Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C127 pt1

According to the Great Liang system, the bestowal of imperial titles followed the father and the son.

In other words, it depended on the official rank of the husband and son, and the rank also followed the father and son. There was no instance of a woman being independently granted the title of Madam.

Of course, there were exceptions, unless the Emperor bestowed special grace.

During the Xuanzong era, there was a woman who received a special reward. After her husband died in battle, she led his men in a desperate defense of the city, routing the enemy and causing them to suffer a great defeat. She was specially granted the title of Lady of the Nation, which was considered an extraordinary exception.

He wants to grant her the title of Madam?

But if such an award were to be bestowed, wouldn't it be obvious that there was an illicit relationship between them? But then Wushuang thought again; probably everyone already knew, so she didn't refuse.

"What do you think of the title 'Lady Fengtian'?"

Wushuang didn't think much of it and said, "If Your Majesty thinks it's good, then it's good."

"Then how will you thank this Emperor?"

These words startled Wushuang. When she looked into his eyes again, she inexplicably understood the meaning within them, and her cheeks flushed instantly.

She hesitated again and again, then leaned over and kissed his chin.

"You think you can dismiss this Emperor with just that?" he said in a low, husky voice.

"Your Majesty..."

He lightly tapped his thin lips.

She subconsciously looked around, only to realize that Fusheng and the others had retreated at some unknown time.

With no one around, she grew a little bolder. She hesitantly and timidly offered her cherry lips, but ultimately, she was still inexperienced, only gently pecking at them. Just as she was about to retreat, her small tongue was captured.

This kiss was completely different from usual. If the usual was a slow simmer over a gentle flame, this time it was a raging fire. As their lips and teeth intertwined, Wushuang's breathing became disordered, and her mind turned to mush.

The collar of her garment was pulled open, revealing the small undergarment beneath.

"Your Majesty, not here," she said, hurriedly pressing down his hand.

Emperor Qianwu raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes filled with fiery light.

In the end, he suppressed his emotions. He stood up, gathered her into his arms, and entered the bedchamber, only to set her down before the dragon bed.

Still somewhat dazed, she looked at his face and realized he wanted her to help him change.

Mei Wushuang could only tremble as she went to assist him with disrobing.

As each garment was removed, Emperor Qianwu's fine physique was gradually revealed. When only his undergarment remained, he abruptly stopped her, instead lying down on the dragon bed and watching her, who still stood before the bed.

"Don't only attend to this Emperor."

She immediately understood, but her hand, resting on her collar, remained hesitant.

In that moment, Wushuang felt utterly ashamed, and somewhat resentful of his coercion. He was not usually like this, yet today he was.

But the arrow was on the string, and she dared not refuse, so she blushed and removed her garments one by one.

When only her bodice and underpants remained, she already felt she had no face to show anyone, and tightly embraced herself. At this, he beckoned her, saying, "Come here."

She approached, then cautiously climbed onto the bed, lying down on the inner side.

He made no move. In truth, Wushuang was puzzled. She stole a glance at him, unexpectedly meeting his gaze.

"Your Majesty?"

"This Emperor is tired. Today, you will serve this Emperor."

How could Wushuang know how to serve someone?

Usually, he was the one to take the initiative. Now, he suddenly wanted her to serve him, and she was truly bewildered.

She had originally wanted to refuse, but then saw the sudden coldness in his eyes.

In the end, Wushuang was still very afraid of Emperor Qianwu, especially given his unpredictable temper. The tragic death of that palace maid during their first meeting was still vivid in her mind, and she feared he would suddenly go mad and strangle her.

"This concubine... this concubine truly doesn't know how..." She twisted the hem of her bodice, timidly saying.

"Serve this Emperor as how this Emperor usually treats you."

Upon hearing these words, Wushuang's face flushed crimson. She hesitated for a while longer, until she saw impatience in his eyes, and then she leaned closer.

***

As the afterglow faded, Wushuang's mind was still hazily replaying the previous words.

What did he mean, 'Next time, this Emperor will cherish you properly'?

She felt as though she had misheard. After a moment's thought, she reasoned that His Majesty would have no reason to say such a thing. She must have misheard. Thus, she cast it to the back of her mind.

At that moment, her entire body felt warm and languid, and she didn't want to move an inch. Recalling what had just transpired, and now being held in his embrace once more, an indescribable feeling welled up in her heart, complex beyond measure.

"Go and bathe," he said, gently patting her.

Wushuang opened her eyes in confusion and looked at him. A soft, charming languor unintentionally poured forth, causing the man's eyes to deepen once more, yet he did not change his mind.

"Hurry along. Haven't you had your evening meal yet?"

Only then did she manage to climb out of bed, but her hands were weak, her legs were weak, and even her feet were weak. It wasn't exactly painful, just utterly devoid of strength. She nearly fell as she stepped down from the bed.

He couldn't bear to watch any longer. He rose, scooped her up into his arms, and carried her into the bathing hall before turning to leave. Before long, palace maids entered to attend to her.

Because she was utterly without strength, Wushuang bathed very slowly.

After washing, changing, and doing her hair, she logically shouldn't have needed to style her hair at this hour. Yet, the palace maid insisted on arranging her hair into a bun, even inserting a hairpin into it, and then helped her into a brand-new palace dress.

Every time she came to the palace, she would have new clothes to wear. She wondered where the palace maids conjured so many new garments from.

These clothes were a completely different style from the dark, somber clothes she used to wear. Not only were the colors vibrant, but the designs were also ingenious.

Mei Wushuang was not blind. She could discern good from bad in the mirror. If there were beautiful clothes, she naturally wouldn't wear ugly ones.

She wore a fuchsia-red blouse paired with an ivory-white pleated skirt and was led to a side hall. There, the evening meal had already been laid out, and he had changed back into casual clothes, sitting there waiting for her.

Seeing him adorned in full regalia, dignified and noble, with no trace of his previous impetuousness, Wushuang cursed inwardly, but her face couldn't help but flush.

Seeing her small face slightly flushed, delicate and radiant, Emperor Qianwu's eyes couldn't help but deepen.

Upon witnessing this scene, Fusheng, who was standing to the side, only felt that as he aged, his heart was not as strong as it once was. How could he possibly endure such a sight? Not only could he not bear it, but the Little Madam couldn't either.

It was not until Wushuang spoke hesitantly that the silence was broken.

"Your Ma..."

"Come and eat."

***

Wushuang ate her meal as she usually did. It wasn't her first time dining with him, so she was naturally not as awkward as she had been in the beginning.

Halfway through the meal, he suddenly spoke to her.

Wushuang didn't suspect anything; she simply felt that his temperament was ever-changing—sometimes taciturn, sometimes loquacious, sometimes cold, sometimes warm.

Little did she know, Emperor Qianwu was conversing with Ji Yang within.

He not only spoke of Wushuang's past experiences but also mentioned his intention to bestow upon her the title of Madam.

Naturally, Ji Yang had no objections to this. He immediately nodded in agreement and even proactively suggested that bestowing only the title of Madam was insufficient; she should also be granted a residence.

In truth, Ji Yang's ideal scenario was to bring her into the palace.

However, she was unwilling to enter the palace. Furthermore, after hearing Emperor Qianwu say that there were too many struggles within the harem and that she was indeed unsuited for it, he immediately decided to build a residence for her—preferably one that he could visit whenever he pleased; that would be the best.

Wushuang was unaware that the very person who had insisted on bringing her into the palace had been persuaded so easily. Of course, she couldn't possibly know, and even if she did, she would probably be quite frightened.

Thus, after the meal, he didn't rest. He pulled her to the desk, instructed Fusheng to retrieve a map of the entire capital, and planned to select a location to build a residence for Wushuang.

It was Wushuang's first time seeing such a map. It was densely covered with buildings, and it was clear which residence belonged to which family. Of course, this was limited to the royal relatives, nobles, and officials in the capital; the common people were not marked with surnames.

In reality, this was a defense map of the entire capital, one that even the Privy Council might not possess; it was likely only available within the palace.

Furthermore, there were some strange colors on the map. After Wushuang inquired, she learned that these colors represented whether a residence was vacant.

Generally, when someone in the court was promoted or performed meritorious service, in addition to promotion and monetary rewards, they would also be granted a residence by imperial decree. These marked colors indicated residences that could be bestowed. These residences were mostly vacated when officials retired or were subjected to confiscation of property and exile, and each had different regulations.

Wushuang didn't understand these things; she only saw the Marquis Changyang's Mansion and Duke Zhao's Mansion on the map.

Judging from the map, Duke Zhao's Mansion was closer to the palace than Marquis Changyang's Mansion, which explained why she could arrive in a quarter of an hour when entering the palace quickly.

"I think this place is not bad."

Ji Yang pointed to a residence that used to be a Prince's mansion but was now vacant after being confiscated.

[This place is not good; she will not like it.]

[Are you choosing, or am I?] Ji Yang said, somewhat disgruntled.

Looking at Wushuang again, as expected, a hesitant expression appeared on her face.

Emperor Qianwu was too lazy to argue with him, and said, [The place next to Duke Zhao's mansion is not bad. She is concerned about what people will say, and still wants to put on a show, only then will she feel at ease. If you don't believe me, let her choose between these two places.]

"Or this place?" Ji Yang's hand moved again to the one next to Duke Zhao's mansion.

Mei Wushuang's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but say, "This concubine thinks this place is good."

This time, it was Ji Yang's turn to narrow his eyes.

He pulled Mei Wushuang into his arms and said, "Wushuang, are you reluctant to part with your husband?"

Why ask this again?

Asked twice in one day. After the last time he asked, she was punished. Now he's doing it again? Wushuang was truly frightened by his unpredictable temper, but she didn't dare to protest.

She could only explain again, "He resents this concubine for scheming against him back then, and never pays attention to me. He has his own lover, his cousin concubine. They are very loving, and I am actually superfluous."

Given her previous experience, she deliberately removed the word 'also' from 'he also has his own lover'.

Who knew that Ji Yang, having just awakened, was not only simple and direct, but also had a very strange way of thinking, and also set his sights on the word 'lover'.

"Wushuang, then are we also lovers?"

Uh...

Emperor Qianwu narrowed his eyes and said, [It is exceptionally easy for us to be exposed, you should think twice before you speak and act, so as not to be seen through.]

He was only short of pointing at his nose and saying, I wouldn't say such stupid things, don't ruin my image.

[Why haven't you gone to sleep yet? It's dark outside!]

[I am speaking to you seriously. There are many people in the palace and many eyes and ears. If we are seen through, it may cause unnecessary trouble…]

[I know.]

Then Emperor Qianwu was 'forced' to sleep.