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In the following days, Jiang Qionglin returned to his residence and did not enter the inner palace for several consecutive days. Chen Zhao also did not summon him. His exclusive favor in the harem did not last long and was soon replaced by others.
Empress Chen Zhao suddenly approved an official’s petition and issued an edict to undertake major construction. A new island was renovated in the center of the lake north of the Imperial Garden. On the island stood a luxurious mansion made of red bricks and green tiles, originally called Shangchun Terrace, now renamed by Chen Zhao as: Luan Terrace.
Connecting Luan Terrace to the lakeshore was a winding white jade corridor bridge, intricately carved and made with fine materials.
The residents of Luan Terrace were carefully selected men from all over the world. The selection process was grand, no less than past emperors’ selection of consorts.
Among the chosen male entertainers, some were delicate and charming, while others were masculine and powerful—all rare top-tier men.
These men stayed in Luan Terrace daily, waiting for Chen Zhao’s favor.
However, it was clear to everyone that even combined, they couldn’t match a single finger of Jiang Qionglin. Yet, Chen Zhao spent more and more time in Luan Terrace.
Day after day, she indulged in revelry, losing track of time.
...
The matter of Luan Terrace spread throughout the city like wildfire.
Chen Zhao, who had always shunned male companionship, after spending over a month ambiguously with Jiang Qionglin, suddenly embraced this lifestyle, immersing herself in male beauty every day.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qionglin went to Luan Terrace several times but was never summoned inside.
On the third day, he finally hardened his resolve, directly kneeling in front of Luan Terrace and openly declaring, “Until Your Majesty dismantles Luan Terrace, I will not rise.”
Chen Zhao was ruthless, merely instructing indifferently, “If Jiang Qionglin likes kneeling, let him kneel. When he dies at the terrace, drag him out and bury him.”
These words naturally reached Jiang Qionglin’s ears without omission. However, he paid no heed, persistently kneeling in front of Luan Terrace.
Over the past few days, Taiping Prefecture experienced several heavy rainfalls.
He knelt in the rain, not even swaying once.
This incident quickly spread, and even children in the streets knew that discord had arisen between the Empress and Jiang Qionglin, and his former favor was no more.
“Shopkeeper, will Jiang Qionglin really kneel to death like this?” Inside Jian Su Medical Hall, Wen Yao watched the rain curtain under the eaves, worriedly asking.
Di Jiang was sitting at the table, playing chess with Wu Rui’an.
She was contemplating her next move with the black pieces and didn’t bother responding to Wen Yao.
Wu Rui’an, having nothing better to do, interjected, “It’s just a little quarrel between lovers. You’re worrying too much.”
“Eh? Could it be that Your Highness knows the inside story?” Wen Yao’s eyes sparkled.
“How would I know? I haven’t been involved in court affairs for a long time,” Wu Rui’an shrugged, lightly laughing, “However... some time ago, when I saw their tender moments, the joy in Mother Empress’s eyes was something I’ve never seen on her face since I was born. Someone who can make her so happy probably won’t die that easily, right?”
Upon hearing this, Wen Yao felt reassured.
Meanwhile, in the pavilion at the center of the lake in the Imperial Garden, Consort Shu observed everything, feeling pain in her heart. Seeing Jiang Qionglin being neglected and kneeling in the rain outside Luan Terrace without Chen Zhao’s concern, she felt anxious.
In her heart, she cursed, “Only officials are allowed to light fires, not commoners.”
Consort Shu resented Chen Zhao for taking away all her male companions, especially for wasting such a beauty.
Such a jade-like beauty should be cherished night and day.
Consort Shu visited him daily, waiting.
When Jiang Qionglin couldn’t hold on anymore, she planned to rush to save him first.
Finally, one evening, Jiang Qionglin staggered and collapsed unconscious in the rain.
Ling Xixi disregarded holding an umbrella, rushing into the rain alone, immediately embracing him and covering him with her cloak. She then instructed people to take him back to her palace.
Inside Luan Terrace, Chen Zhao was reviewing memorials.
An Suyun entered, bowing and said, “Reporting to Your Majesty, Consort Shu has taken Jiang Qionglin and is caring for him in Banyue Palace. Should we send imperial physicians?”
“No need,” Chen Zhao didn’t lift her head, continuing to review documents, saying indifferently, “If his illness drags on longer, then he and Ling Xixi will have more time together. Isn’t that what I expect? Tell the Imperial Medical Office; let them collectively claim illness, leaving only one person to serve here in Luan Terrace.”
“Yes.” An Suyun nodded.
Two days later, relying on his own willpower and narrowly overcoming the disease, Jiang Qionglin finally regained consciousness from his fever. As soon as he woke up, he struggled to leave Banyue Palace and headed towards Luan Terrace.
Consort Shu couldn’t stop him alone and called several eunuchs to restrain him back to bed. Jiang Qionglin thus had a big argument with Consort Shu.
This incident quickly reached Chen Zhao’s ears.
“It seems he still hasn’t given up on me. I should teach him to sever his hopes...” After pondering for a moment, Chen Zhao instructed An Suyun, “Bring those memorials to Luan Terrace.”
“Yes.” An Suyun responded and immediately set to work.
...
That evening, Jiang Qionglin indeed sneaked out of Banyue Palace again. He arrived at Luan Terrace, seeing no guards, and directly stormed into the top floor of Luan Terrace.
Luan Terrace’s small building had three floors. The third floor had only one room with a round bed placed in the center. When he arrived, Chen Zhao was passionately entangled with Zhao Xianzhi and Zhao Ziting, clearly enjoying themselves.
The three were barely clothed, surprised upon seeing him.
“Why are you here?” The flush on Chen Zhao’s face faded, leaving only anger.
Zhao Xianzhi and Zhao Ziting were somewhat astonished, their eyes hopeful. They had heard of Jiang Qionglin’s fame for a long time, but upon meeting him today, found him not as beautiful as the legends.
Jiang Qionglin, sick for so many days, was in a poor state of mind. How could he possibly match his initial stunning appearance?
Jiang Qionglin didn’t answer Chen Zhao’s question but instead angrily exclaimed, “What are you doing now? You don’t truly love them!”
“Love?” Chen Zhao laughed ‘ha ha’, “I’ve long passed the age for romance. All I seek is temporary pleasure. Does Lord Jiang misunderstand?”
“You don’t like such matters! Why force yourself into this situation?” Jiang Qionglin pressed forward, approaching her, staring into her eyes, “If you only seek temporary pleasure, I can give you much more than they can!”
“No,” Chen Zhao slowly raised her lips, enunciating each word, “You are dirtier than them.”
Jiang Qionglin trembled, nearly unable to stand.
Disbelievingly, he asked, “Your Majesty... What do you mean?”
“Do I need to spell it out? That would only embarrass both of us,” Chen Zhao said indifferently, “You understand my meaning, more than anyone else.”
After speaking, she picked up a pile of memorials from the side table and threw them before him, “These are reports from various places detailing your past deeds.”
“...” Jiang Qionglin stood there dumbfounded, speechless.
“Nothing to say?” Chen Zhao sneered, “Good one, Peony Lord Jiang Qionglin. I didn’t know that from Yixiang Pavilion’s Ningxiang, to Peony Garden’s Peony, then to Jiangdu Censor’s wife’s male consort, and finally expelled by her husband, forced to wander brothels again. Until half a year ago, you were bought by Huan Yi Pavilion’s Madam Xu, renamed and called Peony Lord Jiang Qionglin, even sold as a virgin! All of this, how splendid!”
“Your Majesty... I...” Jiang Qionglin’s lips moved, unable to voice whether from illness or shame, trying several times but failing to make a sound.
“Do you think I’m a three-year-old child, allowing you to deceive me?” Chen Zhao said coldly, “You are merely a repeatedly handed-over, filthy prostitute.”
Jiang Qionglin was struck like lightning, his past exposed, stripped bare for all to see.
Scenes of past humiliations overwhelmed him like avalanches and tsunamis. He stood alone, using all his strength not to collapse.
Zhao Xianzhi and Zhao Ziting leaned on either side of Chen Zhao’s shoulders, smiling, watching Jiang Qionglin as if witnessing a joke.
Yes, he was indeed a joke.
“How dare you still stand here? Get out!” Chen Zhao roared, grabbing a bronze candlestick from beside the bed and throwing it at Jiang Qionglin.
The candlestick landed squarely on his forehead, creating a thumb-sized hole.
Blood trickled down his cheeks, staining his white robe.
“This lowly official thanks Your Majesty for the gift... This lowly official takes leave.” Jiang Qionglin weakly spoke, preparing to leave.
Before turning, he suddenly looked up, tightly staring into Chen Zhao’s eyes, “Your Majesty, I indeed concealed many past events, but my real name is Jiang Qionglin. This point, I’ve never deceived you.”
“I know,” Chen Zhao snorted, “So what?”
Jiang Qionglin bit his lips, wanting to say something but ultimately shook his head.
He walked to the door, and just before leaving, as if suddenly remembering something, he held the door, facing away from Chen Zhao, slowly saying, “If one day you want me dead, remember not to use a dagger. Swords are merciless; they’ll leave me dismembered. Don’t bestow a white silk rope; it’ll make my neck look ugly. I want to come whole and go whole, dying peacefully as if asleep.”
After speaking, he left without looking back.
Outside Luan Terrace was a silence like death.
The imperial palace hall paved with white jade was as clean as the rising sun, an unreachable future for someone as filthy as him.
Once a prostitute, always a prostitute.
His only weapon was his body.
He knew that Chen Zhao wanted to use him to drive Consort Shu to death. If he embarked on this path, only death awaited him.
He believed Chen Zhao was ensnared by past nightmares. In this world, except for herself, no one could cause her pain. She could live more freely and comfortably than anyone.
Unwilling to see Chen Zhao confine herself, he still clung to hope, unwilling to abandon life and reluctant to leave her.
The next day, after Chen Zhao dismissed court, she saw thick smoke rolling in the northern sky.
She hurried to the Imperial Garden. Upon reaching the lakeside, she saw that most of Luan Terrace was already ablaze, and Jiang Qionglin stood in front of it, coldly watching the crowd fighting the fire, wearing a satisfied smile.
Jiang Qionglin setting fire to Luan Terrace was almost self-evident without investigation.
However, he wasn’t severely punished by Empress Chen Zhao, merely confined. Subsequently, An Suyun announced an imperial decree to the six palaces: “By order of Her Majesty, Jiang Qionglin, relying on the Empress’s favor, disrespecting authority, committing arson, is sentenced to confinement in Yinghui Pavilion, forbidden to leave without imperial command.”
Empress Chen Zhao’s favoritism towards Jiang Qionglin was again evident. Even though he burned down the palace, he was merely confined. Zhao Xianzhi, who survived the fire, hated Jiang Qionglin intensely, but no matter how he pleaded, Chen Zhao turned a deaf ear. She didn’t plan to execute Jiang Qionglin but needed to give Zhao Xianzhi some form of redress.
From then on, Chen Zhao exclusively favored Zhao Xianzhi, keeping him by her side daily.
In just a few days, Zhao Xianzhi had attained the status Jiang Qionglin once held, if not surpassed it.
...
Meanwhile, there were few palace maids and eunuchs serving in Yinghui Pavilion. After the confinement decree was issued, most were withdrawn, leaving only an old eunuch to guard the palace gate. Consort Shu could effortlessly enter with little effort, smoothly entering as if invited into a trap without realizing it.
No one tended to Jiang Qionglin’s forehead wound. After a few days, the bleeding stopped on its own, leaving a bloody scar on his face, looking ghastly.
It was at this time that Consort Shu changed into a maid’s attire, carrying a food box and sneaking into Yinghui Pavilion.
Yinghui Pavilion was desolate, with only a solitary lamp by the bedside. Jiang Qionglin sat slumped at the edge of the bed, his eyes lifeless, as if drained of all strength.
“Lord Jiang, you’ve just recovered from a serious illness; eat something quickly.” Ling Xixi slowly approached him. Seeing he didn’t resist, she moved closer.
She walked to him and simply sat beside him.
“Lord Jiang, why is your forehead bleeding?” Ling Xixi asked concernedly. Only now, facing him under the dim light, could she see his bloodstained appearance, quite horrifying.
“This servant will fetch medicine for you!” Ling Xixi said and was about to leave.
At this moment, Jiang Qionglin suddenly grabbed her sleeve, softly saying, “She doesn’t want me anymore...” His voice was as thin as a mosquito, his eyes red, shrinking like a stray wild cat.
Even so, it couldn’t hide his stunning features.
This scene struck Ling Xixi’s heart.
He was more beautiful than any man she’d ever seen.
She immediately squatted down, embracing him, “If she doesn’t want you, this servant still wants you.”
“She doesn’t love me! She only loves herself!” Jiang Qionglin sobbed, collapsing in Consort Shu’s arms, crying himself into a tearful mess.
Beauty shedding tears, my heart feels sorrow.
Moved by Jiang Qionglin’s tears, Ling Xixi’s heart clenched into a knot.
Having lingered in pleasure quarters for years, Jiang Qionglin naturally knew how to please a woman, even discerning what the person before him desired with a glance.
He buried his head in her chest, hands encircling Ling Xixi’s neck.
He felt the two protrusions on her chest, soft and boundless.
“Don’t be sad, Qionglin. Without Chen Zhao, this servant will cherish you,” Ling Xixi also embraced his shoulders, gently comforting, “Don’t cry. Seeing you like this, this servant suffers more than you...”
Her remaining words were blocked by Jiang Qionglin’s lips.
His lips covered hers, his tongue fiercely seeking kisses, extracting her essence.
He could smell the gardenia fragrance on her.
She could smell the dragon’s saliva incense on him, exclusive to Chen Zhao’s bedroom.
He had lingered in Chen Zhao’s palace daily, and they had been intimate like this...
But what did it matter? At least now, Qionglin was hers.
Thinking this, Ling Xixi responded more passionately, raising her hand to tear off Jiang Qionglin’s shirt, letting him undress her as well.
Naked, they entwined, gradually becoming one.
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