On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 27.1

Lulu forcefully tugged the blanket all the way up to her head, wrapping Liu Qinglan’s hair so that only her face was visible. “This is good. Don’t let anyone see you looking disheveled. You should cover up tightly, but you must still be beautiful.”

Lulu observed her small face. Because of the fever, she had a natural blush, and her lips were exceptionally rosy, so she didn’t need to apply rouge. She was relieved. Even when sick, her Niangniang was still beautiful and could outshine the entire inner palace~

Hearing the footsteps getting closer outside, Lulu quickly stepped out to welcome the distinguished guest.

Xie Xuanzhao was not in the mood for small talk with the palace staff. Seeing Lulu come out, she immediately asked straightforwardly, “How is your Niangniang? Has she taken her medicine yet?”

“Replying to the Empress, our Niangniang is resting right now and may not be able to come out to pay her respects,” Lulu bowed and said, quickly glancing at the Empress.

She was stunningly beautiful and graceful, radiating brilliance. Just a moment ago, Lulu had felt her Niangniang was beautiful enough to outshine the inner palace, but now she dared not boast. Therefore, Lulu was somewhat reluctant to let the Empress Niangniang enter. There was no comparison, so there was no harm~

While Lulu was lost in her chaotic thoughts, an immense package descended onto her hands. Lulu opened her eyes wide, meeting Yan Mo’s gentle smile. “This is for your Niangniang. Keep it safe and do not open it. You must give it to Consort Yue so she can personally look through it, understand?”

“…”

Lulu looked at the package in disbelief. It was too big… Fortunately, though large, it wasn’t heavy. After marveling at the package, Lulu suddenly realized the Empress Niangniang was gone.

“Ah…” she cried out, quickly turning around, intending to check the inner room. However, her arm was already held by Yan Mo.

Yan Mo pulled her. “I’ll go with you to put down the package, and then we’ll go decoct the medicine. Don’t worry, the Empress won’t eat your Niangniang, will she?”

Lulu remembered her Niangniang sitting weakly on the bed wrapped in a small blanket, and she nervously swallowed. That was really hard to say…

Liu Qinglan’s sleeping room had light-red gauze curtains hanging, and the windows were slightly open for ventilation, causing the gauze curtains to flutter gently like butterfly wings. The room was quiet. Xie Xuanzhao’s fair, slender fingers lifted the gauze curtain, and she saw the small beauty sitting obediently on the bed.

Xie Xuanzhao smiled, curving her lips. She walked to the bedside and poked Liu Qinglan’s waist with her finger. “What is this?”

Liu Qinglan’s round, large eyes were misty with tears due to her blocked nose. She blinked her watery eyes, sniffed, restraining the urge to sneeze, and asked with an innocent face, “Is it pretty?”

Just as Lulu went out to greet the guest, Liu Qinglan had a flash of inspiration. She used the sash she normally used to cinch her waist to wrap around the blanket, tying a huge bow around her waist.

Doesn’t this make me look more like a gift…

Cough, cough. I absolutely did not intentionally try to seduce the beautiful Empress. This is just for fun! A fun idea born out of boredom from being sick!

Xie Xuanzhao felt a tingling sensation in her heart. She sat down beside her on the edge of the bed, placing her finger on the large bow tied with the light pink sash. Her voice was low and seductive. “Shall I unwrap it, then?”

“Unwrap it, unwrap it however you like,” Liu Qinglan said boldly, then took a big sniff. This was meant for the beautiful Empress to unwrap anyway.

Xie Xuanzhao slowly pulled the end of the sash, so slowly that the sound of silk sliding could be heard, yet her eyes were fixed on Liu Qinglan’s flushed face. A sense of tender intimacy filled the space between the two.

Liu Qinglan blinked her misty eyes, but her inner will was fiercely holding back the sneeze right at the tip of her nose!

Hurry up and unwrap it! Once you’re done, I can sneeze.

Liu Qinglan held back, unable to speak, and could only desperately blink her eyes, signaling the beautiful Empress to hurry up.

Perhaps because of the weakness from being sick, the way her watery eyes blinked conveyed a hint of charm. Xie Xuanzhao’s throat tightened. She was seducing her again, seemingly implying that this was an invitation?

Xie Xuanzhao gazed at her nervous and slightly aggrieved little face, letting out a low chuckle, her breath like orchid fragrance. “Here I come.”

Hurry, hurry! My sneeze is almost uncontrollable! Liu Qinglan was afraid that opening her mouth would result in a sneeze, ruining the harmonious atmosphere. Every cell in her body was urging and shouting, Hurry up, hurry up!

Xie Xuanzhao felt the urgency emanating from her. A smile filled her phoenix eyes. How is she more impatient than me…

The movement of her hand slowed even more, but she leaned forward, resting her other hand on Liu Qinglan’s shoulder, and lowered her head, seeking her rosy lips.

The beautiful Empress’s glistening, affectionate phoenix eyes were within reach, and her well-shaped red lips were almost in sight. Liu Qinglan’s head sizzled, burning with shyness.

Guessing what she was about to do next, Little Demon Liu’s cheeks were flushed with fever. Her small, nervous hands grasped the beautiful Empress’s sleeve in a flurry.

Xie Xuanzhao leaned down, their warm breaths mingling and merging, and their eyes began to look intoxicated and hazy.

Everything was in place; the atmosphere was intimate and loving, just right.

Liu Qinglan’s nose tickled. A sudden cloud of gloom arose in her heart. She inwardly cried out “Not good!” and then, right before the beautiful Empress could land the first kiss, she magnificently let out a huge sneeze.

A loud “A-choo” summed up everything.

Xie Xuanzhao’s hand was still grasping the bow around Liu Qinglan’s waist. Liu Qinglan’s hand was still gripping her intricately patterned sleeve. They stared at each other. Finally, Liu Qinglan collapsed onto the pillow in despair, her eyes teary, yet still stubbornly protesting, “Weren’t you just unwrapping the bow? Wha… why did you have to…”

Xie Xuanzhao, still unsatisfied, took a silk handkerchief and gently wiped her little red nose. “I completely forgot you were sick. You need to focus on recovering.”

As for kissing and hugging, it would have to wait. Xie Xuanzhao sighed internally, hooking a finger through a strand of Liu Qinglan’s loosened hair, twisting it around. Her mood was equally conflicted and regretful.

Liu Qinglan pulled on her sleeve, carefully rubbing and snuggling. After seeing the beautiful Empress have no reaction, her courage grew a little, her movements became a bit bolder. Her fingers grabbed a large handful of fabric and began to knead it instead of just rubbing, kneading hard.

Ah, I really want to turn back into my original form, roll into her arms, and rub furiously.

The abundant spiritual energy on the beautiful Empress right now was the best panacea.

Xie Xuanzhao met her incredibly longing gaze. Her heart felt like it was being scratched by cat claws. Simultaneously, she began to deeply contemplate a question: Is she… well… that… ahem… particularly strong when she’s sick?

Being stared at by Liu Qinglan’s passionate, eager gaze, yet unable to immediately give her what she wanted, Xie Xuanzhao reluctantly stood up, walked to the window, and took a breath of cool air to extinguish the little flame that had been sparked in her heart.

Recovery comes first, recovery comes first, Xie Xuanzhao silently chanted to herself. She must not take advantage of her when she was sick and slightly delirious.

She might not want to, but a certain someone was very eager. So eager that she was burning up, delirious, and wanted to meow.

Liu Qinglan, wrapped in the small blanket, crawled down from the bed, and reluctantly grabbed the beautiful Empress’s sleeve again, determined to follow her wherever she went.

The small flame Xie Xuanzhao had just suppressed reignited and began to surge rapidly when she saw the little beauty cling to her like a dependent child, threatening to start a wildfire.

She reached out and gently patted Liu Qinglan’s small head, which was nestled next to her arm. “Are you always this clingy when you’re sick?”

“Mhm, mhm.” Liu Qinglan nodded while rapidly absorbing spiritual energy, and grew bold enough to make a request. “Will you stay with me all day today?”

“Ahem.” Xie Xuanzhao really wanted to, but the news that the Empress entered Qinglan Palace and hadn’t left all day would surely invite numerous suspicions and conjectures.

She thought for a moment, then whispered, “How about I come back and stay with you tonight?” with a hint of coaxing.

Liu Qinglan’s imagination ran wild. To-ni-ght… She concealed her delight and nervousness, and also quietly answered, “Yes, yes, yes.”

The invisible tail behind her was wagging happily like a puppy’s.

Lülü was squatting next to the medicine stove, decocting the medicine. Her hands rested on her knees, and she looked perplexedly at Yan Mo, who was also squatting next to her, waiting for the medicine.

She is the head palace maid of the Empress Niangniang. Why is she not serving her mistress, but running here to help Consort Yue decoct medicine?

Moreover, she came and didn’t leave, just squatting here without saying anything, perfectly quiet as if in meditation. Even more strangely, Yan Mo still had her usual gentle smile on her face.

Lulu felt her scalp tingle and shifted her gaze back to the small medicine stove where the water was bubbling.

It’s just a pot of medicine. Is there a need to smile so… so suggestively…

Lulu touched her arm. She was a chatterbox, and with no one to talk to now, she was furiously complaining internally. Then she uncontrollably turned to look at Yan Mo’s attire.

As expected of the Empress Niangniang’s head palace maid, the fabric and the hair ornaments are not in the same league as those used by palace maids like us.

“Pfft…” Yan Mo suddenly laughed out loud.

Lulu jumped in fright, not daring to grumble any further, and focused back on the medicine stove. So strange.

Yan Mo, however, nudged her and asked, “What do you think our Niangniang and your Niangniang are doing inside the room right now?”

Lulu looked back at her, seeing the strange excitement on her face, and felt a chill down her spine. “D-doing what…”

The Empress Niangniang wouldn’t be taking advantage of my mistress’s weakness and sickness to bully or discipline her, would she? Lulu stared solemnly at the medicine stove. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt, so her fan stoking motion became faster and faster.

Hurry up and finish brewing the medicine so I can go in and check on the situation.

Yan Mo reached out and pressed down on her wrist. “Fan slower. The fire is too fierce; the medicine won’t decoct properly. Your Niangniang is not in a rush to drink this bowl of medicine.”

Lulu ignored her, bent over to check the fire in the stove, then sat back down and began furiously fanning the flames again.

Yan Mo: …Why is this girl so difficult to deal with?

Under Lulu’s persistent fanning, the medicine finally finished brewing. She eagerly used a cloth pad, poured it into a porcelain bowl, and picked up the tray to leave.

Yan Mo again pressed down on her wrist. “Wait.”

Lulu watched her warily, making a move to protect the medicine bowl. “I won’t let you carry the medicine.”

“Is your Niangniang afraid of bitterness?”

“What?”

Yan Mo looked around the small kitchen. “Our mistress always needs a little sweet candied fruit before drinking medicine. You should prepare some for your mistress too.”

Lulu thought for a moment. That’s true. Although she hadn’t seen her Niangniang drink medicine, judging by her usual behavior, she should be someone who disliked bitter tastes. She had no choice but to put down the tray and rush to find candied fruit.

Yan Mo followed behind her, slowly saying, “Take your time finding it. No rush.”

Lulu was on high alert, ignoring her words, rummaging through the cupboard, only to find there was no candied fruit!

“Oh, our Niangniang doesn’t usually like sweets,” Lulu suddenly realized the problem.

Yan Mo gently coughed. “Then what does your Niangniang usually like to eat?”

“Fish, meat, and shrimp. Sometimes she drinks Xiangru Yin (patchouli drink).” Lulu put her finger to her lips, raised her eyes to recall, and suddenly felt something was wrong halfway through. “Why do you want to know all this? I’m not telling you anymore.”

But in fact, she had already said almost everything.

Yan Mo smiled and nodded, silently taking note. Then she said, “But those are main meals, and fish is not suitable when you have a cold. Think again, what other small snacks?”

“Melon seeds!” Lulu said excitedly, then lightly patted her own mouth. Why did I say it again?

Yan Mo shook her head. “Melon seeds are heaty, even less suitable.”

“Then there’s only corn.”

Yan Mo smiled sweetly. “Alright, I’ll go ask the kitchen maid for some boiled corn.”

Lulu: …

She scratched her head, watching the departing Miss Yan Mo. She regretted it so much she wanted to smash her head against a piece of tofu. How did I let her trick me into telling her!

Lulu lightly smacked her leaky mouth, resignedly lowered her head, and picked up the medicine bowl.

Just as she was about to leave, she ran into Yan Mo, who was returning. Yan Mo looked at her. “You stay here and watch the medicine. Wait until I bring the corn back, and we’ll take it in together. Don’t secretly take it in.”

No one can interrupt the two Niangniangs now.

Lulu stubbornly insisted she wouldn’t wait for her, but Yan Mo’s line, “If you’re not afraid of Niangniang’s punishment, then take it in,” scared her into obediently putting the medicine back.

Yan Mo walked a few steps, then suddenly caught sight of Consort Kang and Concubine Yu approaching together not far away.

She paused in surprise. Why are these two Niangniangs together? The Empress was still in Qinglan Palace. If they also came to visit Consort Yue, they were bound to run into her.

Yan Mo had to change her route midway, turning back to inform the Empress Niangniang.

At this moment in the sleeping chamber, Xie Xuanzhao was cornering Liu Qinglan in the corner of the bed.

Liu Qinglan held onto the small quilt, Ying-ying-ying-ing her innocence, not daring to look at the beautiful Empress who was smiling yet not smiling in front of her.

Xie Xuanzhao held her shoulder with one hand, keeping her in place, and slowly pulled out a very familiar round fan from the quilt with the other.

It was the fan that Liu Qinglan had secretly taken from Chenxin Palace the other day when practicing etiquette.

Xie Xuanzhao curved her lips, smiling like a fox, and leaned close to Liu Qinglan. “Honestly confess, how many of my personal items have you stolen?”

“Not… not many…” Liu Qinglan’s face was flushed with shame. Her back pressed against the wall. When the beautiful Empress discovered her little secret just now, she nearly let her cat tail pop out in fright.

Xie Xuanzhao poked her little shoulder joint. “Don’t move. Stay here obediently. Let me check again.”

Liu Qinglan closed her eyes and turned her head to the side. Don’t touch anymore!

Soon, a jade hairpin was also retrieved by Xie Xuanzhao. It still held Liu Qinglan’s body warmth.

Xie Xuanzhao was a little confused. “Why are you hiding the hairpin in the quilt?”

Liu Qinglan: …Can I say that I was lying on top of it and rubbing myself on it like a little pervert… Although… although there isn’t much spiritual energy on it, I just wanted to rub it. There’s no helping it.

Liu Qinglan squirmed nervously, stammering guiltily, “Th-there really isn’t anything else… Empress sister, please don’t touch anymore.”

Xie Xuanzhao poked her soft little shoulder joint again. “Didn’t I say not to move?”

Little Demon Liu silently meowed in shame internally, keeping her limbs still, and obediently submitting to her touch.

The light-red bedding was folded in the corner. In the mess, a drawing was vaguely exposed.

A glimmer of light flashed in Xie Xuanzhao’s phoenix eyes. “There’s more! Let me see.”

The drawing was hooked out by her fingers and slowly unfolded on the bedsheet.

Liu Qinglan looked down at the emerging content of the beautiful woman’s portrait. When a cat paw print appeared, she meowed in despair again and completely turned her head away, starting to play dead.

Xie Xuanzhao’s gaze fell on the beauty in the portrait, dressed in full formal palace attire. Ink lines heavily outlined a pair of glistening phoenix eyes. The person in the painting was herself.