Chapter 12: Serving the Emperor 3

The night was thick with darkness, the air heavy with the scent of intoxicating flowers.

It was getting late, time for some serious business.

Helian Qi reached out and pulled the petite woman in front of him into his arms, carrying her straight towards the bed curtains.

Ning Wanyin let out a soft gasp, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck to steady herself. A blush bloomed on her cheeks. “Your Concubine… Your Concubine will go change into her nightgown—”

“No need, I’ll help you undress.”

The silken curtains fell, revealing a bed of soft, fragrant clouds.

The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows, filling the room with a spring-like warmth.

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the window, the storm of passion subsided.

Ning Wanyin’s eyes were filled with tears, her body aching as if it had been crushed.

Helian Qi, with his naturally aloof and reserved demeanor, was a completely different person in bed…

Being a favored concubine was a physically demanding job.

She would have to eat an extra bowl of breakfast!

The eunuchs and maids entered to help Helian Qi dress for court. Ning Wanyin immediately curled up under the thin quilt, revealing only her watery eyes.

Helian Qi looked down at her. Her hair was loose, her eyes like those of a startled deer, her cheeks flushed with a delicate blush, both innocent and alluring.

For a moment, he felt that dawn had come too soon, that he hadn’t had his fill. But he was never one to indulge in pleasure, and Ning Wanyin was just another concubine in his eyes.

She was simply useful to him at the moment.

Helian Qi looked at Ning Wanyin and instructed:

“Get some rest. Wang Degui—”

“This servant is here!” Wang Degui quickly stepped forward.

“Send someone to Cining Palace to excuse her. Ning Gui Ren is feeling unwell today and cannot go to greet the Empress Dowager.” Helian Qi said this while looking at Ning Wanyin, his narrow, cool eyes filled with a smile that gave the illusion of deep affection.

All the eunuchs and maids in the room were stunned.

Ning Gui Ren hadn’t gone to Cining Palace to greet the Empress Dowager yesterday, and now she wouldn’t go today either?

His Majesty truly favored Ning Gui Ren!

“Yes!” Wang Degui accepted the order and immediately sent a eunuch to Cining Palace to deliver the excuse.

Helian Qi left Lingxue Pavilion and rode in his dragon chariot for a while before suddenly turning to the attendant beside him and asking, “What is Ning Gui Ren’s given name?”

Wang Degui was taken aback and quickly replied, “Ning Gui Ren is the daughter of the Duke of Shou’an, her given name is Wanyin.”

He was a little confused.

It was normal for His Majesty to forget the names of his concubines.

He could simply ask her directly.

Ning Gui Ren was right there, why didn’t His Majesty ask her but instead asked him?

Wang Degui felt a little strange, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was odd.

However, since the Emperor had specifically asked for the name of someone, Wang Degui felt that she was a concubine unlike any other.

After all, most concubines in the palace were not someone the Emperor would bother to ask about by name.

Helian Qi didn’t want to ask Ning Wanyin directly because she had already said, “You are smitten with me.”

If he couldn’t even remember her name, it would be a bit of a slap in the face.

Helian Qi was willing to favor a concubine who was obedient and useful, and to give her some face.

To make her a favored concubine in the eyes of the world.

…

The imperial procession departed.

Only then did Ning Wanyin finally relax, lazily sinking into the warmth of the quilt, not wanting to move even a finger.

“Gui Ren, would you like to continue resting?” Danli approached with a servile smile.

Originally, she thought Ning Wanyin would soon fall from grace and was eager to find a new mistress to serve. But now that she had the Emperor’s backing, her attitude had completely changed.

She didn’t want to give the Empress Dowager…

What did it matter if she went to greet the Empress Dowager? From now on, their Lingxue Pavilion would be the first in the entire palace.

“Go to the Imperial Kitchen and get breakfast first, then you can sleep.” Ning Wanyin said, forcing herself to stay awake.

She needed to eat something to replenish her energy, but she also wanted to keep an eye on the news from Cining Palace.

It was uncertain what kind of move Empress Dowager Xue would make today. If something unexpected happened, she wouldn’t want to miss her chance while she was asleep.

“Yes, this servant will get you breakfast!” Danli quickly went to make arrangements.

Lianrui and Lüju helped Ning Wanyin wash up. After she finished washing and had breakfast, the concubines who had gone to greet the Empress Dowager also returned.

Cining Palace was calm today. Empress Dowager Xue had seen the eunuch sent by the Emperor to excuse her, and she didn’t send anyone to trouble Ning Wanyin.

Ning Wanyin, assured that everything was as it should be, lay down leisurely.

Five days passed.

The Emperor favored Ning Wanyin every night, showering her with gifts that flowed into Lingxue Pavilion like water.

As the newest addition to the palace, the other concubines hadn’t seen her since she started sleeping with the Emperor.

Because every day, the Emperor used the same excuse to excuse her from greeting the Empress Dowager.

This extraordinary favoritism even reached the ears of the court, where rumors spread of a seductive, bewitching concubine who had captivated the Emperor.

Soon, the officials from the Xue and Cen factions began to submit memorials accusing the Duke of Shou’an of “poor family management.”

Because the court could not criticize the concubines directly, this was a roundabout way of criticizing Ning Wanyin.

Her father’s poor family management had produced a “wicked daughter” like her.

The news reached Lingxue Pavilion.

Lianrui couldn’t help but worry for her mistress. “Mistress, I heard that many officials in the court are accusing your father. What should we do?”

Ning Wanyin sat by the window, her slender jade fingers holding a wolf-hair brush as she carefully copied a cluster of ink bamboo. She spoke calmly and without haste, “Don’t worry, I’m fine, and my father will be fine.”

Those officials were really targeting her.

As long as she was safe and sound here, her father would be fine.

“You’re right. With you here, as long as you speak a few good words to His Majesty, I’m sure he won’t make things difficult for your father…” Lianrui misunderstood and got it wrong.

Ning Wanyin couldn’t help but chuckle. Speak good words to the Emperor? When did I ever have that kind of influence?

But in the eyes of the world, she probably did have that kind of influence.

“The Emperor is the sole arbiter of his own destiny, how could a mere woman influence him? Whatever the Emperor decides to do, I don’t need to say anything.” Ning Wanyin dipped her brush in thick ink, looked at Lianrui, and reminded her, “Don’t say things like that in the future.”

Lianrui quickly shut her mouth. She realized belatedly that her words sounded like she was asking her mistress to “whisper in the Emperor’s ear,” which would be bad for her mistress’s reputation if it got out.

But she had never seen the officials so aggressively targeting her father.

She couldn’t help but worry for her mistress.

“Gui Ren, Wang Gonggong has come with an edict!” Xiao Guizi rushed in to report.

Ning Wanyin was slightly taken aback and immediately put down her brush, going to the courtyard to receive the edict.

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Ning Gui Ren is gentle and virtuous, pure and kind, and is hereby promoted to the rank of Beauty.” Wang Degui announced the edict.

Ning Wanyin received the imperial edict with both hands and bowed, “Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.”

“Congratulations, Ning Meiren! You are the first concubine to be promoted this year, which shows how much His Majesty favors you!” Wang Degui smiled and offered his congratulations.

“Thank you for coming all this way, Gonggong. Please have some tea.” Ning Wanyin smiled and offered Wang Degui some tea.

A heavy purse of silver was offered.

Wang Degui didn’t accept silver from just anyone.

But he also had a good impression of Ning Wanyin, so he took her silver and decided to do her a favor. He whispered, “I’m sure you’ve heard about the officials in the court accusing your father. Don’t worry, His Majesty saw those memorials and immediately issued the decree promoting you. He probably wants to reassure you!”

“Thank you for His Majesty’s kindness!” Ning Wanyin looked touched and thanked him again, “Thank you, Gonggong, for telling me.”

After sending Wang Degui away, Ning Wanyin, as was customary, rewarded the staff of Lingxue Pavilion and ordered them to enshrine the imperial edict.

Everyone was overjoyed.

Lianrui’s heart finally settled. She said happily, “Mistress, His Majesty is so considerate. He truly cares about you!”

But Ning Wanyin was thoughtful.

If the Emperor liked her, he could have promoted her days ago…

Promoting her after seeing the officials’ memorials was clearly a move aimed at Empress Dowager Xue.

However, she had always benefited from the power struggle between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. She was happy with this outcome.

A promotion meant a higher status and better treatment, which was a good thing.

Soon, the Imperial Household Department sent over more exquisite screens, vases, and other ornaments, befitting the status of a Beauty. Two more palace maids were also added, as was customary for a Beauty.

Lingxue Pavilion was filled with joy and excitement for a whole day.

In Qianxin Palace.

Wang Degui returned to report, “Ning Meiren is very happy and very grateful to His Majesty.”

Helian Qi paused in his review of the memorials and said indifferently, “Hmm.”

He pictured the young woman’s smiling face in his mind, but his gaze quickly shifted towards Cining Palace.

The officials’ accusations?

Oh, then she should be promoted.