Chapter 23: Imperial Favor

  The emperor has been coming to Lingbo Hall frequently recently. Sometimes he just sits for a while and then leaves, sometimes he stays for a long time, but he has never stayed overnight.

  I was quite curious about this matter and also asked Mu Yan for the reason, but Mu Yan never answered me directly. I knew better than to ask further questions.

  It's the people in the palace who are more curious than I am. Every day when I go with Mu Yan to pay respects to the Empress, we meet all sorts of different people. Although they may have whispered among themselves about the Emperor not having stayed overnight, after all, imperial favor is a rare thing that none of them have ever had, so at least most people are still very polite and courteous to Mu Yan on the surface. A small number, such as Consort Shen and Xiuyu Rong, however, remain unchanged from before, speaking coldly and sarcastically.

  It's interesting to say that these two people are really interesting, they both have a hard time with Mu Yan, but between the two of them, there is constant cannon fire. Every time I see the two of them arguing in front of the Queen Mother, their faces red and ears burning, it seems like a pair of natural-born arch-enemies.

  The master of the palace still knows how to trim his sails, let alone the slaves in the palace? On that day, after the emperor rewarded me with silver, not only did half a day pass, but the inner attendant's office also sent new silver over. The person who brought the silver was none other than Lin Gonggong, who didn't even glance at me with his right eye. He was "not holding past grudges", and he came bearing silver and apologies, and he promised Muyan that if she lacked anything in the future, she should look for him. It is said that people's hearts are prone to change, but what exactly changes - the heart or the face?

  This old man Lin indeed did everything he promised, even the food problem that I had been worried about was solved. The meals sent by the Imperial Food Bureau became more and more exquisite every day, and the quantity also increased a lot compared to before. I really don't know who should be credited for this. Overall, the emperor's arrival brought more benefits than drawbacks.

  Oh, you want to know the downside? It's that it increases my workload as a lazy servant. Although I don't have to deal with complicated tasks, I still have to do daily chores like serving tea and snacks, and stand by to attend to them. Alas, sometimes I really wish the emperor wouldn't come, but unfortunately, things don't always go as one wishes. Two months have passed in a flash.

  For the past two months, Zhou Mulang has indeed sent a few letters to the palace, but the content is only about the construction period of Luyue Tower, which has been completed and decorated. The girls have also been selected from all over the place and taught various skills by teachers. Yu'er is doing well in Luyue Tower, learning with the girls on one hand and taking care of the kitchen on the other. Now they are planning to find a master to see when they can open for business. I am unable to leave the palace, so I had to ask the gatekeeper to send out messages.

  That night, Mu Yan was already about to fall asleep. I finished writing the letter to Zhou Mu Lang and planned to have it delivered by Gong Gong under the cover of darkness, so that Zhou Mu Lang could receive my latest arrangements early the next morning.

  Although the palace has many taboos, at night, there are very few people moving around. However, it is precisely because of this that I chose to go out at this time, the fewer people who go out, the fewer people will see, and the private meetings between palace maids and eunuchs, although everyone knows nothing will happen, but after all, it's a matter of right and wrong.

  It's been two months since I entered the palace, and the sweltering summer has passed. The early autumn days are still scorching hot, but it gets cold at night. I put away my letter paper, threw on a cloak, and headed out. Who would have thought that before I even left the courtyard, I heard a flurry of footsteps, as if many people were approaching? It was strange, who could it be at this hour? Before I could even think of an answer, the Emperor appeared before me.

  "This humble servant greets Your Majesty." For nearly two months, I could see the Emperor every day. I was no longer as afraid as I used to be, yet I didn't dare to slack off. Kneeling down, I said.

  "Get up, where is your master?" The emperor was drunk and looked in a good mood.

  "The young master is inside, I'll go and inform him for you." I replied standing up.

  "Oh, no need, I've arrived. You can go by yourself. What's with this attire of yours, are you going out?" The emperor looked me up and down, his face full of doubt.

  Things went wrong and he ran into trouble.

  I dare not speak the truth, nor can I tell a lie, deceiving you would be a great crime, which I cannot bear.

  I fell to my knees with a thud and remained silent.

  The emperor seemed to have gotten used to my kneeling and silence, and didn't ask any more questions, only saying "You can all go down now".

  He finished speaking and walked alone towards Muran's house, leaving me and the eunuchs and guards there.

  I took advantage of the opportunity to bid farewell to Manager Liang, quietly withdrew, bypassed them, left the courtyard, and went to find Gate Manager.

  This eunuch is a person from the Nei Shi Ju, and his usual job is to lead people on their way. Therefore, in this matter of entering the palace, finding him would be the best option, and I only know him alone.

  "Hello, Mr. Door!" I've become quite familiar with the doorman, he's a kind and helpful person, I really like him, and when I greet him, it's especially enthusiastic.

  "Good girl Manya!" The doorkeeper's benevolent smile hung on his face.

  "Gatekeeper, would you mind delivering this letter to..." Before I could finish speaking, he had already responded.

  "Old Zhou of Luyuelou"

  "Right, right, husband has a good memory." I smiled foolishly.

  "Old man, I don't have such a good memory, it's your affair that I care about, but this letter is too sad, when can I meet with Old Master Zhou?" The face of Gatekeeper Gong was shrouded in melancholy.

  "What's this?" I was left speechless.

  Yes, when Zhou Mulang called me into the palace to escape from Old Man Zhou's clutches, I blindly entered the palace. Now what should I do? Should I be content with being a little palace maid or think about escaping from this deep palace every day? Zhou Mulang, will we only become pen pals in the future? This is even more unreliable than online friends, what should I do?

  The old man looked at me with a sour face and said lightly, "It's still better to plan for yourself early."

  I murmured in response, unable to think of an answer. I bid farewell to the eunuch and turned back. Along the way, I thought about what the future held, but this future was never something I could plan out. Fortunately, Mu Yan's influence is currently on the rise, and if things continue like this, life won't be too difficult in the future. What I fear is that imperial favor will one day be taken away by someone else. Alas, what can be done about it?

  Returned to the Lingbo Temple, thinking of going to see if the Emperor was still there. If he had left, I would look for Mu Yan to chat with him. Even if we couldn't solve any problems, at least there would be someone to share my worries with.

  The lights in the Emperor's room were still on, but the door was closed. Where had the guards and eunuchs at the entrance gone? Had the Emperor left? I walked forward, intending to knock on the door and ask, but my heart was thinking, what if the Emperor is still inside?

  Just as the battle between heaven and man was about to begin, a sound came from inside the Mu Yan House, which sounded like a cup falling to the ground, and then it became quiet again.

  I didn't think that the sound was only heard by me, but suddenly, several black shadows emerged from the night with torches, and it turned out to be those missing eunuchs and guards, who rushed out with swords drawn, seeing me at the door with a ferocious expression, as if they wanted to devour me.

  Wow, it turns out that this dynasty has already produced invisible people, I have to admire them.

  "It's nothing, all of you withdraw" The emperor's voice came from inside the house, with a hint of anger.

  "Yes!" Before I could even see clearly, everyone had miraculously disappeared again.

  It seems the Emperor is still here, I'd better go back obediently. It's strange, it's already so late, why hasn't the Emperor left yet? Could something be happening tonight? Then congratulations are in order for Mu Yan's promotion to Zhaoyi. Zhaoyi, another Zhaoyi I knew in this world eventually became Empress.

  I let myself drift into a wild reverie, and before I knew it, I had fallen fast asleep.

  On the second day, early in the morning, I was woken up by someone outside the window before I even got out of bed.

  "Your Majesty, it's time for breakfast!"

  Isn't that the voice of Liang Gonggong speaking? How is he still here, no, it's the Emperor who's still here, could it be that what happened last night was real.

  Curiosity drove away my drowsiness, I quickly changed clothes, washed up and went out to see what was going on.

  As expected, the Emperor had already changed into his court attire and was standing in the Mu Yan House, letting Mu Yan help him dress. This scene should have looked extremely intimate, but somehow it seemed a bit off between the two of them.

  Mu Yan was as usual, the smile on his face only increased and never decreased. On the other hand, the Emperor had a serious expression, not a hint of joy, and after Mu Yan helped him dress up, he just said thank you, politely as if they were strangers, and then hastily left. Strange indeed!

  After the emperor left, I slipped into Muran's room and plopped myself down on the bed where the emperor might have sat, grasping the hanging bed curtains with my hands, and asked, "When do I need to start addressing you as Imperial Consort?"

  Mu Yan's face was expressionless as she sat beside me, fiddling with her hem and saying, "I don't know what you're talking about!"

  Having said that, he lay down directly.

  "Last night, don't tell me nothing happened! You must be tired, Master, hurry up and rest well." I smiled mischievously, got up and let the bed for Mu Yan, pulling the quilt over her.

  She turned her back on me and fell asleep peacefully.

  What else can I say? I went out of the house and closed the door. Thinking to myself, it's also good this way, as long as Mu Yan is favored, life will be better.

  Mu Yan didn't leave her room all morning, probably sleeping soundly. I and the others naturally didn't dare disturb her either.

  It wasn't until noon that the emperor summoned them over to issue an edict, and only then did Yuè wake up Mùyān.

  "The Emperor has decreed, bestowing upon you: one Soft Snow White Smoke Cloud Robe, one Winding Silver Thread Cicada Wing Gauze, one White Silk Plum Blossom Immortal Group, one Magnolia Flower Pattern Cloud Brocade Long Dress..."

  The emperor was originally a good thing, but seeing the eunuchs bring in clothes, I couldn't get excited. More than a dozen pieces of exquisite clothing were all plain-colored, to be precise, they were all white, no different from what Mu Yan wore in the mansion.

  In the imperial palace, unless it's a national funeral, no one dares to wear such clothes. What does the emperor mean by giving this gift? Does he really like Mu Yan's plain and simple appearance?

  I looked at Mu Yan beside me, who was also kneeling down to receive the order. Her expression was natural, but it seemed a bit too relaxed, as if she had let out a sigh of relief.

  Among the voices of "thank you for your kindness", the dusk smoke received the order and rewarded the eunuch who came, then entered the house alone.

  After that, His Majesty never came again.