"Dong Yuzhong."
"Here, Your Majesty."
With a single command from the Emperor, the Chief Eunuch who had been waiting outside immediately pushed open the door and stepped inside. He stood before the two of them, always keeping a respectful bow, adhering strictly to etiquette.
"Serve me my meal, and also serve a bowl to Lin Daying."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
With that, he handed the horsetail whisk he was holding to the little eunuch behind him, and smilingly approached Lin Wanyi.
"My lady, allow me."
With that said, he took the porcelain bowl from her hand and swiftly served two bowls.
The first bowl was naturally placed in front of the Emperor, while the second was positioned before Lin Wanyi, as Dong Yuzhong courteously remarked.
"My lady, please eat, this is His Majesty's gracious gift."
Frowning slightly, she glanced at the stool. Only after seeing Dong Yuzhong gently nod did Lin Wanyi feel reassured, settling half her body onto the round stool before her, slowly savoring the porridge in her bowl.
Along with the porridge came two small side dishes.
While busy serving dishes to the Emperor, Dong Yuzhong also placed some on the plate before Lin Wanyi.
Had it not been for the inappropriate setting, Lin Wanyi would have liked to taste those side dishes, looking quite appetizing.
But the porridge in her bowl was already nearly gone, and it wouldn't do for her first time serving as a concubine to seem gluttonous to the Emperor and the serving eunuchs.
Seeing her set down the bowl, Dong Yuzhong also stopped serving her food. However, the Emperor took longer with his meal, causing Lin Wanyi's half-seated leg to feel numb. Finally, he spoke softly.
"Clear it away."
"Yes."
Palace attendants quickly entered, removing the items. At the same time, they brought water for rinsing the mouth, attending to the two of them.
Seeing the Emperor reach for a handkerchief, Lin Wanyi, for the first time, helped by handing it over, repaying his kindness for the porridge.
The Emperor glanced at her sidewards, noticing her slender neck slightly bowed, with a compliant demeanor.
Once the palace attendants had left, Lin Wanyi closed her eyes tightly and, steeling herself, offered softly, "Allow me to attend to Your Majesty's bedtime."
Dazed, she followed the Emperor into the bedchamber behind the door.
Kneeling on the bed, Lin Wanyi felt a bit constrained.
She wasn't sure whether she should remove her garments or quietly await further instructions.
Before she could react, the world seemed to spin, and when she opened her eyes again, she found herself on the embroidered blanket.
"Your Majesty..."
Her voice trembled slightly, but to the Emperor, it seemed coquettishly charming, much livelier than when she was answering questions earlier.
But before Lin Wanyi could speak again, the candles outside extinguished simultaneously.
"Prepare."
The Emperor's voice, laden with a hint of desire, flowed out with a certain urgency in his actions.
The satin curtains and lotus canopy evoked the strongest sense of spring.
Returning to Yihua Palace by soft sedan, as the curtain lifted, Chunqi and Xia An, who were waiting early, spoke with excitement.
"We greet my lady, may you be blessed with health."
"Rise."
Even Lin Wanyi herself hadn't expected her voice to carry a hint of fatigue at this moment.
Xia An frowned slightly and glanced up. As expected, their young lady, who was like a budding flower when she left, now looked as if she had been ravaged by the wind and snow.
Supporting Lin Wanyi out of the sedan and giving some reward money to the Sleeping Nanny who had sent her back, they respectfully saw the person off before the three of them returned to the left wing.
"What hour is it?"
"Just past 9 p.m."
She had thought it was already midnight, not realizing that after all the commotion, only two hours had passed.
As a low-ranking concubine called to sleep with the Emperor, she had no right to stay overnight at Qian'an Hall. The soreness between her legs was apparent, and recalling everything that had just happened brought a quick blush to her cheeks.
Chunqi and Xia An, both inexperienced girls, while they understood the meaning of serving the Emperor in bed, were unsure of how to attend to her now.
"Prepare water for washing and resting."
First thing early tomorrow, she must pay respects to the noble consorts of the harem, a ritual not to be delayed.
"At once."
Chunqi swiftly turned to leave, while hot water had been simmering in the side room at the door, making the task quick.
Once Lin Wanyi had washed and lay quietly on her bed, she didn't even have the strength for much thought before falling into a deep sleep.
A good night's dream.
Until 5 a.m., when Xia An tiptoed in to rouse her, she slowly opened her eyes.
After a sleep, the soreness in her body hadn't subsided much, prompting Lin Wanyi to muse internally.
Being a favored concubine wasn't all good; at least such physical labor was truly exhausting.
"My lady, have some water to soothe your throat first."
"Alright."
As the warm water trickled down her throat and into her stomach, Lin Wanyi's foggy mind finally cleared.
"What hour is it?"
"My lady, it's 5 a.m."
With some time left until the morning ritual at 7 a.m., Lin Wanyi instructed, "Later, accompany me to Linzi Palace."
"As you command, my lady."
As a concubine, one palace maid would suffice for accompanying her during palace visits. Having just served in bed, she should avoid giving anyone a handle against her.
Speaking, Chunqi brought in a copper basin, the water inside steaming slightly, and wrung out a cloth to bring to Lin Wanyi.
"When Xiao Luzi comes later, see if it suits him to go to the Imperial Kitchen to get some flour. You find time to make some white jade cakes and set them aside. They are filling, one piece keeps you full for long."
"What's wrong, my lady?"
"The snacks sent from the Imperial Kitchen aren't filling. Your young lady nearly embarrassed herself in front of the Emperor."
"Ah?"
Chunqi's eyes widened, her mouth agape, looking shocked.
"My lady, you didn't have your stomach rumbling in the imperial presence, did you? The Emperor didn't blame you, did he?"
"Rumblings didn't happen, but it was close."
After hearing her lady's words, Chunqi was anxious, stomping from side to side, then reassured with loyalty.
"Don't worry, my lady, I'll put plenty of ingredients in those white jade cakes."
Seeing Chunqi's earnest assurance, Lin Wanyi couldn't help but laugh softly.
The rules at the Prime Minister's Mansion were strict, especially when greeting at Ronghe Hall during festive occasions, often staying for most of the day. The white jade cakes were used to stave off hunger in the mansion and were quite effective.
Recalling last night's bowl of fish slice porridge, she had hastily gulped it down without savoring much flavor at the Emperor's.
It rather felt wasteful.
The morning light gently fell.
Lin Wanyi got up to tidy herself.
This was her first time attending the consorts since entering the palace, neither standing out too much nor concealing herself excessively. Otherwise, losing face for the Prime Minister's Mansion, Lin Guifei would be the first to cause her trouble.
Thinking it over, she asked Xia An to find a long skirt in powder blue satin with bamboo leaf embroidery, topped with a moonlight-colored jacket.
Her coiffure was styled according to the rank of a concubine, with several white jade butterfly hairpins adorning her temples.