On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 33

The carriage traveled steadily, and Liu Qinglan curled up on her seat for a peaceful afternoon nap. According to the itinerary, they wouldn’t arrive at the Huoshan Summer Palace until dusk.

Lu Lu sat by the charcoal brazier, chin in hand, focusing intently on brewing hot tea. Suddenly, a wisp of breeze blew in through the window, fluttering the autumn fragrance colored tassels. In the brief moment Lu Lu looked up in surprise, the wind had already died down.

A peach blossom landed softly on the tip of Liu Qinglan’s nose.

Waking up in the tea scented carriage, Liu Qinglan reached up to touch her nose. The blossom stuck to her fingertip before vanishing into thin air in an instant.

Liu Qinglan scrambled upright and scanned the surroundings, but found nothing. However, she knew the Peach Blossom Demon had arrived.

“Lu Lu, which cook from the Imperial Kitchen came on this trip?”

Lu Lu thought for a moment and said, “It’s Jiang Taoxi (Ginger Peach Joy), because the consorts all love the desserts she makes.”

So that’s it, Liu Qinglan thought. No wonder the Peach Blossom Demon could come out. But where was she hiding?

The procession stopped at a midpoint relay station to rest and let the horses feed. Lu Lu’s pot of Mengsong tea was ready. Liu Qinglan personally poured it into a teapot, covered it, and hopped off the carriage carrying it.

“Your Highness, are you really going to go offer that to the Empress?” Lu Lu said, somewhat reluctantly. “If people see, they’ll think you’re lowering your status. You have no ‘presence’ at all.”

Liu Qinglan waved her off, not caring about such things. Though, if the Emperor saw her fawning over the beautiful Empress, he might get angry.

“Then we’ll go quietly, sneaking around to pay our respects.”

Lu Lu rubbed her forehead helplessly. What else could she say?

Xie Xuanzhao had already returned to her Phoenix Carriage, with Yan Mo kneeling nearby to serve her. Several consorts had dropped by to sit for a while, but Xie Xuanzhao eventually sent them away on the pretext of needing rest.

As for the Emperor’s side, everyone tacitly avoided it. They knew they wouldn’t win any favors there and might even annoy him thus, they preferred to bother the Empress.

Once the crowd dispersed, Yan Mo whispered, “Miss, I need to go out for a bit.”

Xie Xuanzhao’s hand paused. Understanding perfectly, she cautioned, “Be careful.”

“Yes.”

A moment later, Yan Mo led the Empress’s favorite horse toward the river. Lu Lu, having a sharp eye, saw the Empress’s personal maid leading a horse to water and couldn’t help but sigh: Being the Empress’s maid is tough, you even have to feed the horses.

Liu Qinglan, holding her teapot, looked around. Seeing everyone busy, she told Lu Lu, “Don’t follow me. I can handle it. Go do whatever you want, just be back at the carriage when it’s time to leave.”

Lu Lu hesitated, but Liu Qinglan had already cheerfully hopped onto the Empress’s Phoenix Carriage. Suddenly finding herself with free time, Lu Lu felt a bit bored and decided to head to the kitchens to snag some snacks for the road.

Liu Qinglan lifted the curtain. Inside, the beautiful Empress was reclining on the couch, resting her head on her hand.

She was still wearing her fiery red hunting attire. A long whip lay coiled beside her. Her slender, fair wrist supported her forehead, and her phoenix eyes were lightly closed, vivid and beautiful as fire.

Liu Qinglan held her breath, staring at this “painting” of a beauty. She slowed her steps, creeping forward like a thief, and squatted down in front of the Empress.

The number of times Xie Xuanzhao could ride a horse in a year was few and far between. Today, she had ridden alongside the carriage specifically to show off her prowess in front of Liu Qinglan. Now that she had sat down, she felt the physical toll. She smiled bitterly to herself, never imagining she could be so childish.

A familiar fresh scent of grass and wood drifted over. Xie Xuanzhao kept her eyes closed, noting the movement in the carriage. Knowing it was her, she stayed still to see what the little thing would do.

Liu Qinglan leaned closer. She waved a hand first; seeing no reaction and assuming the Empress was asleep, she felt a surge of secret joy. She set the teapot aside, knelt on the carpet, and moved even closer to Xie Xuanzhao.

Those enchanting, elongated phoenix eyes were closed, her lashes dark and curled, incredibly beautiful. Liu Qinglan swallowed and leaned in to count them. After a while, she realized they were impossible to count and sighed internally: Her lashes are so long.

As she spoke to herself, the “Little Willow Demon” couldn’t resist reaching out.

Her finger traced down Xie Xuanzhao’s high nose bridge, finally landing on her perfectly shaped lips. She rubbed gently with a fingertip, picking up some pale red rouge, which was filled with the Empress’s scent.

Blushing, Liu Qinglan pressed her stained finger against her own red lips, slowly smearing it even.

Xie Xuanzhao’s eyelashes fluttered as if she were waking. Frightened, Liu Qinglan pulled back her hand and retreated. However, the Empress merely adjusted her posture and continued sleeping.

Relieved, the Willow Demon leaned in again, staring at that stunning face. Remembering how the Empress always tilted her chin, she wondered what it felt like to do that to someone else. It must feel good otherwise, why would the beautiful Empress always hold her chin whenever they kissed?

Gathering her courage, Liu Qinglan reached out, beginning to test the boundaries. Xie Xuanzhao’s chin had a perfect curve not too sharp, not too round.

Liu Qinglan hooked her hand under the Empress’s chin, then, imitating the Empress’s usual tone, she squinted and said in a low voice, “Beauty, kiss me.”

The feeling was great, as if she were in control and could do whatever she wanted.

Feeling adventurous, Liu Qinglan began to stroke the Empress’s skin, it was silky and felt wonderful. She leaned in even closer until they were almost cheek to cheek, sneakily trying to “leech” some spiritual energy.

Xie Xuanzhao slowly opened her eyes, looking at the self-entraping little beauty with amusement. Her voice was low and soft: “What did you just say?”

“Ha!” Liu Qinglan, suddenly meeting the Empress’s gaze, was so startled her tail almost popped out.

Xie Xuanzhao remained reclining. She extended a long leg, hooking it around the Willow Demon who was trying to flee, then wrapped an arm around her neck, pulling her down into her lap.

“Didn’t you tell me to kiss you?” Xie Xuanzhao chuckled lowly, tightening her grip around the girl’s slender waist. Her eyes darkened as she looked at the red rouge Liu Qinglan had stolen from her own lips and smeared onto her own. She leaned down and kissed her.

The rouge melted between them, its fragrance filling the air. Propped up against the Empress, Liu Qinglan was kissed until she was dizzy, losing all sense of time. By the end, the rouge on her lips had been licked clean.

Liu Qinglan’s eyes were wide and round. “You… you ate it.”

Xie Xuanzhao’s tongue swept across, cleaning the last bit of red from the corner of the girl’s mouth. She breathed out a scent like orchids: “This rouge is made from roses, it’s edible.”

Looking at the seductive, beautiful woman before her, Liu Qinglan’s mind went boom, and she started to “fume” with embarrassment. Too flirtatious! Fearing she might get another nosebleed, she scrambled to grab the tea, stammering, “I… I came to bring the Empress tea and water!”

Xie Xuanzhao glanced at it. “Set it there for now. I’m a bit tired from riding. I want to rest for a moment.”

The “Little Servant Liu” went back online. “Empress Sister, where are you tired? I’ll massage it for you.”

Her eyes were sparkling. Very “bootlicking” indeed.

Xie Xuanzhao looked at her with a half-smile. “Do you really want to rub it?”

The Willow Demon, intent on pleasing her “Boss,” nodded firmly.

Xie Xuanzhao straightened her long legs, resting them across Liu Qinglan’s lap. “Riding has made my inner thighs a bit sore. Help me rub them.”

Inner… inner thighs… Liu Qinglan looked down at the pair of long legs hidden beneath the red hunting gear, visible yet veiled.

“Lift the hem of the skirt first. Rubbing through the fabric isn’t effective enough,” Xie Xuanzhao instructed.

Trembling, Liu Qinglan reached out, her face flushed. She moved the skirt aside to reveal the white silk under-trousers beneath, the fabric was smooth and thin.

“You can start now.”

Liu Qinglan’s fair, soft little hands tentatively placed themselves on the fabric and began to knead gently.

“A little further in.”

“Oh, okay.”

Hardening her heart, Liu Qinglan’s hands followed the curve of Xie Xuanzhao’s inner thigh, moving inward. After rubbing for a while, she couldn’t help but ask, “Empress Sister, is this also a rule for becoming your ‘underling’?”

Xie Xuanzhao, enjoying the sensation of those small hands on her skin, opened an eye and nodded solemnly. “This is just a surface level rule. I’ll teach you the real rules slowly in the future.”

“Wh… what? This is just surface level? What are the real rules then?” Liu Qinglan’s eyes widened in curiosity as she looked at the perfectly serious Empress.

Xie Xuanzhao patted her hair. “Qinglan, this is a profound field of study. It’s very advanced. You must learn it slowly, and you can only learn it from me. Understand?”

“Then teach me quickly, Empress Sister!” Liu Qinglan said eagerly, her face full of anticipation.

Xie Xuanzhao coughed lightly and looked away. “When we return to the palace, I will teach you.”

Internally, Xie Xuanzhao thought: I must get her to confess her feelings to me while we are at Huoshan!

Liu Qinglan’s hands resumed their diligent kneading. As she rubbed, she couldn’t help but praise, “Empress Sister, your legs are so beautiful.”

“Empress Sister, how did your thighs grow like this? Not too thick, not too thin, just right.”

“Empress Sister…”

Xie Xuanzhao, unable to take it anymore, interrupted her. “That’s enough. No more rubbing.”

Any more and something would happen.

Liu Qinglan reluctantly withdrew her hands, no more “eating tofu” (flirting/touching). But… she poked Xie Xuanzhao’s arm. “I… I sat in the carriage for so long that my waist is also sore.”

Xie Xuanzhao quickly understood her intent. “Then I’ll rub it for you.”

Liu Qinglan immediately sat obediently in front of her. “Rub my waist.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll rub it.” Xie Xuanzhao pulled back her legs.

The Willow Demon scooted backward until she was successfully nestled in the Empress’s embrace. The carriage curtains hung low, concealing a space filled with tender affection.

By the riverbank, Yan Mo squatted by the water, holding the reins while pretending to water the horse as she watched the surface.

A moment later, the water rippled, and a face emerged from beneath. Cold, snow-like fingers gripped a stone on the bank as the person floated in the water, wet hair draped over her shoulders.

Yan Mo looked at her. “Sister, did you deliver the letters?”

The sister in the water nodded, her expression blank. “Both letters were delivered.”

“Then you can go back and rest. Don’t stay in the water any longer. We’ll wait until we get back from Huoshan.” Seeing her sister’s pale lips, Yan Mo knew she had been submerged for a long time and felt a pang of sympathy.

The sister’s lips twitched into a tiny smile. “It’s fine.”

She paused, then added, “I’m going to Huoshan with you. Lady Yu and Lin Yulang are very suspicious.”

Yan Mo looked at her, confused. “What else did you find?”

The sister fell silent. She couldn’t talk about the “black mist” yet. First, it was too terrifying and supernatural, the Empress and her sister might not believe her. Second, she hadn’t figured out what it was yet.

She had noticed a bizarre phenomenon, others couldn’t see the black mist, but she could. Furthermore, the mist seemed to be haunting her. Her eyes turned cold. The palace was too restrictive with too many rules, making it hard to settle things. But here in the mountains and forests, she could finally show her true strength.