On her way back, Ye Ai Ning brushed paths with Shen Nian Zhen. In respect to the woman"s position, she exchanged a few meaningless greeting before excusing herself when she thought she had given enough face.
Right exactly at noon, the servants came to serve the food. As if they are in tacit agreement, the empress did not call for her nor she moves to join the empress for a meal.
In order to monopolize the emperor, Ye Ai Ning decided not to mingle with others. What she wanted is a peaceful meal with Jiang Yu and not a table full infighting with the other consorts.
Once the kitchen servant placed the last piece of tableware, Yuyang silently counted the pa.s.sing time. Painted on the servant"s face were both anxiousness and excitement. In contrast, her mistress sat calmly--- waiting.
After a while, Yuyang finally opened her mouth and asked, "Shall this servant go and ask for the emperor?"
"It"s alright. Bengong will patiently wait. The emperor cannot be shackled, don"t bother him for every small matter."
Ye Ai Ning smiled softly towards her servant to imply her understanding.
A pair of deep-set dimples show and as her countenance relaxed, a gentle glint pa.s.ser her always proud set of eyes.
Yuyang was almost blinded by the beauty in front. Truly, Ye Ai Ning with just her looks could topple empires and create wars.
The number one beauty of Da Xian Empire. Obviously, as a woman, it was supposed to be the highest praised possible.
But as her mistress was only a consort--- regardless of the fact that she was the emperor"s and that she was more honorable than ordinary furens--- once inside the imperial harem, her beauty becomes a topic of mocking.
There was a saying that a beautiful face could only be a concubine. Everyone pointed at her mistress as she lived like a proof of it.
Obviously, the n.o.ble consort was not only beautiful. She was also versed in the four arts and was raised with the highest education a woman could get.
From the day she was born, it was predetermined that she"ll belong to the first prince. The late consort Ye even raised her with care to be the princess consort.
How could they say she only have beauty? Her mistress might as well be n.o.bler in bearing than the empress herself!
If not for the matters of court, Ye Ai Ning would be the one sitting on the phoenix throne. She wouldn"t be deprived of the color red and settle with the lighter shade of pink.
As the consort waited alone, Yuyang"s heart ached for her mistress.
The steam from the soup has long gone however even a shadow of the emperor has yet to be seen. When Ye Ai Ning noticed this, she immediately ordered the servants.
"Replace this. A cold dish is unfit for the emperor"s meal."
A servant obligated and disappear with the dish. When she returned, her head was tacked so low it cannot be any lower. Behind her, a eunuch returned with her.
The moment Ye Ai Ning saw the eunuch, a bitter smile bloomed right away in her lips.
In careful wordings, the eunuch relay to the consort that the emperor could no longer accompany her to a meal.
Ye Ai Ning expressed her understanding told the eunuch not to let his majesty forget to take his own meal.
The consort didn"t make a scene nor made it hard for the small eunuch. Knowing there are matters needed to be handled by the emperor himself, Ye Ai Ning didn"t scheme to get Jiang Yu"s further attention.
After properly sending the eunuch away, Ye Ai Ning picked up the chopsticks and without any fuss, started to eat alone.
Yuyang witness as Ye Ai Ning"s hand trembles uncontrollably. Her heart bleeds out for her master but she couldn"t do a thing.
In order to complete the requirement to end her punishment and not miss this rare chance, the consort stayed most of the night awake. With only a few lanterns as a companion, she continued to work in hope to be with the emperor. She ceased her crying and as Ye Ai Ning swallowed the injustice in her heart, her hand did not stop writing.
And until now, the strain caused her hand to shake out of control.
A small noise sounded as the consort put down the stick.
In a small voice only audible to the ones near, Ye Ai Ning said, "They have turned cold, clear them away."
"Th--this servant will ask the kitchen to replace them."
"No need. I lost my appet.i.te."
Ye Ai Ning turned away and Yuyang hurried her steps to follow.
As females, they couldn"t hope for much. If there is a wife, there would be a second one. They even said that sole favor is a taboo.
But Yuyang believed her mistress" young prince. She too, witness as they grew up together. In their gaze, there was affection. In their eyes, there was doting.
Every action, every word, everything was in consideration of the other.
At the emperor"s worst moments, it was her mistress that stood and stayed beside him.
Surely as she didn"t forget, her mistress wouldn"t too. But what about the emperor? Does he already forget? That at one point in their lives, there was only the two of them together.
Not the Empress. Nor the sixth prince. Or even the other consorts.
Her mistress was there first. And she was still even today.
Gazing at her mistress lonesome back once again, doubts take root in Yuyang"s heart.
In the end, does affection really not matter inside the harem?