Qionghua Island, Moon Palace.
Shang Qinglan had sobered up. Being young, her body could withstand the effects and recover quickly. Moreover, she had vomited most of the chrysanthemum wine she drank. After sleeping for nearly two hours, she opened her eyes.
Her last memory was lying on a stone as large as a bed, surrounded by the scent of flowers. Yet upon waking, she found herself nestled in a quilt, with the aroma of ambergris lingering in the air. Above her hung a golden dragon-adorned canopy. Shang Qinglan counted nine five-clawed golden dragons coiled across the fabric.
Granny Song had once taught the palace maidens the rules of the court: only the emperor could use the five-clawed dragon motif, while other nobles, including the crown prince, were limited to four claws.
Had she wandered around drunk and accidentally slept on the emperor’s dragon bed?
I didn’t mean to sleep here!
Terrified, Shang Qinglan slipped out of bed barefoot. She noticed her embroidered chrysanthemum python robe was gone, replaced by a brand-new silver-red gown, her long hair left loose and untied.
She couldn’t tell what material the gown was made of—it felt as soft as clouds against her skin, so light it was almost imperceptible, yet wonderfully warm and perfectly fitted. It was as if the Weaving Maid had tailored it from the crimson clouds of sunset. Wearing it, she couldn’t even feel the seams.
How much must this gown be worth?
Surely far more than the chrysanthemum python robe.
At that thought, Shang Qinglan no longer regretted the missing robe. This gown was far more precious—changing clothes had turned out to be no loss at all.
Fondly stroking the gown, she grinned foolishly. Faint sounds from outside caught her attention, and she followed the noise, pushing aside layers of golden curtains until she saw a Taoist priest with his hair tied in a topknot, wearing a black Taoist Robe embroidered with the Eight Trigrams, seated in meditation on a cushion.
His eyes were closed, murmuring incantations as he rhythmically struck a long, ruler-like bronze ritual instrument with a small hammer, producing a serene, melodious sound.
Shang Qinglan felt a flutter of nervousness, but the chanting and the instrument’s resonance gradually calmed her heart.
She approached slowly, seating herself on a cushion opposite the Taoist. Mimicking his meditative posture, she cleared her throat lightly and said, “Venerable Immortal, may I ask where this place is? Do you know the way to the Chrysanthemum Garden? I seem to have lost my way.”
This Taoist was none other than the Jiajing Emperor. The intoxicating beauty was still asleep, and his thoughts had already begun to wander, desires stirring. Yet, bound by imperial dignity, he would not take advantage of her vulnerable state. Instead, he immersed himself in meditation and chanting to suppress his urges.
Deep in his recitations, lost in a trance while striking the chime, he was abruptly pulled back to reality when the drunken beauty addressed him as “Venerable Immortal.”
Startled, the Jiajing Emperor’s hand slipped—the small hammer struck the wooden frame holding the bronze chime instead.
The sound instantly shifted from melodious to a clumsy, dull thud.
Amused, Shang Qinglan giggled.
A eunuch standing inconspicuously in the corner immediately scolded, “How dare you, palace maiden, mock the Emperor!”
So this “Venerable Immortal” was the Emperor!
Like a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger, Shang Qinglan’s first impression of the elegant, transcendent “Venerable Immortal” had already taken root. To her, he radiated an immortal aura, as if he might ascend with the wind at any moment and achieve divinity.
In Shang Qinglan’s eyes, immortals were like the Bodhisattva Guanyin—omnipotent saviors who alleviated suffering. And the emperor, she believed, was the closest a mortal could come to being a god.Therefore, Shang Qinglan wasn't afraid but grew increasingly excited, exclaiming in amazement, "So this is what the emperor looks like!"
The attendant scolded, "Audacious court lady! How dare you recklessly comment on the imperial countenance!"
The Jiajing Emperor said, "Leave."
"Oh." Shang Qinglan stood up.
"Not you." The Jiajing Emperor addressed the attending eunuchs, "All of you, withdraw."
Where is Huang Jin? Why are only these tactless fools serving by my side!
The eunuchs silently retreated, leaving only Shang Qinglan and the Jiajing Emperor in the grand hall.
The Jiajing Emperor asked, "What did you think I should look like?"
Having been spoiled by her father since childhood, Shang Qinglan possessed blind self-confidence and inner strength, unaware of what fear meant. She spoke bluntly, "I imagined a white-bearded old man wearing dragon robes, who didn't need to do anything but stamp seals all day. He'd be followed by hundreds of attendants, just like Consort Jing - never needing to peel grapes himself, not even having to spit out the seeds. Someone would always peel the fruit, remove the seeds, and place them in a bowl for him to enjoy at will."
The women the Jiajing Emperor had encountered were either subservient, fawningly clingy, or trying to strangle him with white silk. This was the first time he'd met such an innocent yet bold woman who showed no fear of imperial authority. Her words seemed nonsensical yet carried sincerity - these were her genuine thoughts.
She resembled a clear, babbling stream where one could see the swimming fish at the bottom, every single waterweed distinctly visible.
At this moment, the Jiajing Emperor remained in his meditation posture. Shang Qinglan had forgotten to perform the proper greetings and stood while speaking, forcing the emperor to look up at her.
Huang Jin, understanding the emperor's pleased disposition, anticipated that he might favor this court lady today. Thus, when Shang Qinglan was carried to the Moon Palace, preparations for receiving imperial favor were already made. The palace matrons bathed her, changed her clothes, and dressed her in a silver-red feathered robe woven from the softest feathers of white swans, making it incredibly light. If rain splashed on the feathered robe, it would bead up like dew on lotus leaves, rolling off with a gentle shake without dampening the garment.
Beneath the robe, she wore nothing else, facilitating the emperor's convenience and sparing him exertion - after all, the emperor never peeled his own grapes either.
The Jiajing Emperor observed her ten slightly upturned toes with pink, healthy nails, her delicate ankles, and everything above concealed by the feathered robe.
Using his chiming hammer, the emperor lifted the feathered robe and looked up to find nothing beneath. His long-dormant candle ignited!
Only seasoned servants like Huang Jin who had grown up with him truly understood his needs! Everything had been prepared!
The kindled candle eagerly awaited to illuminate the red makeup. The Jiajing Emperor discarded the hammer, grasped Shang Qinglan's hand, and pulled her into his embrace.
Shang Qinglan gasped, "Don't... I... I'm not used to sitting on a man's lap. Your Majesty, I'd rather sit on the meditation cushion."
The Jiajing Emperor looked at the beauty in his arms, "You're not going anywhere. I shall be your flesh cushion - you'll sit right here."
With these words, the emperor opened her robe, revealing her plump double chin. Shang Qinglan hadn't been eating in vain these days - she had gained over five pounds in less than fifteen days.
Sitting on the old emperor's lap, the belatedly aware Shang Qinglan finally realized she wasn't wearing trousers, explaining why she'd felt so drafty while walking earlier!
The Jiajing Emperor gently stroked her neck, tucking stray hairs from her double chin behind her ear, "It seems the palace cuisine agrees with you quite well."A girl of this age, plump yet not stout, still carrying a hint of childish innocence, was like a freshly refined elixir—rosy and full, surrounded by an ethereal aura, making one unable to resist the urge to taste one.
Being caressed by the old immortal she had just met, Shang Qinglan grew instantly nervous, her body trembling. "Your... Your Majesty, I... your humble consort knows nothing. Granny Song hasn’t had time to teach me how to attend the bedchamber. I see it’s already dusk, and I haven’t had dinner yet. On another day, when I’ve practiced thoroughly, I will surely apply all I’ve learned to serve Your Majesty well in the bedchamber, guaranteeing your satisfaction."
Shang Qinglan was still unaware of the affairs between men and women. She thought attending the bedchamber was like practicing etiquette in the Palace of Gathered Elegance—with more practice, she would become proficient.
The Jiajing Emperor was taken aback, then burst into laughter. It had been a long time since he had laughed like this. Suddenly feeling the impulsiveness of youth in his old age, he lifted Shang Qinglan and placed her on the dragon bed. "How to attend the bedchamber, I will teach you myself. Only a master can produce a skilled disciple."
Fearing the flowers would sleep too deeply in the night, he lit red candles to illuminate her rosy attire.
Just as the pear blossom was about to overwhelm the begonia, sudden loud noises erupted from outside.
Not only was Shang Qinglan unafraid, she even excitedly scrambled up from the bed. "It sounds like someone is setting off fireworks. I love watching fireworks the most."
The Forbidden City had strict rules. Who would dare set off fireworks recklessly when it was neither a festival nor a holiday?
The Jiajing Emperor, ever suspicious, did not know what was happening outside but instinctively recognized it as gunfire. The old candle was immediately extinguished.
The Jiajing Emperor said, "Stay here and do not move. I have matters to attend to. Wait for my return."
Striding out of the bedroom, he ordered the eunuchs, "Quickly send a pigeon post! Summon Lu Bing to the palace to protect me!"
Now in his fifties, the Jiajing Emperor had encountered two extremely perilous life-threatening disasters: one was a fire in the traveling palace, and the other was when palace maids tried to strangle him with a white silk cord. Both times, it was Lu Bing who rushed in to save him.
The Jiajing Emperor regarded Lu Bing as a lucky general. As long as he was present, even the worst situations could be controlled.
The Moon Palace was swiftly placed under strict lockdown, with all passages sealed. The Jiajing Emperor sat upright in the main hall, quietly awaiting news.
Outwardly calm, his heart was like a stormy sea, turbulent with towering waves.
What had happened? The first thought that crossed the Jiajing Emperor’s mind was that Yu Wang was attempting a coup!
It must be that rebellious son Yu Wang! Resenting me for refusing to let him see his birth mother one last time, resenting me for not preparing to enter the palace, resenting me for disregarding ancestral laws, favoring Jing Wang, and delaying his appointment as crown prince!
As he pondered, Huang Jin’s subordinate returned. "Eunuch Huang sent this servant to report to Your Majesty: the gunshots were ordered by Eunuch Huang, commanded by the Imperial Bodyguards, to save Commander Lu. We apologize for disturbing Your Majesty and beg for your forgiveness."
Huang Jin had guessed that the Jiajing Emperor, the old candle, was illuminating rosy attire, but the situation left him no choice but to fire shots and spoil the emperor’s mood.
So it was not a coup. The Jiajing Emperor’s heart settled, only to tighten again. "Who would dare harm Commander Lu?"
The precious daughter of his milk brother must not come to harm in the Forbidden City. How could he explain it to his milk brother?
The eunuch replied, "Judging by their attire, they appear to be guards from Prince Jing’s residence."
The Jiajing Emperor pressed, "Has Jing Wang entered the palace? What is he here for? Why would he attack Lu Ying?"
The eunuch replied, "This subordinate does not know. After the shots were fired, Eunuch Huang, concerned for Your Majesty, sent this servant first to explain to you."Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that the usually obedient and docile Jing Wang would commit such a mad act. Lu Ying had been on duty at the Western Garden these days, protecting the Jiajing Emperor on behalf of her father. Now Jing Wang's men were hunting her down—could it be that he intended to force his way into the palace and rebel?
The Jiajing Emperor, inherently suspicious even of his own son, declared, "Disarm all the guards of Jing Wang's residence and take them into custody. Furthermore, the Forbidden City is to be placed under lockdown effective immediately—close all palace gates. Order the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Valiant Camp of the Imperial Stables to rush to Qionghua Island for reinforcement. The Eastern Depot is to proceed to Jing Wang's residence at once and secure all exits, allowing no one in or out."
Author's Note: A fifty-three-year-old pear tree crushes a thirteen-year-old crabapple blossom—a gap of forty years!
But don't be too shocked just yet—there's an even more jaw-dropping "You Were Born When I Was Already Old" couple yet to come.
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