
An Lingrong picked it up, examining it as it gleamed in the sunlight.
Even though she had seen many treasures, and many jewelry pieces more precious than this, none could compare to the trumpet creeper flower that marked the beginning of her bond with him.
No wonder Zhen Huan had loved the Emperor so deeply in her past life. The favored treatment, the hot spring palace, the traditional wedding blessings—if he had treated her this way in the previous life, she, too, might have fallen into the trap.
"Minor Master, this trumpet creeper hairpin is beautiful. The Emperor is so good to you," Baozhu said, overjoyed.
An Lingrong placed it back in the box. "Put it away properly and record it in the inventory."
"Minor Master, shouldn't you wear such a beautiful hairpin?" Baozhu asked, confused.
Baoying gently tapped Baozhu’s forehead. "The Minor Master has just gained favor; she shouldn't show off. If she wears it and draws attention, there won't be a day of peace."
Baozhu understood immediately and quickly agreed.
Baoying helped her master rest. She hadn't slept well, and her body was exhausted.
"I am resting now. I will not see anyone."