Mei Liang decided not to think too much about it anymore. Lánxīn and Cuìyù's faces were lit with smiles.
"Mistress, the Emperor will be here by the time of the Dog (7–9 p.m.), and it's already the time of the Rooster (5–7 p.m.). You need to bathe quickly before His Majesty arrives."
Just as Lánxīn was speaking, little eunuch Xiao hurried in and bowed deeply to Mei Liang.
"Greetings, Mistress," he said.
Mei Liang turned to him calmly. "What is the matter?"
"Mistress, four momo are outside the gate. They said they were sent by the Emperor to prepare you."
Mei Liang's gaze turned sharp. So he's still cunning after all, she thought. I almost believed he'd grown dull these past years. The Emperor I knew five years ago would never favor a new concubine without sending his momo to inspect her—just to make sure she wasn't carrying hidden weapons or harboring plans to assassinate him.
Soon, the four momo entered and bowed—not too deeply.
"This humble servant greets Mei Wenyuan," they said.
Mei Liang remained expressionless. "You may rise. And to what do I owe this pleasant visit from Chen momo, Li momo, Wu momo, and Zhao momo?"
Hearing their mistress call the momo by name, Cuìyù's eyes widened in shock. How did her mistress know who they were? These were the Emperor's most trusted momo, especially Zhao momo, who had served him for many years.
Zhao momo stepped forward. "This servant was ordered by His Majesty to help prepare Wenyuan. Your maidservants are still young and might commit mistakes or break taboos during the preparation."
Is it that they might make a mistake, Mei Liang mused, or is he simply afraid I might be hiding something dangerous?
After all, she had once tried to assassinate the Emperor in her previous life. That incident had made him far more cautious when bestowing favor on anyone in the harem.
"Alright then," Mei Liang said, lips curling into a cold smile that sent chills through Zhao momo. "Let's make it quick before the Emperor arrives."
While Mei Liang was being prepared, word of the Emperor's decision sent shockwaves through the palace. None had expected him to favor Mei Liang tonight. Many assumed he would spend the night in Xian Guifei's palace, especially since she had only recently been put under disguised house arrest. But choosing to stay at Yunlu Palace was nothing short of a slap to Xian Guifei's face.
In Emerald Cloud Palace, upon hearing the news, Xian Guifei could no longer contain her rage. The porcelain vase and set of jade blossom cups were hurled to the floor, shattering into pieces. Her servants hurried to calm her, but her fury was like a storm.
Yǎyún, her personal maidservant, carefully sidestepped the broken shards and approached.
"Niangniang, you must calm down. Don't let the other palaces see you lose composure. The Emperor likely favored Mei Wenyuan because of her powerful family. One way or another, it was bound to happen. But you are different. You're the only one who has borne the Emperor a prince."
"And that alone sets you apart from all the other concubines in the palace," Yǎyún said gently. "Even the Empress is jealous of you—because you're the only one who has given the Emperor a prince.
So there's no need to fret over a mere little concubine who might be forgotten soon enough. Even if she's favored now, can she make His Majesty continue to favor her?"
Hearing Yǎyún's words, Xian Guifei slowly calmed herself. Yes, she was the only one in the palace with a prince. As long as she held that advantage, the Emperor's will always favor her—and more importantly, her son.
Even if Mei Wenyuan had a beautiful face, in the palace, beauty alone could not keep a woman in power for long.
Meanwhile, in Lingxiu Palace, De Fei was having a quiet meal with her five-year-old daughter when a servant walked in and whispered something into her ear. Her expression shifted ever so slightly.
"Jin momo, take Lan'er to her room."
"Yes, Niangniang." Jin momo quickly picked up the little princess and left.
"Mistress," a maid asked carefully, "do you think the Emperor will continue to favor Mei Wenyuan after tonight? She comes from a powerful military family with influence at court, and her beauty could make even a woman envious."
De Fei didn't answer immediately. She stood up and walked toward the flower arrangement by the window, her fingers brushing over the petals. "We'll have to wait and see," she said coolly. "If she dares to hinder this palace's plans—then she will have to be removed."
She plucked a rose from its stem with a slow, deliberate motion, and smiled coldly. The servant behind her couldn't help but shiver.
Elsewhere, the woman that every concubine in the palace now whispered about—Mei Liang—was standing quietly, waiting. Her heart was a mess of thoughts as she saw the imperial dragon sedan chair approach.
With her maidservants behind her, she quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"Greetings to Your Majesty. May the Emperor live ten thousand years in peace."
"You may rise," Emperor Xiang Long Wei said, stepping down from the sedan chair himself and reaching out to lift her up. "Why is my beloved concubine standing out here? It's too hot for that."
Though night had fallen, the summer air remained thick and warm. The Emperor took Mei Liang's hand, and together they walked toward the Yunlu side hall of Xiangting Auspicious Pavilion.
But as she walked beside him, Mei Liang heart was in turmoil. Can I really do this? she asked herself. Can I truly sleep beside the man responsible for the destruction of my family—of my life?
Yes, it was Xian Guifei who had ordered her death, but the root of it all… was him.
In her past life, she had longed for his favor. She had once dreamed of nights like this. But now that the moment had come, his touch made her feel nothing but disgust.
As the Emperor led her into the inner hall, her steps felt heavy, her heart beating fast—but not from excitement.
No, she told herself again and again. Now is not the time to hesitate. I must move forward. No matter how much it hurts. No matter how filthy it feels. I must move forward with my plan.
Mei Liang turned to face the Emperor with a calm expression.
"Your Majesty hasn't eaten yet, right?"
"No," Emperor Xiang Long Wei replied. "Zhen has not."
She nodded, then looked over at Cuìyù. "Bring the food in."
Mei Liang hadn't expected the Emperor to visit her palace tonight. Because of the unbearable heat, she'd only asked the kitchen to prepare something light—cold noodles, sliced chilled chicken, century egg with silken tofu.
When the food was laid out, the Emperor's brows lifted slightly in surprise. Most concubines in the palace would go to great lengths to prepare his favorite dishes, trying to win his favor through his appetite. But Mei Wenyuan…
She was clearly a foodie who simply loved eating.
Mei Liang, unknowingly labeled a foodie by the Emperor himself, had no idea how she was truly perceived in his heart.
The sparkle in her eyes as she looked at the dishes betrayed her excitement. The Emperor's lips tugged slightly at the corners, amused.
Wanting to tease her, he said, "Zhen can hardly believe Beloved Concubine doesn't have a stomachache from eating so much cold food."
At those words, the faint smile on Mei Liang's lips faded.
She had only wanted to eat something she liked—to gather a bit of strength in this oppressive summer heat. But even that... he couldn't let her have.
So this is how it is, she thought bitterly. Even something as simple as food, he won't allow. Truly, we were meant to be enemies—not just in one lifetime, but in two.