CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 42

"Nanny, surely you’re joking with me, is there really such a person in the world?"

The Empress couldn’t believe it after hearing Nanny Mao’s report.

To be chosen as the Prince’s main wife, her background was naturally excellent. From an early age, she was taught etiquette by a nanny who had retired from the palace, never making a mistake, surrounded by role models who placed demeanor first. Just like how the Huaxia people couldn’t imagine a small motorcycle in India could carry seven or eight, or even dozens of people, the Empress couldn’t imagine a dignified Heavenly Emperor’s Concubine doing such an absurd thing.

Yun Jiao never made a mistake in front of high-ranking Concubines, but if Nanny Mao represented the Empress, her actions indicated a disregard for the Empress... It wasn’t impossible, just that her unyielding attitude was too strong, and spreading the word would make people say she wasn’t merciful.

Speaking of which, Attendant Lady Xi hadn’t really done anything wrong.

She just had to learn etiquette, and she wasn’t diligent in learning it.

"What a strange person, I can’t understand what the Emperor sees in her," the Empress raised a hand to her temple: "Did you tell her that if she didn’t learn the etiquette, the Jade Token couldn’t be returned?"

"I did, Attendant Lady Xi was unmoved."

"Then just let her be, since she doesn’t care."

After pondering for a moment, the Empress gently put down the teacup.

Suppressing her too much might make her really escalate the issue to the Emperor, potentially affecting the relationship between the Emperor and Empress.

"Sometimes I think, perhaps I’m hoping... the Emperor will be dissatisfied with my disposition of Attendant Lady Xi and come to me to talk."

...

The Empress’s thoughts, however, were in vain.

Xie Zhixing thought that Yun Jiao wasn’t truly a clumsy fool; she possessed Immortal skills and could easily master etiquette by going back in time a few times. He pondered for a while, not really understanding the benefits for the Empress in making things difficult for a childless attendant, and stopped dwelling on it.

Before, the Empress had something right to say, the Emperor had a distaste for foolishness.

Often overthinking a fool’s mindset could easily get one caught up, leading to a decline in one’s intelligence, which was unwise.

That night, Xie Zhixing fulfilled his responsibilities and went to Concubine Lan’s tent.

During the day, she wore Yan Chi’s palace attire to pay her respects, but upon learning that the Emperor would come at night, she changed back to Kesha’s traditional attire. The golden red attire, woven of silk and gauze, was vibrant and dazzling, with a long skirt that swept the floor, a top that revealed the waist, a beaded veil covering the lower half of her face, and bare feet to welcome him.

Once Xie Zhixing sat down, he summoned her to stand, and asked blandly, "Did you wear this when you went to pay respects today as well?"

"When I went to pay respects, I changed into the palace attire prepared for me by the eunuch, but after dark, I felt sentimental and switched back to my old clothes. Does the Emperor dislike it?"

"In the palace, you should adhere to Yan Chi’s rules. Since you knew I was coming, you should have changed back into those clothes. I’ll let this slide this time, next time remember."

"I admit my mistake."

Concubine Lan meekly acknowledged her mistake, her eyes reddened, but she felt a bit resentful.

The Emperor of the Yan Chi people, how could he be so lacking in romance!

Didn’t her attire look beautiful, offer some freshness?

Concubine Lan guessed correctly, among the Yan Chi’s royalty, counting back three generations, Xie Zhixing was the most unromantic. At the Hanyang Hunting Ground, he had to hunt with the Imperial Family and act as the referee for the Kesha Warrior and Yan Chi guard matches. After a day of conversations, his head was buzzing, and seeing Concubine Lan in Kesha attire, trying to evoke his desire to conquer exotic beauties...

It worked for others, but Xie Zhixing wasn’t moved by this.

Tonight, he only wanted to go back to his tent and have a good sleep, but alas, it was part of a political performance. After receiving a grand gift, he had to unwrap it, and going to Concubine Lan’s tent represented the act of "unwrapping the gift" to show his satisfaction with the Kesha Tribe.

"It’s getting late, let’s rest."

Xie Zhixing was too lazy to interact with her and directly went to bed.

The palace bed companions were not as colorful as later generations imagined. Apart from the very occasional big beauty who dared to provoke the Emperor, most followed steps meticulously, fearing they would make a mistake and incur the Emperor’s wrath.

Concubine Lan, known as the number one beauty of her hometown, was brought into the harem by the Yan Chi Emperor, only to be ignored for a day, and tonight had to go straight to sleep, causing her to feel wronged. She slowly got on the bed, and when the maid blew out the lamp, plunging the surroundings into darkness, she whispered, "Emperor, I am actually not willing in my heart."

"Concubines cannot discuss matters of you and me with me, say it again."

"Emperor... Emperor, I said, in my heart, I am unwilling, but now I am the Emperor’s woman, and in the future, I will act as a link between Kesha and Yan Chi, staying by the Emperor’s side."

In the darkness, Concubine Lan couldn’t see the expression on the Emperor’s face.

Her heart pounded like a drum, wondering how the Emperor would react.

Would he be furious, or be more eager to conquer her?

"Then let’s rest."

After waiting for a long time, Concubine Lan only received a light instruction.

Feeling anxious and pondering for a while without coming to a conclusion, the man beside her actually fell asleep.

Listening to the Emperor’s long, steady breathing, Concubine Lan couldn’t sleep instead.

...

At the morning greetings the next day, Yun Jiao was mocked by Concubine Jiang: "What use is learning bad manners, even if you can wield seductive techniques?"

"This concubine only receives a little favor, definitely incomparable to Sister Concubine Jiang."

Yun Jiao gave a slight bow.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Li chuckled lightly.

Concubine Jiang shot her a glance: "Attendant Lady Xi’s etiquette is poorly learned, Concubine Li, as the main holder of the palace, you do not supervise, what are you laughing at?"

"I was only thinking of something amusing."

"What was it?"

Will she stop, still chasing after asking.

Concubine Li rolled her eyes elegantly: "I’m happy because even my small Xianfu Palace has two concubines with titles."

Concubine Jiang, without a title, immediately looked green.

"It is an honor to receive a title from the Emperor, but one should not use this to mock other sisters. Concubine Li, being a senior in the palace, should speak with due measure."

Concubine Li did not argue, stood up, and acknowledged her mistake.

After the greetings ended, Consort Ji asked Lady, was Concubine Jiang very close to the Lady Empress?

"Remember this, the Empress is different from the Concubines in the palace. Concubines can foster friendships among each other, but there is no saying like that with the Empress. The Empress, ah," Lady showed a slight smile: "She likes anything that the Emperor doesn’t like."

Meanwhile, the retained Yun Jiao adeptly sat onto a chair: "Nanny, what are we studying today?"

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