The Fall of the Beloved Concubine

page views:1 Publication date:2023-05-19

A bolt of lightning struck from the sky, its dazzling white light piercing the dark night, illuminating the ancient Crimson Gold Fortress with exceptional clarity and brightness, making it appear even more majestic and magnificent than in daylight. Large raindrops, like dense arrows, pounded against the sturdy granite walls, seemingly trying to pierce through this castle that had withstood the ravages of centuries. Immediately afterward, a deafening rumble of thunder, like a thousand horses galloping on a battlefield, echoed from afar, reverberating endlessly over Chengtian Prefecture, the capital of the Great Shun Empire. The

towering Wentian Tower, twenty zhang high, stood in the northeast corner of Crimson Gold Fortress, like a silent, solitary giant overlooking the entire Chengtian Prefecture. At its foot, the waters of Dongfu Bay churned tirelessly for countless years.

In stark contrast to the raging storm outside, the top floor of the Wentian Tower, a private room, was now brightly lit and warmly inviting. On the central, gold-inlaid rosewood bed, a passionate scene unfolded. A naked couple made love, the golden velvet duvet having slipped to one side, the white silk mattress rising and falling like waves.

The man, handsome and robust, appeared to be in his early thirties. His large, strong hands supported his upper body on the bed, his firm buttocks rhythmically swaying back and forth, his lower abdomen repeatedly striking the flesh beneath him with echoing "slap slap slap" sounds.

The woman receiving the man's touch had her beautiful eyes slightly closed, two blushes rising on her exquisite face. Her long, flowing black hair fell loosely on either side of her forehead, and her cherry-like lips beneath her high, delicate nose were slightly parted, her warm breath brushing against the man's face.

"You're clearly aroused, why are you forcing yourself to hold back?" the man said breathlessly. "Cry it out, that way you'll experience even greater pleasure."

The woman exhaled heavily, biting her lips to try and suppress a sound, while simultaneously lifting her long, jade-like legs to wrap around the man's back in response to his passion.

This brought their bodies even closer together, and the man felt an even greater stimulation. He freed one hand to knead the woman's high, soft breasts, his voice hoarse as he said, "My beloved, you are so alluring, I truly love you."

The woman opened her slightly closed eyes, her gaze filled with tenderness and sweetness, and said passionately, "Your Majesty, I love you too."

Seeing those incomparably beautiful eyes, the man was even more captivated, saying, "My beloved, shall we change positions? Let me try from behind." His voice was filled with longing.

The woman seemed hesitant, but seeing the man's expectant eyes, she swallowed her words.

Seeing her hesitation, the man was overjoyed and pleaded, "My beloved concubine, please grant my wish just this once. Your buttocks are so soft, smooth, and elastic; I really want to taste them again."

Hearing his vulgar words, the woman glared at him, but seeing his face flush, her heart softened. She nodded and whispered, "Alright, but Your Majesty, you must remember, you absolutely cannot… ejaculate… inside me in that position." Her face flushed even more, making her appear even more charming and shy.

The man was overjoyed and readily agreed, "Yes, yes, I will do whatever my beloved concubine says." He then withdrew his penis.

The woman turned away shyly, kneeling on the bed, her legs slightly parted. Her round, white buttocks were fully exposed to the man's view.

The man swallowed hard, eagerly embracing the woman's slender waist, his rock-hard penis plunging into her from behind.

"Ah—! This is wonderful!" the man exclaimed. "I've been looking forward to this position for so long." With that, he thrust forcefully, each stroke reaching the woman's deepest point.

The woman's brows furrowed; she struggled to endure the intense stimulation. She pressed her limbs against the mattress to withstand the impact, but in this position, her desire burned even more fiercely. She wanted to scream, hoping it would ease her pain, but reason told her she couldn't.

The man noticed her change and tried to persuade her, "Is it very comfortable? It must be very uncomfortable to hold it in. If it's uncomfortable, just cry out. Don't suppress yourself."

The woman was on the verge of collapse, but she was still resisting with strong willpower. She replied with difficulty, "No... Your Majesty, I can't do that. You know the reason."

"Your ridiculous reason?" the man shouted. "I don't believe it at all. This time, I will make you cry out."

The man's strength increased even more, his whole body pressing down on the woman's back. His hands tightly grasped the woman's suspended breasts, kneading and twisting them incessantly.

"Don't do this," the woman pleaded. "Your Majesty, let's go back to the position we were in before."

The man didn't reply. When he sensed the woman's intention to resist, he intensified his movements to prevent her from turning over.

"Your Majesty, please let go. I don't want this," the woman said, her voice tinged with anger.

Seeing her resolute tone, the man sighed and said softly, "Alright, then let me thrust five more times like this, okay?" He then released the woman's restraints.

Seeing that he had agreed, the woman no longer resisted, tacitly acquiescing to his request. She assumed her position again, enduring the intense thrusts once more.

"One...two...three..." Each time, the man slowly entered and slowly withdrew, wanting to savor the ecstatic pleasure for as long as possible.

"Four...five," After the fourth thrust, the man took a deep breath, using all his strength to prepare for the final sprint.

Suddenly, another clap of thunder sounded outside the tower, louder than any before, shaking the entire tower. With a "whoosh," the north-facing window was inexplicably blown open by a strong wind, a gust of wind sweeping into the room, instantly extinguishing dozens of candles, plunging the previously brightly lit room into darkness.

A few raindrops, carried by the cold wind, lashed the man, sending a chill straight to his heart. He shivered involuntarily, realizing something was wrong; he could no longer hold back, and thick semen gushed into the woman's body like a burst dam.

"No—!" the woman cried out in anguish. She abruptly rolled over, pushed the man away, jumped off the bed, and ran towards the bathroom by the door.

"My beloved, I…," the man cried out in alarm and panic, about to explain loudly, when he suddenly sensed something strange beside him.

A nameless fear gripped him. Without thinking, he leaped to the bedside, grabbed the sword that had been hanging on the wall, and swung it forcefully at the spot where he had sensed the strangeness.

"What is that!" he shouted. At the same time, the sword in his hand gradually glowed, emitting a crystalline white light, until it illuminated the entire room.

A black, humanoid shadow was crouching on the north window, seemingly trying to escape.

"Trying to escape?" the man shouted as he charged forward, his sword slashing at the shadow. A flash of white light followed with a crackling sound, and the shadow vanished into the night like a thick fog dispersed by the wind. He didn't bother to check again, for nothing in the world could withstand the blow of the 'Shattered Jade Sword.'

"My beloved, I truly didn't mean it." He dropped the sword and slowly walked back to the bedside. Meanwhile, the sword on the floor grew increasingly dark, until finally the entire room was plunged into darkness again.

The man collapsed weakly onto the bed, like a puppet with broken strings. He touched the sheets, still warm from the woman's touch, and murmured to himself, "My beloved, why, why are you so concerned about my ejaculation under these circumstances?"

At that moment, a flash of lightning streaked across the window, bright as day, and torrential rain poured down, seemingly radiating a black luster. The sound of the rain was like the struggling groans of heaven, or perhaps the painful murmurs of a dream.

"Why did this lightning strike after the thunder?" The man felt a chill run down his spine.

The weather was fine, spring was in full bloom, and the long shadow of the Tower of Inquiry cast across the southern side of the Crimson Gold Fortress Imperial Garden, like a crouching, sleeping gray dragon. A few steps from the shadow, in a flowerbed, there was a small clearing made of bluestone, from which came the "thud" of wooden sticks clashing.

"Hey, Seventh Brother, just admit defeat. You can't break my sword techniques." A white-clad youth, wielding a wooden sword, relentlessly attacked the purple-clad youth opposite him, each move graceful and composed.

The purple-clad youth was half a head shorter than the white-clad youth. His face was flushed red, his grip on the wooden sword tight, awkwardly swinging it left and right, desperately defending, his forehead already covered in sweat.

Seven or eight palace-dressed girls stood on the east and west sides of the open space, their eyes fixed on the contest between the two young men. The girls on the east side were clearly more nervous, obviously belonging to the purple-clad boy's side. Several of them couldn't help but cheer him on, "Seventh Prince, go for it!"

The white-clad boy smiled, his movements fluid and elegant, seemingly already victory in his grasp. His swordplay was sharp and precise, his footwork steady and composed. After using the move "Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank," forcing the purple-clad boy to retreat three steps, he turned his head and smiled at a beautiful young woman sitting atop a stone pavilion to the north.

The woman wore a pale yellow dress, her hair piled high, with phoenix eyes, willow eyebrows, red lips, and a jade-like face, exuding elegance and nobility. She was none other than the current Imperial Consort Feng Su'e of the Great Shun Empire, thirty-three years old, and the biological mother of the white-clad boy, Ji Caiyong.

Seeing her son's victory in sight, Feng Su'e couldn't help but show a look of joy on her face, nodding slightly as she said,

"Yong'er, be careful, don't hurt Yan'er."

The purple-clad youth, named Ji Caiyan, was even more enraged upon hearing Feng Su'e's voice, shouting, "You think you can hurt me so easily?" With that, he leaped forward, his wooden sword seemingly infused with vitality, his moves becoming exceptionally fierce.

Ji Caiyong was startled by the sudden ferocity of his opponent's swordplay, quickly retreating a few steps and forcefully deflecting Ji Caiyan's blade, blocking his attacks. But just as he regained his footing, Ji Caiyan thrust out with his left hand, a gust of wind aimed directly at his chest. Ji Caiyong felt as if a heavy object was pressing down on his chest, making it difficult to breathe. His right hand, holding the sword, suddenly lost its strength, and with a "crack," the wooden sword was knocked to the ground by Ji Caiyan.

Ji Caiyan did not stop. He continued to swing the wooden sword and struck Ji Caiyong's hand with a "smack." Ji Caiyong cried out, and his right hand was swollen.

The turn of events was so sudden that none of the women watching could see what had happened. Even Feng Su'e was greatly surprised, thinking to herself, "Yong'er was clearly about to win, how could he suddenly lose?" Seeing Ji Caiyong clutching his hand in pain, she was extremely anxious. She rushed down the steps, grabbed his hand, and examined it closely. Seeing that the back of his hand was swollen like a bun, she felt even more distressed. After comforting him for a few moments, she couldn't help but turn to Ji Caiyan and say, "Your fifth brother has already let you win, Yan'er, why did you hit so hard!"

Seeing Feng Su'e's reproach, Ji Caiyan forcefully threw the wooden sword to the ground and shouted, "What do you mean 'let me win'? He clearly couldn't beat me. Besides, injuries are inevitable in martial arts competitions. If you can't accept defeat, you shouldn't have competed in the first place!"

Ji Caiyong's face turned red, and his eyes were filled with tears. He pointed at Ji Caiyan and said, "You cheated!"

Ji Caiyan was only thirteen years old and proud. How could he bear this accusation? He stomped on the wooden sword on the ground, breaking it, and said angrily, "..." "You and I are both of royal blood, born to inherit the Shattered Jade Sword. You saw that you couldn't beat me, and you were afraid that Father would not let you use the Shattered Jade Sword in the future, so you slandered me."

Ji Caiyong was only one year older than Ji Caiyan, and still had the mentality of a child. When he heard him mention the "Shattered Jade Sword", he became anxious and burst into tears, throwing himself into Feng Su'e's arms and sobbing uncontrollably.

Seeing that Ji Caiyan, at such a young age, spoke such hurtful words, Feng Su'e couldn't help but feel angry. She turned to him and said,

"The Broken Jade Sword is a supreme treasure of the world, with boundless power and limited quantity. Even if one has the bloodline to wield it, without a benevolent and humble heart, one is unworthy to use it."

Ji Caiyan's face turned purple with anger, unable to speak. Several palace maids rushed over and gently patted his back, advising, "Seventh Prince, let's go back."

Amidst the commotion, someone suddenly called out, "Stop talking! The Empress is here!"

At this moment, a group of palace maids escorted a graceful and elegant woman. She had eyebrows like emerald feathers, skin like sheep's fat, a face like peach petals, and hair piled high like golden phoenix threads. Her eyes were bright and clear, her figure slender and graceful. A red silk sash fluttered, and her high-set pearl and jade hairpin shone brightly. Her willow waist swayed slightly, her golden pendants jingling, and her lotus-like steps moved lightly. It was none other than Empress Qi Ke'er of the Great Shun Empire.

Upon seeing the Empress's arrival, the two princes and the ladies quieted down and bowed to her.

Feng Su'e pulled Ji Caiyan to Qi Ke'er's side, forcing a smile as she asked, "What brings you to the garden today, Empress?"

Qi Ke'er, observing the expressions of the mother and son, and then glancing at Ji Caiyan standing to the side with a mournful face, understood most of the situation. Her face darkened, and she said in a low voice, "Yan'er, come here."

Ji Caiyan timidly approached, bowing his head and replying, "Mother...Empress."

Qi Ke'er scolded, "Who told you to practice swordsmanship again! Didn't I tell you to practice less swordsmanship? Instead of staying in your room to study, you ran out again..."

"Yes, it was Fifth Brother who called..." Ji Caiyan was about to explain when a "slap" was heard, and Qi Ke'er raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

"How dare you interrupt me while I'm speaking!" Qi Ke'er roared, then ordered a green-clad maid beside her, "Xiao Xiang, take the Seventh Prince back to his room and punish him by making him copy the Dongxuan Scripture twenty times."

The maid, Xiao Xiang, quickly went to Ji Caiyan's side, took his hand, and whispered, "Seventh Prince, listen to Your Majesty, let's go."

Ji Caiyan shook off her hand, glared fiercely at Qi Ke'er with bloodshot eyes, then turned and ran away as fast as he could.

"Xiao Xiang, hurry and follow," Qi Ke'er instructed Xiao Xiang.

Seeing that Ji Caiyan had been beaten and severely punished, Feng Su'e felt embarrassed and said awkwardly to Qi Ke'er, "Sister, you're too harsh on Yan'er. The brothers were just sparring. Which man in our Ji royal family doesn't know how to use a sword?"

Qi Ke'er's expression softened, and she said, "Sister, don't speak up for Yan'er. Don't I know my son's personality? He's not suited for swordsmanship. Hmm, Yong'er, let me see your hand."

Ji Caiyan extended his right hand, which had turned purple. After seeing it, Qi Ke'er sighed and said, "Yan'er really doesn't know his own strength." After saying that, she took his hand, placed her own hands on top of Ji Caiyan's hands, one above the other, and held her breath. Feng Su'e

was shocked and exclaimed, "No, sister, you can't waste your precious true energy for a child!"

Qi Ke'er shook her head at her, signaling her to be quiet. Feng Su'e had no choice but to stop trying to persuade her and stared intently at the two men's hands.

A green mist slowly rose from Qi Ke'er's smooth, jade-like hand, its color deepening and its coverage expanding until the entire back of her hand was enveloped in it. After a while, the green mist gradually faded and disappeared.

"All done," Qi Ke'er said, releasing her hand. When she looked at Ji Caiyong's right hand again, it was completely healed.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Feng Su'e said gratefully, pulling Ji Caiyong along. "Actually, there was no need for Your Majesty to expend so much energy. A physician could have applied some medicine, and it would have healed in two or three days."

Qi Ke'er smiled slightly and said, "Yong'er is still young. Why let him suffer these few days of pain? It won't consume much of his energy, and besides..." She seemed to remember something and stopped speaking, "Now that everything is alright, I'll be going."

Feng Su'e stepped aside to let Qi Ke'er and her entourage pass. Seeing them head northeast, she glanced at the towering Wentian Pagoda and suddenly remembered something. She exclaimed, "Sister, are you perhaps going to Yongle Palace?

"

Qi Ke'er stopped, nodded without replying, but seemed to hear a soft sigh before continuing on her way.

"But…," Feng Su'e began, then quickly covered her mouth, watching as the Empress and her party disappeared into the flowerbeds.

Leaving the Imperial Garden and passing through several corridors, Qi Ke'er and her party arrived at a twenty-step marble staircase. She stopped, looked up, and seemed lost in thought.

The palace maids who had followed her also stopped. One of them whispered, "Your Highness, we've arrived."

Qi Ke'er looked at the several-foot-high steps and muttered to herself, "Ah, time flies. It's been so many years since I've been up here."

At the top of the steps stood a magnificent palace, its plaque bearing the three gilded characters "Yongle Palace," gleaming in the sunlight. The towering Wentian Pagoda behind it added to its imposing presence.

"We're already here, what's there to hesitate about?" Qi Ke'er thought, raising her head and climbing the steps one by one.

Upon arriving at the entrance of Yongle Palace, two palace maids standing at the gate hurried over, clearly surprised by the Empress's sudden arrival. They quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, may you live a thousand years!" One of the maids said, "His Majesty is in the palace

. This servant will go and inform him immediately." Qi Ke'er waved her hand to stop them, saying, "No need. You all wait outside. I will go in alone."

The two maids looked troubled but dared not say anything more, so they stepped aside, unable to hide their unease.

Qi Ke'er ignored them and pushed open the palace gate alone, walking step by step into Yongle Palace.

The floor, gleaming like a mirror, was paved with specially made blue ceramic tiles, reflecting the intricate and elaborate carvings on the ceiling of the main hall. Eight massive vermilion wooden pillars supported the entire palace, crafted from a single piece of top-grade golden nanmu wood that had grown in the south for nearly a thousand years. A magnificent sandalwood screen, six zhang wide, divided the main hall into two parts.

Laughter and giggles came from behind the screen. Qi Ke'er stopped a few steps away. It was two voices; one was all too familiar—it was the Emperor's voice—while the other, a woman's voice, was completely unfamiliar.

It seemed they weren't lying. Qi Ke'er frowned. "Your Majesty, why are you so dejected?

"

As she pondered, the woman's voice grew closer, accompanied by giggles. A young woman, like a gentle breeze, came running out from the right side of the screen. Her pink dress swayed in the breeze, and her beautiful face, like a spring breeze, radiated a smile. "Your Majesty, come and catch me! I'm here!"

When she saw Qi Ke'er, she froze, her smile freezing on her face. Soon, shock and fear filled her pretty face.

"She's no more than four or five years older than Hao'er," Qi Ke'er judged. "Hao'er," whose full name was Ji Caihao, was Qi Ke'er's eldest son and the current Crown Prince, who had recently turned eighteen.

"Don't make a sound!" Seeing the woman about to call out to the emperor behind the screen, Qi Ke'er whispered, her voice low but carrying an irresistible authority. The woman shut her mouth and obediently followed Qi Ke'er's signal, bowing her head and slowly walking behind her.

"Haha, my beloved concubine, why are you silent? Afraid I'll catch you?" A middle-aged man in casual clothes with disheveled hair laughed loudly as he staggered out from behind the screen. He was none other than Ji Hongxi, the current emperor of the Great Shun Empire. He was slightly bowed, his hands outstretched, and a white silk scarf covered his eyes. This

was outrageous! Qi Ke'er's face turned ashen. The emperor hadn't held court for so many days; was he just playing around with this woman in Yongle Palace? The woman behind her also blushed, too nervous to breathe.

"Haha, my beloved concubine, even without you making a sound, I know where you are," Ji Hongxi, completely unaware that Qi Ke'er was already inside, continued to grope at the air. Suddenly, he grabbed Qi Ke'er and shouted,

"Haha! Gotcha! I knew you were hiding here!"

Qi Ke'er remained motionless and silent, letting the emperor grope her as he pleased. Gradually, Ji Hongxi sensed something was amiss, released her, and pulled off the blindfold.

"Empress?" Ji Hongxi was greatly surprised to see Qi Ke'er, his face flushing red and then pale. Looking at his own attire, he quickly straightened his clothes and said apologetically, "Ke'er, why didn't you announce your arrival?"

Qi Ke'er's face was frosty as she said, "Your Majesty has neglected state affairs for the past two months, just doing this in Yongle Palace? Who is this woman?"

"Your Majesty, my name is Bai Yu," the woman behind him replied.

Qi Ke'er glanced at Bai Yu and said, "I'm speaking with His Majesty, do you have the right to interrupt?"

Bai Yu's face flushed red, and she looked at the Emperor with a wronged expression. Ji Hongxi didn't come over to comfort her, but said softly to her,

"Yu'er, you can go out now."

Bai Yu looked at the Emperor, then at the Empress, her eyes reddening, and walked out of Yongle Palace with her head down.

"Ke'er, I'm so happy that you came to see me," Ji Hongxi broke the silence first, affectionately taking Qi Ke'er's hand.

"Your Majesty has been staying in Yongle Palace these past few days?" Qi Ke'er said coldly. "When did this woman enter the palace? How come I didn't know?"

Ji Hongxi was taken aback, and the eager expression on his face slowly disappeared. He said, "Now that the world is at peace, the affairs of the court can be handled by the ministers. Why bother attending court every day? Besides, I don't need to tell the Empress about every woman I want to find."

"I am the mistress of the harem and am responsible for managing it. Moreover, it's not that I forbid Your Majesty from finding other women, but why is Your Majesty keeping it from me?"

"This?" Ji Hongxi said, "Well, I originally planned to tell you in a couple of days, but who knew that my beloved concubine would come today, hehe."

"Your Majesty has many concubines, but Your Majesty seems to treat this Bai Yu very differently."

"That's not true. I do have many concubines, but the only one I truly care about is you, Ke'er. You know that," Ji Hongxi gripped the Empress's shoulders tightly. " But you've ignored me for so many years, do you know how much I've suffered?"

Seeing the emperor's genuine emotions, Qi Ke'er's heart softened, and her tone became much gentler. She gently placed her hand on him and said, "Your Majesty's intentions are clear, as long as Your Majesty agrees to my request..."

Before she could finish, Ji Hongxi's expression changed, and he released Qi Ke'er's tightly held hand, saying, "So many years have passed, and you still have the same condition?"

Qi Ke'er nodded and said, "This is also for Your Majesty, for the Great Shun Empire, and for all the people..."

"Enough!" Ji Hongxi angrily interrupted her, "If the Empress is only here to persuade me to attend court, then please go back."

Qi Ke'er's face turned pale, and she said repeatedly, "Fine, fine, I didn't come here mainly for Your Majesty's sake, I came here for Hao'er's marriage."

"Ah," Ji Hongxi suddenly realized, "Yes, Hao'er is getting married."

"Your Majesty doesn't even remember, does you?" Qi Ke'er sneered, "The Crown Prince's wedding is imminent, yet his father, the Emperor, shows no concern whatsoever."

Ji Hongxi replied somewhat awkwardly, "It's not that I don't care; I already ordered preparations. Besides, I remember the wedding isn't until the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, so there's still plenty of time. What's the rush?"

Qi Ke'er sneered, "It is indeed still a few months away, but there's still no sign of the betrothal gifts His Majesty promised to the Yan family. If His Majesty doesn't send them soon, I'm afraid it will delay Hao'er's auspicious time."

Ji Hongxi pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "This marriage was arranged by you. Don't worry, I will never go back on my promise. I will send the gifts tomorrow."

Seeing that the emperor listened to her, Qi Ke'er knew that he still cared about her. She said softly, "Your Majesty, I still hope you can pull yourself together and not be tempted by a woman. I think it's best to let this woman surnamed Bai leave the palace."

Suddenly, Ji Hongxi's expression changed drastically, and the coldness in his eyes made Qi Ke'er a little frightened. "Have you finished talking about the Empress? If you have, please return to Ganquan Palace."

Qi Ke'er knew that she still couldn't persuade the emperor, just like before. She sighed and turned to leave. Just as she stepped out of Yongle Palace, Qi Ke'er saw Bai Yu standing nervously by the door. She gave her a few cold glances and thought to herself,

"Indeed a beauty, but she has an inexplicable bewitching aura about her."

At that moment, the maid Lanxiang approached and bowed

, saying, "Your Highness." Qi Ke'er nodded and asked, "How is Yan'er? How is he?"

Lanxiang replied, "The Seventh Prince has returned to his room in the East Fifth Palace and is behaving very well.

The palace maids and eunuchs are attending to him. I came here when I saw there was nothing serious."

"Hmm, very good. Let's go back."

Back at Ganquan Palace, Qi Ke'er said to Lanxiang, "After seeing her at Yongle Palace today, Consort Liang was right. This woman named Bai Yu is indeed quite extraordinary. His Majesty has never been so obsessed with women; no woman has ever kept him in a palace for so long."

"Yes," Lanxiang replied. "And this woman didn't even let Her Majesty the Empress know she was coming into the palace. The person who sent her is truly audacious."

Qi Ke'er turned to another palace maid and asked, "Xiao Qin, I asked you to find out about her. What have you found out?"

The palace maid named Xiao Qin, surnamed Gu, was a little younger than Lan Xiang, about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. She replied, "When Your Majesty arrived at Yongle Palace just now, I had already received some information and was about to report it to Your Majesty. As far as I know, she was presented to the Emperor by Wei Qiao, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."

"Oh," Qi Ke'er frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I know this Wei Qiao. He's a mediocre and incompetent man, but he's quite good at flattery and boasting. I didn't expect him to actually flatter the Emperor this time.

"

Seeing Qi Ke'er's displeasure, Lan Xiang tentatively said, "Your Majesty, should I go and summon him to see you?

"

Qi Ke'er didn't reply immediately. After thinking for a moment, she said to Lan Xiang, " "We should ask him to come and ask, but there's no rush. First, invite Master Kang Xuanzi here."

Lanxiang and Guqin both showed expressions of great surprise, but seeing the Empress's stern face, they dared not ask any further questions and simply replied, "Yes."

Qi Ke'er said to the surrounding palace maids, "You may all leave. I need to be alone for a while."

The palace maids bowed and withdrew.

Qi Ke'er looked at the now empty Ganquan Palace and sighed softly. The cold war between the Emperor and her had lasted for many years. She recalled the scenes of the Emperor and her being affectionate here in the past, and felt a sense of longing. Most of her five children were conceived here, except for "Yan'er."

Thinking of her children, Qi Ke'er felt both proud and happy. Crown Prince Ji Caihao had just turned eighteen. He was handsome, robust, intelligent, and possessed an extraordinary bearing. Qi Ke'er and Ji Hongxi both had high hopes for him. Qi Ke'er, by chance, took a liking to the daughter of the Yan family in Ningzhou and decisively arranged the marriage.

The second princess, Ji Caixiao, was seventeen. She was gentle, elegant, graceful, and well-mannered. Qi Ke'er was preparing to find her a suitable husband.

The third prince, Ji Caichun, was fifteen. He was intelligent and composed, but disliked worldly affairs and preferred metaphysics, often discussing it with his fellow Daoists.

The fourth princess, Ji Cailan, was only fourteen. Her personality was very different from her second sister, Ji Caixiao. She was lively, clever, and adorable, especially fond of swordsmanship, and even asked her father for a broken jade sword.

Qi Ke'er smiled when she thought of Ji Cailan's innocent and carefree expression, but the smile vanished when she thought of her youngest child.

Ji Caiyan was Qi Ke'er's youngest child and Ji Hongxi's seventh. Although he was the youngest, he was quite different from the other princes and princesses. Unlike them, he wasn't cheerful; he always had a gloomy, lifeless expression and was easily angered, often clashing with Qi Ke'er and Ji Hongxi. Qi Ke'er had punished him countless times, but to no avail. Recalling the scene in the Imperial Garden that morning, Qi Ke'er felt even more distressed, and the thought of when she conceived him only added to her anxiety.

The Emperor only had seven children, and she alone had five of them, showing her importance in his heart. Qi Ke'er sighed softly, "Your Majesty, I know you grant my every wish, but why won't you grant that wish?"

Wandering slowly through the magnificent Ganquan Palace, Qi Ke'er's heart remained empty. Looking at the exquisitely carved rosewood tables and chairs, screens, desks, the golden incense burners emitting wisps of smoke, and the intricately crafted blue-and-white porcelain vases, Qi Ke'er found them all utterly tasteless and uninteresting, until her gaze settled on the north wall, where a black iron sword hung suspended.

This sword was so unique, unforgettable at first glance. First, it lacked a scabbard like ordinary swords, hanging bare on two protruding hilts against the wall. Second, it had no sharp edge, resembling an unfinished, half-finished product. Most importantly, it was entirely black from tip to hilt, like coal freshly mined. But upon closer inspection, one could see that the spine of the blade seemed to be inlaid with fragments of varying sizes and shapes.

Qi Ke'er walked towards the sword, silently gazing at it for a moment before gently lifting it and stroking it slowly with both hands. Her fingers glided along the uneven spine, as if trying to find something within the sword.

"How wondrous are the creations of heaven!" A deep, aged voice came from behind.

Qi Ke'er knew who it was without turning around; only a select few could enter Ganquan Palace without being announced by the palace maids. She smiled slightly, turned around holding the sword, and said with a smile, "Master Kang Xuanzi, you've arrived so quickly.

"

Kang Xuanzi bowed slightly to the Empress to show his respect, "How could I dare not come when Your Majesty summoned me?"

Qi Ke'er looked at the white-haired, youthful-faced old man before her and smiled, "Then please tell me, Master, why is this sword so magical?"

Kang Xuanzi stroked his long beard and slowly said, "The sword in Your Majesty's hand is neither magical nor not magical."

"Oh, why do you say that, Master?" Qi Ke'er asked.

Kang Xuanzi said, "The Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, Three gives birth to all things. All things in the world are born from the Tao. The sword in Your Highness's hand is just one of the Broken Jade Swords, and all Broken Jade Swords are merely manifestations of the Tao, so it's not particularly wondrous."

Qi Ke'er smiled lightly and said, "Master is indeed a master. So, this Broken Jade Sword in my hand isn't anything special either. It seems I should just throw it away." She then made a gesture as if to throw the sword.

Kang Xuanzi knew Qi Ke'er was just putting on an act and didn't stop her, continuing unhurriedly, "I only mentioned the Broken Jade Sword's lack of wonder, but compared to other things, it is indeed wondrous.

"

Qi Ke'er carefully held up the sword again and smiled, "I would like to hear Master's detailed explanation."

Kang Xuanzi said, "When the Dao generates all things, it disperses into the Five Elements, and the Five Elements constitute everything in the world, just like you and me and these tables and chairs, all composed of the Five Elements."

"So you mean we humans are the same as those animals, even soil and stones?" Qi Ke'er's faint smile remained on her face.

Kang Xuanzi said, "Humans are the most intelligent of all things, and are certainly different from others, like the elephant; the relationship between humans and animals is unique."

Qi Ke'er nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.

Kang Xuanzi continued, "True Qi is the tangible substance of the Dao. It possesses all the abilities of the Dao. It is omnipresent and omnipotent, but only humans can gather True Qi and make it the source of understanding and utilizing the Dao."

"Master Xiang's incomparably high magical power is also generated by True Qi, isn't it?" Qi Ke'er asked.

“It’s not just me; everyone who can wield magic power does so through true qi. It’s just that everyone’s true qi reserves differ, as do their spellcasting techniques.”

“But there are very few people in the world who can reach your level of magic power, Master. What is the unique method Master uses to gather true qi?” Qi Ke asked with a smile, though she knew he wouldn’t answer. Sure enough

, Kang Xuanzi acted as if he hadn’t heard the Empress’s question, continuing, “While most people can gather true qi, there are a very few who cannot. However, as compensation from heaven, only they can wield the Shattered Jade Sword.”

Qi Ke’er asked again, “Is there really no one in the world who possesses both magic power and can wield the Shattered Jade Sword?”

Kang Xuanzi looked directly at the Empress, his face unreadable, then slowly nodded, “Yes, absolutely no such person.”

Qi Ke’er didn’t speak again, silently turning around and placing the Shattered Jade Sword on the hilt against the wall.

After the Empress put away her sword, Kang Xuanzi said, "Your Majesty summoned me here not to discuss metaphysics and explore the mysteries of true qi, but to ask if you wish."

A smile returned to Qi Ke'er's face. "Master is right. Actually, I summoned you mainly to ask if there has been anything unusual at Crimson Gold Fortress lately."

Kang Xuanzi held his left hand upright in front of his chest, a gesture typical of a sorcerer. After a moment's thought, he slowly said,

"Crimson Gold Fortress is the royal palace, the most heavily guarded place in the entire Great Shun Dynasty. Moreover

, it is constantly protected by the Five Elements Formation. How could there be anything unusual?"

Qi Ke'er looked at this ethereal old man, whose age was unknown, and her face showed a hint of disbelief. "Master, you are the chief sorcerer of my Ji royal family. Don't forget your primary responsibility."

Kang Xuanzi bowed slightly, his voice very respectful. "This humble Taoist priest has always kept his duties in mind. If he were to discover anything that could harm His Majesty, the Empress, or the princes and princesses, he would report it to the Empress immediately."

Qi Ke'er remained silent, still pondering. She had initially been suspicious of Bai Yu, the newly arrived palace official, and hoped to glean some information from Kang Xuanzi, the Grand Master who had loyally served three generations of the Ji family emperors. However, the result was disappointing.

Seeing this, Kang Xuanzi rose to take his leave, saying, "If Your Majesty has nothing else, then this humble Taoist priest will take his leave."

Qi Ke'er nodded. Kang Xuanzi had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped and said to the Empress, "Your Majesty, if a small leaf is too close to your eye, you won't be able to see the whole forest."

Qi Ke'er was lost in thought, pondering Kang Xuanzi's words, until Lanxiang and Guqin came to her side and called her softly. Only then did she come back to her senses. "I am also tired today. You two prepare yourselves; I need to rest."

Where am I? This place feels so familiar. Qi Ke'er looked around. The rolling hills seemed both near and far, and lush green grass covered the ground. She felt a cool breeze on her feet and looked down, only to find herself standing barefoot in a stream.

The water was crystal clear, and several small red-tailed fish swam around her slender, jade-like legs. Qi Ke'er stepped ashore, her feet sinking into the soft mud. She gazed at the scene before her, trying to recall what she had seen.

"Oh, I remember now, isn't this Qingshui Valley, my hometown? I lived there for seventeen years before coming to Chengtian Prefecture. How could I suddenly be back here? Am I dreaming?"

Qi Ke'er shook her head vigorously, trying to pull herself out of this dream, but to no avail.

Suddenly, a long, resonant voice came from afar, "Little Ke'er—, you've come—!"

Just as Qi Ke'er was surprised, an old man with a long beard and white hair, leaning on a wooden cane, appeared before her.

"Third Grandpa?" Qi Ke'er exclaimed in surprise after recognizing the old man's face.

The old man smiled broadly, his eyes filled with affection. "Little Ke'er, it's been so long since I've seen you. How are you doing?"

Qi Ke'er's eyes welled up with tears as she nodded repeatedly. "I'm fine, Third Grandpa. I've missed you so much all these years."

The old man placed his right hand on Qi Ke'er's shoulder and said tenderly, "Third Grandpa missed you too. My little Ke'er has grown so tall."

Qi Ke'er suddenly realized that her beloved Third Grandpa, who had doted on her since childhood, had passed away many years ago.

Just as she was panicking, the old man's face changed, transforming into the resolute face of a middle-aged man, and the hand on his shoulder became much stronger.

Qi Ke'er's shoulder ached from the strong hand gripping it, and the man's voice was even more stern, "Ke'er, have you forgotten your mission?!"

Looking at the imposing man, Qi Ke'er felt a surge of fear and retreated repeatedly, "No, no, Father, I haven't forgotten."

"Your mission is the mission of our people, a mission we've shouldered for three thousand years. You must complete it."

Qi Ke'er trembled, her voice trembling, "But, but will that thing really happen?"

The man's expression grew even more grave, "How can you doubt the great mission of our people at this time! Ke'er, you've truly disappointed me."

"No, no, I just think, so many years have passed, and there's still no sign of that legendary event. Perhaps the timeline has been miscalculated," Qi Ke'er said haltingly.

“There’s no mistake,” the man pointed into the distance. “Look, darkness is about to descend, evil spirits will soon return to the world, and everything humanity has will be destroyed. Blood and gore will engulf all of humanity, and

the cycle of reincarnation, which occurs once every three thousand years, will begin again. And you are the only hope to stop it all.” “Why me? Why me!” Qi Ke’er closed her eyes in anguish. “Why must the fate of all humanity rest on my shoulders?”

Suddenly, she felt large raindrops hitting her face. She opened her eyes and saw a dark cloud overhead, the rain falling in black drops. A mournful wail echoed from within the cloud, and the rain grew heavier and darker. Qi Ke’er fearfully held her soaked right hand to her eyes. She discovered that her entire hand had turned red—not rain, but blood.

“No—!” Qi Ke’er finally screamed hysterically.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what’s wrong!”

Qi Ke’er felt someone pushing her forcefully. She opened her eyes and saw Lan Xiang’s anxious face. Everything that had just happened was just a dream.

Seeing the Empress sit up in bed, Lanxiang quickly grabbed an outer garment and draped it over her shoulders. "Your Majesty, did you have another nightmare?"

Qi Ke'er's thoughts were still not fully out of the dream. After a while, she said to Lanxiang, "Summon Wei Qiao tomorrow!"

Looking at the Empress's still-shaken face, Lanxiang nodded.

Wei Qiao, kneeling on the ground, had thick black hair and wore a vermilion official robe. It was hard to imagine that such a handsome middle-aged man would be a notorious sycophant.

"Wei Shaoqing, rise," Qi Ke'er said. "However, in a few days, I will be addressing you with a higher official title."

Wei Qiao, who had already stood up halfway, knelt down again with a "thud" after hearing the Empress's last words. "Your Majesty, you flatter me so much."

Qi Ke'er sneered, "I am not wrong about that. You have presented the Emperor with such a great gift; his promotion of you is just around the corner."

Beads of sweat appeared on Wei Qiao's nose, and he quickly replied, "I am loyal to His Majesty, but I am even more loyal to Your Majesty."

Qi Ke'er snorted and said, "Loyal to me? You presented the Emperor with such a beautiful woman, and even I, the mistress of the harem, only found out these past few days. You dare to say you are loyal to me?"

Wei Qiao was already covered in sweat, and beads of sweat dripped from his nose to the ground. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and replied, " "Your Majesty has wronged me. This Miss Bai... I brought her to the palace, but my intention was to give her to Your Majesty."

Seeing that the Empress did not interrupt him, Song Qiao became bolder and continued, "After I met Miss Bai, I found her to be a skillful and exceptionally sensible girl. I intended to send her to Your Majesty as a palace maid through Eunuch Huang. Alas, I don't know how His Majesty took a liking to her, so I had no choice."

Lan Xiang, standing to the side, sneered, "Lord Song, you certainly know how to talk. There are plenty of palace maids in Chijin Fortress; why do you need to bother?"

Song Qiao turned to Lan Xiang and said, "There are many palace maids, but as far as I know, there is no one else who can serve Her Majesty as well as Miss Lanxiang and Miss Guqin. After seeing that this Miss Bai is clever, witty, and obedient, I thought that finally someone could share some of the burden with the two ladies, so I wanted to offer her to Her Majesty the Empress."

Guqin, who was standing to the side, did not speak, but she secretly admired his eloquence. Lanxiang, however, did not believe him so easily and sneered, "Who do you think you are? What right do you have to flatter Her Majesty?"

Song Qiao immediately prostrated himself and said with an excited expression, "How dare I flatter Her Majesty? I only wish to have the opportunity to see Her Majesty the Empress's face. Her Majesty is like a goddess. If I could see her, I would die without regret."

Although Qi Ke'er did not believe his words at all, her dislike for him lessened considerably, and her voice softened a lot. "Get up and speak."

"Yes," Song Qiao stood up and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“Very well, I believe what you say,” Qi Ke’er said. “Then I’ll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Tell me about Bai Yu’s background.”

“Yes,” Song Qiao smirked and began to explain in detail, “I met Miss Bai by chance at a friend’s house. This friend is named Gan Doufeng, a leader of the Zhulang Gang.”

“The Zhulang Gang?” Qi Ke’er frowned.

Seeing this, Song Qiao quickly explained, "This Zhulang Gang isn't some kind of gangster organization. It's actually just a union formed by seamen from Dongfu Bay, mainly handling their internal affairs. All their activities are under the control of the government."

Lan Xiang sneered, "No wonder Song Shaoqing, who's in charge of criminal justice, has such close ties with them."

Song Qiao understood Lan Xiang's sarcasm, just chuckled twice, and continued, "I found this girl innocent and lovely, so I bought her, intending to present her to Your Majesty. But what happened afterward was something I never expected.

"

Qi Ke'er asked, "What is her relationship with Gan Doufeng?"

Song Qiao replied, "I know that too. Miss Bai calls Gan Doufeng her uncle, but according to Gan Doufeng, Miss Bai was rescued by their gang leader, Boss Lan, during a voyage and was adopted as his goddaughter, though she's always lived in Gan Doufeng's house."

"Then do you know where Boss Lan is, and when he rescued her?" Qi Ke'er continued to ask.

Song Qiao looked embarrassed and stammered, "Um... well, I've never met this Boss Lan."

Qi Ke'er and the others looked surprised and asked, "You're so close to the Zhulang Gang, yet you've never met their leader?"

Song Qiao's face flushed red and then paled, but fortunately, he was a seasoned veteran and quickly regained his composure, saying, "According to

the Zhulang Gang members, to meet their leader, one must pass several extremely harsh conditions, so I..." At this point, his voice suddenly became louder, "However, I believe that this Boss Lan is fabricated, a person created by the Zhulang Gang to increase their cohesion."

"So, Gan Doufeng lied to you," Lan Xiang sneered again.

Song Qiao blushed and immediately retorted, "It shouldn't be called a lie. I think this Miss Bai was indeed rescued by Gan Doufeng and is his adopted daughter. However, to elevate Miss Bai's status within the gang, he pretended to be Boss Lan."

Seeing Song Qiao's clear and logical explanation, Qi Ke'er thought to herself, "It seems this man isn't so incompetent after all. I might need him in the future." She smiled and said to him, "Yes, I believe what you say, Song Shaoqing."

Seeing Song Qiao's pleased expression, Qi Ke'er's face suddenly changed, and she said seriously, "Song Shaoqing, pretend today's events never happened, and pretend what we said never was said, understand?"

"Yes, yes, I understand," Song Qiao quickly nodded in response.

"Alright, then that's all for you. You may leave," Qi Ke'er waved her hand.

"Yes," Song Qiao bowed and took his leave, adding, "If Your Majesty ever needs my help, I will do my utmost, even at the cost of my life."

After Song Qiao had completely left Ganquan Palace, Xiao Qin asked Qi Ke'er, "Does Your Majesty believe everything he says?"

Qi Ke'er slowly rose from her chair. "Judging from his expression, he doesn't seem to be lying. However, there's something fishy about the Suilang Gang and Boss Lan. Xiao Xiang, investigate this matter carefully these next few days."

"Yes," Lan Xiang replied.

The pool wasn't large, but it was the only one in Chijin Fortress. Several willows drooped along its edge. Sometimes Qi Ke'er wondered why the people who built the castle hadn't built more. That way, this oppressively large palace would have had more life.

Qi Ke'er leaned against a willow tree alone, her pale yellow dress swaying on the surface of the lake. She occasionally sprinkled fish bait into the pool, attracting a group of goldfish to swim around her.

Several palace maids stood at attention a dozen paces away from her, but she wanted to be alone, so she told them to stand at a distance. Lanxiang had been out of the palace for three days to investigate the Suilang Gang, and seeing that Guqin had been serving her alone for the past few days and was very tired, she told her to return to Ganquan Palace to rest early.

"It's good," Qi Ke'er thought, "it's been a long time since I've had such a leisurely time alone." "Why has Xiaoxiang been gone for so long? It seems this Suilang Gang is indeed a bit strange." Watching the sun gradually set and the willow shadows grow longer, Qi Ke'er guessed she wouldn't receive any news from Lanxiang today, so she grabbed a handful of bait and threw it into the water. "Alright, I'll go back to the palace too."

Just as she was about to get up, a figure hurried over. "Your Majesty, you're here." It was Lanxiang returning.

Qi Ke'er sat down again, patting the open space under the willow tree softly, "Xiaoxiang is back. Sit down and talk."

Xiaoxiang sat down beside the Empress, saying, "Your Majesty..."

“Why are you calling me Your Highness again?” Qi Ke’er interrupted her. “Didn’t I tell you, when it’s just the two of us, you should still use your old form of address?”

“Yes, Princess,” Lanxiang blushed. “This servant has basically found out about the Suilang Gang.

”

“Very good,” Qi Ke’er picked up some more bait, then spread her palm, letting the bait slip through her fingers into the pool. “Continue.”

“The Suilang Gang is indeed, as Song Qiao said, a union organization composed of seamen. Its daily affairs are handled by the three elders. Gan Doufeng, whom Song Qiao mentioned, is one of these elders. The other two elders are Ning Douyu and He Doushai.”

Qi Ke’er smiled slightly. “These three names are quite fitting for their status as seamen.”

Xiao Xiang said, “Above these three is indeed a gang leader called Boss Lan, but he never interferes in the gang’s daily affairs, and it’s said that no one except these three elders has ever seen him. It’s only outside the Suilang Gang that a few people have seen him.”

“Oh?” Qi Ke’er’s interest was piqued. "Who are these people?"

Lanxiang said. "If there's a business deal that Boss Lan deems worth doing, then he'll meet with that person. So, those who have met him before are all very special and very wealthy people."

"Have you found any of them?" Qi Ke'er asked.

Xiao Xiang shook her head and said, "These people are all using aliases, but we don't need to know them. As long as we present something special enough to impress his contact, he will definitely grant us an audience."

Qi Ke'er pondered for a moment. She knew that Boss Lan wanted something like an identity verification device. Such a thing must be a rare treasure. The palace had plenty of treasures, but they couldn't reveal their identities. Finally, she thought of something precious and said, "I have something that can definitely impress him."

Lan Xiang had served the Empress for many years and immediately understood her intention. "Your Majesty, you mean the Cold Mist Jade? That's a rare treasure."

Qi Ke'er nodded. "Although this jade is very valuable, it's just an ornament for you and me, without any practical use. But for the people of Da Shun, it's a different story."

Lan Xiang still had some hesitation on her face. "The people of Da Shun need true qi as a foundation to cast spells. The amount of true qi stored in a person's body directly affects the power of their spells. However, ordinary people can only obtain a small amount of true qi from the world through daily practice and meditation. Casting a slightly complex spell might consume several days' worth of stored true qi. With practice, a person can obtain twice the amount of true qi in the same amount of time. This is a treasure that countless cultivators dream of."

Qi Ke'er broke off a willow branch and gently rippled it on the water, startling the goldfish. "The people of Da Shun think they are at the center of the world, the so-called Celestial Empire, and believe they have mastered all of human civilization and all the mysteries of the world. They think that gathering true qi to cast spells is a prerequisite for all spells, but they don't know that we Yuexiang people don't need to go through all that trouble." After speaking, she handed the willow branch to Lanxiang.

Lanxiang understood her meaning. She took the willow branch, stood up, and slowly stretched out her arm, a thoughtful expression on her face. Then, she gave a strong shake, and a wisp of white mist emerged from her palm, slowly swirling and moving forward around the willow branch until it gradually disappeared at the tip. After the mist cleared, the willow branch had lost its original shape, transforming into a long, hard, and chilling icicle.

Qi Ke'er nodded approvingly, took the icy stick, and forcefully threw it into the pool. With

a "plop," the entire stick sank to the bottom. "Xiao Xiang, your skills are getting better and better."

Lan Xiang didn't seem particularly pleased, but rather said with some regret, "The conversion speed is still too slow. It took too long to sense the elemental energy of the water in the willow branch."

Qi Ke'er said, "The willow branch's ability to absorb water isn't very strong to begin with. It's already quite good that you were able to cast the freezing spell in such a short time. But those Da Shun people are really laughable. They don't even know that they don't need so-called true qi to cast magic."

Lan Xiang said, "We Yue Xiang people can cast corresponding magic as long as we can sense the elemental energy within an object. We are not limited by cultivating true qi. But we also have some limitations. It seems that everyone's abilities are innate, and it's impossible to learn abilities that don't belong to us. For example, I am a born destroyer, only able to cause harm to others, while you, Princess, bring healing and hope to people."

"Yes, so this Frost Mist Wall is useless to us." Qi Ke'er said.

“Yes, yes,” Lanxiang hesitated for a moment before speaking, “but it’s still very useful for Guqin, after all, she’s a genuine Da Shun person.”

Qi Ke’er remained silent for a long time before saying, “Xiaoqin has served me for many years, she’s worked hard and made great contributions, and I’ve always felt I’ve wronged her a lot. Well, I’ll make it up to her in other ways later. Well, you’ve worked hard these past few days too, you should go back and rest first, I’ll take a walk in the Imperial Garden before returning to Ganquan Palace.”

Lanxiang dared not disobey, bowed to her, and then took her leave.

Qi Ke’er sat alone in contemplation for a while before standing up and slowly walking towards the Imperial Garden. The palace maids behind her followed at a distance, not daring to get too close without the Empress’s permission.

The various flowers in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom, appearing even more vibrant and colorful under the setting sun. “The flowers are so beautiful, but the time is too short,” Qi Ke’er sighed, gently picking a large red camellia beside her, smelling its fresh fragrance, and feeling that the gloom of the past few days had dissipated considerably.

Suddenly, cheerful laughter rang out from the flowerbed ahead—the laughter of a young boy and girl. Qi Ke'er's smile instantly brightened; she recognized the voices as those of her second daughter, Ji Caixiao, and third son, Ji Caichun.

"Hehe, this flower over there is pretty, third brother, come here quickly!" A girl in red laughed and ran towards a clump of azaleas.

Immediately after, a handsome young man followed, his brows beaming. He plucked a flower and tucked it into the girl's long hair. "This flower only truly looks beautiful when worn by second sister."

Ji Caixiao blushed, head bowed in silence, her hands fiddling with her skirt sash, but her inner joy was evident.

Qi Ke'er watched her two children with a smile. The siblings had always been very close, but now it seemed a little too intimate. A sense of unease flashed through Qi Ke'er's heart. She coughed and called out, "Xiao'er, Chun'er."

The two siblings were startled by her voice, only then noticing their mother standing nearby. They quickly came forward to pay their respects, but their expressions seemed somewhat awkward.

"It's almost dark. Why are you two playing in the garden alone?" Qi Ke'er asked with concern.

"Oh, Mother, my second sister and I just finished our lessons, so we came to the Imperial Garden to relax," Ji Caichun answered quickly.

Qi Ke'er nodded slightly and instructed, "Well, it's getting dark soon. You should go back and rest early."

"Yes, Mother," the two siblings quickly bowed, then one went east and the other south, leaving separately.

Qi Ke'er tossed aside the camellia in her hand and slowly walked back to Ganquan Palace.

The spring sunshine was exceptionally bright. That morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed into the carved window lattices of Ganquan Palace, Qi Ke'er, Lanxiang, and Guqin were already dressed in the attire of an ordinary wealthy family.

"Your Majesty, are you really going in person? Actually, this servant and Sister Xiang can go," Guqin said to the Empress, who was still sitting at her dressing table.

"This matter is of utmost importance; I cannot leave without your presence," Qi Ke'er said, smoothing her hair at her temples in front of the mirror.

“Yesterday, Boss Lan’s contact told me that Boss Lan was very satisfied with the Cold Mist Jade as a gift and agreed to meet us today. However, we still know nothing about this person’s background. For safety’s sake, I think Your Highness should not go this time,” Lan Xiang said.

Qi Ke’er shook her head and said, “This Boss Lan is indeed somewhat unusual. If I don’t go this time, I don’t know if I will have another chance to see him.” She paused for a moment, then continued, “However, I really cannot meet him in this appearance.” Then, she opened a drawer under the dressing table and took out an exquisite wooden box.

“A disguise bead?” the two maids exclaimed in unison.

Qi Ke’er took out a black bead the size of an egg from the box. She gently stroked and turned it with her fingers. Then, the bead emitted a faint red light, which reflected on Qi Ke’er’s face. Her eyebrows, eyes, nose, and lips all slowly changed at the same time. Before long, Qi Ke’er transformed into a beautiful young woman whose appearance was completely different from her original one.

"Looking like this, no one should recognize me, right?" Qi Ke'er said with a smile to the two women.

Lanxiang said, "Not to mention others, even I wouldn't recognize myself. I never expected this disguise bead to be so powerful."

"This disguise bead was refined by Grand Master Kang Xuanzi over many days and months, using a large amount of true energy and various precious materials. It was a gift he gave me many years ago, but I haven't had a chance to use it.

" After explaining, Qi Ke'er added, "Alright, enough of that. Xiaoxiang, lead the way, let's go."

Half an hour later,

Qi Ke'er, Lanxiang, and Guqin arrived at "Rangwang Street," located in the east of Chengtian Prefecture. At the end of the street was the cargo wharf of Dongfu Bay. This busiest street in Chengtian Prefecture was already bustling with people and vehicles.

“It’s so lively,” Guqin exclaimed. “I rarely leave the palace, so I couldn’t imagine it being this bustling.”

Lanxiang said, “A large portion of our palace’s supplies are transported by merchant ships to the Dongfu Bay dock, and then through this street into the city. Not only the palace, but the entire Chengtian Prefecture relies on this place for its daily needs.”

Qi Ke’er nodded slightly and said, “When you talk to the Suilang Gang later, remember not to let them realize we’re from the palace.”

Both women nodded. Lanxiang said, “Your Highness, oh, Miss, the contact asked us to go to the Lan residence this morning, but I still have doubts. Even the people in their gang don’t know where the Lan residence is. How can we find it?”

Guqin asked, “Did that person give you a detailed address?”

Lanxiang said, “He said we’d know once we got to Qingzhu Lane on Rangwang Street, but when I went to Qingzhu Lane that day, I found it was just a dead end. I didn’t find any large house at all.”

“That’s strange,” Guqin said. "Could it be that someone is waiting for us there and will take us to another place?"

Qi Ke'er remained calm and said lightly, "We'll know when we get there." As

the three walked and talked, a voice suddenly came from the side, "Hey, ladies, please wait."

The three were startled and stopped in their tracks, looking towards the source of the voice, only to find a fortune-telling stall, where an old man with a long white beard was smiling at them.

Qi Ke'er, not wanting to waste time, said, "Ignore him, let's go."

Seeing they weren't coming, the man shouted again, "The three young ladies have dark circles under their eyes, and black energy swirls above their heads. They will suffer a bloody disaster within two hours, but..."

Gu Qin, upon hearing this, was furious and about to rush to his stall to berate him, but Qi Ke'er grabbed her, saying, "Forget it, these kinds of people are just trying to make a living. Let's ignore him."

Gu Qin snorted angrily and left with Qi Ke'er, but behind them, the man's regretful voice could still be heard, "Those who don't listen to good advice will suffer the consequences."

The three pretended not to hear and quickened their pace.

After walking for a while, Lan Xiang pointed to an alley to the right and said, "Qingzhu Alley is just ahead."

Qingzhu Alley was very narrow, barely wide enough for three people to walk side by side. High blue brick walls lined both sides, and there wasn't a single door in sight.

The alley was short, only about a hundred steps long, before it ended, where a taller wall stood, topped with a blue glazed tile eave.

"It's a dead end. There's not a house, not even a ghost," Guqin complained.

Qi Ke'er frowned, carefully examining the surroundings, but found nothing except the three walls.

Lanxiang grew anxious, shouting, "That bastard dared to lie to me! I'm going to settle the score with him!"

"Xiaoxiang, calm down," Qi Ke'er waved her hand. "Listen, there seems to be a sound."

Sure enough, the wall in front seemed to shake, followed by a tremor in the ground. The three quickly stepped back, staring at the wall.

Two rows of blue bricks arched outwards, and then with a "whoosh," a square hole, half a zhang wide and a zhang high, appeared in the wall, and a tall, thin man emerged.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Lan, I’m late in opening the door,” the man said sincerely, apologizing repeatedly. “Please come in, ladies.”

“This is Boss Lan’s house?” Lan Xiang asked.

The man didn’t answer directly, continuing his welcoming gesture. “Please come in, ladies. My master is waiting for you inside.”

Qi Ke’er whispered, “Let’s go in.” She then led the way through the doorway.

Once inside, the scenery astonished the three of them. The view was incredibly expansive. They were standing on a small grassy slope, with a lush green grove in front of them. Several pavilions could be vaguely seen deep within the grove. After

they all entered, the brickwork began to rotate again. The doorway disappeared, leaving only a solid wall. The man walked in front of them and gestured, “Ladies, please follow me.” He then led them along a winding gravel path.

Qi Ke'er whispered to Lanxiang, "Xiaoxiang, do you recognize this person?"

Lanxiang shook her head and said, "This isn't the person I contacted."

The man seemed to have overheard their conversation and turned his ever-smiling face. "Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself. My surname is Xu, and I'm Boss Lan's steward. You can just call me Old Xu."

The four of them walked for a short while before entering a grove of trees. After walking for a while, they stopped in front of a lake.

Old Xu said to Lanxiang, "Miss Lan, before you asked to see our Boss Lan, you must have agreed to those conditions, right?"

Lanxiang said, "An item that would be enough to persuade him to see us, a test, and another request, right?"

Old Xu nodded and said, "Miss Lan is right. After seeing that jade disc, my Boss Lan knows you are not an ordinary family and is willing to do business with you, but if you want to see him, you must pass this test."

"What is it?" Guqin asked.

Old Xu pointed to the lake in front of them. "Boss Lan is on the other side of the lake. Please go over there."

"Just like that?" Lanxiang asked. "No boat?"

Old Xu didn't answer. He bowed to them and turned to leave.

The emerald green lake was like a bright mirror. The lake was about thirty feet wide, with high walls on both sides, nearly a hundred feet long. Apart from the water, there was nothing else on the lake.

Qi Ke'er looked around and pondered, "It seems he wants to test our magical abilities."

Lan Xiang said, "Then let me do it. I can sense the energy of the lake water, and then freeze part of the lake surface to form an ice bridge, and we can walk across."

Gu Qin also said, "Let me do it. I can make wind-chasing shoes from the willow branches by the lake, and we can walk directly across the water."

Qi Ke'er said, "This Boss Lan is meticulous. We don't know what tricks he will have up his sleeve, and we can't let him see our strength. Xiao Xiang, your magical abilities are different from those of the Da Shun people, so it's best not to reveal them for now. Xiao Qin, use your method."

"Yes," Gu Qin tore off a few willow branches, broke them into three strange shapes, and laid them flat on the ground. Then, she took a deep breath, mobilized the true energy stored in her dantian, and used her magical abilities. Several blue lights enveloped the straw sandals, and then the willow branches seemed to come alive, twisting and swirling. After the blue light faded, three pairs of straw sandals appeared before them.

“Alright,” Guqin said, “Let’s put them on quickly, the magic can only last for a short time.”

The three nodded, put on the shoes, and stepped onto the lake. The calm water only dipped slightly in an arc. They smiled at each other and ran towards the opposite bank, like light swallows in spring, flying across the lake without splashing a drop of water. In the blink of an eye, they crossed the lake.

As soon as they stepped onto the grassy shore, three smiling girls in white approached them.

“Our master is inside, please follow us,” the girl in the middle pointed to the mansion surrounded by flowers and green grass behind them, while the other two girls gestured for

them to follow and led the way. Qi Ke’er and the other two took off their straw sandals and followed them into the mansion, while Lanxiang and Guqin remained on guard to prevent any accidents. Once inside, they found the spacious building empty.

“Where’s Boss Lan?” Qi Ke’er asked.

"Don't rush, ladies. You only need to complete one last step before you can see my master,

" the girl replied .

"One request?" Lanxiang asked.

The girl smiled and nodded. "Please follow us in separately."

Qi Ke'er then noticed that the three girls in white were standing in front of separate small doors. Were they trying to separate us?

Qi Ke'er was somewhat suspicious, as were Lanxiang and Guqin, who both looked at Qi Ke'er with doubt, waiting for her decision.

The girl smiled slightly and said, "Ladies, please don't be suspicious. There's absolutely no conspiracy. It's just that my master is unwell and cannot be exposed to the outside world, so he would like you to change into some of the clothes in our manor."

Seeing that her expression didn't seem to be lying, Qi Ke'er said to Lanxiang and Guqin, "Since we're already here, let's respect our master's wishes." After saying that, she led the way and followed the girl into the house.

It was a very small house. Apart from the small door at the back, there were mirrors on the left and right sides in front. In front of her was an iron clothes rack with several red silk dresses hanging on it.

“Miss, please take off your clothes and put on this one in the room.” The young girl leaned against the small door behind Qi Ke’er.

Qi Ke’er remained silent, walked to the clothes rack, picked up the clothes, and her face flushed instantly.

The outfit actually consisted of three pieces: a red jumpsuit, a thin pink bra, and a very small flesh-colored thong.

Although she hadn’t put it on yet, she could imagine what it would look like. A surge of anger rose in Qi Ke’er’s heart. She was a dignified empress, elegant and poised; how could she wear such frivolous clothes? What was this Boss Lan up to?

Seeing Qi Ke'er hesitate, holding the clothes, the young woman chuckled and said, "Miss, this is the final step to seeing my master. If you don't want to change, you can leave."

Qi Ke'er was stunned. Yes, she had already spent so much effort and energy to see this Boss Lan, how could it all be for nothing? Besides, no one would recognize her now. Thinking this way, she accepted it, but having a stranger watching her change made her uncomfortable. So she said to the young woman, "Alright, please leave first."

But the young woman had no intention of leaving, saying, "Please don't make things difficult for us, Miss. My master stipulates that we must be present when guests are changing."

Qi Ke'er knew that Boss Lan wanted to ensure that all guests changed into the clothes they had prepared. After thinking for a moment, she turned her back, gritted her teeth, and took off all her clothes.

She changed as quickly as possible, and when she looked up, she saw herself in the mirror. Instantly, she blushed from her ears to her neck.

The beauty reflected in the mirror had her hair piled high, her face breathtakingly beautiful, and her slender figure was accentuated by her clothing, making her even more graceful. Her breasts were particularly prominent, almost bursting forth, and her rounded hips were even more shapely. Beneath this alluring body lay a dignified and noble air, a transcendent beauty, a captivating charm.

"You are truly a beauty that could topple kingdoms," the girl in white couldn't help but praise.

Qi Ke'er composed herself, her expression solemn. "Alright, take me to see your master."

When she left the small room, Lanxiang and Guqin were already waiting in the hall, dressed in their new clothes.

URL 1:https://www.sex3p.com/htmlBlog/178401.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=178401&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : [Transmigrating to the Yongzheng Emperor's Exquisite Harem]

Next Page : That kid is really capable.

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

The Fall of the Beloved Concubine

comment Open a new window to view comments