His asking such a question at this moment both surprised and delighted Ye Xinxin.
Could it be that the emperor was just momentarily interested and thus intended to invite her to dine with the empress dowager?
With such an exciting thought in mind, she trembled slightly with her hands and lowered her head, not daring to meet the man's gaze.
"Not yet, Your Majesty. You've been working so hard for so long. You must be hungry. Then I won't delay you and disturb you from going to Mother's place."
Playing hard - to - get was a new trick that He Hui had taught her last night.
The more she desired a certain result in her heart, the more she had to restrain herself. Only in this way could she gain others' favor, just like now.
The young emperor was not one to be indecisive. He simply spoke bluntly.
"You come with me to the Shoukang Palace to accompany the empress dowager for dinner. Don't be so troublesome."
Sure enough, he had taken the bait.
Ye Xinxin played the role of a gentle and generous woman to the fullest. She just kept closely following the man without making any further moves.
It wasn't until they arrived at the Shoukang Palace that Shi Muwǎn was a bit surprised to see the unexpected guest.
"The noble consort is here too."
"I've intruded unannounced and disturbed Your Majesty and the empress dowager. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Fortunately, Shi Muwǎn was an easy - going person and never bothered about such trivial matters.
"It's okay. It's just one more pair of chopsticks. I cooked today. You can have a taste and see if it's delicious."
Even though Shi Muwǎn had already spoken, Ye Xinxin still abided by the rules and sat upright on one side, responding from time to time.
This was rather interesting.
Shi Muwǎn had witnessed what kind of person Ye Xinxin, the noble consort, was last time.
Looking at her today, she seemed like a completely different person from the one she had met last time. People who didn't know might even think she had been replaced.
Shi Muwǎn pursed her lips and slowly said, "I heard that the noble consort suddenly went to Lady He Hui's place last night and didn't come out until a long time later."
Her words made Ye Xinxin's hands tremble. She was afraid that her shrewish behavior would be discovered and quickly explained in a flurry.
"I didn't mean to make such a fuss. It's just that I can't sleep well alone. Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I won't be so reckless in the future."
The way she knelt on the ground, looking aggrieved and admitting her mistake, gave Shi Muwǎn a headache.
"The noble consort doesn't need to be so excited. I'm just asking casually. You've changed a lot compared to the way I saw you before."
She was insinuating.
Ye Xinxin's face turned pale. "I was ignorant before. If I've made the empress dowager angry, you can punish me now."
Even Ji Heng felt a bit uncomfortable seeing her being so well - behaved.
"The noble consort, relax. It was my fault last night for neglecting you. I'll accompany you tonight. The empress dowager just fears that you might not be quite used to life in the palace. Don't worry."
Ye Xinxin never expected that she would achieve such an unexpected result just at the beginning of the day. She almost couldn't hold back her excitement and jump up.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding. Thank you, Your Majesty. With you all here, I feel quite at home."
"That's good."
The meal ended just like this. Ye Xinxin also got the chance to accompany the emperor. Although the result on the first day was not very good, after the second day, she thought that all the previous sufferings were worth it.
"You're not bad. The emperor has sent some nice things. I've brought some for you. Now, tell me, what should we do next?"
She had just tasted the sweetness and surely couldn't stop.
However, He Hui's plan was for her to endure for a while first.
"In order to keep the emperor's freshness towards you, sister, don't go to the emperor these days. The state banquet is coming soon. Think about how you can amaze everyone."
Ye Xinxin was a bit unhappy with such a suggestion.
"Why? If I don't strike while the iron is hot, who knows where the emperor's heart will be in a few days."
"The more afraid you are of losing something, the less likely you are to get it. Even favor is the same. Didn't sister promise to listen to me?"
Ye Xinxin was a bit reluctant.
"I've finally caught the emperor's attention. Isn't there any other way?"
"Then it depends on whether sister wants the emperor's long - term favor or just a few short months of it?"
This question left Ye Xinxin stunned. Of course, she wanted the long - term favor. But long - term favor had been something that no one had ever achieved from ancient times to the present. How could she keep the emperor's heart?
He Hui saw through her thoughts and sneered inwardly.
"Sister should know that you can't have your cake and eat it too. You must think it over."
Finally, Ye Xinxin gritted her teeth and made a painful decision.
"What should I prepare to amaze everyone?"
"Then sister has to think of it herself. I once heard that there was a Jingshong Dance in the south of the Yangtze River. But except for Mr. Li from that area, no one else can dance it. I really can't think of a better way."
Her words kept echoing in Ye Xinxin's mind.
"The Jingshong Dance? Isn't this just a legend?"
Ye Xinxin sat in her palace, her thoughts flying. She had never even seen the Jingshong Dance, only heard of it. How could she perform it at the state banquet?
Just then, her personal maid stepped forward. "Your Ladyship, have you forgotten? The empress dowager has the most ingenious ideas. It's well - known in the palace. Why not go and ask the empress dowager?"
"Are you stupid? If the empress dowager knows, doesn't it mean the emperor will know too?"
The maid was scolded and had to retreat.
But thanks to the maid's reminder, Ye Xinxin thought of someone.
"Go! Write a letter! Invite my former dance teacher into the palace."
This words seemed like a taboo, and the maid's face immediately changed.
"No, Your Ladyship! You've forgotten, haven't you? After what happened back then, that woman has become a taboo for our Ye family. If we let that woman into the palace, it might disrupt your future. No one wants to see that."
"Do you think I have any other options? I can't think of anyone else but her. Hurry up! She must know a lot."
There was no other way. Under her urging, the maid had to go out of the palace herself and bring someone back.
When the maid returned, there was a carriage following behind her, and they entered the palace in the middle of the night.
It wasn't until they reached the noble consort's palace that the person in the carriage was pulled out.
"Hurry up! It's an honor for you to be invited into the palace by our lady. Don't be ungrateful. You don't want your aunt to die in the Ye family, do you?"
A beautiful young girl appeared in front of everyone, making the maids couldn't help but gasp.
What a stunning face! The only person they had ever seen who could rival her was probably Shi Muwǎn.
The woman was extremely beautiful and exuded a cold and aloof aura.