As eunuchs, they were good at observing people's expressions. This Lady Yan looked rather mysterious, and His Majesty seemed to have taken a fancy to her.
"Lady Yan, His Majesty has promoted you to a Noble Lady. According to the rules, a Noble Lady is entitled to two eunuchs for sweeping, two rough - serving maids, and one second - class maid. Later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will bring the candidates here for you to choose."
Li Dahai waved his whisk, with a wrinkled smile on his face.
"Thank you, Eunuch Li." Yan Qingshu curved her lips in thanks.
The imperial physician gave a few more instructions and then asked Xiaoluzi, who was waiting outside the palace, to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau with him to get the medicine.
"Lady, this is the peach blossom powder His Majesty ordered me to send. It can help the burn heal and make your skin as delicate as before. His Majesty gave special instructions."
Hearing this, the beautiful light shone in Yan Qingshu's eyes. After taking the powder, her face showed a shy smile, which was really captivating.
"Please convey my thanks to His Majesty for me, Eunuch." After saying that, Yan Qingshu fondly stroked the delicate jade bottle containing the powder, putting on a shy posture of a young girl.
Li Dahai took note of this and conveyed a few more words of concern from Di Yunjian before taking his leave.
As soon as the figure disappeared, the smile on Yan Qingshu's face gradually faded, the light in her eyes dimmed. She glanced at the jade bottle in her hand, curled her lips, and placed it on the tea table.
[Host, your favored - concubine value has increased by ten points. You now have a cumulative total of sixty points, which can be converted into ten mall points.]
The system's voice rang in her mind.
[Convert them into mall points.] Yan Qingshu thought in her heart.
The system automatically converted the points.
"Lady, that Lady Lin really deserved what happened to her today." Zhuyao came in with a cup of tea for her. Seeing her bandaged hand, she frowned angrily.
"However, that Lady Tang seems to be a good person."
Hearing this, Yan Qingshu looked up at her and smiled, "Maybe."
In this deep palace, could there really be a good person?
---
In the Imperial Study of Qianyuan Hall.
Di Yunjian had finished meeting the officials and was now sitting at the desk, reviewing memorials. The memorials on one side were piled up layer upon layer, almost burying his tall figure.
Xiaoguizi, Li Dahai's apprentice, served a cup of tea. The fresh fragrance of the tea wafted slowly in the Imperial Study along with the mist.
Di Yunjian picked up the teacup and took a sip, then frowned slightly.
"Has Li Dahai not returned yet?"
He placed the teacup on the table, making a clear sound.
Just as he finished speaking, a figure appeared at the door of the Imperial Study.
"Your Majesty."
Li Dahai waved his whisk and came in, bowing respectfully. As soon as he smelled the tea, he knew something was wrong. The water temperature must not have been well - controlled.
He stepped forward and sent Xiaoguizi out to boil water and make a new cup of tea.
"How is her injury?"
Di Yunjian held a writing brush, dipped it in red ink, and made corrections on the memorial, leaving red marks.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. The imperial physician examined her and said it was just a scratch and not serious."
"But..."
Li Dahai hesitated and observed Di Yunjian's expression.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Don't be so hesitant."
Di Yunjian gave him a cold look.
"According to the imperial physician's diagnosis, Lady Yan fell into the water in winter when she was a child. Her constitution is extremely cold, and her body is really weak." Li Dahai said.
"Tell the imperial physician to take good care of her body. The imperial kitchen should also send some high - quality tonics. She's so thin that a gust of wind might blow her away." Di Yunjian frowned slightly.
He had felt her lightness when he held her last night. He was afraid that if he used a little more strength, she would fall apart.
"Your Majesty... The imperial physician said that it might be quite difficult for Lady Yan to conceive."
Li Dahai said hesitantly. After all, in this huge harem, there were neither princes nor princesses.
"Then the Virtuous Concubine's dream will be shattered." Di Yunjian curled his lips.
"It doesn't matter. None of the concubines in my harem has been able to bear me an heir. One more is no different."
Di Yunjian lowered his eyes, his tone calm.
Over the years, none of the beautiful concubines in the harem who had accompanied him to bed had conceived, even though he had never given them contraceptive drugs.
He had once suspected himself and asked the imperial physician if there was something wrong with him. But the imperial physician said that he was in good health and there was no problem.
It seemed that heaven was not willing to bestow a child upon him, so he would not force it.
"Have you sent the things to her?" Di Yunjian asked again.
"I personally gave them to Lady Yan. When Lady Yan heard that they were your special instructions, she was so happy that she couldn't close her mouth." Li Dahai smiled, wishing he could recreate the excited look on Yan Qingshu's face when she received the medicine bottle.
Di Yunjian's cherry - colored lips curved slightly, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared between his eyebrows, as if the sight of Yan Qingshu receiving the peach blossom powder was right in front of his eyes.
At this moment, Xiaoguizi came in with a newly brewed cup of tea.
Di Yunjian continued to bury his head in reviewing memorials. Suddenly, the lonely look in Yan Qingshu's eyes from last night flashed through his mind.
Falling into the water in winter when she was a child...
Di Yunjian stopped his movement. The red ink gathered at the tip of the writing brush, and a drop of red ink fell on the white paper, spreading around like gushing blood.
He knew that the Virtuous Concubine had a hot temper. He had let Yan Qingshu enter the palace because of the issue of heirs, which had made things a bit difficult for her.
But it seemed that things were not as he had thought.
Di Yunjian looked up at a crabapple tree in front of the window. The glass - colored light in his eyes reflected the crabapple petals fluttering in the wind.
---
The sun was high in the sky.
It was the hottest time of the day. All the concubines in the palaces had finished their lunch and were feeling drowsy.
As summer was approaching, people were getting more and more sleepy.
Just as Yan Qingshu was about to take a stroll in the small bamboo forest behind the palace after lunch, Xiaoluzi came to report.
"Lady, I just saw from afar that Chief Eunuch Li is coming towards our palace. He is waiting outside the hall now."
Hearing this, Yan Qingshu asked Xiaoluzi to go to the small tea - room and bring some bowls of mung bean soup.
"The sun is very strong now. Please come into the hall quickly. Summer is coming soon, and the sun is very poisonous. Serve a bowl of mung bean soup to Chief Eunuch Li and the little eunuchs accompanying him."
After saying that, she walked towards the front hall at a slower pace.
Apart from gold, silver, and valuables, what eunuchs wanted most was respect.
When she reached the front hall, Chief Eunuch Li and the eunuchs had already finished the mung bean soup in their bowls.
"Greetings, Noble Lady Yan. His Majesty has summoned you to accompany him in the Imperial Study. The sun is very strong now. His Majesty has ordered a sedan chair to pick you up." Li Dahai bowed respectfully with a smile.
"The sun is so poisonous at this time. It's really bothering you, Chief Eunuch Li, to make this trip."
"Please wait a moment, Chief Eunuch Li. I'll tidy up."
After saying that, Li Dahai smiled and retreated, leading his men to wait respectfully outside.
Sitting in front of the dressing table, Zhuyao redid her hair, only wearing some fresh - colored velvet flowers and pearls. She was dressed in a light - blue flowing dress with gold - gilded butterfly patterns trailing on the ground, and a milk - white to light - blue shawl softly hanging on her arms.
Zhuyao was about to lift the beaded curtain but suddenly froze.
The sand in the hourglass in the hall stopped flowing.
Yan Qingshu looked up. The mall panel appeared in front of her eyes. Her gaze swept across the dazzling array of pills and finally settled on a "Masculinity Powder" in the lower - right corner. It was marked that it could be exchanged for one favored - concubine value. There was also a "Masculinity Pill", which cost ten points each.
The Masculinity Powder was practically given away for free, but why was the pill so expensive?
She raised her eyebrows and asked the system in her heart.
[001, what are the Masculinity Powder and the Masculinity Pill?]
[Host, these are for the emperor. The Masculinity Powder has a mild effect and can prolong the time of sexual intercourse, so it's very cheap. The Masculinity Pill can not only prolong the time but also make the user more powerful.]
[Host, you still have ten extra favored - concubine values that cannot be converted into mall points. You can choose to exchange them for the Masculinity Powder.]
Yan Qingshu understood. Her beautiful face blushed slightly. His Majesty was already very powerful. If he took this medicine...
What about her waist?
After thinking for a while, she decisively exchanged for one to test the efficacy of the medicine first.