On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 64

The red gauze curtains offered a warm sanctuary, and the purple clay censer, carved with lute patterns, faintly exhaled fragrance. Outside, the winter moonlight was cold and frosty.

Xie Xuanzhao loosened the hairpin from the little beauty Liu’s head. A mane of ink black hair spread out like thick water plants, cascading down to her lower back. Xie Xuanzhao reached out to stroke the long hair, it was as smooth as water, dark and dense. Remembering the girl’s claim that she “doesn’t shed,” Xie Xuanzhao couldn’t help but chuckle.

Perhaps because of her nature, the maiden’s ink-black hair was so exceptionally supple.

Xie Xuanzhao asked, “Do you know what I thought the first time I saw you?”

Liu Qinglan looked up at her, full of curiosity. “What was it?”

“I thought, Where did this little goblin come from, to be so worldly wise?” Xie Xuanzhao said cryptically. In truth, she had thought her adorably silly.

Liu Qinglan sat up with a “Wow!” “I am very smart.”

It turned out she understood, the Beautiful Empress was teasing her. She touched her own hair and leaned in, saying coquettishly, “Tell me, am I smart or not?”

The Beautiful Empress laughed softly.

Xie Xuanzhao lowered her eyes, looking at the cute and obedient little Liu-goblin. Her voice was low and sultry. “In a moment, don’t you dare turn back into a little Feifei (mythical beast), or I shall have to punish you.”

Liu Qinglan playfully twitched her ears and leaned in to whisper, “I’ve rubbed so much spiritual energy off of Beautiful Sister that my cultivation has improved a lot. I can completely control myself now!”

Xie Xuanzhao felt much relieved, letting herself relax and become fully immersed.

The Union of Souls

Inside the warm red curtains, thin skirts were gently shed. The Liu-goblin was like the finest white jade, her skin snowy white against the pale red bedding, the contrast of red and white was breathtaking. Stroking that ink-black hair, Xie Xuanzhao found the presence of mind to ask: “Qinglan, why are you so white? It’s as if you’ve never touched the sun.”

With a hint of pride, Liu Qinglan whispered, “Because I am a snowy-white little beast. I was born this white.”

Xie Xuanzhao chuckled. True, one never sees the white fur of a small animal tan from the sun. This was truly something humans could only envy.

Liu Qinglan looked up at the Beautiful Empress’s fair and glamorous face. Mimicking her, she reached out to poke her cheek gently. “Beautiful Sister is very white, too.”

Xie Xuanzhao looked at her mischievously. “That’s because you haven’t seen me when I was dark. When I was little, my aunt called me ‘Little Black Girl.'”

“I can’t see it, and I can’t imagine it,” Liu Qinglan shook her head seriously, her fingertips brushing the fair face.

The Empress caught her finger, cradling it in her palm. Her eyes were deep with affection as she slowly leaned closer.

The red gauze fell to the floor, veiling the scene of passion. Even in her daze, Liu Qinglan was still thinking about the “Pink Peach” under her pillow. She pulled the Empress down with her, hooked her arms around her neck, and scrambled on top. She searched under the pillow until, under Xie Xuanzhao’s puzzled gaze, she pulled out a ripe, large, bright red “Seed Bearing Peach.”

Xie Xuanzhao wiped the fine sweat from the little goblin’s forehead, looking curiously at the succulent peach. “Where did this come from? It’s not easy for a peach to grow in winter.”

“I’m a goblin, of course I can get a Seed Bearing Peach,” Liu Qinglan said proudly.

Xie Xuanzhao reached out to poke the red fruit. “A Seed Bearing Peach?”

“It’s for having little babies,” Liu Qinglan whispered into the Empress’s ear.

Xie Xuanzhao’s cheeks flushed with a hidden warmth of expectation and excitement. “Really? What do we need to do?”

Liu Qinglan clung to her like a koala. “We just eat it together. Half for you, half for me.”

Xie Xuanzhao found it somewhat incredible, but seeing the sincere, bright eyes of the little beauty in her arms, she chose to believe her completely. She followed the instructions and bit into the peach. The flesh was crisp, sweet, and full of juice, a masterpiece among peaches.

Liu Qinglan followed the teeth marks and took a large bite herself. The juice overflowed, and the fragrance lingered.

Xie Xuanzhao watched her nibbling the peach and felt that simply eating it separately was too dull. She smiled, took a bite, but didn’t swallow. Instead, she kissed Liu Qinglan, passing the warm peach flesh into her mouth.

By chance, they completed the “correct” ritual of sharing the peach.

Beneath the covers, they passed the fruit back and forth until the entire peach was finished.

Xie Xuanzhao wondered, “This peach has no pit.”

“Because it’s a goblin peach,” said Liu Qinglan, who had secretly swallowed the pit. Resting on the Empress’s jade arm, she touched her belly. “Do you think there’s a baby in here already?”

Xie Xuanzhao laughed and stroked her stomach. “How could it be so fast?”

“We Feifei can give birth in three months,” Liu Qinglan explained with a light cough.

Xie Xuanzhao paused. “Will it… will it be a human baby?” She suddenly thought of cats having litters and looked at the girl’s belly. “Do you think you’ll give birth to many little beast people?”

Liu Qinglan looked blank and innocent. “I don’t know.”

The sweet taste of the peach lingered in Xie Xuanzhao’s mouth. Her imagination ran wild, making sleep impossible, so she began to playfully caress the little goblin’s soft body again. Liu Qinglan was also too excited to sleep, her eyes shining like a cat seeing a ball of yarn.

Xie Xuanzhao looked at their intertwined hair and said solemnly, “Perhaps to make the peach more effective, we should linger in this embrace a bit longer.”

Liu Qinglan covered her eyes, nodding with a shy smile. “Then why don’t we… stay awake all night?”

The Gathering Storm

In the Qinglan Palace, the flickering candlelight cast shadows of their union. The Seed-Bearing Peach began to take effect, blending their essence and blood.

After a night of bliss, Xie Xuanzhao tenderly tucked the sleeping Liu Qinglan into bed and prepared to head to the front hall. Important matters awaited her. The thought of having a woman to protect in the harem steeled her resolve. No matter if the road ahead was filled with thorns or fire, she would walk it to secure a status that no one could challenge, so they could be together without hindrance.

In the front hall, the Head of the Xie Family was waiting. Seeing his sister’s calm and determined gaze, he knew she had committed to the responsibility.

He stepped forward. Noticing no one else was there, Xie Xuanzhao asked, “Where is the Little Prince?”

Without the designated heir, how could the officials be put at ease?

The Xie Family Head shook his head gravely. “I only found out last night. Prince Ding has long been colluding with Lin Yulang. They plan to bypass our family and personally support the Little Prince’s ascension so that Prince Ding can rule as a Regent.”

“We knew Prince Ding’s heart,” Xie Xuanzhao said coldly. “I just didn’t expect him to be so impatient.”

“Prince Ding doesn’t trust that we outsiders will truly support his son; he thinks we are just making a puppet emperor,” the Head of the family said, looking out at the bleak winter scenery. “Sister, it is human nature.”

Xie Xuanzhao pondered for a moment. “Then, until a suitable candidate appears, I must trouble Brother to temporarily manage the government and control the situation.”

Her brother looked at her deeply. “Do you have a plan?”

“Since they think we are supporting a puppet, we have every reason to change the candidate. Prince Ding isn’t the only one in the royal family with a son,” Xie Xuanzhao said frostily.

“Changing the heir is no easy task. It will cause factions to clash.”

Xie Xuanzhao’s eyes flashed. “Brother, please wait for news.”

The Confrontation

Half a month passed. The Emperor’s funeral ended. The Xie Family Head held the regency while Xie Xuanzhao controlled the harem. Rumors swirled that the world now belonged to the Xie family.

The Xie Head ignored the noise, maintaining a firm grip on the court, using the excuse of “carefully selecting an heir” to stall until Prince Ding could no longer sit still.

Prince Ding, holding the “Little Prince” card, had been arrogant for days. Seeing no move to crown the boy, he realized things had changed. He gathered the remnants of Lin Yulang’s faction and began his counterattack.

On a cold winter morning before New Year’s Eve, Prince Ding’s cronies struck first, demanding the immediate crowning of a new emperor and accusing the Empress of usurping power by delaying the succession.

Xie Xuanzhao sat high above, composed. After the officials had finished their shouting, she stood up, her gaze sweeping the room with majestic dignity.

“The reason for the delay is that the Emperor’s passing was sudden. We need time. You should not be so hasty.”

“The national mourning has passed for half a month! How can we not be anxious?!”

Xie Xuanzhao sneered, looking at the confident Prince Ding. “That is because I have decided that Prince Ding’s young son is not suitable to be the new Emperor.”

“The Empress chose him herself! To change now is fickle and will not convince the masses!”

Xie Xuanzhao stood tall, surveying the ministers. She spoke slowly:

“How do you know that the late Emperor did not leave behind a child in the womb?”