Chapter 185

As they were far away in Jiangnan, they didn't yet know that Jiang Xinyue had already given birth, and that the Emperor had even bestowed upon her the title of Senior Concubine Xian, the highest of the four consorts.

Even if Pei Wu entered the palace, she wouldn't be on the same starting line as Jiang Xinyue.

Above Senior Concubine Xian was the position of Noble Consort, and in the imperial harem, the gap between a consort and a Noble Consort was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.

Almost everyone believed that if Jiang Xinyue's father and brothers hadn't performed great meritorious deeds for the country, or if the Sixth Prince hadn't ascended to the position of Crown Prince, she would have reached her peak at the rank of Senior Concubine Xian in this lifetime.

In fact, Concubine Zhenxian had only been in the palace for two years, yet she had successfully gained the Emperor's exclusive favor. Her first child was born healthy and safe, and she was even appointed as Senior Concubine Xian by the Emperor. This could truly be considered unprecedented and unparalleled.

She was formidable, incredibly so.

Even if Pei Wu caught the Emperor's eye, just based on her being the granddaughter of Minister Pei, she wouldn't be able to attain a very high rank.

There wouldn't be a second Concubine Li in the palace.

But who could say for certain?

Hadn't Concubine Zhenxian also started from humble beginnings, stepping on the faces of many higher-ranked consorts to become the envied Senior Concubine Xian that she is today?

Nothing in this world is certain; there are always exceptions.

The Xuanwu Emperor was overjoyed at the birth of his noble son, his heart already flying to Hexi Palace. When Wang Dequan went to Hexi Palace to deliver the evening meal, he was informed by a palace maid, "Eunuch Wang, our mistress is unwell today. She had her meal early and retired to her chambers. Nanny Xiang is helping her with breast massage."

"Breast massage?"

The Xuanwu Emperor was completely ignorant about this matter. Why did Yue'er need breast massage if she wasn't breastfeeding? What was breast massage?

He didn't know, but Wang Dequan, as a friend to the consorts, did. After all, many times, as the Emperor's personal attendant, the consorts didn't treat him as an outsider, using him almost as a half-maid.

Indeed, he wasn't a complete man, so the consorts naturally didn't need to be too cautious around him, daring to tell him anything.

"Ugh... it hurts, it hurts so much..."

The Xuanwu Emperor had just entered Hexi Palace and strode into Jiang Xinyue's chambers when he heard her cries of pain. He immediately lifted the curtain and walked in.

But the scene that greeted him left him shocked and... blushing with embarrassment.

He saw Jiang Xinyue's snow-white body covered only by a thin silk quilt, her upper body almost entirely exposed to his gaze.

Her two "peaks" were even more majestic and erect than before, with Nanny Xiang's large hands kneading them, causing milk to spray into a small basin below.

The beauty was drenched in sweat, her expression pained, occasionally crying out in agony. The scene was intensely sensual.

Seeing the Emperor standing stunned at the door, Jiang Xinyue let out a startled cry. Her face, as alluring as a ripe peach, turned crimson. She looked at him pleadingly, "Your Majesty... could you please wait outside?"

The Xuanwu Emperor didn't dare look again, afraid that if his nose started bleeding, the palace servants would mock him. He quickly turned around, almost as if fleeing in panic.

Jiang Xinyue curved her lips in a smile and said to Nanny Xiang, "Continue, I'm not in that much pain. Don't be afraid, Nanny."

Nanny Xiang looked at her admiringly and whispered, "How did you know the Emperor would come at this time, Your Highness?"

Jiang Xinyue secured her deliberately loosened hair on top of her head with a hairpin, relaxing a bit as she said, "Didn't he say he would come to keep me company for the evening meal? It's exactly dinner time now."

As a consort, one must follow the palace rules, but as an emperor, there were even more rules to follow.

Favored consorts had their own small kitchens. If they wanted to eat something, they could have the palace servants prepare it at any time. The Emperor, however, had to follow a strict schedule. When to have lunch? When to have dinner? Everything had a set time. He couldn't even eat more than five bites of a single dish, couldn't reveal his preferences, couldn't eat too early or too late - it had to be at the exact designated time.

All Jiang Xinyue had to do was set up an alluring pose at that time.

Nanny Xiang couldn't help but sigh in admiration. This Senior Concubine Xian was truly perfect material for being a favored consort, always in battle mode, never letting the Emperor see an unfavorable side of her.

Once again, she rejoiced at having followed the right mistress.