Chapter 3, finally lifted out of poverty

Ye Tian smiled as he carefully folded a snow-white silk handkerchief and gently tucked it into his bosom, patting his chest to indicate how much he cherished it

The fates of master and servant are closely intertwined; they rise and fall together. Of course, she, as a maid, hopes that her own young lady will be favored and that the ruthless Consort Li will be brought down. However, upon hearing Consort Jin's words, she cannot help but worry that the Emperor's interest may merely be a fleeting whim, a temporary favor towards Consort Jin.

Ye Tian fiercely rubbed his nose, quickly stripping himself bare like a pig, resembling a hungry tiger that had not eaten for a week, viciously pouncing on the big sheep, "Dear Jin'er, a moment in spring is worth a thousand gold pieces, let us do that... hmm..."

Faced with the overwhelming inquiries from the ministers, the tactful Imperial Physician Zhao skillfully navigated the situation, keeping the Emperor's secrets while not offending the ministers

The young and beautiful palace maid hurriedly followed Su Zilun inside, prompting a flurry of discussions among everyone present

Sigh... Jin Fei let out a soft sigh, "I fear that the Emperor's feelings are merely a fleeting whim..."

Having been stripped of her status, Consort Jin suddenly heard the eunuch report that Consort Li requested an audience. Her rosy complexion instantly turned pale and bloodless. Upon seeing the Emperor's reaction, her charming face, which had previously shown a look of resentment from the books, now displayed a look of astonishment, followed by a hint of secret delight. In short, the expression in her phoenix eyes was quite complex.

Many ministers were whispering among themselves, speculating about what the Emperor was up to. However, some astute ministers, having encountered obstacles when seeking an audience with Consort Li, felt a subtle sense of something unusual when the Emperor summoned Xi'er in.

The ministers waiting outside exchanged glances, as the favored Consort Li, who enjoyed the affection of three thousand in the harem, was turned away at the door. The imperial authority is unpredictable; who would dare to make a jest with their own neck on the line

Xi Er, the personal maid who accompanied Concubine Jin, is clever and quick-witted, with a sweet tongue, and enjoys a good reputation among the people in the palace

Embracing Concubine Jin, he took a few bites and offered some words of comfort, then allowed Su Zilun to enter and instructed him to take the side door to the Imperial Study.

Su Zilun is an elderly servant who has served three generations of emperors. As soon as he entered, he immediately noticed the unusual demeanor of Concubine Jin, and a glimmer of unusual light flashed in his seemingly dim eyes.

They did not know what was happening inside. One by one, they strained their ears, trying to hear the sounds from within

The power struggles among the royal family are the most brutal, and the ministers who benefit from the imperial court fear the most standing in the wrong camp. The consequence of such a mistake is often a complete extermination of their family and the punishment of their nine clans. Conversely, standing in the right camp leads to becoming a great contributor, resulting in future prosperity and the elevation of ranks and titles

The Chief Steward of the Inner Court, Su Zilun, emerged from the palace and beckoned to a young and beautiful palace maid waiting nearby, "Xi'er, hurry, go in quickly, the Emperor is calling for you"

No one knows how long they have waited; everyone stands with their legs numb, yet due to their status and pride, no one dares to sit on the ground, only gazing longingly at the heavily draped palace.

She has been married into the palace for over a year, and the Emperor has never set foot in her chambers until just now, when she truly completed her transformation from a young girl to a married woman

However, upon seeing the Emperor's bloodshot eyes, the bulging veins on his forehead, and his fierce and terrifying expression, which resembled a ferocious beast ready to devour, Concubine Jin was clearly frightened. She curled her body and trembled as she said: "Please, Your Majesty, have mercy... I... I am still... still... ah..."

Well then, no one dares to disturb us now, right

Furious, Ye Tian shouted: "Do not disturb! Convey my decree: whoever dares to interrupt again shall be executed without mercy!"

After the Emperor left, the blushing and shy Xi'er softly said: "Congratulations to the Empress on the auspicious occasion, congratulations to the Empress."

Xi Er was unaware of what had transpired within the inner palace, but the piercing and tragic cry of Consort Jin sent chills down her spine. Had it not been for the palace guards blocking her way, she would have rushed in long ago

Although she had never experienced matters between men and women, she had heard some stories about intimate affairs from her sisters, and with only a partial understanding, she could tell what had just happened, leaving her momentarily stunned

The joyful expression on Xi Er's face also dimmed. She had served Dugu Jin since childhood, and the two were as close as sisters, sharing everything. The Emperor had always favored Consort Li, but that seductive woman could not bear children. Although the two consorts whom the Emperor had occasionally favored became pregnant with the dragon's seed, they unexpectedly miscarried and ultimately met with untimely deaths.

That was her maiden blood, to prove her purity. However, a certain young man, both impatient and rough, caused her significant harm, leaving her with lingering fear. Even now, she is still forcing herself to endure the pain to serve the Emperor.

She cautiously lifted the curtain to enter, and upon seeing the situation inside, she quickly lowered her head, her delicate face flushing with embarrassment.

I have finally escaped poverty, hehe, and I am still a bachelor, how delightful. Are your girls or wives as beautiful as my woman? The campus belle, is my Jinfei stunning?

In the opulent chambers of the Grand Hall and the Library of the Emperor, on the luxurious carved bed, Ye Tianxiao, having fulfilled his desires, smiled as he embraced the delicate and tearful Jin Fei, whose expression was both shy and complex, panting heavily, her face radiating extreme satisfaction and delight

The Chief Steward of the Inner Court, Su Zilun, stood outside the palace door, gesturing with his mouth to signal Xi'er to enter by herself. The Emperor had only summoned Xi'er to go in; without the Emperor's command, he did not dare to follow her in casually

The civil and military ministers stood in groups of three to five outside the palace, whispering among themselves, their expressions varied. Those with a bit of insight could discern that these ministers were divided into N factions, all concerned about their own future and fate

The favored Consort Li, who had always enjoyed the Emperor's affection, never expected to be blocked from entering the palace. Unable to contain her frustration, she stamped her foot in anger and left reluctantly, surrounded by a group of palace maids and eunuchs.

The Emperor and Consort Jin are entangled in a tumultuous affair, and it falls upon her, a similarly inexperienced young woman, to handle the aftermath, which is somewhat mortifying

The ministers, eager to pry for information, could not extract a single hint and could only inwardly curse Doctor Zhao for being cunning and utterly shameless

It is rumored in the palace that Consort Li, out of jealousy, framed those two unfortunate concubines. As for the truth of the matter, it is impossible to draw a conclusion, for there is no conclusive evidence. The gossiping little palace maids and young eunuchs were executed by the Emperor, and from then on, no one dared to mention these matters again

The Empress Jin was so embarrassed that she felt she had nowhere to hide, and she shyly said: "Your Majesty..."

He has never experienced matters between men and women, having only observed hundreds of adult films, and as a theoretical novice, he is both eager and crude. What he did not expect was that Jin Fei, who had been in the palace for over a year, was still a virgin. Under his eagerness and crudeness, the outcome was predictable

Ye Tian, having shed the heavy burden of poverty, felt a refreshing sense of liberation, almost wanting to shout out loud to vent his immense excitement. He remained highly exhilarated; however, the inexperienced Jin Fei, unable to endure the trials, somewhat dampened his enthusiasm.

The piercing scream, emitted due to sudden pain, startled the ministers, palace maids, eunuchs, and palace guards waiting outside. They exchanged glances, each unsure of what the Emperor and Consort Jin were doing inside. However, that scream, filled with anguish, came from Consort Jin. Perhaps she had made a mistake and was punished by the Emperor, who was known for his bad temper and unpredictable nature. No one knew what was happening between the Emperor and Consort Jin, but the sound of her painful scream echoed through the palace, suggesting that something had gone terribly wrong.

They were all wildly speculating about what had happened inside the palace, and since Imperial Physician Zhao was the last to emerge, he naturally became the focus of the ministers' inquiries