Chapter 8 – During the Imperial Bedding

Yu Ying sat inside the sedan chair that carried concubines to the Qianqing Palace. Passing by Yikun Palace, then arriving at the Fengcai Gate—at that point, she had to get down and walk on foot.

Only after crossing Fengcai Gate was it considered the domain of Qianqing Palace. Concubines did not have the privilege to share the Emperor’s main sleeping chamber itself. They were instead settled in one of the rear chambers to await the Emperor’s arrival. According to rumor, there were nine such chambers, all used for this purpose.

Yu Ying sat by the bedside, looking at the bright yellow brocade quilt, and the gauzy drapes embroidered with dragons. She thought to herself—this wasn’t so bad. At least she hadn’t been bundled up in the bedding and simply carried to the bed.

Qingtiao had disappeared long before. There were no other Qianqing Palace servants present either, leaving Yu Ying unable to glean even the slightest information. She could only sit there and wait.

At this time, Kangxi was still fully absorbed in state affairs.

Liang Jiugong, seeing that it was already quite late, reminded him gently, “Your Majesty, it is time to retire.”

Only then did Kangxi set down his vermilion brush and speak. “Has the Lady Wei been brought?”

“Replying to Your Majesty—Wei Daying is already waiting in the back hall.”

“Then let’s go take a look.”

Having spoken, Kangxi strode out in large steps.

“Greetings to Your Majesty!” came the chorus of eunuchs and maids at the door, followed by the sounds of doors opening and closing.

Then came the approaching footsteps—tap, tap, tap—echoing ever closer.

Yu Ying hurriedly stood up, her head bowed, standing to the side with tense formality.

One step. Two steps. Three steps… Yu Ying counted silently.

He was near—she could see the bright yellow hem of his robes entering her field of vision. Her heart leapt up into her throat.

“Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!” Yu Ying quickly knelt to the ground to offer her formal greeting.

“Rise.”

His steps did not pause. In an instant, he had walked past Yu Ying and taken his seat on the bed.

Only then did Kangxi take the time to look her over. Seeing that she still kept her head lowered, he could only make out the pale curve of her chin. His mood turned slightly displeased.

“Raise your head.”

Wasn’t she quite bold? She even dared to avoid seeing Me.

Yu Ying jumped at his tone, her shoulders shrinking in reflex. Only then did she slowly lift her head, placing both hands in front of her, hidden by her wide sleeves. Beneath them, she clenched her fingers tight.

Kangxi waited for a moment—finally, he could see her timid eyes, seeming to glisten with unshed tears.

The flickering candlelight on either side of the bed swayed within those eyes, making it impossible to see to the bottom of them. This expression of pure innocence washed away the faint irritation in Kangxi’s heart.

His voice softened of its own accord. “Don’t be afraid. Since I have called you to attend Me tonight, it means I no longer hold any grudge over today’s incident.”

Perhaps he guessed what weighed on her mind, for he spoke to soothe her.

Sure enough, the moment she heard this, Yu Ying’s body relaxed visibly. She was about to kneel again to thank him when a hand reached out and stopped her.

A second later, that hand pulled her forward with a gentle strength.

Yu Ying, startled, instinctively put a hand up between them, her eyes going wide as she looked up at the hand’s owner.

This was the first time Yu Ying had clearly seen the face of this Emperor famed across the ages.

How to describe it? He did not have the pockmarked complexion the rumors claimed. Instead, his features were refined and striking. If one ignored the aura of imperial power and authority, he looked less like a ruler and more like the genteel scholars written of in books.

While Yu Ying studied Kangxi, Kangxi was also studying the woman in his arms.

Seeing her like this—bristling in alarm, her wide eyes reflecting his own figure—he felt all the more certain that he had made the right decision.

Amused, he lifted a hand to smooth her hair, stroking from the crown of her head down to her back.

Again and again he repeated the motion.

Yu Ying didn’t know what he was thinking—she only felt that the Emperor was surprisingly gentle. So, the hand she had held up between them slowly relaxed, and she leaned in, letting herself rest against the chest in front of her.

Watching the girl obediently nestling into him, Kangxi couldn’t help himself—he lowered his head to kiss the small mole at the corner of her eye.

Ever since she’d entered, that tiny red mark had been constantly in his view. Finally tasting it now, he mischievously bit down on the little mole that had disturbed his thoughts.

Yu Ying’s breath caught—her fingers tightened in the folds of his sleeve.

When Kangxi finally raised his head, that mole had bloomed into a seductive red mark, pitiful and enticing, making him want to pluck it all over again.

Yu Ying, flustered, bowed her head to hide her face.

Pity tugged at Kangxi—he regretted that the vivid color was now concealed. Yet in the gap between her hair, he glimpsed her slender white nape and the faint pink tinge spreading across her ear.

Finding amusement in this, he bent closer and blew softly on her ear tip, making the girl shudder all over.

“Ha… ha ha…” Kangxi laughed out loud, his mood bright and unguarded.

Outside the door, Liang Jiugong was astonished.

The Emperor was usually terse and solemn even when favoring a concubine. To laugh aloud like this was unprecedented.

It seemed this Wei Daying had indeed found her way into the Emperor’s heart.

Inside, the air grew hotter and heavier.

Kangxi lifted a hand to grip Yu Ying’s chin, tilting her face up.

Her cheeks were awash in pink. Perhaps the angle was uncomfortable, for she reached up both hands and gently took hold of the hand holding her face. Kangxi did not resist—he simply let her hold it, curious to see what she would do next.

Freed, Yu Ying did not lower her gaze again.

Instead, she looked at him straight on, those eyes still rimmed red with tears. Her jaw was still marked by the faint imprint of his fingers, yet she used that bewildered, innocent gaze to look at the very man who had caused it.

Then she pushed herself up and put her arms around his neck.

Kangxi was startled by her boldness, even more curious about her next move.

He watched her bite her lip, as if steeling herself.

The next moment, he caught the faint sweetness of her breath.

That mouth, so newly kissed and reddened, pressed to his own.

But before he could savor it fully, the girl who had dared such a reckless act abruptly curled up, burying her entire face in his chest as if she could disappear there.

Seeing her moon-white robe mingled with his bright yellow sleeping garments, Kangxi laughed again, openly delighted.

“Tonight, I have found Myself a little treasure.”

Yu Ying felt the vibration of his laughter rumble through his chest. She, too, smiled.

It seemed—at least tonight—the Emperor was satisfied with her.

The sound of their laughter drifted outside.

Liang Jiugong silently revised upward his estimation of how deeply the Emperor’s favor ran.

This Wei Daying was truly fortunate—His Majesty would not forget her easily.

“Prepare her.” Kangxi was in excellent spirits. He was even looking forward to what would happen next.

Yu Ying was led away.

The matrons and maids were already waiting.

After kneeling and offering formal greetings, Yu Ying was stripped again and placed in a bath barrel. Some washed her, others loosened her hair. Each had her own duty—under no circumstances was the Emperor to be made to wait too long.

When Yu Ying returned to the chamber at last, Kangxi was already seated on the bed, waiting.

“Come here.” Kangxi beckoned her with his hand.

Yu Ying walked slowly over. As she moved, her robe shifted aside, revealing a glimpse of pale blue undergarments. The vague outline, half hidden, half seen, only made the sight more enticing.

Before she could climb onto the bed herself, a hand reached out and pulled her up impatiently.

In a blink, Yu Ying was lying on the bed.

Her black hair spread across the silk sheets, setting off her pale skin like flawless jade.

When the robe fell open to reveal her round shoulder, she reflexively crossed her arms over her chest, staring dazed at what he would do next.

He reached out, brushing over her eyes, her cheeks, and finally down her body.

Wherever those callused fingers passed, her skin trembled.

Kangxi adored the feel of her smooth, unblemished skin—like the finest jade, never enough to touch.

And merely touching was not enough. He lowered his head to taste.

Her skin was so tender that the lightest pressure left a trail of red marks.

When she looked about ready to cry from his attentions, he finally paused, reaching up to squeeze the back of her neck, as if in consolation.

“Don’t be afraid. I will be gentle.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he pressed her down, unable to wait any longer.

Soon after, the room filled with the mingled sounds of a man’s ragged breathing and a woman’s soft cries.

A single night of spring is worth a thousand pieces of gold.