I Got Together with the Goddess [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 62

“The wound cannot touch water, My Lady. Let us wipe down your body for you,” Qiu Yu said.

“…” Jiang Yiqing wanted to refuse, but thinking carefully, she realized she hadn’t bathed since she crossed over into this world. It was better to clean up.

The two finished wiping her down and said they wanted to apply some kind of fragrant balm to her. In this damned feudal society, why must I be made to smell sweet just for someone else’s pleasure? Jiang Yiqing applied a bit herself. It must be said, however, that it smelled quite lovely and the texture was excellent.

“No need to apply it anywhere else, just above the neck is fine,” Jiang Yiqing said.

Seeing the injuries on her body, the two were afraid of pulling at her wounds during the application process, so they did not insist. They had her sit on a sandalwood chair.

“My Lady, we will apply a simpler makeup and style your hair in a more relaxed manner so that you do not have to sit for long.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Ancient makeup focused primarily on nourishing the skin, and the most crucial element was decorating the face with beautiful floral ornaments (huadian). Once the makeup was finished, her hair was tied into a Phoenix Bun, adorned with golden phoenixes, pearls, emeralds, and floral hairpins.

“My Lady, please stand to dress.”

Jiang Yiqing stood up, and the two flanked her to help her dress. She was draped in layers of red, topped with a grand, wide-sleeved ceremonial robe of deep crimson, featuring a standing collar and a “butterflies flitting among flowers” pattern.

Jiang Yiqing looked down; the beauty in the mirror was extraordinarily radiant. If not for this face that one could fall in love with at a single glance, the Empress likely would not have spared her life.

“The female officials of the Palace Weaving Bureau said that My Lady is permitted to wear deep crimson. This level of dignity is unique to you. If your status weren’t that of a Princess of the Zhai Kingdom, it would be quite normal to hold a grand wedding ceremony,” Qiu Yu said. “Do not be discouraged, My Lady. Having gained Her Majesty’s favor, even without those empty titles, you are the most noble person in the palace.”

“…” Jiang Yiqing didn’t think that much of it. Her only current worry was how to complete the task of “attending to the bed.”

She boarded the sedan chair, holding a hand warmer, and set off toward the Empress’s living quarters, the Chongming Palace.

The night was silent, and the people around her walked without a sound. When she lifted the curtain of the sedan, she saw a line of palace attendants standing with lanterns—the scene was magnificent.

Upon arriving at Chongming Palace, Qiu Yu gave some silver to the head maidservants and whispered a few words. The attendants of Chongming Palace then respectfully invited Jiang Yiqing inside.

“Lady Qing, those who can enter this Chongming Palace will likely have a destiny beyond that of ordinary people in the future. You must seize this opportunity. However, our Majesty’s temperament can be somewhat eccentric; it is better for you to be more patient and yielding,” the female official said. “I have no other instructions. I shall take my leave.”

Supported by the official, Jiang Yiqing sat on the edge of the bed. She saw that within the gold-and-jade hall, the floor was covered in soft red carpets. The red embroidered curtains were filled with golden-threaded phoenixes, each in a different pose. On the table, a pair of red candles burned high, and a mythical beast-shaped incense burner slowly emitted curls of light smoke. It was the height of opulent splendor.

A moment later, the Empress walked in with several female officials. She wore a simple robe of mysterious black (xuan). The officials removed the imperial crown from her head and, before leaving, placed a porcelain vial into her hand.

When those two large doors closed, Jiang Yiqing realized she was now in a private space alone with the Empress.

Jiang Yiqing considered the feasibility of continuing their discussion on human rights.

“Your Majesty, might I have the chance to know your true name?” Not knowing a person’s name made Jiang Yiqing feel quite suppressed. She couldn’t very well be someone’s concubine and not even see their “household register” or “ID card.”

Wanqi Yanjing looked over upon hearing her voice and replied quite readily: “Wanqi is the national surname of the Qin Kingdom. My name is Yanjing.”

“…” Jiang Yiqing felt she had indeed lost in terms of presence. Aside from names like Shangguan, this was her first time encountering a compound surname. She said, “My name is Jiang Yiqing.”

“I know.”

The Empress only used “Zhen” (the imperial “We”) in front of the crowds; in private, she used “I.” Jiang Yiqing thought this was at least acceptable, otherwise she might truly lack the confidence to negotiate.

Should I tell her I’m not the original Jiang Yiqing, just someone with the same name? Or should I fight to the death to protect my chastity? Jiang Yiqing gave up on the latter, and the former seemed too strange. In the end, she could do nothing.

Wanqi Yanjing saw through her thoughts at a glance and said, “You are very unwilling?”

“Uh…” Jiang Yiqing looked at her cautiously and said, “A woman must have self-respect.”

“You didn’t say that when you were on the verge of death,” Wanqi Yanjing said as she began to undress.

Beneath that black outer robe, she wore only a chest wrap. Aside from the tooth marks Jiang Yiqing had bitten into her, Jiang Yiqing saw other wounds on her body. Some even looked like they were self-inflicted. After all, she was so noble; even when going to war, she had a crowd of people protecting her. She didn’t look like someone who would be easily wounded.

“What is it?” Sensing her gaze, Wanqi Yanjing asked.

“…” Jiang Yiqing had never seen such a perfect female body; it was practically the ideal statue of a goddess in her mind. But she secretly warned herself: No, I cannot be seduced by beauty. More importantly, she could not feel misplaced pity for a feudal, centralized Empress who had “left millions of corpses and spilled rivers of blood,” otherwise she would surely die even faster.

Wanqi Yanjing grabbed her waist and asked, “Are you not a princess? Has no one served you, or do you not know how to serve others?”

“…I really don’t know about this.” Jiang Yiqing lowered her head, trying to make herself look as pathetic as possible.

“Still a virgin?”

“…” Jiang Yiqing’s cheeks instantly turned bright red. She looked at her with reddened eyes and couldn’t help but speak the truth: “Do you know a lot? I heard you killed everyone who attended your bed. Are you planning to kill me tomorrow?”

“That depends on your performance.”

Jiang Yiqing felt she had said the wrong thing, automatically making herself half a head shorter than the other. She said, “You haven’t answered my question.”

“Whether I ‘know’ or not doesn’t matter. On your body today, I will try everything one by one.”

“I think you’ve just been suppressed for too long and want to find someone to solve your physiological needs!” Jiang Yiqing said. “In exchange for you not killing me, I can help you, but you are not allowed to force me!”

Jiang Yiqing clutched her wildly beating heart; yielding to this point was her limit.

“How do you plan to help me? Is it different from ‘attending the bed’?” Wanqi Yanjing asked.

“…” Jiang Yiqing, lacking practical experience, was stunned. She looked at her blankly.

“It is all the same. What are you shy about?”

“No! It’s me touching you, you can’t touch me!” Jiang Yiqing said.

“Then is it you attending the bed, or me attending the bed?”

“…Stop saying ‘attending the bed’!” Jiang Yiqing said, covering her earlobes which were so red they looked like they might bleed.

“Then do you want to take this?” Wanqi Yanjing picked up the medicine bottle beside her, shook it, and said, “They say it’s specifically for treating disobedient women. If you take it, you will likely beg to be with me.”

“…You’re crazy. Everyone in this world is crazy.” Jiang Yiqing looked at that small porcelain vial, feeling it was no different from poison.

“Why resist? I promise I will make you happy. You are the first person for whom I have gone to such lengths. Are you still not satisfied?” Wanqi Yanjing asked in confusion.

“Is being the Empress so great? You don’t even like me, so why must you force me!” Jiang Yiqing said. “And your mouth is full of such lewd words. To think you are this kind of person—I misjudged you!”

Wanqi Yanjing leaned her head on her hand, appearing troubled. “I suppose this can be seen as a princess’s reservation; it’s not incomprehensible. So, must I use the medicine after all?”