The prince is more stable

Chapter 1008 Getting what you want

Undeniably, Xue Meiyun's deliberate creation of opportunities to get close to Zhao Xiaoqian was naturally driven by self-interest.

Although Zhao Xiaoqian was handsome, he couldn't possibly be loved by everyone. Xue Meiyun, a proud daughter of an official, was taught from childhood to stay away from men. If her reputation was ruined, it wouldn't just be her who would be disgraced, but her whole family.

There must be a reason why she would abandon her previous arrogance and reserve and go to great lengths to actively approach a man.

Women who enter the palace never live for themselves alone.

Behind her, her entire family was watching her with bated breath, hoping she would rise to prominence in the palace and be favored by the emperor.

Wealth and honor, the rise and fall of the family, all depend on her.

When Xue Meiyun was first selected to enter the palace, her goal was the late Emperor Zhao Xu. However, she never even saw Zhao Xu's face before his death and had no chance to be favored by him.

Later, when the new emperor ascended the throne, Xue Meiyun learned that he was a younger man than the previous emperor, and that his life story was legendary. He had even seized the throne by shedding blood.

Xue Meiyun's interest in Zhao Xiaoqian grew even stronger. Although she was proud, she admired strength deep down.

She always felt that only the most powerful man in the world could completely conquer her body and soul; otherwise, if an ordinary man married her, he could expect chaos and turmoil in the household.

Today, Xue Meiyun finally met the Emperor incognito outside the palace. After spending the whole day together, Xue Meiyun felt more and more that this Emperor was her destiny.

Returning to the palace that night, after a period of sadness and disappointment, Xue Meiyun finally received good news.

Sure enough, the emperor hadn't forgotten her.

She was always confident in her looks. Among the three thousand beauties in the imperial harem, apart from the few sisters from when the emperor was a prince, she believed that she was the most beautiful and the most gentle and understanding.

It doesn't matter what one's true personality is; whatever personality the official needs by his side, that's the kind of personality she can have.

Upon receiving the imperial decree to serve the emperor, Xue Meiyun was overjoyed but also began to feel nervous and fearful.

The palace maids attending to her hurriedly helped her bathe and change clothes, then dressed her up, put her most expensive jewelry on her body, and carefully applied a light layer of makeup to her face, dotted her lips and drew her eyebrows. They also styled her hair into a bun with several gold hairpins dangling from it.

Not long after, the palace eunuchs arrived, accompanied by the Imperial Diarist. They bowed and congratulated Xue Meiyun, then instructed her on the proper etiquette for serving the emperor in bed.

Finally, the Imperial Diarist inquired in detail about Xue Meiyun's name and background, and noted the specific time she would be attending the Emperor's bedchamber that day.

After everything was explained, the eunuch and the court attendant took their leave. Xue Meiyun, dressed in her finest attire, remained seated in the bedchamber, waiting for the Emperor's arrival.

Another half hour passed. The eunuch had told her earlier that the Emperor was reviewing memorials in the Funing Palace and might be busy until very late. No matter how late he came, she could only trouble Consort Xue to wait patiently.

It wasn't until almost midnight, when the legendary "third watch of the night" had arrived, that footsteps were heard outside Xue Meiyun's bedchamber.

A group of eunuchs escorted Zhao Xiaoqian as he arrived. Xue Meiyun and the palace maids hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.

Zheng Chunhe and the eunuchs tactfully withdrew outside the bedroom. Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and gestured for Xue Meiyun and the others to rise before stepping into the bedroom.

This was his first time entering Xue Meiyun's bedroom. After entering, he looked her over and then nodded silently.

As expected of an official's daughter, her bedchamber was decorated more exquisitely and luxuriously than those of the other concubines.

Most of the women selected to enter the palace came from well-off families, primarily those of officials.

For the sake of their families' wealth and prosperity, these families were not stingy with money, so the women in the palace were generally not short of money. On a daily basis, in order to obtain certain important information from the palace and to create opportunities to be favored by the emperor, these women were willing to spend money to bribe officials.

However, Xue Meiyun's bedroom was particularly luxurious. Although her father was only a prefectural judge in Hangzhou, that was Hangzhou, the richest and most prosperous place in the world. Even if a prefectural judge in Hangzhou deliberately maintained his integrity, he would still have countless incomes every year.

Xue Meiyun, on the other hand, did not seem to care about decorating her bedroom in a luxurious and exquisite manner. Perhaps in her opinion, the decorations in her bedroom were just normal and could not be considered as showing off her wealth.

Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian enter the hall and keep looking around her bedroom, Xue Meiyun felt a little shy. She felt as if a strange man had entered her boudoir for the first time and that he could see all her private thoughts and feelings clearly.

Suppressing her shyness, Xue Meiyun stepped forward and whispered, "I heard that Your Majesty has been dealing with state affairs until late at night. Your Majesty must be very tired. I learned some massage techniques when I was at my maiden home. May I give Your Majesty a massage?"

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "You have this skill too? Give it a try and see if you can help me relive the wonderful memories I shared with technician number 88 at the foot massage parlor..."

Xue Meiyun blinked blankly; she didn't understand what a foot massage parlor or technician number 88 was.

She didn't ask questions even if she didn't understand. She didn't understand the world of officials yet, and she hadn't integrated into it. She would take it slowly, and she would definitely understand what officials said in the future.

A pair of slender, snow-white hands gently pressed onto his shoulders. The pressure was light, and Xue Meiyun was observing his expression closely. Seeing that Zhao Xiaoqian's expression did not change, Xue Meiyun quietly increased the pressure.

Seeing the comfortable expression on Zhao Xiaoqian's face, Xue Meiyun secretly remembered the pressure and then carefully massaged him.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed with satisfaction. He had thought that Xue Meiyun's claim that she knew massage was just a flattering remark, but he hadn't expected that the girl had actually studied it. Her technique was very professional, and her acupressure was very precise. After a short while, he felt comfortable all over.

While massaging him, Xue Meiyun whispered an explanation in his ear.

“Before I entered the palace, I lived in Hangzhou. My father was the Vice Prefect of Hangzhou. Like Your Majesty, he was often busy until late at night and would be exhausted when he came home. I felt sorry for my father, so I learned some massage techniques from the doctors in Hangzhou. When my father came home, I would massage him to relieve his fatigue.” Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, “Your father is a good official.”

Xue Meiyun pursed her lips and said, "Your Majesty, I am not trying to curry favor with Father. Please do not misunderstand. In fact... Father sometimes slacks off. When the affairs of the government office are not busy, Father will secretly slip out of the office, either to invite a few close friends for drinks, or to go fishing alone in West Lake..."

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled: "Your father also likes fishing? How good is he?"

Xue Meiyun was taken aback; a casual remark had unexpectedly piqued the official's interest.

Thinking of some gossip circulating in the palace, it seems the Emperor is quite interested in fishing, though his catches are always rather...

Thinking of this, Xue Meiyun hurriedly said, "Father only has a hobby of fishing, but his fishing skills... I am too ashamed to say, most of the time he comes back empty-handed."

"My father couldn't save face, and he was afraid that his family would laugh at him when he got home, so he secretly bought a few live fish on the way and brought them back, pretending that he had caught them himself. I have seen it with my own eyes several times."

After saying that, Xue Meiyun covered her mouth and chuckled.

Zhao Xiaoqian didn't laugh; he understood Xue Meiyun's father's feelings!
His expression suddenly turned serious, and Zhao Xiaoqian said in a deep voice, "Your father is very strong..."

"Huh? Uh..." Xue Meiyun was speechless.

"Yes, your father was very strong. He sat there all day, and it was getting late. His family was waiting for the fish he had caught to cook, but he came up empty-handed. For a responsible man to face such a desperate situation, he did not commit suicide on the spot. He was already very strong."

Zhao Xiaoqian silently looked up at the roof beam above him, his gaze somber, and said, "I am as strong as he is."

Xue Meiyun: "???"

That's the end of the conversation, Your Majesty!

What's with this inexplicable and sudden sadness?

Why did you suddenly feel empathy for your father when you were just fishing?
The pressure of massaging her shoulders gradually lessened. The night was deep, and Xue Meiyun felt increasingly shy. Thinking about what was about to happen, she felt somewhat at a loss.

Before and after entering the palace, she had actually received training on the details of serving the emperor. Her family taught her, and she was also taught by female officials after entering the palace.

Women in ancient times were not as naive as one might imagine when it came to sexual matters. They were taught before marriage, and wealthy families would often give their daughters several erotic books, picture albums, and collections of lewd poems to help them prepare for the wedding and learn the necessary theoretical knowledge.

However, theory is one thing, practice is another. Xue Meiyun had never actually done it before. She was still a virgin, and tonight she really didn't know how to deal with this completely unfamiliar territory.

After a long while, Xue Meiyun, her face flushed and her whole body trembling slightly, carefully stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, it is late at night. Would you like me to help you take a bath?"

Zhao Xiaoqian hummed in agreement and turned to look at her.

In the dim candlelight, Xue Meiyun's stunning beauty appeared even more captivating. Perhaps she had deliberately dressed up for the evening, as she looked even more noble and elegant than usual.

"In that case, I'll trouble you." Zhao Xiaoqian's heart stirred slightly, and he said with a smile.

Then Zhao Xiaoqian got up and stretched out his arms. Xue Meiyun suppressed her shyness and carefully helped Zhao Xiaoqian undress. Then she took his hand and led him into the bathing room behind the bedroom.

A warm, soft body embraces me, and I switch to gentle sipping and soft singing.

(Ninety-six thousand words omitted.)
The next morning, Zhao Xiaoqian was still fast asleep, but Xue Meiyun had already woken up.

Despite the physical pain and discomfort, Xue Meiyun's face was filled with joy, and even her skin became radiant, exuding a more mature and charming allure than before.

Xue Meiyun looked tenderly at Zhao Xiaoqian, who was still asleep, then dressed herself and opened the palace door.

The palace maids waiting outside the palace gates immediately stepped forward to congratulate her. Xue Meiyun smiled shyly and instructed the maids to bring hot water and prepare breakfast.

Zheng Chunhe arrived at this moment and saw Xue Meiyun preparing breakfast. Zheng Chunhe stopped her with a wry smile.

"His daily routine is different from others. There's probably no need to prepare breakfast. He'll be sleeping until at least noon. Why don't we have the imperial chef prepare lunch?"

Xue Meiyun suddenly realized and secretly memorized the official's daily routine.

Zheng Chunhe looked at Xue Meiyun with a smile and said, "This servant congratulates Consort Xue on finally getting what she wanted. In the future, the Emperor's favor will surely be abundant."

Xue Meiyun was, of course, a sensible woman. With a smile on her lips, she quietly slipped a few thick, solid gold leaves into Zheng Chunhe's palm.

"I hope that Eunuch Zheng will take good care of me in the future."

Zheng Chunhe's face lit up with joy, but he hurriedly declined, saying, "Oh, how could I accept this? Oh, Consort Xue, this won't do. Oh dear, how could I..."

Despite verbally refusing, the gold leaf in her hand magically disappeared, somehow ending up in Zheng Chunhe's arms.

(End of this chapter)