On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 19

Liu Qinglan was lying on a peach tree branch, trying hard to look down and figure out what words her younger sister was writing.

The Peach Blossom Demon saw the cat was about to fall off and coughed softly, saying, “Why don’t you use your demonic power to open your cat eyes and see clearly?”

Liu Qinglan finally reacted and quickly did as told. This time, she saw very clearly.

Her sister took a piece of tree bark and, lacking a brush, used the charcoal left over from the kitchen fire as a pen to begin writing wildly.

She pursed her lips, her cheeks still bearing traces of the tears she had shed moments ago, but her expression had returned to indifference. Her eyes were serious yet melancholic, laced with a faint pain.

Liu Qinglan felt a faint ache watching her. Don’t let her sister’s beautiful and delicate appearance deceive you; she wrote in a crooked, illegible scrawl.

Hence, she couldn’t understand this “suicide note” at all.

Her sister finished writing seriously, held it up to the moonlight for a look, then frowned and shook her head. She envied her elder sister’s beautiful small script calligraphy and her ability to mimic others’ handwriting, so she had secretly practiced before, but this was the final result.

Just as she was about to put the tree bark note away, the wooden kitchen door was suddenly thrown open, and a beautiful cook rushed out, holding a rolling pin and shouting, “Who snuck into my room and stole my charcoal?!”

Her sister looked down at the charcoal she had used and thrown on the ground. She calmly kicked it behind the peach tree, clasped her hands behind her back, and stood rigidly in place with a look of cold indifference.

A chill radiated from her entire body, giving off a “keep away” feeling.

Tao Xi, who was originally charging out aggressively, paused when she saw such a person standing in the courtyard, feeling a bit scared. “You… You are…” She tilted her head to look. It seemed to be Yan Mo, the Empress’s head maid.

But why would she sneak over here in the middle of the night to steal charcoal, and with such a cold face, completely different from her usual gentleness?

Her sister said lightly, “I came out to feel the breeze. You don’t need to panic. If you want to be safe, return to your room quickly.” After speaking, she raised her eyes and gave Tao Xi a cold, shadowy glance.

Tao Xi was very obedient, quickly turning around and shutting the door tight.

After the little beauty disappeared, her sister delivered a concluding remark: “No chest, no hips. What a waste of that face.”

The Peach Blossom Demon witnessed the entire scene. She gently blew a breath, and the peach leaves fell at her command, quickly showering the sister’s head and shoulders with leaves.

The sister’s expression changed, and she took a step back, looking around but finding nothing unusual. She perplexedly plucked a peach leaf, felt that this place was very strange, and, considering her own “black aura” issue hadn’t been resolved, she thought it best to leave quickly. Otherwise, she might genuinely lose her life here.

Because she felt a gentle, moon infused “killing intent” approaching her.

The Peach Blossom Demon blinked, reined in her aura, and looked at Liu Qinglan, who had been watching the show, with a half-smile. “You really didn’t see what she wrote?”

Liu Qinglan shook her head. “I really didn’t see it. It was all chicken scratch.”

“Pfft.” The Peach Blossom Demon laughed out loud, dispelling the annoyance from her little lover being scolded by the sister. “Forget it, forget it. I won’t hold it against this little girl.”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have just dropped leaves.

The Peach Blossom Demon calmed down and looked at Liu Qinglan, who was still dawdling and unwilling to leave. “You’ve watched your show and eaten the food you wanted today. Why aren’t you going back to sleep yet?”

Liu Qinglan flicked her white tail. Her cat face was red, and she suddenly turned around, rubbing against the Peach Blossom Demon in a flattering manner.

“How odd,” the Peach Blossom Demon poked her chubby little body. “Just say what you want.”

Liu Qinglan first looked around to make sure no one else was coming. Only then did she whisper, “Do you humans like… um…”

Oh dear, she was too shy to say it. Little Demon Liu mewed in her heart, wishing she could play dead on the ground.

“Like what?”

Liu Qinglan transformed into her human shape, stood in front of the Peach Blossom Demon, then raised her finger and pointed to her own unremarkable small chest. “It’s here. Do they like the big kind?”

The Peach Blossom Demon glanced at that area. Hmm, small-bun chest, very inconspicuous, just like little Tao Xi.

She must have heard the sister’s comment about Tao Xi just now, making Little Cat Liu feel insecure.

Feeling in a good mood, she decided to tease this silly little cat. So the Peach Blossom Demon looked thoughtful and said unhurriedly, “Probably. Look at the Empress, she’s graceful and has a full figure. And… Consort Kang Zhao, who came to pray earlier, also seems quite voluptuous. Not like a certain cat, though~”

Liu Qinglan was embarrassed and annoyed, letting out a “Meow,” then said seriously, “I… I can make them bigger.”

“That would be fake, though.”

“You… You…” Liu Qinglan’s pretty face flushed, but she immediately became timid and hugged the Peach Blossom Demon’s thigh. “Do you have a way?”

The Peach Blossom Demon looked at her and deliberately asked, “What do you want to do?”

Of course, it’s to gain some favor with the Empress! Maybe one day the Empress will take a liking to me because I’m beautiful!

Liu Qinglan imagined the beautiful days of rubbing against the beautiful Empress’s embrace for spiritual energy, giving a silly smile, almost drooling.

“She’s a truly silly cat.” The Peach Blossom Demon shook her head, unable to bear it. “I have a few Beauty Charms here. Take them and use them. But remember, do not be greedy, or the result will be counterproductive. Understand?”

Liu Qinglan clutched the charms tightly and happily ran off, afraid the Peach Blossom Demon would take them back.

The consequence of running out last night was that Liu Qinglan overslept the next morning.

“Niangniang, it’s time to get up. We need to go to Chenxin Palace to pay respects to the Empress today.”

Behind the floor-length curtains, two pointy, upright ears suddenly poked out from under the embroidered hibiscus-patterned quilt.

The fuzzy ears stood up and twitched with Lu Lu’s voice outside, finally drooping down weakly.

Liu Qinglan quickly changed the cat ears that had accidentally slipped out back to human ears, then crawled out of the quilt, looking listless and extremely sleepy.

Lu Lu looked at her in surprise. “Niangniang, what did you do last night? Didn’t you sleep well?” While helping Liu Qinglan get dressed, she kept rambling. “His Majesty has already said you don’t have to go for greetings. If the Empress makes things difficult, just go to His Majesty for justice.”

Liu Qinglan covered a yawn with her hand, tears welling up in her eyes, yet she struggled to say, “I have to go, Lu Lu. Don’t report these small matters to the Emperor in the future. He’s so busy.”

“Niangniang, this is not a small matter!” Lu Lu was a little anxious. His Majesty brought Consort Yue into the palace to spite the Empress. Now, it seemed the plan wasn’t working at all. According to the Emperor’s usual practice, if Consort Yue continued like this, she would probably fall out of favor, be forgotten in a corner, and end up as miserable as Concubine Yu.

The more Lu Lu thought about it, the more worried she became, like a bystander panicking more than the person involved.

Liu Qinglan washed her face with cold water, waking up slightly, and looked at herself in the mirror.

A pair of round, bright, and lovable eyes, a small, delicate nose, pale pink cherry lips, and fair skin—she was a beautiful, charming young girl in her prime. She leaned closer, remembering the Beauty Charm she had wheedled out of the Peach Blossom Demon last night.

She waved her finger, the invisible charm entered her bones, and a natural make-up appeared on the mirror’s surface.

This was the “Peach Blossom Make-up,” with a faint blush on both cheeks and a light red peach blossom print on her forehead. Her originally childish and adorable face gradually took on a hint of captivating charm.

Liu Qinglan’s eyes widened slightly, and she let out a satisfied “Whoa.”

Her fingers were restless. She thought, Why not use a few more charms? Maybe the effect will be even better! So, Liu Qinglan insanely used all the Beauty Make-up Charms she had secretly taken from the Peach Blossom Demon last night!

“Lu Lu.”

Lu Lu, who was waiting outside, heard the soft, charming, and seductive voice and felt her bones melt. Previously, her Niangniang’s voice was crisp, like biting a fresh apple. But now, it had become so tempting, like the fragile call of a beauty just out of the bath.

Lu Lu quickly lifted the curtain and looked at the beauty walking gracefully towards her, her eyes going wide.

The face was the same face, but the aura had completely changed.

Liu Qinglan also felt that her way of speaking was strange. She cleared her throat. Seeing Lu Lu staring blankly at her, she twisted uncomfortably. “Stop looking. Let’s go to Chenxin Palace.”

Hurry up and see the effect!

Lu Lu snapped out of it and quickly stepped forward, carefully supporting Liu Qinglan’s wrist, feeling so relieved she wanted to cry. “Niangniang, you’ve finally come to your senses. Let’s go now.”

She felt much more confident!

Liu Qinglan was secretly delighted. It seems the charm really works well. She eagerly lifted her foot. “Then let’s go quickly.”

As soon as she took a step, she let out a soft “Aiya,” because she felt completely weak and had to rely on Lu Lu for support.

Lu Lu whispered, “Niangniang, did you secretly go for bed service last night?” Otherwise, why would her legs be weak?

Liu Qinglan didn’t understand the connection between weak legs and bed service. After she used up all the charms, she felt weak and delicate all over, needing to lean on something. She would be out of breath after just a few steps.

But Lu Lu happily said, “That’s right! When those Niangniangs see you, they’ll surely be extremely envious and jealous!”

“Is that so…” Liu Qinglan continued to feel weak with peace of mind.

Today, I must be the most striking and beautiful among all the beauties!

Stepping out of the bedroom, the maids of Yuefei Palace were all excited to see their Niangniang’s charming and glamorous appearance today.

Lu Lu took charge. “Niangniang is too tired and needs to take a soft sedan chair. Go prepare it.”

Liu Qinglan thought about it. She really couldn’t walk many steps right now; her legs were too weak. The Beauty Charm’s power was too great.

So, Liu Qinglan crouched in the soft sedan chair and was slowly and gently carried all the way to Chenxin Palace.

The imperial concubines, led by Consort Kang Zhao, had already arrived. Under everyone’s gaze, Liu Qinglan emerged, supported by Lu Lu’s hand, her figure graceful and her eyes filled with a seductive charm.

Consort Kang Zhao’s eyes widened slightly. Consort Yue was very different today, having gained a captivating charm and allure, just as if… as if she had just gotten out of bed after being indulged, her whole body suggesting that she had been fiercely loved last night.

Consort Kang Zhao’s eyelids twitched. Did the Emperor change his ways and start liking women?! This was truly a little demoness she actually succeeded.

Liu Qinglan paid special attention to Consort Kang Zhao’s expression. Seeing her dim look, she was secretly thrilled. As expected, I used the charm correctly!