Chapter 75, Warm Fragrance
Chapter 75, Warm Fragrance (Part )
In the blink of an eye it is Mid-Autumn Festival.
Although it was not yet dark, the palace was already decorated with lights and filled with a festive and lively atmosphere.
*
In the Palace of Fanghua, the fragrance of laurel fills the air.
Shen Qingtang had just drunk a bowl of medicine and was feeling dizzy when Shi Liu and the others surrounded her and brought her to the dressing table.
Shi Liu was combing her long hair with a wooden comb in her hand while chattering non-stop.
"Although today is a family banquet, I have already inquired about it. Tonight's banquet is extremely lively. There will not only be highly skilled jugglers, but also the Hu Xuan Dance rehearsed by the Jiaofang Bureau..."
Shen Qingtang didn't pay attention to anything else Shi Liu said, except for what she heard about the Jiaofangsi.
Concubine Liang said that the lead dancer of the Jiaofangsi was a stunningly beautiful woman.
She didn't think there was anything wrong before, but today she couldn't help but feel a little more expectant.
Emperor Yuji took Lian Chi into his harem because of his stunning beauty at first sight.
Then, will he be tempted by the stunning beauty that Empress Ye specially prepared for Emperor Yu Ji today and take her into his harem?
As Shen Qingtang was thinking about this, a hint of strangeness flashed across his eyes.
However, when she looked through the bronze mirror in front of her and saw Shi Liu and the others who were all excited, the smile on her face suddenly became more genuine.
"Mid-Autumn Night Banquet, it seems like you are all looking forward to it?" Shen Qingtang smiled, "If it's going to be fun, then let's join in. You can follow me in the evening so that you can enjoy the feast."
Compared to her, Shi Liu and the others are still half-grown children.
Kids, why don’t you like to join in the fun?
Except for An Lan, Shi Liu and Amber were so excited that they almost jumped up from the ground.
Looking at their joyful expressions, An Lan couldn't help but think of what Concubine Liang said two days ago, and she couldn't help but frown slightly with some worry.
"My lady, I always feel that the lead dancer of this Jiaofangsi is not simple." I heard that she is an exotic beauty with a completely different style from her lady. I'm afraid that the Jiaofangsi's intention of letting her lead the dance tonight is not for the sake of dancing, but for——
While An Lan was worried, Shi Liu and the other person, who were originally excited about being able to join Shen Qingtang for the fun tonight, also changed their expressions.
Pomegranate and Amber said in unison: "You mean, she wants to enter the palace and become a mistress?"
An Lan frowned and said, "It's just some guesses."
It's just some speculation, but it makes people feel like they are facing a formidable enemy.
"My lady, I will re-dress you. This outfit is too plain and cannot bring out your infinite beauty at all!"
Before Shi Liu could start rummaging through the boxes and cupboards to look for clothes, Shen Qingtang stopped her, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"There's no need to mobilize so many troops. If the emperor is tempted, even if you dress me up as a fairy from heaven, it won't stop her from entering the palace."
"But--"
Shen Qingtang curved his lips into a smile and interrupted her words.
"Just let nature take its course."
*
Jiaofangsi, dance practice ground.
Amid the sounds of bamboo string and wind music, a hot woman in a red exotic dance dress, with a waist as slender as a water snake, danced. With every step she took, the bell anklets on her ankles jingled.
Just as she was surrounded by a group of dancers and dancing to her heart's content, a little eunuch flashed by in the dance practice room.
With just one glance, she slowly retreated from the dance practice room, and finally disappeared from the dance practice room.
As soon as she came out of the dance practice room, she was pulled into an unknown corner by a hand.
"You are here now, but do you have any new instructions?"
Hearing the woman's enchanting voice with strange intonation, the young eunuch looked around carefully, then stealthily took out a bottle of ointment from his bosom.
"This is what the queen ordered me to bring to you, Miss Toya." "What is this?"
Toya took the ointment bottle and just as she opened the white jade lid inlaid with gems a little, the young eunuch hurriedly closed it again.
But even so, there is still a strange fragrance lingering in the air.
Toya frowned slightly, "Is this ointment? Why does it smell so strange?"
As she said this, Toya looked at the young eunuch with an inquiring expression.
"This incense is very improper. Does the queen have any instructions?"
"As expected, Miss Toya, you guessed it right. The queen said..." Perhaps out of vigilance, the eunuch suddenly leaned close to Toya's ear and whispered, "The queen said that this is a warm fragrance specially made for men. She asked you to find an opportunity to apply it on your body, and then..."
Warm fragrance?!
Although she had some guesses, when Toya heard that this incense was a forbidden incense that tempted lust, her face suddenly changed.
"This is a capital crime. If anyone knew about it—"
Toya wanted to throw away the bottle of ointment in her hand, but under the threatening gaze of the little eunuch, she could only hold it tightly in her hand.
"Is this incense necessary?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the young eunuch laughed sinisterly.
"Miss Tuoya, if you are absolutely sure that the emperor will fall in love with you at first sight, you don't need to use this fragrance. But if you can't seduce the emperor tonight, you might as well think about your poor brother..."
The young eunuch tapped Toya in a warning tone, looked her up and down with a presumptuous look, and a strange smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"Miss Tuoya, don't blame me for not reminding you. If you mess up this matter, not only will your brother's life be in danger, but you yourself will also be in danger!"
After saying that, he no longer cared about what Toya was planning, and walked out with his back hunched.
Toya, who was left in the darkness by him, listened to the vague vocal and drum beats outside. The hesitation and struggle that flashed in her eyes were replaced by a hint of playfulness.
"Does the Emperor of Daqian know that his Queen is plotting against him in secret?"
……
When Toya returned to the dance practice hall with the fragrance of warmth, Emperor Yu Ji, who was plotted against by Queen Ye, appeared in Fanghua Palace with Jiang Quan after handling government affairs for a day.
It was probably the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the lunar month. The laurel trees in the courtyard of Fanghua Palace were in full bloom, giving off a rich fragrance in the gentle autumn breeze.
Before he entered the hall, he could faintly hear a few pleading voices coming from the bedroom.
"... Young Master, please try it. I think this silver silk brocade dress with hundreds of flowers is the most suitable for your temperament..."
"... and this gorgeous cloud skirt, paired with the set of jewelry the emperor gave you earlier, will surely make you as beautiful as a goddess..."
"...With us here, not to mention the beautiful dancer, even if it's a fairy from heaven, she will be eclipsed and won't take away even a bit of your glory..."
……
“…Please, just give it a try…”
In the bedroom, as soon as Emperor Yu Ji passed through the pearl curtain, he saw Shi Liu and the others, each holding a skirt, and pestering Shen Qingtang.
As for Shen Qingtang himself, when he saw Emperor Yuji, it was like he saw a life-saving straw. He quickly left Shi Liu and the others, who were weak and helpless, and hid behind Emperor Yuji.
However, before she could ask for help, Emperor Yuji took the silver silk embroidered flowers skirt from Shi Liu's hand and gestured it in front of Shen Qingtang.
"Do you want me to wear it for you?"
(End of this chapter)