Chapter 32

Xiang Yuan’s appearance is indeed quite striking. If she were not being compared to Kang Yu Yi, who seems almost otherworldly in her beauty, Xiang Yuan could genuinely be called beautiful and attractive. Her figure is curvaceous and her demeanor naturally charming.

Moreover, it’s evident that she has made a deliberate effort to enhance her appearance. Her cheeks are powdered, though the powder seems to be of poor quality and is unevenly applied. Her lipstick also appears somewhat stiff and unnatural.

Nonetheless, her youthful and delicate demeanor manages to obscure any flaws.

Xiang Yuan did not anticipate being caught in the act by the Noble Consort. Her face went rigid with shock; she cursed silently, then knelt down weakly.

“Your Highness, please spare me. I only intended to assist His Majesty with his bath and dressing, and had no other intentions.”

Xiang Yuan knelt as if she were boneless, adopting a posture of weakness and vulnerability.

Though she was clearly pleading for mercy from the Noble Consort, her eyes remained fixed on the Emperor, creating a pitiable image that evoked sympathy from anyone who saw her.

However, the Emperor’s brow furrowed in distaste. He found her clingy gaze repulsive, as though he were covered in crawling ants.

“Why are you still here? Leave immediately,” the Emperor ordered coldly, enunciating each word.

Xiang Yuan felt a surge of secret satisfaction at the Emperor’s command and, feeling triumphant, cast a condescending glance at Kang Yu Yi.

Kang Yu Yi, misunderstanding the situation, felt her eyes well up with tears. “Yes, I will leave now,” she said.

She turned and left decisively.

Kang Yu Yi was puzzled by her reaction; she should have known from the start that the Emperor could not have only one woman forever.

Since she had become a consort at sixteen, the Emperor had indeed only had her, expressing his love for her every night.

She didn’t expect love from the Emperor, nor did she believe she had ever been emotionally affected.

Yet the thought of having to share something that had once been exclusively hers caused her heart to ache with sadness and bitterness.

The Emperor quickly stepped forward and grasped Kang Yu Yi’s wrist. Seeing her with a tearful, misty-eyed expression, he felt as if his heart had been struck by a dull blow.

He turned his cold, stern gaze toward Xiang Yuan, who was still kneeling, and commanded, “Guards, take this palace maid away.”

Xiang Yuan who was still kneeling initially believed she had succeeded. Hearing the command, she was startled, trembling, and her face turned ashen.

The eunuchs outside hurried in and restrained Xiang Yuan on both sides.

Kang Yu Yi then realized the Emperor was not expelling her but rather dealing with Xiang Yuan. She felt a secret sense of relief.

“Your Majesty, how do you intend to handle this palace maid?” Kang Yu Yi asked, tugging gently on the Emperor’s sleeve with a slightly nasal tone.

The Emperor responded, “Remove her and punish her according to palace rules. Expel her from the palace.”

The Emperor wished to embrace Kang Yu Yi again but refrained, aware that she would be repelled by the odor on him.

However, the large hand that had grabbed her delicate wrist to stop her from leaving did not release its grip.

Kang Yu Yi thought for a moment and considered that although the maid had ill intentions, she had not actually done anything substantial. Following palace rules might be overly harsh.

“Your Majesty, why not simply expel her from the palace?” Kang Yu Yi suggested softly, “She really hasn’t done anything…”

The Emperor recognized her softening sentiment and nodded slightly in agreement.

However, he half-closed his eyes and glanced at the several inner guards who were holding down the maid, signaling them with a subtle gesture.

The inner guards, sweating nervously, quickly and efficiently dragged Xiang Yuan out of the room.

Xiang Yuan panicked. She had been sent to this summer palace to support her family financially, but she had squandered all her monthly allowance on cosmetics and luxuries, losing sight of her family’s needs.

She had also been out of touch with her family for a long time. If she were expelled from the palace, she feared her brother and sister-in-law would never accept her back.

Desperately struggling, Xiang Yuan’s clothes were torn in several places, and her hair was completely disheveled. She looked a far cry from her previously delicate and flamboyant self.

She cried out, “I know I was wrong! I don’t want to leave the palace! Noble Consort, please spare me! Your Majesty, forgive me!”

The eunuchs who were holding her down snickered inwardly.

The Emperor’s earlier commands had clearly indicated that he did not intend to spare her life.

After exchanging glances, the eunuchs exerted their strength and dragged the struggling Xiang Yuan away, her cries gradually fading.

Kang Yu Yi in shock felt as though her legs were leaden and couldn’t move.

She wondered what the difference was between this palace maid and herself back when she was in the Qin Shizi’s mansion.

Noticing her dazed state, the Emperor said, “Didn’t you say you would attend to my bath? Why are you still standing there?”

Kang Yu Yi quickly came to her senses, approaching with the Juniper Hundred Flowers Fragrant Dew in her hand.

The Emperor took off his outer robe, which was heavy with the smell of horses, and threw it aside, waiting for Kang Yu Yi to remove his inner garment.

Despite having seen each other naked and engaged in intimate encounters numerous times, Kang Yu Yi felt embarrassed. At sixteen, she had never personally undressed a man before.

Blushing, she tilted her head to avoid looking directly at him. Her hands fumbled as she tried to find the fastening, awkwardly feeling her way over the Emperor’s hot, firm chest.

“Are you undressing me, Noble Consort?” The Emperor’s voice became deeper.

Embarrassed, Kang Yu Yi quickly removed the Emperor’s garment and hurriedly left the room.

Before she left, she made sure to hand over the Juniper Hundred Flowers Fragrant Dew, reminding him to use it.

The Emperor looked at the fragrant dew in his hand and smiled softly.

Meanwhile in the other room which had been arranged for the Marquis of Boling.

Mrs. the wife of Cui Mu Lin was excited and thrilled to have finally met the Noble Consort today.

She had just received a summons from the Noble Consort’s maid, instructing her to visit the Noble Consort in the Yao Tai Hall the following afternoon.

At the same time, Mrs. was anxiously worried about her husband who had been missing for several days. She resolved to ask the Noble Consort about her husband’s whereabouts during her visit the next day.

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