Chapter Three: Tonight, You Will Attend to Me in My Chambers

One word and the emperor wants to start chopping heads—is this dog of an emperor really so rash? Hua Rong was so frightened she dropped straight to the floor. “Your Majesty, are you being serious?”

The emperor actually allowed himself a faint smile. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Hua Rong desperately wanted to nod, but she didn’t dare! The emperor lifted a finger. “Take her away.”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Seeing the guards approaching, Hua Rong scrambled to her feet, racking her brains for a solution. “Your Majesty, I can explain what happened that day!”

The emperor raised an eyebrow. “Speak.”

Hua Rong thought hard, then surreptitiously pinched herself, summoning two tears brimming with heartfelt emotion. “The reason I was so plump that day was because Your Majesty seemed not to like me when I was full of fortune and blessings. The thought of never seeing you again cut me to the bone! In my sorrow, I resolved to lose weight, eating nothing but boiled cabbage for days and running day and night. Thankfully, Heaven was moved by my sincerity! The gods pitied my determination, and in just a few days, I slimmed down. I am so grateful, I wish I could burn incense every day to thank the heavens for their mercy!”

The Xuanji Palace was silent.

Su Xin wiped her tears in despair. Master, if you keep courting death like this, we’ll have to be master and servant again in the next life.

At that moment, a plump white goose waddled out, head held high, chest puffed out, leading seven or eight little goslings to the pond for a sunbath.

The emperor: “…”

Everyone: “…”

Hua Rong felt she was thrice blessed to witness—so soon again—a rare collapse in the ice-cold emperor’s expression.

“Consort Rong, you actually…”

“These are my pets, Your Majesty! The big one is called Hua, the others are named Second Hua, Third Hua, and so on.”

Hua Rong swiftly interrupted the emperor, her smile as genuine as could be.

On the emperor’s noble hand, veins faintly stood out.

Seeing this, Hua Rong meekly asked, “Your Majesty, you never said pets weren’t allowed in the palace.”

Cats, dogs, birds are pets—geese are pets, too. This logic deserved a perfect score!

Fortunately, the emperor had no intention of pursuing the matter. He simply paused, then returned to the previous topic. “Just now, you said you wished to see me?”

Hua Rong blushed. “Yes, I do—very much, exceedingly so, to the point I’ve lost appetite and grown thin!”

Emperors are usually self-important, rarely fond of women throwing themselves at them.

So Hua Rong thought.

From his sedan, the emperor gazed thoughtfully at her for a few seconds, then suddenly spoke. “Since Consort Rong is so eager to see me, tonight, I shall let you see your fill.”

Click!

Hua Rong jerked her head up so fast her neck may have twisted. But she had no time for pain. “Your Majesty, do you mean…”

“Tonight, you will share my bed.” The emperor glanced at her lightly. “Or do you refuse?”

A strange light flickered in Hua Rong’s eyes. “I do, I do! Of course I do! To serve Your Majesty is a blessing earned over many lifetimes! Thank you, Your Majesty. Tonight, I will dress beautifully and come to see you!”

The emperor gave her a calm look and departed.

After he left, Su Xin came over, gripping Hua Rong’s hand, tears streaming down. “My lady, the emperor has finally summoned you! This is wonderful news! You’re truly blessed—I thought for sure we wouldn’t escape disaster this time, but we did. But… why are you crying too?”

Hua Rong bit her handkerchief, tearful, meeting Su Xin’s gaze. “I—I’m so happy!”

Escape once, but not always. Why was her fate so bitter?

…

Night fell.

In the vast palace, candlelight flickered. Dragons and phoenixes were carved on the beams, imposing in their majesty. The furnishings—any one of them would fetch millions in the modern day.

Hua Rong had temporarily lost interest in wealth. Her only concern was how to preserve her life under the emperor’s hand!

The emperor had slept with so many women—what if he passed some illness to her?

She was so beautiful—what if the emperor fell madly in love with her and couldn’t restrain himself?

She had already crossed swords with Lady Wan. If more consorts came along, how could she ever reach the pinnacle of her life?

Before she could devise a plan, outside the door, maids and eunuchs knelt. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

He’s here, he’s here, he’s really here!

Hua Rong immediately sounded the alarm—level one alert!

Chest up, stomach in, head high, smile.

As soon as the emperor entered, he saw Hua Rong’s respectful pose and spoke in a cool tone. “Consort Rong, you’ve waited long.”

Hua Rong’s legs nearly buckled.

“No matter how long Your Majesty makes me wait, I am willing.”

The emperor nodded, then spread his arms. “Then, Consort Rong, assist me in undressing.”

Hua Rong blinked. “…”

Straight to the point? No tea, no conversation first?

Seeing her frozen, the emperor asked coldly, “Consort Rong, are you unwilling?”

Nonsense! Did she look like she was eager?

Hua Rong forced a stiff smile, steeled herself, stomped her foot, and with a bashful flutter, declared, “Your Majesty, how could I be unwilling! Here I come!”

With that, she lunged forward in excitement.

But her skirt was too long—she tripped, body tilting, landing with a solid crash.

Bang! The floor shook.

Outside, Eunuch Li heard the noise and rushed in, only to find Hua Rong sprawled on the floor, motionless.

He looked at the emperor in shock. “Your Majesty, this…”

The emperor sat in his chair, poured a cup of tea, and regarded the girl lying there. “Consort Rong is dead. Take her out and bury her.”

Hua Rong, playing dead, heard this and her brow twitched twice. After a few seconds, she raised her dirt-streaked face, trembling, reaching out toward the emperor. “Your Majesty, I think—I think I can still be saved.”

As the last word fell, she collapsed with another thud.

Eunuch Li stiffly turned back. “Your Majesty, shall we still bury her?”

The emperor finally finished his tea, propping his chin lazily. “Since Consort Rong is alive, let the imperial physician attend to her.”

Eunuch Li dared not ask further. “Your Majesty, should I summon other consorts tonight?”

“No need.”

…

After much commotion, Hua Rong was sent back to Xuanji Palace.

Su Xin saw Hua Rong’s red nose and nearly dropped her jaw. “My lady, what happened to you?”

Hua Rong’s nose stung and she threw herself into Su Xin’s arms, wailing to the heavens.

“Su Xin, I hate it, I hate myself so much!”

Eunuch Li and the others, embarrassed, tried to comfort her. “My lady, don’t be sad. Once your nose heals, there will be plenty of chances to attend the emperor. But next time, you must be careful—no matter how excited, restrain yourself, and don’t let today’s tragedy happen again.”

Hua Rong sniffled and nodded meekly.

After Eunuch Li left, Su Xin finally asked, bewildered, “My lady, what did Eunuch Li mean by that?”