Chapter 37: Loutai Shadow Moving Mandarin Duck (1)

After lunch, Zhilan accompanied me to look at the other side halls in this Yuanying Hall. I sigh from time to time that here is really a collection of treasures from all over the world. Even the small paperweights on one side are all carved in green jade seals.
After seeing the east and west side halls and the apse, I stood in the garden at the back of Yuanying Hall, looked at the splendid eaves around, and smiled and said to Zhilan: "Take me to meet the other women here."
"Master, you are the only master on Pengdao Yaotai."
I pointed to a taller and magnificent palace not far away, and asked, "Whose is it there?"
Zhilan's face changed a little, "Master, there is the Emperor Wanfang Anhe Hall."
I nodded.
Zhilan added: "Since this Pengdao remote platform was built, you are the first master to come here besides the emperor. I'm afraid, you will be the only one."
I looked at her puzzledly, "How can I say this? Who can tell the future?"
Zhilan smiled, "Master, I used to be the maid in charge of the Queen Mother. Later, when the emperor ascended the throne, the Queen Mother transferred me to the emperor's side. After the completion of the Pengdao remote platform, the emperor said when he ordered me to stay here. : This place will belong to only one person. After that, he ignored everyone's opposition and put it aside."
In my heart, it is for him and for myself.
In the evening, Zhilan took me to the Furong bath. The bath soup is a huge hibiscus pattern, which attracts hot spring water, and the water temperature is just right. Zhilan carefully waited on me to change clothes, and at the same time a maid shed fresh petals. When everything was ready, Zhilan took the others down and left me alone in the bath.
I picked up the petals in the water and looked at them, soaking in it quietly, very comfortable and relaxing. I almost forgot all my troubles and myself.
For a long time Zhilan came back, carefully dried me, and waited for me to put on a dress.
The water-red inner skirt is embroidered with dense peony in a heavier red; the outside is covered with a light orange transparent gauze, and elegant flowers are embroidered with fine gold threads.
Zhilan was holding a pair of golden lace shoes, and an extremely precious Dongzhu swayed from the toe...
I got dressed under her service, and was led by her to sit down in front of a big mirror, watching her use her dexterous hands to comb the complicated hair style for me, and finally put a wishful headpiece on the back of my head. Inlaid with carved double chi pattern jade ornaments, on the side are the golden phoenix hairpin inlaid with silk beads and bat pattern inlaid glazed beads with trembling branches, and a pair of gilt dot emerald flower basket earrings, an agate phoenix pendant and A gold inlaid Kowloon opera bead bracelet.
I have never worn so many jewellery at a time, not to mention that each of these pieces is extremely expensive, not for ordinary concubines, and even my queen cannot wear so many at once.
I looked back at Zhilan, "Not so much, it's not compliant."
She calmly said: "Master, this is as it should be." After finishing speaking, she fine-tuned my makeup.
I stopped talking any more and closed my eyes.
When I opened my eyes again, I almost didn't recognize the person in the mirror-dignified and luxurious, like a fairy.
Zhilan looked at her and smiled, and I smiled at her. She said: "Master, the emperor is already waiting for you for dinner in the west hall."
I nodded, helped her hand out, and swayed the drooping golden tassels gently on the temples, piercing and dingdong, clothes flying.
He was already sitting at the dining table, frowning slightly with something in his hand. He raised his head when I walked in, stared at me intently for a long time, and finally laughed, shook his head to say something but didn't say anything.
I looked into his hand, he quickly put the thing in his sleeve, stood up and walked to my side and said in a very gentle tone: "I heard them say that you use very little lunch and it is not to your appetite?"
"No, great, but I don't eat much."
He nodded, his eyes never leaving me, "Use more dinner."
He turned around, but his hand had already grasped my hand tightly.
I followed him to the table, he asked me to sit beside him, kept picking food for me, and looked at me with a smile. I can't help it in my heart, I can't imagine if he knows that I am a queen will do this again, but I have to say.
"The emperor," I stood up and knelt in front of him. He stretched out and pulled me, but I couldn't afford it. "The emperor, I am..."
Before I said anything, a hand rested lightly on my lips.
I looked up at him in surprise, and he smiled and said, "Don't tell me, I know."
I also gently removed his hand, "No, you don't know. Your lord, listen to me..."
The "bang" sound was the sound of silver chopsticks being put down heavily.
I was shocked, and the attendants around me were shocked and all knelt down.
"I said, don't say it!" There was a hint of helplessness in his tone, and a touch of sadness in his eyes.
I pursed my lips, lowered my head, "According to the purpose." I stopped talking.
After waiting for a long while, he helped me up and let the people get up, as if nothing happened. I sat next to him silently, eating dinner silently, but after I didn’t know what to do, he dragged me away. Another room in the west side hall.
I've been here before. It's all calligraphy, paintings and classics. It's a small study room. He asked me to stand by his side, and he sketched out the appearance of a woman in a few strokes. He smiled and asked me: "Does it look like?"
I look over, it's me! I nodded, "The emperor's painting skills are really good."
He laughed, his eyes clear.
At this moment, Zhang Dehai walked in with a stack of memorials. Zhang Dehai glanced at me when he came in, nodded slightly in admiration, and then presented the memorials to him. He immediately sat down and read it, Zhang Dehai waited on him.
I wanted to go down. When I walked to the door, his voice came: "Don't go, stay here with me."
Zhang Dehai looked at him in surprise and then at me. I held the door frame tightly, and I turned back and walked back to sit down beside him.
About an hour later, he stretched his waist and stood up. The memorials have been reviewed. Zhang Dehai carefully sorted it out and stepped back to the door, "My lord, the servant will come to pick you up tomorrow morning?"
He nodded and waved, and then looked at me, the solemn expression of the previous memorial review has disappeared.
He looked at the sky, "It's getting late, let's rest early."
My heart sank, knowing what I was about to face.
In the bedroom of Yuanying Hall, I sat nervously on the edge of the bed, with the jewelry on my head removed.
He looked at me gently, hands gently unbuttoning my front flap, smiled and shook his head and said to himself: "Why is it so troublesome, why did Zhilan choose such a dress."
With a jerky tugging after that, the delicately crafted skirt slipped out of my body. I was busy with my hand in front of me, he squinted his eyes and looked at me with a smile, his hand stroking my arm, his body was pressed down...
I closed my eyes, knowing that I had no way to escape, only to accept. Since I am his queen, whether I want to or not, this is what I should give. However, at this time, I really cannot accept it.
"No." I uttered these two words subconsciously, tears falling.
I closed my eyes tightly, afraid to look at him, but I felt him froze there.
After a long time, I opened my eyes slowly, and he looked at me with a sad expression in his eyes, "I, don't force you."
Then he rolled over and sat aside, reached out his hand to wipe away the tears for me, and forced a smile, "I will wait for you until you are willing."
I looked at him, and I didn't expect him to say such a thing. I thought that what was waiting for me would be his anger and even his punishment.
After all, he is an emperor, he should own everything in this world, as long as he wants to. What's more, his appearance and demeanor, even an ordinary person, I am afraid that any woman is hard to resist. However, I rejected him. He was not angry.
He paused for a while, as if calming down, then got out of bed, walked to the door and looked back at me deeply, giving me a relieved smile.
"Go to bed early." After that, he went out.
I heard a sigh, followed by the sound of the door being gently closed. I glanced at the clothes scattered on the floor, got up and got out of bed, picked it up and pressed it tightly to myself, and then cried silently.
I hate my indecision a bit. If I really let go of King Yu, then as a queen, it is my duty more than other concubines. I still didn't let go, but how could I let him go like this?
The next day, when I woke up, I saw Zhilan standing by my bed.
Seeing that I was awake, she ordered the maid to bring washing utensils.
I looked at the sky, and it seemed that it was much later than when I got up in normal days. While applying the hot towel handed by the maid, I asked Zhilan: "Why don't you wake me up? It's too late."
Zhilan smiled and handed me a new hot towel, and said: "The emperor has ordered you not to disturb your rest."
I looked at her ambiguous eyes and nodded.
After washing, I took a cup of tea and served breakfast. Like the meals I used yesterday, they are varied and delicate.
I frowned and looked at Zhilan, "Am I now the master of this Pengdao Yaotai?"
Zhilan looked at me suspiciously and nodded.
I said solemnly: "Then, regardless of the previous rules, this meal will be kept simple from now on."
Zhilan heard what I said and immediately knelt down to salute. For a while, I thought she would urge me not to change. After all, I knew that this must be his decision, and no one has the qualifications and guts to change.
But to my surprise, Zhilan knelt down and said: "I will obey the master's order. The slave and maid will go down."
I was extremely surprised, but I still tried my best to keep a peaceful smile and nodded, reaching out and holding a bowl of white fungus soup.