CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 59: HER HANDS MAY BE SMALL

Upon hearing the Imprisonment Department, the faces of the palace maids and eunuchs below turned deathly pale.

In the palace, there were too many instances of losing one’s life without understanding why. In front of the concubines, it was somewhat better; concubines couldn’t physically punish palace maids. Of course, being tormented by masters’ various methods was already grueling enough, but the most dangerous was serving before the Emperor. There was a saying in the palace: every servant would make mistakes, except those serving at the Imperial Court.

The Emperor’s face showed displeasure; offending His Majesty was a capital offense.

Dragged away for a vicious beating, one could only endure the fear, and should never utter words of pleading, for fear it would bring disaster to one’s family.

"Observe for a while, see who serves you best, and I will promote him to Chief Eunuch."

"This servant thanks the Emperor for his grace."

The people below responded in unison.

Their hearts pounded like war drums, and after receiving the signal, they all knelt and withdrew.

Once there were only five people left in the room, Xie Zhixing stroked her hand and said, "It’s important to establish authority while also showing kindness. Merely telling them you’re wicked won’t help. Servants are not afraid of evildoers; they are good at perfunctorily getting by with skill. If they fear you, they will distance themselves from you and only try to avoid mistakes that might be attributed to them. Give them hope; let them know there are rewards for doing things well. Only then will they put effort into understanding your intentions before you even say a word."

Yun Jiao’s hands were smaller than normal, held in his, they seemed almost like toys.

The eunuchs under Yan Chi had ranks. Beneath the level of concubine, the masters could choose a favored eunuch and treat him as their Chief Eunuch, but did not have the authority to truly promote him to the Eighth or Seventh Grade Attendant... There were many holding chief positions in the palace but without rank.

The promise the Emperor made was impressive in both face value and substance.

"That’s because the Emperor has the power; with just a few words, he can bestow favors. I have nothing."

Yun Jiao’s fingers opened and closed in his palm: "My hands are so small, they can only grasp very little."

Xie Zhixing looked down: "Indeed, they’re quite small."

The Emperor was a meticulous person, always exuding a genteel elegance, with a sense of calm detachment stemming from his noble upbringing; even if the sky were to fall, he wouldn’t blink an eye. Understandably so, given the Emperor’s level of education, he would at least be a doctorate candidate and an all-rounder in modern times. If someone controlling the fate of the nation were as skittish as she was, only thinking of eating and sleeping all day, then the people would indeed be pitiable.

However, Yun Jiao had a rebellious spirit; the more she saw him living like an untouchable, the more she wanted to pull him off his pedestal.

Such a noble and beautiful man, he surely should be made to experience life!

"However, I have thought of a way."

As Yun Jiao spoke, she kept saving her progress.

"Hmm?"

Xie Zhixing was unprepared for Yun Jiao, thinking she couldn’t stir up much trouble.

The next moment, her small hand unexpectedly reached toward his waist, and with no defense, she caught him off guard, giving the Emperor a huge shock!

Royal authority, integrity, morality, and Xie Zhixing’s understanding of women...

All shattered to pieces in an instant.

How dare she, how could she, how would she think of such a disrespectful act, which should only be the play of a scoundrel!!!

Too shocked, Xie Zhixing’s brain froze, failing to stop her.

She even got away with teasing him a little.

Before he realized it, time rewound.

Yun Jiao’s small hand was still safely in his palm, aside from the flush of unnatural red across her cheek, leaving no more traces of the presumptuous act.

Xie Zhixing was utterly furious.

First, he truly could not accept being mocked by such frivolous behavior.

Second, he recalled what Yun Jiao had said before.

She said her hands were so small, they could only grasp very little, was she hinting at me?

Xie Zhixing ground his molars, nearly suffering internal damage from anger, yet he could not show any sign of it.

He had to find a reason to cool her down.

At that moment, Yun Jiao repeated the same words, "However, I have thought of a way."

Vigilantly, Xie Zhixing grabbed her hand.

Could she be planning to do it again?

This time, Yun Jiao interlocked their fingers, holding them between his: "My hands are too small, but they’re just enough to hold the Emperor’s hand, so what can’t I obtain?"

Xie Zhixing was taken aback.

The earlier presumption seemed like his imagination; standing before him was a girl who knew how to touch one’s heart.

Just as he softened slightly, he noticed Yun Jiao’s eyes glancing three inches below his waist.

Yun Jiao was sneaking glances at him.

She wasn’t harboring daylight desires for dragon flesh; it was the thrill of both daring to provoke a tiger and the sensation of drilling on Mount Tai that was so intoxicating and addictive! It reminded her of the time in her previous life when she rarely went out shopping and visited a cat café, seeing a little tomcat not yet neutered; the two fluffy bells tempted her to play, and the cat’s reluctant meows were impossibly captivating.

After saving the progress, she let loose, but upon reverting, she was still the obedient and law-abiding Consort Xi.

"What are you looking at?"

Unable to bear it, Xie Zhixing pulled her into his arms, holding her back firmly to prevent her from moving.

Yun Jiao was caught off guard, her face pressed against the expensive embroidered patterns on his Dragon Robe, and before she could react, his thin lips moved to her ear, "Like looking, do you? Fine, tonight I’ll let you stare all you want."

Even his tone was tinged with a teeth-gritting fury.

Yun Jiao didn’t realize the source of the Emperor’s anger; she just thought he was overreacting after being glanced at, like an easily agitated big cat. She muttered softly, "I only took a glance, just one glance..."

She even shamelessly thought he was being petty.

In front of this little rascal, even the sovereign felt the irritation of being teased by a rogue.

...

Since the Emperor arrived at Xianfu Palace early, and due to the constraints of the day, he held back until nightfall. However, with the matter weighing on his mind, the normally calm-hearted man was hard-pressed to contain his temper, and in Yun Jiao’s eyes, from dinner to conversations, the Emperor appeared cold and grumpy throughout.

Due to the Emperor’s sustained low mood, the palace maids and eunuchs serving around became extremely cautious, afraid to draw the Emperor’s ire.

This time, the newly arrived palace attendants in Xianfu Palace were truly impressed by Consort Xi.

With the Emperor’s stern demeanor, she seemed unaffected, eating and drinking as usual!

Xie Zhixing exuded coldness: "You certainly have a big appetite."

"Didn’t the Emperor intend for me to feast my eyes tonight? I’m afraid I might lack the stamina later, so I’m eating a little more to better serve the Emperor."

Xie Zhixing just coldly watched to see how she would serve him.

"Then I shall wait and see."

But ultimately, being a man, Xie Zhixing did have some expectations.

However, come evening, his supposed conscientious server, Consort Xi, uttered only two sentences throughout:

"Emperor, I’m so full."

"I, I feel like I might throw up..."

...

He truly fell for her nonsense!