Chapter Seventy-Nine: Be Careful

After the state banquet, the king naturally made his way to Anxue Palace to visit the queen, a clear sign that she held the dearest place in his heart. The deep affection between the emperor and empress inevitably stirred envy among the rest of the harem.

Within Anxue Palace, tranquility had been restored. Xiao Xi’er was curled up in her own chamber, sleeping soundly, while the little fox slept on its own special soft couch, a fiery red ball nestled atop it.

Only Xuexue remained awake, her long hair unbound, draped in a robe and outer garment, sitting on her bed and ostensibly “reading.” Only one palace lantern was lit, its flickering light swaying unsteadily, reminiscent of a moth drawn to a flame.

She reclined on the bed, running her fingers through her long hair, the straight bangs across her forehead partially veiling her gaze and causing some discomfort. She frowned unconsciously, ears attuned to any movement outside the bedchamber.

It felt very late already—she wondered how the banquet was progressing.

She put down her book, her ethereal, delicate features hidden by the dim light.

Outside, Ji Wu Qing arrived at Anxue Palace surrounded by his attendants and court eunuchs. However, once inside, everyone grew subdued, shuffling silently with bowed heads, careful not to disturb the peace. The staff within Anxue Palace were well-trained; even when he arrived, no one made a scene or tried to attract Xuexue’s attention.

“Has your mistress already retired?” he asked, the faint scent of wine clinging to him—subtle, yet enough to make the young palace maid standing before him blush furiously.

“Your Majesty... Her Majesty has most likely gone to rest,” the maid stammered, her head lowered in respect and a touch of fear before the august monarch. The faint aroma of wine from him only deepened her embarrassment.

Though the king favored only the queen, he was still an exceedingly handsome man.

“Most likely?” The king was clearly dissatisfied with this uncertain answer.

“Your Majesty!” Yu Zhi hurried over, bowing respectfully. “Her Majesty has not yet slept. She is likely waiting for Your Majesty. She seems to have something on her mind and has been unable to fall asleep.”

“Did she say anything to you?”

“She did not, nor did I dare to ask,” Yu Zhi replied dutifully.

Ji Wu Qing frowned slightly, his handsome features thoughtful. “Could it be she’s upset that I didn’t dine with her this evening?”

Yu Zhi found this difficult to answer, feeling that the king was behaving somewhat unusually tonight.

Xuexue sat lost in thought, her book dangling from the bed’s edge, her slender, pale fingers languid and boneless.

The door to the bedchamber opened quietly. He entered softly from outside. The chamber was large, almost cavernous, yet its warmth set it apart from the other cold palaces.

“Is that Your Majesty?” Xuexue lifted her head, facing his direction.

“Why are you still awake, Xue’er? Were you waiting for me?” He walked slowly to her bedside, watching her with keen interest.

“I was just about to sleep,” she replied, shrinking into herself, curling up beneath the warm brocade quilt, her face full of self-satisfaction.

In truth, she was happy—happier than she realized herself, even a little delighted in secret. But she would never let him know; otherwise, he would surely become insufferably smug.

Unbeknownst to her, the king was up to something. He bent over the bed, bringing his face close to hers, his deep eyes tracing her every feature.

Sensing his approach, the faint scent of wine in the air, she instinctively opened her eyes, and his unparalleled face was reflected in her vacant gaze.

“Xue’er…” The king reached out, cupping her small face gently in his palm, his voice as soft as down settling on a tranquil lake.

His face drew nearer, their breaths mingling.

Xuexue was momentarily dazed, not understanding why he was behaving this way.

She blinked, and as their faces drew closer, she suddenly reached out, pressing her hand over his handsome face and turning away, her own cheeks tinged with red, a trace of annoyance flashing across them.

This man—always finding a way!

“You’re not very cute when you’re like this,” Ji Wu Qing murmured into her palm, laughing softly at her reaction.

“You reek of wine—go wash up first,” she said with a hint of disdain.

The king just laughed even more quietly, and the next moment he bent fully over, pressing his face into her palm, his lips brushing lightly across it. Her hand felt as if it had been burned; she quickly withdrew it.

“Are you shunning me?” Ji Wu Qing teased, smugly pressing his forehead to hers, pinning her to the bed, his face brimming with triumph.

Xuexue was speechless for a moment—so this was his true intention all along.

She hadn’t expected to fall for his distraction.

“Your forehead feels a little warm,” he said in a low voice, his forehead still pressed to hers, unmoving, their skin gently touching.

“I don’t think so,” she answered, puzzled. She didn’t feel feverish; if anything, she sometimes felt chilly and easily caught a chill.

“Do you feel unwell anywhere?” he asked, concern evident in his tone.

“No, I’m fine—just tired and wanting to sleep,” she replied earnestly, though their close proximity made her both embarrassed and annoyed.

At that, Ji Wu Qing swiftly climbed into bed, pulling her tightly into his arms from behind. They lay beneath the warm brocade quilt, wearing robes neither too thin nor too thick. His chin rested atop her head as he enfolded her completely in his embrace, one arm draped securely around her neck.

Though a little awkward, Xuexue found the embrace undeniably comfortable and warm.

“If you’re tired, sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll summon the imperial physician. Don’t pretend to be sick and end up truly ill,” he muttered against her hair.

She couldn’t help but laugh; Ji Wu Qing’s words were somehow especially amusing, though she couldn’t say why.

“Did the state banquet go smoothly?” she asked, unable to sleep while held so tightly, her worries returning to mind.

“Yes. I saw Zuo Qiu Liye leave the palace with a dark face, so I’d say things went rather well,” the king replied.

“That certainly sounds as though it went smoothly.” She smiled, picturing the king’s relaxed expression as he spoke. “But I’m sure they came prepared—they won’t let things go so easily. Much like the incident in Anxue Palace tonight; it couldn’t have been a mere bluff.” She steered the conversation back to the serious topic.

“Mm, you’re right,” Ji Wu Qing nodded in agreement.

“Zi Qing, can you take this seriously?” Xuexue was a little exasperated by his nonchalance.

“I understand what you mean. Tonight, they must have made some covert move, which is why they dared challenge us here in our own realm,” the king replied, instantly turning serious.

“Zuo Qiu Liye doesn’t act according to convention. You must be careful,” she couldn’t help but remind him. Though she could do nothing herself, her heart was filled with worry.

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt his arms tighten around her, his chin nuzzling her hair even more tenderly. “Xue’er, it’s rare to hear such a caring word from you. But—how do you know so much about Zuo Qiu Liye?”

Slowly, his chin slid lower, and he gently nuzzled the nape of her neck.

“Go to sleep,” she replied quietly, closing her eyes and pointedly ignoring his question.

“You’re so sly,” the king accused.

But Xuexue’s only response was her gentle, even breathing. Nestled in his embrace, her face serene and radiant, she fell asleep within moments.

“Exactly. Forget about Zuo Qiu Liye—sleep is more important,” the king murmured contentedly to himself.

The next day dawned as usual.

She continued to convalesce in her Anxue Palace as was her routine. Since the ruler of Wu had not yet left the kingdom, she could not recover until he was gone. This was not only Ji Wu Qing’s wish, but hers as well.

Everything seemed to have started because of her, so she could not help but be more cautious.

It was best to avoid Zuo Qiu Liye, lest she bring trouble upon herself.

Meanwhile, the Xiliang beauty who had stolen the spotlight at last night’s banquet found her position precarious, becoming the target of scorn overnight. Though her performance on the zither had earned her the king’s and the ruler of Wu’s attention, what did it matter?

Last night, the king had gone, as always, to the queen’s palace, even though the queen was still ill and could not serve him.

Clearly, the Xiliang woman was of little consequence—just a schemer adept at seizing opportunities, but ultimately, the king was not one to be swayed by beauty, and she failed to win his favor.

Listening to the gossip in the harem, Mei Gu, the Xiliang woman’s personal maid, seethed, “What do they know? My mistress would never stoop to such tactics for favor! It’s just that…”

“Enough. Remember the ways of survival in the harem: observe more, speak less.” The Xiliang beauty sat leisurely on the swing in her courtyard, a gentle smile on her face. Though her jade-like elegance was not dazzling, her every move carried an undeniable feminine grace.

“Mistress…” Mei Gu protested, her face clouded with irritation. “If the King of Wu hadn’t suddenly appeared and caught you off guard, you’d never have resorted to such measures. What’s worse, it seems he’s already forgotten all about you, yet now you’ve become the subject of palace gossip because of him.”