On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 59

The red candles burned high, casting a warm amber glow. Xie Xuanzhao hooked a pale red camisole hanging by the foot of the bed with her finger, lifting it to examine it closely.

The stitching was fine, the pattern elegant, and the gold trim meticulous. It was definitely hers.

Xie Xuanzhao dangled this “red bellyband” which had mysteriously appeared in Liu Qinglan’s bed from her fingertip. She then turned to look at the “little demon” Liu Qinglan, who was currently lying beside her playing dead. Leaning in close, she waved it before her eyes.

“Hmm? Explain this.”

Warm breath brushed against her face. Liu Qinglan kept her eyes squeezed shut, motionless, pretending to be fast asleep.

Amused, Xie Xuanzhao reached for her armpits and began to tickle her without saying a word.

Liu Qinglan curled up, her body twitching as she tried to suppress her reaction. Finally, she couldn’t hold it in anymore; a burst of laughter escaped her, though she tried to stifle it immediately. Xie Xuanzhao continued to tickle her. “Still not talking? Out with it, quickly.”

Seeing no way out, Liu Qinglan turned and grabbed the beautiful Empress’s arm, giving her a reproachful look. “This… didn’t you give this to me?”

Xie Xuanzhao searched her memory; she didn’t recall such a thing.

“It was that time by the lake when I caught a cold. You came to see me, and Yan Mo brought a large bundle over, remember?” Liu Qinglan shook her arm, describing the scene earnestly until Xie Xuanzhao’s memory finally flickered to life.

Yan Mo had said giving a Phoenix Robe was inappropriate, so she had swapped it for other garments. Well, she hadn’t expected this to be among them!

Xie Xuanzhao tucked the small garment away and looked at the now defiant “little demon” with interest. “Then let me ask you: exactly how many of my personal items have you made off with? Sneaking them under your covers, what exactly are you doing with them?”

Liu Qinglan replied with a straight face, “Small animals have a habit of hoarding.”

“I recall that being the habit of a hamster,” Xie Xuanzhao teased. “I also remember when you went to Chenxin Palace to practice etiquette, you sneakily drank my water and took my silk fan…”

Liu Qinglan covered her face with her paws, feeling both bashful and guilty. So she saw it all along!

After a moment, she peeked through her fingers at the beautiful Empress. Xie Xuanzhao was watching her with a smile, waiting for an answer.

Liu Qinglan sat up, deciding to confess everything. She hopped off the bed and, under Xie Xuanzhao’s curious gaze, rummaged through her cabinets. She pulled out fans, clothing, and even a portrait of the beauty, piling them onto the bed.

Xie Xuanzhao sifted through the heap. No wonder Yan Mo needed such a large bundle that day; the amount of clothing here was staggering, there were even old clothes she had worn as a child.

Xie Xuanzhao pressed a hand to her forehead in disbelief as she set down a small jacket.

Liu Qinglan sat cross-legged opposite her, picking up the small garment again. “This looks like something the beautiful sister wore when she was little. It’s so cute!”

“That was a birthday gift from my mother. I couldn’t bear to throw it away, so I kept it at the bottom of a chest and brought it to the palace with me.” Xie Xuanzhao toyed with the beads on the fabric, the quality was so high it remained soft and comfortable even after a decade.

Liu Qinglan immediately flattered her, “The beautiful sister must have been so pretty and cute as a child, like a little glutinous rice ball~”

“Ahem, don’t change the subject. You still haven’t said why you’re collecting these.” Xie Xuanzhao reached out and gently pinched her cheek.

Hugging the personal items, Liu Qinglan nuzzled against them before scooting closer to lean against Xie Xuanzhao. “Because the beautiful sister has spiritual energy (Lingqi). it helps a demon increase their cultivation.”

“Spiritual energy?” Xie Xuanzhao looked at herself curiously, seeing nothing out of the ordinary.

“It’s likely because you’ve accumulated so much merit from good deeds in your past lives. Your fortune is deep and your spiritual energy is abundant. It’s very rare.” As she spoke, Liu Qinglan shamelessly nuzzled her again.

Xie Xuanzhao fell into a rare moment of pensive silence. So, this little demon hadn’t fallen in love at first sight? All those previous flirtations were just… she was just leaching spiritual energy?

Realizing her earlier feelings were pure “unrequited sentimentality,” Xie Xuanzhao covered her face. Then, looking at the oblivious little demon, she asked with feigned calm, “Then… when did you start liking me?”

Blushing, Liu Qinglan picked up the portrait of the beauty and unfurled it. “I got this from the Emperor! I asked for it on my very first day in the palace!”

Xie Xuanzhao suppressed a laugh as she took the portrait to look at it. Then…

She held the painting closer to the candle. She wasn’t mistaken, there was a clear, distinct cat paw print stamped onto it.

She coughed low. “Why are you so obsessed with leaving paw prints?”

Liu Qinglan leaned in with a cheeky grin. “It shows it’s my property! I liked the beautiful sister the moment I saw the painting, truly. And when I saw you in person, I liked you even more~”

Xie Xuanzhao felt a bit better, but she maintained a composed facade. “But since you only stuck to me to leach energy… sigh, thinking about it now makes me a little sad.”

In truth, she wasn’t sad at all, she felt this spiritual energy was what had brought them together.

Filled with guilt and affection, Liu Qinglan hugged her tightly. “No, no! Even if you had no energy, I would still stick to you. You’re so good, I like you so much.”

Xie Xuanzhao suppressed a smile and said with a mournful brow, “It’s alright. You don’t have to comfort me.”

The more she said this, the more guilty Liu Qinglan felt. She lunged forward, showering her with a rain of kisses, repeatedly whispering how much she liked her until the Empress was finally “satisfied.”

As the two lay under the same quilt before sleep, Xie Xuanzhao suddenly asked as if just remembering, “Speaking of which, how much spiritual energy have you taken from me lately?”

The little demon guiltily nudged her with her foot. “Once it’s taken, it can’t be given back. Besides, the beautiful sister’s energy is like a flowing spring; there’s no need to worry about it running out~”

“Ahem, the energy is useless to me anyway. But from what you’re saying, you’ve taken quite a lot, haven’t you?” Seeing through her little scheme, Xie Xuanzhao nudged her back with her own foot.

Liu Qinglan nodded shyly.

“Then I’ll have to take some back as well.” Xie Xuanzhao stroked her long hair.

“How do you ‘take’ it?” The little demon rolled into the Empress’s arms with excitement and anticipation, her eyes sparkling.

Xie Xuanzhao said meaningfully, “Slowly. We have a long time ahead of us~”

After a night of restorative sleep, a refreshed Liu Qinglan climbed out of bed to find the Empress had already departed.

Lu Lu stood nearby, her gaze dazed as she looked at her mistress, seemingly hesitant to speak. She remembered this morning, watching the Empress emerge from the room looking radiant and spirited, her eyes full of affection. It was impossible not to imagine what had happened in that bedroom last night.

Every sign suggested that the Empress and Consort Yue were now a couple!

The thought made Lu Lu’s heart race. Her gaze toward Liu Qinglan now held a trace of involuntary admiration.

Cuckolding the Emperor and stealing the heart of the Empress… in this vast harem, who else could pull this off? My mistress did it!

Liu Qinglan looked at her strangely. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“My Lady, you are too incredible. I truly admire you,” Lu Lu said sincerely while presenting a steaming breakfast.

Liu Qinglan didn’t know what she was being praised for, but she was happy to be called incredible. “Oh, it’s nothing, just average.”

Because they had just returned to the palace and the Empress had enjoyed a “wonderful night,” the morning audiences were canceled.

Liu Qinglan desperately wanted to go to Chenxin Palace to continue doting on the Empress, but considering the state of her waist and legs, she decided to pace herself. There was plenty of time.

After breakfast, Liu Qinglan’s mind began to churn again, agonizing over how to find a way to share their lifespan and fate. Now that Tao Xi was in the palace, the Peach Blossom Demon should be back too. She immediately headed toward the Imperial Kitchen.

The peach tree next to the room where Tao Xi lived was still lush and vibrant, completely unaffected by the late autumn frost.

Liu Qinglan walked softly to the tree and spotted a small patterned snake coiled around a branch.

“Jiang Wenwen? You’ve entered the palace too?” Liu Qinglan hurried over and poked the sharp-nosed pit viper.

Jiang Wenwen slowly opened her eyes and let out a hum. “Winter is coming. I need a suitable place to hibernate, this spot is perfect.”

Liu Qinglan looked at the autumn scenery of withered leaves and fallen flowers, feeling how fast time flew. She stood on her tiptoes, clutching a branch. “Where have you all been these past few days? I could never find the Peach Blossom Demon.”

“Shh,” Jiang Wenwen hissed. “She’s injured. She’s currently in seclusion; don’t go bothering her.”

“Injured? Why?” Liu Qinglan immediately thought of the plague spirits they encountered in Qingfeng Town. Since there had been no news for so long, had the Peach Blossom Demon dealt with them?

“Sigh, it has to do with that little lover of hers. It was all for the sake of…”

A peach blossom drifted down, cutting off Jiang Wenwen’s words. The Peach Blossom Demon’s seductive voice drifted through the air: “Who is speaking ill of me behind my back?”

Jiang Wenwen guiltily curled her tail, signaling she didn’t dare say more, and winked at Liu Qinglan.

“Peach Blossom Demon, are you alright? Do you need me to check on you?” Liu Qinglan started climbing the tree, parting the leaves to find the ancient spirit.

“No need.” The Peach Blossom Demon dismissed her as usual, then paused. “Your cultivation seems to have grown quite a bit recently. Congratulations.”

Liu Qinglan’s face turned red; she was suddenly too shy to explain.

“Let me guess,” Jiang Wenwen said teasingly from the side. “Did you ‘dual cultivate’ with the Empress?”

For the sake of her goal, Liu Qinglan cast aside her pride. She nodded and asked, “I was wondering if you know a way for a human and a demon to share the same lifespan and fate?”

The Peach Blossom Demon suddenly fell silent. The air around them turned somber.

Thinking she had said something wrong, Liu Qinglan looked at Jiang Wenwen.

Jiang Wenwen flicked her tail, indicating she didn’t dare speak, this was for the Peach Blossom Demon to say.

“There is a way, of course,” the Peach Blossom Demon said tonelessly, seemingly suppressing a surge of emotion. “But the palace is currently very unstable. A major event is about to happen. You cannot go anywhere, you must stay in the palace to protect the Empress. Support each other through this period, and after that, everything can be discussed.”

Liu Qinglan’s heart tightened. “What major event?”

The Peach Blossom Demon let out a long sigh. “A few days ago, I observed the fall of the Imperial Star. The Emperor’s days are numbered.”