184: Mother and Daughter

Chapter 183 Mother and Daughter

"What? His Majesty is coming tonight?"

The fully matured Li Lizhen was overcome with excitement upon learning that His Majesty was coming tonight.

She hurriedly had her personal maid bring over some silver and shoved it all into the hands of the Jingshi Department's Father-in-law.

The Father-in-law hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Noble Lady Zhen, you mustn't do this! Won't doing this shorten this old servant's life?!"

Li Lizhen said, "Father-in-law need not worry. This is merely to treat Father-in-law to some tea. It has been so hot, and Father-in-law has worked hard..."

The Father-in-law glanced at the silver in his hands, thought about it, and accepted it after all.

"Noble Lady Zhen, His Majesty hasn't come to your place in over a year. You must serve him well later!"

"Only then can this old servant properly schedule shifts for Noble Lady Zhen in the future. Don't you agree~"

"Yes, yes, yes. Father-in-law is right."

Li Lizhen said, "I will prepare right away and respectfully await Your Majesty's arrival."

"Good, then this old servant will take his leave first."

As the Father-in-law left, Dongyun Yu behind Li Lizhen suddenly curled her lips and said, "Mom, why are you sucking up to this eunuch so much?"

"You are a Noble Lady, after all..."

Li Lizhen smiled bitterly and said, "Dongyun Yu, you don't understand. In the entire imperial palace, there are over a hundred imperial concubines with the rank of Noble Lady alone. What does your mother amount to?"

"If it weren't for the two of you staying by Mother's side and constantly accompanying Mother... Never mind, hurry up and help Mother wash up. His Majesty will be here soon."

"Mm-hm."

Served by her two daughters, Li Lizhen came to the bathroom, scattered flower petals, and began to wash up.

At this time, Li Lizhen was at a woman's most mature age, her entire body incomparably fair, tender as scallion whites, and supremely plump.

Especially the peach-like buttocks behind her, with their deep cleft, which surely knew not how many wild bees and butterflies they could attract.

Her two daughters were already sixteen years old and had grown into graceful young women, standing slender and upright, even prettier than she had been back then.

Dongyun Jie wiped Li Lizhen's arm and said enviously, "Mother, you are so pretty, and touching you feels so comfortable~ No wonder Older Brother Emperor likes you so much~!"

Dongyun Yu also said, "That's right, that's right, Mother. You smell so good, and when we sleep at night, the blankets are especially warm~"

"Nonsense, Mother is already old. In the future, I will still have to rely mostly on the two of you."

Li Lizhen said with a smile, though her expression was somewhat dim.

"Mother, what's wrong with you? What are you thinking about?"

"N—Nothing."

Li Lizhen shook her head and said, "Right, Dongyun Jie, Dongyun Yu, have you two thought about it? Do you want to leave the palace?"

"Mother asked some of her old acquaintances, and with the money His Majesty has rewarded us with these past few years, we can completely buy a courtyard outside the palace, and then—"

"Mother!"

Dongyun Yu asked curiously, "Why do you want me and Older Sister to live outside the palace?"

"Isn't it good living in the palace?"

"Not only can we accompany you, Mother, but we can also occasionally see Older Brother Emperor."

"Older Brother Emperor even said last time that he is going to teach us cultivation."

"Cultivation..."

Li Lizhen's lips moved, but in the end, she could only secretly sigh.

That both daughters possessed cultivation talent was something she hadn't expected.

Could it be that they really had to stay in the imperial palace for the rest of their lives?

Just then, the room door was knocked on, and the voice of her personal maid, Ruier, came through.

"Noble Lady, His Majesty has already arrived outside the palace..."

"What? So fast?!"

Li Lizhen abruptly stood up from the tub and said in surprise, "Hurry, hurry and dress me~"

By the time Li Lizhen had dressed and walked into the bedchamber with her hair still damp, Zheng Yi was already sitting on a stool drinking tea.

"This concubine greets Your Majesty!"

Li Lizhen hurriedly knelt to salute, and behind her, Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu also quickly knelt: "Greetings, Your Majesty~"

"Rise, all of you~!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Zhen'er, come closer and let Us take a look."

"Yes~"

Li Lizhen stood up and walked blushing to Zheng Yi's side, where her little hand was grabbed by Zheng Yi in one go.

"The hot spring water slid over and washed the coagulated fat, from then on the monarch did not hold early court. Zhen'er, you must have just finished bathing, your body smells truly fragrant~"

Li Lizhen's eyes lit up slightly, and she hurriedly said, "Th—This concubine did not know Your Majesty would come so quickly and delayed the time. I beg Your Majesty..."

"It doesn't matter."

Zheng Yi signaled Li Lizhen to sit nearby and beckoned towards Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu.

"Dongyun Jie, Dongyun Yu, come over too."

"Greetings, Your Majesty~"

The two young maidens walked over quickly and gently bowed in salute.

Looking at the two almost identical, pretty and pure twin lotus flowers before him, Zheng Yi also exclaimed in praise, "How alike."

"Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu have also grown up, and they are at the age where they should be married off."

Li Lizhen hurriedly said, "Indeed, Your Majesty. After the New Year, they will be sixteen. This concubine even mentioned the matter of choosing husbands for Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu to the Empress last time..."

"Choosing husbands?"

Zheng Yi frowned slightly, his tone cold as he said, "Why do We not know about this matter?"

Li Lizhen said cautiously, "Th—This matter is a mere women's trivial affair, so th—this concubine thought there was no need to trouble Your Majesty..."

"Hmm?"

Zheng Yi took Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu's little hands and asked, "What are Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu's thoughts? Are there any men you fancy?"

Dongyun Jie blushed and said, "N—No, I—I will listen to Mother and Your Majesty."

"I do!"

Dongyun Yu, however, raised her head and said earnestly, "Older Brother Emperor, didn't you say before that both me and Older Sister are your consorts? There is only you, a single man, in my heart!"

"In this lifetime, me and Older Sister will stay in the imperial palace and are not allowed to go anywhere else, humph!"

"This child...!"

Li Lizhen panicked, quickly stood up to pull her two daughters apart, and said, "Your Majesty, Dongyun Yu is just talking nonsense. Please do not take it to heart."

"Th—This concubine will discipline her properly in the future~"

"No need, We happen to have something to discuss with you."

Zheng Yi waved his hand and said, "Dongyun Jie, Dongyun Yu, you two go back to sleep first."

Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu looked at each other and obediently voiced out, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The two maidens left, and inside the bedchamber, soon only Zheng Yi and Li Lizhen remained.

Li Lizhen twisted her sleeves with her hands and spoke like a young girl, "What matter does Your Majesty wish to discuss? The hour is late, why not..."

"No rush."

Zheng Yi once again took Li Lizhen's little hand and pressed her down onto a stool.

"Regarding this matter, We will speak directly."

"We wish to take Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu as consorts. What are your thoughts?"

"Wh—What...!"

Li Lizhen abruptly raised her head, her face filled with paleness and despair.

Her pair of originally watery, beautiful eyes were also filled with shock at this moment, along with a trace of anger.

"Your—Your Majesty, Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu are—are this concubine's daughters!"

"Th—They are also your daughters, how could you..."

Zheng Yi said coldly, "We know, but Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu's identities are special, and We will never let them drift outside."

"And if you want to hold onto a woman, the only way is to make her Our woman and let her give birth to a Bloodline for Us."

"Besides, Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu are innocent and cute, and We like them very much."

"And as for them, they must surely like Us very much as well."

"Noble Lady Zhen should be more magnanimous, rather than delaying Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu's happiness for the sake of selfish gains."

"This concubine can do that too!"

Li Lizhen hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this concubine can also bear children for you. Please spare Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu."

"Otherwise, how will this concubine face Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu in the future..."

Zheng Yi shook his head and said, "Noble Lady Zhen, We can discuss other matters, but there is no room for discussion on this matter whatsoever."

"Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu, We have settled on taking them in."

"If you agree, then fine, the three of you mother and daughters can live in the imperial palace for a lifetime, enjoying endless glory and wealth."

"If you don't agree... you must still agree!"

"I should have thought of this long ago, I should have thought of this long ago..."

Li Lizhen collapsed onto the stool, filled with despair.

Zheng Yi helped Li Lizhen up, picked her up directly, and walked towards the bed.

"Zhen'er, stop letting your imagination run wild. If you marry Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu off, it would be fine if they marry well, but what if they don't marry well?"

"Furthermore, by then you will be in the imperial palace while they are outside. How many times can you see each other in a year?"

As he spoke, Zheng Yi had already tossed her onto the bed.

"If Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu are conferred as consorts, then the three of you mother and daughters can live together in the same palace, seeing each other by day and staying together by night. That's surely better than being in separate places."

"It also spares you mother and daughters the suffering of longing for one another."

"Wuwuwu, Your Majesty... Th—This concubine's heart is so chaotic, th—this concubine doesn't know what to do anymore..."

"Your heart is chaotic?"

Zheng Yi said earnestly, "Then let Us examine it for you..."

On the other side, inside the side room.

Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu slept in their clothes, but how could the two peerless young maidens fall asleep?

Their own mother and the man they admired were right next door, and the two maidens' thoughts were somewhat chaotic.

"Older Sister, what are you thinking about?"

"Not thinking about anything."

"Are you thinking about Older Brother Emperor?"

"..."

"If you don't answer me, I will take it as your tacit consent."

Dongyun Yu let out a long sigh and said, "I wonder what Older Brother Emperor and Mother are talking about. I really want to go eavesdrop."

Dongyun Jie turned over and asked, "Dongyun Yu, what are you really thinking?"

"If you don't marry out, do you intend to stay in the imperial palace for a lifetime?"

"With Mother here, Older Brother Emperor couldn't possibly—"

"What's impossible about it?"

Dongyun Yu gritted her teeth and said, "We like Older Brother Emperor, and Older Brother Emperor likes us. Isn't that enough?"

"It's not that simple."

Dongyun Jie shook her head and said, "If Older Brother Emperor takes us in, it will inevitably provoke discussion in the imperial court."

"Especially that group of people from the Ministry of Rites, they will definitely use human ethics and principles to remonstrate with His Majesty."

"Sigh, I feel we should still listen to Mother's words and marry a good man."

"I won't...!"

"Dongyun Yu."

"I just won't... Hm? What is that sound?"

The two maidens suddenly froze as a faint sound of breathing came from next door, growing steadily heavier, along with suppressed groans of pain.

Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu looked at each other and simultaneously discovered each other's flushed red faces.

For over a year, they hadn't heard this kind of sound much.

"So— So shameless!"

"Mother is too dissolute!"

The two maidens gritted their teeth, secretly listening, and after a moment hurriedly covered their heads with the blankets, not knowing what they were doing.

Throughout the night, Li Lizhen and her two daughters barely slept at all, and the next day all of them sported panda eyes.

When they woke up, Zheng Yi had long since left.

All that was left was the eunuch proclaiming the imperial decree.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims an imperial decree!"

A eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial smiled and said, "We hold charge of palace teachings, leading the nine imperial consorts to receive blessings. Assisting the earthly propriety, corresponding to the four stars to serve as support. Reverently receiving the constant canons, graciously bestowing imperial grace."

"The daughters Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu are descendants of the loyal and good, possessing gentle virtues and well-versed in ritual teachings by nature."

"Therefore, Dongyun Jie is conferred as Consort Jie, Dongyun Yu as Consort Yu, and Noble Lady Zhen as Consort Zhen, residing in the Twin Lotus Palace. Respect this!"

"Three Consorts, receive the decree~!"