Chapter 3 - 2: Lady’s Bedchamber Duty

However, Xia Ruqing didn’t need to go to such lengths; her face was delicate enough and needed no gilding the lily. First, she applied a thin layer of rice powder, simply outlined her delicate eyebrows, applied crimson lip rouge, and added a touch of blush to her cheeks. From her jewelry collection, she selected a turquoise fragmented jade hairpin and a white Southern Pearl hairpin. She casually pulled up part of her black hair, leaving the rest to drape over her shoulders. Dressed like this, her whole appearance was refreshing and elegant, revealing a different kind of grace. "Lady Xia truly possesses natural beauty!" exclaimed the Sisters, who were even more delighted to compliment her upon seeing her cleverness and radiance. "It’s all thanks to the Sisters’ care!" Xia Ruqing replied with a shallow half-curtsey. The Sisters were pleasantly surprised and felt even more appreciated. As they escorted her to the Chunen Cart, some were still instructing her on how to please the Emperor. "Lady, just remember to be gentle and compliant, and you won’t go wrong!" one of the Sisters said with a smile. Xia Ruqing blushed, thanked them, and, supported by a Palace Maid, boarded the Chunen Cart. Sitting in the Chunen Cart, Xia Ruqing started to get nervous. She had absolutely no experience in this area; she hadn’t even had the chance to date before her untimely death in her previous life. It’s only been a month since she transmigrated, and now she was expected to share his bed? What should she do? Actively participate? She didn’t know how! Just lie there like a dead fish? That seemed even less acceptable! She agonized the entire journey but still couldn’t come up with a strategy. Well, she decided, I might as well improvise when the time comes! Half an hour later, the Chunen Cart stopped at the rear corner gate of the Emperor’s Zhaochen Palace. A few Old Sisters helped her out. After winding their way around for another quarter of an hour, they arrived at a hall. "This is the Zichen Hall. Please wait here, Lady Xia. We will take our leave first," the Sisters said, leading her into a small room before withdrawing. Xia Ruqing dared not wander off. She simply sat on the kang, looking around. She saw that the Zichen Hall was majestic and grand, its golden and jade splendor not diminishing its luxurious elegance. The small room she was in was also exquisitely furnished. On the kang lay a velvet cushion. On the table sat a cup of fragrant tea, warmed to just the right temperature. Beside it, a small, dragon-patterned animal-shaped tripod censer emitted curls of ambergris. On the small kang table lay an open book. This truly is the Emperor’s domain, Xia Ruqing thought. Understated luxury with profound substance! Feeling bored, Xia Ruqing picked up the book and began to read. It turned out to be a copy of *The Art of War by Sun Tzu*. Huh? This dynasty has such books too? After browsing a few pages, Xia Ruqing yawned, feeling sleepy. The book was full of traditional characters and was obscure and difficult to understand! Without realizing it, she slowly closed her eyes, still holding the book. When Zhao Junyao finished his state affairs and came over, this was the scene that greeted him. Her petite frame lay curled up alone on the couch, a book still clutched in her embrace. Her smooth hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyelashes trembled slightly as she slept soundly. Zhao Junyao paused for a moment before instructing someone to wake her. "This is not a place for sleeping!" he said mildly, without a hint of anger. "Emperor, your servant has been disrespectful! Please, Emperor, punish me!" Xia Ruqing, waking up and instantly realizing her situation, dared not lift her head and knelt before the distinct imperial yellow. "Rise. There’s no need for such ceremony!" Zhao Junyao turned, smoothly lifted his robe, and sat down opposite the couch table. He then commanded Li Shengan. "It’s getting late. Serve the meal!" "Yes!" Li Shengan acknowledged and led the others out. Before long, Palace Attendants filed in one after another, and dinner was quickly laid out. Xia Ruqing sneaked a few glances and was dazzled—she had not only never eaten such dishes before but had never even seen them. "Your servant will attend to the Emperor’s meal!" Xia Ruqing stepped forward, performed a curtsy, and picked up the bowl and chopsticks, preparing to serve the Emperor his food. This was the rule: whoever had a lower status not only couldn’t eat but also had to serve others while they ate! How unfair! Zhao Junyao, however, waved his hand, indicating it wasn’t necessary. He cleansed his hands and began his meal. As was customary, he ate in silence. Xia Ruqing served tea by his side. While he ate, she secretly sized up the Emperor from head to toe. Eventually, she felt that fate had actually been quite kind to her. The phrase "a feast for the eyes" seemed tailor-made for the Emperor. Whether it was his complexion, physique, or temperament, everything about him was perfect—a fraction more would be too coarse, a fraction less too delicate. Xia Ruqing let out a long sigh of relief, no longer so resistant to the idea of ’rolling in the sheets’ with him. After she finished attending to the Emperor’s meal, Xia Ruqing’s legs ached from standing. Zhao Junyao, having cleansed his hands, left with his attendants. Having eaten, Xia Ruqing began another long wait. The Emperor didn’t return until the Hai Hour (9-11 pm). Being an Emperor must indeed be exhausting, she thought. Then came a round of washing and tidying up. Then, the red candles flickered, and the bed curtains billowed like waves. Xia Ruqing felt an excruciating pain; her waist and legs ached. After two hours, she felt as if her entire body was about to fall apart! Finally, she drifted into a stupor, knowing nothing more. Zhao Junyao, however, felt unprecedentedly good. After several rounds, he still felt somewhat unsatisfied! He had never been so irrational. Ever since attendants had begun serving him, he had avoided overindulgence in such matters. In his view, it was like eating or sleeping—seven or eight-tenths was sufficient; anything more was as bad as too little. Now... Zhao Junyao looked at Xia Ruqing, already fast asleep beside him. Thinking of her earlier naivete and boldness sent another wave of heat through him, and he quickly turned his head away. At dawn, he rose to attend court. The Sisters, seeing Xia Ruqing still asleep, their faces darkened, and they prepared to wake her. But Zhao Junyao gestured with a sweep of his hand. "No need to wake her. Let her sleep!" Last night, it was I who lacked restraint; she cannot be blamed, he thought. The Sisters dared not disobey, so they merely assigned someone to watch over her. Thus, Xia Ruqing slept until daylight! When she returned to Zhaohua Pavilion, it was already broad daylight, with less than half an hour until the morning greetings. "Quickly, help me get ready! I still have to go to Jiaofang Hall to kowtow!" Xia Ruqing urged, somewhat anxious. Her status was already low, and she had just received favor. If she were caught making a mistake, it would be courting death! "Mistress, there’s no need to panic. In any case, we only kowtow outside Jiaofang Hall, so it won’t matter if we’re a bit late!" Qiu Tong said smugly. "In the past, some of those other young ladies, after their first night of service, didn’t even go. So don’t worry, Mistress!" Qiu Hong chimed in, agreeing. Xia Ruqing glared at them fiercely, her gaze as sharp as a knife! "Fools!" A mere Seventh-Rank Lady, becoming arrogant after one night of favor! The Empress wouldn’t even need to lift a finger; there are plenty waiting in the shadows to deal with her! She probably wouldn’t even know how she died! These two are truly out of their minds! Frightened by Xia Ruqing’s piercing look, Qiu Tong and Qiu Hong dared not say more. They quickly helped Xia Ruqing dress, and the three of them—mistress and maids—set off for Jiaofang Hall. Only those of the Sixth Rank and above were qualified to go and pay respects to the Empress. As a Seventh-Rank Lady, Xia Ruqing was not eligible to enter the hall to kowtow. She merely knelt outside the doors of Jiaofang Hall and kowtowed three times. Yu Lan, a First-Rank Senior Palace Maid from the Empress’s retinue, came out to meet her. "Her Majesty says that Lady Xia must be tired from serving the Emperor, so you should hurry back and rest!" Yu Lan said. She then presented a carved lacquer tray covered with a red cloth. Lifting the cloth revealed a set of jadeite hairpins and head ornaments. The quality was average, but they were still quite exquisite.