Emperor Wenhui, Murong Min, had been indulging in debauchery in the hot spring pool behind Duchess Lonely Lanyue's palace for several days. Su Rou had replaced the special wine with normal ones last night.
Moreover, the emperor was truly exhausted from the excessive pleasure. Today, he had lost his interest and felt weak. So, he dismissed the group of women.
Seeing the women leave, especially Su Rou, Hairpin curled her lips into a smile.
She sat in front of Lonely Lanyue's dressing table and applied the queen's rouge on her cheeks. For lipstick, she chose the honey - sweet one that Lonely Lanyue rarely used because its color was extremely bright.
Lonely Lanyue preferred more sedate colors, believing that the honey - sweet lipstick would make a naturally charming face look too coquettish.
Hairpin secretly took a small hairpin flower of the queen and put it in her hair.
She also let down a few strands of her fringe, exuding a coquettish charm.
She smiled at herself in the bronze mirror, then turned around, picked up the tea tray on the tea table, and walked towards Murong Min.
Seeing Murong Min lying on the couch to rest, she tiptoed over and massaged his temples, saying in a voice as gentle as a nightingale, "Your Majesty, is the strength suitable?"
Murong Min closed his eyes and said, "No need to serve. I want to sleep alone for a while."
Hairpin let go of her hands. While Murong Min wasn't paying attention, she deliberately pulled open her front collar a bit, picked up the teapot, and said, "Your Majesty, this servant has brewed some tea to refresh you. Would Your Majesty like to have a taste?"
Murong Min didn't respond to her.
Actually, Hairpin could imitate Lonely Lanyue's voice. Although she couldn't be exactly the same, she could achieve about six or seven percent similarity.
She imitated Lonely Lanyue's tone and said, "Your Majesty has been exhausted for several days. I'm sure Your Majesty is tired. This servant has added deer antler in the tea. After drinking it, Your Majesty will regain energy quickly."
Hearing this, Murong Min opened his eyes. He thought it was the queen, but found it was the queen's personal maid.
Murong Min sized her up for a while, looking at the faint glimpse of her cleavage and the rouge on her face. He said calmly, "You've put on makeup? It's against the palace rules for maids to wear makeup."
Hairpin's hand trembled. She quickly explained, "Your Majesty, this servant didn't! It's just too hot by the hot spring pool, so this servant's face is a bit red."
Murong Min took the teacup and looked at her a few more times. There was no emotion in the emperor's gentle and elegant eyes. "It doesn't matter. Your voice is quite similar to the queen's."
When Hairpin refilled the tea, her finger accidentally touched Murong Min's. Her eyes, filled with a glimmer of water, showed a timid smile. "Someone in South Chu used to say the same. It's an honor for this servant to be somewhat similar to Her Majesty the Queen."
Murong Min smiled at her. "You're a smart and eloquent girl."
Hairpin blushed and smiled shyly. She thought this emperor was much more kind - hearted than Huo Wei. That Huo Wei was always fierce, with a pair of eyes full of ferocity and killing intent, making him hard to approach.
She didn't really desire great wealth and honor. It was just that she had been the one serving the emperor in bed, but the emperor didn't know. The more she thought about it, the more unwilling she became. She didn't want to be a servant for the rest of her life.
However, if she confronted Lonely Lanyue openly, and if the latter became the female emperor in the future, she might not let the Song family live in peace.
So, she could only act secretly, making the emperor insist on taking her as a concubine. In this way, it wouldn't be her fault.
Murong Min asked, "How old are you?"
Just as Hairpin was about to answer, someone came outside the palace. The hasty footsteps seemed to indicate an urgent matter.
Concubine Wei Enxian came over with red - rimmed eyes and knelt in front of the emperor. "Your Majesty, this concubine has finally seen Your Majesty!"
Murong Min sat up. "What's wrong, my love? Why are you crying?"
Concubine Wei Enxian said, "This concubine is here on behalf of the late queen to admonish Your Majesty. What Your Majesty has been doing in the queen's palace might not be good if it gets out. This concubine is also worried about Your Majesty's health. It's not okay to keep exhausting like this!"
Murong Min didn't like concubines interfering in his private life. "That's enough. I'm just in the mood occasionally, not every day."
Concubine Wei Enxian said tremblingly, "Under normal circumstances, as long as Your Majesty is happy, this concubine definitely won't say anything.
But Your Majesty should think about it. The Crown Prince of Dongning is still in the hot spring palace.
This concubine has inquired. The Crown Prince of Dongning, Xie Xuanjin, has just been strolling around the hot spring palace these days. He didn't let any beauty serve him. His conduct is extremely upright and rigorous.
Your Majesty can imagine that when Beiyan is cooperating with Dongning, if the Crown Prince of Dongning sees Your Majesty like this... will he have a negative view of Beiyan?
After all, it concerns the future interests of the two countries. The Crown Prince of Dongning surely hopes that Your Majesty will always focus on state affairs and not put your mind elsewhere."
Hairpin looked left and right, not daring to say a word. But she felt uncomfortable in her heart. If Murong Min became upright, what chance would she have?
Murong Min cleared his throat, looking a bit solemn. "My love is right to remind me."
After saying that, Murong Min was about to get up and leave Duchess Lonely's palace. Concubine Wei Enxian suppressed her voice and said behind him, "Your Majesty, this concubine heard that the queen has been drinking heavily in Biqing Pool. Look, neither the emperor nor the empress of Beiyan is behaving properly. Your Majesty should go and persuade her."
The little maid beside her said timidly, "I heard that Her Majesty the Queen has cleared all the people around Biqing Pool. No one is allowed to go up. I don't know what she's doing. It's been almost a day."
Concubine Wei Enxian was angry. "Bold! This palace is talking to His Majesty. What are you butting in for! Someone, drag this maid out for me!"
Murong Min was an emperor with a very suspicious nature. Concubine Wei Enxian had been with him for many years and had mastered the art of speaking skillfully.
She never said directly what she had discovered. Instead, she subtly guided, speaking vaguely and letting Murong Min guess and imagine on his own.
Murong Min put his hands behind his back and strode out quickly. The wind brought by his robe seemed to turn gloomy. "I'll go and see for myself. Don't alarm anyone."
Concubine Wei Enxian also followed behind. When she lowered her eyebrows, the corner of her lips curled up inadvertently. She exchanged a glance with her trusted maid beside her, and they both smiled, just waiting to watch the show.
There was also news from Wei Zhiruo. She was guarding the entire path up the mountain, and no one could get through.
At this moment, that crazy guard should have succeeded. Lonely Lanyue was about to be deposed as the queen and thrown into the cold palace. She almost burst out laughing.
Murong Min and Concubine Wei Enxian walked towards Biqing Pool. The emperor's steps were a bit fast, and Concubine Wei Enxian could hardly keep up with him. "Your Majesty, slow down. There's no need to be in a hurry."
Murong Min walked with a gloomy face and didn't answer. He quickly reached the outside of Biqing Pool.
Concubine Wei Enxian pricked up her ears, listening for any sound from inside.
Without any hesitation, Murong Min walked in. The main pool of Biqing Pool was shrouded in mist, and there were indeed figures moving inside. He glared angrily in that direction.