Entering the palace means entering a high position; I'm His Majesty's cousin, who am I afr

After returning to the palace, Pei Yan went to take a bath first, while Shen Jiayu sat in front of the dressing table to remove her hairpins and jewelry.

After removing her makeup, Shen Jiayu searched through all the items she had bought and finally found the brocade box that the bookstore owner had wrapped.

She opened the box, took out the "rare book," and lay down on the dragon bed to read it.

The more she looked at her, the hotter her face became, and her fair earlobes almost blushed.

Shen Jiayu studied diligently, almost to the point of obsession.

She was startled awake when she heard familiar footsteps and quickly stuffed the books under her soft pillow.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she got off the bed and, looking at Pei Yan who was coming towards her, smiled slightly: "I've finished my work here, I'll go take a bath now."

After saying that, he walked outside.

Pei Yan watched her retreating figure, which could almost be described as fleeing in panic, and frowned imperceptibly for a moment, but quickly relaxed.

After Shen Jiayu finished bathing, she entered the inner palace and found that many of the candles had gone out and the brocade curtains on the dragon bed had been lowered.

She was puzzled.

Is it because I'm too sleepy?

Are you going to sleep now?

She tried to walk as quietly as possible, slowly lifting the curtain.

Shen Jiayu regretted her decision.

A man dressed in a moon-white nightgown was calmly looking at the "rare book" she had hidden.

Shen Jiayu now really wanted to escape.

After careful consideration, she decided to bite the bullet and face it bravely.

She slowly climbed onto the couch and went inside.

Pei Yan didn't mention the rare book. After putting down the book, he called out to her, "Cousin."

This is not common.

He didn't call her by her name like an emperor; if he did, he would call her by her full name as a warning.

Shen Jiayu slowly responded, "Hmm?"

Pei Yan's gaze was deep, and he called out calmly, "Cousin."

Shen Jiayu understood now.

A chill ran down her spine.

It turns out I wasn't not angry; I'd been holding it in, waiting to settle the score now.

She gave a fawning smile, wanting to explain.

But in the next instant, the world spun around, and Shen Jiayu collapsed onto the elaborate and beautiful quilt, her cloud-like black hair spreading across the bed.

Pei Yan reopened the book and casually tossed it aside, as if making a trivial remark, "Since my cousin is so eager to learn, and since the night is long anyway, let's start from the first page."

Upon hearing this, Shen Jiayu's pupils dilated, and she swallowed hard.

Starting from the first page?

When will it end?

Starting something but not finishing it is not something that is in her best interest.

Ignoring her astonishment, Pei Yan gently stroked her cheek with his large hand, saying, "Besides, if you beg for mercy once tonight, we'll learn one more page."

Shen Jiayu didn't even have the right to refuse before being pulled into the peak of passion.

……

……

Shen Jiayu knew that the emperor's words were not a joke, and if she begged for mercy, she would really suffer again.

But she simply couldn't bear it.

The prolonged intimacy brought a blush to her fair skin, her eyes became unfocused, and she was covered in fragrant sweat.

She went limp and collapsed.

After being tortured to the extreme, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Gathering the last of her strength, she hugged the man's strong, narrow waist and said in a trembling voice, "There is no one else. Ayu only has Your Majesty as her cousin, only you."

Pei Yan stopped.

Shen Jiayu's heart skipped a beat, thinking that he was going to let her go.

But the next moment, an even more turbulent wave engulfed her.

*

Until mid-July.

The summer heat is getting worse.

They were almost unable to leave the palace.

Shen Jiayu stopped going to Xuanzheng Hall during the day.

The emperor has been very busy with state affairs lately, so she found it quite boring to go there. Besides, the Yihua Palace has been renovated and there's no more annoying noise.

Staying in one's own palace is more comfortable and carefree.

Now, Shen Jiayu's hand wound has fully healed, and the winding, ugly scar is slowly fading. With continued use of scar-fading medication, it will disappear in no time.

Shen Jiayu thought for a moment and decided it was time to resume the greetings.

More than a month later, on a rather cool morning, Shen Jiayu went to Fengyi Palace.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, she encountered many concubines, who were all surprised to see her.

After a brief greeting, Shen Jiayu entered the hall.

The last time she came, she was still Consort Shen; now she is Consort Chen.

When the position changes, the order of the throne changes accordingly.

Originally, Shen Jiayu was sitting in the third seat on the left. In addition to the three consorts, there were two senior consorts of the second rank above her.

She is now not only a Zhaoyi (a high-ranking concubine), but also has an official title, naturally making her the top official of the second rank.

This time, she sat in the second seat on the left, only below the three imperial concubines.

As the hour of Chen approached, the concubines arrived one after another.

Everyone looked surprised to see her. But then they all breathed a sigh of relief.

This Consort Chen Zhao had been serving the Emperor for over a month, staying overnight at Xuanzheng Palace every night. Such favor made the other concubines feel suffocated.

Now that she is paying her respects normally, it means that she will no longer stay overnight at Xuanzheng Hall. From now on, everyone will have a chance to serve the emperor. Seeing this hope, she naturally breathed a sigh of relief.

Gradually, all the concubines in the six palaces arrived.

Before long, the sound of jade pendants tinkling and phoenix bells suddenly rang out in the hall.

Empress Luo arrived, surrounded by palace maids.

Empress Luo wore a palace gown embroidered with gold peonies today, exuding elegance, grace, and unparalleled nobility.

The concubines bowed and greeted them.

After Empress Luo took her seat on the phoenix throne, she spoke gently, "Rise, all of you."

The concubines thanked the emperor and rose.

Empress Luo's gaze swept across the hall, and when she saw Shen Jiayu, her eyes paused. She smiled and said, "Consort Chen has also come today."

Shen Jiayu said, "My injuries have healed considerably, so I came over."

Empress Luo nodded slightly: "It's good that your injuries have healed, otherwise I would have really been worried about you."

Shen Jiayu smiled and responded.

Then the hall fell into a subtle silence for a while, as if a silent undercurrent was flowing.

It was Consort Li who broke the silence. She parted her red lips slightly and said, "It has been a long time since I have seen Consort Chen. I have missed her dearly."

Shen Jiayu replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Thank you for your concern, Consort Li."

Consort Li smiled charmingly, took a sip of tea, and said, "I miss my sister, and I also miss His Majesty. Lately, only my sister has been serving His Majesty, so I must ask her, how is His Majesty?"

That's a tricky question; there's a trap inside.

If I agree directly, it would be tantamount to admitting that only I know His Majesty's current situation.

It inevitably carries the smack of showing off and will arouse envy.

Shen Jiayu lowered her eyelashes and said calmly, "If Consort Li misses His Majesty, she may go to Xuanzheng Hall to request an audience. Given His Majesty's affection for you, he will surely grant her an audience."

Consort Li was speechless at these words.

If she could see him, she would naturally go and ask to see him.

I fear that if I am stopped, I will lose face and become a laughing stock in the palace.

Therefore, during this period, she did not bring food to request an audience like the lower-ranking concubines.

Consort Li, realizing she had been given the cold shoulder, fell silent.

Seeing that Consort Li had been rebuffed, the other concubines realized they had nothing to say and wisely kept quiet, no longer trying to eavesdrop on the Emperor's presence, and only engaging in casual conversation.

After the greetings were over, Consort Lan called out to Shen Jiayu.

She stood before Shen Jiayu, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke, reminding her, "Consort Chen, you have recently gained His Majesty's favor, which is a good thing. However, favor in the palace always attracts jealousy, so you should be careful."