After Lu Xixi left, Yu Yao let the slave move the reward inside the house.
The emperor's gift would naturally not pose any issue, and she could use it with complete confidence and daring.
She chose a few brightly colored fabrics that suited her well, and let Liu Li take them to the Ministry of Manufactures to make several outfits for this season.
The rest of the fabric is stored in the warehouse.
As for the jewelry, she keeps them in a box on her dressing table, and she can take them out whenever she wants to wear them.
Thinking that Emperor Jing was going to come over tonight, she flashed a cunning smile and hid herself inside to make a few lingerie pieces.
There are black, pink, and dreamy purple ones.
Too bad this era doesn't have lace, otherwise it would be even more perfect.
She tried it on and found that it looked very nice.
Su Bo and Liu Li were watching her, too embarrassed to look at Yu Yao with their red faces and flushed cheeks, covering their faces with their hands.
But they couldn't help but sneakily look.
It was a simple belly strap, but the style was changed, and when worn on the body, the effect was completely different.
"Madam, this belly strap is really beautiful; it highlights your figure even more beautifully. The emperor will definitely like it."
Liu Li blushed and said.
"Madam, your appearance is already incredibly beautiful. After wearing this belly strap, you will definitely gain the favor of the emperor in the future. If you can have a son or daughter, you will also have a source of support in the future."
Su Bo also joined in, her little face flushed, and her expression very shy but also very happy.
Yu Yao smiled but said nothing. A son or daughter, huh? She was already pregnant, though it was very early.
She took off her lingerie and sent Su Bo and Liu Li away.
Seeing that there was still some time, she made two more sets of lingerie with much fun elements included. The style was very daring and the fabric used was minimal.
Men all like women with a sense of fun, not to mention Emperor Jing, who is so romantic.
Although Yu Yao was preparing to give up, she couldn't completely do without the emperor's favor, otherwise in this eating-house of a harem, she wouldn't know how she would be trampled upon by others.
Even the child she would have in the future would be looked down upon by others.
But not too much favor, but also receiving the emperor's nightly attention for a few days each month. This is the best situation.
Thinking about the night's banquet with the emperor, which might be intense, and to avoid harming the child in her womb, she took a pregnancy protection pill in advance.
As night fell, the silvery moonlight showered the Yihetian Garden, enveloping the entire palace in a silver veil.
The trees in the courtyard swayed in the breeze, casting patchy shadows.
There were little eunuchs standing by the door, and they heard the sound of the cleansing bell coming from afar.
Stepping out, she realized that it was the emperor who had come to the Yihetian Garden.
After that, she hurriedly went inside to report.
As the imperial procession drew closer, the eunuch's high-pitched voice loudly announced, "The emperor has arrived –"
Hearing the emperor's arrival, Zhuanggui Feipin was startled. Regardless of why the emperor suddenly arrived, she quickly tidied up and hurriedly went out to meet him with her people.
The eastern palace.
Yu Yao also heard the eunuch's high-pitched voice, knowing that the emperor had arrived, and she quickly tidied up and went with Su Bo and Liu Li to the front yard of the main palace.
When she arrived, she found that Shu Meiren, who lived in the west wing palace, had already been waiting there for a while.
The empress concubine Zhuanggui was coming with her attendants in a hurry, her steps were rapid but her expression seemed normal, and she was not overly dressed up.
Behind her, there were several people, including Liu Baolin, Qian Changzai, Zhou Ying, and their expressions were all very excited.
Even though she was not overly dressed up, it was clear that she had put effort into her appearance.
No matter who the emperor was here for, this was a rare opportunity for them to see the emperor.
Mi Cairen was at the back, hurrying along with a worried expression but unable to conceal the joy in her eyes.
She dressed up in colorful flowers and wanted to put as many accessories as possible on her head, which overshadowed the guest and made her appear out of place.
Not long after, Emperor Jing walked in, dressed in ordinary robes, standing tall and proud.
His face was handsome, and his pair of slender, slightly raised peach blossom eyes seemed to contain a few twinkling stars. The waves were brilliant, and his high nose under it, the thin lips slightly raised, with a faint smile.
The night breeze gently blew a few strands of his hair. His sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples. Under the moonlight, he was not only dignified and handsome but also stable. He was handsome and charming, tantalizing male beauty.
"Your concubine welcomes Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live forever, for ever and ever."
Zhuanggui Feipin saw the emperor come in and bow first, bowing respectfully.
Yu Yao, Shu Meiren, Liu Baolin, Qian Changzai, and others stood in a slightly later position and followed suit. "The maidservants and I welcome Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live forever, for ever and ever."
As Mi Cairen was bowing, she kept trying to push herself forward, accidentally stepping on Liu Baolin's foot and drawing Liu Baolin's disapproval.
Mi Cairen, however, seemed not to notice and was desperate to get closer to Emperor Jing. Her eyes held a touch of shyness and fear, and she purposely showed off her delicate white neck, trying to seduce him in an obvious way.
Zhuanggui Feipin watched this in her eyes, her brow furrowing slightly. Unable to make a scene in the presence of the emperor, she did not dare to react.
Yu Yao glanced at Mi Cairen several times, but she was not worried that the emperor would be attracted to her.
The emperor didn't notice Mi Cairen, but his eyes immediately fell on Yu Yao. She was too beautiful, so stunning that she outshined all the beauties present. It was impossible not to notice her.
He slightly curled his lips, knowing full well what sort of occasion this was. He shifted his gaze from her to Zhuanggui Feipin, who led the group, "Stand down, all of you."
Mi Cairen saw that the emperor had not noticed her and became anxious in her heart.
She looked at the dashing and charming appearance of Emperor Jing, especially those enchanting peach blossom eyes, and her soul seemed to have flown away. Her face was flushed.
She stood up and hurriedly approached, her voice sweet as she asked eagerly, "Your Majesty, have you come to see me?"
As the only one among all the concubines who had the emperor's favor, she instinctively thought that Emperor Jing had come to see her.
The emperor, who was absorbed in the sight of Yu Yao, only then noticed Mi Cairen. His gaze fell on her, and his expression held a hint of confusion.
To be honest, he didn't even remember who Mi Cairen was. There were so many beauties in the harem; how could he possibly remember all of them?
Mi Cairen wasn't particularly beautiful or distinctive. She wasn't the type of person who would be unforgettable with just one glance.
"What are you?"
He furrowed his brow, although he didn't remember Mi Cairen, he knew that she was a beauty in the harem, otherwise, she wouldn't be standing here.
This question drew a chorus of snickering from the crowd.
Mi Cairen stood awkwardly in place, her face beet red. She had been with the emperor in the Eastern Palace and he had been very pleased with her, calling her a beauty. How could he have forgotten so quickly?
Zhuanggui Feipin subtly looked at Mi Cairen, although she didn't like her on the inside, she still stepped forward as the hostess to smooth things over.
"Your Majesty, this is Mi Cairen, also known as the beautiful concubine from the East Palace."
With Zhuanggui Feipan's explanation, Emperor Jing remembered. He didn't know who Mi Cairen was, but he had a vague impression of the beautiful concubine from the East Palace.
He remembered, this woman was pretty dumb, her personality wasn't very likeable, but her appearance was good, and she was easy to satisfy in bed. So he would occasionally take her to bed a month or two ago.
But once he got bored, it was just a matter of course, so he put her aside. Recently, he couldn't even remember her.
Although he remembered Mi Cairen, he paid no attention to her. Today, he had come to see Yu Yao.
Seeing that the emperor had no reaction, Mi Cairen thought he hadn't remembered her yet, and she became anxious. She spoke in a soft voice, "Your Majesty, these days, my lady has been thinking of you day and night."
Emperor Jing did not respond to her. There were many women in the harem who missed him.
He swept his gaze over the faces of everyone present, finally landing on Yu Yao. She stood there quietly, so radiant that she seemed to overshadow everyone else, as if they were mere accompaniment.
She smiled at herself, her eyes gentle, and it warmed his heart.
Seeing that the emperor only looked at Yu Yao, with a gentle gaze in his eyes, Mi Cairen was jealous in her heart. She wanted to speak, but the emperor did not answer her several times and did not remember her either. She dared not speak anymore.
Fearful of angering the emperor.
She had all her recklessness because she believed she had some favor in the emperor's eyes. If the emperor didn't remember who she was, naturally, she wouldn't dare to act too impolite.
Shu Meiren, Liu Baolin, Qian Changzai, and Zhou Ying were almost laughing in their hearts.
It seems that Mi Cairen is nothing in the emperor's heart, and he doesn't even remember her.
If that's the case, they have nothing to fear from her. Who is better than whom?
"All of you may leave. I came tonight to see Yu Yao."
Emperor Jing grew impatient with the bunch of women standing here and pulled Yu Yao's hand, leading her to the eastern hall.
