91 Join Forces

At those words, Li Yihe was stunned.

Li Banshuang and the Emperor? Now? In the study? She looked up at the sky. It was still morning, and the Emperor had actually...

“You do not believe me, Sister?” He Meiru sneered.

“How do you know?” Li Yihe was suddenly agitated, clutching at her sleeves.

“I had something to request of the Emperor just now, and by chance I heard those blush-inducing words from outside the door.” He Meiru had already regained much of her composure.

“What matter did Sister go to request of the Emperor?” Li Yihe abruptly changed the subject and looked at He Meiru.

He Meiru felt a little ill at ease under the questioning gaze. She steadied herself and said, “Nothing more than some trivial harem affairs. I only meant to discuss with the Emperor the monthly expenses for people like us. Who could have known...”

Li Yihe, who had been silent and staring at He Meiru, suddenly laughed. He Meiru’s visit to the study must have been to seduce Brother Canghai as well. Hmph, they were all a bunch of greedy people.

“Sister, this is not the time to speak of the two of us... Though our status is the highest among the sisters now, you have seen it yourself: others are moving swiftly. We must be on our guard,” He Meiru said directly, getting to the point.

“You mean what, Sister Ru?” Li Yihe also knew this was no time for two neglected women to be jealous of each other. Far too many people had already begun to act.

“Join forces.” He Meiru spoke those two words and waited for Li Yihe’s answer.

Li Yihe’s thoughts were nowhere near as meticulous as He Meiru’s. After thinking for a moment, she made up her mind. Seeing this, He Meiru immediately took her hand warmly. “Sister, in the palace, you and I have already risen to consort rank. Aside from you and me, this palace cannot allow any woman to stir up trouble.”

Yan'er had changed into her clothes and sat shyly in a chair, watching Guan Canghai diligently reviewing memorials. Another flush crept over her face.

“What is it?” Guan Canghai did not look up and continued reading.

“You know your martial skill is formidable. There is no need to show off before me,” Yan'er said coquettishly.

“Come here,” Guan Canghai said, lifting his head to glance at her. “Bring some pastries for Beauty Yan.”

His consideration surprised Yan'er. She had thought he would order someone to escort her back to her quarters, but instead he had ordered sweets for her.

“Um... Your Majesty, I am preparing to return,” Yan'er said, testing his reaction.

“Return for what?” Guan Canghai was somewhat surprised. He very much liked having Yan'er by his side at all times. No matter when, the moment he saw her, it was always a delight to the eye. “From now on, stay here every day and keep me company while I review the memorials.”

That order was like a bolt from the blue. Yan'er had never dreamed Guan Canghai would make her accompany him in the study every day to read memorials.

“No.” Yan'er immediately rejected the idea.

The eunuch Xiao Ye standing nearby was nearly frightened out of his wits. Since Beauty Yan had entered the study, he had not heard her address the Emperor even once. She did not call him by name or even by title; she simply said whatever was on her mind. Yet the Emperor had not been angry. Now she was even defying his will. For a woman to accompany the Emperor day after day while he reviewed memorials was an immense honor. Which woman in the harem would not fight tooth and nail for such a chance?

“I am the one who decides. You are not allowed to disobey me in this matter,” Guan Canghai said indulgently, looking at Yan'er with nothing but tenderness. There was not the slightest hint of command in his voice.

“But you know why,” Yan'er said awkwardly. In this harem, how many venomous serpents were watching for the reckless fool who dared stand out? They all longed to strike.

“With me here, what is there to fear?” Guan Canghai did not want to discuss it further. “Go bring something to eat. Beauty Yan must be starving.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” At the Emperor’s order, the eunuch Xiao Ye immediately withdrew. In his heart, he began to look at Beauty Yan in a new light.

“What do you mean by this? Are you trying to use me to drive away the weeds in your harem?” Yan'er was a little displeased. Guan Canghai was no fool; with all the things those women had done, none of them could escape his calculations.

“Whatever meaning you say it has, it has,” Guan Canghai replied with a sly smile.

“I really have brought this trouble upon myself,” Yan'er said in defeat, sinking back into the chair.

Xiao Ye saw how much thought the Emperor was putting into Yan'er’s comfort. He had people prepare an exceptionally generous spread and even set up a table in the study. This made eating much easier for Yan'er. Xiao Ye’s actions won the Emperor’s praise as well; on a whim, he was rewarded with a jade pendant. Xiao Ye held the pendant in his hand and kept thanking Beauty Yan in his heart.

The study returned to its usual quiet. Yan'er really must have been hungry, because when she saw the table full of sumptuous dishes, her appetite opened wide. She began eating with little concern for her image, which drew a soft laugh from Guan Canghai as he sat at the desk reviewing memorials. But the sound never reached Yan'er’s ears. She was eating with great concentration. When she was full and looked up, he was still buried in the mountain of memorials before him.

Yan'er suddenly felt that this scene was strangely familiar.

Yueyang...

She hurriedly lowered her head. In her mind, she kept recalling the happiest days she and Pan Yueyang had shared in the general’s residence. Back then, Yueyang had also sat every day reading military books while she rested across from him, quietly watching him. Though their words to each other had been few, their feelings had overflowed.

As though from another lifetime, Yan'er sighed. She told herself she must not fall into any man’s arms again. What she wanted was not to depend on a man for the rest of her life. She wanted to live again, for Zizhan’s sake.

The moment she thought of Zizhan, the sorrow in Yan'er’s heart seemed to grow even deeper. She quietly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. My precious Zizhan, Mother misses you so much. I wonder how much you have grown, how much weight you have gained. Have you been living well with Uncle Mubai...

Yan'er felt as though someone were softly stroking her cheek. Unwilling to open her eyes, she fluttered her lashes, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep again.

Guan Canghai, too, had been carefully reading memorials the whole time. The country had only recently been established, and many matters now required his own personal attention. When he moved his stiff shoulders again, he discovered that the little woman before him had already drifted into sleep.

He rose and intended to drape a cloak over her. Seeing that Yan'er showed no sign of waking, Guan Canghai quietly stepped out of the study. After a while, he tiptoed back in.

Yan'er slept until dawn. She had not enjoyed such a peaceful sleep in a long time. Looking radiant, she got up and lazily stretched.

“Ah.”

Her arm froze in midair and refused to lower. Heaven help her, this was not her bedchamber.

“My lady,” Bi'er said, hearing movement in the room and quickly opening the door to enter with a bright smile.

“Bi'er? Where is this?” Seeing Bi'er, Yan'er finally felt a little steadier.

“Replying to my lady, this is the Emperor’s sleeping quarters,” Bi'er said happily, preparing her clothes.

“What happened?” Yan'er began to recall what had happened the day before. She had eaten the meal sent by Guan Canghai, then thought about the past, grew sad, and then somehow fell asleep without even realizing it...

“My lady did not return to the palace yesterday, and this servant was terribly frightened. Later, Xiao Ye from beside the Emperor came to deliver a message saying that my lady would be staying in the Emperor’s sleeping quarters for the night. This servant immediately prepared the things needed for today and waited for you to wake,” Bi'er said as she busily helped Yan'er put on her shoes and wash up.

“My lady truly is blessed. So many people have wanted to sleep in the Emperor’s quarters and never got their wish. You are the first,” Bi'er chattered on cheerfully.

“All right, Bi'er, stop talking. At this rate, I’m afraid I’ll become a target for every woman in the harem,” Yan'er said in frustration, sitting down before the dressing table.

“My lady need not worry. Yesterday, the Emperor already issued an edict appointing you as Noble Consort Yan. From now on, you will be the Noble Consort above ten thousand others. Even the rank of Ru Consort and Hui Consort is below yours. I’m afraid the position of Empress will belong to no one but you,” Bi'er said brightly, as though Yan'er were already the Empress.

“Noble Consort Yan?” Heaven above, what had happened in a single night?

Inside the Crimson Hall, Xia Man'er swept a hand across a table of fruit, sending the pieces crashing to the floor and scattering everywhere.

“None of you is allowed to clean this up!”

She glared fiercely at the maids who had been about to bend down and tidy the mess. The little maids were so frightened they did not dare move and could only kneel there waiting.

“How could this happen? How could this happen!”

Xia Man'er paced back and forth. She had always held the Emperor in her grasp, using every means each night to keep him by her side. Yet yesterday she had actually heard that the Emperor had that Li Banshuang accompany him in the study. Even that would have been tolerable. But he had openly carried Li Banshuang back to his sleeping quarters in the palace, and that wretched woman had even brazenly spent the night in the Emperor’s imperial bed.

Xia Man'er paced anxiously, completely failing to notice the fruit she herself had scattered on the floor. Her skirt was too long; with one careless step, she slipped and fell heavily to the ground.

“Aah...”

Xia Man'er seemed to hear the sound of bones slipping out of place. Almost at the same time, the kneeling maids cried out in alarm.

“Lady Jieyu!”

Xia Man'er lay upon the bed. “Why has the physician not arrived yet?”

“Lady Xia, the physician is here,” a maid said anxiously as she hurried in. Their Lady Xia appeared delicate, but her temper was fierce beyond measure.

The physician stepped around the mess strewn across the floor and came to Xia Man'er’s bedside. He looked at her ankle, swollen high, and carefully took her pulse.

“Congratulations, Lady Xia.”

The physician suddenly knelt.

Could it be?

Watching the physician’s reaction, Xia Man'er guessed wildly whether the child she had longed for might have come at last. She immediately sat up. “Physician, speak plainly. Is it... is it really me?”

Xia Man'er dared not guess further. Joy surged wildly in her heart as she waited for the answer.

“Indeed it is. Today, after checking Lady Jieyu’s pulse, I can confirm that you have good news,” the physician said with certainty, still kneeling. “However, Lady Xia must take care of her body. If you are careless and fall again, it will be harmful to the child.” The physician understood that this pregnancy was far more exciting to Xia Man'er than a mere sprained ankle.

“Rest assured, Physician. I will be careful. By the way, is my foot all right?”

“There is no serious harm. Apply some medicine and rest for a few days, and it will be fine.” The physician remained kneeling.

Xia Man'er called to the maids in the room to clean up the mess on the floor. “Go at once and inform the Emperor. I am with child!”