Shoutout to Tachibanaswife for the commission!
Luli said, “Niang Niang, the Crown Prince has already arrived outside the palace gates. You must hurry.”
A maid quickly stepped forward with a hot towel to wash my face and hands.
“Luli, I—”
She cut me off. “Niang Niang! You have to go!”
Another maid pressed me down onto a stool. They surrounded me front and back, some applying makeup, others arranging my hair.
Through the gaps between them, I searched for Luli. “Luli, I—”
“Niang Niang! You mustn’t be willful anymore!”
She stood to the side holding a palace gown embroidered with golden phoenixes, waiting.
Trying to interrupt a woman mid-sentence? Have you lost your mind? So I obediently shut my mouth and let them fuss over me from head to toe, inside and out.
As I stepped out of the hall supported by Luli, I suddenly remembered the words I had been interrupted from saying countless times. I turned to her, hesitating.
She lowered her voice. “Niang Niang, is there something else?”
At last I managed to finish my sentence: “Luli, save my Eight-Treasure Porridge. I’ll drink it when I come back.”
Her lips twitched twice, but she didn’t say anything.
I turned around and saw all the consorts of the Eastern Palace waiting outside. My eyes lit up. Ah! Truly a dazzling array of beauty, each more charming than the last.
Suppressing my excitement, I stepped forward and pretended to be virtuous and gentle, straightening Huang Liangyuan’s collar, smoothing Li Chenghui’s tassels, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Chen Liangdi’s ear… I was just about to crouch down to adjust Wang Zhaoxun’s floral skirt hem when Luli finally couldn’t bear it anymore. She grabbed me and forced a smile. “Niang Niang, quickly now. The Crown Prince is about to reach the gates.”
I looked at the urgency in Luli’s eyes, then at the astonishment in the beauties’ gazes. I nodded. “Very well. Let’s go.”
But in my heart I thought: tofu isn’t eaten in a single day. There’s time yet.
Leading the procession of delicate beauties to the palace gate, I didn’t see Crown Prince Qi Sheng there. It dawned on me that women had always been prone to exaggeration, Luli’s words weren’t entirely reliable. So we waited. After nearly an hour, Qi Sheng finally approached from afar.
This was the third time I had seen him. He seemed a little darker than before. Oddly enough, I felt less annoyed by him. A man should be a bit darker, makes him look more manly.
After leading the chorus of warblers through the formal greetings and polite exchanges, I caught the sly glimmers in the ladies’ eyes when I turned around. It irritated me greatly. I wanted to educate them properly: you appearance-obsessed creatures! Don’t you know a man’s inner qualities matter far more than his looks?
At the same time, I couldn’t help resenting the Star Lord, if only he had given me the Crown Prince’s body instead.
Fortunately, Qi Sheng wore the same cold expression no matter whom he faced. That comforted me. Then he dismissed all the beauties with a few words, and my heart leapt with joy. I glanced at Luli and was surprised to see a trace of delight in her eyes as well.
So she was one of my kind! I almost wanted to clasp her hands and cry, “Comrade! You too can’t bear to see these beauties fall victim to Qi Sheng!”
Unable to resist, I squeezed the hand that supported me and gave her a subtle smile.
She returned it and squeezed back.
Qi Sheng cast me a cold glance, the corner of his mouth lifting faintly. My heart skipped in fear, and I nearly flung Luli’s hand away, wanting to shout, “I haven’t touched a single one of the Eastern Palace beauties!”
But he said nothing and simply turned to walk inside. When I saw him head straight into my hall, it suddenly struck me. D*mn it, was he not going to sleep with any of those countless beauties… and instead come to sleep with me?
Luli pinched me hard. I turned to her. She was still smiling and gave me an encouraging look toward Qi Sheng inside.
Following her gaze, I saw that Qi Sheng had turned back around. Expressionless, he slowly raised both arms.
Was that… an invitation for a hug?
Emotion and reason clashed fiercely in my mind. In the end, I persuaded myself with the thought that even Han Xin once endured humiliation between a man’s legs. So, in full view of the palace maids, I shut my eyes, gritted my teeth, and stepped forward to give Qi Sheng a firm, brotherly embrace.
I am shameless. I am cowardly. I have no backbone. I—
Qi Sheng didn’t move. His arms remained raised as he said coolly, “Change my clothes.”
What? So it wasn’t a hug! I awkwardly released him, wondering whether he meant he wanted to change garments or relieve himself.
He lowered his eyes and let out a contemptuous laugh. “Can’t even wait that long?”
I froze. After a moment, I understood what he meant. Heat rushed to my head, and I nearly cursed aloud. I’m a grown man! I’ve managed to endure living daily amidst all this overwhelming feminine presence, why would I be impatient for you?
You’re the impatient one! Your whole family is impatient!
Seeing I was about to lose my composure, Luli hurried over, signaling to the maids while helping Qi Sheng remove his cloak. The other maids rushed forward, some assisting her, others coming to change my clothes.
After calming down, I understood my position. I was merely a Crown Princess, still far from becoming Empress Dowager. I had no capital to throw my weight around. Better endure it.
So I imitated Qi Sheng, slightly spreading my arms and letting the palace maids undress and redress me.
Hey, not bad. As long as I closed my eyes and didn’t think about whose body this was, the feeling was actually quite pleasant.
After changing into casual attire, an attendant came in to announce that dinner was served. Only then did I remember my Laba porridge. I turned to Luli and mouthed: Is the porridge still there?
She glanced nervously at Qi Sheng and quickly nodded.
Relieved, I sat calmly and waited for my porridge. Unexpectedly, Qi Sheng suddenly let out a cold laugh, stood up, flicked his sleeve, and walked out.
His departure stunned not only Luli but me as well. It took us a long moment to recover. I looked down to see Luli already kneeling beside me, gazing up with concern. “Niang Niang…”
I looked at the doorway, then back at her, utterly puzzled. “Why hasn’t my Laba porridge been brought up yet?”
“… ”
Though the Crown Prince had left, the dishes were still served. Facing a table full of delicacies, I ate happily. Thinking that I wouldn’t have to share a bed with a man tonight, I even had an extra bowl of Laba porridge.
Luli stood nearby with reddened eyes. When I handed her my bowl for another serving, she suddenly dropped to her knees at my feet and clung to me, weeping softly. “Niang Niang… please don’t torture yourself like this.”
Speechless, I patted her back gently. “Good Luli, are you saying I eat too much?”
She choked out, “His Highness… one day he will change his heart.”
I said, “Enough, stop crying. Move that plate of spicy diced chicken closer. How am I supposed to reach it all the way over there?”
Luli wiped her tears fiercely and looked up at me. “Niang Niang, we must make that wretch from the Jiang family suffer a fate worse than death!”
Well then. We were clearly talking at cross purposes.
As the year’s end approached, the palace grew busy. Since the eighth day of the twelfth month, when Qi Sheng had stormed out of my hall, he had not stepped inside again. Only during the New Year did he summon me, take me around to make appearances before the various palace ladies, and then resume ignoring me entirely.
If the boss was giving me a free pass, I was more than happy to enjoy myself. But Luli’s expression grew more sorrowful by the day. Eventually I couldn’t stand it anymore and said, “Luli, it’s the New Year. Can’t we be a little cheerful? You look so miserable, are you unhappy with the size of your red envelope?”
No matter what I said, she merely looked at me silently, pity plain in her eyes, as if they clearly read: You don’t have to say anything… I understand…
I sighed deeply and gave up.
And so I continued in carefree ease, while Luli continued in melancholy sorrow.
Days passed in this half-bright, half-bleak manner until the fifteenth of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival. That morning Luli finally shed her mournful look and began rummaging through trunks to prepare my attire for the evening banquet. Seeing her so happily busy, I couldn’t bear to deprive her of that small joy, so I let her dress and decorate me as she pleased.
Truth be told, as a grown man I was tired of wearing bright reds and greens every day. But since it was the New Year, festivity was appropriate. So I obediently changed into the bright red palace gown she prepared, with a red cloak over it.
To preserve my sanity, I didn’t even dare look in the mirror. I simply pretended I couldn’t see myself.
Still uneasy, I asked, “I’m dressed in red tonight. The Crown Prince won’t wear green to match me, will he?”
Luli burst out laughing.
I couldn’t help laughing too. “Silly girl. It’s the New Year, one should smile more.”
But at my words, she suddenly stopped smiling. She glanced toward the doorway, lowered her head, and bowed. “Niang Niang, Crown Prince.”
I turned around to see Qi Sheng standing outside the hall, silently studying me.
I looked him up and down in return. Thankfully, he wasn’t dressed in green. I let out a deep breath of relief.
