Chapter One, the jade-like pavilion stands clear and serene

Ting You stood up, not daring to raise her head, as this was the rule

Still, the Empress cares for her son. This is like a fist striking cotton

"The old ailments of the old lady were all left behind when she gave birth to me." A hint of mist rose in the Empress Dowager's eyes, and at over thirty years of age, she still retained the innocence of a young girl, leaving people in awe.

Qiluo Needle is a unique type of tea found only on Qiluo Mountain, growing on Jiucha Peak. Naturally, there are only five plants, which subtly aligns with the meaning of 'Nine Five Supreme,' thus it has become a tribute. The annual yield is merely one to two pounds, highlighting its preciousness.

Ting You felt that his eyes were filled with mockery, not only mocking herself but also mocking Empress Dowager Jing, mocking her eagerness to send her niece to warm the bed of her cousin, which also mocked the ineffectiveness of the men in the Jing family, and perhaps even mocked the old matriarch.

Aunt Song glanced at Ting You and slowly said: "The Emperor has always been indifferent to the beauty of the women in the palace. Isn't the one from Yichun Palace also a stunning beauty? All these years, hasn't the Emperor looked at her with different eyes?"

"Your Majesty, this humble woman is named Ting You." Ting You hurriedly stepped forward, knelt down to respond, and in her heart, she muttered a thousand times about this damned custom

The pavilion stands quietly on the steps, and one can't help but wish to burrow into the ground. No wonder one would choose to hide under this eave instead of entering the exquisite pavilion. In this palace, who isn't astute? Surely, they are aware that there is no place to take shelter from the rain between the flowerbed of flowing clouds and the water pavilion.

Just as I finished tending to these flowers, it began to rain from the sky. At first, it was a light drizzle, but gradually it turned into a torrential downpour, which is quite rare in autumn

"Come closer," the words of Emperor Dingxi lazily echoed.

Ting You raised her head, a comforting smile on her face, "If Your Highness does not mind, Ting You is willing to accompany you in the palace and talk." Is this not the very purpose for which the old matriarch had nurtured her? The Empress Dowager has grown old and is not the biological mother of the current emperor; the Jing family cannot afford to lose their support, so naturally, they must send someone to the new emperor. Ting You has known since childhood the fate that has already been decided for her.

"Once the selection is held next year, the young lady will be able to stay by the empress's side. If we can have another little prince, our palace will be lively then," Aunt Song joked

As Emperor Dingxi entered the Cining Palace, Tingyou dared to lift her head for a moment, but instantly had to lower it again, shyly bowing her head, revealing "the charm of that fleeting moment of lowering her head"

Listening to the Empress Dowager's words, Ting You felt truly exhausted. The Emperor Dingxi was not the offspring of the Empress Dowager, so it was naturally impossible for them to be intimately close. One was an Empress Dowager, and the other was an Emperor, akin to two tigers in the mountains, where every word had to be weighed carefully. For instance, when the Empress Dowager said she was in good spirits at the moment, it implied that if the Emperor did not align with her wishes, she could easily become unwell later. However, that latter part was truly unacceptable; it was not just a warning to the Emperor but also a reminder that there were always people around him keeping an eye on him on behalf of the Empress Dowager. For instance, when the Empress Dowager said she was in good spirits at the moment, it implied that if the Emperor did not align with her wishes, she could easily become unwell later. However, that latter part was truly unacceptable; it was not just a warning to the Emperor but also a reminder that there were always people around him keeping an eye on him on behalf of the Empress Dowager.

Emperor Dingxi extended two fingers towards Tingyou, lazily and casually gesturing for her to come forward

Emperor Ding's hand moved gently, and Ting You stumbled unsteadily into his embrace, only to hear his low laughter

"Look at what the Empress said, being able to converse with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is truly a blessing that must have taken several lifetimes to earn." Ting You pouted playfully in defiance.

The Empress Dowager's interest was evidently not as high as before, "Huizhen, what do you think the Emperor means by this?" Huizhen is the given name of Song Gu.

What is your name? It seems that Emperor Dingxi is quite interested in Tingyou

The Empress Dowager cast a glance at Aunt Song and said, "You are truly too cautious"

Hearing that Emperor Dingxi was coming, Tingyou wanted to avoid him, but the Empress Dowager held her hand tightly and said, "There is no need to be afraid; just treat it as a regular visit from a relative."

At noon, the Empress Dowager had some mutton and took a short nap. In the afternoon, Aunt Song provided her with a wealth of knowledge about the palace. As evening approached and it looked like it was going to rain, the Empress Dowager suddenly expressed a desire for a flower called "Liu Yun Dan Lv" from the imperial garden

The departing palace maids, the unreserved mockery in Emperor Xi's eyes, and the omnipresent insinuations of the pavilion's solitude; how could he not see through their clumsy schemes against the emperor

Ting You bowed her head in greeting, only to hear Emperor Dingxi call out. His voice was not as calm and steady as it had been in the morning at Cining Palace; at this moment, it was infused with a hint of warmth, like fragrant wine, adding a touch of ambiguity

Ting You felt that the smile was as detestable as it could be

When Emperor Dingxi entered, Tingyou, along with the others, bowed and paid her respects, not daring to rise. Tingyou thought to herself, having only entered the palace for a day, she had already knelt countless times; she wondered if her knees had turned bruised. They say the imperial palace is wonderful in every way, but to her, it seemed even more detestable than a prison

The people inside were speaking, and then one could hear Sui'er say: "I entered the palace this spring."

The autumn wind is chilly, and having a cup of hot tea is certainly delightful, as the pavilion quietly nods.

The mere mention of "niece's daughter" would likely infuriate the Empress Dowager to the point of spitting blood. Ting You was also unsure of what exactly she was gloating over; this emperor truly had a way with words that could provoke one to death, yet he left no trace of fault to be found.

"Everyone, rise." The voice of Emperor Dingxi echoed from above

Ting You then noticed that there was light in this pavilion, indicating that there were people present

After Emperor Dingxi left, Tingyou finally relaxed a bit; it had been quite tense just now

Ting You's eyes rolled playfully, as if she wanted to roll her eyes in disbelief. Hadn't the Empress Dowager already stated her name? It was unbecoming for an emperor to feign ignorance like this. Although she harbored such thoughts, Ting You realized that the Empress Dowager and her companion, Aunt Song, were silent, indicating that they wanted her to take the initiative to speak up

Jingting quietly sipped his tea and remarked, "This Qiluo needle tea truly lives up to its reputation"

As one enters the Water Pavilion, one can hear the crisp voice of Sui from afar, "The Empress Dowager wishes to see the flowing clouds and the pale green, so Miss Jing thought to come to the Imperial Garden to pick a flower. However, unexpectedly, it started to rain, and this servant, not knowing the way, led the young lady here, startling the Imperial presence. I humbly request the Emperor to impose punishment."

The Empress Dowager nodded, seemingly in agreement with Aunt Song's reasoning, and turned to look at Ting You.

The orange-yellow light suffuses the entire room, while incense is being burned in the three-tiered pavilion-style enamel incense burner, warm and imbued with a hint of sweet orange fragrance, evoking a sense of delight.

Is the old lady's health still good

This must be the niece that the Empress often mentions.

Ting You smiled faintly to herself; if she were to follow the usual kinship terms, she would have to address Emperor Dingxi as "uncle." However, both the esteemed family and Empress Dowager Jing were counting on her to enter the palace to serve the emperor, which would complicate the hierarchy. The world emphasizes propriety, yet the imperial palace is the most chaotic place, where no rules of propriety apply. There are instances of eunuchs marrying their daughters-in-law, and brothers marrying their sisters.

The Empress Dowager gently held Tingyou's hand and patted it softly, saying, "It is a pity that I have never had children; sometimes, I do not even have anyone to talk to."

At this moment, the young eunuch from the Lingting Pavilion had already walked out of the room, saying, "Your Majesty requests the young lady to enter."

Ting You indeed wishes to retreat, but she fears that it would instead leave an impression in Emperor Dingxi's mind of wanting to be both a courtesan and a virtuous woman. At this moment, even if she had a hundred mouths, she would not be able to clarify her position

The Empress Dowager, upon hearing the clear and discerning words of the pavilion, felt even more fondness in her heart. Her response was truly satisfying; one would expect her to simply say that the old lady was well or unwell, which would be mere formalities, leading one to regard her words as mere politeness. However, she did not comment on the old lady's health but instead spoke of the food she could consume daily, thus allowing the Empress Dowager to clearly understand the old lady's condition.

However, the pavilion is elegant and serene, with a jade-like quality

Ting You observed every move of Empress Dowager Jing, all of which were charming and captivating. No wonder the old emperor, despite his advanced age, was so enchanted by her that he became dizzy. After twenty years without a consort, the old emperor appointed the empress dowager, who had only been in the palace for three years at that time, as empress.

The Empress Dowager replied kindly, "It is you, Emperor, who must take care of your health. I heard Wang Dequan say that you only went to sleep at dawn yesterday."

She is sensitive, so you should refrain from teasing her. The Empress Dowager has already begun to protect Ting You.

Jingting's face flushed with a hint of red, making it difficult to discern whether it was from embarrassment or anger

Ting took a deep breath, lowered her head to look at the clothes she was wearing, and was relieved to find that they were merely damp and nothing was amiss, before she walked inside

Indeed, he is an emperor with a wealth of knowledge, Tingtian lowered her head and said: "Exactly."

The Empress Dowager, with a smile, set down the blue-and-white porcelain tea cup adorned with the sea water and cloud dragon pattern. Though she did not speak, her eyes revealed a profound sense of satisfaction. This granddaughter, personally nurtured and taught by the matriarch of the Jing family, truly stood out.

The autumn sunlight cheerfully spreads over the bright yellow glazed tiles of the Cining Palace, casting shimmering reflections like scales. It is a lively scene, yet within the forbidding confines of the imperial palace, it particularly highlights a sense of tranquility and serenity, even contrasting with a hint of darkness.

Not long after Sui'er entered, Ting You saw a young eunuch approach and say, "The Emperor requests that Miss Jing enter."

Ting You lowered her head to look at the gilded tortoiseshell long nails adorning the Empress's ring and little fingers, the sharp tips of the nails seemed as if they could inadvertently leave a trace of blood on the back of her hand

Even though Rao Sitong understood her mission, she could not withstand Aunt Song's blatant teasing, and her face turned crimson with embarrassment

Ting You does not love chrysanthemums, but when she sees the light green of the flowing clouds, her heart stirs. The flower resembles a few strands of white clouds pulled across the light green sky, pure and vast, yet possessing a unique charm. Ting You carefully snips a flower with silver scissors and places it on the jade plate brought by Sui Er

While conversing here, a young eunuch came back and forth, saying that Emperor Dingxi had left the court and was heading to Cining Palace. Usually, the emperor comes to inquire about the empress dowager's health before dinner, but recently, the empress dowager has not been well, and whenever he has the time, Emperor Dingxi makes it a point to come and pay his respects.

Ting You nodded slightly

Ting You had no choice but to keep up with Sui Er's pace. Although there was a pavilion nearby, Sui Er seemed to have overlooked it, and Ting You assumed it was due to the many taboos in the palace. Fortunately, not far ahead was a waterside pavilion, and the eaves that extended out provided sufficient shelter from the rain

"Mother, are you feeling any better today?" The voice of Emperor Dingxi now sounded different from before; it was no longer high and distant, but rather deep and steady, as if a still lake was quietly pressing down on your heart, making you hesitate to move, fearing that a careless action might cause the water to overflow.

Ting You had no choice but to move forward a little, fixing her gaze on the feet of the zitan inlaid with mother-of-pearl kang table.

Aunt Song smiled at Empress Dowager Jing and said, "Your keen eyesight truly lives up to being the granddaughter of Her Majesty." As Aunt Song spoke, she looked at Ting You's delicate fingers holding the Ru kiln celadon tea cup. When viewed in the light, those fingers appeared even more translucent than the exquisite Ru kiln piece, which was as thin as paper.

"Sui'er, take Miss Jing to the Imperial Garden." Sui'er is a new palace maid who entered the palace this year, assigned to Cining Palace due to her cleverness and agility. She has a round face, rosy like an autumn apple, and always wears a smile, endearing her to others

Ting You secretly glanced at the Empress Dowager, her expression extremely unpleasant

Sui'er looked at Tingyou somewhat shyly and said, "The young lady's clothes are all wet, and she is likely to catch a cold. I will go inside to see if I can get a pot of hot tea."

However, although he saw through it, he was unwilling to expose it and insisted on watching how far they could take this farce. Therefore, he decided to lower himself and indulge in this piece of pork that was served to him on a platter.

Ting You, bearing the mission of pleasing Empress Dowager Jing, naturally took the initiative to volunteer.

"Miss, follow me, I know where we can take shelter from the rain." Sui'er began to jog.

Ting You took a step forward and stood in the light, finally able to see Emperor Dingxi clearly. He wore a deep blue satin robe adorned with dragon and grass patterns, complemented by a golden embroidered purse depicting a dragon soaring across the seas, along with a He Tian jade pendant featuring two dragons playing with a pearl, hanging from a bright yellow silk tassel. His hair was tied up with a purple gold crown, and a white jade hairpin shaped like a floral design was inserted horizontally. His expression was weary yet carried an indescribable hint of mockery, which added a touch of lazy and infuriating charm to him. Ting You had seen men before, some as handsome as him, but none possessed his demeanor and that deadly smile. His expression was weary yet carried an indescribable hint of mockery, which added a touch of lazy and infuriating charm to him. Ting You had seen men before, some as handsome as him, but none possessed his demeanor and that deadly smile.

Ting You understood that this was the Empress Dowager hinting to her that a woman cannot gain favor merely by having a pretty face

"Your Highness, please do not be sad, take care of your health." Aunt Song gently comforted Empress Dowager Jing, as the Dowager had recently fallen ill, often waking up at night due to coughing, causing great concern.

The Empress Dowager looked at her with increasing satisfaction; her beauty was unparalleled, and she was charming and endearing, which was precisely the type that men favored. "Very well, I will have the palace servants convey a message to the Jing residence, allowing you to stay in the palace for a few days"

I have gained a new understanding of Emperor Dingxi, and I must say that my initial aversion has diminished somewhat. In that fleeting moment, although I could not observe him in detail, I could generally discern that Emperor Dingxi truly possesses the grace of a dragon and the elegance of a phoenix. It is often said that daughters love beauty, and Tingyou is no exception; she couldn't help but speculate that the biological mother of Emperor Dingxi must also be an extraordinary beauty.

Lift your head so that I may see you

Even without looking up, Tingyou seemed to see Emperor Dingxi smiling gently at the Empress Dowager, as if her words were blown away by the wind, leaving no trace. Tingyou sighed inwardly, realizing from the Emperor Dingxi's generous demeanor that her grand-aunt would surely not fare well, no wonder the old lady had given her such admonitions before coming.

Aren't you bored with my old wife? The Empress Dowager is indeed pleased

Indeed, it is worthy of this name. I have come in haste and have not prepared any gifts for our meeting. Later, I will have Wang Dequan deliver something to the Empress Mother, after all, she is my niece. Emperor Dingxi seemed quite pleased to have acquired a niece.

As the sky darkened, Ting You hesitated about whether to bring an umbrella, while Sui Er could hardly wait to descend the steps. It seemed that visiting the Imperial Garden was the happiest thing for her that day. She chattered excitedly, saying: "The young lady must not have seen those flowing clouds of light green; they are a new variety cultivated by the palace artisans last year. They are the size of a plate, both white and green, and they look so beautiful. The Empress Dowager likes them the most."

Thinking of the old lady, Ting You felt a surge of fighting spirit throughout her body, after all, she was a relative who had raised her well

When Ting You left Yong'an, the old lady could only consume one bowl of white rice and one bowl of green glutinous rice porridge a day, but her old ailment was prone to flare up during the winter.

Ting You could not help but feel her face flush with anger

The people around quietly withdrew, causing Tingyou's heart to tighten. Unable to help herself, she raised her head to glance at Emperor Dingxi, only to see a faint smile at the corner of his lips, his peach blossom-shaped eyes slightly arched, as if a fishhook had been embedded in the mouth of this little fish.