Whispers in the Night
Emperor Jing'an was twenty-nine this year. Set against his ancestors, none of whom had lived past fifty, he had already traveled more than half the road of his life.
That was why he was anxious.
Though his ancestors had all struggled to produce offspring, each had at least had a son. He alone, to this day, had neither a son nor a daughter, and not a single woman in his harem was even pregnant.
He knew that voices at court were already saying he had something wrong with his body, which was why none of his consorts had conceived.
Though he did not want to admit it, Emperor Jing'an had harbored doubts himself.
He had ascended the throne at seventeen, and this was the fourth selection of women for his harem since then. He felt that it would probably be his last.
If no one in the harem conceived within three years, he would likely have to choose an heir by adoption.
With such thoughts on his mind, Emperor Jing'an entered the right side hall of the Sparrow Plume Palace.
Looking up, Emperor Jing'an saw Hua Meng standing at the door to welcome him.
Today, Hua Meng wore a vivid red strapless bodice and a three-pleated skirt, with a moon-white, front-opening long robe embroidered with pink butterflies over them. Her long black hair was half pinned up and half loose. She wore little jewelry, but even with only a few pieces, she did not look plain.
Her figure was simply too outstanding. With one glance, Emperor Jing'an saw that she had plenty of flesh in all the right places.
She did not quite look like a girl of fifteen or sixteen.
When he raised his gaze farther, he saw her looking at him with a gentle smile.
In an instant, Emperor Jing'an's restless heart was soothed.
"Rise, my beloved consort." As he spoke, Emperor Jing'an strode forward and helped Hua Meng up from her bow.
After helping Hua Meng up, Emperor Jing'an did not let go. Instead, he placed his hand directly on her waist, feeling how slender it was.
From the moment Emperor Jing'an arrived, Hua Meng was certain that he was very satisfied with her body.
In truth, her looks and figure had always been fairly good. Her most appealing feature was her large, bright eyes, and the most outstanding part of her figure, her waist, was slender enough.
What was more, she had often drunk from the spirit spring over the past month and more. Although her looks had not changed much, her skin had become much better.
As for the pride of a woman's figure, it had also grown pleasingly over the past month, not in the least inferior to those ripe, mature women in their early twenties.
During the twenty years she had spent as a ghost in her previous life, Hua Meng had seen all kinds of men.
From twenty years of occasional observation, she had found that women like her, with innocent looks but a fine figure, were the most alluring.
Emperor Jing'an's reaction afterward confirmed Hua Meng's guess.
Hua Meng did not know how other women attended Emperor Jing'an, but she remembered her mother's instructions before she left home. Though it was her first time, she did not shy away from responding or taking the initiative when she should.
When the wind and rain finally subsided and they had washed, Hua Meng lay quietly on the bed in Emperor Jing'an's embrace.
Hua Meng guessed that Emperor Jing'an was satisfied today.
Emperor Jing'an was indeed satisfied. What had begun as a favor bestowed solely for the sake of an heir had gradually taken on a different flavor.
Because he was in a good mood, Emperor Jing'an did not immediately get up and leave. Instead, after a moment's thought, he slowly asked, "Did you enter the palace of your own free will?"
Hua Meng did not know why Emperor Jing'an asked, but she nodded sincerely. "I entered the palace of my own free will." She paused before continuing, "Your Majesty must have heard that I was previously betrothed."
Emperor Jing'an did not reply, and Hua Meng was in no hurry. She went on, "My betrothal was broken off last month. Aside from being angry, I was even more worried about my family."
"Oh?"
Hearing the questioning doubt in Emperor Jing'an's voice, Hua Meng hesitated for a moment, then chose to tell the truth. "That man attached himself to the eldest princess. If I had only pitied myself and swallowed the insult as they wished, or done something to hurt those close to me, wouldn't I have let them off cheaply?"