“So you can cause such a commotion, yet I am not permitted to come and see what is happening?” Feng Xuanyi casually swept aside the entire disturbance with a few words.
Consort Shu’s heart tightened. She cautiously studied Feng Xuanyi’s expression from beneath her lashes. Seeing nothing unusual, she relaxed considerably and became even more charmingly coquettish. “Cousin, that hardly sounds sincere. It is rare enough for you to visit the rear palace so early in the morning, yet you also chose this particular road. Coming to investigate the commotion is merely an excuse. Your true purpose was to visit Her Majesty the Empress, wasn’t it?”
Women were expected to observe the Three Obediences and Four Virtues and remain gentle and virtuous, while fierce jealousy ranked foremost among the Seven Grounds for Divorce. Yet her words, steeped as though several vats of vinegar had been overturned, seemed mischievous and charming rather than repellent.
Feng Xuanyi, however, failed to notice any of it. Instead, he suddenly addressed Ning Xuan. “If you have not fully recovered, do not stand outside in the wind. The people attending you ought to be more vigilant.”
“This servant neglected his duty. Your Majesty, please forgive this servant.”
Ning Xuan suddenly felt that ever since Xiao Dezi began serving beside him, scenes in which the boy dropped to his knees with a thud and begged forgiveness seemed to occur with remarkable frequency. “Xiao Dezi has served me very well. This subject was careless. Your Majesty, please forgive me.”
One plea for mercy after another, one request for forgiveness after another; every movement restrained by etiquette and formality. This was now the distance and confinement between them.
“You bring only one attendant whenever you leave your palace?”
“…” The question left Ning Xuan unable to follow Feng Xuanyi’s train of thought. He did not know whether bringing one personal attendant was considered too many or too few.
Receiving no answer, Feng Xuanyi waved unconcernedly, signaling Ning Xuan and the others to leave.
“This subject withdraws.”
Although their gazes never met, and although Ning Xuan’s behavior could only be called cold, not one of Feng Xuanyi’s words or movements escaped Consort Shu. She noticed the fleeting concern and surprise in his eyes when he looked at Ning Xuan, as well as the nearly imperceptible tightening of his brows. Her own gaze remained rippling and sweet enough to produce syrup, filled with springtime affection. Yet as she watched Ning Xuan’s retreating back, only she knew how much murderous coldness lay beneath it.
“There is no need to accompany me. I am not unfamiliar with the palace, so I can return by myself.” Ning Xuan smilingly declined Han Ruifeng’s offer to walk with him through the imperial garden. An almost imperceptible smile lingered unconsciously at the corner of his mouth, like a cunning fox confident of victory.
“Was Master not going to the imperial garden?” Completely confused, Xiao Dezi hurried forward when he saw Ning Xuan walking in the opposite direction.
“We are returning to Moon-Embracing Palace. Tell the small kitchen to begin preparing. They must devote every ounce of attention to tonight’s dinner. Make whatever His Majesty prefers.”
The sky had only just brightened, yet Ning Xuan was already thinking about dinner. Xiao Dezi could not understand what medicine his master was selling inside his gourd. Either Ning Xuan remained silent and detached all day, appearing indifferent to everything in the world, or he suddenly acted upon a whim as he had today—not only venturing outside and paying his respects to the empress early in the morning, but also specifically ordering an elaborate dinner composed entirely of His Majesty’s favorite dishes. His Majesty had not yet selected anyone’s tablet or issued any decree. Even on the previous occasion when His Majesty selected Ning Xuan and came to Moon-Embracing Palace, Ning Xuan had remained cold, unhurried, and unconcerned. Yet now he had suddenly begun taking the matter seriously.
“Yes.” Xiao Dezi could not understand his master’s thoughts or plans, but a servant needed only to obey.
Seated before the bronze mirror in the inner hall of Moon-Embracing Palace, Ning Xuan removed his hairpin and studied his reflection, his black hair falling freely across his shoulders without the slightest disorder. He had to admit that this appearance provided him with considerable competitive strength—and was one of his most powerful weapons.
The farce that morning had been nothing more than a carefully planned gamble. Ning Xuan had always believed Feng Xuanyi had planted someone inside Moon-Embracing Palace to observe his every movement, though he possessed no definite evidence and did not know the spy’s identity or how many such people there might be. But if the assumption was correct, then everything he did would be reported immediately. If he wished to compete for status and advantage, he had to approach imperial power. Feng Xuanyi had ignored him for many days. Going to Feng Xuanyi himself would not only offer little chance of success but would carry him farther from his objective. It was better to make Feng Xuanyi come to him voluntarily.
That was why Ning Xuan had left his palace today and why Feng Xuanyi’s sudden appearance had not surprised him. The verbal battle with Consort Shu and the others, however, had been entirely unexpected.
Feng Xuanyi truly deserved his romantic reputation for passing through a field of ten thousand flowers without allowing a single leaf to cling to him, and he had carried that talent to perfection. Just listen to how sweetly and eagerly Consort Shu called him “Cousin,” and look at how indulgently he tolerated her. The romance of wind, flowers, snow, and moonlight came as naturally to him as lifting a hand. Ning Xuan merely wondered whether the woman trapped inside his honeyed web of illusion could see through it.
Ning Xuan suppressed the unexplained pressure and hostility that had risen within him upon learning that Consort Shu was now Feng Xuanyi’s most favored consort. He also forced down the increasingly uncontrollable emotions that had erupted during their confrontation—although he had initially allowed the conflict to develop merely to attract Feng Xuanyi’s attention. He attributed everything to his dislike of the woman’s arrogance and offensive words.
Consort Shu had carefully observed Feng Xuanyi’s every movement after his appearance, but Ning Xuan had missed nothing either—especially the gaze that remained upon him even as he withdrew. Ning Xuan was certain that Feng Xuanyi would visit the rear palace that night and that the tablet he selected would belong to Ning Xuan.
Once one decided to do certain things, one had to learn to accept and release others. To obtain something, one first had to be willing to sacrifice. Without giving, how could there ever be gain?
Before sunset, an imperial decree arrived announcing that His Majesty would spend the night at Moon-Embracing Palace. “When one person attains the Way, even his chickens and dogs ascend to Heaven” perfectly described the mood of every servant within the palace. Rumors had recently spread throughout the imperial residence that their master had lost favor, and their own status had declined with each passing day. Now the servants experienced unprecedented delight and relief, finally able to hold their heads high. Xiao Dezi, whom Ning Xuan had personally promoted to head attendant and personal servant, stared in astonishment before that surprise gradually transformed into admiration.
The small kitchen had begun preparing early under Ning Xuan’s orders. Even after receiving the imperial decree at short notice, everyone remained calm and handled matters smoothly. A table of dishes perfect in appearance, fragrance, and flavor was carried in at precisely the right moment. When Feng Xuanyi arrived, nothing would be too hot or too cold.
Ning Xuan bathed, perfumed himself, and changed his clothes. Abandoning his usual refined and unadorned white, he deliberately chose a bright-red inner robe.
The brilliant red was breathtakingly vivid, making the exposed length of his ivory-pale neck appear even more tempting. The collar rested slightly open, revealing the exquisite outline of his collarbones only intermittently. With no more than his head visible above the robe, the suggestion of concealment made him even more alluring. His long hair had not completely dried and fell damply across his chest and back, spreading small patches of moisture across the fabric. It clung to his skin and traced the lines of his body in broken glimpses, always ending abruptly at the most suggestive places and inviting the imagination to continue. His beautiful phoenix eyes remained half-lowered as though intoxicated, moist as though freshly washed. A seemingly affectionate yet elusive charm lingered at the corners of his eyes and brows, tormentingly seductive. Warm mist from his bath still surrounded him, softening his figure with a hazy warmth that seeped into the heart. His former refined indifference had disappeared entirely, replaced by an indescribably wicked and bewitching allure.
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