Task

"So these are the new clothes Your Imperial Consort prepared?" Song Qingshu smiled bitterly, while putting on the fearful, trembling act expected of a young eunuch. He had thought that after that night, the Empress would see through his false eunuch identity. Yet so much time had passed without any reaction from her, and when she saw him again today, her expression showed nothing unusual. He therefore remained calm and adapted to whatever came.

"What's this? Weren't you quite bold last time? Why have you become such a coward now?" Though Empress Peiman was smiling, she felt extremely frustrated inside. If she had not played too wildly with this young eunuch last time and lost her senses, she would not have ended up being taken advantage of by that mysterious man. During this period, she had secretly investigated the man from that night, but no matter how hard she looked, she found not the slightest clue. In a fit of rage, she finally had every person she suspected put to death.

"It was because Your Imperial Consort was too beautiful. This servant lost control for a moment and forgot to be afraid." As Song Qingshu answered, he quietly observed her expression.

"How could a eunuch possibly lose control?" Peiman giggled. "Xiao Xingzi, I find myself liking you more and more. Your flattery is truly unconventional—your mouth is sweeter than honey."

"Every word I said came from the bottom of my heart. Heaven and earth can bear witness!" Song Qingshu declared righteously.

"All right, all right. Listen to you showing off your literary flair now. Who knows where you learned those idioms?" Empress Peiman had no interest in continuing this topic with him. She pointed at the dragon robe beside her. "Hurry and put it on for me to see."

Song