novelraw Chapter 461: Want to be favored? No chance at all
Chapter 461: Want to be favored? No chance at all
The Emperor had visited Jiaofang Hall but did not stay overnight; he only had his evening meal before leaving.This news quickly spread to the Harem.
Noble Concubine Shih was watching as the Wetnurse Nanny fed the Third Princess.
Upon getting the news, she smiled triumphantly.
Hoping for favor? Not even by a long shot! As if she didn’t know about all the sneaky things she’s done behind the scenes!
Colluding with Honored Lady Jiang, secretly stuffing people into the Emperor’s bed—how demeaning.
Ying Yue couldn’t say anything, so she remained silent.
Suddenly, a Little Palace Maid came in.
"Reporting to the Noble Consort, Shih Jieyu requests an audience!"
Noble Concubine Shih glanced at the Third Princess, who was nursing. She didn’t throw a fit, just gave Ying Yue a look.
That look was so fierce that even Ying Yue felt a chill down her spine.
Escorting the Little Palace Maid out, Ying Yue slapped her hard across the face.
"Her Majesty already instructed that when Shih Jieyu comes, there’s no need to announce her. Are you deaf?!"
"Angering the Noble Consort—what good will that do you?!"
The Little Palace Maid, her face already swollen high, whimpered softly, covering her cheek.
"Sister Ying Yue, I won’t dare do it again!"
Ying Yue scoffed coldly.
"Won’t dare? You think I don’t know you’ve been taking benefits from Shih Jieyu all this while, right?!"
"You’ve been running back and forth so eagerly; a slap is well deserved!"
The Little Palace Maid was so guilty that she did not dare to look up, crying ceaselessly.
After lecturing her for a while, Ying Yue also became very impatient.
"Get out of here quickly. If you make this mistake again next time, I won’t be able to save you!"
After all, Noble Concubine Shih had long ago forbidden Shih Jieyu from seeing the Princess.
"Thank you, Sister Ying Yue!"
After the Little Palace Maid said this and kowtowed, she covered her face and scampered away like a wisp of smoke.
...
Outside, Shih Jieyu was waiting anxiously.
When she saw the Little Palace Maid emerge, she quickly went up to ask.
"How did it go? Did they let you in?"
The Little Palace Maid removed her palm, revealing a face that looked both aggrieved and too scared to protest, and said,
"Look, Shih Jieyu, please don’t make it difficult for me!"
"Sister Ying Yue said that if I go again and anger the Noble Consort, I’m afraid I might lose my life!"
Shih Jieyu was appalled. She quickly slid one of the bracelets from her wrist and stuffed it into the maid’s hand.
"Poor girl, you’ve been wronged!"
The Palace Maid didn’t stand on ceremony. She took it, glanced at it, then curtsied in thanks.
"Thank you for the reward, Shih Jieyu. If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave!"
After saying this, without waiting for Shih Jieyu’s nod, she withdrew.
Shih Jieyu didn’t take it to heart.
She just kept staring at the tightly closed doors of the main hall, her eyes filled with longing and anticipation.
Zhaoer couldn’t stand it anymore and came forward to advise.
"My Lady, let’s go back. It’s still sweltering outside!"
The early days of the fifth month were indeed already quite hot.
Upon hearing this, Shih Jieyu turned around.
She looked at the distant horizon where the setting sun was slowly sinking into the night.
The light in her eyes gradually faded.
Finally, she sighed, "Let’s go!" In her eyes was an endless sense of desolation and quietude.
She had known this would be the outcome ever since she entered the palace. It was no one’s fault; this was her fate!
At least, knowing that the Princess was well gave her some peace of mind.
Whether she saw her or not didn’t matter.
She’s still young now. When she’s older and can run around, I’ll surely have a chance to see her, won’t I?
As she walked forward with these thoughts, suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from ahead.
She paid no mind to it.
She kept walking straight ahead.
Then, with a BANG! she collided with someone.
"Who’s there?!"
Shih Jieyu’s eyes filled with panic.
Looking up, her face immediately turned deathly pale and she dropped to her knees.
"Em... Emperor!"
"Your servant pays her respects to the Emperor!"
Shih Jieyu’s head was bowed so low. All she could see was a pair of long boots embroidered with golden dragons and the hem of a bright yellow Dragon Robe.
Bright yellow! Who else but the Emperor could wear such a color?
She knelt on the ground, her heart pounding wildly, like a startled fawn caught in her chest!
Meanwhile, Zhao Junyao looked at her with a cold gaze, remaining silent for a long time.
It turned out he had just come from Jiaofang Hall.
He had walked west along the Imperial Garden and, before he knew it, had arrived at Xifu Palace.
He thought about how he had seldom visited the Little Princess since her birth, so he decided to drop by.
He hadn’t expected to collide with a distraught Shih Jieyu just as he reached the main hall.
After a long moment, Zhao Junyao finally spoke, his voice indifferent,
"Rise!"
Shih Jieyu quickly regained her senses and, kowtowing, said,
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Then, following protocol, she rose and stepped aside.
Zhao Junyao didn’t spare her another glance and strode towards the main hall.
Through the wall, a eunuch’s announcement could be heard:
"The Emperor has arrived!"
This was followed by the sounds of the Noble Consort leading her servants out to greet him and pay their respects.
Noble Concubine Shih’s voice was filled with joy and triumph.
Shih Jieyu stood by the outer wall, utterly dejected.
She waited until all sounds of the Emperor’s presence had completely vanished before she reluctantly departed.
...
Zhao Junyao treated Shih Jieyu very coldly. He did not like this woman.
Of course, it wasn’t that Shih Jieyu was a bad person.
However, the fact that she had climbed into his bed while he was drunk and subsequently bore his child was something he could never forgive.
So, even though the incident wasn’t Shih Jieyu’s fault, he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to treat her kindly.
Of course, if the Empress Dowager hadn’t orchestrated that incident, this woman would likely no longer exist.
No woman had ever dared to use such schemes in this regard.
Even the Empress, despite her fervent desire for a child, wouldn’t dare to do such a thing.
In fact, unless he personally requested it, the Empress wouldn’t even dare serve him wine!
Let alone attempt to drug him!
This was the ultimate taboo!
That night, the Emperor stayed in Xifu Palace. Whether he showed her favor or not remained unknown.
In any case, the Empress threw a considerable tantrum.
...
After returning from the main hall, Shih Jieyu dashed into her inner chamber, breathless.
Her constitution was weak, and she was panting from the exertion of coming in from outside, her face flushed.
Zhaoer was somewhat concerned.
"My Lady, your face is so red! Do you have a fever? Are you feeling unwell?"
"I’m fine," Shih Jieyu’s voice was choked with emotion, and she spoke in a hushed tone. "I just walked a bit too quickly. I’m tired and want to rest for a while. You may leave now."
Zhaoer didn’t think much of it. She curtsied and withdrew.
"My Lady, please rest well. Your servant will go fetch your meal."
Shih Jieyu did not respond.
Zhaoer closed the door behind her and left.
...
Shih Jieyu pressed her hand to her chest, but she couldn’t calm her wildly fluttering heart.
She... she had seen the Emperor again.
The Emperor was so handsome, heroic, and majestic.
His eyes were so deep and brilliant, like stars in the heavens.
His eyebrows were dark and thick, like a masterful stroke of rich ink bestowed by the heavens!
He was so tall, at least eight feet, if not nine.
He...
Shih Jieyu squinted, her face flushed, as she meticulously conjured his image in her mind.
His every action, his every gesture.
’Oh, what is love in this world, that it compels one to pledge life and death?’
Just the thought that she had been intimate with him, that she had borne him a Princess...
...made Shih Jieyu feel so ecstatic, she felt she could die of happiness!
Therefore, even if he despised her for it, she was willing—and savored it as if it were the sweetest nectar!