Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable-Chapter 902 - 813: Unwilling to Be a Slave 33
The Emperor found some ease at the Empress’s place, but after all, the Empress is the Empress. No matter how relaxed he felt beside her, certain necessary decorum had to be maintained. As such, within the ease, there inevitably remained a touch of constraint.
At the concubines’ chambers, the Emperor could be carefree and relaxed, disregarding rules, for the concubines, to put it harshly, were the Emperor’s playthings, dedicated solely to his amusement. The Emperor observed decorum with the Empress to show respect and could not afford to be negligent, but towards the concubines, he was unrestrained.
However, the truth was, even though the Emperor was unrestrained with the concubines, finding ease there was impossible too. The concubines’ duty was to entertain the Emperor. They were passionate and employed all sorts of methods such that the Emperor, seeking ease, would end up relaxing in bed with them.
Initially, the Emperor quite enjoyed this gentle indulgence, yet not for long. Tired from dealing with memorials all day, he found himself meeting the concubines in bed every night. Soon, his back started protesting. With his back complaining, the Emperor wished for pure conversations beneath the quilt with the concubines.
But alas, with his recent indulgences, the concubines, whose hearts he had stirred, did not wish for mere purity. Imperial favor extended beyond affection; it involved the Dragon Embryo, determining their future livelihood, affecting whether they would have support in their old age, whether their later years would be comfortable. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
When the Emperor desired purity, the Food Bureau rejoiced, as the concubines’ silver flowed into the bureau like water. Various nourishing broths were served in turn, so that wherever the Emperor dined, he inevitably drank a bowl, followed by a vigorous bout of demon fighting, supporting his waist up the next day to court.
Under these circumstances, Gao Jieyu followed Nangong Shuangshuang’s advice, displaying gentle elegance towards the Emperor, offering no nourishing broths and never using tricks for the Dragon Embryo, rolling with the Emperor in bed. Consequently, the Emperor visited Yingyue Palace with increasing frequency.
The concubines discovered that the Emperor favored Gao Jieyu despite them mimicking and even surpassing her attire and using every conceivable means, showing increased favor to her, even signs of favor surpassing the harem’s concubines!
This immediately incited crisis among the concubines, who employed even more elaborate methods to attract the Emperor. Although the Emperor had moments of indulgence, often he escaped the concubines’ enthusiasm, leading him to Yingyue Palace more frequently.
Every time, Gao Jieyu treated the Emperor with gentle kindness, engaging in chess or reading calmly with him, or brewing clear tea for him, merely gazing at the verdant peach forest beyond the window, savoring the rare tranquility.
In such an atmosphere, the Emperor felt exceedingly comfortable and content. Although he still enjoyed the harem’s enthusiastic attention and their varied efforts to please him, it was this reason, despite his exhaustion, that he never rebuked them once.
Yet amidst such clamor, with Gao Jieyu’s tranquil presence, the Emperor was quite satisfied, satisfied enough to consider bestowing a noble title upon her. In the harem, those of the same level with a title outranked those without.
Granting a title, although not equating to promotion, was akin to half a promotion, especially since the current Emperor was stingy with promotions and even stingier with titles, thus magnifying the honor of this title.
Like promotions, granting a title to a concubine was within the Empress’s rights and required her approval. Hence the Emperor did not inform Gao Jieyu of the title but directly approached the Empress, stating the timing for bestowing a title upon Gao Jieyu, asking the Empress to issue a decree.
After discussing this matter, the Emperor dined with the Empress before departing. After his departure, Nuoxiang and Xia’er, the Empress’s close attendants, came to her side. Nuoxiang, being older and steadier, simply massaged the Empress’s shoulders to relax her body.
Conversely, Xia’er, being younger and inexperienced, eyed the title the Emperor intended for Gao Jieyu in dissatisfaction, complaining to the Empress, "Your Majesty, this Gao Jieyu indeed possesses skill to have the Emperor grant her a title so quickly."
However, the Empress was not angered. She picked up the white paper, carefully examining the writing on it. After a while, she burst into laughter, addressing Nuoxiang who was massaging her shoulders directly: "What do you think of this word?"
With a hint of a smile, Nuoxiang remarked, "This servant believes Xia’er has misunderstood, ah, the Emperor is simply overwhelmed by the harem’s enthusiasm."
The paper the Empress held displayed a character, written with emphatic flourish: ’Calm’. This was Gao Jieyu’s bestowed title—no, from now on, it should not be Gao Jieyu, but Jing Jieyu.
Initially, when the Emperor mentioned giving a title to Gao Jieyu, the Empress felt slightly tense. But upon seeing the character ’Calm’, her anxiety dissipated. This ’Calm’ seemed less like a title for Gao Jieyu but more of an expression of the Emperor’s current state of mind.
He desired calm because the concubines’ ardor overwhelmed him. However, the Emperor feared that saying anything would overly restrain them, making them wrongly assume he favored poised beauties. Then when none retained their charm, he would be more uncomfortable.
Shaking the paper with the ’Calm’ character, the Empress placed it on the table with a smile, "This Jing Jieyu is truly remarkable, maintaining composure amidst such a flamboyant scene, understanding what the Emperor desires, winning such a title. I had underestimated her before."
Although not as astute as Nuoxiang, Xia’er was no fool. With the Empress and Nuoxiang’s actions, she quickly comprehended the reason the Emperor bestowed the ’Calm’ character on Jing Jieyu.
Yet Xia’er still expressed some confusion, "But Your Majesty, the Emperor could find calm here with you. Why the need to seek it with this Jing Jieyu? Isn’t it seeking afar while neglecting the near? Who else understands the Emperor’s mind better than you, Your Majesty?"
The Empress gently shook her head with a smile, "I am the Empress. Were I the wife of an ordinary household, a husband visiting could relax entirely without regard for decorum or rules. But I am not the wife of an ordinary household."
"I am first an Empress, then a wife. For me, the priority is not as a wife making my husband comfortable but ensuring, every moment, my stature as the mother of the nation, maintaining the decorum and rules expected of an Empress."
"Therefore, when the Emperor visits me, certain rules must be observed by both of us. These rules are the respect and face the Emperor accords me as the Empress. If I indeed lowered these rules to please him, it would demean my status."
"For an Emperor who values decorum and rules, if I reduced myself to endearing him, he would not be pleased; rather, he would feel I am an unfit Empress."
