PDLP Chapter 123 Releasing the Concubines from the Palace
Chapter 123 Releasing the Concubines from the Palace
After dinner, it was already night.
Inside the Guanghua Hall, a robust male figure slowly entered the steaming bathtub.
Xuan Ye held a cup of hot water in his hands, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes full of anticipation.
Jiang Qingyan slowly pushed open the palace door and walked behind the screen, following the mist.
Hearing footsteps, Xuan Ye's heart skipped a beat; her husband was here...
Jiang Qingyan stared at Xuan Ye in the bathtub with a smile in her eyes and praised, "Nice figure."
He then walked to a table and sat down, poured himself a cup of tea and sipped it slowly, but his gaze remained fixed on Xuan Ye.
Xuan Ye's ears turned bright red instantly, and she pursed her lips, feeling shy and at a loss for what to do.
Under Jiang Qingyan's watchful gaze, Xuan Ye quickly finished his bath, dried himself off, grabbed a towel and draped it over his body, then slowly walked out.
Jiang Qingyan put down her teacup, walked up to him with a smile, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him precisely on the lips.
In that tender kiss, Xuan Ye lifted Jiang Qingyan up and placed her on the bed, then leaned down and pressed himself against her...
After a passionate lovemaking session, Jiang Qingyan lay sprawled on the bed, panting heavily, and exclaimed in amazement, "That day at Qingfeng Pavilion, Father Xu said you were most skilled in the arts of the bedroom, and it's true!"
Xuan Ye blinked shyly, her thick, dark eyelashes fluttering, and explained, "When I first infiltrated, I had some free time, so I learned a thing or two... thinking maybe it would come in handy someday..."
Jiang Qingyan turned her head to stare at him, narrowing her eyes, "Oh? So who did you plan to use it on in the future?"
Xuan Ye gazed deeply into Jiang Qingyan's eyes and said earnestly, "Of course it's you, my husband. From beginning to end, it's only you..."
Although these words sounded like sweet nothings, seeing Xuan Ye's serious expression, Jiang Qingyan couldn't bear to tease him any longer, as if any more doubts from her would break Xuan Ye's heart instantly.
Jiang Qingyan nodded and gave him a deep kiss on the lips. "To prove you're telling the truth, you'd better behave well tonight~"
Xuan Ye curled his lips, wrapped his arms around Jiang Qingyan's waist, and deepened the kiss.
Adhering to the principle of "tired but happy," Jiang Qingyan spent another sleepless night...
The next day at dawn, it was once again Eunuch Wang's "human alarm clock" that broadcasted the alarm outside the door on time.
Xuan Ye, being sensible, put on his outer robe, got out of bed first, and carefully dressed Jiang Qingyan.
After tidying up, Jiang Qingyan hugged Xuan Ye's neck and kissed him for a while before reluctantly leaving.
Mo Ting and Lu Nian were still waiting outside the hall, and the three of them still went to court hand in hand.
The only difference was that after the court session, I unexpectedly ran into the ginkgo tree waiting outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Jiang Qingyan snorted coldly, "Heh, there are too many handsome men in the harem lately, I completely forgot to whip you! Perfect timing, Eunuch Wang, fetch the whip, let's carry it out on the spot~"
Ginkgo was so frightened that she knelt on the ground with a thud, quickly kowtowing and begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, spare my life... This servant has come today to convey the Empress Dowager's decree, ordering Your Majesty to resume paying respects at Yongshou Palace from now on..."
Jiang Qingyan frowned. It seemed that the old hag's poison had spread, and she was already trying to torment her after only a few days.
Ginkgo drooped its head, trembling, not daring to look up at Jiang Qingyan's expression.
A moment later, Jiang Qingyan said coldly, "Get up. I will go and pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."
Mo Ting and Lu Nian wanted to go together, but Jiang Qingyan refused. She didn't want to listen to that old hag making sarcastic remarks to her men.
With Ling Feng protecting her from the shadows and her now having real power, she no longer needs to worry about being bullied.
Upon arriving at Yongshou Palace, Empress Dowager Rui was surprisingly dressed neatly and sat upright in the seat of honor, though her clothes looked somewhat loose.
Jiang Qingyan feigned concern and said, "Has Mother Empress been ill recently? Why do you look so thin? Look, these clothes are too big. I will order the Imperial Household Department to come and take your measurements again and make new clothes for you in a little while."
Empress Dowager Rui's eyelids twitched slightly. She coughed lightly and stammered, "No need... I prefer to wear loose-fitting clothes... If I want new clothes, I will have them made by the Imperial Household Department myself. There's no need for the Emperor to trouble himself."
Jiang Qingyan narrowed her eyes, and when her gaze swept over Empress Dowager Rui's lower abdomen, it was quickly covered by her sleeve.
Empress Dowager Rui glanced at Jiang Qingyan and snorted coldly, "The Emperor looks much healthier; his male concubines in your harem must have served him well."
Jiang Qingyan slightly raised the corners of her mouth and touched her cheek. "Really? I also think my skin has gotten better lately~ Looks like I'll have to give them a reward when we get back..."
Her men certainly served her well...to the point that she didn't even want to sleep...
Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Rui slammed her hand on the table and roared, "Have you lost your mind? One Mo Ting wasn't enough, so you've married so many male concubines. Aren't you afraid that one of them will get upset and reveal your identity in the future?"
Jiang Qingyan pouted indifferently, "Whatever, so what if it's leaked? The important thing is that I treat everyone equally, so they won't be unhappy."
With her current power, why would she be afraid of her true identity as a woman being exposed? She just finds it more interesting to dress as a man and flirt with handsome men.
Empress Dowager Rui was so angry that her eyebrows flew up. "I heard that last night you favored a male servant and even made him a concubine? Do you know how many court officials you will offend by doing this? Their daughters have been in the palace for so long, and they are all beauties!"
After pondering for a moment, Jiang Qingyan said, "What Mother said has reminded me. I will release them all out of the palace now, while they are still young, so they can find good families to marry into."
With that, he turned and strode out of the hall.
Yinxing wanted to reach out and stop her, but when she met Jiang Qingyan's cold gaze, she could only lower her head dejectedly.
As soon as she stepped out of Yongshou Palace, Jiang Qingyan said to Eunuch Wang, "Old Wang, summon all the concubines in the harem to the Imperial Garden. Remember, don't summon the men, only the women."
After receiving the order, Eunuch Wang quickly went to each palace to convey the decree.
Jiang Qingyan took a deep breath and shouted at the sky, "Ling Feng, come out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Feng appeared in front of Jiang Qingyan, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, your subordinate is here."
Jiang Qingyan wrapped her arms around Ling Feng's neck and whispered, "Carry me to the Imperial Garden."
Ling Feng's lightness skill improved more and more, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived at the Imperial Garden.
Thinking that the women still need to groom themselves and probably won't be here for a while, I might as well take a nap in the pavilion in the Imperial Garden first.
Jiang Qingyan took Ling Feng's arm and led him to the pavilion behind the artificial hill. She pressed him down on the bench and sat down, then leaned against him and gently closed her eyes.