CH 88

Pavilion – A Slender Woman Wearing a Maid’s Dress (2)

“If I don’t pretend to be a maid, how would A’Ning dare to come up? I don’t dare to be recognized…” She also reached out to touch his cheek, and her cool fingertips caused him to sigh, “Your Majesty, what’s the matter?”

After waiting for a long time, the beauty was finally in his arms. At the same time he breathed a sigh of relief. No longer suppressing himself, he pressed her against the window and bit her lips through the tulle, “What’s wrong with me? Don’t you know? Wearing a maid’s dress… why don’t you serve me well?”

She was bitten by him and caressed the back of his neck as if soothing, intermittently but softly said, “Your Majesty, don’t worry. A’Ning… will serve Your Majesty well…”

As she said that, her hand slipped into the placket along his neck.

He stiffened and couldn’t help grabbing her wrist, as if to pull the hand away, but in the end he pressed her tighter.

Outside the window, the fireworks soared up amid the cheers of the crowd and exploded in the dark, like blooming flowers projecting bursts of dazzling light.

The tulle was lifted again, and he stared down at her, seeing the dazzling fireworks reflected in her moist and bright eyes.

“A’Ning…”

Another low voice overflowed from his lips, quickly drowned in the noise.

He couldn’t help leaning over to kiss the clusters of fireworks in her eyes, and the dams built high in his heart seemed to be swept away by a silent wave.

…

The side hall was still sparsely populated and seemed a bit lonely.

Zhao Yue estimated that the incense would already have been in effect.

Her heart was pounding. The closer she got, the more nervous she became. It was only when she clearly saw that several of the servants were still standing respectfully outside the palace that she breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed that the Emperor was still inside.

She took a deep breath, put on a panicked and aggrieved expression, rushed to the door, and cried, “Your Majesty, Lady Yu has something to ask for!”

Several chamberlains glanced at each other and invariably stepped forward to stop her.

“Lady Zhao, the Emperor is still resting. Don’t disturb him rashly.”

Zhao Yue’s eyes flashed, and she knelt on the ground and called out again. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Lady Yu’s brother has a note to present to His Majesty!”

She had already made up her mind. If the incense worked, Xiao Kezhi would let her in at this time.

But there was no sound from the hall.

On the contrary, the two servants at the door no longer stopped her but rather said coldly, “Is Lady Zhao all right?”

Zhao Yue was startled, but she still maintained the original expression on her face and did not reveal any flaws, “Why do the guards speak like this?”

The two of them looked at each other, and without explaining much, directly lifted her up and brought her into the hall.

“Lady Zhao, the Emperor is no longer in the hall. If Lady Zhao really wants to see the Emperor, she might as well wait patiently here.”

Without waiting for her to react, they closed the door tightly from the outside.

Zhao Yue fell to the ground in despair.

…

At the banquet, countless nobles stood outside, looking up at the gorgeous fireworks in the night sky, cheering endlessly.

Fireworks were set off on New Year’s Day, not only to create a cheerful and lively atmosphere, but also to take the opportunity to let the envoys experience the prosperity and power of Great Liang, especially since a new emperor came to power this year.

Xiao Kezhi, who was always frugal, specifically instructed that the fireworks festival should be held even more grandly than the previous years.

At this time, the night sky was shining brightly, and the stars fell like rain, making everyone amazed and fascinated.

However, in the crowd, a maid hurried past, stopped beside Qi Chenxiang, and said in a low voice, “My Lady, Second Lady Zhao entered the Emperor’s side hall!”

The smile on Qi Chenxiang’s face froze, and she immediately turned to ask, “When did it happen?”

“Just now!” The maid panted, clearly tired in her hurry to report, “As soon as this slave heard the news, she came to tell My Lady!”

Many people had seen Zhao Yue go into the Emperor’s hall.

She, a young and beautiful maiden, went into the hall crying. The Emperor was a man of vigor and blood. No one would believe that nothing happened.

After Qi Chenxiang listened to the maid’s statement, the smile on her face finally completely subsided.

She remembered what the Empress Dowager said and realized that she didn’t need to waste too much emotion on Zhao Yue, but when she heard such a thing, she still couldn’t help being angry.

She didn’t like Zhao Yue’s shameless manners, nor did she like her future husband being so casually close to other women.

She was an ordinary noble lady, so why was she so angry? Was it just because she had always been modest and generous, respectful and courteous?

She bit her lip and glanced at the empty seat of Empress Dowager Qi.

But she only took two steps when she saw an envoy from a vassal state in the Western Regions suddenly kneel in the direction of Chongming Pavilion and shout loudly, “Your Majesty! I wish to be attached to Great Liang and listen to Your Majesty’s orders!”

His voice fell, and several envoys around him exchanged glances. They also knelt down, bowing their heads and praising his virtues.

The purpose of these fireworks had been achieved.

The princes and nobles were attracted by the movement here, and they also looked up at the Chongming Pavilion, calling out “Your Majesty” and various praises.

In the tens of thousands of calls one after another, the slightly open window on the Chongming Pavilion was completely pushed open from the inside. Xiao Kezhi, who should have been in the side hall, stood by the window and glanced at everyone.

In his arms, he was holding a slender woman wearing a maid’s dress.