Chapter 1216 - 299: Mister (3)

Chapter 1216: Chapter 299: Mister (3)

"Just by glancing at her, I already feel like I’m being overshadowed."

"Sister, why think that way? You are also as beautiful as the legends."

"You just don’t understand, sister. Women with beautiful appearances in this world are rare encounters for ordinary people, something to dream of and yearningly seek. But for men who truly command power, they are no more than common sights like flowers and grasses around them.

No matter how refined the appearance, it is merely superficial; when men reach this point, they value more what lies beneath."

"The princess possesses a nobility that we sisters born in the commoner world could never foster."

Consort Cai hails from Qian State, while Consort Ding comes from Jin land.

Both come from ordinary backgrounds and were later sent into the palace.

Consort Cai was granted her title in the 1st year of Yongping, during the time when the Yan Army was entering Qian State.

Ji Chengjue once joked privately with Lord Zheng about how his father was frequently visiting several consorts from Qian State in hopes of producing a prince with Qian State blood.

Lord Zheng at that time expressed admiration for His Majesty, laboring tirelessly for the nation, dealing with matters every day.

Anyway, they dared to say anything and make any joke in private.

And it was during this time that Consort Cai was favored by His Majesty.

Afterwards,

Jin land was incorporated into the Yan territories.

His Majesty again brought several women from Jin land into the palace.

It was, in fact, a common practice for the prominent families of Jin land to send their women willingly, which was already well-established tradition.

Consort Ding was one of them.

This past year, His Majesty occasionally stayed at her place.

There were always speculations across the court about the Yan Emperor’s health, but despite the complete takeover of the Three Jin, he hadn’t toured, and within the palace under Wei Zhonghe’s management, it was airtight, so the outside world never got accurate information regarding the Yan Emperor’s health.

But there’s one fact that cannot be faked or hidden.

In recent years,

No concubine in the harem has borne any children.

The last pregnancy was with Consort Qin, but that was years ago, and the child couldn’t be preserved.

The last one to give birth was Consort Shu, the mother of the Seventh Prince.

A royal offspring cannot be fabricated; even an emperor wouldn’t dare to manipulate such matters.

Therefore,

The fact that the Yan Emperor has had no offspring for the past few years is widely taken as an important indication that his health hasn’t been good since the 1st year of Yongping.

You must know, the Qian State counterpart, who’s the same age as the Yan Emperor, has offspring born year after year, especially the Seventh Princess of Qian State, whose conception, calculated from her birth date, occurred while the Yan Army was still outside the imperial capital.

A scholar from Qian State even composed a poem about this, depicting the ruler facing the invasion of Yan people with calmness, amidst beauty and laughter, sending the invaders away.

Of course, this was sycophantic beyond shame.

But it also reflects the robust health of the Qian State ruler.

"By the way, sister, what is this?"

Consort Ding pointed to the box Consort Cai was holding upon returning;

The box was delicately crafted, with fine striped patterns and gloss, implying the contents were extremely precious.

"This? The princess brought many gifts when Qin Consort called us to visit her. The princess allowed us to choose, and there were plenty of fine items."

"What a pity, my rank isn’t high enough to go there."

"Look at how you speak; you’ve just entered the palace and already been favored by His Majesty. Upgrading your rank won’t take long, and soon I’ll have to salute you when I see you."

"Sister, you’re teasing me again."

At this moment,

A young eunuch ran over in a hurry,

"Oh dear, Consort Cai, I’ve been looking for you everywhere."

"Huh? Eunuch Li, what’s the matter?"

"Isn’t today when the Qian State envoy is supposed to meet you at Qihe Hall? Did you forget?"

"Oh, I truly forgot, was just engrossed in visiting the princess."

"Consort, you better hurry and prepare with me."

"Yes, yes, I’m going right away."

In a hurry, Consort Cai followed Eunuch Li.

Consort Cai was originally from Shu Prefecture in Qian State, from a small merchant family. Later, as the family’s business collapsed, she was sold to a caravan bound for Yan State to settle debts.

There was naturally a lot of operation by the Yan Spy Bureau, and later, Consort Cai was taken into the palace, becoming the Yan Emperor’s consort from Qian State.

When Consort Cai first entered the palace,

Yan and Qian State had not yet gone to war.

Upon receiving the news, the Qian court did something quite shameless, granting nobility to Cai’s family still residing in Shu Prefecture.

Even though it was just an honorary title without land or income, it did provide some prestige and support for her family.

No wonder, back then, Qian State had great insecurity towards Yan State.

After all, isn’t the garden outside the capital built by Qian people for the previous Yan Emperor?

From then on, every time a Qian envoy came to Yan, they would send a female official to the palace to meet Consort Cai and inquire about her well-being.

Within the Yan palace, this meeting was easily facilitated, as it was just a visit; it was no big deal.

Recently, there had been frequent skirmishes at the border. Zhong Tianlang led the cavalry to embarrass the Yan people a few times. But as the Eldest Prince Ji Wujiang arrived at Nanwang City to oversee military affairs, the Qian people lost in several small conflicts consecutively.

Not wanting to escalate the war, the Qian people soon sent envoys requesting a return to negotiations at the border. Since the envoy came, per usual practice, they had to visit Consort Cai.

Consort Cai was keenly interested in such visits from ’family,’ finding relief in knowing she still had maternal ties, and also collecting information about her parents and siblings from the envoy’s female official.

But today, she truly forgot the day because she saw the princess.

Consort Cai left hastily,

forgetting the box on the stone table in the pavilion.

Consort Ding wanted to call out to her, hesitated for a moment, then turned and took the box back to her quarters.

Just returned to her quarters and placed the box down, a maid came reporting that Consort Qin requested her presence.

Because the princess distributed items today, but only those with ranks could receive them. Consort Qin, adept in palace matters, opened her dressing drawer, offering rewards to those of lower rank, and also hosted dinner.

So,

When Consort Ding returned to her quarters with a hairpin, it was just after nightfall.

Everyone returned without further conversation because it was nearing the time when the emperor would choose from the cards or decide where to stay for the night.

Consort Ding placed the not-very-valuable hairpin down,

and said disdainfully:

"Such an inferior thing, who dare gift it, thinking I’m unrefined?"

Consort Ding, coming from a prominent Jin family, was accustomed to wealth from an early age.

Then,

She took the exquisite box from Consort Cai that she slyly kept,

It had a set of intricate locks, not hard to open, yet felt cleverly designed.

"Snap, snap, snap, snap......"

Lock by lock was opened,

Consort Ding finally slowly opened the box,

"What is...... this?"

Consort Ding took out the meticulously crafted dildo from the box, an item which curiously felt warm to the touch.

Yet, the shape,

Seemed,

Seemed;

Right then,

Consort Ding suddenly noticed a figure beside her, immediately turned to see the Yan Emperor Himself, who entered without her receiving any notification.

At this moment,

The Yan Emperor’s face,

Was very dark, very somber.

"Your... Your Majesty..."

"Seems, I am unable to satisfy you."

————

Feeling a bit tired today, just one update, let the dragon rest.