Turning to face her the dowager let out a sigh:
"Hui 'er did the emperor consummate the marriage last night?"
"Aunt" Yanhui voiced flustered. "Yes" she continued smiling through anger to stop further inquiry about her suspected rape.
" That's good, that's good, you should have a prince soon only then can our clan solidify our power".
Yanhui couldn't care less about their power struggles and wanted to stay out of it, besides she hated the dog emperor and wished him all the bad things she could think of, except death; he couldn't die or else she'll die too since she was without an heir.
"Yes aunt" she replied feigning compliance.
"Okay, you can go now. Remember to keep the concubines in check lest they'll think you're a push over" the dowager said waving her off.
Yanhui stood up bowed and left the palace of Tranquility. She decided to walk round and waved the sedan bearers off. She strolling round when mistakenly entered a pavilion overlooking a peach garden. It was as beautiful as the ones on tv, even more beautiful. Yanhui was about to step forward when her smile immediately froze and she turned to leave; she remembered when a garden scene occurred, it usually involved the emperor, a jealous consort or a rival prince showing up.
" My lady what's wrong? Why are we leaving?" Xiao qi asked reluctant to part with the beautiful scenery.
Yanhui looked at her in pity and tsk "you really don't know how many episodes of unnecessary drama I'm saving us from"
"Drama?" A voice asked.
"Yes drama" she replied when she suddenly realized the voice doesn't sound right, turning round she came face to face with the emperor himself. Yanhui cursed her bad luck and drama rules that states someone must be met at a beautiful place.
" Greetings your majesty, may you live to a thousand years" she bowed, her maids kowtowed.
" Rise my dear" He replied helping her up.
Yanhui immediately took back her hands and retreated two steps back. Although every bone in her screamed revenge, she could not because; one, he was the emperor, two she had no idea the power he held over her and couldn't risk it, she could only silently endure and wait for a chance.
"My dear could it be you're afraid of me?"
" I wouldn't dare" she bowed.
He straighten up and said to her with a smile:
"I'll see you later and explain some things to you"
At that, he left with his guards. Yanhui finally let out a breath she did not know she was holding when she saw he had gone far. She wished he would not come or some important things will take his time, she didn't want to see him and wanted to be a salted fish in peace but fate seems to be mocking her.
" Let's go" she said to her maids as she turned to leave dejectedly.
" Your majesty, why do you look unhappy the emperor favours you" xiao xiao asked in confusion .
" Ignorance is bliss" Yanhui advised tapping on on her forehead head.
On getting to her Kunning palace, she saw the mammas in charge of various activities like the kitchen, buying of foodstuffs, clothing, charcoal, etc for all the consorts in the palace. At seeing her they all bowed in respect and presented their various account books. Yanhui expected them to be difficult but was surprised they were obedient, it seems the dowager helped a lot. she was very grateful and would go keep the old lady company later, better than that emperor.
It was already late in the evening, when everything was settled and they dispersed. Yanhui was very tired and hungry, it seems she hasn't eaten all day:
" It might seem like an honor but isn't it just doing all the work for everyone, see, they're all in their palace relaxing while I have to read through account books. Anyone who wants it can come take over, why all the fight in dramas for this 24 hours unpaid job!?" She lamented as she laid on her stomach and xiao xiao massaged her back.
"My lady, you still need to take a bath the emperor may arrive anytime"
" He can arrive for all I care, I'm taking a bath only because I don't like the smell of sweat on me" Yanhui countered.
"My lady you shouldn't speak that way the walls have ears" Xiao qi said in concern at her disrespect fo the emperor.
Yanhui took a hot scented bath to relax her muscles and ate a simple meal of eight treasure rice and steamed chicken. She loved chicken and wished she could eat it everyday, after eating she laid down to sleep but xiao insisted she stay up to wait for the emperor. The emperor finally arrived, after all salutations had been done, the emperor ordered for them to be alone. He took off his outer garments as many thoughts ran through Yanhui mind:
" What if he tries anything, after all I'm his wife, should I find a way to disgust this jerk? Will what happened yesterday repeat?"
After taking off his clothes and remaining in his inner garments he sat beside her on the bed, Yanhui moved away in fear and disgust.
"Don't worry, I won't touch to you" he said indifferently.
Yanhui noticed he was angry and became mad:
" Are you seriously angry at me right now, last time I remember I was the one touched without my consent"
" What are you talking about?" He asked confused.